《TRASH - Act 1: The Spinner》


 0. The Black Witch and the Hero

    "Sariel up! Up now!"


    Sariel grumbled as Medila viciously shook her, the old woman slapping her face and finally storming away with a sigh. Sariel stretched her arms with a groan, rubbing her eyes to get them working. "Is it morning? Already?"


    Sariel leaned up, scratching her back and pulling stray bits of hay out of her hair. She had to get ready before Medila came back with a bucket of water. But as her eyes cracked open, only the licking light of torches strained them; daylight wasn''t for a few hours.


    She melted out of her grassy bed, holding the burlap blanket around her stick-like form as she grabbed around for some clothing.


    Perhaps she had missed a chore. After all, Medila was taking a while to get that bucket of water, which meant she was mixing some mud in with it this time. Or maybe Miss Morningbell had run off again - she was the only village crazy other than her.


    While she slid into a rough cloth blouse she heard a commotion outside, muffled yelling as torch lights danced through the cracks in her walls, running towards the center of the village. Medila ran back inside with a look of panicked urgency. "You''re so slow! Hurry! Hurry!" She tossed a belt at Sariel for her to tie around her waist, grabbing her arm as she did and yanking her past her shoes. "Your hair! It''s a mess!" Medila''s eyes were even more urgent as she ripped the tangled hay out of it and hopelessly tried to tame the short black curls. "What''s with you, girl? Sleeping like a pig!? You look like one!"


    Sariel was still waking up as she looked around aimlessly.


    She pondered why her hair had to look good. It never had to look good, except that one time Medila tried to sell her to some drunk soldiers.


    She allowed Medila to lead her outside, staring at her aged frown in growing confusion as she grabbed a fancy metal clip and strung up her hair in a tight knot. "Did I miss a chore?" She yawned, flinching as Medila slapped her shoulder. Even as an old lady, her strikes stung worse than a charging Bristleboar.


    "Wake up girl! There''s a man here." She grabbed a dirty cloth and licked it, smearing the dirt splotches off Sariel''s face. "It''s dark enough to hide the rest, that''ll do."


    "A man? More soldiers?" Sariel replied, impassively watching Medila''s toothy grin. At least it would have been toothy if half her teeth hadn''t been knocked out from years of pinning down the ripe Bristleboars in the back.


    "Sariel Sariel, my little Sariel," she continued, rubbing her shoulder with a soothing voice.


    ''That always meant she wanted something outrageous,'' Sariel thought.


    "This man has some coins, says he''s a hero, and certainly looks it!" She let out a senile cackle. "I only want the best for you my little one, that''s why I didn''t leave you to the bloodwolves when you showed up in our village. Now don''t you talk and he''ll snatch you right up before realizing you''re bonkers."


    Sariel slowly nodded, squinting in the dark to pinpoint where exactly this hero was. "So he needs me to chop some wood for him?" Her smile fell to confusion as Medila led her towards a cluster of men and women holding up torches. "Mend his armour? Shine his boots..." She quietly apologized as Medila shoved through the crowd of gawking spectators to get to the front. "Give him a trim...? I''ve never trimmed people''s ha-"


    "Quiet Sariel!" Medila hissed. "Not another word from you, I want you to do one thing-"


    Sariel''s attention quickly rose to Rombel, the village leader. He was frail and old from years of catering to the love of the village, but nevertheless exceptionally kind to her. He''d thought of adopting her when she showed up at their gate, and she wished he had, but didn''t have the guts to say it while Medila was still kicking. He was helping a man unsaddle his mount, the supposed hero looking more like a giant piece of metal as his chain mail glittered in the torchlight - not a single chink to mar the polished garb.


    "Are you listening to me, girl!?" Medila tightened Sariel''s belt two notches, knocking the air out of her as she gagged. "Don''t you make such awful noises!" She stole a glance at the man as he made a motion to turn around. "You smile."


    "Smile?" Sariel tilted her head, widening her eyes and parting her lips. "Like this?"


    "Don''t show yer ugly teeth girl!" Medila waited for Sariel to fix herself accordingly. "Now you stare at him and don''t you blink."


    She nodded.


    Medila stared at the man as he turned to face the villagers. "Look at that youth!" She whispered harshly. "Handsome, isn''t he?"


    She nodded, her eyes twitching to blink as they dried out.


    "You''d better get him. With a man like that I''m set for retirement!"


    She nodded, wondering how she''d get the man to marry Medila.


    Sariel frowned, a single thought screaming louder than the rest. ''He didn''t look her type at all.''


    "Good day," the man spoke, the torchlight outlining his chiseled features as he brushed his golden locks back with a chuckle.


    Sariel tilted her head. The greeting was odd to her, there wasn''t a shred of daylight outside. Goodnight would have been her first choice.


    He threw out his arms as a welcoming gesture while his chain-mail clinked. "I am here to slay the beast that plagues this town!"


    There was a long pause, the villagers erupting into chatter as they attempted to decipher the hero''s claims. What sort of beast? A cat? A heated bloodwolf? He hadn''t been very specific, and his sense of urgency was severely lacking.


    Rombel dipped his head respectfully to the man, raising his hand to silence the muttering villagers as he greeted the hero with a warm smile. "What beast?"


    "The beast! Has it not stolen a victim yet? Then you''re in luck, for I''ve been tracking it for days! It smells of iron, with piercing green eyes! A creature born of wicked witchcraft. I''m sure you''ve heard the rumours on the wind, the Witch of the Westlock has been spotted at the northern pass." the man announced, the murmurs growing at his claims.


    Sariel sniffed her hand. She had green eyes but wasn''t sure what he meant by piercing.


    "We''ve never heard of this beast, and we''re far too humble to have spurred the wrath of a witch," Rombel said with a chuckle. "Perhaps your services would be put to better use elsewhere."


    The man smiled, striking a pose as he leaned against his horse. "Why I am a hero, good sir, my services are completely free! As they should be. All I require is a signature of approval for vanquishing this beast."


    "There is no beast here sir, but we''d be happy to put you up for the night," Rombel replied, flicking his gentle gaze over the crowd. "Would someone be kind enough to stable his horse while I take him?"


    Sariel was about to take a step until Medila shoved her forward, and she found herself leading the large white steed away as the man tailed her, insisting on helping her even though he couldn''t even lift his saddle. She was intent on following Medila''s orders, and had chosen to walk behind the man, since walking backwards while staring at him would be more difficult.


    The man glanced over his shoulder, popping an eyebrow as he locked gazes. "Are you crying, my lady?"


    She shook her head, squinting in pain as the dryness mixed with the piercing cold of night. "I''m not allowed to blink sir."


    She awoke the next morning, the man addressed himself as Corian Valdrake, and had given her a flower after laughing at her for not being allowed to blink - but it tasted awful. Now she was in the back stables, standing in confusion as the man fumbled over tying a bundle of sticks together. She was supposed to be doing that, but whenever she tried a chore he''d intervene and struggle through it.


    She looked at Medila in confusion, who was giving them both a toothy grin and thumbs up. She never did that when she caught her doing nothing, the leather belt came out without fail.


    "Where ya from son?" she called, catching Corian''s attention as he shot up with a gentle smile.


    "The capitol ma''am, I''m out saving the king''s villages." He stepped closer to Sariel. "This your daughter?"


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    "Bet your sword she is," Medila cackled. "Sweet, isn''t she?"


    He nodded. "Beautiful."


    Sariel blushed. Only Rombel had called her that after she''d received two or three rocks to the head while playing Stone the Witch with her friends. "Thank you, sir, you''re quite handsome." She smiled as the man blushed a little, darting her gaze to Medila every few seconds to gauge her reaction to the performance. Medila had taught her to always return compliments from men, and she assumed she''d done it right from the way her mouth kept rigid.


    "You''re too kind." He removed a roll of paper from one of his satchels, leaning closer to Sariel so his shoulder brushed hers. "I grew up in a village quite like this, worked years for this piece of paper."


    She looked at the fancy letters blankly. There wasn''t food or anything valuable on it. Sariel squinted at the man, wondering what sort of idiot would work years for a piece of paper.


    "You know what it says?"


    "Can''t read sir."


    "Oh." He chuckled, his voice pressed with entertainment. "That''s good, It''s from the king himself!"


    She nodded slowly, shooting her attention to Medila''s obnoxious shouts. "The king himself?! Why, you''re a bonafide hero ain''t ya boy?"


    "You flatter me, ma''am," he replied modestly. "I''m an apprentice, but this paper says if I save 30 villages I''ll be as bonafide a hero as the White Knight Caleb."


    Her smile dropped. "Thirty? That''s a hefty task there..."


    "Got twenysev''n under my belt ma''am, this''ll be my second last."


    "Third", Sariel muttered, slapping a fat black fly out of the air before it had a chance to bite Medila''s future husband. As she looked around for more attackers, she caught a different sort of movement in the distance. A few of the village men running by the village center with a frantic air about them. Curiosity gripped her as she watched the four men carrying a roll of red cloth, but it took her a moment to realise it was stained with blood. They were yelling Rombel''s name, but he wasn''t coming to meet them. Instead, the screams were quickly amassing a swarm of villagers.


    "He''s been murdered! Rombel, he''s been murdered!"


    Sariel weaseled her way through the elbows and small children for a front-row view of the cause of the commotion. When they laid down the cloth and carefully unwrapped it she gasped. Rombel was in it, white as a fresh sheet with three deep cuts running across his chest and dead as a doornail. Corian was quick to make his way to Sariel''s side, pinching his chin as he carefully scanned him over. The villagers gave him some space as he rounded the corpse, leaning in close to take a good whiff of one of the cuts. That one sniff was enough for him to determine the old man''s fate. "The beast! I thought I''d smelt it!" Corian stood straight and drew his sword. "The beast has come!"


    The village erupted into terrified whispers.


    "Worry not! They come at night these creatures, conjured by the black witch! It takes a professional to return them to the shadows!" He sheathed his glinting sword as the villagers went quiet. "Be at ease for now, I shall try to strike this beast down, but it may take another victim... beware."


    "The Black Witch?" Sariel spoke, scratching at her head to try and jog her memories up. "I thought you''d said it was a Westlock Witch last night."


    Corian cleared his throat and smiled. "She has powers under her control that can string anyone and anything like a puppet. Hundreds of brave heroes have lost their lives to her and the monsters she holds under her grasp. Including other witches." He raised his voice to make sure it carried through the village. "This is the work of the Black Witch!"


    Sariel had never heard of either, but she was relieved Corian was here to stop them. Rombel was so kind, and she couldn''t bear to watch another villager die. They were low enough on children as it was. "Do you need help, sir?"


    He gave her a gentle smile, lightly grasping her hand as she tilted her head in confusion. "No, my dear, I wouldn''t want you to get hurt."


    Sariel stared blankly as he held her waist and lightly pecked her cheek. She wiped her cheek as Corian passed her, catching a few sour glares from a group of younger women who often played Stone the Witch with her. She nodded in understanding at them, it was a rather gross gesture from Corian, if he was to give her anything, she would have preferred it to be food. She turned away to continue her chores, standing awkwardly by her shovel as Corian insisted on continuing her tasks for the remainder of the day.


    <Later that Night>


    Sariel gently lit a torch to light Medila''s hut, Corian had wanted to see her bed for some reason but left to slay the beast after grimacing at it. She''d told him multiple times Rombel had given him the best bed, and wasn''t sure why he didn''t believe her. But now Medila was brushing out her hair. She hadn''t let her do a single chore since Corian had left. She just couldn''t shake the worry that she''d been replaced by him - and Medila was preparing to sell her to the local lord''s serf swarm.


    Sariel racked her brain as the panic rose. She had to do something for Medila to prove her worth.


    Her eyes drifted around the small space as Medila finished braiding her hair into an uncomfortable knot. There was a glinting object by the door, a sheathed sword.


    Corian''s sword.


    Sariel squinted, trying to imagine how he was planning on slaying the beast. ''Was he going to strangle it? Test his luck with his metal gauntlets?'' Neither plan seemed all that smart. She grabbed it, showing it to Medila with a frown. This was her chance. After all, Medila would be sad if her future husband got eaten. "Should I give this to him?"


    Medila nodded, chuckling mischievously. "He went off by the river with Morris to find the beast, you make sure it doesn''t get you though."


    Sariel nodded. "I''ll pin it to the ground ma''am, it''s probably a bloodwolf."


    She left the illuminated halo of light protecting the cabin, squinting through the thick shadows that painted the forest an unsettling and hungry shade of black. The task of clambering through the forest at night was hard enough, and carrying around a clunky broadsword had her tripping over any root that hadn''t caught the faint starlight to reveal itself to her. Nonetheless, she kept to her task of finding Corian, her pace slowing as she grew confused.


    Rombel wasn''t the type to go out at night alone, so why did they find him by the old stump rock? He hadn''t been dragged from his hut or Corian would''ve heard it right away.


    She trudged through the dark, thinking up a possible solution to the mysterious death. He could''ve finally snapped after dealing with his deranged wife and just traipsed into the forest for any nearby bloodwolf to end him. Sariel frowned. That just didn''t seem like a Rombel thing to do. She frowned harder, rolling her eyes and dropping the train of thought altogether. None of it made sense, and all that was giving her was a headache.


    She finally came upon a weak light in the distance, its flickering essence barely piercing the thick shrubs and trees. She quickly lowered herself, sneaking towards it with a gentle crawl, minimizing the chances of leading the beast to where Corian and Morris were standing.


    She quickly closed in on the light, peeking past a small bush to make sure she hadn''t snuck up on a group of unsuspecting travelers. However, as her eyes fell upon the figures standing in the torchlight, her breath hitched in terror. The torch was stuck upright in some loose dirt, the dancing flames twinkling on Corian''s shining armour. His back was to her as he bent over Morris'' corpse, calmly carving it up with a crude blade while whistling a cheery tune.


    Sariel held her breath, shakily placing Corian''s blade on the grass. If she could gain some distance, she could take some time to think it all through.


    She barely took one step back when Corian straightened, turning to face her wide eyes with a yelp. He fumbled the dagger in his hands, tucking it behind his back while holding Sariel''s stare. "The beast got him... b-but worry not! For I have slain it!"


    She slowly stood up, frozen in terror as he approached her and gently crouched to lift his sword out of the grass.


    He smiled at her. Something told her it was meant to be warm, but the way it settled into her bones filled her up with a terrifying chill. He leaned in on her ear with a soft whisper. "Thank you dear, I was lucky that Morris had a blade."


    She looked around frantically for signs of the strange beast he''d been talking about, her mind racing to find a conclusion other than what she''d just witnessed. ''Had she just looked at the scene from a weird angle?'' She looked over her shoulder for guests, her gaze falling on the bloodied blade in his hand.


    "No use looking for it milady, the Black Witch is real tricky. Her beasts are made of shadows and disappear when you kill them."


    "But..."


    His face dropped to sinister impatience. "What? What did you see, dear? I can assure you, the night plays tricks on the eye."


    She walked over to the corpse, slowly grabbing the blade from his hands to stare at it. "You..."


    "My lady you''re shaken out of your wits! Come back to the village with me, a celebration should soothe your shock." He smiled gently, motioning for her to follow as he turned around and started walking.


    She couldn''t move her legs at the command, gently lifting the bloodied blade to squint at it as the light Corian carried dimmed with his departure. Did she just look at it the wrong way? Sariel sniffed the air, looking around for paw prints, then staring at the crimson blade again. Beasts like bloodwolves left a scent you could smell from a mile away, and the cuts running through Morris were smooth. They weren''t ripped and torn like a hungry animal. They were as smooth as the wounds that had painted Rombel red.


    Sariel took in a sharp breath, giving her mind a split second to calm as her thoughts swarmed to a final conclusion. She was sure of what she''d seen. So sure her trembling hands froze, tightening around the hilt of the knife as she locked on to Corian and quickened her pace, easily sinking the blade between his armour and into the soft flesh of his back. Corian tensed up as she backed away with the weapon, stumbling forwards a little as he felt the wet stain on his back and looked at her with terror-struck eyes.


    "H-help!" he screamed, falling to the ground as his legs gave out beneath him. "Th-the Black Witch! She''s here..." His voice faltered as he coughed up some blood, whimpering like an injured pup as he tried to crawl away. "H-help..." He frantically looked around for a passerby in the dark trees, pushing himself away from Sariel as she took a step towards him. His breaths grew shallow as a cold chill numbed the searing pain in his back, his vision swarming together as the torch he''d dropped dimmed to black, and with a defeated whimper, he went limp.


    Sariel was frozen from the shock coursing through her. She didn''t know how long it had been, but there were a dozen flickering flames piercing the forest around her, the chatter of her fellow villagers growing louder and louder. But her legs refused to move. They came upon her in a matter of minutes, and all she could do was wait, staring wide-eyed at the villagers as they arrived one by one. The blade eventually slid from her grasp when she stared at Corian''s lifeless body, clicking in on her situation. "He..." She shakily pointed at Corian''s bloodied corpse.


    The villagers erupted into murmurs.


    "She''s out of her wits!"


    "Did she do this?"


    "She was holding the blade!"


    Finally, Medila''s voice rose above the crowd. "Green eyes, she''s got green eyes! My god, she''s the witch! Put the hero under a spell!"


    Sariel looked around helplessly. She barely got a single word out as she backed away in terror. "He..." A stone hurled at her, smacking her head and knocking her to the ground as she clutched the wound in pain. She caught a glimpse of Corian through the shouting crowd, moving to point at him when another rock struck her.


    Then another one.


    She flinched as Medila hurled a fist-sized stone at her shoulder, scrambling to her feet amidst the feral cries while the torch-wielding villagers converged on her.

 1. Maddison the Mercenary

    <The Next Morning>


    "Thank ya, sir, I never been on good terms with water. Must''ve fallen in and gone to sleep ''cause when I woke up I was floatin'' in that lake over there, and it felt real nice until I started drowning." Sariel wiped her soggy black locks away from her eyes, squinting at the hulking man. He hadn''t jumped in himself, since no one in their right mind knew how to swim. He''d shot her an arrow fastened to a rope and pulled her to shore, but seemed more silently confused than relieved at his success. "You''re a real-life saver, sir, you a hero?"


    "Err... no milady." He quickly scanned her, a torn and tattered dress was damply clinging to her, with a death knot still holding half her black hair up in a ruined bun. If a noble had been shoved into peasant clothes and pushed off a waterfall, that would fit the bill he was browsing. He grimaced at the reddish scrapes peppering her skin, already going purple with a round bruise from being hit, especially the one or two lining her forehead. "You... alright there milady? You look hurt..."


    "Oh no! I''m Sariel! What''s your name sir?"


    "Maddison Sungard..."


    "Yer father''s name Maddis then?" She watched his blank look with genuine intrigue as he slowly shook his head. "Maddis ain''t a real good name for your mother..."


    "Maddison is just my name don''t think too hard... Mi''lady, you look like you''ve been hit by something, there''s bruises all over you." He slid a bag off his shoulder and pulled a length of bandage out. To his relief, she didn''t scream or claw him when he wiped the dirt off her face and tied it around her head, but she still had a loony sense about her. "Might I ask what happened?"


    She felt the rough cloth and gave him a beaming smile. "Thank you, sir! I lost my other bandana runnin'' through the forest playin'' Stone the Witch with my friends! If ya need anything just ask sir, I''m real good at followin'' orders and dodging rocks... and stabbing things too I guess."


    "You were chasing a witch mi''lady?" He walked up to his horse that he''d leashed on a nearby tree, grabbing a woolen blanket to wrap her in as she started to shiver. "Was it a real bonafide witch?"


    "Chasing a witch? Oh no, I was the witch! Known the game as long as I can remember sir. Gotta dodge all the rocks till the villagers get tired, and that''s why I''m real good at it."


    His face darkened to hostility, that must have been why she didn''t drown. "You''re a witch?"


    Sariel nodded. "The hero that came to our village called me The Black Witch after I stabbed him for cutting up Morris... Maddison has got a bit of a Morris ring to it, hope ya don''t get carved up sir, looks real painful." She leaned towards his face, which had yet again dropped to confusion. "You''re real handsome sir, you sure you ain''t a hero? Got pretty blue eyes and everything."


    He turned away with a sigh, tying his bag and throwing it over his shoulder. "Don''t throw me in with that lot. If a hero called you a witch I''m not buying it. Can you use magic?"


    "Not sure, what''s that look like sir?"


    "Precisely." He ripped the knotted leash loose, leading his horse to her side. "I''m a mercenary, not that there''s much of a difference if you call me a hero, except I forsake ethics just to turn a profit. Not for the hell of it."


    "Not sure what ethics are sir, but I got some payment if that''s what you''re asking for." She ripped the decorative piece out of her hair. "You can keep this for now, got some valuables in a little chest under my bed."


    "So you''ve got a place to go?"


    Sariel nodded. "Back over to my village sir."


    "The village full of people that tried to stone you?"


    Sariel waved her hand to try and shoo his growing doubts away. "Just a game sir, don''t you worry about me."


    "You know where the village is?"


    She scratched her head, looking at the three forking waterfalls with a twisted frown. "It''s a small one in a forest. Got a few bristleback boars and probly two or three fresh graves."


    "Well, we could follow the stream from the falls you were closest to." He tugged on the reign in his grip, pulling the dark brown horse away. "Come on mi''lady."


    "Oh! You''re coming with me? How kind of you sir, I''m sure I''ll owe you lots when we get back. My village likes to put people up for the night if that interests you."


    "Sure."


    They walked for a couple of seconds in awkward silence, Sariel giving his features and leather armour a closer inspection, even randomly poking parts of it when she thought he wasn''t looking, until they locked gazes like an angry cat and a timid mouse. "Sorry sir, how do you know we''re going the right way?"


    "I''m guessing. We''ll follow that waterfall''s stream and trace it back to any villages. Since you said you fell in a stream and floated here..."


    "Oh, how smart! I hope the water didn''t change directions while I was sleepin'' in it." She smiled at Maddison''s dropping expression.


    "Yeah... that would be unfortunate if the waterfalls suddenly changed direction..."


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    "Wouldn''t it? " Sariel chuckled to herself. She was enjoying this modest conversation with Maddison the mercenary. Of course, she didn''t know what a mercenary was, but from his helpful nature she assumed it had to be something good, something like a friendly guide or mail boy. She''d seen one or two of those go through her village.


    They continued their hike, weaving through the thick thorns and shrubs with a couple scraggly trees to keep their balance as they neared the buffeted flat rocks of the waterfall''s crown. "Scuse me Mr. Maddison are you married?"


    He stopped in his tracks, sizing her up with a cocked eyebrow. "That''s a bit fast milady."


    "I was speaking too fast?" She smiled feverishly. "Sorry sir, said ''sscuuuse meee miister Maaddi-"


    "I know what you said!" He sighed as she jumped in timid surprise at his tone. "Sorry... why do you ask?"


    "Well, you see there was this hero that came to our village. Called himself Corian and had blue eyes jus'' like you... nothing else really in common, you''re about twice as meaty and brown haired but..." She pinched her hand as she thought about how to word her request. "My boss Medila wanted me to get him to marry her, sorta shoved me at him and said, "you''d better snatch him, with a guy like that I''m set for retirement!" But, well... when I saw Corian carvin'' up Morris I didn''t even think, and I sunk a blade into his back... she''ll probly be mad if I don''t bring something else back."


    "You killed him?" Maddison watched her with wide eyes, gently grabbing her shoulders as she lacked the fear he was expecting. "Don''t tell me you killed a hero..."


    "Was aiming for his shoulder, but I guess I missed a bit... sunk it right in here." She twisted her arm around and pointed at the right side of her spine. "Coulda just fainted, but he did cough up some blood. Then all the villagers wanted to play Stone the Witch. I personally thought it was a bad time, but didn''t really have time to complain."


    Maddison paled as Sariel continued her tale of escape. "Salorez have mercy, we need to get back to your village!"


    "Mmhm, right you are sir. Don''t think Medila''s patient enough to wait for me to return, I don''t wanna get fired."


    "No, it''s not that! Hurry! Hopefully this is the right way." He scooped her up in his arms, lifting her into the horse as he jumped on in front of her. "I hope you haven''t been out too long."


    "What is it, sir? I Don''t think I can afford an express delivery to my village..."


    "Heroes have trackers linked directly to the King''s generals, so if you killed one there will be a squadron at your village within the day." He kicked the Horse''s side, breaking it into a gallop as it leaped through the rough terrain.


    "You wanna meet them then sir? Personally, I don''t like heroes too much after meetin'' Corian. Also, he wasn''t a bonafide hero, said he was an apprentice goin round savin villages,"


    "We have to beat them, doesn''t matter if they''re a first-tier hero or apprenticed scraps, the tracker''s still on them." He grabbed Sariel''s collar as she almost flew off the galloping mount. "What are you doing? Hold onto something!"


    "Right, sorry sir. It alright if I grab yer ponytail?"


    "No! Grab my shoulders!"


    "Alright, sir." She grasped his shoulders with an iron-tight grip. "You want a massage or somethin''?"


    "Just don''t fall off..."


    "Suppose that''s easy enough sir..." she sat up straight, looking around the whizzing forest as they flew alongside the trail. "Umm... sir?"


    "What is it?"


    "You''re pretty stiff, you''re sure you don''t want a massage? I won''t charge ya for it, dunno massage rates around this area."


    "For the last time just don''t fall off the horse!"


    "Right then sir." Sariel looked around in boredom, trying to blow her bangs out of her eyes since she couldn''t move her hands. "What''s the horse''s name?"


    "Horse. He''s a rental."


    "That''s real nice." She squeezed on his shoulders, doing it once more as if inspecting something about them. "Oh, sir... jus'' realised you got some leather on. Your shoulders ain''t actually stiff I don''t think." She let the silence hang before leaning around to try and look at his face. "You never told me if you were married, sir."


    Maddison let out an exaggerated sigh. "Actually, let''s play a game on the way to your village."


    "What''s that sir?"


    "The game is, if you talk, you lose."


    -----


    The brisk heat of the afternoon baked the air as Maddison tugged on his horse''s reins. There wasn''t a village in sight yet, but from his right he''d caught a whiff of rank smoke riding the winds. Wood wasn''t the only thing the mysterious fire had eaten, so he turned their path and set his mount into a quiet walk. "Recognize anything around here?"


    Sariel was silent, watching him in torn confusion as she nodded, pointing forward.


    "Your village that way?"


    She nodded.


    "What time did you kill the hero at?"


    Sariel returned a blank stare. She wasn''t very good at charades, and wished he''d get to the village already so she could talk again. The disappointment pooled out of Maddison as he watched her play with her hands to figure out a good mime for nighttime, so she eventually clapped them together and placed them beside her ear, closing her eyes with a gentle smile.


    "Night time...?" Maddison got off the horse, shaking his head. "Could have just said that."


    "Sorry sir, ya told me not to talk until we reach the village, it''s about five minutes aw-" she gasped, clasping her hands over her mouth. "I lost the game! Real sorry sir! I''m talking again-Oh! I did it again!"


    Maddison widened his eyes as Sariel grew frantic in her speaking paradox, finally clasping her lips together so tight there was a ring of white around them. "You can talk... just stop asking if I wanna marry your boss. Cause I don''t."


    Sariel groaned in disappointment, she was going to the serf swarm for sure now. She''d skipped a whole day''s worth of chores and had nothing to substitute it with. Maybe the local lord gave complimentary food to his serfs, she''d never really looked into that.


    "I''m gonna have to ask you to be a little quieter though..." Maddison whispered, tying the reign in his grasp to a tree and gently lifting Sariel off the horse with a grunt.


    "Sorry there sir, Medila warned me to tell men not to pick me up ''cause I''m fat."


    "You''re not fat." Maddison put his finger to his lips. "Now keep your voice down in case there''s people near."


    Sariel let out some obnoxious laughter. "Course there''s people near! You run fast enough we''ll be at my village in a minute flat! Watch." She tore off into the woods before Maddison could grab her, giggling playfully as he tailed her in. He gradually faltered in the chase, completely underestimating her agility as she shrank into the distance.


    "Wait! Stop! I get it! Now get back here!" Maddison stopped to catch his breath, watching her fade into a tinier speck as she beelined for the smoke looming over the canopies like a hungry snake. "Fine..." He waved his hand tiredly and turned away. "Go get captured for all I care. Bloody bush people." He took a couple steps, glancing over his shoulder as a strange feeling gripped him. He''d gone through the effort of pulling her out of a lake, so he deserved at least some form of satisfaction in knowing his efforts weren''t in vain - and some explanation as to why she was practically prancing through crazy land...


    He tapped his foot, pressing his thumb into his forehead to soothe a phantom headache. She had also mentioned the money under her bed. The stream of smoke was small, a weak flicker for the amount of distance. Perhaps it was a bonfire and they''d over-roasted a pig. He sighed at his own thoughts.


    "I''m not that stupid." He muttered, already regretting the once-in-a-blue-moon act of idiocy he was going to take. "Come on lady slow down!" He called, continuing his pursuit of the mysterious woman.

 2. The Lit Village

    As he''d expected, his first guess was right on the nose; a flat clearing of charcoaled ruins around the once-standing village. Sariel didn''t take the route of sorrow he''d anticipated though, folding her arms as Maddison tried to give her a consoling pat on the shoulder. "You know, they probably shouldn''t have chased me with all those torches, look what happened!" She motioned to the mess, poking a pile of charcoal with her foot so it crumbled into dust. "Smells like that one time I lit my hair on fire too, winter''s in a season and a half, we''re all gonna starve now!"


    "I''m sorry milady... but I don''t think your fellow villagers did this," Maddison replied, waiting for her to figure it out any second now, but she was looking at him like he was the idiot.


    "Most logical sir, they lit about a dozen torches and ran with em. If there''s one thing ya don''t run with it''s torches... and shears." She pulled her sleeve down to show him a faint scar running down her arm. "Got my lesson the hard way. Shears are not to be trusted, sir."


    Maddison sighed. She was rambling now, perhaps she was in shock from the entire incident. She had told him she''d seen the hero carving up one of the villagers. Maddison nodded, gently sitting her on a scorched stump of wood. "You just sit there and have some water, I''ll see what caused this."


    "Some idiot probly dropped a torch sir, or didn''t put it out right."


    "Yes, you''re probably right." He grabbed his waterskin and handed it to her. "Just stay right there while I confirm it, and have some water to calm down."


    "Never been calmer sir." She nodded sharply, keeping steady eye contact with him every time he glanced over his shoulder.


    Maddison looked around the charred ruins, coughing as the wind blasted him with the pungent stench. He''d already confirmed it with the smell alone, but he wanted to make sure no one was left alive; they sometimes did that with the children. "Anybody here?" He whispered, his eyes darting around the silver dust and hallowed walls. He hadn''t heard any sort of movement other than his own, and pressed onwards to the center of the village. "I''m not a soldier, I won''t hurt you." He muttered, looking around again as he quietly crept along. "Hello?"


    Any soldiers that had been there were long gone, he could barely make out the footprints in the mess, even leading up to the central structure that he assumed to be a sort of meeting hall. It was big enough for his assumption, and the wind was blowing in the right direction. Not to mention, the insatiable inferno had originated from within its crumbling walls. It had to be it.


    He caved in the door with a swift kick, waving the black dust out of his face and drawing back with a retch as the smell intensified ten-fold. After he''d stuck his head out for some fresher air and tied a length of cloth around his nose, he turned back to look inside, scouring the twisted black figures piled onto one another without a single hint of surprise. A neat pile of deformed and charred black chunks rested next to the mass - most of them probably got a merciful death.


    He continued to search, something important was missing from the tale. They always left an insignia of sorts to honour the fallen hero, taking the rest of the body back with them. But he saw nothing in the charcoal expanse, not even a helmet.


    Maddison stopped, a sinister idea gripping his heart as he quickly left the building, looking around frantically for Sariel, but not daring to utter a word. Could she actually be a witch? Was this a trap? He gripped his sword, slowly walking back to the stump of wood he''d left her at, and going numb with terror at the empty space. "Sariel?" He whispered, slowly drawing his sword. "Sariel are you here?"


    There was a loud crunch that nearly stopped his heart as he whipped around to a small burnt frame of a hut, followed by an excited cry as Sariel jumped out holding a metal box over her head. "Found it sir! Dun worry didn''t lose your pillow or nothin'', it''s sittin'' behind the stump of wood there." She dropped the box at his feet with a relieved sigh, wiping her bandaged forehead. "Here''s my collection of good old shinies, take what you want for helping me out so good."


    Maddison grabbed his waterskin that was resting beside the trunk, and tied it to his belt, crouching down with Sariel to watch her open the chest. He kept his fingertips on the hilt of his blade, ready at any moment to counter a surprise attack.


    She tore the lid off with a scrape, bursting with excitement. But the opposite could only be said for Maddison as he frowned at the pile of rusted metal and sparkly granite. He relaxed again, side-eyeing Sariel. "You know that''s a bunch of crap, right?"


    "Crap? Oh no." She waved her finger like she knew better, grabbing the head of a hoe that was more rust than steel. "Anything this heavy and hard has gotta be worth something. Wanna know which one''s my favourite?"


    Maddison narrowed his eyes, placing his blade beside him in case she tried anything extra funny. "I didn''t see the hero you were talking about."


    "Probly buried him by now. You see anybody else sir?" Sariel replied, giving him a warm smile. "Oh! His sword! Maybe it''s still lying about where they chased me!"


    "Doubtful."


    "Well, it doesn''t hurt to check, looked real pricey too. I''m sure he won''t mind if you take it, he''s dead and all." She stopped as she rose to her feet, looking down at the chest with an almost sad frown. "But just in case it ain''t there I should really pay you with something."


    Maddison glanced at the chest full of garbage. "Really milady, I won''t charge you this time. Got anywhere else to go other than here? There''s a town about half a day away, I''ll have to hit it to return my horse."


    "Hit it? Like, punch it?" Sariel looked down at the chest, overwhelmed with guilt. "I really should pay you... here, you might like..." She crouched down and fished through the container, yanking out a small golden threaded necklace. "This!"


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Where did..." Maddison carefully grabbed the golden threaded necklace. There was a blue tear-shaped gem fixed as a pendant, flawlessly cut to glimmer like a trickling river. It had a strange liveliness to it that brought a comfort one could easily get lost in if they were to stare too long. He ripped his gaze away and held it back out to Sariel. "I can''t take this, that''s far too much..."


    "Oh, don''t you worry, if ya like it, take it. Had it since I was a fresh babe. It don''t do nothing much."


    Maddison shook his head. "I can''t take this."


    "Well alright." She stuffed it in her pocket, looking around the village with a squint. "Hope that Corian hero''s sword is still lyin'' out where I dropped it. Come on."


    "Like I said, I don''t think it''ll be there."


    "Well, I''ll go check by myself then. Might find some of the other villagers too if they''re collecting stuff to rebuild this mess." She trudged away, Maddison quickly pursuing her to stave her from walking into the meeting hall for an unpleasant surprise. He still wasn''t sure if she was a witch or not, and kept his senses alert. But if she wasn''t, and what he was experiencing was the real deal, he didn''t want her to see something like that. She''d be easy enough to coax into staying at the nearby town for the rest of her days, most of the local taverns would jump for an extra hand.


    They only walked for a couple seconds when Sariel cautiously glanced over her shoulder at him, darting her gaze away and lightening her step. She took it a step at a time, glancing over her shoulder again and quickly shuffling a few meters. Maddison sighed and followed her, producing a loud "Aha!" As she whipped around to face him. "You''re not bein'' very sneaky for trying to follow me, sir."


    "I''m not sneaking, I''m just following you." Maddison stared at her blankly as she grabbed her hips with a haughty glare.


    "Said you weren''t coming now here you are. Yer head alright there Mr. Maddison?"


    "It''s better than yours..." He muttered, continuing his pursuit of her as she stopped just outside of the village to look around.


    "Now I swear..." She grabbed her chin, turning in a circle twice to scan her surroundings. "Boy this looks real different all burnt up, I think it was..." She counted her fingers for reasons that escaped Maddison, finally pointing northwards. "Rivers that way, right?"


    Maddison pointed south.


    "Oh! Perfect, that way then..." She followed the direction he''d pointed, stopping at the river and looking up and down its flowing stream. "Sorry sir... it was pretty dark when I went out and found- Oh!" She pointed at a bush, smiling like a child offered candy. "I know that bush sir! Recognise it like family! It''s this way!" She bolted off alongside the stream, stopping dead in the center of a small cleared out area and pointing at the ground. "Right here, fell down and died."


    Maddison scoured the small space, pulling his gloves off to pinch a patch of dark stained dirt and rub it between his fingers. He sniffed his hand, catching the faint scent of iron. At least she was right about something being injured here. "I don''t see a sword mi''lady."


    "Yeah, me neither." She breathed in a load of fresh air and sighed, walking over to a bush like she was retracing a scene and sitting in it.


    "What are you doing?"


    "I fell here, sir." She lied down, sticking her head through some leaves and poking it out the other end to squint at the ground. "Handed him his sword back... but he dropped it when I stabbed him and it..." She shot to her feet. "Sir I know where it is."


    "Yeah? Where?" Maddison sighed, his patience wearing out as she pointed back to the village.


    "They''d have taken him, and everythin'' he had, to the center building where we like to meet up. That''s where we give the dead some words before buryin'' em."


    Maddison stopped her before she took off again, taking back a soothing voice. "Look mi''lady, I don''t think we should go there... you''d regret it."


    "Swords that way sir, gotta pay you with something."


    "Forget about the sword, it''s not here. I''m going to take you to the closest town and you can stay there until someone you know comes to pick you up, how about that?"


    "Well, then you''re gonna have to take this as payment sir." She shoved her hand in her pocket, trying to pull it out a couple of times in confusion as Maddison stopped her.


    "You don''t have to pay me, okay?" He slowly nodded, waiting for Sariel to mime his actions. "Good, now come-"


    "Medila I''m going to the closest village okay?!" Sariel hollered, looking around the burnt ruins as her echo died into the forest. "Promise I''ll bring you back a husband this ti-"


    Maddison stifled her calls with his hand, looking around in panic as she still tried to yell. "Be quiet! There could still be scouts you idiot!"


    She stopped, waiting for him to remove his hand as she shot his gloves a glare, flicking her emerald eyes between his cautious stare and worn gloves. "You mind sir? Those taste like burnt bristleback muck got hardened onto a rusty old pitchfork and you forced me to lick em."


    He pulled his gloves off. "You need to be quieter. Please."


    "How''s Medila supposed to hear me then?"


    "She can''t anyways."


    Sariel folded her arms, suddenly lacking any and all trust in Maddison as she slowly looked him up and down a couple of times. "Think I''ll get you yer sword and we can part ways from there sir."


    "The sword isn''t here."


    Sariel silently turned away, walking back to the village and ripping off Maddison''s hand with a surprisingly strong arm when he moved to stop her. "We dun bury people with clothes sir." She trudged past the center of the village, stopping at the blackened outline of a tool shed and grabbing a large black chest. With barely any effort she hoisted it up and dropped it in front of Maddison. "Real waste it is."


    She cracked the lid open, grabbed a glistening shirt of chain mail lined with gold and tossed it out. "That''s his..." she grabbed a helmet. "This too I think. All the real shiny stuff was his... ahah!" She slid a sheathed broadsword out, holding it up for Maddison to grab. "Here it is."


    Maddison stared at the fancily embellished sword, slowly grabbing it and popping the hilt up to check the keen blade. Almost brand new. "What was this hero''s name?"


    "Corian."


    Something was seriously off. The armour didn''t flaunt the usual apprentice quality, the free stuff the king would throw at anyone that qualified. Cheap and usually used leather and steel, with one or two patches of chain mail to cut the casualties. This one had class, serious coin to it. Had she killed a noble?


    "Put that back in the chest, we''re leaving," Maddison ordered, handing her the sword and grabbing the chain mail and helmet to toss in. "I''m not being seen with that stuff."


    "I think it''d make you look mighty classy sir, you sure you don''t wanna sell it or something?" She closed the lid, looking around as if something was missing. "Don''t see his shirt and pants in here... or his shiny old necklace."


    "We''re leaving." He grabbed her wrist, yanking her to her feet and ushering her into the trees. The king''s heroes weren''t the type to grab and go without even checking around for such a pricy set of equipment, which likely meant that whoever had come into the village didn''t know a hero had fallen. Bandits, thugs, demons, it could have been anything. But worst of all it meant the squadron hadn''t found their fallen hero yet, and if they didn''t book it at least two hours out of their sights they had the chance of being run down by an entourage of aerial beasts.


    And Maddison was rarely in the mood for such inconveniences.

 3. Family Dynamics

    "Why we stoppin'' sir?" Sariel pressed a flat patch of dirt with her heel, holding a thick bundle of leather and blankets Maddison had dropped in her arms. She gave the bundle an audible sniff, scrunching her nose at Maddison. "What''s this?"


    "Just hold it... please." He knelt to grab an armful of large stones, dropping them in the middle of the space to make a ring and dig out some dirt from within it. "Do you know how to make a fire?"


    "Sure do sir, just drop some wood together and get Morris to do it- uh, oh... well sir, sorry to tell you we don''t got fire no mo-"


    "Forget about it, I''ll make a fire and then find some food, okay?" He said, motioning to his progress with the best smile his patience could afford. "You just stand there and hold that."


    She immediately dropped the bundle on the ground, eyes twinkling with excitement at Maddison''s words. "I can find food sir! Whatchya wanna eat?"


    Maddison eyed her cautiously as he ripped some tangled dead branches out of a bush to set up the fire. "Anything edible is good."


    "Anythin? Right then sir I''ll go get you yer food." Sariel pulled up her tattered sleeves and tangled her loose strands of hair into the nest-like knot on her head, trudging off into the forest with so much authority Maddison half expected her to have a hidden chest of cheese and crackers nearby... somehow.


    He dropped the pile of sticks into the makeshift pit, pulling some flint out of his pocket and rhythmically bashing it against a stone. He breathed in a lungful of the dewy air, quickly losing himself in the rhythm to fantasize. Maybe she''d get lost looking around, that could hardly put him at fault for leaving when she didn''t show up again, and it would free him from his charitable obligation. He gave the forest a hopeful smile. She didn''t know north from south and the light was fading fast. There was an excellent chance she wouldn''t come back.


    He finally hit a good spark, quickly nursing the cinders into a tiny dancing flame. Something had grown inside his stomach with the little flame as he stared at it, weighing him down like rocks as he looked to the forest again. She had done nothing wrong, and whether or not she was fully aware of it, had made the best of the situation she had been tossed into. Hoping she didn''t come back through those trees was a terrible thing to be smiling about.


    Maddison let his heavy sigh fuel the growing fire, tossing Horse a stern glare. "If she doesn''t come back in ten minutes, we''ll go looking for her."


    Horse snorted, but whether or not the reply was a coincidence, was anyone''s guess.


    <Somewhere near Sapasata>


    Quibbis Pythonicus hoisted the wooden bucket over his head, hopping along the flat rocks paving a cobbled path to the Sapasata river. He''d been dragged out of the king''s court to the remote location along with Sir Inprobus and his son... and other son that was lying dead as a doorknob in the wagon. He was mostly done with his job, and was now fetching some water to jolt Corian awake. He found it was the best method in rejuvenating corpses, but had only tried it on a few undead that were extra stubborn with their wake-up calls.


    Quibbis was a necromancer, for those who have not looked it up yet; and one of the finest in the king''s court. But of course, his holy majesty of the Golden Arch was under the impression that he was a rather talented ventriloquist, and highly praised for his ''lifelike'' puppets. He didn''t mind, at least Sir Inprobus had provided him with some practice for his craft, but he didn''t think he liked his son Corian very much. At least not enough to bring him back. He was, however, happy to give the angel-faced adolescent a second go as a mindless, feral, flesh-eating beast.


    Quibbis was so engrossed with thinking he forgot how his legs worked and tripped on the air, breaking the fall with his face as his hands still firmly gripped the bucket above his head. He''d forgotten to move his arms for the fifth time today. "I wish I had thrrree legs." He got up, dusting off his tattered cloak and grabbing the bucket to hold over his head again. "But thrrree legs is too many Quibbis, you''ll be burned at the stick Quibbis!" He muttered crossly, mocking the small handful of killjoys called heroes that knew he was a necromancer.


    Sapasata''s murky depths fell into his sights and he grew excited again, plunging the bucket in and removing a sloshing pile of thick pulpy water that would have had him gagging if he had a sense of smell. The state of the boggy lake should have landed it with a name that was anything but sapasata; he could''ve sworn parts of it were purple today. Nonetheless, he brought it back to the wagon, looking around for Inprobus'' head full of wavy golden locks that always made him jealous of their lush curls. He wished he had hair, even eyebrows would be nice.


    "Prrrrobus?" He walked over to a guard standing silently beside the wagon, giving them the best-stitched up smile he could. "Prrrobus?"


    The guard grimaced, a compliment worthy of a blush to Quibbis who blew him a gentle kiss as he pointed at the wagon.


    "Thank you lovely. Rrrring me up if you ever find yourself dead, I offer discounts for cuties."


    The guard looked away, ignoring Quibbis completely as he lugged the barrel up the steps and through the wagon door, dropping his load off and clapping his hands together with a relieved sigh. As the guard had truthfully mimed, Inprobus was standing there, staring down at Corian in stern contemplation while twirling a glinting crystal necklace on his finger.


    "Ah, Prrrobus." Quibus gently rubbed his shoulder, giving the pasty white corpse a fake frown of sorrow. "I know it''s harrd to lose a little fleshling, you don''t have to spring him up again if it''s too harrd on you. Even though I''m surre you''ve got the coin, as an employee of the king''s forrces I offerrr a twenty-five perrrcent discount on coffins and burial, and an extrrra five for Rrrrroyal herrroic knights." He stared at his silent audience, the stone-faced glare so hard on Inprobus'' face it was probably chiseled out by a drunk angel. "Prrrobus?"


    "Stop calling me that."


    "What? Prrrobus?"


    "It''s Inprobus, next time I''ll take your head off."


    Quibbis burst into maniacal laughter. "Yes of course! I''ll put it back on again though." He traced his finger along the stitches running across his neck. "Sirrr I perrsonally think Prrrobus is an excellent name."


    "Yes, but Inprobus is better." He grabbed his collar, looming over him with a menacing glare. "And stop rolling your r''s, it''s grinding on my patience."


    "But I like it, sir..."


    They both stopped and shot their attention to the wagon doors as they swung open. A surprisingly big wagon now that one was to think about it. Another guest walked in, standing poised in their black armour with a large horned animal skull as a mask.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Ah! Rikkihablehgha." Quibbis stopped choking on his tongue, staring at Inprobus'' son with as much focus as he could to get their name right. "Rikkihana... no Rikki-Rikkihailnana?"


    "Rikkihaylnia," Inprobus growled. He walked over to his living son and stuck his hand out for them to drop a vial of black liquid in it. "Will this do?"


    Quibbis scrunched his nose up to squint at the vial, sloshing the liquid up and down appraisingly. "Almost Pr-Inprrobus." He popped the cork off and spat in it. "Should be a little more viscous. Thank you Rikki, you know I could have sworn I made a sound similar to your name when I hit my head against a book a couple of times while studying."


    "Get on with it", Inprobus boomed, watching Quibbis scurry to Corian''s side like a crab and look up at him with wide eyes.


    "Oh! We nearly forgot his soul!" He stuck his hand out for Inprobus to drop the necklace in. "It looks a little shinier, maybe it managed to catch it."


    He ripped the crystal off the chain and jammed it into the vial, giggling as it sizzled and dissolved with a trail of little bubbles. Inprobus narrowed his eyes at the reaction. "That a good thing?"


    "Good as in I''ve successfully dissolved your son''s soul? Or good as in it will work? Because I don''t know sir." He flashed his yellow teeth to him in a wide grin that still failed to draw any emotions from Inprobus. He held up the vial. "Now, last chance to turn back."


    "Do it."


    Quibbis hovered the open vial over Corian''s mouth. "You''re sure?"


    "Hurry up."


    Quibbis shifted his gaze to Rikki who hadn''t moved from the spot. They probably hadn''t moved at all now that he thought about it. "I''m going to turn your little brother into a flesh-eating monster Rikki."


    Rikki nodded.


    He stopped, looking between the two in slight disappointment. "You know Inprrobus, I thought Rikki was the one you hated. Why else would you give him a name like tha-"


    "Give me that," Inprobus moved to grab the vial but Quibbis clasped his hand over it and jumped away.


    "Now now sir, you want this to work, yes?"


    "If it doesn''t work I''ll find another fresh corpse."


    Quibbis nodded. "Yes yes, you''re very good at parenting." He held the vial away from him as he twitched in motion to try and grab it again. "Little Corian''s got no magic, yes?"


    "Yes," Inprobus growled.


    "Then I gotta do it ''cause I spat in here." He pointed at the vial. "I gotta give him some magic or you''ll just be pouring cherry tasting black liquid down your son''s throat and his soul will flutter away like the majestic butterfly he is."


    "Then hurry up."


    "Of course sir." Quibbis did a little bow, going back to Corian''s side and forcefully opening one of his eyes. "Good good, he''s as fresh as a fish outta water this one." He opened his mouth and stuffed his finger in to squish his tongue with a satisfied nod. "Birds didn''t take anything."


    "Do you understand the concept of hurry up?!" Inprobus boomed, watching Quibbis jump with fright and frantically pour the liquid into Corian''s mouth.


    "D-don''t yell when I''m focusing sir, I almost forgot how to work my fingers!" Quibbis grabbed Corian''s shoulders and hoisted him up, shaking him up and down while smiling at Inprobus. "Just getting it all down there, he can''t really swallow too well." He watched Corian''s head bounce limply up and down. "Might have some whiplash too but I don''t think he''ll mind."


    He dropped Corian flat on the ground and rose to his feet, making a full circle around him before cracking his knuckles a little too hard and snapping his fingers back into place.


    "Now here''s the fun part." He knelt over Corian and pumped his chest a couple o times, leaning towards his face to stare at him with wide eyes. "He should be good. Rikki, get the bucket dear."


    He grabbed the bucket Rikki pushed forward with their foot, throwing the water over its edges with a hefty toss and forgetting to hold on as he reached his stride, sending the bucket and wave of ice-cold slop at Corian. Corian shot up as the piercing cold assaulted his face, just in time for a face full of hard wood as it cluttered to the ground after bouncing off his forehead.


    Quibbis froze, staring at Inprobus with a timid smile. "Well... he moved..."


    "That''s a start."


    Quibbis nodded, rushing to Corian''s side to inspect the red gash across his forehead that quickly closed up. "Oh! Look, look! Did you see that?" He gave Inprobus a crazed smile as he nodded. "Astounding!"


    Corian stirred again, slowly moving his arm to rub his forehead with a tired groan. He could''ve sworn he''d been hit by something, but didn''t feel the scratch anywhere. As he cracked his eyes open he let out a tired yawn, leaning up to rub his eyes before realizing he was being stared at, and jumping up in fright at the proximity of Quibbis'' unsettling smile.


    "Dammit Quibbis! Get a mask like Rikka!"


    Quibbis stared at Corian in broken silence, his yellowed eyes slowly filling with overwhelming excitement and joy. "T-t-talk! You can talk!" He grabbed Corian''s head and kissed his cheeks before he could struggle. "A revolutionary advancement!" He went straight for the lips, only stopping when Corian managed to throw him off and jump away with a disgusted shudder.


    Corian spat a couple times, trying to rub the Quibbis essence off his lips before noticing his silent father. "What are you doing here?" He looked around, slowly clicking in. "What am I doing here? I was-"


    "Collecting signatures?" Inprobus cut in, folding his arms with a cold glare. "Don''t bother."


    "What do you mean? Without them I can''t-"


    "Don''t. Bother." Inprobus hardened his scowl as Corian cringed. "Do you know your name?"


    "Don''t give me that crap, of course I know my name." Corian spat, shakily getting to his feet and glaring at Quibbis. "What the hell''s the stitched-up sock puppet creep doing here?"


    Inprobus ignored his inquiry, pulling out a small notebook. "Do you remember what happened?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "Just before you blacked out, do you remember what happened?"


    "Yeah, I was..." Corian froze, slowly widening his eyes as he felt his back that lacked the bump of a stab wound. "I was... knocked out?"


    "The villagers heard you yelling about a witch before you succumbed to your subpar injury." Inprobus looked at him expectantly, tapping his pen on the paper. "They also said this witch conveniently escaped."


    "A witch? Oh! I-I mean yeah! There was a witch with uhh black hair and green eyes..." Corian stopped, looking at the ground in hard thought. "Shoot. What was her name?" He gave his father a timid smile. "Anyways I''d know her if I saw her... wait. The-the Black Witch, she called herself the Black Witch!" He paused, "Did you just say succumbed to my injury?" He felt his back again, but there was nothing out of the norm.


    "These results are truly astounding. It''s almost as if he never died!" Quibbis cheered, grabbing Corian''s hand to stare at it. "He''s still a bit cold, and he''s lacking a bit of colour." He licked his hand, allowing Corian to rip it out of his grasp and wipe it in disgust. "Tastes right sir."


    "What the hell are you talking about?"


    Quibbis held Corian''s defensive glare that had taken on a growing flame of fear. "You''re dead sweetheart! But don''t worry, that can only happen once!"


    Corian''s fear relaxed to doubt as he looked at his father''s frown, bursting into laughter. "You''re insane! Do I look like an undead to you? Drooling and hissing and eating people? Go creep on someone else you saggy little scumbag."


    "Shut up," Inprobus growled. "I should have carved out your tongue before we did this, I suppose that''s my mistake." He took a step towards Corian who took two back in response. "He''s right, you had a knife wound to your spine that had you drown in your own blood. For whatever pride you had beforehand, I do hope it was a witch that tarnished my family name."


    Corian kept his gaze, petrified with fear as he looked between Rikki and Quibbis. "I''m not dead..."


    "Hold your breath if you wanna check." Quibbis chimed. "You don''t need to breathe anymore, that''s one laborious task off the list!"


    "No..." Corian backed away into the corner. "I''m not dead...I''m not!"


    Inprobus drew a dagger from his belt, plunging it into Corian''s chest before he could react and twisting it into his heart with a cracking snap.


    Corian fell back, clutching the wound in agony as he watched his father impassively wipe the stained tip. "What... the hell... i-is wrong with you?" He gasped for air, shakily staring at his bloodied hand as the searing pain went cold, and then flat.


    Inprobus sheathed the blade, watching Corian as he looked for the stab wound without success. "You''re dead, and as such you now answer to me. I have a mission for you."


    "Excuse me? When the hell did I sign up to be your dog skathead?" Corian rose to his feet with a cocky stretch, a taunting smirk painting his face as he stared down his father. "I''m going back to getting signatures, I''m practically immortal!"


    Inprobus drew his sword, stopping an inch from Corian''s neck as he flinched in fear. "If you wish to disobey me, then I suppose I can donate you to the psych ward. They''re always looking for bodies to practice on, and I''m sure you''ll fetch a pretty sliv. Or maybe, you can join your useless mother, I''d imagine it would take you far longer to get there though."


    Corian''s body rose with spite at the remark, his hand clenching for a sword that wasn''t at his waist. "Bite me goldilocks."


    "Rikki, cuff him." Inprobus pointed to some shackles conveniently resting in the corner, waiting for them to obediently comply. He flicked his cold stare to Corian, the faintest smile touching his lips as he spoke. "Unfortunately Corian, the title of a hero is restricted to the living. The dead have no right to hold such a prestige. You work for me now. And I''m sure I don''t have to remind you that I put down dogs that don''t work."

 4. The Flat Worlders Society

    Sariel balanced her way across a fallen log, squinting in the dark to find some food. Maddison had given her extremely specific instructions after she''d come back with a handful of snails and berries, telling her to only grab fish, nuts, or mushrooms that didn''t look like a circus had thrown up on them. He''d never struck her as such a picky eater. But she''d found some ghostly white mushrooms and stashed them in what was left of her tunic. Now she was crouching over the trickling stream, waiting for a fish to go by.


    She held up the tiny knife Maddison had given her, darting her eyes across her field of attack for an opportunity. A blur of brown scales sped by and she sliced into the water, barely missing it. She stabbed the water with extra ferocity as she saw another glimmer of scales, missing her target again.


    Her gaze drifted around the unkempt shrubbery for dried long grass, but she quickly redirected her attention back to the stream with a solid frown. Maddison was waiting, weaving a basket would take too long. She plunged the blade into the water again, crying out in excited surprise as the blade somehow lodged itself in a big black fish''s skull. She hoisted her haul up with two arms, holding it like a lion cub to stare at it.


    She gave it a little wiggle, squinting at its puckered lips and dead eyes.


    It reminded her of Corian after she''d stabbed him.


    "Mr. Maddison, I got one!" She called, looking back in the direction she''d come to faithfully await his response, but none came. She frowned, peeking up as a twig snapped. "Mr. Maddison?"


    A rugged moan answered her as she stared at a figure in the trees some distance away.


    "Y''all right there Mr. Maddison? Road snacks givin'' you a hard time?"


    The figure let off a dry growl, limping towards her as she held the fish with a blank stare that slowly turned to an inspecting squint.


    "Ah, sorry sir..." She watched the disheveled person come into the faint starlight, letting off a moaning gurgle as it reached towards her. "Y''all right there sir? Lookin a bit green and saggy." She moved to the side as it lurched forward to grab her. "Sorry if I''m in your way sir, don''t want you tripping or nothin''. This your pond?"


    The creature hissed, moving to grab her again as she stepped out of the way.


    "I''m real hungry so Ima take this." She held up the fish. "You can join us if you want. You look hungry sir."


    She walked away as the creature barely missed grabbing her, nonchalantly humming a tune with her moaning follower as she returned to the campsite.


    Maddison poked through the last of the berries Sariel had collected, piling them all up into the palm of his hand and dropping them in the fire. She had somehow found six different types of berries, all of them poisonous. Not that it mattered much, since he had enough rations to last them to the next town. He honestly just needed a break.


    "Mr. Maddison, I got one!"


    He turned his attention to Sariel''s distant cry, his response cut short when something much closer dropped in his face, feathered wings batting around wildly until he stuck out his arm as a perch. The black bird was a familiar sight, the emerald green feathers peppering its chest a clear mark of the familiar''s master. Although it wasn''t uncommon for the Crow Mother to be sending off messengers, to have one track him down in the woods was always a sign of some urgency.


    "Emergency request." The crow squawked, flapping its wings for balance as Maddison removed the folded paper from its little brown satchel.


    "Is it really an emergency? Or good money?" Maddison mused, lowering the crow onto the ground as he took a seat by the fire.


    "Money, emergency!"


    He splayed out the wanted paper, an old man''s portrait masterfully inked to a simple frame. A sorcerer suspected of wicked magics, and a small purse worth of silver as the pay. He skimmed the rest of the information, "Bervolt? Fine, that''s on the way. I''ll bite." He folded the paper back up and slipped it into his pocket, eyeing the crow for any other goodies. "Anything else?"


    "No update." The crow squawked, pecking at the small pile of snails Madison had tossed to the side. "Same path."


    Maddison started prepping some of the rations, a minute or two passing before he heard some loud footsteps approaching. Which meant it was either a very careless deer, or someone with next to no survival skills. He watched Sariel squeeze out of a hedge, staring at the bulge in her dress that was likely causing her aloof waddle of a walk.


    As soon as she locked gazes with Maddison, she popped a huge grin, pulling the large fish out of her dress and holding it up like an extravagant trophy - knife and all. "Mr. Maddison, I caught one!" She dropped it in front of him and his eyes widened in surprise.


    "Oh... that''s what you caught."


    "Giiiirl?"


    Maddison scowled at the Crow''s singing tone, shooing it away with his arm until it fled to perch on Horse''s saddle.


    "Oh! You caught some dinner as well!" Sariel spoke, jutting her thumb at the plump crow. "Now I know how to make a mean crow kebab Mr. Maddison!"


    The crow shrieked as Sariel took a step towards it, quickly flapping off as fast as its wings could carry it before she could wrestle it down. Maddison watched the crow escape to freedom, ignoring the pout on Sariel''s face as she watched dinner fly off into the night.


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    "Right sir," she said, just as the bush she had come through started to rustle with a new guest. "I also invited someone to join us for dinner if that''s alright with ya."


    Maddison narrowed his eyes, watching the figure emerge from the hedge. "Who''s that?"


    "Dunno sir, asked him his name a few times. Kept on goin hisssss or grglgl." She replied, her back completely exposed as the rugged monstrosity finally tumbled onto the trail. It collected what little balance it had left, swaying erratically as it reached out with a bony arm covered in flayed and rotting flesh.


    Maddison''s gaze hardened to hostility as he grabbed for his sword, pulling Sariel to the ground before the creature leapt at her. The gurgling beast lurched at Maddison, spitting and hissing as he kicked the rotting corpse, lodging his blade in its shoulder so he could swing it to the ground and plunge the tip in its throat. It flailed with howling screeches that died to gurgles as it spat up some black ooze, finally going limp as Maddison twisted the sword and severed its spine.


    Sariel watched him like a deer in headlights as he wiped the viscous goo off his blade and sheathed it, giving the forest a quick scan before kicking the body onto its stomach and patting down its pockets.


    "Now hold it right there Mr. Maddison, that''s not very nice," Sariel said, getting to her feet so she could put her hands on her hips with a motherly glare.


    Maddison grabbed a few coins and a small blade, glancing at Sariel impassively. "It''s an undead. These woods have been crawling with them lately."


    "That don''t mean you can steal his stuff."


    "I just-" Maddison raised his open palms, looking between them in confusion, then at the thick gaping slit in the undead''s throat. "I plunged a sword through its throat, and you''re mad because I''m sifting through its pockets!?"


    Sariel nodded. "Now sir he attacked you first, so I''ll let the sword go. But he never slipped them green little spider fingers into your pocket, now did he?"


    "He didn''t." Maddison grabbed the last few coins and miscellaneous, pulling its shoes off and checking for any damages. "But I don''t care."


    Sariel folded her arms, watching him walk by and grab the black fish to inspect.


    "Nice catch. Do you know how to prep it?"


    "Nah sir, the ones I''m used to don''t have scales."


    Maddison sighed, grabbing a small knife from Horse''s saddle and chopping the fish''s head off. "I''ll prep it, you go find some extra firewood, and if you see another undead come right back here and tell me. Got it?"


    "Got it, sir, don''t think they''ll wanna talk after what you did to their friend, but I''ll take yer orders to heart, sir."


    Maddison watched her walk away, rolling his eyes while he skinned the fish. This was going to be his last charity act for a long time.


    <The Next Morning>


    The walk had been quiet so far. Maddison had woken Sariel up just before sunrise, and that seemed to do the trick for a peaceful start to the day. She was too groggy to start a conversation as she sat on Horse, blearily staring at the graveled road between loud yawns and stiff stretches. The forest was starting to thin, which meant they would be at the hills in a matter of hours - and camping would become a lot more dangerous without any sort of cover. The last thing Maddison wanted was to have to pitch a tent with her.


    Sariel gave the sky one last yawn, the sunlight tickling her cheeks waking her up just enough for her to decide she no longer wanted the free ride from Horse. She melted off the side of the mount, joining Maddison''s side. "Righto Mr. Maddison where''s that town you were talkin'' about?"


    He gazed out at the stretching trail ahead. "It hasn''t been half a day. I grabbed you in the evening, it''s the crack of dawn."


    "Oooh... right then sir, how much further?"


    Maddison frowned, pointing straight ahead. "A couple hours that way."


    "Don''t see it that way, sir."


    "That''s because it''s too far away." He groaned as Sariel gained a look of intrigue. She had finally gotten her questioning energy back.


    "So, if something''s too far away it turns invisible?"


    "Yeah. More or less."


    "Oh..." She looked ahead with a shot expression. "I thought they got so small you couldn''t see them anymore, or you''ve gone so far the ground swallows them up."


    He stopped, cocking his eyebrow at her. "The ground what?"


    "Eats them." She tugged his sleeve to follow her and walked over to an uprooted tree. "So, when I go like this..." she ducked down behind it out of his view. "I can''t see you ''cause the tree swallowed you up."


    "The tree hasn''t eaten me." Maddison sighed, rubbing his temples in irritation as Sariel joined him again.


    "Well not actually eaten sir, but I don''t see you no more. So, I thought when you get far away from something the ground curves enough like that tree trunk over there to block it. So, we''re all standin'' on some sorta ball."


    "A ball?" Maddison scoffed. "The world is flat."


    "Flat?"


    "Flat as a disk." He watched Sariel as she gave him a confused look. "What?"


    "Nothin sir it''s just that... if it was flat we''d be able to see everything, wouldn''t we? There''d be nothin blocking our views."


    "Okay, it''s bumpy flat." He glared at her. "You get what I''m saying?"


    "Uhh... yeah Mr. Maddison..." She replied. But her tone barely matched up. She looked at her surroundings disapprovingly. "Sir?"


    Maddison let out an exaggerated sigh.


    "Sorry sir, it''s just... I never heard of nobody falling off the edge of the world."


    "That''s because you can''t read, and there''s..." He looked around with a frown. "Mountains... blocking it off."


    "Oh!" Sariel looked around, her excitement falling to confusion again. "How big are the mountains sir?"


    "Giant."


    "Don''t see ''em though sir."


    "That''s because they''re so far away-"


    "That they''re invisible!" Sariel giggled, nodding exaggeratedly. "Yer smart Mr. Maddison so you''re probly right. The world is flat."


    "Yeah, cause I mean if it was a ball everybody not on the top would fall off of it."


    "Well actually, I just thought it was spinnin'' so fast we all just kinda got stuck to it like a fly to a honey trap." Sariel stared at Maddison as his challenging glare began to resurface. "But you''re right there Mr. Maddison, you''ve been around long enough to know."


    "Yeah, if it was spinning it''d fling us off." He muttered, pulling Horse''s lead so they could all start walking again. "So, what are you gonna do when we reach the town?"


    Sariel shrugged. "It was your idea, sir, I was gonna stay in my village till everyone came back, hope Medila heard me yellin''. You know sir, for a second there I thought you were one of those scammers."


    "One of those what?"


    "Medila''s told me bout guys that come along all helpful then lead you off till you''re too confused to retrace your steps. Then they go off an sell ya to the local lord''s serf swarm and other places." Sariel gave Maddison a grateful smile as he looked around awkwardly. "Glad yer not a scammer sir."


    "Yeah... sure. So what are you gonna do if none of the villagers come back to get you?"


    Sariel shrugged. "Probly starve to death sir."


    He raised his eyebrows. "You know you can find work or something in the town, right?"


    "Work?"


    He nodded. "They''ll pay you and everything."


    "Will they give me food?" She frowned as Maddison shook his head. "Then I don''t wanna work. The only thing you should pay someone with is food."


    "They''ll give you money, and you can buy food and a bunch of other stuff with that money."


    "Well, I''m just gonna buy food anyways, so they should jus, give me food." She stopped, rubbing her tummy in deep thought. "Speakin'' of food, I''m hungry... got any food Mr. Maddison? I''ll brush Horse for it."


    "You can have some food when we get to the town."


    She looked ahead with excitement. "How far away is that?"


    Maddison clenched his teeth as his patience wore dangerously thin. "We''ll get there when we get there."

 5. Building Bridges

    There were not enough curses in Maddison''s tongue to describe the scene he had landed himself in.


    It was still early morning, and Sariel had surprisingly kept to a healthy pace keeping up with him. They had gotten free of the forest without incident, and were at the cusp of the rolling green fields that spread throughout most of Millstead. The only obstacle was a slithering ravine that split the ground wide from Frostlock to the Southern Sea Pass. It was eased by sturdy modes of crossing it, like wood and rope bridges, and some steel and stonework where more money and merchants traveled. Maddison had crossed the ravine this way less than a week ago. The rope and polished wood were strong enough to stand against the howling winds that often ripped through the scar in the ground. And yet, someone, or something, had carelessly ripped the roping off one side, and sent the entire thing down into the trees and rocks below.


    He pressed his forehead with a sigh. "This is a nightmare. Damn crow could have said something."


    Maddison pulled out his map, flattening the thick parchment on the smooth bedrock they were standing on. He pinpointed their spot, lifting his head to grab Sariel''s attention, but stopping himself. She was holding one of the masts of wood that had grounded the broken bridge while she gazed out into the ravine of thick trees below, trying to keep her mess of black curls from covering her eyes as they whipped in the wind. Her eyes were filled with wonder at the sight below, like a child that had seen the coast for the first time, or a little boy gazing out in wonder at the skeleton of a full-grown dragon. She had likely never seen something so grand in the cover of her village, and was undoubtedly conjuring up a line of questions in her head.


    Maddison cleared his throat, waving Sariel over to the map once she had her fill of sightseeing. He gauged her confusion when she looked at the map, landing on the conclusion that she hadn''t seen one before. "This is a map, it''s a drawing of where people have been, to help them, or others, go back to the places they visited." He tapped a little black unnamed dot that he had marked himself. "This dot is your village." He traced his finger along a squiggly inked path to a bigger black dot, tapping the name Stonesong etched above it. "This is the town we''re going to." He backtracked on the paper until he hit the little lined sketch of a bridge. "This is where we are right now."


    He waited for any questions but took Sariel''s silent curiosity as a sign to keep going.


    "Now because the bridge that was here, is down there instead, we have to use a different bridge." He traced his finger up to a similarly drawn bridge. "It''s going to detour us about half a day."


    Sariel stared at the map, tracing her finger along Maddison''s description a few times. She checked the trail they had come from, her eyes growing wide with excitement as she stared at the broken bridge while tapping the drawing. "Wow, Mr. Maddison, this piece of paper is incredible!" She ran her finger along the path they had walked, nodding to herself. "They even have the way the path squiggled a little while we were walking on it! Now I definitely like this paper more than that Corian fellow''s. My village should try something like this!"


    Maddison eyed her with intrigue, wondering if she had memorized the path enough to make a claim on the map''s accuracy. He had seen that bright-eyed look before, on a woman he had called his partner, and a child they had raised together. An itch of excitement hiding a wish, a wish that she could make something just like the object in his hands. Do something, just like the characters in a grand tale told across the lands. Though he tried to fight it, Maddison felt a smile slip its way onto his face. "The town will have some cheap parchment, and maybe some inks. You can try to make one."


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    Sariel''s excitement died some as she traced her finger along to the little black dot that was her village. For the first time in their journey together, she looked genuinely sad. "Medila wouldn''t like it."


    Maddison watched her slowly rise, her excitement growing again as she walked over to Horse to deliver the news of their detour to the animal.


    They continued their journey along the great ravine, a quiet and encounter-less walk spare a distant animal, or swooping flock of birds. By the time the evening chill settled its cold touch upon the land, Maddison''s optimism was burning thin with irritation. No less than three hours prior, Sariel had taken up a love for music. Humming the same three notes repeatedly with a hop to her step. As soon as Maddison saw an intact bridge in the distance, he took the milestone as an opportunity to snap.


    He patted Sariel''s shoulder, taking the lead from her hands. "Can you hum something different?"


    "Oh! You don''t know this tune?"


    "Well, I do now."


    She nodded, her face screwing up with irritation as she knocked on her own skull with her fist. "Been stuck in my head all day."


    "I can tell."


    Maddison''s tone flew so far over her head it was doing loopity loops to show off as Sariel nodded, "Soldiers were singing it dead drunk about thirty sunrises ago." Her voice lilted to a songlike thrum as she finally let out the lyrics. "Have you seen the witch of late? A jealous evil crone. Fell in love with a married mate, so she caught his wife alone." She quickened her pace, belting out the last of the rhyme as she skipped across the bridge. "Cursed her dead, slept in his bed, and as the story goes - we chased that wicked woman to the woods, and after that, nobody knows!"


    Maddison forced a smile and a little clap as Sariel finished, hoping that was the finale of her three-hour performance. He''d heard at least thirty nursery rhymes on witches in the past year, but hadn''t run into many that were the source of the songs. Most of them had to do with the Witch of the Westlock, making merry a monster that had felled thousands.


    After a quick skim of the bridge for any damage, he joined her on it, slowing to stare at the new scene that had captivated her. The sun had half sunk into the horizon, its light skirting a spotty sea of clouds to paint the sky a vibrant pink. The vantage point was as strategic as it was pretty, and Maddison took the opportunity to skim around for an ideal clearing to pitch a tent.


    He eyed a small outcrop of trees, assessing the promising candidate until Sariel tapped his shoulder.


    She pointed at the sunset when she had Maddison''s attention. "How far away you reckon that sun is? Must get hot where it touches the ground. Does it just drop into a big hole?"


    He had to run her question back in his mind as he silently stared at her. But even with a few repetitions, he could only manage one response. "Huh?"


    "Well it ain''t invisible, so that sun there is closer to us than the mountains at the edge of the world."


    "I-" Maddison paused, gazing out at the sunset in deep ponderment. He rested his arms on the edge of the bridge, watching its glow ripple with an illusive haze where it touched the distant tree line. The way it made the horizon dance sent a shiver up his spine. The sheer thought of flames of that magnitude pitted his stomach. "You''ll have to ask the gods where the sun goes at night, Rathlen owns the daylight, and talking to higher beings is above my pay grade."


    "Right, someone ought to ask him. Cause a big fire if it touched the ground, wouldn''t it?"


    "I doubt he''d care," Maddison growled, tugging Horse to follow him off the bridge. "If you''re truly curious about where that sun goes, you can ask the Elaren he made. They''re called Sun Eaters. But if you''re ever unlucky enough to cross paths with one, I''d skip the questions and run."


    Sariel quickly hopped after Maddison, soaking in the view for a couple seconds more.


    She didn''t know the sun was edible - was it spicy?

 6. Dont Let the Bed Bugs Bite

    <That Night>


    Maddison stirred awake, taking in the sounds around him while trying to keep himself from fully waking up. His hand was still throbbing from Sariel''s missed attempt at helping him set up the tent. An iron rod to the back of the knuckles would do that to you, and it was better than his face. But he had learned his lesson to never allow Sariel to wield a metal rod with even the slightest bouncy bend to it. Or at least give her ten feet of space to fool around with it.


    He cracked his eyes open when a noise interrupted his thoughts. It was a growl, or maybe... a snort?


    He held his breath, and then the sound came again. And again.


    Rhythmic, and loud.


    His fear melted to disappointment.


    Someone outside the tent was snoring up a storm.


    Someone who was supposed to be on the first half of watch duty. So neither of them met a horrible fate in the middle of the night.


    He sighed and rolled himself out of bed.


    Sariel was the loudest noise in the area, drowning out the chirping bugs and any rustling leaves the nighttime breeze managed to coax into a dance. She had found a log to rest her head against, and about an inch thick mat of moss. Aside from that, and the clothes on her back, she was completely exposed to the elements. Maddison swatted away a bitefly, carefully stepping around Sariel to look at the large hourglass clutched in her hand.


    All of the enchanted sand had sunk to the bottom, which meant it had at least been an hour since he went to bed.


    He carefully pulled it out of her grip, and turned it over, setting it beside the cooled remains of their campfire. He rubbed his eyes, adjusting to the pitch-black fields that were scarcely lit by what little light the stars of the night sky could provide. He stopped his sweep of their surroundings when he reached the edge of the bridge, a single out of place detail grabbing his attention. They almost twinkled from the distance, half a dozen sets of glowing red eyes peering at him from the bridge. The figures they were attached to were emaciated, yet human, groveling on all fours like a pack of hungry dogs. It was likely they had eaten recently, and had enough wits about them to think about how tasty the horse sitting out in the open looked.


    Otherwise, they would have attacked without hesitation, and Sariel''s lack of diligence would have turned into a real problem.


    Maddison sighed, drawing his sword and holding it to the moonlight so it glinted at the pack. The one closest scuttled back, the others following suit as they crawled further down the bridge to search for other snacks. At this point, most ghouls had the instincts of a rancid raccoon. Manageable, but still irritating. Just shy of a decade ago, the undead blight had never bothered traveled roads. In fact, seeing a corpse twitch was so rare people still paid to have them permanently put to rest. But now, dying without a proper burial in this land was practically a guarantee that you would get back up again. Or at least, your decaying body would.


    And it was all thanks to one creature. Calling it a witch was the greatest point of contention for Maddison. Witches were humans, humans that used their magic to incite suffering. Witches could be understood, tricked, and culled. The Witch of the Westlock was as much a human as a dragon was a bird. After all, what sort of human could turn an entire city into a cemetery brimming with feral undead, and spread the sickness like a plague at the wave of its hand? A curse so powerful that even breathing the same air as one of its undead meant you would rise again after death, restless and hungry.


    Certainly not a human. Certainly not a witch.


    The creature was named an Agent of Death, the first of six to rise over the succeeding years.


    Six problems that Maddison was happy to spend the rest of his life avoiding. The continent was huge, and the Agents of Death had a particular preference to piss fighting with the Heroes Guild. Any deaths outside of that faction were entirely collateral, or sheer stupidity... or idiots that slept through their watch.


    He let out a sigh, quietly sheathing his sword and walking back over to Sariel. With a couple of nudges she blearily opened her eyes, blubbering out gibberish between yawns and stretches. "Is it morning Medila?" She rubbed her eyes, crawling along as Maddison nudged her over to the tent. It wasn''t hard to coax her into the shelter, and even less so to hand her off the blanket and pillow. In a matter of minutes she was back to snoring, and it was Maddison''s turn to hold watch until morning.


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    He brushed off the log Sariel had been using as an unsanitary bed, pouring out a few preserved herbs and an empty vial from his bag. If he was going to be awake for who knows how many hours until the sun came back, he''d might as well make some use of the time.


    <The Next Morning>


    Maddison crunched along, his legs weighed like sandbags from exhaustion. The sun had not taken pity on his extended night shift, and was blaring down on them with scorching rays that made a mirage wherever Maddison looked. Still, he had kept what little cool he could, listening to Sariel''s one-sided conversation with Horse, and mostly nodding along to any questions she shot his way. It wasn''t until the afternoon peeked around that he got a few rations in him, and worked up the energy to address the elephant in the room. The area wasn''t high on the list of dangerous places Maddison had been forced to camp in, but it didn''t change the fact that what Sariel had done was dangerous.


    He thought it would be a simple conversation.


    He thought wrong.


    "Turned it over four times I did, then I saw you were still sleepin'', and didn''t wanna bug ya. Worst thing bout the day is when Medila would shake me awake. I don''t like waking up all that much Mr. Maddison, wish I could spring right out o'' my bed like those birds there."


    "Yeah, well-" He held his tongue from saying ''next time'', ending his statement with a sigh. He didn''t want to jinx it like that. "Just, if you''re ever told to keep watch, make sure someone is there to take over your shift."


    "Horse was there."


    Maddison went for the easiest path in this fight. "Horse was sleeping."


    "Standing up?"


    "Standing up. Horses do that."


    "Woah..." Sariel eyed Horse with awe, her whole face lighting up with an idea. "You don''t suppose I coul-"


    "No. You can''t."


    Sariel frowned, side-eyeing Maddison with disappointment. "Well, you never know till you try."


    He pointed to a small snaking trail of smoke, pooling from a few stone huts cresting the hill of grass in front of them. The sight of civilization hadn''t stirred so much excitement in him since he was stranded in the Fire Hills for six weeks without proper rations fleeing from the Hero Guard. "The town is there. We''re going to walk until we reach it, and not stop. Then I''m getting you a job and we''ll be off on our jolly ways, never to meet again." He gave Sariel a warm smile to jog hers back onto her face. "Doesn''t that sound great?"


    She punched his shoulder. "Awww thanks a million, Mr. Maddison, but I ain''t need a job, I got one working for Medila. You''re a real sweetheart, you know that?"


    He clenched his teeth, shaking his head in disappointment. "I''ll get you a temporary job until Medila comes back."


    Sariel hummed in deep thought for a moment - as deep as they went at least. Slowly nodding at Madison as she curled her finger around her chin. "Suppose I can get a temporary job."


    He stopped their walk, motioning for Sariel to humour his gesture and face him. "Good. So, when you get an interview and they ask for your name what do you say?"


    She straightened her back and did a strange salute, "Hullo, I''m Sariel Sariel The Black Witch-"


    "No! For Lont''s sake, you''re not a witch!" Maddison sighed, holding his forehead with a whimpering groan. "Here... I''ll role play..."


    "Right, sir."


    He cleared his throat, drowning his tone in forced excitement. "Hello there! I hear you''re looking for a job. What''s your name?"


    "Sariel Sariel The Black Mr. Maddison, pleasure to meet you sir."


    "Good enough. How would your friends describe you?"


    "Fat n stupid sir." Sariel smiled at him with a hint of genuine pride. "Sometimes they call me thick too."


    Maddison broke character first, pulling his arms up into a fold. "Sariel... you''re supposed to make me want to hire you..."


    Sariel folded her arms and copied Maddison''s teacherly frown. "Well whatchya hiring me for?"


    "A job! Just-a... any job. Let''s go with a barmaid, you just give people drinks and food, super simple."


    She nodded. "Sounds simple..."


    "Good. So, what are your two greatest traits?"


    "Well, sir, I''ve got a high liquidity rate."


    Maddison dropped his act again, scrunching up his brow in confusion. "A what?"


    "I sell like hot buns sir. We get a few soldiers in our village once or twice a season and Medila sells my services like that." She snapped her fingers, smiling as Maddison''s expression fell. "They pay with good food too. Like bread! That a good thing?"


    Maddison pursed his lips, feeling a sense of disgust on her behalf. Medila sounded like the best candidate for a witch in Sariel''s village, not Sariel. At the very least, she was in the category of a vile toad. "Depends on what they did to you..."


    "Oh no sir, I''m not allowed to disclose personal services. Part of my contract." She nodded. "Dunno what a liquidity rate is even."


    "Then why did you use it to describe yourself?!" Maddison burst. "You can''t just throw gibberish out there!"


    "Sure can sir. Once told a man he was corealis for some bristle boars and he acted like he knew the word like his little sis... then he tried to play stone the witch with me."


    Maddison tripped over a response, taking a few seconds to collect himself, and remember exactly what he was dealing with. He was dealing with Sariel. If there were lines to read between, Sariel would toss them so far a hellhound couldn''t even fetch them. "Look... I''ll give you some suggestions. How about I''m pretty? Or maybe, I''m really good at adapting to my surroundings."


    "You ain''t pretty sir, yer handsome. I like to avoid pretty boys, always look like they''re plotting. Like that Corian fellow was."


    "No! You''re pretty." Maddison motioned to her, his smile falling as Sariel''s grew.


    "Aww! Thank you, Mr. Maddison! You don''t gotta lie, it''ll just make me feel worse fer not paying you."


    "Okay, you know what? When we get to the village, you wait with..." He stared at the brownish horse, moving his hands purposelessly for a couple of seconds. "Horse... and I''ll deal with the hiring stuff."


    "Right, Mr. Maddison. You lookin'' to be a barmaid too?"


    He gave up, giving Sariel a dead smile. "You know what? I just might be. And my name isn''t Mr. Maddison, you put last names after Mr, not first names."

 7. The Interview

    The sky smiled a bright blue as the heat of the afternoon drew in and smothered the town in an illusive dance. On his first pass by, Maddison hadn''t put effort into speaking with the locals. Stonesong was a point of contention in Hillstead, hovering on a border set by the Hero Guard after a battalion had slain a local draconic menace that had settled in the mines. It wasn''t a charitable gesture by far. Maddison hadn''t seen the deal they had struck for the extermination, but it was likely a fat cut from what little coal and ores the local mine could export, and a few flags they had to stick up and keep in perfect condition.


    Still, defenses from further dragons did not seem to be part of the deal. Despite the flags a plenty, Maddison hadn''t seen a single individual bearing the guild''s sigil stationed in the town. It was likely the only representative the town ever saw was a monthly collector and a small squadron coming to collect their monthly cuts. But the lack of supervision didn''t stop the locals from shooting every adventurer that didn''t bear the gaudy golden sigil a stink eye when they passed through. It would be a tough crowd for Sariel to blend with as an outsider, but her personality seemed enduring enough. She could probably soften them all to sympathy in a cycle or two.


    Sariel had done exactly what Mr. Maddison told her to, and was standing beside his trusty rental horse to the side of the trail. He was talking to an older fellow and his wife, both of them leaning on the wall outside their meat shop, arms folded and chiseled glares strong. Mr. Maddison however, continued to smile through the conversation.


    With some pointing at Sariel, and a few dirty looks tossed in her direction, both parties waved one another farewell and Maddison trudged back to lead them into the heart of the small town. Sariel looked around in delight, she''d never been to such a large place. The houses were made of real wood and stone, with doors that didn''t come off their nonexistent hinges at the sneeze of a hungry bloodwolf. She did a little skipping kick as she walked along the road, feeling the gravel crunch under the boots Maddison had given her. Even if he had stolen them from that undead fellow, they felt nice and cozy. She looked around at the town center, her heart fluttering at the sights around her. Everyone had clothes, and the town was surrounded by a real, bonafide, wall.


    It must have been a city; Medila told her that''s where all the rich people lived.


    Maddison stopped them next to a noisy wooden building, brimming with beefed-up miners and farmers that were drunkenly screaming their conversations to each other over the lively tune a lone child with a beaten lute was trying to pluck out. Sariel was tranced by the rich smell of food coming out of the tavern, and had nearly walked right inside in her daze. But Maddison was quick to stop her at the door, and when he was at least fifty percent sure she''d listen to his orders to stay outside, he turned away, strolling into the tavern and out of Sariel''s sight as she stood rigid. She snacked on a few of the dried fruits Maddison had bribed her with, deciding to continue her conversation about clouds with Horse.


    Maddison looked around the clustered space, dimly lit by the few windows on the walls with a permanent film of dust wafting around. The smell of some mysterious soup was still the strongest scent in the air, but it couldn''t fully hide the smell of stale alcohol on the floors, and the musty dirt staining its thatched roof. He immediately found the bartender, an older man with a tailored green button-up to show a little more wealth than his patrons. He locked gazes with the man and went straight for him, seizing his audience''s confused attention from a small handful of customers.


    "Can I get you something sir?"


    He checked his shoulder to make sure Sariel hadn''t found her way inside, resting his arms on the counter to lean in close. "Yeah, where''s your manager?"


    The man hummed in disapproval, grabbing a spotty rag to wipe out a mug. "You got food poisoning complaints you can take ''em to Mr. Idontcare and shove it up yer arse."


    "That''s not what I''m here for."


    The man sized him up, slowly placing the mug down with a serious stare. "You one of them auditors? Guess they really stepped up their game after the last one was put six feet under. I take no responsibility for that, soon as you walk through here you accept that there''s a one percent chance of findin'' vars snake poison in yer ale."


    Maddison tilted his head in confusion. "That''s not how waivers work."


    "Is in this town, now scram auditor."


    "I''m not an auditor." Maddison raised an open palm, flashing the crest of a green crow to the man. His nose scrunched at the guild crest, but the hostility disappeared. There were so many these days it was unlikely he would recognise his Guild''s specialty. "Can I just speak with your manager?"


    The man folded his arms, a mischievous smile touching his lips. He motioned for Maddison to wait a moment, turning all the way around until he faced him again. "Hey there sir, I''m the manager of this fine establishment. Heard you were having trouble with my staff, how can I help ya?"


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Maddison pursed his lips. "Great. Are you hiring by any chance?"


    The man cocked an eyebrow, sizing him up again with a cynical chuckle. "Not sure how many customers I''ll be attracting with a hulking bouncer of a barmaid serving drinks."


    "No! It''s not for me." Maddison cleared his frustration and softened his voice to a friendly tone. "It''s for uh... this lady..." He thought hard about how to word the situation. He couldn''t mention the town since no one in their right mind would hire someone even remotely on the bad side of a hero - and they looked nothing like siblings. "That I found..."


    "That you found?" The man gave him a disbelieving squint as he leaned on his counter. "Found where?"


    "In the forest? Says she''s from a small village and was out on an errand. But we couldn''t find it, so she''s looking to work here until someone she recognizes swings by."


    The man nodded, but the motion was too slow to just show an understanding. He suspected something that escaped Maddison completely. "Why are you askin'' if I''m hirin''? Shouldn''t she be if she wants a job?"


    "She''s... shy?" Maddison swallowed his words. "Around new things! Just-she, she''s a super fast learner, shy for the first few days and then you won''t be able to shut her up!" He stopped, thinking about his words. "But in a good way...?"


    "I bet." He went back to wiping another cup. "Right then, this girl you found got a resume?"


    "A resume?"


    "Gotta check her experience."


    Maddison sighed. "Sir, I don''t think she can write."


    "Course she can''t. How she gonna write down customer orders then ya meathead? Right then sir, I''ll speak with er if ya don''t mind."


    Maddison dipped his head, quickly leaving the tavern to coax Sariel to his side. After leashing Horse up outside he marched her into the boisterous setting, catching some curious looks from the nearby tables. Maddison pointed her to the well-dressed man, his clear irritation suppressed by a hearty smile as he watched Sariel approach. Maddison pulled out a stool for her to sit on, his smile slipping right off his face when he caught what the bartender was scowling at. He wasn''t focused on meeting Sariel''s eyes. Instead, his grimace at the scratches and bruises lining her arms had turned into a burning hot scowl when he noticed a purplish bruise peeking from the bandage around her forehead. It was at that very moment, that Maddison eyed the bruises she still had from her tumble, that he realized he had messed up.


    The man suppressed his scowl when Sariel gave him a smiling wave, dropping a mug of water in front of her.


    "Hullo there miss, name''s Gregorich." He stuck his hand out for Sariel to shake it but she didn''t budge, the confusion plain on her face as she looked at Maddison timidly.


    "Sorry sir... my name''s Sariel Sariel the Black..." She stared at Maddison''s prompting nod and thumbs up. "Right sir, Sariel Sariel the Black''s my name."


    "Sariel Sariel?"


    "Got myself another last name, so that one turned into a middler."


    "I see..." The man smiled gently, motioning to her bandaged head. "Who gave you that miss?"


    "Why he did!" Sariel said, slapping Maddison''s shoulder with a grin. "He was being real kind to me. Pulled me out of the lake and everythin."


    "Being kind?" The man flicked his critiquing gaze to Maddison who greeted it with panic.


    "The bandage! She means the bandage!"


    Sariel answered Maddison''s pleading stare with a nod. "Right sir, that''s right. He didn''t throw no rocks at me, got those on me own."


    "Uh-huh. You got a resume ma''am?"


    "Dunno what that is sir. Don''t got money if that''s what you''re lookin for."


    "Don''t worry ma''am, it''s not money. It''s a sort of job application outlining your experience and valuable personality traits.


    "Don''t got no valuable traits sir, I''m worth less than a bristle back." Sariel smiled as the man''s expression fell. "You can grab my services dirt cheap that way."


    The man''s gaze wandered to Maddison again. "And what are those services exactly?"


    Maddison cleared his throat, raising his hand to stop Sariel. "Actually, I think I should clear up a few-"


    "Let the lady answer."


    Sariel shook her head at the bartender. "Can''t disclose private information, sir."


    "Very well." The man leaned on his counter with a serious expression. "Can you tell me how long you''ve been doing it?"


    "Long as I can remember!" Sariel chuckled, frowning at Maddison as he shook his head. "Or not-er..." she put her hand down to the level of the stool. "Since I was yay high sir!"


    Maddison grabbed her hand to stop the charade, greeting the scowling bartender with a feverish smile. "Look. We don''t actually know each other. Like I said, I found her like this, and I''m just helping her get a job..."


    He grabbed another mug to wipe, slamming it down on the counter with a little extra force. Maddison eyed the empty mug in confusion, clicking into the signal when he saw the two hulking shadows come up behind him. He remained calm, feeling a firm hand on his shoulder as Gregorich leaned in close, his voice filled with the venom of a disappointed parent. "Now look here, I don''t care who you think you are, but I care about what you see when you look at a sweet girl like her." He motioned to Sariel, the grip on Maddison''s shoulder tightening as he straightened and raised his voice to a boom. "There ain''t any reason you should see nothin short of another human being beside you! You people who see em as inferior tools are the worst kind of folk, abandoning em in places like this cause they can''t turn you a profit! There isn''t a single hell-sent depth to Oblivion that can compare to your actions, ain''t no place from heaven to six feet under, no world with any sense that would think that''s okay! Now you leave her here and scram, and if I ever see yer scummy face I''ll stuff it with a pitchfork!"


    Maddison paced himself. Gregorich''s tone had earned them an entire tavern of an audience. Luckily, it wasn''t a city tavern, where every second sorcerer was a fire hazard in a drunken fight. But there was still a stray mining pick lying about the tables, which would make for a dicey exit if things turned violent. "I don''t think we''re on the same page..."


    "You don''t think so?" Gregorich dropped his gaze to Sariel, the soothing smile returning as he darted his gaze at the mercenary like a hungry snake. "How much did he pay ya for givin out your services?"


    "Pay me?" Sariel chuckled, shaking her head. "Haven''t had a day o'' pay since I started breathin sir. Mr. Ma-er..." She stared at him with a concentrated squint as her mouth curved in confusion while she remembered his last name. "Mr. Mercenary here''s a nice fellow. Ain''t no reason to be scolding him."


    "Mr. Mercenary?" The bartender scowled at Maddison as he slowly hid his face in his hands, the hostility gripping the bar suddenly jolting through the roof.

 8. Dietary Restrictions

    For some reason, Corian couldn¡¯t bring himself to sleep, and being awake for days on end didn¡¯t prove to be as hindering as he¡¯d first thought.


    The wagon had stopped for quite some time now. But through the thick blankets Inprobus had bolted to every window, Corian had quickly lost track of the time of day. It was measured in erratic stops, without sight or sound to help him. Normally, the morning birds would act as a count for the number of days he had been in his position, but the forest life refused to sing around his father, even when he was a child.


    Still, they had been stopped for what seemed like hours. It was likely safe.


    He reached under his back, pulling out the single object that had fed his boredom and tethered his sanity. A pebble. No larger than the tip of his thumb, and far from perfect or attractive. The gift had likely been lodged in a soldier¡¯s boot, and he was thankful it had been missed by the new recruits who were occasionally tasked with sweeping the space.


    He balanced the small rock on the back of his thumb, flicking it so it sailed into the air and barely missed the roof of the wagon. It came sailing back down, bouncing off his forehead and rolling off the right side of his head.


    He smiled. It hadn¡¯t struck the ceiling, and he got a bullseye. One point.


    He grabbed the pebble, posing for another shot when a voice greeted him.


    ¡°Corian.¡±


    He shot up, looking around the dark space with wide eyes. Sure he felt fine after being awake for days on end, but that didn¡¯t mean there weren¡¯t going to be side effects. Like hearing voices.


    ¡°Corian.¡±


    He held his breath, looking around urgently as the voice seemed to emanate from somewhere inside, but the cage was eerily empty.


    ¡°Corian, sweet face.¡±


    He finally clicked in on the voice, the panic melting to irritation as he shuffled over to a small circular hole in the corner of the carriage, too small for him to squeeze through; not that he wanted to use a toilet as his means of escape anyways. As he peeked over the rim he locked gazes with Quibbis¡¯ yellowed eyes, greeted by the usual stitched grin as he snickered.


    ¡°Oh my, you found me darling.¡±


    Corian slowly drew away from his sight, hugging his knees with a bored sigh as he stared at the wall. Quiet scraping shuffles came from his right, but he wasn¡¯t in the mood to try and watch Quibbis fit through the toilet, despite his round head getting stuck before his shoulders could even have a go at breaking physics.


    ¡°You don¡¯t fit.¡± Corian watched his arms flail around like a spider stuck on its back, grabbing his hand and catching a glimmer of hope in Quibbis¡¯ eyes before ripping off one of his fingers and tossing it in the corner. A couple specks of crushed dry leaves and grass trickled out of the appendage as it made its journey across the wagon. Perhaps the most disturbing thing about Quibbis was the way he had been made. In his father¡¯s words, muscle and bone were a waste of magic, when a body moved fine with just the skin.


    Corian greeted Quibbis¡¯ pout with a cold glare. ¡°Use the door sock puppet.¡±


    Quibbis let off a defeated hum, pulling his arms down and popping the top half of his head through to give Corian a childish glare. ¡°That was my favourite finger¡­ aside from¡­ well you know.¡± He chuckled at Corian¡¯s disgusted sigh. ¡°My pinky, I like my left pinky more.¡± His voice trailed off as he crawled out from underneath the wagon and jingled with the lock on the door.


    The wagon filled with light when he got the door open, drawing a hiss of pain out of Corian when the light assaulted his eyes. Despite his displeasure, Quibbis left it wide open as he stomped over to the corner his finger had landed in. Corian had tried to escape at least three times now by exploiting Quibbis¡¯ lack of security, but his memory was a bit fuzzy on the real number after the number of arrows Rikka had planted in the back of his head.


    Quibbis brushed off his detached finger, his stitches stretching with a frown. ¡°That wasn¡¯t very nice, sweet face.¡± His entertainment returned as Corian fed him with silence. ¡°Are you breathing? You do know you don¡¯t have to-¡±


    ¡°Go away and bug one of the guards,¡± Corian growled, burying his face in his knees to try and sleep again. There was a tiny shuffle of Quibbis¡¯ robes, not enough for him to have reached the door, and the amplification of his rotting stench gave away his position.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Corian locked onto him with an irritated scowl as he sat inches from his face, the hostile silence returning while Quibbis chuckled.


    ¡°You¡¯re even cuter when you¡¯re angry, sweet face!¡±


    Corian sighed, shifting his position to lie down and face the wall. Ignoring Quibbis was the best way to get rid of him, right next to screaming for help; but that attracted his father without fail.


    Quibbis poked Corian¡¯s cheek with his detached finger, trying a few more attempts for a reaction that wasn¡¯t coming. He sighed, sitting back and pulling some spare string and a needle out of his boot, casually sewing his finger back on while whistling a cheery tune. When he finished his work with a little bow tie he rested his gaze upon Corian again. ¡°Are you hungry, little ghouly?¡±


    Corian couldn¡¯t help but get up to inspect the source of the wet splat behind him, looking at the chunk of meat and Quibbis¡¯ ecstatic smile with a grimace.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Quibbis poked the chunk of meat as Corian¡¯s disgusted expression remained strong. ¡°It¡¯s fresh bristleback, hasn¡¯t been in my pocket long.¡±


    Corian looked away with a sigh, his response a forced mutter of embarrassment that Quibbis couldn¡¯t catch with the lack of red on his face. ¡°I¡¯m a vegetarian¡­¡±


    The longest pause fell over the two, followed by a high-pitched squeal as Quibbis tried to hold in his laughter with a blank expression, but the dam broke with spitting cackles as his eyes pooled over with tears and he held his stomach while falling to his back. Corian allowed the scene to continue as he stared at Quibbis with a defensive frown.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that funny¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, sweet face! Yes it is! Your father is unfathomably cruel!¡± Quibbis elevated his moderate laughter to asinine cackles. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I don¡¯t have to breathe either! I¡¯ll be doing this all day!¡±


    Corian cursed under his breath at the drumming footsteps that came closer, a large shadow taking the wagon as Inprobus marched through, immediately cutting Quibbis¡¯ laughter short as the necromancer jumped to his feet to stand like a soldier. ¡°No attempts at escape Pr-Inprrobus!¡±


    Inprobus¡¯ mouth twitched in disgust. ¡°I know. I don¡¯t recall asking you to watch him.¡±


    ¡°Well, you didn¡¯t tell me not to.¡± Quibbis quickly ducked away from a dagger Inprobus threw at him, chuckling timidly.


    ¡°Speak only when instructed to, puppet.¡± He scoured the room, his brow permanently scrunched in disgusted malice as the chunk of meat grabbed his attention. ¡°So you fed him?¡± Before Quibbis opened his mouth he lifted his finger. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a question.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was. There was clearly a question mark behind it.¡± Corian retorted, his cocky smile quickly fading as Inprobus dug a glare into him.


    ¡°It was rhetorical.¡±


    ¡°You could¡¯ve just spared this pointless conversation by going, so you fed him. You know that, right?¡±


    Inprobus¡¯ lip twitched at the retort, and he held his open palm out to the necromancer. ¡°Dagger.¡±


    Corian tensed up in fear as Quibbis tugged the dagger out of the wall and hurriedly placed it in his palm. He felt his fingers instinctively curl up as he hid his face, expecting some sort of pain to follow suit.


    Inprobus chuckled at the sight, slipping the blade back into its sheath. ¡°I was going to feed you anyways, I suppose Quibbis has done my job for me.¡± Inprobus continued, kicking the chunk of meat closer to Corian. ¡°Feel free to eat it, the dead don¡¯t catch illnesses.¡±


    Quibbis cleared his throat with a very quiet ¡°Sir¡­¡±, shrinking away as he faced Inprobus¡¯ burning glare. ¡°Small problem...¡±


    ¡°Spit it out.¡±


    ¡°Oh no¡­ I didn¡¯t bite someone¡¯s nose off again.¡± He pointed at Corian. ¡°He¡¯s a-¡± Quibbis couldn¡¯t compose himself, bursting into laughter again. ¡°Did you¡­ Did you know he was a vegetarian?¡±


    Inprobus looked at Corian with a suppressed smile. ¡°You¡¯re not a vegetarian.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I am, skathead.¡±


    ¡°Not anymore.¡± Inprobus turned back to Quibbis who was still cackling. ¡°Seal your mouth before I carve out your vocal cords.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not eating that.¡± Corian grabbed the meat and tossed it in the potty hole. He turned his gaze from his father so he didn¡¯t have to see the cold glare he was likely wearing. ¡°I¡¯m dead, it¡¯s not like I have to eat anyways.¡±


    ¡°What will you eat then?¡±


    ¡°Bread.¡± Corian jumped in surprise at his father¡¯s compliance as a slightly hardened chunk of bread dropped at his feet.


    He stopped himself from grabbing it when his father crouched down, panic swelling in his chest as he held Inprobus¡¯ gaze. He grabbed the piece of bread, pressing it into Corian¡¯s hand with an unnerving smile. ¡°Don¡¯t let me stop you.¡±


    Corian hesitantly stared at the bread, obeying Inprobus¡¯ prompting nod and taking a small bite. He kept himself from grimacing at the tangy backtaste, chewing through the stale morsel and painfully swallowing it.


    ¡°Well? How is it?¡± Inprobus mused. ¡°Good?¡±


    Corian wordlessly nodded, taking another bite to sell the lie.


    ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± Inprobus replied, smacking the crumbs off his glove. He stopped, his eyes drawn to the small pebble a few of the specks had fallen on. With a suppressed smile he grabbed the small stone, pocketing it.


    Corian kept his dismay from reaching his face, knowing full well his father was probing for a reaction. After a couple painful seconds, he got up, skimming the ground for any more objects before shooting Corian an empty smile. ¡°It¡¯s rather grimy in here, I¡¯ll get a cleaner in.¡±


    Quibbis went to speak, simply staring at Corian munching on the snack with escalating worry as Inprobus grabbed the back of his cloak and dragged him out of the wagon to leave Corian in peaceful silence.

 9. Hit the Road

    Maddison tried to shrug the hand off his shoulder to leave, swinging around when it pressed down harder. He greeted the scowling farmer with a challenging glare, tapping the hilt of his sword as a silent warning to move aside. "Not looking to fight."


    "Heroguard won''t take well to you drawing that here." Gregorich chimed, grabbing another mug to give a good wipe. He nodded to two grinning miners who had already strapped their knuckles up with leather. "Teach him a lesson."


    Maddison looked around for something that could speed up the inevitable fight. This likely wasn''t Gregorich''s first rowdy customer from the way he had laid the counter bare of cutlery or anything with a point. But that didn''t dissuade Maddison. Sariel had something perfectly non-lethal in her hands.


    He ripped the mug of water out of Sariel''s hands, swinging it to strike the farmer holding him in the side of the head. The man stumbled to the side, completely tripping over the leg Maddison graciously stuck out for him. The swift act of aggression gripped the rest of the tavern, a few tables standing up to close in on the scene. Maddison checked around for the observers and the fighters, keeping the ones holding tools in the corner of his eye as he went for the miners who had wrapped their knuckles up. He was able to wrestle one of them to the ground before the rest of the crowd came, poising to strike his next target with the sturdy mug.


    He opened his mouth to speak and try to offer an ultimatum when he felt something strike his head. The impact was dulled by the cold liquid that cascaded down his shoulders with a small shower of glass. The barmaid standing close to him gasped when she realized the strike hadn''t knocked him out, holding up her tray as a small barrier of protection. "Thanks," Maddison growled, ripping the tray out of her hands and swinging it left to collide with the closest hostile face. As his tray met the charging miner, he felt an impact to his back that rattled his ribs. It wasn''t the barmaid this time, it was a farmer who had taken advantage of the distraction to plant a powerful kick in his back. He fought to keep his balance, stumbling right into a fresh fist to the face that sent him to the ground.


    Sariel had gotten a sense of the situation pretty quickly when Maddison hit the ground, much to her audience''s confusion. She started by grabbing an empty stool, swinging it down on the man pinning Maddison to the ground.


    The boisterous hostility died a little as the crowd beheld the broken stool in Sariel''s hands. A few observers exchanged their confusion as Sariel shoved the unconscious man off of Maddison and pulled the mercenary to his feet. Once she had him on her shoulder, she stood straight, pointing the broken stool leg she''d held onto around to keep the confused crowd at bay. She led Maddison out of the tavern, dropping him off on a chunk of hay sitting snug beside Horse.


    With the short break, Maddison was able to recover from the five or six shots to the head, his ringing ears calming to Sariel''s distant voice.


    "Now I swear on me last set of socks, if one of you lot go and give my friend here some sour service like that again I''ll do a lot more than bite you." Sariel belted, keeping a wall of hulking men at bay at the door. "I don''t much like fighting like the other girls in my town, but that don''t mean I don''t bite my nails sharp as a last resort! Now who''s gonna come out here and apologize first?"


    "Apologize?" Gregorich''s voice rose through from the back of the bar, the man parting the wall to present himself to Sariel with a stern glare. "Come inside, you''re obviously confused. We''ll keep you safe from that scum using you."


    Maddison caught Gregorich''s dirty look, shaking his head as he went back to brushing the broken glass out of his hair.


    "Usin'' me? For what?" Sariel said, cocking her head as she folded her arms. "Seems like you lost half yer brain and sat on what''s left. I been tellin you lot Maddison here''s a good fellow, you don''t go bashin good fellows on the head with bottles."


    "Good fellows don''t go around selling a young lady''s ''services''." Gregorich retorted.


    "Well, he hasn''t done that either. Haven''t passed any soldiers that want them boots shined. I give em a good spit too, makes em all sparkly."


    Gregorich relaxed, his eyebrows raising as the miners surrounding him muttered in confusion. "Boots... shined?"


    "Right you are sir."


    "Boots?"


    Sariel nodded, earning a deep sigh from Gregorich. Maddison let out his frustrations by resting his forehead in his palm, shooing Horse away when he tried to lick the wine off his shoulder pads. He heard some steps crunching towards him, lifting his head as Gregorich joined his side on the haystack. The man dropped a clean rag on Maddison''s knee, keeping his chin high as his mouth creased with a frown. "If you don''t make a fuss about this, I''ll make sure nobody mentions all the noses you broke."


    Maddison dropped the mug he had swiped in Gregorich''s lap, the bartender grimacing at the flecks of red sitting on almost every edge of the cup. "Nice mugs, good quality," Maddison muttered, rubbing the rag through his wine-soaked hair before dropping it on the ground, and pulling Horse''s reigns to depart.


    "That was mighty rude of em to attack you like that," Sariel said, her voice muffled by chewing as she nibbled on a hunk of bread she had probably stolen on her way out of the tavern. "Don''t think I want a job there."


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "And I''m positive you wouldn''t get one even if you wanted to," Maddison growled, flicking a shard of glass off his shoulder. He eyed the shops around them, hoping he''d catch a glimpse of an elder at the stands. Someone who could use a young person with too much energy and enthusiasm.


    "Yer surprisingly sturdy, why I barely helped ya with that stool!" She cheered, shoving the rest of the bread in her mouth with a satisfied mmm.


    Maddison kept his scowl, most of the townsfolk could pick up that he was a mercenary simply by his armour, and with Sariel''s disheveled appearance, it was understandable that they were assuming he''d done that to her. He took in his spectators, walking Sariel behind a small cluster of trees. "Okay, this is how it''s going to be."


    Sariel watched him unclip his cloak, stepping back a little as he thrusted it out to her. "Now hold it right there Mr. Mercenary." She gave the cloak a stern glare. "You didn''t pay me or nothin to wash that."


    "I don''t want you to wash it, just put it on so you don''t look like a slave."


    She grabbed the cloak and sniffed it, scrunching up her nose with a gag. "You could slay a bloodhound with this. What''s so bad about looking like a slave?"


    "Because people think you''re my slave!"


    "Ooooh..." She gave the cloak a hard stare. "Say Mr. Mercenary, how much do slaves get paid?"


    "Zip." Maddison watched Sariel pull the cloak over her shoulders, its tattered tail dragging across the ground as its massive size completely covered her. Instead of a slave, she now looked more like a poor cultist. "Small question, what do you think my last name is?"


    Sariel perked up, watching him proudly. "Course I know the name of my saviour to heart. The Mercenary, last name ya got. Maddison Sungard The Mercenary!"


    "That''s not my last name!" Maddison burst, looking around to make sure his yelling hadn''t attracted attention. He dropped his voice to shaking calmness as he gently grabbed her shoulder. "It''s Maddison Sungard, being a mercenary is my job. It''s not a name, okay? Last names usually don''t change like that."


    Sariel slowly nodded. "Oh... So does that mean my job is The Black Wit-"


    Maddison quickly covered her mouth. "You''re not a witch. You''re a normal person with terrible luck, alright?" He nodded, waiting for Sariel to nod along with him. "You''re not a witch."


    "I''m not a witch." Sariel nodded. "Alright, thanks a ton fer clearing that up Mr. Mer-er uh... Mr. Sungard."


    "Good. I''m going to turn in my rental, maybe the stable master is hiring." He moved to leave the cover of the trees, cocking his head over his shoulder to give Sariel a stern glare. "Remember. Don''t tell them about your ''services'', don''t even mention your ''services''. Tell them you tripped and fell down a small cliff if they ask about the bandages, and you''re NOT a witch."


    "Got it." Sariel gave him a thumbs up, following him back onto the street and walking up to Horse to scratch his forehead.


    Maddison briskly led them through the streets, holding the mount''s reigns as he constantly checked the street signs for directions. They were almost through the entire town when his gaze rested upon a small stable nestled by the outskirts of the town hall. He knew the tender there had quite a few years on him, and he hadn''t seen a stable hand. Before he could move towards it, however, two sharply dressed soldiers came out of an alley, walking side by side and chatting as they probed the town with hungry eyes. They weren''t the town guard. Not the usual ones at least. Decked out in chain mail, and boasting the gaudy golden sigil of the Heroguard, these were the last guards Maddison wanted to run into. And the fact that they had been posted here meant something had happened to spur the orders from their central command.


    Something like a witch killing a noble family''s Hero.


    Maddison seized up, dipping his head as they approached so he wouldn''t draw any attention. But Sariel wasn''t catching the signals of a sour situation, waving at the two with a cheery smile. "Afternoon, you two almost look like heroes!"


    They stopped, their glares relaxing to warm smiles as they looked over the group. "Hello miss, seen anything odd around here?"


    She looked around the town. "Haven''t been here much to be honest, but there''s a bartender back that way with a temper worse than a skarkmouth in burnin daylight. Why do you ask?"


    "One of the king''s generals called an inspection. We''re lookin for a witch."


    Maddison held back a string of curses as the two guards eyed Sariel curiously. One wrong move and they could detain her for a reason as stupid as blinking too much.


    "Oh my, good luck with that you two." Sariel chuckled warmly, forcing both of the soldiers into a handshake. "I''m not a witch. Didn''t see any bonafide witches back the way we came either."


    "We did see some smoke though." Maddison interrupted. "Sizeable stream, we decided to stay clear of it. It''s south from here, close to a waterfall."


    One of the soldiers scribbled into a small book. "Huh, thanks." He looked at Sariel, then at the fresh scratches and bruises covering Maddison. It was easy to tell the injuries had been sustained at different times, and the pungent smell of wine gave away the reason for Maddison''s condition. The soldier paid Sariel a smile, motioning to a softer bruise near her collarbone. "What happened to you miss?"


    "Fell offa cliff, good thing there was water for Mr. Sungard to pull me out."


    "With a rope," Maddison added, pointing at the coil wrapped to Horse''s harness.


    Every second of silence counted as an eternity. Maddison discreetly rested his hand on a sword concealed in his belt, holding his breath as the soldiers scanned his weapons, their gazes falling on Sariel as the gears worked in their heads. He didn''t see any sigils on their armour, or a tome that could imply a magical affinity. He could take them both on if he had to, but Heroguard squadrons always had at least six members. There would be at least four others running over to assist, and the squadron commander would have a grasp of basic magic, or a Follower with an affinity.


    A split second before Maddison was about to draw his blade, one of the soldiers nodded. "Thanks for your help guys, have a good day."


    Maddison relaxed as they continued their walk, catching fragments of their conversation that died with distance. "Probably hunters."- "Sweet girl, that big one was pretty shifty."


    Sariel chuckled, looking at Maddison with a mischievous smirk as she dropped her voice to a whisper. "Good thing they were idiots, huh?"


    He nodded, grabbing her and hoisting her onto Horse. The Heroguard wasn''t going to stop their investigation until they found a witch to blame. And as an outsider, Sariel would be at the top of the list. She couldn''t be left somewhere the Heroguard had their thumb in the pie, that was practically a death sentence. "I know another town that might have a job opening."


    "What about this one?"


    "All out I''m afraid," Maddison replied, unlatching his rolled-up map to hand off to Sariel. "So you can make your way back if you need to."


    Sariel held the map, hardly able to control her excitement at the gift. "I suppose I wouldn''t mind seein'' another town."


    Maddison nodded, not even looking over his shoulder as he jumped on Horse and broke the mount into a swift gallop to escape the clutches of the town.

 10. Enter: The... Villains?

    Night pulled its shimmering cloak over the sky, illuminating the flickers of ash that still danced in the frigid air like falling stars. The trees whispered in the breeze - at least, most of them did. A few screamed and cracked as a hulking purple beast lumbered into the serene setting, huffing and puffing like it was about to blow over a straw hut. It scanned the brun wreckage around it, glowing yellow eyes darting around hungrily for any movement. A man came skipping after it, jumping around the wreckage of splintered trees to stand beside the monster. He held his hands up to his hair, trying to warm them a little bit over the flickering flames that acted as his follicles. "Cold."


    The beast snarled, sauntering forward as the man quickly followed it, hugging himself to keep some warmth. "You need to stop it with the midnight snacks." He watched it continue towards a charcoaled building, eyeing the rest of the stilled chaos for anything that could tell him part of the story that had happened here. There were traces of magic splattered across the ground carelessly, likely the source of the flames that had grown beyond control.


    He scoured for more details, looking for opposing traces of the magic that had scorched the place. A lack of this detail gave him another piece of the puzzle. It was a massacre.


    He pulled a threaded necklace out of his robes, rolling the glowing crystal strung to it in his palm as he closed his eyes. A familiar voice tickled his mind, its voice sharp as ice as it echoed in his head. "Heroes."


    He jumped at the sound of a loud snap, shooting the large purple creature a glare as it yanked the roof off of a larger hut. He watched it reach in to scoop out a handful of charred corpses, grimacing as it gobbled down the lot.


    "You''re gonna need some breath mints." He gagged, holding his nose to stave the wretched scent that had escaped the building. "Boy these heroes are really something aren''t they Hord''anne?" He turned away to cough, escaping to sit on a toppled log and turn his investigation to a book bound to his satchel. Hord''anne joined him after a couple of minutes, dropping beside him on the uprooted tree trunk and successfully crushing it into splintered rubble. The man chuckled, looking around at the film of ash all around them. "You think it''s rude if I set up a campfire here?"


    Hord''anne chuffed.


    "You''re right! No one''s here to judge us." He looked up at the sky, squinting before grabbing his necklace again. "Or we could get a head start and find out who did this."


    Hord''anne stopped chewing the last bit of squishy charcoal in his mouth, giving his full attention to the man as he stared at the glowing crystal. The man''s expression gradually fell as he stared at it. "Says we don''t belong in that story," he scoffed, Hord''anne miming his scoff. He let go of the crystal, kicking at a mound of ashes in disappointment.


    But Hord''anne wasn''t so quick to give up, chuffing out a few choice growls that seemed to bring a flicker of life back to the man''s fiery hair.


    "You''re not wrong. Where there''s a story, there''s a hero - a protagonist. And look at what this one did." He motioned to the scorched village, a devious twinkle in his eyes as he snapped open his book. "Wouldn''t they be fun to kill?" He kicked a mark in the dirt, dragging his foot to start at a circle. "And it''s not like we know they probably went northwards to the closest town, since the only thing south of here is bushwacking and undead."


    Hord''anne rose to his feet with a growl, cracking his knuckles and letting loose a bellowing roar.


    "You sure?" The man said, looking at the crystal with sudden timidness. "If we don''t listen to her we might run into a protagonist with plot armour so thick we die in some skatty, illogical way."


    Hord''anne let out a puff of air as the man nodded.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "You''re right, screw em. Death to the protagonists!" He snapped his fingers, the markings he had made in the dirt glowing white. In a flash the man and his beast vanished, leaving only the swept circle from whence they stood.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Corian sat there, face down and done with life, literally and figuratively. He''d finally gotten it all out, and was hungrier than ever now. But after a whole day of sitting out under the wagon''s potty-hole, he wasn''t going to lay a finger on the chunk of meat he had discarded. The bread definitely had something in it, and he''d been throwing up every soggy crumb of fluffy wheat since he''d finished his last bite.


    The carriage lock rattled, pulling Corian''s attention as Rikkihalynia walked in. They quietly came upon Corian''s side, nudging him with their foot. Corian turned his head to glare at his masked sibling. "Go away Rikka."


    They failed to listen, grabbing his shoulders and weakly dragging him towards the door before he struggled out of the hold and got to his feet.


    "I can walk stupid. What do you want?"


    Corian looked to where they were pointing. Through the shade of the forest, Inprobus and Quibbis were standing by a small bonfire, staring at a sheet of paper. He complied with Rikkihaylnia''s gesture, walking across the clearing with the loud clang of his chained cuffs announcing his presence.


    Quibbis came up to him, stopping him from stepping on something near the ground and pointing at the mysterious sight. Corian stared at the large footprint, frowning at the blackened grass that had completely withered in the indent. "A bear?"


    "With hands?" Improbus growled, motioning to a tree crushed at the middle with a searing handprint on its bark. He didn''t share Corian''s look of fear, instead walking along the trampled trees and stroking a scorch mark. "His majesty has become especially interested in a fabled demon come to life. It is my duty to hunt down this creature. He wants it stuffed and mounted for his new wife."


    Corian furrowed his brow. "Isn''t the wedding over?"


    "No, that one was executed last week. New wife."


    Corian rolled his eyes. "Lucky her."


    Inprobus ripped a chunk of scorched bark out of the tree and walked over to Corian. "You, ghoul. Can you track its scent?"


    "Excuse me?" Corian spat, folding his arms. "For one, I''m not a ghoul. Ghouls aren''t humans, so even if I''m a living corpse I''m still a hu-" His lesson was interrupted with choked gargles as Inprobus grabbed his throat.


    "Shut up. I hereby declare you a blight to the holy sigil, a blight thusforth named Ghoul." He shoved the chunk of seared bark in his face. "Follow this scent."


    Corian sniffed it while Inprobus still gripped his throat. It smelt foul. Beyond the burnt wood that blasted his nose, something decayed and rotten wriggled in. Like a batch of old eggs that had been forgotten in the cellar. "Smells like skat." He ripped Inprobus'' hand off his throat, waving off the scent with a gag. "Guess what? This entire place smells like skat! Follow the footprints! There''s not a lot of places a lumbering beast like that can hide you halfwitted dragon arse!"


    Inprobus drew a dagger, slicing Corian''s throat to cut off further scolding and kicking him to the ground. He wiped the blade, pointing at the wagon with a burning scowl. "Lock him back up!"


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Maddison vigorously scrubbed his cloak, pulling it out of the stream and wringing it out to sniff with a grimace; Sariel was right for once, it smelled like death. He''d sworn he''d washed it at least two missions ago, and it hadn''t been sprayed that bad. He sighed, plunging it back into the river for more scrubbing as he looked to his right at Sariel. She was casually plucking dead strands of long grass from the root of a tree, weaving them together into the start of a bowl. She looked up and locked gazes with him, slowly narrowing her eyes as she plucked a piece of grass without breaking the uncomfortable stare down.


    "What?" Maddison frowned as she averted her gaze back to weaving the bowl. "You keep doing that, what''s wrong?"


    "Be straight with me," she replied, pointing a piece of grass at him like it was a deadly sword.


    Maddison cocked an eyebrow, pulling his cloak out of the stream to sniff again. "Sure."


    "You one of em scammers?"


    "What? No! I-" Maddison thought for a moment. "Why do you think I''m a scammer?"


    "Well you straight up kidnapped me and stole Horse there," she retorted, motioning to the mount that sat obediently beside a tree. "Yer actin mighty suspicious there Mr. Sungard."


    "I helped you! Those were royal soldiers! They''re looking for The Black Witch that killed their hero, they''re looking for you!"


    "You said I''m not a witch," Sariel argued. "So yer saying you lied?"


    "No, you''re not a witch. It''s just that the king''s generals think you are. They''re wrong, but they don''t know that, or they just don''t care. So it''s best to get as far away from that place as possible so they don''t catch your face."


    Sariel gave him a hard stare, her eyes still narrowed as she slowly turned back to weaving the bowl, plunging the scene into silence once more.

 11. Junk Mail

    Daylight danced through the trees as Hord''anne mercilessly mowed them down for no apparent reason, other than being too fat and lazy to go around them. The man stayed two steps behind the carnage at all times, trying to hide his nerves as he clutched the crystal pendant in his palm. It had been paying him the silent treatment, which wasn''t unusual, he wasn''t the only one it spoke to. But a spell of silence after inadvertently disobeying it was never a good sign.


    "Come on, you said my job was to kill protagonists, heroes, goody two shoes."


    His heart skipped a little as the crystal glowed, the soft voice filling his head. "Cody was so distracted with talking to the void he didn''t notice as the clumsy oaf called Hord''anne stubbed his toe on a log."


    Hord''anne stumbled, giving the log in front of him a harsh kick as payback.


    "Hey!" Cody snapped, giving the crystal his best pout. "Stop narrating. We know there''s a protagonist!"


    Cody was, what many he met would call, a special case. His false omnipotence could be traced to a single culprit. He had pledged patronage to a goddess of living ink; Alina, Goddess of Stories. Known well but rarely worshipped en masse. The goddess had a taste for dramatic prose, be it frivolous parties, mythic acts of heroism, or unspeakable war crimes. Many of her temples and cults had fallen to the latter eventually, and never recovered. Given her reputation for bloodshed and suffering, she had taken on a habit in the past thousand years of targeting individuals of a very specific caliber.


    Cody and his purple pet Hord''anne, were two such creatures that had fit the deity''s standards.


    Cody was enraptured in his youth by the allure of fiction, which allowed him to completely detach from the reality around him. He had inevitably sought out the goddesses'' aid, and earned her blessing in exchange for his name and a life of servitude. The goddess had called him Cody, and with her gift, he was able to hear her words at most times of the day, and glean her insights as she sent him off to play out stories with her other followers. It was a dream come true for him. A dream to live in any story, other than his very own.


    Hord''anne wasn''t so deep in his goals. Goddess in one ear or not, he was there because Cody fed him. The beast would sacrifice its first-born child for a honey roast pig.


    While the goddess was a master of stories, reality was still her canvas. Even she could not predict with full certainty what would happen, she could only coax her followers into telling her tales.


    The voice tickled Cody''s brain again, more stern in its tone. "While perhaps right, as he had been told time and time again, this story had its positions filled. There was no room to be had for a villain in the tale."


    "We''ve been storyless for months! Might as well steal a cottage and settle down at this rate."


    "Cody yelled dramatically." The crystal hummed.


    Cody sighed, jumping over the last bit of tree debris Hord''anne left and stepping onto a flat trail. He stepped up to two wooden pikes sticking out of the ground, once holding up a bridge that had let them cross the massive ravine in front of them. That was, until Hord''anne got himself tangled up in it somehow on their first pass-through. He grabbed his spell book and a random rock, tracing out a small incantation on the stone and hurling it across to the other side. As soon as it struck the ground a spray of mist exploded around him, and in a blink, he had swapped places with it.


    He looked back at Hord''anne, whistling for the beast to follow him across. With a couple uncomfortable cracks and squelches, Hord''anne was able to sprout a pair of wings, just sturdy enough to keep him up in the air as he flapped along to make it over to the other side.


    Cody held the crystal up to the sunlight as he continued his walk. "So, what''s so secret about this story that you don''t want me poking around in? Is it violent? Horribly dark and twisted?"


    "Love." the crystal mused.


    Cody planted his feet, every shred of motivation shriveling at the single word. He turned to Hord''anne, waiting for the beast to recover its energy enough to pay him some attention "We''re leaving."


    Hord''anne grunted incredulously, pointing at the trail with a questioning warble.


    "I don''t know! We''ll just..." He pointed off in the distance to a set of foothills looming over the prairie. "We''ll go that way! There probably isn''t much in the way of people, but I''m sure there''s other stuff to eat."


    Hord''anne let out a whining moan, tromping off the trail to head off in the direction Cody had pointed.


    ----------------------


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Sariel popped awake with a stretch from her lunchtime nap, staring at Maddison as he sharpened his crude sword in the usual condescending fashion. "You know Maddison, I''m surprised."


    He kept to his task. "About what?"


    "We''ve got a surprisin'' lack of bug bites given that we don''t have a hut or nothin''. Maybe it''s cause you smell like iron and skat." She said, oblivious to the scowl she had earned. Her eyes suddenly widened as she gasped. "Mr. Maddison!"


    "Sungard." He growled, seizing up as she grabbed his shoulders.


    "You smell like iron! I have green eyes! By Garson''s Grace, we''re a witch!"


    Maddison put his hand over her mouth, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Are you capable of going a single day without yelling witch?"


    "Right there, sorry sir." She scratched her head, flicking a flea out from under her nail as Maddison grimaced. "But we''re a witch."


    He sighed. "So we''re both witches now?"


    She shook her head. "Nope. we''re a witch."


    "Sariel, we''re two people... and I''m a guy."


    "So?"


    "So if I could use dark magics. Which I can''t. I''d be a warlock. You''d be a witch because you''re a girl."


    Sariel paused in thought, her vacant expression hardening to a glare. "But I want to be a warlock! That''s no fair Maddison!"


    "You can''t cause your-" He stopped, taking a second to work through how this conversation was inevitably going to end. With a nod, he conceded, forcing a smile as he patted her shoulder. "You know what? Be whatever you want."


    "Yes! I''m a warlock!"


    "Just don''t scream it to the public!" Maddison burst, getting to his feet and pulling Horse''s saddle on. He checked the empty trail for the hundredth time. "Lunchbreak is over."


    "Right, sir. So you said you aren''t a scammer, and I''m givin'' ya the benefit of the doubt right now cause you''re sweet. But do you suppose Medila would walk this far to find me?"


    Maddison glanced over his shoulder at the days of travel they had done, paying Sariel a confident nod. "Definitely."


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Corian pressed his ear against the wagon door. With enough focus, he could hear past the obstacle rather clearly. Practicing his eavesdropping was yet another hobby he had discovered to stave his boredom. He had been invested in a conversation between two soldiers on guard debating whether the barmaid they had seen in the last town was flirting when she had stumbled and dropped a plate of drinks while passing their table.


    They seemed to be the only two that were still awake and on patrol. Quibbis didn''t sleep either, so he was probably having his fun with the abundance of sleeping men, but he was quiet enough to shirk Corian''s attempts at listening for him. Corian moved his attention to trying to discern his father''s snore amongst the cacophony, his game interrupted by the batting hoofbeats of an approaching creature. He scuttled away from the door when it rounded the wagon, his entire body tensing in fearful anticipation for his father to come bursting in.


    "Sir Inprobus!"


    Corian perked at the unfamiliar voice, his curiosity pulling him back to the door. He risked pushing the door open a crack to peek at the scene, the door opening barely a sliver with the chains in the way. He could see the visitor standing outside of the largest white tent, torch in hand while he stood patiently with a small bundle of papers and a steed at his side. His father''s stern growl answered the mysterious visitor before he peeked out, his eyes squeezed into a tired squint as he sized up the stranger. "What is it? Speak quickly."


    "The village sir, traces of a demon and a transportation spell. Our scouts have an update on the direction it''s headed" There were a few shuffles of paper as he handed a booklet to him. "You also have three letters from the king, and seven flyers."


    "I thought I told you runners to stop soliciting!"


    The runner cleared his throat. "That being said, you forgot to update your payment to our add-free services, as such we had no choice but to give you flyers. I will also read out three promotions of the week before providing you with the last report on The Black Witch." He cleared his throat. "Balding troubles? Look no further than Lance A Locks, the number one-"


    "Skip," Inprobus growled.


    "Sorry sir, you''ve got to hear at least three seconds of it." he cleared his throat again. "Look no further than Lance A Locks, the number one hotspot in trendy wigs with zero ice drake hai-"


    "Skip."


    "Very well. It''s that time of the year again! The flowers are a blooming and you''re ready to cut down some vicious beasts, but not without Gargamouth''s trusty Pain Train 9000 battle ki-"


    "Skip."


    "Last one." The messenger shuffled through some papers. "Now let''s see here... Ah! Demons? Spirits? Ghosts? Father Calsiprop has you covered, with a potent and affordable concoction of bonafide holy water-"


    "Skip. But I''ll take one." Inprobus said, sticking his hand out expectantly as the messenger stared at it with a feverish smile.


    "Sold out. Cabin full of guys snagged my stock after they played around with a board of wood. Apparently, it was ''possessed''." He said, waving his fingers with a chuckle. "Now yer last battle report. Three women matching your description were spotted, two of them were captured, but the last one was a friendly father-daughter duo of hunters. Guards didn''t bother."


    "Very well. Where were they spotted?"


    The messenger stopped, staring at Inprobus in confusion. "That''s concerning."


    "What?"


    "Thought you''d just shrug that one off and be like ''Bring me the prisoners!''" The messenger shrugged, ignoring his scowling audience. "Spotted in the town of Stonesong, but they were on their way out headin'' north."


    "We''re going that way anyways it looks like," Inprobus replied, flipping through the first report the messenger had handed him. "Teleporting targets are such a pain."


    "Convenient, isn''t it?" The messenger chimed. "Any messages you need me to run sir?"


    "Yes, tell whoever''s in charge of prisoners to bring the two captives for witch testing, if they find a smidge of magic on any of the prisoners I want them sent directly to the psych ward. And have the capital send me an Arcane Hound, I''m still training my dog to sit, let alone sniff out magic."


    Corian shrank away from the door when Inprobus turned his head to the wagon.


    The messenger nodded. "Righteo! I''m off!"


    Corian listened to the footsteps depart, smirking as he thought about that girl being sent to the psych ward. Alas, his aristocratic mush brain still couldn''t remember her simple name, a convenient problem that if solved would allow his father to track her down in a snap.


    He waited for his father to get back in his tent before moving another muscle. Eavesdropping was fun.

 12. Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow - Minus the Sorrow

    <On the Road to Bervolt>


    They had easily found a nice spot tucked right beside the trail to camp out for the night, and aside from a scurrying rat and a few biteflies, nothing had disturbed their rest. But given the hit request that had circulated from the town, Maddison had expected to see a few fleeing villagers, or other adventurers competing for the bounty on the trail. In a disturbing shift from expectation, they had yet to pass anyone. Bervolt was far from the hot spots that typically spurred trouble, but the bounty was still nothing to scoff at for a lone wolf or group of novices.


    Maddison grimaced as he packed up their belongings. Someone could have already dealt with the bounty, which would explain the lack of traffic. Any adventurers at the town would have kept heading north to the closest city after cleaning up. It would save him the trouble of keeping Sariel safe while hunting down the sorcerer, but he was short on his monthly quota again after a tip on his main target had turned up empty. He glanced at Sariel, the gears slowly turning in his head while she carefully lined up all the rods of the tent instead of just stuffing them in their bag.


    Putting some thought into their situation had raised a good question. What would he do with Sariel if the sorcerer was still alive? Dragging her into a fight he knew nothing about wasn''t much of a good plan.


    He stiffened as he saw a shadow pass his vision, an object dropping right in front of him to toss up the leaves and dirt around it. He grabbed for his sword, stopping with the blade halfway out of its sheath when he saw the fat crow land in front of him with a squawk. He eyed its satchel and peppering of green feathers, pacing his leaping heart as he shot the familiar a death glare. "Stop doing that! Do you want to be a kebab?" The crow scratched at the dirt with a scoffing squawk, taking to the air again to land on Maddison''s shoulder. This one was a little fatter than the last, likely to give it the strength to carry the package it had dropped to scare the life out of Maddison. He looked at Sariel, signaling for her to stop her approach with the tent rod she had picked up. "We can''t eat the crows with green feathers, they''re my friends."


    Sariel lowered her weapon with a look of relief. "Worried I was yer only friend there, Maddison. Odd choice a bird is, but I''m happy for ya."


    Maddison''s eye twitched at the remark. "I have other friends."


    "Where are they?"


    "Doing stuff." He sighed at Sariel''s unconvinced squint, grabbing the cloth-wrapped package. He unclipped the small crested crow pin holding it all together, lobbing the useless piece at Sariel to catch. When he was sure the shiny pin had distracted her, he unwound the rest of the gift, letting the sheathed dagger roll out into his open palm.


    Maddison held up the dagger, his face twisting with confusion at its magical sheen. He skimmed the runes etched into the blade, recognizing the fancier-than-usual nullification enchantment. "What''s this for?"


    The crow pecked his padded shoulder aggressively. "Stab!"


    "Obviously, but this piece is worth more than the bounty."


    The crow tugged a folded sheet from its satchel, dropping it in Maddison''s palm. It leaned close to the paper as he unfolded it, bobbing its head at the familiar poster. The only difference from the last one was that the reward had doubled. "Emergency, bigger! Group!"


    Maddison winced at the proximity of its shriek. "More money doesn''t always mean more danger."


    The crow waddled across his shoulder to get closer to Sariel, its singing mock returning. "Giiirl? Group!"


    Maddison shrugged to throw the crow''s balance, forcing it to topple to the ground with a shriek. "I''m not getting her involved. I''m dropping her off somewhere safe where she can..." He eyed Sariel hesitantly. "Wait for someone she knows to pick her up and take her back to her village once it''s rebuilt. She can stay in Bervolt once I deal with the problem."


    "Stupid! Stupid plan!" The crow squawked, hopping around the items Maddison was trying to pack up, singing the phrase like a disobedient child. "Stupid plan! Stupid plan! Stupid plan!"


    "Stonesong is controlled by the Heroguard, where else am I going to take her?!"


    "City! Safe!" The crow waddled over to Sariel, pecking at the necklace dangling around her neck. Sariel shooed the crow away with her stick, tucking the treasure to keep it safe from the grabby familiar.


    "I''m not taking her on a week-long horseback detour to the closest Landport and dumping her off in the middle of a city!" Maddison argued.


    Sariel nodded along to Maddison''s explanation, calming down Horse as he flinched at Maddison''s tone. "That''d have to be tomorrow. Today''s my off day."


    "See?" Maddison stopped, shooting Sariel a confused look. "What?"


    "How many times has the sky got bright now?"


    He counted his fingers. "Why?"


    "Bout five times now?"


    "I guess...?"


    Sariel nodded, handing Horse''s lead off to Maddison and dropping onto her butt to rest at the side of the trail. "Means it''s my free day."


    "Your what?" Maddison folded his arms.


    "It''s my free day, don''t gotta work for food." She stretched her legs out with a sigh, untying the bandage around her head and rubbing the scabbed gash. "Been rubbing crushed Binadelle Grass on this, but I should probly wash it."


    Maddison eyed the exposed gashes. Mostly closed up, with their once purple tint now softened to a yellowish brown. All things considered, he had expected the injuries to look a lot worse than they did. "Town will have a place to wash up."


    "That ain''t healthy Mr. Maddison, ain''t no one in their right mind would walk sunrise to sundown for five days straight. My feet feel like a bed of hot coals! It''s a real miracle you haven''t collapsed stompin around in thick leather armour!"


    Maddison drew back in surprise, looking at his armour with a scoff. "What are you talking about?"


    "You haven''t even taken your shoes off! All that moisture in there is gonna give you fungus!"


    "I walk for a living, I think I know how to take care of my feet," Maddison replied, tightening a lace to hold his point. He got up, grabbing the tent pieces Sariel had folded up and packing them into a bag on Horse. After a quick check to make sure they had grabbed everything, he caught Sariel''s pout. "Are you alright?"


    Her frustrated glare relaxed to surprise in a split second, a hint of embarrassment turning her head away from Maddison. "Sure you don''t wanna find a bath with me? You could use one."


    "Oy." Maddison kept his frown, pointing at the path. "The village is just ten more hours."


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Sariel grabbed the bound map Maddison had given her, rolling out enough of it to point at their camp spot. She tapped a little splatter of blue dots westward. "This bath here''s closer than that Bervolt place."


    "Yeah, but it''s a detour." He replied, quicky realizing his reasoning wasn''t going to budge Sariel. He backtracked to come at the problem from a different angle, eyeing Horse with a flicker of inspiration. "And do you see a trail anywhere? How are we going to bring Horse along?"


    Sariel shrugged. "Horse has got twice as many legs as us, don''t see a problem there."


    The crow flew back onto Maddison''s shoulder to get at Sariel''s eye level, stomping its feet impatiently at her. "Bervolt!"


    "Bath!" She mocked back.


    Maddison raised his palm between the two, motioning for their silence as he caught a new sound on the wind. Distant, drumming steps coming closer. He pulled Horse and Sariel to the side of the trail, allowing the crow to hop off his shoulder and onto Sariel''s. The familiar didn''t waste a second to grab the hood of her cloak with its beak and pull it over her hair, pecking at her chest expectantly. "Pin! Pin!"


    Sariel showed it the shiny crow pin Maddison had given her, clipping it to her cloak where the crow had been pecking at her. She gave the crow a frown for its ill manners. "I''d say this pin is a lot nicer than you."


    The crow hissed out an indignant squawk.


    Maddison shushed them both as the hoofbeats came closer.


    "Doesn''t bite me," Sariel muttered, avoiding the crow''s gaze as it leaned over her hood to glare at her.


    The source of the sound finally came into view, a pack of six riding horseback along the trail, and kicking up a cloud of gravelly dust in their wake. Maddison sighed as he caught a glimpse of a sigil on one of their mounts, a golden eagle. The Heroguard really had the worst timing. He tensed when he saw the rider in front signal the group to slow, sticking his arm out to bar Sariel from approaching any of the riders as they trotted closer.


    He didn''t recognize any faces in the group, which likely meant they weren''t the squadron that had been patrolling Stonesong. Even more telling that they weren''t a typical squadron was their armour. Dyed to a dark mix of black and brown leather, with their brilliant white capes being the only thing flaunting the Heroguard''s colours. Easy to discard for sleuthing around. The man at the head of the pack jumped off his mount, no clear weapons on his body as he turned to help down a second guest that had been hanging on behind him. They were much smaller in their frame, barely coming above his waist, with their face entirely covered by a metal mask that resembled a squirrel.


    A Follower. Someone unlucky enough to have been deemed a witch and sent to the Psych Ward for rehabilitation. Maddison had seen more than a few. They never spoke short of incantations in spell work, and their faces, and most of their body, were always covered in some way.


    The commander approached him calmly, open palms at his sides as he allowed his Follower to timidly follow behind, almost wrapped up in his waving cloak with how closely they were hugging his waist. The behaviour was definitely unusual. Followers almost always took their commander''s side, or the front in dangerous situations. Maddison had seen squadrons beat their Followers senseless for less.


    They weren''t supposed to show a hint of hesitation in protecting their Heroes.


    When he was a few feet from Maddison he stopped, raising his palms to Maddison. "At ease adventurer."


    Maddison didn''t move his hand from the hilt of his sword, eyeing the two horseback Heroes that had bows rested in front of them with an arrow at the ready.


    The commander looked back at them, paying Maddison an understanding smile. He pulled an emblem from his pocket to flash to him, despite the Heroguard''s sigil already boldly flapping on his cloak and the six others behind him. Maddison sighed, flashing his guild crest to show some good manners.


    "Are you headed to Bervolt, mercenary?"


    "This trail only has one destination."


    "If you value your head, I''d turn around and find another target," the commander replied, his eyes widening in realization as Maddison'' squinted. "I don''t mean to threaten you. The sorcerer has lost control of their magic. We''re on the way to scout the situation and see how many squadrons to send over. Trying to keep the crossfire down between guilds."


    "Thanks for the heads up. I''ll see you there."


    "Then may your god heed your prayers," he replied, paying Maddison a respectful nod. He looked down as the small Follower tugged his cloak, silently staring at them for a brief moment before chuckling and giving their head a little rub. "You may."


    Maddison watched them wander away from the commander, his muscles stiff with anticipation. Child or not, he would draw his sword at the slightest hint of an incantation.


    They tiptoed around him, timidly eyeing him as they headed off the trail. The commander didn''t pay attention to the occasional glare Maddison was tossing him, fully distracted with watching his Follower try to step around the dried leaves and crunchy twigs. Eventually, they hit their mark, crouching next to a rotted tree stump and plucking a little white daisy sprouting from its base. The commander gave them a little clap as they turned to show it to him. "That one? I love it."


    They rushed back to his side with a happy bounce in their steps, holding up the small flower to the commander as he pulled out a bound journal. He opened it up to a page that already had a few crushed flowers plastered to the blank pages, allowing them to press the new find into its own space.


    Maddison let out a steady breath, relaxing his grip on his sword. This entire situation was odd, but welcomed. But in the stressful what-if situation he had cooked up in his mind, he forgot about Sariel.


    "Oh! Would you like more of those?" Sariel spoke up, earning a stiff glare from Maddison and an indignant squawk in her ear. The Follower stopped, their masked face turning to Sariel with a small tilt of the head. "Saw a pretty red one, hold on." She turned to tromp through the bushes, coming back with a couple extra twigs sticking to her cloak and a small plucked red flower. She crouched down and held it out like she was offering a stray cat food, "My village calls these ones Princess Blood, they make you feel light. We''d give em to people if they got hurt bad."


    Maddison caught the commander''s confused glance. "Sorry, she likes to talk to people."


    "That''s alright, she can use the interaction," the commander replied, looking down at his Follower to listen to more of their words that no one else could hear. "She''s offering it to you, would you like it?"


    They gazed at the flower in Sariel''s hands, responding with a short and excited nod. The commander complied as she grabbed his wrist to accompany her, stopping in front of Sariel and waiting for the commander to grab it from her hand.


    Sariel smiled as they eyed her curiously. "That''s a very cute mask."


    Their shoulders rose at the compliment as they held the little flower close to their chest.


    "She says thank you," the commander replied, allowing the Follower to press the extra flower into the book before leading them back to the steed they shared. He helped them back onto the mount, paying Sariel and Maddison a friendly wave. "Stay safe mercenaries," the commander said, saluting them farewell as he kicked his horse''s side, sending the mount into a swift gallop once more.


    Maddison waited until they had disappeared a fair distance, looking at Sariel when he heard a crunching step. She stopped mid-step when she caught his glare.


    "You''re not seriously walking off into the middle of the woods, are you?"


    She shook her head, pointing westward to the rocky hills the map had marked. "I know where I''m going, I''m gonna take a bath."


    "I have to get to Bervolt before the town strikes a deal with the Heroguard. We don''t have time for your bath." Maddison argued.


    Sariel nodded in understanding, but didn''t rejoin Maddison on the trail. "You don''t gotta follow me. Be back this time tomorrow."


    His tone rose to a sharp defensive boom. "I''m going to keep walking towards the next town."


    "Right then sir, meet you there I suppose."


    "Do you even know how to get there?''


    "Path only goes one way."


    Maddison pursed his lips, keeping his frustrations from completely taking over. The right choice in this was deep in the grey. Sariel could very well be safer in the wilderness for a day, instead of walking into a town with a mad sorcerer that the Heroguard was sending a couple squadrons to. But on the flip side, she couldn''t even forage berries right. Maddison took a deep breath and closed his eyes. No more charity acts. He wasn''t going to sacrifice the bounty to the Heroguard for a stranger''s tantrum over a bath.


    He had already saved her life once, she had no money, and no favours to cash.


    Any worry on his face stiffened as he waved her away. "Do what you want."


    "Right then sir." She grabbed the map out of her little pile of stuff, holding it out with a smile. "Need this back?"


    "Keep it so you know where you''re going." Maddison sighed, grabbing the new dagger the crow had gifted him and pressing it into her hand. "Use that to defend yourself. Don''t stab any more heroes if you can help it." Maddison glanced at the crow. "Can you keep an eye on her?"


    The crow squawked, digging its talons into Sariel''s shoulder to keep stable.


    He nodded as he eyed the two, pulling his arms into a fold. He caught the crow''s look, instinctively understanding the way it had looked at the gifts he had handed Sariel. It couldn''t do much more than scouting to keep her safe. It''s real job was if she bit the dust, it would bring the map and dagger back to him. "Keep each other safe."


    "Thank you!" Sariel replied, "What''s its name?"


    He frowned. "Crow."


    "Crow!" The bird confirmed.


    "Right Maddison, think we ought to talk about your ability to name things when I''m back," Sariel replied, giving him a cheery wave as she turned to start her journey. "See you tomorrow, in Bervolt if I can help it."


    Maddison nodded. "See you there, with a dead sorcerer if I can help it."

 13. The Fairytale Forest

    Sariel whistled a tune, its pure notes deepening to a dry moan as she pulled herself onto a rocky ledge, allowing the song to soar once more while she hopped over the little tree roots in her path. It took five hours to reach the base of the ancient foothills, and as she sized up her opponent she looked back to the rolling hills, squinting to see if she could make out Maddison and Horse anywhere in the distance. The hills had rolled enough to cover most of the trail they had been on, but she could almost make out a distant structure peppered with some soft smoke.


    It was in the right spot for Bervolt.


    Sariel''s tune died as she scrabbled up another ledge, digging her thick nails into a dirt-filled crevice and scuttling along the unforgiving terrain like a crab. When she reached the twisted roots of a massive tree she latched onto it with a tight hug, shimmying up the bark with a couple grunts and near-death slips before reaching the edge of a flatter clearing. "Right then." She took in a deep breath to steady herself, staring at the small oasis of a forest, furnished with a thick carpet of grass. She felt the soft surface, looking around at the emerald expanse with a grimace. "This don''t look right." She traced her critiquing squint up one of the trees. "Ain''t no self respectin forest gonna be spaced out like this."


    Crow dived out of the trees to catch her shoulder, looking around at the clearing with a couple inquisitive head tilts. "Water!"


    The oasis remained stilled, its unnatural atmosphere soothed by the soft chitters of bugs and whistling birds. These sounds, although calming and capable of masking any danger, still managed to paint a frown on Sariel''s face. She pushed onwards, stopping at a convenient butt-sized rock to sit on and splay out the map. She showed Crow where they were, pointing deeper into the forest. "First blue dot''s a little ways in."


    Two bunnies hopped by, oblivious to the world as they scuttled into a bush to hide from a mother deer and its limping fawn. The scene was as picturesque as the start of a fairytale about Bombay and his magical friends, but there was no Bombay, no giggling elves, and no mundane problem easily fixable within the span of fifteen minutes. This forest, a picture of adventure, was a hollowed symbol, a representation of repetition and the numbing normality of suspended belief. It had no purpose, no chaos. No boot-snagging shrubs, no hoards of poison ivy, no dead leaves.


    Even with Sariel''s strange sense of the world, she knew something was wrong.


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    "Water! Bath! Leave!"


    "Right, I agree with ya, Crow," Sariel said, rolling her map back up. "This don''t seem like a good place to be sleepin."


    She kept on her journey, her steps slowing when she caught a floral scent in the air. The culprit could be tied to a well-kept bush a few steps away, bursting with a colourful array of roses. She had never seen anything like it in her life, and immediately thought of the little girl she had met this morning. The individual flowers were far too large to fit in the journal the man had, but a petal or two couldn''t hurt.


    She plucked a blue petal, and then an orange one. As she reached for a white rose something whizzed by her corner vision, startling her with a loud buzz. She frantically tried to find it as it buzzed around her head, Crow flapping its wings to beat away the mysterious object. When she had given the bush a few feet she finally saw it. A winged creature a little bigger than a dragonfly, beating a set of wings like a hummingbird as it swooped and zigzagged around in the air. It had almost humanlike limbs, covered by a plating of leaves and petals that shimmered with a glittery substance that was constantly falling from its wings.


    The creature buzzed up to Sariel''s face, watching her curiously as it flapped inches from her nose. Instinctively, she swung out her hand to swat it. With a loud clap, the buzzing creature was now a glittery splat on the tree trunk to her left.


    Crow shrieked as Sariel clapped the stray sparkles off her hands. "Big bugs here. Lots of snacks for you." she plucked the white petal, carefully packing them up and carrying on her journey.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    <Somewhere Else in the Foothills>


    Cody tilted his book up to the starlight, squinting to get through a page in the settling darkness. He closed his eyes, listening to the trickling waterfall near them as Hord''anne munched on a burnt length of bark.


    "It''s a nice night," he said, taking in the strangely perfect forest. "Don''t you think so too Hord''anne?"


    Hord''anne let out a gurgling growl, spitting out the charred bark like a blob of tobacco.


    "Yeah, I know we don''t have food..." He rubbed his stomach as it interrupted the quiet scene with a grinding moan. "At least you had that hut full of charred villagers, I haven''t eaten for two days."


    Hord''anne ripped a chunk of dirt and grass out, offering it to the man as he grimaced.


    "I''m not a Cobble Hord''anne, I can''t eat grass."


    Hord''anne grunted, pushing the dirt and grass forward.


    "I can''t have dirt either! I have standards!"


    With a soft whimper Hord''anne clambored to his feet, moving towards the still edge of a lake they''d settled beside, slapping the water a couple of times and looking around.


    "You''ll get worms." The man stuffed a blade of grass in his book to keep the page, gently hiding it in a pocket on his coat. "We''ll find food in the-" A splashing reached his ears, somehow catchable through Hord''anne''s subpar method of fishing. He quickly silenced his friend with a shush, waiting for the splash to come back.


    And surprisingly enough, it did.

 14. The Warlock the Witch and the... Wait

    The duo was able to pinpoint the mysterious splashing, and although Hord''anne wasn''t built for stealth, there were enough rocks bordering the small pool of water to hide his purple skin. They would just have to hope that whatever was splashing around was deaf enough not to hear the thud of his weighty steps. Cody squeezed himself into a dry crevice behind the small waterfall feeding the pond, laying his spellbook wide as Hord''anne took shelter behind a thick, pruned hedge of a bush next to him.


    He still wasn''t used to his surroundings. The forest looked more like the back courtyard of a castle, brimming with flowers and decorative trees. The air was sweet wherever he walked, and not a single bug had buzzed or crawled by. Fairies were like fish in the ocean. You never knew what you were going to get, but most of them made their domains quite clear. The entire place was weighed with a blanket of natural magic, settled on every surface like a glittering layer of pollen that only the trained eye could see.


    He flipped to his desired page, waiting for another splash. "What do you suppose it is?" Cody whispered.


    Hord''anne grunted, poking at a flower before squishing its smiling yellow form under his sausage finger.


    "I''ll check it out." Cody moved to get up, freezing as Hord''anne moved as well. He kept his voice down to a harsh whisper as he stuck his finger up at the beast. "No! You stay! Just in case."


    Hord''anne grunted.


    "I know you''re stronger than me, but we don''t know what it is."


    He grunted again.


    "I know we''re villains! But we''re not stupid villains!" He retorted. "We''re in a fairy domain, what if that''s one of them taking a bath? We don''t want to piss them off."


    Hord''anne sighed, letting out a gurgling huff of air.


    Cody sighed as Hord''anne settled down, turning around only to barely duck the pecking beak of a black bird. It let out a loud squawk to mock his yelp, stomping its feet gleefully on the cropping of stone it had chosen as a perch. Cody paced his racing heart, shushing the loud bird. He didn''t hear flapping wings in his journey, which meant the creature had been there all along, and had intentionally waddled up to scare the daylights out of him.


    He pondered its antics. Crows were smart, but playing pranks was a level above. Was it a fairy?


    He eyed the bird cautiously, backing away as the green feathers peppering its chest puffed and it tried for another peck. There was definitely magic coating its feathers, a mix of the substance throughout the forest and something else that crept deeper inside of it, stemming from a bright green glow that emanated from its chest. The spot was exactly where its heart would have been.


    It wasn''t a living beast. It had been conjured. Whoever made the beast likely felt numbed sensations from it, but were connected enough to torment him. He waited for another splash. Was this the familiar of whoever was in the pond?


    "Who are you?" Cody whispered, gaining an inquisitive head tilt from the bird.


    "Shushed!" The crow squawked, earning another flinch from Cody. "Rude! Rude! Rude!"


    He flared up some magic in his palm, the flames shooting high enough to startle the bird back into the sky. It was quick to escape his sights, its squawks growing ever distant.


    Despite the commotion he had caused, the splashing continued, almost without a care in the world.


    He calmed himself once more, waltzing into the open with his book stretched wide and pretending to read. Still, the splashing continued. Whatever it was could see him now, and to not react was almost assuring. It was likely a fish that had jumped too far from the pond, struggling to make its way back to safety. So he looked up, locking gazes with not a fish, but a black-haired woman, who, despite her clear lack of anything, greeted him with a smile and wave.


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    He froze, slowly pocketing his book as the awkward staring contest ensued, every fiber of his being seizing with burning disgust as he mustered up just enough strength to shakily turn around. He clutched his necklace, hurriedly scuttling back to his hiding spot. He stared at the dim crystal, trying to mask the shake in his whisper. "Alina have mercy, we avoided the town as you asked."


    The woman wasn''t a fairy. At least not a fairy he had ever seen. Which meant she was likely an adventurer who found herself in that exact spot.


    At that exact moment.


    Cody cursed as the gem did not respond. "Cliches. Not a good sign." He looked to Hord''anne pleadingly. "We need to get out of here, and quietly."


    Hord''anne tilted his head, slowly moving to peek at the pond, until Cody stopped him.


    "No! We can''t catch that thing''s attention!" He wiped the sweat off his forehead, looking around with ever-growing panic. "We have to sneak away... Just pretend this never happened!"


    Hord''anne didn''t follow as he slowly crawled away, grunting in disapproval.


    Cody hesitated, cocking his head over his shoulder at the beast. "Eat her?"


    Hord''anne nodded.


    "Well, perhaps that could work..." He flashed his necklace to Hord''anne, accusingly pointing at the ever-silent crystal. "Just don''t look at her or we may be cursed to like it."


    Hord''anne grunted.


    Cody frowned. "Don''t say that about yourself, you''re lovel-"


    "Evenin! You two waiting for your turn?"


    The man let out a girlish shriek as he saw the woman peeking around the rock, draped in a dirty brown sack for a shirt with her black curls soaked in clumps at her shoulders. He covered his eyes with one arm, reaching for his spell book with the other. Hord''anne on the other hand, was in a state of complete bewilderment at her lack of screaming. She was a human. Humans ran screaming whenever they saw him.


    He froze up, slowly looking to Cody for help. Small things that didn''t run were scary.


    The woman stepped closer as the two scuttled back. "Name''s Sariel, didn''t think I''d see anybody up he-"


    "Not another step foul love slave!" Cody finally burst, stopping Sariel mid-step as she watched him with wide eyes. He had lowered his sleeve, but still kept his head jerked far away from her. "I have questions."


    "Right, sir, this is actually my free day, I''m done my bath so feel free to go." She adjusted her tattered clothes, wringing her hair out and tying its matted tendrils into a death knot. "You two live up here?"


    Hord''anne grunted.


    "No! We don''t. I''m not following you anywhere! Now answer my questions!" Cody continued, slowly pulling his spell book out. "And don''t try anything funny."


    "Right, sir. If yer lost I don''t know directions too good, but I got a map." She tapped a roll of parchment sticking out of her stitched bag. She eyed his flickering hair, a strange inspiration striking. "You know how to make a fire by any chance?"


    "No." Cody lied, grabbing Hord''anne''s hand and trying to pull it down before the beast could answer. But as Hord''anne was easily seven times his size and twenty times his weight, it didn''t work.


    "You do?" Sariel''s eyes lit up. "Could ya help me, sir? I need to cook up my food."


    The word ''food'' was like asking a dog if it wanted to go for a walk. Hord''anne, the fat and festering purple demon, was sold on the damsel come to save his growling stomach. Cody however, was shaking. He latched onto Hord''anne''s arm to try and stop him from following the cursed woman into whatever tale Alina had planned. But his friend simply dragged him along.


    His tactics weren''t working.


    He let go, grounding his feet. Hord''anne was like a scared child when he couldn''t see him. He wouldn''t make it thirty feet without crumbling and running back to him. His relief was short-lived when Hord''anne discovered his plan, the beast grabbing a handful of his cloak and lifting his flailing body to carry him like a sack of potatoes. He struggled under Hord''anne''s hold to no avail, holding back the long list of spells he could spit out to escape the hold.


    It wasn''t right to attack his friend over something so petulant. But at the same time...


    He painfully twisted his head to look at the woman''s back.


    The consequences could be substantial.


    He squeezed the necklace tight enough for it to sting, continuing his quiet plea. "Oh great goddess, please stop this torment! I tested your powers to pursue a tale I had no part in, and I see the err in my way!"


    His heart fluttered as the gem gained a faint glow. Slowly intensifying, but not yet speaking. He could feel her presence, her attention. She had finally heard him.


    Something wasn''t right about this whole situation. She always spoke immediately, and never lingered long enough for Cody to pick up anything in her thoughts aside from her words. But she had lagged for so long he couldn''t help but share in her vast consciousness. She was curious, maybe even confused by his call. Finally, after some thought, she spoke. "Look."


    Cody obeyed the command and looked at Sariel''s turned back, the goddess'' curiosity that had flooded his mind reeling back within a split second and leaving an empty chill.


    Her voice returned, stern and echoing with power. "Follow it."

 15. Its Time for Dinner Deer

    "Sorry, sir! Didn''t catch what you said there!" Sariel called, giving Cody a little wave when he twisted around to look at her again.


    He tucked the crystal away, speaking as loud as he could with Hord''anne squeezing his spine. "Sorry... just doing my daily prayers..."


    Sariel smiled. "That''s alright, you two stay right here, I''ll be right back with the food." She said, tapping her foot next to a neat pile of sticks and flat rocks.


    They were by no means manicured like the setting around them, and Cody assumed she had mangled more than a few hedges and flower bed walls to salvage the materials. Sariel''s disregard for the fairy domain was painfully obvious. On any other day, they would have come rushing. Were the fairies just on vacation?


    He gave Hord''anne a protesting kick as soon as Sariel wandered out of sight. The beast gave in to the silent order, dropping him on the grass so Cody could finally stretch his stiff back. Cody listened for her footsteps, far enough away to risk a whisper. "Alina said to follow her, not much else." He turned to Hord''anne with a soft smirk. "You think she could be a protagonist?"


    Hord''anne grunted, carefully grabbing some of the sticks to start making a little teepee.


    Cody sighed. "I know she has food, but if she''s a good guy, we have to kill her."


    Sariel was quick to return to the space, dragging a heavy object behind her that had occupied both her hands. When she was close enough to her audience she hoisted up the limp carcass of a fawn, sharing in Hord''anne''s giddy excitement at the grand reveal. "This one had a proper limp, so I bashed its head with a rock a couple times. Mum was smart when she saw my rock. She ran."


    Cody stared at the cute little fawn with a lack of words, the blood still dripping from its skull as it stared with soulless eyes. He looked away when Sariel drew a knife from her bag, leaning closer to Hord''anne to share his new opinion. "Definitely not a protagonist."


    Hord''anne grunted in agreement.


    Conversations were sparse as the three set up the meal. Sariel had thought she could skin the deer the same way Maddison had prepared the fish, but her guests were quick to step in when her first jab at the deer''s neck had squirted enough blood to hit Cody''s face. So instead, Sariel sat in intrigued silence as Hord''anne skinned the beast with a dainty sword that looked like a toothpick in his giant hands. Cody finished up the teepee of sticks. Textbook perfect. He then held his hand over the creation and muttered under his breath.


    It immediately burst into a little bonfire, much to Sariel''s delight, cutting through the evening light to illuminate a small halo around them. He quickly grabbed two larger chunks of wood, dropping them into the hungry flames to listen to the crackling sizzle of burning tree sap. "You almost done?"


    Hord''anne grunted at the man, grabbing the mostly-skinned fawn and twisting its head off.


    Sariel watched Hord''anne stab a sharpened stick through it with growing excitement, shooting the two a nearly wicked grin as they finished balancing the feast on two forked branches sticking out of the ground. "Never caught your names."


    Cody motioned to Hord''anne. "This is my friend Hord''anne, corruptor of flesh." He then motioned to himself "You can call me Cody. You said your name was Sariel?"


    She nodded. "Sariel Sariel the Black."


    "The black?"


    "My last name."


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    Cody smiled, poking at the searing meat with a stick. "So, what brings you to the wilds? You''re looking a bit beaten up, come across any justice-driven goody two shoes? Probably an annoying, pale, human teenager if I had to take a guess."


    "Nah sir, got these from playing Stone the Witch. Healing good after that bath." She motioned to the closed scrape on her forehead. "Maddison told me to say I fell off a- Oh... never mind sir, got these from tumblin down a cliff."


    Cody nodded in disbelief. "Have you seen any strange, friendly people? They might go around interrupting everyone''s conversations... acting like the world revolves around them."


    Sariel gave his question a hard pause. "Never seen any nice people like that... but I do know a real great guy. Saved me from drowning and everything."


    Hord''anne and Cody suddenly paid Sariel their full attention. "Go on."


    "His name''s Maddison Sungard, walked me to my village, gave me food, tried to get me a job... now we''re just walkin for some reason, but I left him quick to take a bath and said I''d meet him at the town."


    "Really? Which town?"


    She pointed in the right direction, for once. "Said it was that way. Bervolt I think. You guys lost or somethin?"


    Cody shook his head. "We''re looking for the protagonist."


    "Dunno what that is. Maybe Maddison can help you find it."


    "I''m sure he will," Cody replied sinisterly, trying his best at an evil chuckle, but his overall lack of stature; or even muscles for that matter; made him look less intimidating than an emo boy with boxing gloves.


    Sariel laughed along with him. She didn''t get whatever Cody had found humorous, but always felt terrible when no one laughed at her jokes. Once it had dragged on a healthy length, she stopped flat, smiling at Hord''anne. "You two hunters?"


    Cody shook his head. "We''re villains. What are you?"


    "Not a witch."


    He stopped, tilting his head. "Alright... so what are you then?"


    "That''s what I am Cody, Maddison been real clear that I''m not a witch, and I can be a warlock so long as I don''t scream it." She smiled, leaning closer to Cody and dipping her voice to a whisper. "I''m a warlock."


    Cody lit up at the claim. "Really? So am I!"


    Sariel gasped, giving the crow perched on her shoulder an excited squeal. "He''s a Warlock!"


    The crow hissed at Cody. "Rude!"


    Cody ignored the temperamental familiar, scooching closer to Sariel. "Who do you serve?"


    "My boss is named Medila!"


    He tilted his head, playing the name back to try and jog a memory. He hadn''t heard of that deity yet, and for Sariel to have shared it so willingly meant it couldn''t have rung up much of a bad reputation. Or, it was a fake name to mask something a little more sinister. "What does this Medila give you for your services?"


    "Food. Although, I gotta say, Maddison''s been giving me more food for a lot less work."


    "Uh-huh..." Cody mustered up a friendly smile. He was leaning towards his second thought. He hadn''t run across any warlocks since hitting the mainland, so perhaps this was just a bold way of telling him to drop the subject. Still, poor manners begot poor responses, and he wasn''t one to shy away from a jab. He levelled his excitement, trying for a disinterested approach at the conversation. "Don''t worry, Hord''anne''s a pathological liar as well."


    Hord''anne grunted, grabbing the stick of meat and twisting it to an uncooked side.


    "Not sure what that is, sir. I''m a bonafide warlock. That''s my job rinow until Medila picks me up. Got in a bit of a mess after stabbin Corian."


    Cody''s intrigue quickly resurfaced. "Who''s Corian?"


    "Hero that came to my village. Accidentally killed him if you know what I mean."


    He smirked. "Oh, I know what you mean. So you''ve had experience with heroes?"


    She nodded. "Not the greatest folk I''ll admit. I like mercenaries a lot more."


    "I see where you''re coming from." Cody grabbed another handful of sticks and tossed them in the fire, waving away the flurry of embers he disrupted. "So you''re a villain like us?"


    "No sir, I''m a warlock."


    "Yes, I know you''re a warlock. Warlock''s are villains, didn''t you know that?"


    "Really?" Sariel gasped. "I didn''t think I could be so many things! I suppose I am like you guys." She nodded to herself, grabbing a couple blades of grass and weaving them together. Cody took the gesture as a signal to pause their chatter, first, eyeing Sariel''s strange craft for a few minutes, and then grabbing a book from his bag out of inevitable boredom. Sariel wove until the groomed grass she had ran out, lost in her thoughts of piecing together all of her conversations so far with Cody.


    Maddison was a little easier to understand with his few words and direct commands. She didn''t like how his tone often mocked Medila''s, but was fond of the many objects he carried. Her mind moved away from the mercenary, clinging once again to Medila''s old and wrinkly face. An idea sprung into her head, her green eyes scanning Cody as he read a book in the firelight.


    "Say Cody... you married?"

 16. The Klare Blume

    Cody blanked.


    He reran her question in his head, sure his ears had heard her right, and all the same wishing they hadn''t. Had Alina faked that curiousity? Was she now cackling in her celestial pocket as she listened in on the chatter he had been roped right into? What was he to do now? Fight her story? Flee? Fat load of use any of that was.


    He slowly closed his book, opening his mouth to speak. But he blanked again. The words just weren''t there.


    He could tell Sariel was shuffling closer to try and see his reaction, the question hanging stale in the air.


    "Sorry sir if I spoke too fast, been a problem. Asked if you''re married-"


    Cody burst, the first thing to enter his head flying right out of his mouth. "God''s above." He retched, the dreadful pit in his stomach returning full force. He shot Sariel a cautious glare, reclaiming his space with a couple scooches of retreat. "You may very well be some undercover cog in Alina scheme here to punish me, but we met less than an hour ago." He grabbed his pendant, his woe now aimed more at the gem than anything. "This is not okay!"


    "Alina?" Sariel straightened, "That who ya married to then?" Her gaze traveled to Hord''anne when Cody shook his head. "Or...?"


    "I am not married, and I''m not getting married." He raised his hand as Sariel opened her mouth. "Please change the subject."


    "Ah, sorry..." Sariel looked at Hord''anne with a friendly smile. "You married sir?"


    Hord''anne shook his head.


    "He said yes." Cody cut in, his lie flying right over Sariel''s head.


    "That''s great! Say, you look like a hulking, beautiful beast of a monster slayer, what do you say about bein my boss Medila''s husband?"


    Hord''anne drew back, shaking his head and pointing at her.


    "That''s disgusting Hord''anne!" Cody scrunched his nose up, looking at Sariel with a grimace. "Your boss- patron is looking for a husband and sent you out to find one?"


    "Nah, she wanted Corian, but I accidentally killed him. I''m just trying to substitute."


    "Substitute?" Cody took on a sinister tone. "You''re trying to substitute their husband?"


    "Wasn''t her husband yet."


    "Their fiance. The love of their life... you killed them?" Cody held her gaze, waiting for a hesitant nod to continue prying. "And how has your patron taken that? Have you heard from them since?"


    Sariel ate her next words, her shoulders dropping as Cody''s words rang louder than they needed to. She cast her gaze to the fire, her brow scrunching as she examined the charcoal it sat upon. Finally, a weight dragged her eyelids down and she turned away to hug her knees. She didn''t seem comfortable with the way the conversation had gone. "No, suppose not. She hasn''t come back." She rested her chin on her knees, the rest of her words a sad mumble. "I''ve never been this far out either..."


    Cody heard a soft growl from his left, glancing up at Hord''anne as the beast glared down at him. He let out a soft sigh.


    The girl who called herself Sariel was confusing, but she still managed to keep good company. He could tell she was trying to be friendly, maybe a little too hard at times - but the smile was genuine. She called herself a warlock, and had named a patron. One too soft, or maybe too weak to have done anything serious about her misadventure. Still, he would be left a wreck if Alina paid him the silent treatment for more than a week. Her record had been three days of silence, and if Cody had hair to pull, it would have been half out by the time she finally accepted his apology.


    Sariel could have been in a similar situation, and he was ashamed to have pried far enough to realise it.


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    "I pissed off my patron yesterday." He blurted, smiling as Sariel lifted her head. "Don''t get me wrong. She''s powerful, and plays her cards when crossed. I''d be dust where I stood if she had a husband and I somehow found a way to kill him. But... maybe this Medila will come around. Or you could find a new patron, a new boss to give you a boon."


    "A new boss?"


    Cody nodded. "A new boss."


    Sariel stared at him, harder than she''d stared at Horse when he stole her apple slices, or Maddison when he offhandedly told her he liked dogs more than cats. Every connection in her brain was buzzing at full power, processing the sheer weight of the statement Cody had dropped on her. Medila was her boss, her boss until she told her someone else was. That''s what Medila had told her. But Cody had seemed so confident in his response, as if it was something one should commonly know. He sounded just like Maddison at that moment. So matter of fact.


    And Maddison was smart.


    She scrunched her brow, squinting at Cody. "I can do that?"


    "I mean it''s harder if you gave them something really valuable to hold onto, like your soul. But I mean..." He shrugged, giving the campfire another stick to eat. "If they want nothing to do with you, find someone who does."


    Sariel nodded, then tilted her head. "But how do ya know?"


    "Know what?"


    "If someone wants to do with you."


    He shrugged, chuckling at Sariel''s word choice. "It''s just a feeling. Me and Hord''anne have been ''doing'' with each other for years. We''re pretty good pals."


    Hord''anne nodded along to Cody''s claim, his tail thumping behind him like an excited puppy.


    "I''ve been doing Maddison for five days, and he yells sometimes, but he don''t yell like Medila." Sariel replied, smiling at her words, but still pinching her hand nervously.


    Cody frowned, but on the inside, there was a flicker of entertainment. "Maybe don''t word it like that."


    The next hour was spent tending to the meal. It was a young doe, but still required Cody to use some spell work for even cooking. Once he had the body cooked well enough to Hord''anne''s tastes, he focused on the small chunks of meat he had left aside for himself and Sariel. He gave the sticks of meat a rub of spices before his final sear, hoping the seasoning was to Sariel''s taste as he distributed one fresh and steaming kebab of deer meat to her.


    Her muffled gasp of delight when she bit into it relieved his anxiety a little bit. She either really liked it, or was very good at pretending she did.


    He gave her some time to chew down a couple of mouth-fulls, eyeing the roasted body that Hord''anne was casually munching on. He was definitely holding back his gluttony in front of Sariel.


    "Did you catch this outside of the forest?"


    Sariel shook her head, earning an odd look from Cody.


    He looked down at the roasted deer, chewing it more slowly now. He had gathered some surface-level details of the fairy domain they were in. It was visually stunning, remote, and welcoming. He wouldn''t dare to call it beckoning. If it was a trap, very few fairies had the patience to watch their prey for this long without screwing with them. Passive fairies were far more common. They set up their domains like little pop-up art exhibits. They thrived on the attention and awe they received when guests wandered in and beheld them.


    But they were very organized about it. The entire domain was dusted with their magic. Beasts that could not be adored, or provide them with attention, were driven out. The ones they kept were pets. Like a deer. Cody twirled the stick of meat nervously, looking for magic. Hells, the deer could have been one of them.


    He lowered the stick of meat, suddenly losing his appetite. Somehow he knew the answer to his question before it came out of his mouth. "And the fairies were okay with that?"


    Sariel looked up at him, mouth filled with deer meat again. "Who''re the fairies?"


    Cody chuckled nervously, eyeing the quiet forest cautiously before turning back to Sariel. His hand had subconsciously moved to his spellbook. "The... fairies? The ones that live here. You haven''t been approached?"


    Sariel took a big bite of deer meat and shook her head. When she''d gotten the hunk down her throat she gave her mouth a rough wipe, offering the meaty bone to the familiar crow sitting beside her. "You two are the only people I seen up here."


    Cody flinched when something buzzed by his ear. The little creature startling Hord''anne as it ducked under his arm and whizzed over the campfire.


    Just as he was able to focus on it, the small creature flew up to Cody, steering back when it noticed the licking flames on his head. Flower petals were plastered to its hips as a sort of skirt, and its body was thin and stick-like, a scratchy yellowish green that glittered from its transparent wings. It chittered, raising a little splinter of wood that it had adorned as a spear. The weapon was clearly made in haste, the little fairy staring at Cody with wide black eyes.


    His guess had been right. This fairy was a Klare Blume. They lived in colonies, mostly detached from the more powerful rings of fae and fairy-kind. Their queen had died in a time before books, oral stories passed down being the only evidence that they once held competence and power. The death of their queen had left them dumb and defenseless. They made art where they colonized, they died, and they were forgotten. But they were relatively harmless.


    A greeting was just about to roll off his tongue when he saw a shadow pass over the fairy, Sariel shooting out like a cat to slap it downwards.


    Straight. Into. The campfire.

 17. Whoopsie Daisy

    He let out a gasp as the squeaking cry was cut short by its cruel destination.


    The sizzling pop the fire made sent a shiver down his spine, and the way Sariel casually dusted her tunic and sat back down only stoked his fears.


    "That..." Cody said, pointing at a stray wing that had landed on the hot stones. "Is a- was a fairy."


    Sariel stopped, looking at the sizzling campfire. "That''s a fairy? I seen plenty of those then." She replied, letting out a gasp of excitement as she held up her finger to pause the conversation. She pulled her bag close, shooing away the crow as it pecked at her sleeve. "Been buzzing at me all day, hurts when they poke ya." She gripped a stick jutting out of the bag. "So I made this."


    Cody sat aghast as she pulled the contraption out of her bag. A foraged stick a little bigger than her forearm, with a crude paddle fitted to its top, spread wide and made from tightly woven grass. It looked far from deadly to someone Cody''s size, but judging by the amount of residual magic spattered across it, it had recently sealed the fate of a hefty number of Klare Blume.


    "Works great!" Sariel continued, oblivious to Cody''s horror as she did a practice swing and it cut through the air with a sharp whistle. "Was callin it a fly swatter, but since you''re saying them flies are fairies, suppose we can change the name to a fairy swatter."


    Hord''anne grunted curiously, daintily pinching the fairy swatter between his thumb and index to copy Sariel''s movements.


    Cody stuck up his hand when Hord''anne tried to offer it to him. "That is... so..." He paused, staring at the residual magic dripping off the swatter. Something felt odd as soon as she slam-dunked their ill-prepared guest into an inferno. His heart had sped up. Fear at first, but now, a curiousity. The same curiousity he had felt from his goddess. Had this woman walked into a fairy domain with the sole goal of pissing them all off? Why? Had she no shame?


    Preying on the weak like that was a horrible thing to do.


    He stopped, processing his feelings. It was a villainous thing to do. Not quite his style, he liked the thrill of a fight and jeering banter, but who was he to judge? A smile touched his lips. "So... Evil."


    Sariel''s smile grew with his. "You like it?"


    "I love it." Cody replied, his excitement quickly deadpanning as he motioned to the quiet woods. "But they''ll probably try to kill us while we sleep." He shifted his hand to his spell book, tapping his nails on it with buzzing excitement as he met Sariel''s gaze. "Unless..."


    Sariel nodded, grabbing her bag and springing to her feet. "We leave!"


    Cody watched her stamp out the fire, confused more than ever before. He exchanged a look with Hord''anne, the beast gulping down the last bit of deer bones piled around him before hurriedly rolling to his feet. He sighed at the signal to get going, strapping his spellbook back to his side, and coming up on Sariel''s side to fight his case.


    "We''re not going to..." he waved his hands nonsensically, trying to pluck the rest of his sentence out of thin air. "Kill their leader if they have one? Light the whole domain on fire?"


    Sariel considered his ideas as she twirled the fairy swatter in her hand, or at least, pretended to. "Very good point Cody, be a shame if anybody else got stung by the little buggers... But what if we gotta come back here for a bath?"


    "I mean, that seems unlikely..."


    "Be a shame too. Fire is a real dangerous thing. My village was burnt to the bone a few days back, hate to see it happen here too. Poking fairies aside, it''s nice to look at." She smiled, stopping to prick a little white flower from a stone-edged flower bed. "Promised Maddison I''d be at Bervolt by next mornin'' too."


    Cody pondered her reasoning, "So that''s your tactic." He said, "Nonsensical violence. You kill a bunch of them like an angry, merciless god, and never give a reason. And then you vanish, maybe to return, maybe not. But you leave an awful, sinking fear with them that they will pass down for generations. That is incredibly cruel. Genius!"


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    Hord''anne grunted in agreement at the praise for their new companion.


    Sariel bounced her head from side to side, she didn''t quite know what Cody was talking about, but he was very passionate about it. Hearing people happily yammer on about this and that always excited Sariel. Whenever she met people like Cody, she would come out of those conversations with a new discovery or exciting story to tell her friends. Although he looked quite different from the few strangers that would pass by her village with a story or two, Cody had that same tone to him.


    She turned to him, content with his excitement. "You like talking, Cody."


    His shoulders sank a bit as he awkwardly looked around. "Oh sorry... I guess I didn''t have to explain it."


    She punched his shoulder, earning a small squeak of pain. "Don''t you worry none about it, I like talking too! Been travelling the better half of five days with Maddison. He don''t talk much unless I tickle him real hard with conversation." She jutted her thumb at the bird on her shoulder. "His friend Crow talks more than him."


    "That''s his?"


    "His friend, right you are. No kebabs out of this meaty boy, but he''s a sweetheart."


    Cody paid Crow a friendly smile, flinching away when the bird tried for another peck at his ear. The familiar wasn''t hers, and yet it had stayed lively despite being hours away from the caster. Holding a spell like that was a fair feat. This Maddison fellow was seeming like quite the spellcaster to Cody, and while the crow''s ill manners did put him off a little bit, Sariel''s friendliness was something he would be banking on if he wanted to meet them. If they planned on attacking Bervolt, there was no harm in taking notes.


    And so began their journey. Sariel hummed a repeating tune as she tried to balance on Hord¡¯anne¡¯s shoulder. The beast had been insistent on offering her a ride, and she was getting used to sitting like a little parrot as they exited the manicured forest.


    She had set out a small hand-drawn map to point out her destination. A larger town that Cody had avoided on his journeys south. People didn¡¯t take well to Hord¡¯anne, and he didn¡¯t have the energy to fight them off when he had to keep on his toes and save his energy for Alina¡¯s next orders.


    But Alina had been vague in her demand. Follow her. That was as direct as it was ambiguous in its intentions. He would have to wait until morning to hear her next words, if she had any. The crystal had energy too, and he had exhausted it with his constant panicked pestering.


    They reached the edge of the woods, evening encroaching upon the foothills below them. The town, a speck on the horizon, was distinguished by a pointed tower with bright orange shingles that sat inside of it. An easy marker. If they travelled through the night, they would be there by sunset, as Sariel had been rather vocal about. It would have been a lot easier with a teleportation spell, but Sariel cocked her head with the familiar look of confusion when he asked if she knew one. He couldn''t use his spells, he hadn''t stepped foot in the town, and it was far from a stone''s throw away.


    Cody pulled out his spell book, about to cite a spell that would at least ease their travel downwards, when a light lit the parchment.


    Sharp, bright, and golden as it danced across the black ink. He ripped his attention from the words, gazing out at the golden light that shot into the sky. It had come from the general vicinity of Bervolt, rising like a giant arrow and bursting into a million shimmering splinters that flew out in the shape of a soaring bird and withered into the sky.


    Sariel gasped with delight at the show, pointing it out to Hord¡¯anne who was just as enamored by the twinkling lights.


    Cody stood with a new sense of unease.


    It was so far. He couldn¡¯t see the magic beyond its visual effect. But it wasn¡¯t one made to harm.


    The size of it meant it was likely prepared in a magical artifact, and the way it lit up the sky demanded attention from all around.


    ¡°What do you suppose that was?¡± Sariel piqued. ¡°I¡¯ve seen streaks in the sky before, but they¡¯ve never come from the ground like that! Do you think it will happen again?¡±


    Cody stared at the silhouette of the town, brow furled. ¡°I don¡¯t think it will¡­¡±


    Sariel hummed with disappointment. ¡°Well, we could ask em to do it again when we get there. That bird was real pretty.¡±


    Cody nodded, barely listening to her words as he thought. The spell was either a signal to attack, or it was an SOS. He wasn¡¯t in the business of saving souls, it was bad marketing on his part. But, he wasn¡¯t against taking notes. Whoever spurred the need for that spell could very well be a villain to observe and learn from. People watch. He looked up at Sariel. "Would your friend Maddison be at Bervolt by now?"


    She frowned, tapping her chin and counting her fingers. "Maybe if he got Horse to run like those others we met." She kicked her feet out, a smug look flashing across her face, "But Horse makes awful noises when he sits on him too much. Same noises the Bristlebacks would make when I tried ridin em, Medila was never fond of that."


    "Well, then I suppose we should make sure we catch up." Cody smiled. "The morning is more than doable."


    "Danger!" Crow shrieked, startling the group as the bird dived from the sky and landed on Hord''anne''s other shoulder. It looked down at Cody, shuffling its feet to turn its head and lock one beady black eye on him. "Groooup?"

 18. A Silent Cry For Help

    Maddison stood in the woods, sighing at his lack of luck. Preparations weren¡¯t going as well as he¡¯d intended, because he had forgotten one crucial detail. To make any of the poisons and potions he wanted for fending off a sorcerer, he had to collect the more spoilable ingredients.


    That was easy with a bird that had done it a hundred times over.


    He didn¡¯t have a bird.


    He trudged along the small creek he had found, grinding the tip of his boot into the softer patches of pebbles skirting the water. He needed a bluefish. It was as the name described it. Bright blue. To make sure everyone that looked at it knew damn well it was poisonous.


    It secreted a paralytic venom through its skin, and looked like a pathetic little worm of a sardine with four nubby legs. As slippery as a bar of wet soap, and quick as a cat.


    Maddison kicked at some more rocks, instantly distracted by a creeping thorny vine edging the stream. He cut a piece and shoved it in his bag. If he couldn¡¯t find a blue poisonous menace to coat his weapons, he¡¯d rub it with thornwhip paste, and at least give the Sorcerer a week-long case of hives.


    As he organized his little satchel, he saw the holy grail. A little blue swish scurrying into a little mound of pebbles.


    Maddison didn¡¯t have talons, so he stepped on the pile of rocks with a loud crunch. Much to his disappointment, the slippery creature shot out the other end. He growled in frustration, hightailing it after the ingredient. He stilled his irritation as it scrabbled under a log, bracing his shoulder against the rotted wood to roll it. "Damn Heroguard is probably waiting for the signature line to dry by now." he growled, shifting the large log after a few shoulder checks. Thirty more minutes and the whole case would be a write-off.


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    He scooped up a rock when he saw it run, his aim blessed by mysterious forces as the stone he hurled struck the fleeing lizard. Fish? Whatever the hells it was. Maddison just saw it as a future gooey paste anyway.


    Maddison slipped on his gloves and grabbed the stunned creature, shoving it into a tight bottle and twisting the cap. He gave his glove a couple of pats in the stream, freezing at the light that rose and refracted off its surface. Golden and god-awful bright. He could see it right through the trees well before it rose high into the sky and burst into a bird.


    Maddison gawked, watching the signal fade.


    That wasn¡¯t a normal call. The Heroguard liked to demand attention in ways that made them powerful. Contracts to dispatch problems were signed, messenger birds were summoned and sent, and squadrons appeared as necessary with their flashy banners and trumpet calls. They never made a scene like that except out of desperation. The golden bird was a call for the closest squadrons to come running. Maddison had seen it once before, only it was dozens of rising birds, screaming for help over a city falling to darkness. The squadrons that heeded the City of Westlock''s call that fateful day never came back through the gates.


    But this was one bird, likely belonging to the scouts he had met earlier in the day. Scouts were never equipped well, and the Follower looked like they wouldn''t be much use in combat.


    However, the strength of the scouts wasn''t the problem, it was who the signal had likely called. There was at least one squadron in Stonesong, and he hadn''t the pleasure of meeting their commander.


    ¡°Thirty minutes,¡± Maddison muttered, rushing back to the trail where he had left Horse. He cursed under his breath, hastily packing his ingredients and hoping he would have time to finish his preparations in the town. Only the gods knew what that signal had called, and if he didn''t have a sorcerer''s head in his hands by the morning, then he would be stuck with both Sariel, and a Heroguard squadron. And the Heroguard would definitely be on the lookout for more than a single sorcerer, or witch, if the scouts had been dispatched so quickly.

 19. A Well Earned Nap

    Corian awoke to a jolt as the carriage made its usual rough stop. Without opening his eyes he could tell it was daytime, or someone was shining a painfully bright light on his eyelids. He lay in the peaceful setting, smiling contently as the light warmed his body. But his mind was quick to catch up, and he realized something mundane, yet wrong.


    He''d woken up.


    After staying awake for days and finally accepting that he was, in fact, dead, he''d mysteriously fallen asleep.


    His mind reeled back to the night before. Was it night? The carriage was always dark, but it had been stopped for at least an hour. He''d refused another snack from Quibbis after the bread went sideways, and had just tried to focus on anything but his growling stomach. But that plan went downhill. He''d spent each passing hour lying on the wagon floor, curled into a weak little ball as his growling stomach evolved into a howling whine. A gods awful hunger. Gnawing at every corner of his stomach like he had swallowed a cup full of needles. It felt like an eternity had gone by, alone in the space. He was ready to use his last bit of energy to snatch even a scrap of food. He would kill for a bite.


    And then...


    He quickly opened his eyes, and if his heart was still beating, it would have stopped completely at Quibbis'' wide-eyed stare as he lay down facing him with a sinister smile.


    "Good morning starshine!"


    Corian drew back with a shudder, checking what was visible of his body to make sure Quibbis hadn''t done anything. He quickly shuffled away as the necromancer leaned up with a stretch, grimacing at the smell of rotten grass emanating from his robes.


    "Have a nice nap?"


    Corian rubbed his eyes with a groan, wincing at the pain the direct sunlight gave them. "You said undead don''t sleep, sock puppet."


    "Well... I suppose you blacked out after Inprobus had to slice your head off." Quibbis smiled as Corian felt his neck, wiggling his fingers gleefully. "You got a bit hangry."


    "Hangry?"


    "Notice anything... different?"


    Corian gave Quibbis a hard stare, looking the necromancer up and down to make sure all his limbs were stitched on. He turned to inspect his own body, feeling his rough linen shirt, still stained brown with old blood from the various spots he had been struck during his escape attempts. There was a newer stain, completely covering his chest with a splotchy waterfall of red. It didn''t set any alarms off for Corian, it lined up with having his head lopped off. He checked his grimy nails, frustrated at the lack of hints as he glared at Quibbis. "No?"


    "Reaaallly?" Quibbis gave a corner of the wagon multiple glances, his stitches stretching as his smile grew to unnerving proportions. "Tell me dear, are you hungry?"


    Corian thought about Quibbis'' words. "No..."


    Then he really thought about it, his eyes slowly widening as he looked to the wagon instead. He could see light. For the first time in days, the thick blankets were gone, allowing the evening''s light to fill the space with an orange glow. It was apparent that the view was not by choice. Where the fabric had once been nailed into the wall to cover the window, there were splinters of shredded wood. The iron bars had been torn out completely, nowhere to be found. He moved closer to the wreckage, noticing a spot lower on the wall where he could discern a few deep scratches. The grooves were stained with a dark red substance, and it was easy for Corian to guess what that was. He was covered in it after all.


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    He ran his fingers along one of the marks, his stomach turning at how perfectly his hand fit.


    Corian gave Quibbis a weak scoff. There had to be another answer. "You''re screwing with me."


    "As much as I''d love to screw with you, all you deserve from me is the truth lovely." Quibbis gave Corian a heartfelt smile, slowly spreading his arms. "Do you need a hug, kitten? I know it''s hard to..." He choked down a laugh. "Well... does it count if you eat... you know."


    Corian stared through the hole in the wall, shrinking back when he caught the gaze of a passing soldier. He couldn''t gauge their reaction before he hid, but his mind filled in the blanks regardless. He had torn through the side of a reinforced wagon, and despite the amount of noise that would have made he definitely got... something. Not remembering a second of it was a blessing and a curse. How many? Were they okay? Likely not.


    He wasn''t any better than the abomination sitting right beside him. The only grace Quibbis had over him was that the necromancer didn''t need to eat, he just bit for the fun of it.


    Quibbis cleared his throat.


    Even if it was printed, bound and slapped in his grimy hands, Quibbis still wouldn''t ever learn to read a room. He scooched closer to Corian, taking his silence for confusion. "Oh, why are you so torn up about this, Sweetface? I know how you were getting signatures."


    Corian hid his face before any emotions showed stronger than they needed to, mumbling through his arms. "This isn''t the same."


    "Right yes, less waste this way I suppose." Quibbis mused, sneaking a chuckle in the pressing silence that ensued.


    His joke must have spurred another funny thought, because soon after he let out a louder laugh. And another one. When the laughter didn''t subside, Corian slowly lifted his head, his fists clenching as a sizzling anger boiled in his stomach. He caught the necromancer''s gaze, only momentarily silencing him before the spitting laughter came back twofold. "It''s just so funny!" Quibbis took in a couple dry and unnatural breaths to fuel his laughter. "Of all the ghouls!"


    "I''m not a ghoul!" Corian roared, snatching Quibbis'' collar before he could back away. Instead of putting up a fight, Quibbis relaxed completely, eyes wide as Corian yanked him close. "Listen stitch arse, How many ghouls have you seen?"


    "Plenty." Quibbis squeaked, shrinking into his robes.


    "Good. Then you should know that they don''t talk, or think. If I was a ghoul, your head would be off your body and through that wall by now."


    "Oh..." Quibbis looked at the broken wall, then at the ground to think. "What about-"


    "No."


    "Okay..." Quibbis hung his head in defeated silence, waiting for Corian''s grip to lax a bit before his voice lit up again. "Can I call you a Goob? Undead is too broad of a term, and I technically invented a new species!"


    Corian cocked an eyebrow, his grip on Quibbis'' collar tightening once more. "What?"


    "A Goob! So I can go ''look at all those Goobs'', or ''Come here my little Goobywooby.'' It''s-"


    "No!" Corian yelled, motioning to himself with a hellsent scowl. "I''m Corian. You''ll call me Corian. If you call me anything else, I will tear you into so many pieces my father will raise a new puppet to save himself the hassle of putting you back together."


    Quibbis wiggled uncomfortably in Corian''s grip, the weight of the threat finally unsettling the necromancer. Still, he tried to revive a little bit of a smile as he spoke. "You didn''t seem to mind me calling you Sweetface."


    "I mind every word that comes out of your mouth," Corian spat, throwing Quibbis back with enough force to land him on his back. "I have minded your existence since the very first day my mother had you babysit me and Rikka. The only reason my father keeps you around is because you''re stupid and twisted enough to kiss his arse without inconveniencing him. But as soon as you''ve served your purpose, he''ll have you on a bed of sticks and watch you burn alive."


    Slowly and cautiously, Quibbis picked himself back up. When Corian didn''t show any signs of coming closer, he scuttled into the closest corner like a kicked puppy, his voice dipping to a timid whisper as he gazed at Corian in confusion. "But... I brought you back."


    Corian rose, a single step driving Quibbis further into his corner. "What do you want? A medal?" He took another step, ignoring the bright sunlight that struck his face and burned his eyes. Ignoring the familiar figures that passed the opening, an armoured man and his Follower in their animal skull mask. He drove a cold glare into Quibbis before his father made it to the door, making sure every word was dripping with venom. "You ruined my life."

 20. Hangman

    The carriage door flew open.


    Before Corian could swivel around to face his father, he heard a strained creak. The subtle sound of his sibling''s bow stretching back with an arrow. He tensed for a strike to the head, cautiously checking his shoulder when an arrow failed to find his skull. Rikki was certainly there, the black bow in their hands drawn back to strike him point blank should he make the wrong move. His father, now at Rikki''s right side, hadn''t taken to his typical white general dress, flaunting the older edition of black leather combat armour that the king handed out during a special edition witch hunt.


    After a moment to size up Corian, Inprobus stepped forward, ignoring Quibbis as if he were a pile of dust in the corner. "Good. You seem to be back to your normal, insufferable, self," he boomed, grabbing a chunk of Corian''s hair to force their eyes to meet. "You owe me a new pair of pajamas."


    Before Corian could open his mouth, he was being dragged by his hair into the hot glare of the outdoors. Corian didn''t put up much of a fight as he stumbled along, his head nearly tucked under his father''s arm with how he was dragging him by the head. But in his journey, a strange scent struck him. His father usually permeated a sickening smell of rusted copper, and the lavender soaps he would use to mask the scent of constant travel. The last thing Corian expected was a strong blast of mint.


    It was familiar though.


    There was a spread that the Heroguard gave out to their ranks generously. A type of paste that was easy to make with peppermint and a fatty base. It was apparently perfect for fighting off infections trying to get into an open wound, but Corian never trusted its effectiveness. He did however, like its smell enough to carry it around as a hand cream instead. It was doubtful Inprobus was using it the same way.


    He got his answer when he caught a glimpse of a fresh bandage peeking from Inprobus'' sleeve, wrapped tight to his wrist, and likely travelling up his left arm that rested limply at his side.


    Corian smiled. This was a new detail. He had done more than ruin whatever pajamas his father had griped about.


    When his father finally stopped, it was in front of a steep cliff, dropping into a deep, forested ravine below. Corian tensed at the sight, planting his feet before Inprobus could pull him close enough to the drop to throw him off. His father didn''t care for the resistance, letting him go on the spot and turning to other tasks. Corian massaged his stiff neck, looking around at where he had been dragged. Two soldiers were at his sides, blades drawn and ready to slice at the wrong move. Rikki had rejoined Inprobus'' side, obediently standing to look down on the remains of a dismantled bridge.


    Corian had a good guess on what was coming next, but wasn''t clueing in on why his father had dragged him out to watch his sibling''s magic.


    He watched Rikki kneel at the edge of the cliff, placing their palms flat on the ground. A deep groan quickly followed, shaking the smaller pebbles at Corian''s feet into a frantic dance. With a deafening crack, a thick root burst out of the bedrock in front of Rikki, snaking its way across the gap to tear into the cliff on the other side. From the wound in the ground, smaller vines and roots shoved through, wrapping around the larger stock to fan out and entangle into the shape of a lumpy bridge.


    Once the various roots had secured themselves on the other side, Rikki ended the spell, staggering to their feet and bracing against the closest tree to mask their exhaustion.


    Corian beheld the surreal bridge, speechless. He remembered when all Rikki could do was sprout a single flower in the palm of their hand. The Psyche Ward had pushed their magic to a level that betrayed its natural growth.


    "Careful Sir!" A voice called out, Corian chancing a look over his shoulder to see what Quibbis was screaming about now.


    The necromancer was giving the best run he could, which amounted to an awkward and lopsided jog. Halfway through his journey he stopped next to a bundle of supplies and horses, grabbing a burlap sack and emptying it of all its potatoes. He ignored the nearby soldiers as they voiced their displeasure, prancing right up to Corian with the gift.


    "He''s already had a lot of sun. He''ll get a nasty burn if you leave him out too long." Quibbis said, dropping the fabric on Corian''s head to block the remaining sunlight from touching his face.


    Corian felt a soothing chill where the shadows were cast, but bit back from paying Quibbis a thank you. Inprobus quickly found his own twisted humour in the burlap sack however, and after poking some rough holes in it for Corian to gaze through, he pulled the entire thing over his head. Corian hadn''t a clue as to what the point of it was, other than limiting his vision and filling his nostrils with the earthy scent of raw potatoes.


    That was, until his father disappeared from his limited sight, and he felt a strange pressure on his neck. When he realized the snaking object was a thick rope, he moved to struggle, freezing at the familiar creaking sound of Rikki''s bow. Inprobus pulled the rope tighter than he needed to, leaning close to whisper in Corian''s ear as he finished the know. "Don''t worry. It''s just something to catch you if you lose your footing. It''s a long drop otherwise."


    Inprobus came back into view, tapping a fairly large stone strewn about the clearing with his foot.


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    "Pick it up."


    Corian sighed, obediently bending over to wrap his arms around the stone. It was a little larger than a medium dog, but to his surprise, he was able to pick it up. It still strained his arms to keep it up, but he hadn''t expected to even budge it. He turned his head to his father, abusing the way the bag covered most of his face to sassily raise his eyebrows at him.


    His father motioned to the twisted passage Rikki had made. "I want to make sure our horses will make it across safely. Walk."


    With a soft sigh, Corian complied with the order, hoisting the rock up to be more levelled with his chest. His first step found a sturdy groove, the stress building when he felt the slick surface of the root he had stepped on. All the moisture had been trapped below the bedrock that Rikki had disturbed with their magic, giving the mesh of plants Corian was standing on a coating of slick mud.


    He froze when his next step slid further than he''d liked, turning his head in the direction of where he assumed Inprobus was watching him. "I think we should let it dry a bit. The horses will slip."


    "You haven''t slipped," Inrpobus said, his voice dripping with amusement at Corian''s predicament. "Keep walking."


    Corian took in a deep breath, scanning the vine ahead to try and memorize the rough patches before they were blocked from his view by the rock and Quibbis'' awful hat.


    "Should I incentivize you to go faster?" Inprobus boomed, the straining creak of a bow quickly following.


    Corian scuttled forward before the whistling arrow struck somewhere behind him. He dropped his careful planning altogether at the sound of another bow drawing, taking the biggest stride he could and awkwardly stumbling forward. Another arrow whistled, the sound levelled with his left shoulder. On his next step, his foot found a dry spot to wedge itself into, and he leaned full force into a sprint, praying that his reckless roll of the dice would get him across safely. It carried true for a handful of steps, each one propelling him forward and boosting his confidence, until the side of his foot clipped a blob of mud. His ankle sunk further than expected, wedging his boot between two vines as his body continued forward. The rock sailed out of his arms as the sack rose to cover his eyes, his entire body striking the mesh of vines.


    He could hear some quiet chuckles from behind him, his irritation rising as he ripped his foot loose and readjusted the sack. The pain in his ankle quickly faded as he hoisted the rock back up, but after the fumble, his adrenaline had spiked, and he was barely standing with the wobble that had spread throughout his legs. He focused on the clearing of rocks in front of him, squeezing his eyes shut.


    Safety was just a few steps away.


    Another arrow whistled, a metallic twang ringing in his ears as it bounced off the rock he was holding. The fear willed his legs to move once more, now a quick shuffle as he felt around the vines for safe spots to step. He only opened his eyes when he felt his boot scrape against a hard, rocky surface, relief flooding his body as he jumped off the vines to safety.


    Corian threw the rock down, ripping off the sack to glare at Inprobus as he exchanged a few coins with some nearby soldiers. He''d lost a small bet, and it was easy to guess what the game was.


    "Good." Inprobus boomed, waving for Rikki to lower their bow. "I don''t like the shape. Make it flatter."


    Rikki dragged their feet back to the edge of the cliff and sank back into the same position, a few more vines crawling out of the cracks to level and widen the passage.


    As the spell worked its magic, Corian took his few minutes of solitude to collect his thoughts. There were three soldiers from his father''s squadron watching him carefully, bows drawn and arrows ready. They were far from Rikki''s incredible aim, but one would surely hit before he could tear off the rope squeezing his neck and flee.


    He stared at the stray arrows that had stuck into the path, a few soldiers still smiling and laughing as they whispered amongst themselves.


    But he had to get away.


    He eyed the trail ahead of him. If he managed to escape, it would be a matter of minutes before he was run down by horses. If he jumped, the rope would catch him.


    And if it snapped...


    He shuddered. This wasn''t the right time to make a break for it, but it had to be soon. He hadn''t seen his father move his left arm yet, and whatever damage he had dealt would be gone within a matter of days if there was a healer in the next town.


    Corian eyed the archers pointing at him, raising his open palms as he sunk into a patch of grass to rest. As he eased his stiff arms with a few stretches, a familiar scent struck him, his mind reeling back to the chunk of burnt bark his father had insistently shoved in his face. Burnt, rotten eggs. He felt around, his eyes drawn to a strange glow flickering in the grass. It wasn''t the obvious scorched prints he had seen where the beast his father was hunting had supposedly ripped through a few trees. But still, there were faint markings in the grass, like glowing reddish-purple dust hovering inches above the dirt.


    He stroked a patch of the dirt, staring at the glowing specks that stuck to his finger.


    Curiousity beckoned him further, and he sniffed his finger.


    He gagged as the scent struck him tenfold and he threw down his hand. That was definitely it.


    After he composed himself, he looked back at the markings, clearer now that he knew what to focus on. They had left the graveled trail, wandering off the path and into a nest of rolling green hills.


    Corian sealed his tongue, waiting for Rikki to finish their spell, and his father to take the lead across the bridge. No one seemed to notice the trail of strange embers as they gathered on the other side. Still, his constant glances at it had drawn Inprobus attention enough for his father to take note and approach him.


    "What is it? I don''t recall ordering you to take that sack off your head."


    Corian looked up at his father, and then at the trail. Running would have to wait until he had a proper plan. The only thing he could do right now was cost his father his next prize.


    At peace with his decision, he pulled the burlap sack back over his head. "Nothing."


    Inprobus crouched down, his intent shrouded by a stone-forged scowl as he reached towards Corian. Whatever plans he had were cut short by one of his soldier calling for his attention, a small group of them gathered to stare at an object in the sky. There was a small golden light drifting towards them. Its details became more defined the closer it got, a small bird made of brilliant light fluttering for Inprobus'' outstretched palm.


    Before the bird found its perch, Inprobus swiped at it, the light enchantment scattering in the air. He opened the small slip of paper that had been stashed inside of it, skimming it with a stiff frown. The distress call didn''t shift his glare, and after crumpling it into a ball, he dropped it on the ground and ground it into the dirt with his heel. "Waste my time." He growled, throwing his arm out and pointing down the trail. "The hounds have arrived in Stonesong. His Majesty''s mission is of greater importance than some careless scouts. We''ll stop there to gather intel on any sightings of the demon." He glared at Corian, a mysterious hostility clouding his scowl. "And more soldiers."

 21. A Strange Sense of Unity

    Maddison took in a deep breath, the fresh evening grass, faint bitter tang of burning wood, and Horse''s ''aromatic'' rear end twisting together into a nostalgic slap of home. Horse had really shown off why he was a rental during the journey. Haste was a foreign concept to the beast if the destination was more than twenty minutes away. Given that Bervolt was at least two hours away from where Maddison had stopped to prepare, the journey had stretched to three between cranky trots and random strikes where Horse would refuse to travel altogether.


    But he had made it. Finally.


    He stopped before the town gates, stroking the rotting pillars of wood, woven into a formidable gatekeeper for unwanted guests. He glanced over his shoulder at the empty road behind him, stilling his panic when he didn''t see Sariel anywhere. He had to remind himself that he hadn''t forgotten her anywhere.


    "Had enough of pettin our door?" One of the guards growled, her brown eyes digging into him with a scowl.


    Maddison pulled his hand away from the wall, paying the woman a friendly nod. "Just looking to pass through..." he went to grab some coins, stopping as she continued to glare. "Something wrong?"


    "Besides the burnin starlight?" The other guard cut in, their face contorted into a forced glare as they squinted at him. "Sorry, evening shift is the worst, can''t help but squish our faces to look at ya."


    "Ah, sorry to hear that." Maddison turned to face the blinding sunset so the two guards could rest their glares. "Entrance fee?"


    "Well, Old Mayor Maynard set up a weird law saying we had to send everyone off to get three Scuttlesnake rattles and five Nuttle tails... did it to the first guy... but we don''t really feel like payin everyone to collect useless stuff for us." The first guard said, folding her arms as her partner pulled out a stack of papers and stamped the first one, handing it off to Maddison.


    "Just act like you did it and humour the guy."


    Maddison grabbed the paper without looking at it, eyeing the fortress of a wall curiously. There were no Heroguard banners at the entrance, which made for a good sign.


    But the distress call.


    "Did a group of six soldiers pass through here? Horseback, had a kid with them."


    The guards narrowed their eyes, the one closest to him tilting her head in a way that neither confirmed nor denied his question. "Wouldn''t stay here too long if I were you."


    "Alright..." Maddison watched the two guards shove on one of the doors, scraping it open just enough for him to slip through with Horse and wave them farewell. Curiousity gripped him as he stopped to read the paper in his hands, skimming the lines of the strange handwritten quest.


    <u>Welcome to Bervolt Adventurer!</u>


    ''Meredith and Mandy appear to be too scared to open the door, as a scuttlesnake or nuttle could strike from the shadows at any moment! It''s probably best to deal with the problem so they can let you through.''


    Objective: Bring back three scuttlesnake rattles, and five nuttle tails.


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    His gaze fell to the bright red ''COMPLETED'' stamp at the bottom of the page. He''d never seen something like this in his life.


    Maddison crumpled the paper into a ball and tossed it, snapping open a satchel fastened to Horse'' saddle to carefully slide out a small pack of worn papers. Wanted posters he''d collected from his guild. He flipped through the pile, pulling out a fresher looking paper that had been delivered by Crow. Kalthos Maynard, a sorcerer gone mad. For such a request to have reached his guild, the town seemed remarkably calm.


    The town wasn''t the typical rugged setup that was practical in the surrounding villages. Compared to Stonesong even, this one was a metropolis. Smooth shingles sat atop every shop and home, the wood of the stray benches and buildings smelt of fresh varnish and polish, and the ground was fitted with a perfectly paved stone path leading up to a carved fountain filled with water. His first instinct was to look around for the elderly; sometimes nobles liked to set up little yuppy towns out in the middle of nowhere for a retirement getaway. But without a lake or mountain in sight, the scenery here was far from a desirable spot. The eldest spectator he could see was an elderly man with a white fluff of groomed hair on his chin, absently painting a picture as he rested on a freshly polished bench.


    And everyone else was just... lingering.


    In conversations that seemed to loop, on journeys up and down the stone paths that never seemed to have a destination. Like gears in a clock, always working to strike the next hour and nothing more.


    Something was up; something was seriously up.


    Maddison looked around for anybody with a shred of sense in their eyes. He wasn''t going to take another step into the town with the current crowd.


    There were a couple of outliers, looking around tiredly or avoiding eye contact altogether with anyone that passed. He decided to go for the closest one, a lonely tanner scraping his blade against a stretched-out hide. He''d given Maddison a couple cautious glances, but when he noticed the mercenary coming at him his expression sank to defeat and he adjusted his broad hat, crossly grabbing a stack of papers before Maddison came within conversational reach.


    "Welcome to Bervolt adventurer..." He let out a heavy sigh, sheathing his blade and tossing it on the grass beside him. "Where''s that stupid script?"


    Maddison watched him lean out of his chair to peek under it, stretching his arm with a groan before coming back up victoriously gripping another packet of papers. "Name''s Tarson... Grey." he skimmed some lines with another sigh. "King''s got an order for a hefty shipment of high-quality leather... problem is I don''t got enough pelts for it..." He looked at his shop where a bursting mound of animal pelts sat. Bloodied and tattered by what Maddison guessed to be a lot of inexperienced hunters. "Could you get me six Margoat pelts?" He gave Maddison the deadest stare to ever fall upon a living person, holding out a paper that looked hauntingly similar to the one he''d grabbed at the entrance.


    "Actually, I''m just looking for someone."


    The man stopped, looking back at his script in surprise as he flipped through the pages. "Don''t remember you... who''re you looking for?"


    "Kalthos Maynard."


    "Old Man Maynard?" The tanner shook his head. "Sorry, you''re supposed to ask Cindy the bun Baker about meeting Old Man Maynard... then something about slaying a Gorgonaxus... whatever that i-"


    "I''m not part of your stupid treasure hunt." Maddison cut in. "Someone put up a-" He stopped before saying bounty. "Mission for this place. I need to talk to Kalthos Maynard."


    Tarson slowly lowered his papers, the boredom completely fading from his gaze. "What do you need from him?"


    "Look, that''s none of your business. I was sent here, and I need to talk to Kalthos Maynard, so if you''re not going to tell me where he is, then I''ll find someone else with their wits still intact."


    The man paused, quickly skimming through his papers and leaping to his feet with a booming voice. "Thank the seven gods you found it! My dearly beloved can rest peacefully now, knowing you''ve returned her ring to me!" Tarson gave the other townsfolk a cautious glance, motioning for Maddison to follow him. "You are well deserving of a toast dear adventurer! Join me in my home!"


    Maddison planted his feet with a stern scowl, forcing Tarson to stop as he stared at him urgently, lowering his voice to the quietest whisper he could manage.


    "Come on, I''ll tell you about Kalthos. But not where stray ears can hear us."

 22. The Blacksmith

    Maddison eyed Tarson, scrutinizing everything from his linen shirt to the glimmer of hope in his eyes. When he was satisfied enough that it wasn''t a trap, he leashed Horse on the closest painted mailbox and followed him up to his front door. As soon as he got across the threshold, Tarson slammed the door, drawing every curtain facing the streets and clicking the lock. In his frantic air, he completely ignored the way Maddison''s hand drifted to his sword, flying around his house like a bee. He quickly grabbed some small trinkets, placing a block of cheese on his table and tossing some lockpicks in the trash can beside the door. Lastly, he grabbed some buns from a bulging bag, stuffing the berry-filled delicacies in a small sling bag, along with a sheathed dagger and a vial of blood-red liquid. "Okay..." he muttered, trying to catch his breath as he frantically scanned his mysterious work before nodding. "It''s all there..." His urgency dug into Maddison once more. "We don''t have a lot of time..."


    Maddison eyed the man''s work, discomfort plain on his face. "What''s this all about?"


    "You''re finally here... thank Lao you''re finally here!" Tarson muttered, surprising Maddison with a heartfelt hug as he blinked away some tears. "Kalthos has completely lost it. Everyone has!"


    "The two guards at the door seemed rational enough," Maddison replied, giving Tarson a good meter of space after he finished with the hug.


    "My sister and girlfriend... I''m not the only one that still has a brain... but the number declines every day," Tarson replied, unlocking a small chest nestled under a blanket of animal skins. "We put up the bounty after most of the town went crazy like this... I can only pray that I''m not next."


    "Do you know what happened?" Maddison questioned, keeping his body facing Tarson as he eyed the objects around the house.


    Nothing magical. Nothing odd.


    Tarson shook his head. "Started with Old Man Maynard. Suddenly allocated all our funding to architecture and spiffed up the town for tourism. Which was alright, I guess...Then he just went completely nuts and started writing out scripts for everyone to follow, and handing out tons of free crap to anyone that came into our town and fulfilled these tasks." Tarson motioned to another stack of animal skins accumulating in his living room. "What the hell am I supposed to do with this?!" He grabbed a small black sack off his dining room table, pulling out some of its contents and letting the small silver rings cascade back into the fabric. "I''m not even married! I have a girlfriend!"


    Maddison perked up at the mass of jewelry. "Those real?"


    "Yes! Pure, bonafide silver." He sealed the pouch with a tug, shaking the small sum of treasure at him. "I know the reward was in coin... but I don''t have a ton of cash. Can I pay you in fake wedding rings?"


    Maddison stuck his hand out to check the sack, running his fingers through the small pool of treasure, rolling one of the shining rings in his palm. He had seen enough silver to know it was likely real, and if it was, it was at least worth four times as much. He didn''t let that fact show on his face, tilting his head in consideration instead. "I suppose it''ll do. You''re sure I can take these?"


    Tarson grabbed his shoulders. "Kill that monster of a man and get those damn things out of my sight."


    Maddison slowly nodded. "Alright, so you''re pre-paying?"


    Tarson shook his head. "Take those, you can have the rest later."


    "The rest?"


    Tarson took on a feral glare, his face burning red at the simple thought of his ring hoard. "I''ll give you some weapons too if you promise to give him a slow and painful death."


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    Maddison shrugged. "Sure, what do you have?"


    Tarson waved him over to a set of narrow stairs, quickly descending into the dark depths and lighting a torch to illuminate a basement chocked full of fresh armour and weaponry. Maddison gave the deadly room an impressed whistle, catching the man''s malicious smile.


    "Where''d you get all this stuff?"


    "I made it." He stared at his work with a smile that could barely suppress his murderous hostility. "I''m not a tanner, I''ve never skinned a freaking animal in my life! How hard is it to just keep me as the stupid blacksmith and send all those adventurer idiots off to get me metal scraps and chunks of iron?!" He stormed over to a table full of swords and daggers, shoving an embellished broadsword forward. "That''s my best blade, use it as a finisher when that skat licker is begging for death. You can keep it after."


    Maddison gently grabbed the blade and popped its hilt to check the quality. It was artfully crafted, but decorative. His blade was better. At least it would go for a decent price.


    Tarson was still in the midst of grabbing another weapon, dragging a wooden stool along the rough floor to place it under a wall of bows. "Your bow is crap, right?"


    Maddison thought about the weapon he had left with Horse, paying the man a shrug. "Yeah, but I don''t use it that much."


    Tarson looked over his shoulder, the demonic look in his eyes only intensifying as he grabbed a blackened war bow. "Just in case he starts running, shoot him in the arse." He tossed the bow for Maddison to catch, sliding off the stool and yanking a string of keys out of his pocket to fiddle with a massive chest. "See you like leather. This is full of armour for any occasion, didn''t make it, metal''s my specialty. Take what you want." He stopped, looking around the room at the array of death-inducing objects. "Take any extra weapons you need as well. I''d better hear his screams from my table, you hear me?"


    "Loud and clear," Maddison replied, grabbing two daggers off the table before approaching the chest of armour.


    He froze at the first piece that greeted him. The top and shoulders of a set of tough, blackened leather armour. Identical to a piece he had seen this morning on six Heroguard scouts.


    The caution returned to Maddison''s tone as he lifted the piece. "Where did you get this?"


    "This morning. Some travelers weren''t as smart as you." Tarson raised his palms at the look Maddison gave him. "Go to the town center if you want to see, not a pretty sight. Just don''t make a scene. The Heroguard sigil is the last thing you want to be flaunting on the streets like they did."


    Maddison eyed the armour, relenting on the ethics of it all as he held it out to Tarson as his choice. It was a good set.


    "Adjustments will take a day."


    "Never mind, I don''t intend to stay that long," Maddison replied, eyeing Tarson curiously when he didn''t put the set back, and headed for the steps instead.


    "You can crash here regardless."


    "I won''t go crazy, will I?"


    Tarson shrugged. "I haven''t."


    "I''ll check around the town to see how to get to Maynard before nightfall."


    "I know how to, you have to get past a few quests," Tarson sighed. "That stupid ring quest is near the end where Old Man Maynard summons you to his hut to proclaim you the chosen one, then yada yada... our hero, yada yada, go forth and vanquish the dark lord." He waved Maddison over to follow him out of the basement. "I''ll tell you the next quest giver, she''s the second last, and definitely has her wits. Bet she regrets moving back into this town as much as I do."


    "That''s good."


    Tarson nodded. "It''s probably best to get those two quests out of the way, then face Old Man Maynard and ram a spear so far up his arse he looks like a scarecrow."


    "Noted." Maddison closed the door behind him, waiting for Tarson to lock it back up and extinguish the flickering torch in a spare pail of water. He turned to him, barely able to tame a grin at the mercenary. "Good luck fri-"


    Then, there was a knock at the door.


    A harmless symphony of quiet clacks that drew polarly opposite reactions from the two. As Maddison greeted it with confusion and a prompting nod, Tarson gave the door a look like he was about to unleash every demon in hell upon the mortal realm by answering it. He slowly crept up to the window, parting a curtain to peek at the guest. The colour immediately drained from his cheeks. With a sharp gasp, he drew back, shooing Maddison over to a chair and handing him a random cookbook to read before rushing over to the door. He didn''t open it, staring at Maddison with wide eyes. "Just read that... don''t answer him."


    Maddison looked at the book, greeted by a recipe for steam boiled pig feet. He grimaced. "Alright..."


    Tarson couldn''t hold his voice from shaking. "Don''t, okay?"


    "I said alright."


    Tarson nodded, slowly turning the nob and allowing the door to swing open with a drawn squeal.

 23. Knock Knock

    Maddison pretended to read, peering over the rim of his book with a critiquing glare at the boy who had waltzed in. He was incredibly young, with oddly short strawberry-blonde hair swiped to the side, a large broadsword strapped to his back, and a silent yet disturbing smile on his face. He couldn''t have been more than thirteen in Maddison''s eyes, and yet there was a strange sink to his cheeks.


    "Well hello there adventurer, make yourself at home!" Tarson said, his smile dropping to a murderous scowl as he turned away from the child, walking over to his table and relaxing on a chair.


    The boy looked around with a dead stare, blind to the world as he bent down and sifted through Tarson''s trash pail, pulling out the lockpick and shoving it in a bulging pouch that had more stains than a tie dyed shirt in sewage. He grabbed the block of cheese, shoving it in the same pouch while staring at Maddison.


    Maddison felt the soft poke, but stayed true to Tarson''s orders, ignoring the wide-eyed boy as he gave him another poke.


    "Feller doesn''t talk, he''s a friend from the frontlines, saw the Dark Lord himself," Tarson cut in, concealing his script before the boy saw him. "Doesn''t talk unless he has a quest for you."


    The boy nodded, giving Maddison a hard stare before approaching Tarson and poking his shoulder.


    Tarson forced himself to perk up with a sprig of energy to his voice. "Welcome adventurer, how can I help ya?"


    The boy yanked a piece of paper out of his boot, pulling a handful of flowers from a separate pouch and holding them out to Tarson with soulless eyes. In response to the odd gesture, Tarson let out the fakest sniffles Maddison had ever heard, pretending to wipe some stray tears from his eyes.


    "Those flowers always bring a smile to my face... her favourites." He grabbed the sack he''d recently stuffed with miscellaneous items, holding it out for the boy to snatch. "You be sure to come back when you get some more, flowers wither too fast for the dead."


    The boy nodded, poking Tarson again.


    "Welcome adventurer, how can I help ya?" He growled.


    "Sell or buy," the boy replied, his monotonous tone setting an eerie chill in the room.


    Tarson''s lip twitched in disgust, warping into an enthusiastic smile as he threw out his arms. "You''ve come to the right place adventurer! I''ve got the finest pelts in the Bersic region!"


    The boy grabbed a wad of the festering muck sitting in his pouch, dropping the conglomeration with a wet splat in Tarson''s outstretched palm. Tarson stared at the small pile of stray organs and torn fabric, a few claws and eyeballs sitting around in the putrid stew. He retched, holding up a pail to toss it in, and returning the favour with a handful of copper coins. "Pleasure doing business with you..."


    The boy nodded, mindlessly turning away and checking the trash can again before leaving the house. As soon as the door clicked, Maddison closed the book, giving Tarson a serious look. "What...?"


    "Sajus." Tarson poured the contents of the pail into the closest trash can, giving the mound one last look with an uncontrollable dry heave. "He was one of the first ones to go absolutely insane... poor kid."


    "You really don''t know what''s going on here?" Maddison replied, searching Tarson''s expression for even the slightest falter to show a lie, but he just shook his head with a sorrowful sigh.


    "If I knew, I would''ve fixed it. It started with Old Man Maynard and I''ve tried talking sense into him, but he''s a stone wall."


    Maddison rose from his seat, slapping the book into Tarson''s hand. "Alright. I''m going to ask around."


    "No!" Tarson froze, staring at Maddison with wild eyes again. "You can''t, they''ll think you''re a demon of the Dark Lord if you don''t follow the script." He grabbed the stack of papers. "Your next quest is with Cindy-"


    "A demon of the Dark Lord?" Maddison folded his arms. "What Dark Lord? There hasn''t been a single damn demon or man that''s taken to a cheesy arse nickname like Dark Lord."


    "I know!" Tarson snapped. "There''s no Dark Lord, it''s all made up! Everyone is freaking crazy, so if you don''t want to get tied to a stick and crisped like a pig roast I''d pay attention pal!"


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Tarson ignored the fire of challenge in Maddison''s eyes, drawing a sheet of paper and waving the quest at him. "Go to Cindy the Bun Baker. She''s to the right as soon as you walk out, straight to the end of the path, most colourful building in the town square."


    Maddison grabbed the paper with a condescending scowl, cramming it into his pocket.


    Tarson didn''t shy from the look, overtaking him on his way to the door to hold it open and point off to where Maddison assumed he wanted him to go. "If you don''t want to listen to me, then skip town and find another bounty. Otherwise you''ll look just like the sods on display in the town square."


    Not another word was exchanged as Maddison came outside, the tanner taking to silence as he went back to his chair in front of a stretched hide. However, the look in his eyes said a lot. Leave or keep your head down.


    "Come on Horse." Maddison muttered, grabbing the lead and trying to pull the stolen mount to follow him. Horse had other plans, chuffing sassily at his tugs and staying form to the spot. It wasn''t the first show of laziness Maddison had seen from the mount. He was trained cheap by the Heroguard, a literal show pony. But pampered or not, having a horse refuse to walk into a town was always a cause for unease. Maddison tied the lead back up, shooting Tarson a look that he seemed to understand with a nod.


    Maddison growled to himself, turning to venture deeper into the strange town and find the next sane person. Most of the townsfolk weren''t very shy with their creepy stare downs, waving for his attention but never moving to confront him as he ignored their pleas. Others still had an unnatural stillness about them as they stood facing one another, muttering repeated phrases under their breath without blinking. He didn''t like playing along to curses, but he wasn''t getting anything out of the scripted chatter, so moving along the strange plot stood as the only solution to him.


    "Cindy the Bun Baker..." He gave his surroundings a cautious squint, none of the articulately painted signs bore a resemblance to baked goodies, and the paved street had yet to widen into a recognizable town center. He stayed course, moving through the streets with a single tower dwarfing every other building to guide him. It didn''t quite match the rest of the town, stacked tall with off-white slabs of stones, and polished shingles that looked like autumn leaves. Maddison could see its base where the shops were smaller, the entire structure seemed to be attached to a dark wooden mansion as an afterthought. All that stone stacked on wood would have normally crushed the house by now, but perhaps it had a harder interior to support the new add-on. Stranger still, Maddison swore if he tilted his head a certain way it was definitely leaning.


    "Adventurer!"


    Maddison flinched at the short man that had snuck up on him, pivoting to avoid the conversation, and holding in his disappointment as the little old man mimed his movements to cut in front of him again.


    He slapped Maddison''s arm, jovially crazed like some of the other cursed townsfolk Maddison had successfully avoided. "Always great to see a fresh face! Why you look lost. In the words of my late pops, better to seek guidance than flounder about, streets can be mighty dangerous once the sun goes down. I hear the Dark Lord works his schemes in the wee hours of the night."


    Maddison looked left, and then right, hoping someone off to the side had a hint on what his line of the script was. Hand on his sword, he looked down at the old man, and silently nodded.


    "Ah! You''re too funny!" The man cackled, pulling out a small piece of paper and handing it off to Maddison. He stared at the strange drawing as the man strutted away, giving it a few seconds before he realised the shaky ink and smudged charcoal was some attempt at a map. Even without the looming threat of being jumped by cursed townsflok, he wasn''t one to refuse free maps. Even if this one was scribbled out by a five year old that didn''t know North from South.


    Maddison traced his finger along the shakily drawn paths, finally finding his place with a statue of a horse for reference, and walking his fingers up to what he hoped to be a bakery. He glanced at his right, the horribly drawn shops seemed to match up with the real deal, and there was the faintest scent of fresh pie lingering in the air. As he stepped out of the alleyway and into the town square, another scent struck him, its pungent and bitter tone scrunching his nose.


    He''d smelt it less than a week ago when he lead Sariel back to her village. It was the worst smell imaginable, and always managed to rip a cough out of him whenever his job put him in the path of fire and people.


    Which admittedly, seemed to be a trend this week.


    He scoured the well kept square, focusing on a stone plateau nestled in a circle of emerald grass. It was the same white slabs that made the tower, and he could see the structure in all its strange glory framed perfectly behind the podium. But the dark mansion failed to pull his attention, for on the white stadium was something far more hideous and intriguing. There was a line of spiked metal cages, blackened at their bases from the kindling they had once sat on. They had been lined to face a white statue at the center of the stage, tall and imposing as she looked down at her offerings with glazed marble eyes. The woman did not have the defining features of a goddess or saint Maddison recognized, dressed plainly in her stone alikeness, with small ears that barely pointed and a soft smile as she stared at the ravens and crows pecking at something in her cupped hands. Even in her carved beauty a half Elaren was a stretch, a human, more likely.


    He stepped into the square, careful to stay at the edge of the grass. The stage was still far, but he could now make out the blackened lumps inside the cages, some of them reaching through the bars with stubby limbs in a final plea to be rescued before the flames took them. Behind each cage, proud in its blasphemy, was a wooden pike with a scorched cloak flapping in the wind. Bloodied and burnt to a point where Maddison could hardly make out the Heroguard sigil anymore. He looked back at the statue, her pale hands stained with cracks of reddish brown that had trickled from the sides and collected in a small puddle at her feet. Whatever the birds were gorging themselves with in her hands were definitely the culprit for the stain.


    He stared for a moment, aghast at the spectacle. But one too many townsfolk tossed him a glance in the shades of their shops, and he quickly pulled his gaze to the cobble, turning to scour the rest of the square. One detail in the macabre scene had stood out to him the most.


    Of the burnt and mangled bodies, there was only three cages.

 24. Cindy The Bun Maker

    Head down, and hand on his sword, Maddison made a beeline for what he assumed to be the bakery. It looked close enough to the artisan shops he would pass by in thriving cities, crying for attention with a bright blue canopy of cloth that provided some shade for the bushes of red and yellow flowers that shared the space with a quaint bench and a coffee table. Some of the cursed villagers were loitering around the shop and chattering away, completely blind to Maddison as he made his approach.


    Maddison ripped out the quest Tarson had handed him and marched up to the dainty little door to throw it open. He looked around the silent setting, only grabbing one or two confused glances while the rest of the townsfolk stuffing the shop continued in their fantasy-like state.


    "Well, afternoon there adventurer, no need to be so rough on the door. Fresh carved tunstar wood that is, it''ll cost a pretty sliv or two if you break it."


    Maddison locked gazes with a huskier woman. She was leaning over her counter with a floured up apron, her braided golden hair dusted with silvery strands that betrayed the youth in her face. The woman flicked her hazel eyes to Maddison''s boots, deliberately slow as she drew it up to his face. After a moment to think, she smirked.


    "Got a quest there, sweetie?"


    Maddison looked at the crumpled paper in his hands, pulling his attention back to the woman as she smacked a blob of dough with a wooden stick. "Pardon?"


    "You heard me, unless yer a thick one. I don''t hire thick adventurers to do my dirty work." She smacked the flour off her hands, waving away the plume of white and pulling herself over the counter with a small groan.


    Maddison tried to give her a meter or two as she approached him, but her swift strides backed him into the door. She paid the reaction a snicker.


    "Don''t hire cowards either. You here for some hunting adventurer? Name''s Cindy."


    Maddison grimaced at her close proximity. "I gathered..."


    She slid the quest out of his grasp, flattening it on a sharp corner and pulling a stamp out of her pocket. As soon as she pressed the ink into the paper Maddison could''ve sworn he saw the faintest glimmer, but there wasn''t a reflective surface for the light to come from. Magic.


    Before he could ponder the type of spell it was, Cindy snatched his wrist, tugging him along with a creepy wink as the only form of comfort she provided. Maddison quickly tore out of her grasp when she reached the counter, drawing a challenging glare from the woman who cocked her head over her shoulder and snapped for him to follow.


    Maddison folded his arms, his eyes darkening to hostility as his hulking physique still managed to shroud the robust baker. Cindy raised her chin with a scoff, flicking her braid back and turning to fully face him. "That''s no way to look at a lady there, Mr. Sungard." She grinned at his surprise, grabbing an unstamped quest from a little pile sitting on her counter. "These pieces of paper here are real nifty, just one touch and they know your name."


    "Tarson said you could get me to Maynard." Maddison growled, following her as she walked into a room chocked full of flour and fresh berries. Cindy kicked the door shut, lighting a candle to illuminate the space in a saturated gold. The way the warm light spilled across her face and deepened the shadow in her cheeks did little to comfort Maddison in her presence.


    "Mr. Grey says lots of stuff. Whatchya need with Mr. Maynard?"


    "If you don''t know, ask Tarson."


    Cindy let out a whining hmph, staring at Maddison with fake sorrow as she pulled a roll of paper out of her shirt. "You''re no fun there Mr. Maddison, no fun at all."


    Maddison grabbed the roll of paper, stretching it out to read the quest with a scrunched scowl. "What''s this?"


    "Your next quest." Cindy raised her finger before he could protest. "There''s three things that gets this village thirsty for blood. The first bein killin'' someone, the second, killin'' a chicken and takin'' its legs, and the third." She pressed her finger into Maddison''s chest. "Giving em a reason to think yer working for the Dark Lord. That there includes acting outside of the questline. If you walk up to Maynard''s door without a quest to grant you entry, then you might be the next cage at that lady''s feet."


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    He thought about the spectacle she was referring to, eyeing the closed door behind him, and still lowering his voice to be certain his words would not reach the wrong ears. "Who is that woman? Some new rendition of Noctra?"


    "What?" Cindy cocked her head. "The statue? Definitely not Noctra, I hear the Night Mother is not a fan of grand gestures like statues and tributes. That statue there is not a god. She doesn''t have a name aside from Our Lady."


    Maddison frowned as the name failed to ring any bells. "And the cages? How many of the Heroguard came here?"


    Cindy''s smile turned grim as she set her candle down, lowering her voice to a quiet whisper. "There were six, they were lead to the center of the town. Three chose to prove their innocence before Our Lady. Two chose to prove their innocence before a demon of the Dark Lord. One was found guilty because of his Commander''s crest. Old Man Maynard took him for questioning."


    Maddison hummed, feeling no lie in her tone. Although she had been vague, she had failed to make any mention of the Follower that was with them. "The Commander is alive?"


    Cindy shrugged.


    Maddison held her stare for a couple seconds, moving back to the paper in his hands to read over the quest. "What''s a Gorganox?"


    "A fearsome cave dwelling serpent." She grabbed the collar of Maddison''s coat, gently fixing it with a smirk. "I hear it''s a nasty one. Our furthest reachin adventurer is still stuck on it."


    "I''m your furthest reaching adventurer now." Maddison growled, crumpling up the paper and shoving it in his pocket.


    Cindy chuckled at his hostility, leaning uncomfortably close to him and practically resting on his chest. "Right you are, and does the furthest reaching adventurer have an open schedule tonight?"


    "No." Maddison backed up, nearly causing Cindy to fall flat on her face as she grabbed a wall for balance. The baker didn''t let the reaction deter her, allowing her entire posture to rise an inch or two as if the conversation had never happened.


    "Well if you ever need somethin tonight Maddison, I''ll be right here," she replied, blowing him a soft kiss that he dodged with a grimace.


    "The only thing I''m getting tonight is Old Man Maynard''s head or a good night''s sleep."


    "Good night''s sleep it is. Gorganox is a bit of a walk, not a good idea to go serpent slaying in the dark." She mused, looking around the small storage space and snatching an empty sack. After killing the light she shoved the door open, snapping for Maddison to follow her back into the boisterous storefront full of chattering, vacant eyed villagers. She tugged on his arm when he moved to leave, thrusting a sack teeming with fresh berry buns at him with a cheeky smile. "That''s your reward for completin the quest Mr. Sungard. Don''t go eatin em all at once. You''ll get a stomach ache. Best thing about em is the smell when they come out of the oven."


    Maddison cautiously grabbed the sack, pulling a bun out to give it an appraising squeeze. His brow furrowed when it resisted his grip, hard as a rock. It could very well substitute one as a weapon. He eyed Cindy with some accusation in his frown. "You''re a baker?"


    "I was their doctor. Never really trained to make things taste good." She muttered, grabbing the bun out of Maddison''s hand and biting it. Despite the scraping crunch, she went through the chore of chewing through it. After a tough swallow, she shrugged. "Edible though."


    Maddison grumbled at the show, reluctantly accepting the gift. Food was food. If he was stranded in Bervolt longer than the night, he would have to eat something, and banking on Tarson''s hospitality was likely a stretch.


    He kept his voice low as he looked out one of the windows to the towering statue. "That big house with the strange tower is Old Man Maynard''s?"


    Cindy nodded.


    "Any guards?"


    She eyed him curiously. "Just the two at the door, he''s the only one that goes in and out. I could count the ones he takes for questioning, but they don''t come out."


    Maddison nodded. "Thank you, you''ll be a doctor again come sunrise."


    She chuckled, "I wouldn''t count on it, but I appreciate the thought." Her smile faltered as her gaze moved over Maddison''s shoulder. He saw her body rise as she focused on something through the windows, moments before a commotion could be heard outside. The villagers resting in her small shop barely batted an eyelash at the fear laced screams, the few she still knew to have a free will taking a couple moments to peek out the window in curiosity. Then the chatter thickened to a buzzing swarm, a single distressed cry rising above, and piercing the air with shaking fear. "Demons! This is the work of demons! The Dark Lord has come!"


    Every villager within the crowded bakery, from small children to fragile elders, rose from their seats in unison. They drew a jamble of different weapons, ranging from daggers to ladles as their expressions darkened to murderous hostility, turned psychopathic with the emptiness that filled their eyes. Maddison flinched as Cindy nudged his arm, catching her prompting nod and taking the rolling pin she was holding out.


    The two watched the villagers file out of the bakery like a line of robots, Maddison dropping his voice to a soft whisper that he hoped she''d catch with the ambiance of chattering voices. "What''s happening?"


    She shook her head, blinking away the panic that struck her eyes, her entire expression washing over with confusion. "This has never happened before..." she choked out the rest of her words, hiding her shaking hands in her pockets. "we''re under attack."

 25. Scripted Chatter

    The journey from the fairy domain had been calm. With a few small spells to cushion the larger jumps, they had made good time travelling down the foothills. Cody knew they were supposed to meet up with the Maddison fellow in the morning, but they had saved more than enough time to reach the gates of Bervolt as the last rays of sunlight died. The field of grass danced in the breeze, as fine as an angel''s hair that tickled at Hord''anne''s feet as the large purple beast carried Sariel and Cody on his shoulders like two chattering parrots.


    Hord''anne looked up at the stars with a dry groan, barely soothed by the light fanning Cody was providing with his book. With summer''s touch enveloping the region, the day had been blistering hot, and the heat still lingered on the wind. "We''re almost there." Cody pointed at the built up town with a fortress of thick wooden walls around it. His lips curved into a sinister smile as he caught Sariel''s glance. "Bervolt I believe it was. We''d best be ready for a little scuffle."


    Sariel chuckled, almost losing her balance on Hord''anne''s shoulder as she tried to lean back. "Mr. Maddison''ll sure be happy to see me."


    "Indeed." Cody closed his book, digging a serious glare into Sariel. "We need a plan of attack."


    "Attack?"


    He nodded. "The protagonist in the town is guaranteed to have plot armour." He motioned to the lush fields around him. "And given this friendly, open armed atmosphere, I''d say this is the first arc of their story. So we need to talk to your friend and choose. We either introduce ourselves and leave after beating the protagonist within a shred of their life, or try our very hardest to hack through their plot armour."


    "We talking bout Mr. Maddison?" Sariel hummed in disapproval as Cody nodded, staring at the town with a surprising look of worry. "He doesn''t take fighting well..."


    "Is he a pacifist?"


    "Do pacifists plunge swords into people''s necks?"


    Cody gulped, discretely stroking his neck. "Definitely not... he stabbed someone in the neck?"


    Sariel nodded. "The undead did lurch at him first, so I suppose severin his spine from his head was justified as self defense."


    "Ah, an undead." Cody grabbed a small slip of paper from his pocket, gently pinching its rough edges. "It''s funny how easily something becomes dehumanized by death. Even the death of emotion makes monsters of us all. And nobody cares if a monster dies."


    "I think Mr. Maddison will really like you Cody. You''re smart, just like him," Sariel replied, his look of surprise drawing a warmth from her smile that wasn''t there before.


    He grimaced at the flutter he felt in his chest, quickly grabbing his tome and popping it open to read. "Do you have any weapons?"


    Sariel tilted her head. "I''m a real mean tackler when it comes to bristlebacks."


    "Knife!" Crow shrieked.


    Sariel''s eyes lit up at the familiar, and she removed the dagger from her bag to wave it at Cody. "You need some food?"


    Cody looked up from his book, staring at the dagger Sariel was still waving in the air. "Excuse me?"


    Sariel popped the dagger out of its sheath, allowing its polished surface to catch a stray sunbeam and shoot it straight into Cody''s eye. "Whenever Mr. Maddison hands me one of these he''s looking for food, so I just go and stab the closest thing."


    He chuckled, dismissively shrugging off Sariel''s tale as he pointed to the town. "Hord''anne is great at taking most of the physical hits, but sometimes one or two slip past the spells and smashing." He pointed at the glistening dagger. "That''s for self defense."


    "Oh wow! Sariel poked at the sharp side of the dagger, slowly sheathing it and unsheathing it to listen to the smooth scrape. "These villagers don''t sound too friendly."


    "They''re townsfolk, townsfolk are never friendly to people like us. They can smell it." Cody marked the page he was on, latching his book to his belt and slipping off Hord''anne''s shoulders. He eyed the wall they had approached, carefully watching for moving lights to show that there might be a patrol at the top. But all was quiet, no footsteps, nor lights; aside from the glow within the town itself. "There''s no guards on the walls, we''ll be able to catch them by surprise." He traced a glowing sigil in the air, gaining the faintest sheen all over his body for a split second before it faded.


    "Why you just looked like a fresh fish there Cody!"


    He paid her a small smile, pocketing the paper and rolling up his baggy sleeves. "It''s a protective enchantment, are you putting one on?"


    "Don''t got any fancy things like that, but I''m real good at taking rocks." Sariel rolled up her tattered sleeves, following Cody over to the towering face of wood.


    His fiery golden eyes gave the obstacle a final skim. No movement. "Alright Hord''anne, knock it down!"


    Hord''anne grunted, beating the ground like an ape before throwing his arm back with a bellowing roar and slamming the sturdy wall of tree trunks. The beast''s iron fist wasn''t even able to put its tree smashing skills to the test, as a sizzling crack followed by a brilliant blue flash threw Hord''anne on his back to flail. Cody drew back in surprise, rushing over to his friend to soothe the whimpering oaf and inspect it''s newly seared flesh, a ring of scorched black cracked open by a large bleeding slit across his knuckles.


    "It''s really not that bad..." Cody lied, rubbing Hord''anne''s fat and pudgy nose with a soothing smile. "You''ll heal up in no time."


    Hord''anne groaned, awkwardly rolling onto his stomach to get back to his feet, a feat made excessively difficult while he sucked on the burn like a baby.


    Cody gave him a final rub of comfort, leaving Sariel to the rest as she pulled off her bandana to wrap around the little scrape. There was a more pressing issue, and Cody was the only one to be surprised by it, which was odd, given Sariel''s claims of being a warlock.


    He attempted to brush his fingers against the wood, stopped by a thin film of reflective air that rippled like an oil spill as he stroked it. Easy to miss until you smacked it.


    "The wall has a barrier," he sighed.


    "Ah Cody, I think you slipped on yer words there. It''s, the wall is a barrier," Sariel replied, all the while rubbing Hord''anne''s hand like the demon was a injured toddler worthy of motherly pity.


    "I know the wall is a barrier," Cody replied, poking at the enchantment to send a couple ripples through it. "But there''s a protective enchantment."


    "A protective enchantment?" Sariel squinted at the distorted light, moving towards it with an awestruck gasp. "That''s a mighty fine polishing job they''ve done there."


    Cody nodded, the enchantment had been perfectly polished. He didn''t even sense it until Hord''anne gave it a merciless fistful of fury. "Do you know how to take them down?"


    Sariel shook her head. "Looks stuck on there real good. Be a shame to take it off the lovely wood too, rotting as it is."


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "Damn. I don''t either." He traced his gaze up the wall again, its shadow engulfing him like a hostile giant. "We need to find the source of it. This must be the hero''s doing."


    "Don''t think the hero could do all that on their own," Sariel said, giving the massive structure a full inspection. "Gotta do it front and back, then a double coat. Triple if you want it real fine."


    "You''re right." He drew his palm across its rippling surface, mesmerized by the calming effect it had. "Such perfection... this is a starter area too." A fire of challenge grew in his eyes as he hardened his gentle stroke to a fist. "An old man perhaps? A guardian archetype, come to bring corny wisdom to our protagonist and guide him through his journey!" Cody turned to Hord''anne. "We must infiltrate this barrier!"


    The next few minutes were a futile struggle.


    Cody was the forefront of the assault, throwing out fireballs, each one bigger than the last until their impacts sounded like cracks of thunder. But still, the wall did not budge. Sariel had tried throwing a few rocks and sticks with ill effect. Crow had even tried soaring over the wall to fetch Maddison''s attention, but was quick to come squawking back when the familiar hit an invisible force in the air.


    After a dozen failed spells, Cody plopped into the grass, exhausted and frustrated as he hissed out a heavy sigh.


    "Why I don''t think this wall is budgeing a hair Cody." Sariel announced, poking the rippling surface of the forcefield that stilled to invisibility. Erasing the evidence of Cody''s most recent barrage of fireballs.


    "So it would seem." he huffed, checking his shoulders before pointing to the left. "We''ll go through a main entrance. The doors might have guards, but the enchantment will be weaker there. You get what I''m saying?"


    Sariel nodded, waving Hord''anne to take her side as the beast gently lifted her onto his shoulder. They followed Cody through the expanse of dancing grass, the warlock finally glancing over his shoulder at Sariel with a smile. "What kind of magic do you prefer?"


    "Oh? What do I get to choose from?"


    Cody chuckled, looking ahead with a sigh. "You''re pretty sarcastic."


    "Why I don''t know what you mean by that, but lookin at yer smile it must be a good thing." Sariel said, quickly skimming through the selection of payback compliments Medila had taught her. "Thank you Cody, you''re cute y''know?"


    Cody coughed, quickly turning his attention straight ahead. He pinched his crystal pendant, playing Alina''s words back in his head again and again. But try as he might, Alina''s voice kept shifting from his memory, replaced with her voice. They were similar, or were they? Cody gave Sariel another glance. He hadn''t dealt with many girls in his years, maybe they all sounded the same.


    "And you''re real strong Hord''anne." Sariel cooed.


    Sariel''s voice dragged Cody from his pondering as he watched her rub the demons thick mane of purple fur with a smile. Hord''anne was even flashing his crooked teeth like a giddy toddler at Sariel''s compliment, and much needed massage, poking Sariel''s head with a single finger and attempting to rub her back.


    Cody smiled.


    She was alright.


    He flattened himself against the wall as they neared a thick trunk of wood acting as a corner, waving for Hord''anne to mime his actions. Upon stealing a quick glance at the guards he had to do a double take, staring at the severe lack of fortification as two guards lazily sat beside the large door.


    He stopped Hord''anne, holding up a finger and slowly creeping out of sight. Cody casually strolled up to the two guards, putting on a friendly smile as they stared at him blankly. They hadn''t immediately grabbed for their weapons, which was a hat toss whenever Cody tried talking to humans. "Afternoon."


    A welcoming smile flashed across both of the guards'' faces, unnaturally fast and overblown as the closest one to him chimed up, his voice an airy bounce of enthusiasm twisted with fear. "W-welcome adventurer!" The guard shot his attention to the ground, jumping with a shriek. "D-d-d-did you see that?!"


    Cody looked at the ground in surprise, the empty grass and crushed cobble failing to conceal anything of note. "What?"


    "Scuttlesnakes!" the other guard shrieked, hugging his spear in fear.


    Cody stopped, looking between the two men with narrowed eyes. "So?"


    The first guard looked at him, hands trembling as a bead of nervous sweat rolled off his nose. "You''ve gotta help us adventurer!"


    "They''re lizards..." Cody said flatly, folding his arms with a twisted frown. "I''m just looking to get through, could you open the door?"


    "Are you insane?!" the other guard cried. "There could be Scuttlesnakes around! Or worse, Nuttles!"


    Cody slowly raised his eyebrows, staring at the two frantic guards in growing disappointment. He didn''t have time for this. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.


    The thundering footsteps drew closer, drawing the attention of the guards as they stared at Hord''anne without the fear Cody was expecting. The beast quickly closed in on the group, bending low to fix its piercing yellow eyes on the two guards, a low growl rumbling in his throat.


    "W-welcome adventurer!"


    Hord''anne grunted in confusion, looking at Cody as his smile fell, the guard''s tone in the greeting was a perfect replicate to the greeting he''d received.


    The guard jumped with a hauntingly similar screech, looking at the ground with the repetitive fear. "D-d-d-did you see that?!"


    "Yes! Scuttlesnakes! We get it!" Cody burst. "Open the door if you want to keep screaming like that you bundle of pussyweed!"


    The other guard hugged his spear in fear. "Scuttlesnakes!"


    The first guard looked at Hord''anne with trembling hands, completely ignoring Cody''s face that had flushed red with rage. "You''ve got to help us adventurer!"


    "Open the damn door!" Cody barked, greeted by a heavy silence as the two guards stared at Hord''anne blankly.


    Hord''anne grunted.


    "Are you insane?!" the other guard cried. "There could be Scuttlesnakes around! Or worse, Nuttles!"


    Hord''anne drew back in offense.


    "Now that''s not very nice." Sariel cut in, giving the two guards a disappointed frown. "Hord''anne here''s a witty one, you got no right to call him crazy."


    The first guard looked up at Sariel with hopeful eyes. "W-welcome adventurer!"


    The two parties sat in silence for a couple seconds, the pressing scene interrupted as the first guard shrieked. "D-d-d-"


    Hord''anne didn''t let him finish his sentence, slapping the side of his head so he flew a couple meters and landed in the grass like a limp puppet. Hord''anne turned to the second guard, watching them draw their spear with a low growl.


    "Listen, I''m not playing games. Open the door." Cody growled, completely ignored by the guard as they lurched forwards with the spear. Sariel jumped in front of Hord''anne to stop the attack, a swell of panic hitting Cody as the guard didn''t falter for a second. In the blink of an eye he had a fireball charged in his palm and whipped it at the guard, the impact to their side throwing them against the wall. As the flames splashed against the barrier a blue spark crackled, throwing the guard in the opposite direction and somewhere off into the grass.


    "Gosh, hope he''s alright. Real bouncy that one." Sariel said, waving the stray smoke away with a grimace. "Smells like my village when me and Mr. Maddison visited it."


    "Red magic is my specialty." Cody replied, giving the door a smirk as he went to push it. A faint ripple traveled from his fingertips, and it didn''t budge. He frowned, backing up and throwing a fireball at the obstacle with the same results. With a sharp curse he looked around the setting for an anchor to the enchantment. Villages with protective barriers usually tied it to the guards with cheapy knickknacks, unless it was an inside job.


    Cody froze, his gaze falling upon a small stack of papers nestled by the door. He grabbed one to skim. "Quest?" He looked around in confusion. "What in the gods is this?"


    Hord''anne grunted, bending down to pretend he could read.


    "I thought it was an enchantment too." Cody looked off into the grass, trudging off to where one of the guards had landed. He dropped the paper when he found the scorched one, kneeling beside the guard and hovering his hand over his smoldering form. He gradually traced up to the man''s head, his attention falling upon a flicker of magic suspended in his mind, its power waning with his death. It was difficult to place its exact nature with the few fragments that were left, but there was a malicious ring to it. Like a hungry snake, or a spider that had wrapped its prey and was slowly draining it.


    Sariel hummed in confusion at the grave expression Cody wore. He slowly rose to his feet, giving the corpse a bewildered look before noticing the frown Sariel wore.


    "The barrier''s still up."


    "Say Cody..." Sariel said, her voice falling to a worried mutter. "I think you hit him too hard there..."


    "He was about to drive a spear through you. I''d do it again, twice as hard." Cody retorted, feeling a twang of guilt with the way his words didn''t pull the worry from Sariel''s face. With the way Sariel had treated the fairies he didn''t expect her to care much for humans, but she had made her reservations plain with her expression. There was little harm in respecting that boundary. "I''ll try to knock the next one out."


    Hord''anne grunted, moving to grab the corpse, but was quickly stopped by Cody.


    "Something ate his mind. Don''t touch these ones, I don''t want you to catch anything." Cody ordered, gazing at the town with worry. "There''s a powerful sorcerer in there, and they''re not the heroic type."

 26. Forgotten Treasures

    Without a quick way into Bervolt, the night would have to be spent under the stars. Cody had studied the enchanted paper, or quest as it was called. It was a keyhole enchantment, and they needed to find the key, which was likely those pesky scuttles and nuttles.


    Flat spots for camping were plentiful in the rolling grass hills, and after an hour of wandering and catching the stray reptiles, they had found a good clearing with a decent amount of coverage. Bervolt was still in sight, its distinct tower now as thick as Cody''s thumb, and something they would easily reach once they had all the ingredients. The field they had found, far from the paths that stretched out of the town, was perfect for the three to rest undisturbed by travelers.


    Cody hadn''t seen any signs of undead in their journey, but wasn''t looking hard for them. Hord''anne always pretended to sleep as a strange form of entertainment, but had never allowed a foe to pass close to Cody during the night. He was sure he would do the same for Sariel if she wandered.


    He was partway through laying out a rune circle when a sound echoed through the field. Its deep reverberation gave away its distance, far enough away to shirk any concerns Cody had of meeting its source. But something in the animalistic howl tickled a memory that slipped through his fingers as quickly as it had come. It was drawn and lamenting, yet filled with raw, crushing power. No wolf or creature of warm blood could have made such a sound.


    Cody waited for the sound to die, watching Hord''anne until the beast relaxed too. They were safe so long as they avoided the cropping of stones it had come from. A long ways in the distance, and a good hop and a skip away from Bervolt.


    Sariel looked to Cody when he settled back down to finish drawing his runes. "Not heard a beast like that. Loudest thing I ever laid an ear on was a flying horse. Had a beak though, lady that landed with it called it Mary. She didn''t like me none after I asked her what it might taste like."


    Cody chuckled, his circle glowing a soft red as he placed his palms on it. "Her loss."


    Cody watched his magic flow through the markings, connecting opposite of him with a flash as it shot a translucent bubble up and around them all. He got up, checking the thin layer for holes that could collapse it as they slept, but it was textbook perfect, as expected.


    Sariel took a step, pressing her foot into an invisible layer over the grass that made the whole ground soft and bouncy. She crouched, poking at the ground curiously and rubbing her fingers together to try and figure out the substance she was standing on. When Cody explained the padding spell to her, as he had found himself doing every time he used a new spell, she seemed content. However, for Cody, a nagging feeling continued to grow. A warlock that didn''t appear to recognise basic spell work, something that was as easy as breathing for any novice. It was far too strange, blatantly unbelievable.


    But she seemed too genuine in her ignorance. Too genuine to be masking some nefarious plot. They had met by chance.


    Cody reached for his necklace, staring at the gem. Unsure.


    He sorted through his thoughts in silence until he noticed Sariel moving around. She held up three pieces of braided grass, finishing off the end with a knot and looping it into a bracelet.


    Cody watched her crouch around the clearing to grab some tiny white flowers, picking a few to weave their stems into the tight grass. After she was satisfied with the simple craft, she thrusted it out to Cody, smiling giddily as he grabbed it in confusion.


    "What''s this?"


    "A friendship bracelet!"


    Cody flinched at her boisterous tone, sitting in confusion at the present. He''d never received a gift, short of a few spellbooks from his parents, so he really wasn''t sure about how to handle the bracelet. His previous train of thought had completely derailed while he focused on addressing the problem in his hand. He settled on sliding it onto his wrist, oblivious as Hord''anne looked down in jealousy.


    Sariel smiled at the giant purple demon, rubbing his arm consolingly. "Sorry Hord''anne, this grass ain''t long enough, got anything small?"


    Hord''anne grunted, unsheathing his toothpick of a sword and gently planting it in the ground for Sariel to inspect. She lifted the piece with a grunt, a sizeable silver broadsword with a reddish-purple hilt, that came up to her chest. After brushing some grime off the handle, she stuck her finger through a small hole at the end of the hilt, smiling wickedly as she grabbed a wad of grass to weave together. "My oh my Hord''anne, did I ever tell you how pretty yer sword was?"


    Hord''anne grunted, his pudgy cheeks flushing a rosy purple as he looked away in embarrassment, closing his eyes and waving his hand at Sariel to shoo away her kindness before it killed him.


    Sariel swiftly finished up the braid, weaving it through the sword and giving it a tight knot before moving on to the flowers. She gave Hord''anne a mothering smile as the beast gained an air of excitement. "Say Hord''anne, where ya from? Never seen people like you and Cody before."


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    "Do you want me to tell her?" Cody smiled as Hord''anne nodded, motioning for Sariel to sit down with him on a dryer patch of grass. "It all started in my town."


    "Yer town?" Sariel almost squealed in excitement. "You lived in a bonafide town?! Was it that one with that grumpy bartender? Stonesong?"


    "Huh?" Cody searched her gaze for a joke, frowning at her persistent honesty. "Do I really look like I''m from here?"


    "Well, where else would ya be from Cody?" Sariel said, pulling a bound map out of her bag and spreading it wide. She poked a dot named Stonesong on the parchment. "This is the one, though I suppose there''s a lot of dots on this map here..." she continued, counting the little markers and giving up after ten. "So which one are ya from?"


    Cody let out a disbelieving laugh, his eyebrows almost permanently stuck to the top of his forehead as he looked around awkwardly. He thought she''d known who he was, or in her people''s terms what he was, simply from his looks. Unless she was born under some kind of rock.


    He glanced at the small map again. It didn''t even cover the whole region they were in.


    "There''s hundreds of towns, thousands even." He watched her intrigue, biting his cheek as he contemplated continuing. "I''m from... across the waters."


    "The waters? What are the waters?"


    "It''s a giant pool of water as far as the eye can see," Cody replied whimsically, sighing with nostalgia at the thought of home. "You haven''t been to the coast?"


    "Fraid not," Sariel replied, tapping the map. "If you could point it out on here though I could maybe give it a visit."


    Cody hummed, looking at the small compass marked at the corner of the paper. He drew a glowing line from Bervolt and off into the grass, molding the light enchantment to mimic the eastern coastline he had boarded at. He made his own glowing dot, spelling out Fri Pristav above it. "You would have to go here for a boat that''s willing to travel there."


    "Past the edge?"


    "The edge?" Cody eyed the map curiously. "Of the map?"


    Sariel''s voice quieted, now unsure as she pinched the edge that Cody''s line of light was covering. "Of the world...?"


    Cody quickly moved past her statement, drawing a few more lines from memory. "It''s keeps going and going. If we think of the world as a cake..." He eyed her. "You know what a cake is?"


    Sariel cocked an eyebrow. "Everybody knows what a cake is Cody."


    He nodded. "If the world is a cake, this map here is just a little sprinkle on it. There''s lots of other sprinkles and icing. Now you may see places that look a lot like an edge, but that''s just the cake curving." Cody said, fueled by Sarial''s growing wonder at his description as he pointed at the sky, a few stars visible as the sunset closed on the horizon. "And all of those bright dots up there that we call stars are also their own cakes. We live on a cake, in a giant shop full of cakes."


    Sariel breathed out in wonder, looking at the map, and then checking the bountiful fields around them. "This map... is a sprinkle in a cake shop."


    Cody nodded.


    She folded up the map, her voice so loud it startled Crow from taking a sneaky peck at Cody''s ear. "I need a bigger map!"


    Cody chuckled. "Seems like you do, so I''m assuming you''ve never been to the coast?"


    "I don''t suppose I have."


    He smiled. "I''ll take you to see one after we destroy this village, how about that? They''re really pretty." He looked out over the lush field as the final peek of the sun made the sparse fluffy clouds near it look like tufts of candied sugar. "Especially at sunset."


    Sariel nodded with an amused hum. "That would be nice, wish I could tell Medila about all these fancy places I''ve been to. If I don''t find a new boss, I should probably bring something back or she''ll fire me for sure." Sariel looked up at Hord''anne, who was squinting at a flock of tasty birds nestled in a tree. "So Hord''anne''s from across the waters like you?"


    Cody nodded. "I found him in Tarsus'' Roost. The place was so old it had sunken below sea level, and my village didn''t dare to try entering the place without proper training." He leaned back on the soft grass with a sigh. "My parents shoved books down my throat until I could chant a fear curse backwards, so exploring its secrets was easy enough. I think I was..." he counted his fingers. "Thirty-six or so..."


    Sariel sized him up. "Why Cody, thought you were as old as me."


    He greeted her with even more confusion. "Well, how old are you?"


    "Dunno, but I look about as old as you, so I must be thirty-six too."


    Cody chuckled modestly. "I''m forty-eight now, I''m past my adolescent years of running around and invading ancient temples. Most of my friends were pure, so I grew up way faster than them."


    Sariel tilted her head. "Dunno what you mean by pure there Cody, but I suppose I''m forty-eight then."


    He shook his head. "I don''t think so, you''re human. I might be a little older than you."


    "Nonsense! You look like a baby bristleback fresh out of the womb!" She ignored the disgusted grimace Cody wore at the remark. "You were talking about that Tesus temple or something now, weren''t you?"


    "Tarsus," he corrected. "I went there, after rigorous magics training to find out there wasn''t a single enchantment or guard at the place, short of a lock on the door, and illusion of a massive sea serpent." His voice swelled with a bit of pride. "I basically walked right in there..."


    "Didn''t ya say it was under water?"


    Cody choked on his words. "It sounded better than swam... and the main chamber didn''t have any water, just Hord''anne sitting smack dab in the middle of the pedestal."


    Sariel stared at Hord''anne''s hulking mass, thinking about the size of the pedestal required to hold such a beast. When she had a good mental image, she turned to another nagging question. "What made ya go there?"


    Cody stopped. "What?"


    "What made ya decide to go to that temple with Hord''anne?"


    Cody quieted as the question sunk in. He remembered growing up, his village, his family. Then the memories jumped over a gaping black void, and on the other side of it he stood before Tarsus'' Roost with a mysterious drive to conquer the temple and release the curse it held within it.


    It wasn''t the only void in Cody''s mind. His memories of home were strategically dotted by his own volition. But that void was the one he often went back to, his first one. He knew why it was there.


    Alina''s gifts were bought with stories after all.


    "I don''t remember that story." Cody smiled, rubbing his pendant between his fingers. "It mustn''t have been that interesting, if I was willing to give it away."

 27. Endris Grey

    Maddison maneuvered through the quiet village, watching the lamp lights slowly come to life without a single torch lighter in sight. The village was definitely faced with some unholy hijinks, be it magic or an illusive entertainer pulling the strings.


    He scrunched his nose up in disgust.


    It had to be magic.


    The villagers had gained an inappropriate calm after viewing the fresh set of corpses. One guard had been bettered and burnt, and the other snapped backwards with a trickle of blood escaping their blue lips, and yet there wasn''t a single mutter of panic. The villagers looked around for a demon for three seconds, then turned back to their tasks like everything was perfectly fine.


    Maddison jumped around a villager with a sharp gasp of surprise before the absent-eyed farmer managed to get a word out. He still didn''t know the script, so sticking to short conversations with Cindy and Tarson was his only hope in getting to Maynard. After the incident with the guards, he definitely didn''t want to risk being suspected of serving the dark lord.


    As he rounded a corner to Tarson''s house he caught a glimpse of the small boy he''d seen during the day, sat in small patch of grass with a little bonfire holding his tranced gaze. Maddison shook the shivers from his spine, shoving the town map in the small bun-filled sack Cindy had forced him to leave with by dropping a coin purse in it. He rapped his knuckles across the door, the thick wood shaking from the impact.


    A muffled voice came through on the other end, laced with irritation. "There is no answer! Tarson appears to be sleeping! I should come back in the morning to talk to him!"


    Maddison leaned in on the door with the sharpest whisper he could muster, glancing around as he spoke to make sure no one else could hear him. "Tarson. It''s me, Maddison." He waited a couple seconds, moving to speak again when he didn''t hear anything. "Tarso-"


    The door cracked open, flashing the blacksmith''s hardened gaze as he scrunched his brow to squint at Maddison, slowly pushing his head out to glance at the boy. "Come in." He pulled the door open just enough for a tight squeeze, his amber eyes digging into Maddison with a harsh whisper. "Quickly!"


    Maddison squeezed inside, looking around the dimly lit house as Tarson snapped down every lock on his door and double checked the curtains to make sure they were drawn. "Gods have mercy I thought you gave yourself away! You were gone for ages!"


    "Just an hour." Maddison replied plainly, dropping his load on the table as a set of light footsteps thumped down the stairs. A woman popped her head around the corner with a curious glint to her eyes.


    Maddison recognized the young woman, her wild blond curls were no longer hidden in her helmet, and she was fitted into a set of ragged pyjamas. It was just a matter of which one she was. He pointed at her with an inquisitive smile. "Girlfriend?"


    She clicked her tongue, shaking her head as she joined Tarson''s side. "Sister." She grinned at Tarson''s cross scowl as he diligently stitched the straps of a pauldron he''d adjusted. "His sweetheart is in a grave." She mocked, Tarson growling in frustration and waving away Maddison''s surprise. "I''m kidding. She has herself a house with Sajus and his brother, the boys lost their mother a couple years back."


    "Sorry to hear that," Maddison replied.


    Tarson nodded in agreement. "She''s got the worst punishment, putting up with that empty-eyed psychopath and his wailing banshee of a brother." He bit at the length of string twisted around his finger, snapping the course thread and sealing it with a tight knot. "Almost through with the adjustments."


    Tarson''s sister hovered over his shoulder to stare at the piece as he turned it around in his hands, shooting Maddison a wicked grin. "Ever killed a sorcerer?"


    "Not alone." He slipped his hands into the sack of buns, sifting around for the small coin purse. "Why?"


    She kicked out a chair, motioning for Maddison to sit as she dropped down across from him. "I want you to know what you''re getting into. This place certainly isn''t under natural influences. You can probably tell that by now."


    Maddison smiled. "Magic doesn''t mean a damn thing if you don''t see your death before it hits you."


    She leaned over the table, stretching her hand out to shake Maddison''s with a mischievous smirk. "Name''s Endris Grey, I''ll give you all the help I can provide." She motioned to the frayed stack of papers tucked under a tanning knife behind Tarson. "I helped write those scripts, meaning I''m one of the few people the village won''t attack for going off by a couple words... sometimes even a scene."


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "You helped?" Maddison gave her an apprehensive stare, working the gears in his head as she kept an innocent look. "Who helped you?"


    "Cindy, Rimbolt, and Farrian. The latters lost their wits." She perked up as a clanging rattle sounded off from another room, shooting out of her seat to address the strange cry. "Maynard forced us to, had us base it off a skatty plotline." Her voice became thick and muffled from the wall in the way. "My point is, I have a morning to mid afternoon shift tomorrow at the front gate. I can help you out with that garlganox or whatever it''s called."


    She came back into view, carefully clutching the handle of a steaming pot in one hand, and in the other a folded up animal pelt. After using the scraped up pelt as a hot pad she left the pot in the middle of the table, rushing out of the room again to return with three bowls.


    Tarson stared at the pot of stew with a waning appetite, frowning at his sister. "Weren''t those two guards at the front gate?"


    She nodded, not even batting an eye at the thought of the two horribly mutilated guards. "Unlike them, I''ve got enough wits to run inside. I''ll be fine."


    "Just... be careful, okay?"


    "Me and Maddison will come back with a garlganox corpse before stardown." The comfort in her gaze leaked through Tarson as he relaxed a little. "I promise."


    He drifted his worried gaze to Maddison, holding the link for a couple pressing moments of silence. "Make sure she comes back. Okay?"


    "I will if you don¡¯t jinx it again," Maddison retorted, looking down at the wooden table and tapping it twice. "I''m going to scout the creature before I attack it. If the thing''s too big I''ll send her back to get better equipment."


    Tarson lightly laughed at his statement, watching Endris scoop stew into the three bowls and disperse the loot. "Not sure what the garlganox is, but if it''s really a cave dwelling serpent the best equipment I''ve got is a crossbow, and those things take forever to load up."


    Maddison stared at the sack of berry filled buns, pulling one out and squeezing it between his palms to try and tear it in half. It''s golden skin cracked, and eventually it exploded into a few tough chunks. He held one of the pieces of shrapnel out to Tarson. "Bread?"


    He waved his hand in protest. "Bread makes me sick as a griffin, I make a habit of staying away from it as much as possible now."


    Maddison frowned, holding the bun out to Endris as she shook her head. "Only a monster puts berries in freshly baked bread. Enjoy your loot Mr. Maddison." She smiled, her gaze landing on a faint white handprint of flour on his shoulder. "I do hope Cindy didn''t try to offer additional prizes for handing in your quest, she can be somewhat of a tease."


    He chuckled dryly, dipping the bread in the stew to try and soak it into a softer texture. "My wife was a doctor, even she knew how to make a half decent loaf. It''d disrespect her memory to replace her with a woman like that." He caught Endris'' squinting glare that she quickly hid with a neutral frown. "What?"


    "Hmm?" She kept her gaze on the stew, cold enough to freeze it. After blowing the steam off a spoonful her gaze quickly flicked to Maddison, inspecting him as he bit the bun and grimaced at its sour tang. "You should eat before it gets cold."


    Maddison reluctantly went for another spoonful. "A doctor that doesn''t know what''s making the villagers insane." He caught a curious look from Tarson. "Does she have magic?"


    "No." Tarson and Endris replied, looking between one another to try and decide who would finish the story.


    "We settled here last year." Tarson finally spoke. "A flock of Wyrms that were driven out of the Westlock region settled on the last town we were in, and they don''t make good neighbours. We got out before they drafted the Heroguard, so what we know is secondhand. There was a strange sickness that went through the town before we came here, it left large boils on the skin and killed most through fever. Cindy tried to save as many as she could, but they lost a lot. She left the village after the incident to train herself better in medicines, and by the time she came back." He motioned to the drawn curtains. "Well, the village told her she was a baker and Maynard had her making scripts with my sister."


    Maddison hummed in thought. The only remotely magical thing he had seen from Cindy was the stamp she used on his quest. Similar to the guards at the doors. Her reason to leave and come back was believable enough.


    And there certainly wasn''t any magic he could see in her cooking.


    He eyed Endris, looking her over for any small trinkets that might be poking through her clothes. She caught his stare, rolling up her sleeves and basically doing his job for him as she flashed her bare arms and empty palms. He cleared his throat awkwardly, dropping his gaze back to the stew. "So is everyone that shirked the curse from out of town?"


    "Timber isn''t" Endris mumbled, earning an exhausted sigh from Tarson.


    "Not this stupid kid again, you talk about him every night."


    "He didn''t come inside again." Endris hushed, digging a glare into Tarson as he held his scowl. "They''re not her kids but she''s still worried."


    "Let him eat snails, whose idea was it to make my girlfriend watch those dumb kids?"


    Endris steeled her tone, giving her brother a look as if he should know better by now. "Cindy didn''t want them to starve to death in Maynard''s house."


    "Have you seen Sajus'' cheeks? I can guarantee you he''s not eating the fresh food I stuff my bin with. Fat load of use her idea was."


    Endris moved under the table, her foot impacting Tarson''s shin as he gritted his teeth.


    Maddison continued his meal as the siblings bickered in the background over appropriate custody. The sickness sounded like a normal plague, but had precluded a strange curse. Someone may have struck a deal to stop the illness, and now the entity they had enrolled had returned for its payment. But it was a strange form of payment if that was the case. What could the cursed villagers be feeding it? Entertainment?


    He thought back on the statue. It was another detail that failed to add up. The wrought metal cages were a familiar enough design, they were not from demonic roots.


    They were used for executing witches.

 28. Oh Great

    Sariel tossed a small branch into the crackling fire, watching it hop with sharp snaps as the sap combusted in the presence of the licking flames. A smile stretched across her face as she imagined the burning sticks to be small children, so incapable of concealing their lies in the burning gaze of their parents that they typically broke down into tears.


    After smiling to herself for far too long she started to wonder if her comparison was appropriate, grabbing another small stick and tossing it into the inferno..


    Cody cleared his throat, catching Sariel''s attention as he held out a freshly roasted bird. The head had been twisted off by Hord''anne, while Cody had stripped its feathers and innards, rubbing it with a strange pack of bright red spices. They had been taunted by a small flock that was bullying Crow, and the bird had a smug air about him after Cody had launched a few fireballs to rescue him and secure supper. Sariel had wanted to try the lizards and snakes they had collected, but Cody was convinced that the paper in his hands deserved them more.


    Now the plump bird was giving off a sweet and savoury aroma as Sariel waved the kebab in the air to cool the crispy flesh. Hord''anne had already gobbled his three whole without even waiting to cook them through, and was eyeing the last two birds Cody and Sariel had respectively claimed as he rubbed his tummy.


    Cody gave his meal a couple tiny waves, turning back to the one thing that had fixated his attention for the past hour. Sariel did not understand his fixation with the paper in his hands. It was not as fancy as Corian''s, nor as busy as the pages in his book, but he would stare at it with so much focus she could almost believe that he was somehow hunting the ink on it.


    Cody lifted his gaze to the town, rubbing the small gemmed pendant between his fingers.


    He bit at his cheek as he felt the magic clinging to the quest. It was soft and deliberate, an artistic air tying it to the grains of ink. The magic was probably in the ink, it couldn''t have gone as deep as the pulp itself. Regardless, Cody would have liked to meet the sorcerer under better circumstances, they likely had a slip or two of valuable wisdom up their experienced sleeves, and with the extensive purges from the Heroguard, stuff like that was hard to come by.


    He lifted his gaze, feeling a flush of embarrassment as he noticed Sariel staring right at him.


    "Sorry."


    "Ahh don''t worry bout it Cody. I like to drift into a state of partial existence sometimes too, happens when ya think too hard." Sariel mused, welcoming herself to get up and move right beside Cody. She eyed his necklace before he tucked it back into his robes, reaching into her bag to remove a similar piece of jewelry. They were similar in the way that they were threaded to fine chains, and boasting a gemmed pendant. Where Sariel''s was a smaller, blue gem cut to a teardrop, Cody''s was a little clunkier, and a soft mix of translucent gold and red.


    He eyed the pendant, surprised that Sariel was willing to simply drop it in his open palm. "Is this your patron''s? Medila was it?"


    Sariel shook her head. "She let me keep it though, that''s why I know it''s not worth much. You seem to like yours, you can have that one too as thanks for walkin me to Bervolt."


    Cody shook his head, offering the necklace back. "If this is a boon from a god or other powerful creature that may grant them, it''s terrible luck to take one that does not belong to you. And if it is a normal necklace, I have no need for unenchanted trinkets." He waited for Sariel to grab it back, her lips dipped to a pout as she stared at the small blue gem. "Have you tried talking to it?"


    Sariel stared at Cody like he''d pulled a cat out of his ear. "The necklace?"


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Cody nodded, lifting his delicate gem so the campfire''s light danced through its flawless cut. "This is my boon from Alina. I can hear her voice through it... sometimes. She made a deal with me, that if I listened to her, I''d be destined for greatness. Gods like to give out necklaces like this, but a boon can look like many things."


    Sariel squinted at the gem, leaning so close to it her nose nearly poked Cody''s hand. "Don''t hear anythin Cody." She gave him a worried look, sizing up the small gem with a sigh. "Not a great thing to be hearin voices. In my village that was an automatic ticket to bein abandoned in the dead of winter to freeze to death. That, and writin with yer left hand." She flexed her fingers with a proud smile. "Good thing I never learned how to write."


    Cody stared at Sariel with a hint of sorrow, leaning down a little to stare into her emerald eyes. Flecks of gold and purple were shining through the dim lighting and nearly washing out the brilliant green he was so used to by now, distracting him from his thoughts for longer than he''d liked as he shot straight up and cleared his throat. "You don''t know how to write? Can you read?"


    Sariel shook her head with an unexpected smile. "Didn''t need to know. Medila told me knowledge was a powerful thing that stupid people shouldn''t have, and I''ll be darned if she''s ever been wrong with what she''s said."


    "Wow... this Medila sounds rough." Cody grimaced, pulling a smaller leather bound book out of his bag. He flipped the blank leather front over, revealing a mound of yellowed pages littered with strings of runic symbols. "This is my favourite fairytale. I stole it from the library when I was sixteen." He traced his finger along the texts, allowing Sariel to focus on how soft and untarnished his hands were.


    They were kind of like Corian''s, thin, nimble, and alien to even a day''s worth of rough handiwork. She gave her hands a couple flexes, staring at the faint lines of scarring along her fingers, and the permanent film of dirt nestled into microscopic crevices of her skin. Cody''s hands were just as ugly as Corian''s.


    He eyed Sariel, pointing at the first rune on the page. "How about I teach you a little bit?"


    "Well... I suppose I can keep it from Medila when I find her again," Sariel replied, her gaze turning playful as she gave Cody''s arm a little smack. "Think you might be crazy Cody, but don''t worry, I won''t tell no one. Not sure how a necklace is gonna make you destined and all, though."


    "What?" Cody squinted in confusion. "for greatness?"


    Sariel did an overdone nod.


    "Well... I guess it depends on how Alina would define it..." Cody said, his stomach squeezing as he recalled Alina''s preference to violence.


    Sariel nodded in understanding. "Then what''s Alina think about that?"


    Cody shrugged. "It could mean a lot of things... power, money, recognition... If I had to take a guess, Alina wouldn''t care much for something so straightforwards. We''re pretty similar."


    Sariel hummed, her eyes squinting as she stared right into Cody. "Well, then what''s it to you?"


    Cody smiled. "I think it depends on how much you''re willing to sacrifice." He rolled the necklace in his palm again, a deep memory rising through his lips with a heartfelt smile. "I used to read all kinds of fairytales back home."


    "Fairy tails?" Her face squished together into a confused squint. "Them fairies we met didn''t have tails."


    Cody snorted, shaking his head as he fell backwards to lie on the grass. "It''s another word for fake stories."


    "Well what''s the point of a fake story? There''s hundreds of real ones you could use!" Sariel folded her arms as Cody burst into laughter, looking up at Hord''anne when the beast started snorting. "What?" She bit her lip in frustration as she stared at the curly strands of grass at her feet. "I''m always missing something when people laugh..."


    "People like to write fake stories for an escape from the reality around them. Running off into worlds where there''s points to actions, and unrealistic heroes save the day." His lips were still curved, but the smile that once played upon his features hardened. "Where you don''t have to be yourself, or care for the choices you carry with you."


    He glanced at Sariel, frowning in disappointment when her expression didn''t falter to understanding.


    "The thing about all these stories is there''s always a seed of truth. A base of reality the writer built from. It doesn''t matter how absurd the story might be, everything has a taste of reality to it." His gaze was drawn to the sturdy village walls as a fire of excitement lit his eyes. "I think it''d be great to be a part of that single grain of truth. To have someone write a story about you that could withstand the test of time, to a point where every account, every meaningless scene, has been blown up to legendary proportions."


    Cody sighed, staring at the glistening necklace with a sad flash of hopelessness. He lifted it to stare at the shattered refractions of the town peeking through the gems many distorting faces, admiring how fake it made everything look.


    "That''s what I think greatness is. It doesn''t matter what you really did. All that matters is how you''re remembered, even after you die."

 29. Sweet Dreams

    There was a whispering wind crawling through the built up town, chilling it to its wooden bones and sinking into the soft flesh of its dozing villagers. The breath of night was almost soothing, speeding and slowing with the natural whispers of a drifting song that the wind carried with it. Like long forgotten spirits rising through the darkened cracks to hum nostalgic lullabies, and coax the living to their hold.


    Maddison wasn''t thinking this when he woke up, he just needed to take a leak.


    After adjusting his vision to the cramped space Tarson had stashed him in, he carefully rolled over, squinting whenever the weak frame of the almost child sized bed let out a pained groan.


    He gingerly placed his feet on the stone floor, lifting up with a drawn out creek and soft thunk as he smacked his head on the roof of the space trying to stand up.


    He muttered a curse, rubbing the roots of his tingling hair where he''d hit the hard wood. The space certainly wasn''t welcoming for more than a day, but it was still an extremely generous lodge compared to most of the contract dealers he''d bunked with. He stood in the small storage space, directly beneath the stairwall to the basement choked full of deadly weaponry, which somehow didn''t manage to put him at ease.


    At least not in this town.


    He sighed. The lingering dread that smothered the town, from its flush green grass to awful pastries had softened with the small slot of shut eye Maddison squeezed in, but he still had a dagger at his hip and an ear on every rogue noise that sounded in the night.


    Tarson hadn''t told him where the bathroom was, if there even was one, but he did recall passing a lonely shack with two split off doors near the center of the town. It was spiffed up, but it had the same design as some of the lavatories armies would pop up for lengthy stakeouts.


    He wouldn''t mind a nighttime stroll. It had been his intent to slip off at some time in the small hours to cut his quest short, and here he could kill two birds with one stone.


    It was time to sneak in to Maynard''s towering hut of a house and get the deed done with before committing to the insanity of the village. Maddison smiled, nodding at his own thoughts as he grabbed an extra dagger to stuff in his boot. The sour tang of the bun Cindy had forced on him was still lingering at the back of his tongue, thick and pungent. Needless to say, he stuffed Tarson''s trash pail with the rest of them, hoping Sajus would take the garbage as a treat.


    With a final sigh he rose to his feet, smacking his head on the low-cut ceiling yet again and biting his bottom lip before he could get the string of profanity out of his head. He gave the ceiling a deathly glare, as if it would cause the entire structure to rise a foot and accommodate his height. He then slipped on a jacket and made his way up the small flight of creaking stairs, pausing at the flickering candle lights dancing beneath the simple door cutting him from the chilled basement and Tarson''s warm hearth.


    Someone was still up.


    Maddison took extra care in opening the small door, closing his eyes in prayer that the aged hinges didn''t decide to announce his presence for him. For some reason the clear presence of another person proved to lighten his step as he feared to interrupt their mysterious business. The things a person could do at this hour in the night were minimal, but since Tarson was alone with his sister, he could thankfully, and hopefully, cut one contender from the list.


    As he neared the source of the flickering light, a faint scratching met his ears. It was familiar to him, the sound of a pen''s nib scraping parchment, the faint string of noise drawn out as the writer favoured precision over speed. He peeked around the corner expecting to see Tarson clutching a fountain pen, drawing back a little in surprise as he met Endris'' gaze.


    She was sitting alone at the table, sheets of decorative parchment strewn about its entire surface while she held the pen in preparation to dip it into a pot of ink, her motion cut frozen while she stared at Maddison with her head still tilted down to her work.


    "You''re horrible at sneaking."


    He gave the scene a few moments to process, stepping closer in an attempt to make out the contents of the gold trimmed pages. "Didn''t think anyone was up."


    "Oh?" She rested the pen at the lip of the ink pot, leaning back in her chair with her legs lazily sprawled outwards. Maddison swallowed his discomfort, keeping himself from focusing on how her nightdress stretched up dangerously above her knees. "And what is Mr. Sungard doing up at this hour?"


    "Bathroom. What about you?" Maddison replied plainly, growing comfortable as Endris eased the tension with a careless smile.


    "Twisting the script a little."


    He finally gained enough distance on her to make out the pages. Long strings of dialogue perfectly penned with the eloquent art of a noble fairytale, a few pictures shy of being a masterpiece worthy of the king''s bedroom.


    He reached out to pick one up, hesitant to lift it from the table and risk damaging the masterpiece. Knowing his luck, the thing would find a way to snap in two from his gaze alone.


    Endris'' amusement only grew as she viewed Maddison''s fixed gaze, wondering if he realised his mouth was hanging open. "I was redoing a page, but the extra dialogue ran into the next one so I had to squish the sentences a little." She grabbed the pen again, carefully flicking the sharp point across the fine surface to create some eloquent dialogue tags. "Now it says Endris Grey will accompany you to ensure the gargalnox will never rise again. Should be a small enough change to shirk Maynard''s gaze."


    Maddison grabbed the page Endris held out to him, skimming the phrases set to specific people, one such being the adventurer who was primarily ordered to nod at specific parts. "How many of these do you have to change?"


    Endris watched him blankly, taking a couple blinks before she barked out a laugh. "Oh no! It''s just this one. These pages are special, and the ink." She tapped the nub of her pen against the crystal pot. "The villagers under whatever spell this town is suffering from will pick these new lines up immediately." She scanned the pile of artistic papers and grabbed two, holding their perfection up to the flickering candle. "They will of course, if I do this."


    The small flame leapt onto the generous meal Endris had baited it with, crawling across the expensive parchment and shriveling it up to worthless black scraps. Maddison gaped at the seemingly pointless destruction, shooting a confused glare at Endris as she held up the two brand new pages of script, the letters glowing with a silver sheen before fading to black.


    Despite the tiny abnormality, Maddison took in the sight like he''d just witnessed a murder, drawing back and grabbing for one of his daggers. Endris flinched at the reaction, her short lived fear melting into an amused smirk as she wiped her pen and carefully placed it in a wooden box.


    "Town''s under a spell and you react to glowin letters?" She shook her head with a light laugh, scooping up the ashes littering the table and bumping past Maddison to reach the closest garbage pail. "I didn''t do that, if that''s what you''re wondering."


    Maddison didn''t relax, watching her like she was a feral cat that had prowled into his room, taunting his every move with a tail that flicked mockingly, and talons that hid behind fluffy paws, ready to kill.


    Endris went back to the table, scooping up the scripts and shooting Maddison another glance that fell to a disappointed glare. "Stop looking at me like that, I didn''t make the letters glow you dimwitted oaf."


    "Then who did?" Maddison replied coldly, flinching again as Endris moved to grab the pot of ink.


    She caught his tense reaction, her shoulders shaking as she sucked her lips in to fight a pitying smile. "It''s the ink, the ink''s got some strange magic in it." She watched as Maddison stuck his hand out for the fragile pot, shaking her head and placing it on the table. "I know you''re gonna smash it, but hear me out."


    Maddison slowly pulled his hand back, curling it into a tight fist as he folded his arms. He didn''t speak his thoughts, but the disdain had pent up on his face.


    "The ink''s from Old Man Maynard, it''s not mine." Endris started, immediately softening the hostility in Maddison''s gaze. "He got a small group of us to write up the script as a tourist attraction, but he was real specific about us using his ink for the final copy." She looked at the small vile, biting her lip with a guilt ridden sigh. "I didn''t know it was magic, none of us did."


    "Until the town went crazy?"


    Endris nodded, corking the pot of ink with a victorious smile. "But we shouldn''t break this, we can use it against him, like I''m doing right now."


    "That''s not an excuse to use magic." Maddison spat.


    "Oh?" Endris replied, clicking her tongue as she folded her arms and popped her hip out. "So you''d rather follow the script and let it fool around with you, as opposed to standing above it and twisting it to your will?"


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Maddison pursed his lips, standing rigid as a statue.


    "Burn all the pages, smash the vial, and free all the villagers from the spell."


    "Afraid one of us tried that. It didn''t free them, it made them stop altogether. We were lucky Cindy was quick enough to write a short script and remind everyone to breath." Endris mused, searching Maddison''s scowl that refused to chip. Endris shrugged. "Alright." She grabbed the two papers from the stack, heading straight for the candle when Maddison crumbled, letting out a defeated sigh as he waved his hand carelessly at her.


    "Do whatever you want, I need to go to the bathroom." His indignant frown hardened at the snorting start of Endris''s laughter, strengthening the sound into obnoxious cackles as he greeted her with a pouting glare.


    She tried to swallow her uncontrollable fit, blinking away a few stray tears before seating herself at the table to hide her face. Her bouncing shoulders proved that she clearly wasn''t done, still face down laughing as Maddison rolled his eyes and left through the front door with a less than appropriate slam.


    "Everybody''s insane." Maddison growled, stealing a lungful of fresh air and staring up at the twinkling stars. At least they were still normal, shining through the clear pockets of purplish clouds sleeping in the sky. He looked to his left, Sajus was gone, with the withered remnants of his fire still rested in a bed of rocks. Tarson''s girlfriend had probably taken him inside, since she was designated with taking care of him and his brother.


    Maddison started his calm stroll, allowing his thoughts to aimlessly explore his situation. He hadn''t seen another child since he entered the town, giving him room to wonder where Sajus'' brother actually was, if he was even alive still.


    Maddison stared at the empty streets. He hated to imagine them once filled with bustling townsfolk, poor, yet free. Ignorantly happy with their wills and thoughts to pursue their simple dreams. The townsfolk that knew everyone, from Tarson the blacksmith to Sajus and his brother, motherless yet cared for under the wings of security. The townsfolk that had never done anything to deserve punishment, let alone their current fate. And if the spell couldn''t be lifted then they were nothing more than soulless puppets, living a sad mockery of a life, in which death would stand as the better alternative.


    The magic had stolen everything from them, their freedom, their thoughts, and in some cases, their lives.


    It had destroyed yet another family with its endless hunger, a lurking beast that devoured everything in sight and raged like a wild grass fire.


    A beast that never died, that fed off unholy anchors and raised demons from the soil.


    A beast, that in Maddison''s eyes, the world could do without.


    Maddison gritted his teeth, rounding a corner as he masked the clacking of his thick boots against the paved cobble. The night was dead, void of its singing birds and chiming symphony of grass jumpers, dead as the fallen leaves scraping along with the breeze, and cold as a corpse left to rot in the sea. The silence played with his mind, showing puppet shows of strange shadows dancing through the magic lamp lights. They would always shrink away when he cocked his head in their direction.


    After a darkened alley had stolen his attention for several minutes he cautiously pulled his gaze to the center of town, examining the small silver statue of a toned steed nestled off into a corner of the clearing. He had been so intent on finding the bakery that he didn''t notice the stables were close by. The statue was regal in its own way, the surrounding lights dancing off its toned muscles and flowing.


    It reminded him of Horse, and not in a good way. He''d ditched the thing for a whole day without feeding it, leaving it leashed up outside of Tarson''s house as the strange town forced him to forget about his stolen mount. He stopped, brow scrunched as he tried to recall leaving Tarson''s house. Was Horse still there when he walked out the door? He sighed, dismissing the thought and the worry that came with it.


    The dumb thing was slower than Sariel anyways.


    He kept to his course, looking without seeing. He really had to stop thinking such things, or they would slip off his tongue if he saw her again. He had met plenty of stupid people, they often died first on missions. You couldn''t fix stupid. But Sariel was naive, not stupid, and there was room for improvement there.


    Maddison approached the very center of the town. If he cut past the stage, he could make it to Maynard''s front door without risking waking any cursed villagers that could still be in the surrounding shops. He walked carefully when he reached the paved path, fixed to the towering statue. She was a dark maiden now, with nothing but the starlight to reflect upon her body. The birds had emptied the bounty in her hands, and with the way the shadows stretched across her brow, she almost looked sad because of it.


    Before he reached the grass, there was a movement.


    He froze, violently torn from his thoughts. They had been crouching in the shadows at her feet, partially obscured by one of the cages on the stage. But as soon as the figure rose, Madison crouched to hide himself by a bench. It was poor coverage, but he could tell from his distance that the form of the man standing a couple yards away had their back turned to him. He was tall, relatively well built, and expensively dressed in dark blue robes.


    He turned from the statue, leaving the stage and facing Maddison only momentarily before rounding the base of the stadium and turning back to the statue. Nothing in his demeanour gave away that he had seen Maddison. His sharp chin was angled upwards to the stars, blind to his guest as he soaked in the twinkling sight. There was empathy in his soft gaze, wisdom in his layers of silvered hair, and leadership in his upright posture and combed appearance.


    He wasn''t like the other townsfolk. An unseen pedestal shadowed his every step, like the hundreds of others Maddison had met, and promptly offed for a sack full of glistening coins.


    The man standing before him was a leader.


    Old Man Maynard.


    Maddison''s throat went dry, his feet glued to the polished rocks as he stroked the dagger at his hip. He was out in the open, a sitting duck if the sorcerer so much as turned his gaze and focused for a mere moment. This wasn''t an opportunity, it was a trap without a person to blame spare his dimwitted self.


    He ground his teeth in hard thought, painfully tearing his bloodthirsty fingers from the dagger''s hilt. He could run, but there was no telling what the mad sorcerer would have the cursed villagers do to him if he saw him flee. He could stay in his poor hiding spot, and pray for the unlikely chance that he would go unnoticed.


    Maddison frowned at the final option. Or...


    He quietly rose, his heart jumping as a small brown bird landed on the bench, chittering frantically. Maddison eyed the distressed animal, disappointed that it wasn''t Crow come to deliver his dagger. He hadn''t seen any birds in the town, or animals for that matter. It made sense, crows and black cats brought omens, and the animals would leave with them before curses and tragedy took the people. This single bird mustn''t have gotten the memo.


    Maddison waved his hand to try and shoo it off. Maynard was still glued to the twinkling stars, but Maddison didn''t want to risk a surprise. His plan was a gamble, but it was his best bet in leaving alive. He mocked the emptied look of the villagers, and slowly approached the man.


    The bird chittered again, swooping inches from his face and forcing a flinch out of him.


    A growl of frustration slipped from his throat, but he remained strong. If he wasn''t so committed to selling his lie, he would have slapped the damn thing out of the air.


    When he''d successfully closed a couple feet, the man dropped his gaze, slowly looking to Maddison without a flicker of surprise. Maddison paced himself, not allowing his panic to show as he continued forwards. A few more strides and he would be able to plant his dagger in Maynard''s heart. He only planted his feet when Maynard paid him an expecting smile, the sorcerer turning to face him fully.


    Maddison played a colourful string of curses in his head, frantically grabbing at his next best option, when a voice crawled into his mind. It was a woman''s, and did not enter through his ears, it simply echoed in his mind.


    "Turn back."


    He eyed the statue, it did not fit the youth in the voice. The order had come from someone else, a child.


    Maddison cursed under his breath, his facade fading as he tried to stare through Maynard''s piercing gaze. The sorcerer had not taken his eyes off him for a second, the smile still on his face flipping Maddison''s stomach as it mocked his choice.


    He knew.


    "Turn back!" The voice called again, this time filled with urgency.


    Maddison swallowed his fear, his shoulders relaxing as the two unblinkingly shared gazes. To turn his back now was an invitation to meet his end. Maddison drifted his hand to his dagger, holding Maynard''s gaze as he lowered his body in preparation to dive or dash. Maynard''s smile drifted away as he watched Maddison move, and his eyes dropped to the weapon. Instead of moving to attack as Maddison had anticipated, his eyes widened, and his hands shook. He tried to hide the fact by concealing his hands behind his back, but his emotions were clear in his fidgeting lips.


    He was... scared?


    Maddison took a step back, Maynard mimicking his actions as the two sat chained to the mirror between them, a flurry of questions raking at Maddison''s mind as he frantically scanned the sorcerer.


    What could he possibly be afraid of? Could he hear the girl as well?


    That couldn''t be it. It wasn''t as though it was threatening in its tone.


    Maynard was a man with an entire town under his boot, and a flurry of spells at his fingertips. But he had turned cold, filled with a dread that sucked the blood from his face, and chased his gaze wherever he threw it. And he was throwing it everywhere. The statue, the ground, the shops, the sky, Maddison. Eventually the way he jerked his gaze around disoriented him and he tripped over his own feet backing away from the mercenary, the pedestal crumbling as he held his head in dumbfounded confusion, attempting to pace his rapid breathing by staring at the ground.


    Maddison wasn''t going to gawk at the show of weakness, seizing the opportunity to draw his sword instead and raise it above Maynard''s head. A swift kill would leave Tarson less than satisfied, but given the pressing moment, it was all he could manage. He took in a sharp breath, closing his eyes in preparation for the execution, when a weak and broken voice wriggled into his ears.


    "Where... am I?"


    He opened his eyes, looking down at Maynard in puzzled silence as the man lifted his gaze, quickly drawing back in terror at the close proximity of the blade and raising his palms above his head in surrender.


    "M-m-money! You want money?!"


    "What?" Maddison whispered, his arms slowly dropping in confusion at the wreck of a man beneath him.


    Maynard felt his pockets, his hands trembling so much he even struggled with turning them out as a drawn whimper escaped his trembling lips. "I don''t- I- where was I...?" He felt the ground, only able to hold Maddison''s gaze for a split second before he dropped it again in numb terror. "There''s n-nothing- I... I can''t, can''t find anything..."


    Maddison was tranced by the spectacle, his hands refusing to steal the man''s life as he groveled around the grass, sobbing in fear at his lack of valuables. But as his tears reached their stride, his shaking shoulders rested, the last of his dried sniffles swallowed up as if an invisible force had offered him a soothing hug. Maynard slowly lifted his gaze to Maddison, who was still thunderstruck with confusion as he tried to comprehend the scene. His dark eyes glinting in the circling lights, and clearly lighting his gentle smile.


    That same smile.


    The fear inside Maddison jumped awake, casting his confusion away and ripping at his arms to steal the man''s life.


    But they wouldn''t move.


    He couldn''t move.


    A human statue anchored to the ground by a malicious hug of magic, the blade slipping from his stiff fingers and clattering to the ground. His mind screamed to run as Maynard rose to his feet, casually brushing off the expensive drapes covering him as he held a hollowed stare with Maddison''s frozen gaze. The smile never faltered, even as he slowly waved his hand, and his gentle voice rose with a baleful wish. "Sweet dreams, Mr. Sungard."


    And just like that, Maddison''s world went black.

 30. Do You Remember?

    It was some time in the middle of the night. A short squall of rain had brushed past the trail, puddling over the graveled trail to soften it to a slick and sticky mud. The squadron''s steps had long since fallen out of unison, and the torches they carried were whittled beyond providing enough warmth to dry the rainwater that had soaked into their armour. Corian had discovered yet another strange gift in death. The night was no longer cold, and the warmth of the torches slipped off of him, unable to settle in his body. Despite everyone''s displeasure, the group still kept to their walk. Inprobus had demanded the trek continue until they reached Stonesong, and although Corian could sense the tense air from the tired soldiers, not a single one dared to make a sound of protest.


    They had left the broken carriage at the bridge, and had dispersed whatever supplies and equipment that had been hitched to it between the squadron¡¯s small handful of horses. Corian was no exception.


    Instead of a necklace of rope, his bindings had been upgraded to a steel collar that Quibbis had happily referred to as ¡®prisoner bling.¡¯ Corian had put up a struggle that had cost the necromancer an arm and a lot of leaves, but relented when Rikki intervened with their bow.


    He had been hitched to a mottled brown and white horse for the entire walk, and the animal needed constant soothing from a nearby soldier whenever it happened to turn and notice Corian. Suffice to say, an escape during the walk was not happening. His vision was limited by the scratchy sack over his head, and if he did run, he would have to try and drag an animal that wanted absolutely nothing to do with him along for the ride. Last Corian checked, he wasn¡¯t as strong as a horse.


    And so, with nothing else to do, Corian plotted. This was his first time seeing his father¡¯s squadron in one spot. His father always travelled with a larger group, at least twice the size of a normal squadron. Corian had expected to count twelve soldiers, but only saw eleven, along with Rikki, and Quibbis.


    Amongst the soldiers, four were of a particular interest to him. They had earned their place as squires, and aside from his father, they had exactly what he was looking for. Plated helmets and thick iron shields.


    If he was going to escape, he needed something to protect his head. He could run past the arrows and try to dodge any large branches Rikki swung at him. Any grievous injuries would just heal eventually.


    What he couldn¡¯t do is keep running if a well placed arrow flicked off the lights in his brain. And Rikki had shown that they never missed.


    The soldier closest to Corian let out a sharp grunting noise, stopping the horse in its tracks. Corian mindlessly followed the gesture, so engrossed in his thoughts he hadn¡¯t realized the area had grown brighter.


    He pulled his gaze from the gravel, noticing the two burning braziers that sat in front of a simple wooden gate. His father, still at the head of the group, approached the gate with Rikki at his side. Just to the right of the gate there was a smoother block of wood made from a lighter tree than the rest of the structure. Inprobus rapped his knuckles across it, the piece sliding out for an older fellow to peek through.


    Inprobus showed him an emblem before he could start any preliminary questions, the man¡¯s eyes widening as he soaked in the golden piece. If Corian had to guess, it was a heroguard emblem that was far from quiet about his father¡¯s rank.


    "Ra''zerun''s light shine upon you, Archon. Do you carry injured or sick?"


    "Blessed without." Inprobus replied curtly. ¡°Just goods with special handling.¡±


    The chunk of wood slid back in, and within a few minutes the lone villager was able to lift the thick log of wood blocking the door from the inside, and struggled to drag the gates open. He stood to the side as the procession of soldiers entered, his head bowed low enough for Corian to catch the torchlights glinting off his greasy hair.


    Once everyone was well inside, he rushed back to the gate, struggling to lift the log back into place and seal the gate. The soldiers watched.


    He managed to finish without assistance, sluggish but still hurrying back to Inprobus to keep his head low in a way that reminded Corian of Quibbis. It was shameless. Most would willingly wipe his father¡¯s arse if it meant that they could say they had the favour of an Archon. Meanwhile, his father hadn¡¯t even asked for the man¡¯s name.


    ¡°We have cleared a space for your tents and equipment.¡± The man started, motioning to a flatter space nestled next to the walls. ¡°We have our best lodging as well if you would like a roof, but the indoor bugs are quite prolific this season.¡±


    Inprobus nodded, speaking everyone¡¯s mind as mannerfully as possible. ¡°It¡¯s a clear night, we will enjoy it. Are the hounds and the squadron still here?¡±


    The man nodded. ¡°By your orders they remain,¡± he said, his voice growing hesitant. ¡°I can wake them.¡±


    ¡°They can rest until sunrise. I need a cell, and a carriage.¡± Inprobus said, nudging his head towards Corian. ¡°There is no need to wake anyone, I will have my men keep watch. Their shift will be eased by iron bars however.¡±


    ¡°Of course sir.¡± The man replied, his eyes darting to Corian with some hesitation and reminding him of what he must have looked like to the villager.


    A man wearing a potato sack with the eyes poorly cut through, bound by an iron collar, and stained with an alarming amount of congealed blood. He looked absolutely feral, and had the sack not been covering his head, he may have looked even worse. Corian hadn¡¯t chanced his reflection since his unholy resurrection.


    From his grimy bangs that sometimes poked at his eyes, he knew his hair was still the same golden shade of his father¡¯s, and the sharp bones in his cheeks and jaw still gave him a haunting similarity to the man. The sun had long since departed, and the sack served a new purpose. Parading your chained up offspring through a town was not the best look.


    ¡°This man slaughtered an entire village¡± Inprobus explained, his words driving a nail through Corian¡¯s heart. ¡°Set it ablaze afterwards and blamed a demon. He is murderous and a beast of unholy magics set for trial. ¡±


    Corian tensed, squeezing at the iron chains wrapping his wrists to silently let out his fury. He had killed only two. It was disgusting, but something he had learned to move past. Something necessary to save the one he loved as quickly as possible. But with the village razed, and that infernal woman running rampant as the only remaining eyewitness, there was no one left to say otherwise. He had burned the village to the ground, it was fact now. Every soldier that had helped his father with the task would claim this. Rikki hadn¡¯t the tongue to say otherwise, and Quibbis was¡­ Quibbis.


    The villager stared at Corian, his lips pricked with disgust. ¡°I have a cell, and tools if you fancy it.¡±


    Corian turned his attention from his father as he wandered off with the man, anxiously squeezing at his bindings as he looked around the village. The soldiers, without a command otherwise, headed for the clearing the man had pointed out, beyond exhausted from their extended journey. Corian watched the soldiers wander about the clearing, gaze fixed upon the four squires, hoping to figure out where one of them would pitch a tent.


    If... No. Once he escaped, every second would count as he fled. He needed to dodge the arrows on his way to a squire, get a helmet, or a shield, and take the quickest route out of the town. The town was small enough to see most of it from where he stood. There wasn¡¯t an armoury in sight. What little weapons Stonesong held belonged to the Heroguard, or were locked up in the town hall tighter than a chastity belt. It just wasn¡¯t an option to get armour from elsewhere.


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    A horse would have been even better.


    He eyed the mottled steed, the beast still paying him a fearful side eye every now and then. Corian frowned. But horses now hated him.


    He squeezed at the chain again, mindlessly rolling it in his palms as he turned back to the soldiers.


    ¡°Come on.¡± He growled, frustrated at their indecisiveness as the soldiers meandered about, pointing at random patches of dirt and sometimes laying pegs.


    And then he felt a tug on his neck. He cocked his head over his shoulder, eyeing Rikki in disappointment as they unclipped the chain from the horse and wrapped it around their wrist. Corian stared at them silently, and for a moment they turned their head in his general direction. It was impossible to truly tell if their eyes had landed on him, the shadow their mask cast only left black holes, but he could feel some weight from their attention.


    Corian eyed Quibbis in the corner of his eye, his voice filling with a playful mock as he motioned to his subpar mask. "Wanna swap?"


    Rikki pulled the chain tight, forcing Corian into a walk.


    That was a no.


    He matched Rikki¡¯s pace, allowing the chain to slack. From the corner of his eye, Quibbis disappeared, his steps fading off as he went to join the soldiers in setting up tents.


    Corian eyed his father far ahead, dipping his voice to a tone so quiet he hoped that Rikki could hear it over the crunch of their own steps.


    "Do you remember when you told me what you wanted to be when you were older? You said you wanted to grow flowers."


    Corian paused, Rikki neither slowing nor speeding up their pace.


    ¡°And I told you that was stupid, and it wasn''t a real job?" His throat tightened as he said it, and he could feel the chain pull as Rikki¡¯s squeezed it.


    The conversation was so insignificant when it happened. He hadn¡¯t realised the weight of what he had said until many years later. It was one of the last times Corian saw his sister for what she wanted to be, and he had shrugged it off as silly. Demeaned her, just like their father had. It had played so many times in his head.


    "Well fuck having a job. They suck. And you don¡¯t need one to do that.¡±


    Rikki tugged the chain, forcing Corian to stumble forwards. But despite the gesture, their own steps had slowed, and he found himself walking beside them.


    He eyed Rikki, ¡°Well? Do you remember that?¡±


    He looked for a sign. A subtle nod, a tapping finger, a shrug. But nothing came. Rikki¡¯s walk was like a soldier¡¯s, commanded, void of choice or a care for one of given the opportunity. There simply wasn¡¯t anything there that the Psyche Ward had left.


    But still, Corian tried. "The next time I try to escape, don''t shoot at me, please. Run with me."


    Rikki remained fixed ahead, the rest of their walk spent in silence until they rejoined Inprobus outside of a battered shack of a building. Corian¡¯s nose curled as the man unlocked the door, the stench of urine and feces thickening the air to a point where he could feel it settle on his lungs. He let out an involuntary gag, his father even taking a chance to raise his sleeve to his nose.


    ¡°Small town. Decided the skathouse and the cells went well together.¡± The man said, horrifically unbothered as he waved the small group inside. They were lead down a tight stairwell, the scent alleviating a bit with the stone walls that barred the room from its next door neighbour. Still, there was an abundance of fat flies buzzing about the unwashed pales and hay that were left discarded in each cell. Quantity over comfort had given enough space for three tight jail cells, all empty to at least give Corian some privacy.


    Inprobus saved every second he could getting Corian locked up, and within minutes he was presented with his watcher.


    Quibbis. It was no surprise to Corian at this point. Quibbis had likely volunteered for the task well before the ask was even made. As a small blessing, he wasn¡¯t strict about Corian pulling the sack off his head, and had even found a rickety broom somewhere to sweep the dirt out of Corian¡¯s cell.


    Once all was in order, he found a small table to sit at, perched on the chair like a bird as he used a small stub of a candle to give the basement room some lighting. For the first few minutes, he worked away at making the new stitches on his arm cleaner, and then, inevitably turned to conversation.


    ¡°So nice to have a roof, yes, so so so nice. The indoor bugs don¡¯t bite leaves and skin." Qubbis said, his body shuddering. "But the outdoor ones, they like to crawl inside, and they are so itchy.¡±


    Corian tuned him out, leaning back on the cold stone making up one wall of his cell, and bouncing his eyes along the old metal bars. He sighed when he didn¡¯t see a broken one, turning his attention to Quibbis as the necromancer tried to cut off a thread with his dull teeth. "If you''re stuffed with leaves how do you die?"


    "I have a weakness for being blown away," he snickered, lightly blowing and earning an eye roll. He wound up his remaining thread, carefully packing it away in his pocket. "I''m stuffed with dead stuff, so I don''t think I can die. It does not work."


    Quibbis smiled back at Corian¡¯s frown, resting his cheek on his hand with a playful lilt.


    "That makes us perfect for each other."


    "Stay the hell away from me, Skathead," Corian growled.


    "I have read some very lovely books." Quibbis snickered, laughing giddily through Corian''s disbelieving stare. "Fighting is the first sign of true love!"


    "If you touch me, I''ll rip your other arm off." Corian glanced at Quibbis to make sure the necromancer was listening, his nose scrunching at the smile he still wore. "Maybe I''ll take a leg too."


    "Gosh, you just know the perfect things to say."


    "You know, I wonder if you''re fire proof," Corian said blandly, keeping his gaze on the ceiling while he rubbed the chains in his hands. "I wouldn''t mind tying you to a post with Inprobus and lighting the two of you up."


    "Such burning desires!"


    Corian bit his tongue, his eye involuntarily twitching as he turned away to ignore Quibbis before the necromancer unleashed another violating pun on him. He wound his fingers around the chains on his wrists, allowing his thoughts to flow and distract him from the smell, the uncomfortably tight cell, and the world around him in general.


    He thought about the wagon he had travelled in, the sensation pulling him back to his first carriage ride, sitting in his mother''s lap as they rode shotgun to the driver, singing rhymes and trying to cast harmless spells. His father was in the back, teaching Rikka how to mend and clean armour with a spotty rag.


    It was definitely before his initiation at Ra''zerun''s temple.


    Before his father''s coddling pride had melted to disgusted hostility, and his thirteenth birthday, still barren of any magical abilities was rewarded with a dusty servant''s closet and a hay bed.


    And the public execution of his lying mother.


    Corian cracked his eyes open, he didn''t want to remember that night. The last thing she had given him and Rikka was a gentle smile, warm despite her tired grey eyes. But that was not the last thing he had seen. He had hidden in the stables with Rikki - there had been no time to find a better place of refuge, so he kept his sibling''s head low and covered with hay. An old knot in the wall had allowed him to peek through to what they had escaped. They dragged his mother by her arms, up to a stage where a crowd gathered and cheered. Corian had thought the bucket they emptied over her head was water at first, but the fire they lit at her feet leapt across her body far too quick. It was a few short minutes, but it felt like hours as he covered Rikki''s ears to block the sounds.


    Years had stilled his sorrow to anger. She deserved it. She knew her fate, and still she tried to change it. She stayed with him, and because of that, Corian and Rikki stayed too.


    Corian gritted his teeth, rolling the chain between his fingers and pinching it. He felt the chain in his hands bend. It was so subtle he would have simply continued with his nervous habit, but the metal he had pressed with his thumb felt soft, and dragged his attention to his hands. The part he had pressed had indeed bent inwards on itself, locking that part of the chain into an awkward fold.


    He eyed the rest of the chain that he had been toying with, noticing the subtle deformities that had warped but not broken the bindings. He did not know a material that should have acted in such a way, but the strength it would take to bend iron with the flex of a hand was something Corian did not possess.


    When he was alive at least.


    It seemed that the strength it had taken to tear the wagon apart with his bare hands was something that had stayed with him outside of his feral blackout. There was even a chance it was something he held the moment Quibbis'' spell had worked. He shifted around to settle the chains into his lap and away from Quibbis'' view, slowly working at fixing the damage he had done. No one could know until the moment was right.


    A bemused hum came from his right as Quibbis stared at him. "You look like you''re thinking of something deep. I thought your brain was only capable of the shallows! What a revolutionary advancement!"


    Corian smiled at the jab, earning some confusion from the necromancer. "I''ll prove you wrong."


    Quibbis purred in amusement. "About what?"


    "You can die, just like my father can."

 31. A Morning Snack

    Sariel leaned up with an audible sigh, disturbing Cody as she accidentally yanked the small furry blanket they''d been sharing. Cody scrunched up as the morning chill invaded his hearth, groaning in frustration when Hord''anne thumped into the small clearing, hooting with excitement when he saw Sariel awake.


    "Good morning Hord''anne!" She cheered, looking down at Cody with a wide grin as he hid his face in his hands, trying to pull the little bonnet he had covered his fiery hair with over his eyes. "We should get breakfast Cody! My tummy''s growling louder than Hord''anne!"


    "Have fun," Cody mumbled, yanking the blanket back over his shoulders with a snug sigh.


    Sariel passively left Cody to finish off his slumber, running over to Hord''anne and crawling up his shoulder to plunk down on it with a giddy cheer.


    The beast almost bounced with her enthusiasm, thudding away to the random direction Sariel pointed in for their quest for food. When the silence fully settled, Cody perked up, rubbing his eyes in tired confusion.


    "What shall we eat Hord''anne?" Sariel perused, holding her chin as the beast lumbered through the grass, relishing in the perfect chill that had settled with the dawn.


    He stared at a family of singing birds, fleeing through the rustling trees from his gaze alone. They had already eaten some bird, so Hord''anne had his attention focused on a light breakfast. Like a seared rabbit and maybe a handful of nuts. Sariel on the other hand, was armed and ready to catch anything with a beating heart and enough meat on its bones to sizzle and crack over the fire, so she predictably leapt at the closest bush when it rustled.


    Hord''anne grunted in surprise at her graceful descent from his shoulder, sniffing at the rustling bundle of leaves until Sariel poked out of it, a wriggly bright red lizard in her grasp. "Got one Hord''anne!"


    Hord''anne snorted, his eyes twinkling with excitement at her catch, the rising smile suddenly dying as his simple brain recognised the creature. A nuttle. A no Hord''anne, you can''t eat that, Nuttle. He sighed in disappointment, causing Sariel to tilt her head.


    "Somethin wrong there Hord''anne?" She lifted the lizard up with a huge grin. "The more of these we catch, the faster that piece o'' paper will let us into the town. I''m sure they got tons of food!"


    Hord''anne''s attitude sprang up again at her words. The town was packed with food. Livestock, firewood, and fresh delicious people. He snorted in excitement, smacking his tummy with a chuckling snort as Sariel snapped the lizard''s neck and shoved it in his satchel.


    "Now then Hord''anne." Sariel gave him a wicked smile. "Where to next?"


    Just before the beast could point in another random direction, the two of them stopped at another rustle, larger this time. A glint of murderous excitement crept into Sariel''s smile as she leapt at the bush. She saw the small boy huddled in the plant far too late as she landed on the innocent spectator with a loud battle cry.


    "Watch it!" A spearing squeak of a voice yelped, the small boy wiggling under her hold and going redder by the second. "Yer fatter than my brother! Lay off me creep!"


    Sariel didn''t move, shooting Hord''anne a confused smile. "This ain''t a lizard, that''s real embarrassing, huh, Hord''anne?"


    "You mean more embarrassin'' than your face?" The boy spat, his mud brown eyes sharpened to daggers as he scowled at Sariel. "I told you to get off me!"


    "Told me to lay off ya actually," Sariel hummed, the boy''s repetitive order still failing to reach her head. "Sorry bout that, terribly rude of us. Were you sleeping?"


    "Get off me!" The boy roared, clawing at the ground as he huffed for air, his arms flailing like he was trying to swim through the dirt. He moved to trying to elbow Sariel''s leg instead, coming back with more scratches than success as his arm rubbed against the thick underbrush he had been using as a sanctuary seconds before the rude interruption. "You got a brain? Or are ya jus talking to get the air out of your head?!" The boy gripped a tree root jutting out in front of him, trying to use the anchor as leverage in sliding out from underneath Sariel.


    Sariel chuckled at his antics, glancing at Hord''anne as the beast peeked over to poke at the boy''s head in curiosity. He looked pretty tender, a bite sized snack to last him through the morning as they collected the last of the paper''s demands. Sariel didn''t seem to be on the same track as him though.


    "Name''s Sariel," she said, her voice carrying further than it needed to as the boy squinted at her. "That there''s Hord''anne, he''s a real sweetheart." She smiled as the boy relaxed his struggle, twisting his head uncomfortably to meet her gaze as he paced his breaths. "Say, you a villain too?"


    "Huh?" The boy grimaced in disgust just from the sight of her, his eyes drowned in confusion as he tried to decipher half the things coming out of her mouth. "Name''s Tim, get yer arse off me before I light it on fire you witch!"


    Sariel gasped, the expected offense simply replaced by excitement as she pulled herself up with a victorious cry. "He''s knows I''m a witch! I''m a warlock too! Hord''anne do ya think he''s got some magic?!"


    Tim watched her, wide eyed with fear as the colour ebbed from his flustered face. "You''re a witch?" He shuffled away, pulling his knees up into a protective ball as he whipped a crude dagger from his belt. "Is all this your fault then?" The blade rattled in his grasp, his fingers almost too weak with dread to hold the wooden hilt properly.


    Hord''anne growled at Tim''s response, grabbing him by the back of his coat to lift the flailing and screaming child up, his arms whipping around as he blindly slashed the air in panicked terror. The beast didn''t flinch at the shallow cuts the boy managed to land, lifting him high over his head to crack his mouth open with a curving and famished smile.


    The boy shrieked, dropping the dagger and twisting around to cling to Hord''anne''s hand as he sobbed for his life, the pitiful wails disturbing the singing morning birds. Sariel watched the scene unfold in silent curiosity, her head hardly reaching the conclusion that Hord''anne was about to have a snack, even as he lowered the child down until his leather wraps for boots were kicking at the beast''s stretched lips.


    That was, until a powerful voice boomed from behind them.


    "Hord''anne!" Cody came bursting through the patch of trees, his voice a hoarse bark that cut through the child''s wails and froze Hord''anne in his tracks. "What did I say?" He snapped at the ground for Hord''anne to drop the boy to safety, a cold scowl painting every inch of his face. "No children unless they''re already dead."


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    Hord''anne let out a whining groan, dropping the child with a little toss as he landed on his butt, his arms limply strewn to his sides like a stringless puppet. He erupted into shaking tremors as the tears still silently streaked down his cheeks. Sariel immediately moved to the child''s side, still watching him curiously as she tried to hand him a half dead flower to cheer him up.


    Cody shook his head with a sigh, barely drawn to the sobbing child as he paced around the grass. "I turn my back for one second." He raised his finger, Hord''anne cringing under his scowl. "One second, Hord''anne!"


    Hord''anne let out a defeated whimper.


    Cody threw his arms up, his voice rising with burning irritation as he went off on Hord''anne like a scolding parent. "Not to mention the entire town probably heard his wailing! They''ll have an army at the gates waiting for us now!"


    "Not likely."


    Everyone ripped their attention to the small boy, roughly wiping the tears from his cheeks as he sniffled to keep the pools of snot at bay. His voice was still a weakened and dry whisper from the strain of screaming as he looked up at Cody''s confused face.


    "Not likely at all."


    Cody relaxed, his face softening as he stared at the child in prompting silence.


    Tim tried to cough out the hard lump in his throat, sucking in a couple peaceful breaths before holding Cody''s gaze. "You a Warlock, dirt face?"


    Cody''s nose scrunched in displeasure. "Dirt face?"


    The boy nodded, a toothy grin creeping past the fear. "Ya look like yer covered in dirt, black as a dead firepit. Never seen no one like you."


    "That''s my skin," Cody spat, throwing up his hand to stop Hord''anne from closing in on the child. He scrunched his nose at the bright red sunburn on his freckled cheeks, noticing more exposure to the elements in the dirt smeared on his cheeks and arms, and crusting his hair that would have otherwise been gold as a haybale. " You look like someone cooked you over the fire."


    Hord''anne rubbed his tummy in hungry dismay at the delicious description Cody had tacked on to the boy.


    Sariel gasped. "You''re both right! I didn''t even notice!" She stared at her hands, flipping them repeatedly, then stared at her legs with a giddy smile. "What do I look like?"


    "The rear end o'' my dog," Tim retorted, quickly receiving a smack upside the head from Cody''s small journal.


    The child ruffled his hair, shooting Cody an accusing glare. "You do magic, dirt face?"


    "Cody."


    The child, far too small for his mouth jutted his finger over his shoulder to point at the town, the mysterious accusations still lacing his eyes. "You two do that to my home?"


    Cody stared at the town, taking a moment to reflect on the boy''s statement. "Do what?"


    "Guess not then," Tim grumbled, rising to his feet with a weak wobble. His knees shook like jelly as he tried to take a step past Sariel, fear still clearly riddling his joints.


    He dusted off his patchworked pants, only smearing more dirt on the stained fabric with his nearly blackened fingers. The child was almost feral in appearance, his hair matted with mud, and a fine dusting of dirt covering every inch of his skin, more clustered at his collar bone and knobby knees. He had seen some food, but certainly not enough for Cody to consider his complexion healthy. He flicked his dim eyes between the two again, stretching his bony arms with a sigh.


    "You two travellers then?" He waited for a nod, going along as Hord''anne bobbed his head. "Wouldn''t recommend stopping by the town, everybody''s lost their flippin minds. Went outside yesterday and didn''t get back in time before mah fake arse mum''s shift ended."


    "You don''t know who''s using magic on the town?" Cody replied, his voice deepened to a curious calm as he kept his distance from to child.


    "If I knew, dirt face, I woulda stuck em with the stable''s poo fork by now. That''s the only way to take out horse skat." He searched the dry ground, finally bending over and picking up his small dagger to dust off with a scoff. "If y''all don''t mind, I''ve gotta get back to Tarson''s skat mother of a girlfriend before she grounds me fer getting stuck outside." Tim spat to the side, giving his pants one last scornful wipe before turning on his heels and slowly walking away while searching the bushes.


    "We''re trying to get into the village too," Cody called, stopping Tim in his tracks as he looked over his shoulder with scrunched disgust. "There''s something we want in there."


    Tim''s glare softened. "The skatty magician?" He didn''t even wait for Cody to verify his question, taking back his steps and standing a couple feet from Cody with a childish smile. "Everybody thinks it''s my old man!" Tim''s smile died. "I don''t think it is... cause that''d mean I''ve got magic too... and I know I ain''t a demon."


    Cody''s eye twitched, but he masked the displeasure, pulling the loot out of Hord''anne''s bag to show off to Tim. "How many do you have?"


    Tim''s expression dropped as he watched Cody pile the catches on the ground. He pulled a few headless snakes out of his satchel, then a string of bright red lizard tails. "More than you."


    Sariel looked between the piles, they had more.


    Then again, she couldn''t count. So she sealed her lips before protesting.


    Tim squatted next to the pile, lifting one of the limp lizards with a grimace and motioning to its nub of a behind. "You need the tails... they usually fall right off when ya scare em. That''s how I''ve been doin it."


    "The tails...?" Cody''s gaze fell to their stash of bright red lizards, only one of them still had the extra appendage, and it was the freshest with a snapped neck. He heaved out a sigh of frustration. "When I get into that bloody town, I''m levelling it."


    Tim shrugged. "Jus don''t touch my house, alright?" He parted all the scuttlesnakes from the pile, counting them with a growing smile. "We have all the Scuttles we need, just need a nuttle with a full functioning arse now."


    Sariel whooped in excitement. "We''re so close Hord''anne!"


    Hord''anne grunted, his throat rumbling with a purr of excitement as he lifted one of the tailless nuttles.


    "Yes, you may," Cody replied, smiling as Hord''anne popped the lizard in his mouth.


    He collected the rest of the carcasses, glancing at the feeble boy with a welcoming smile. "Have you had breakfast?"


    "Nah, but I aint eatin'' that squirming crap." The boy sifted through a smaller pouch outside of his satchel, coming out with a handful of nuts and dried berries. "Brought extra mix."


    As he munched on the tiny snack, Cody tossed Hord''anne another nuttle, searing the two in his hands with a small burst of fire. After handing one off to Sariel and watching her hungrily bite into it, he nibbled his own snack, inspecting the faint residue of magic still clinging to the boy.


    He''d been exposed to it, but likely didn''t have any himself.


    Cody always found his gaze drawn to the thick fortress of a village when he contemplated his quest in slaughtering the protagonist. This time however, another idea crept into his mind.


    He stared at Tim, his smile tugged downwards as the boy obliviously popped a dry berry into his mouth, chewing it for a couple seconds before his nose scrunched up and he spat it out, crossly muttering about his idiot of a fake mother who kept mixing the things in.


    He was young.


    Cody''s frown intensified.


    A young, brash, Caucasian child.


    Cody lifted his chin with a cattish smile, his hungry eyes trained on the small boy as he couldn''t hold back a wicked grin.


    "What were you doing out here, if you don''t mind my asking?" Cody started, his smile suddenly poisoned by caution as Tim snorted.


    The boy flicked his gaze away with careless scoff, chewing the last of his snack with a sloppy gulp before wiping his lips. "Lookin for a way to break the curse on my town. Was gonna go to the next village over and find a beefy mercenary or somethin to help me out, but I dunno which way it is."


    "Oh?" Cody lifted his eyebrows in mock interest. "So you''re driven by a just cause?"


    Tim cocked his head to the side, snorting in irritation at Cody''s cryptic intent. "Whatchya mean by just?"


    "You''d lay your life down to lift the curse of your town of course!" Cody burst, tightening his fists with an excited glint to his eyes.


    Tim scrunched his nose in disgust. "Hell no I wouldn''t! Look at me!" He motioned to his lanky body. "I''m barely in my teens!"


    Cody kept his pose for a couple rigid seconds, his squint finally blocking enough of his vision for him to straighten with a defeated sigh.


    He was certain Tim was the protagonist in this heaping pile of trash Alina called a story, but at his peak of tireless searching, it could have been Sariel for all he knew.


    Cody shot her a squint, huffing out a sigh and staring at the village before she caught his look.


    She wasn''t the protagonist.


    She couldn''t even read.

 32. A Night to Remember

    Maddison awoke from the jarring fangs of last night''s nightmare, his eyes slowly opening to show the grandeur of his current problem. Nightmares were seldom kept to slumber, and as he realised he was standing in the morning''s already searing starlight, facing a rolling pool of grass, he regrettably found the reality behind last night''s adventure.


    "Maddison."


    The harsh whisper coming from his left hardly registered, until it was followed up by the bite of a slap, the small hand travelling straight across his face and rearing back to rake the other side of his cheek with bony knuckles.


    "For the love of Tarsus! I''m stabbing you if this doesn''t work!" the voice belted, its familiar ring drawing his attention before he faced the threat head on.


    Maddison scrunched his nose, searching Endris'' frantic gaze with a blank stare, her eyes glowing with worry as she cautiously opened her mouth.


    "Maddison?"


    He rubbed his cheeks with a sour glare, slowly folding his arms as a strange flicker of hope touched her face. "What?"


    "Oh thank the gods," she sighed, nearly falling to her knees as she pulled her gaze from him. "I thought it had you."


    Maddison''s glare softened as he soaked in the blaring starlight. It was daytime, he wasn''t even in the village anymore. He didn''t remember waking up.


    He felt his clothes with a grimace, the leathered armour rested awkwardly on his shoulders, the familiarity tracing him back to the set he''d accepted from Tarson.


    He didn''t remember putting it on.


    "What am I doing out here?" Maddison whispered, his heart racing in fear as it ran through all the possible things a sorcerer could do to him in his sleep. "I don''t-"


    "Remember?" Endris slowly nodded with him, her grey eyes laced with cautious worry. "You came back an hour after you went out and wouldn''t say a word to me... or Tarson."


    "How did I get in this?" Maddison pressed, motioning to the new set of armour.


    Endris shrugged. "You just put it on and walked out the door. Didn''t even wait for me, I had to run after you! What happened last night?"


    The scene relapsed in his mind, Maynard''s deviously empty smile haunting it with every blink. He shouldn''t have made such a bold move, but he was pressed for time. This bounty was a side job to keep his monthly quota. His biggest catch moved around like whispers on the wind. If he didn''t rush this job he''d miss the updates his guild had.


    Again.


    "Hello?" Endris said, waving her hand in front of his face with a frown. "You haven''t lost your mind again, have you?"


    Maddison snapped his attention to her, releasing a heavy sigh as he noticed the thick plate armour she''d adorned. "No." He gave the fields a skim, continuing on the mysterious path he''d subconsciously forged. "Where are we going?"


    "To slay the garganox."


    Maddison hummed out a growl, grabbing his side and feeling the hilt of a blade, its cold sheath sending a calming chill through him. It was the one Tarson had handed him, and while it was decorative first, it would work for now. "How many weapons do we have?"


    "I''ve got two knives, a sword, a shield." She motioned to her back where a thick sheet of polished metal sat snuggly, the edges of a crossbow peeking out. "Oh, and a crossbow." She felt her pockets. "Packed some poison. Not sure how it''ll fare against whatever beast we''re slaying though."


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    Maddison slowly nodded. "That''ll do. I think I only have a sword..." he traced his fingers along his waist, suddenly feeling the hilt of a dagger tucked into his pants. "And a knife I guess..."


    Endris nodded, her frown suddenly springing up with a wicked grin. "I suppose you''ll be backup then."


    "Backup?"


    "I''ll go in headfirst and keep up a distraction. You can lace some arrows with poison and try to hit it in a soft spot with the crossbow." Her smile grew as Maddison''s fell. "Ever fired one before? I can show you ho-"


    "You''re not fighting it," Maddison cut in, turning his cold gaze away as she scoffed. "Just carry the weapons, and run back to get more if the thing proves to be stronger than expected."


    "Carry the weapons?" Endris said with an icy spit, adjusting the shield strapped to her back. "These are mine, I''m only letting you borrow the crossbow if you have the brains to aim and shoot one." She sized him up. "You''re not gonna get far as the head of the attack wearing leather and a bit of chain mail."


    Maddison scrunched his nose with an irritated grunt. "What''s wrong with my armour?"


    "We''re walking towards a strange cave with a mysterious beast in it. If it''s bigger than a house, fat load of use some soft arse animal skin is gonna do you!" She tapped one of her pauldrons. "I''m less likely to die from a bite or two, and I''m more nimble."


    "Nimble? In that?" Maddison pressed, his frown intensifying at the scarce amount of plating on her arms and legs, with just a sharp metal skirt to cover her thighs. "What use is that going to be?"


    She looked at her outfit, the irritation reviving on her features. "This crap was Maynard''s idea. I know it''s not covering much of me, but I''ve learned a trick or two." She gripped the long sleeve of the black shirt she was wearing, displaying a thin lacing of chain mail underneath. "I''ve got it here too." She stopped, bending down to roll up part of her leggings with a smile. "Maynard said we could wear our armour with skin tight clothing, so I took advantage of that. To hell with exposed skin! Make a decent set of plate armour completely useless why don''t you!"


    Maddison squinted at her trick, the cold caution pooling from his stare as he bore down on Endris. "Are you trained?"


    She perked up with a confused smile. "Trained?"


    "In fighting."


    "Drafted at thirteen." She winked. "Me and Tarson moved to this region after finally making it across the border. This king isn''t any better, but at least we aren''t on his soldier listings."


    "Alright, fine," Maddison sighed, continuing his walk as they approached a small cluster of trees. "You can take the lead, I''ll try to shoot the thing."


    "Sounds like a plan." Endris chuckled, her entertainment softening as she looked up at Maddison again. "What about you?"


    "Me?"


    "I did eight years service. General, missing in action three years ago, you?"


    Maddison shot her a strange look, his gaze pulled forwards by a mysterious force as he sighed. "I didn''t serve."


    "Doesn''t this place round up soldiers?" Endris grabbed her chin in confusion. "You from here?"


    "They do, I''m from the area I guess," Maddison replied, a faint smile crawling through with his words. "You get drafted, unless you''re sentenced to death before you hit the qualifying age."


    She slowed, strangely intrigued by the statement as she paid Maddison a childish grin. "What in the name of the gods did you do at such a young age?"


    "That''s not important," Maddison dodged, giving the trees a quick skim before finding the best path in infiltrating the overgrown scape. "You sure the gargonox is this way?"


    "Nah, haven''t been out this way actually," Endris replied, barely dinted with doubt as she trudged ahead through the forest. She stopped a few steps from Maddison, jutting her thumb out to point over her shoulder behind them. "You can ask him if we''re going the right way."


    Maddison followed her gesture, jumping as he saw the small boy standing a couple meters away. He was staring at them with a little more life to his eyes, his wavy golden locks freshly brushed with a sword too big for his tiny frame strapped to his back.


    Sajus.


    The young boy smiled with an alien spark of intelligence, giving the two a short and friendly wave. "What''s up?"


    Maddison shot Endris a confused stare, sizing up Sajus as he compared the normal kid to the empty eyed puppet he''d seen in the village. "Wasn''t he...?" Maddison twirled his finger next to his ear as Endris nodded.


    "I was just as surprised as you when he told me good morning," she whispered.


    They both stared at Sajus as the boy obliviously bounced on his feet in boredom, playing with his hands for a few seconds before meeting Maddison''s gaze and cracking a huge smile. "Well? Aren''t we going to slay the gorgonox?"


    Maddison squinted at the child, parting the side of his lips to mutter at Endris. "You think it''s a trap?"


    She bounced her shoulders with a small shrug. "What''s a kid gonna do to us if it is?"


    The two carefully weighed their options in the ensuing silence, the gentle breeze tickling Sajus'' bangs as he stood heroically poised at the edge of the forest.


    Trap or not, it appeared that Sajus was intent on accompanying them in their completion of the final mission.


    The final step to ending the fabricated shade of a reality called Bervolt. One way or another, it was going to end with Old Man Maynard''s head on a pike.

 33. Justin Time

    The remainder of the night did not see a change in shifts. Quibbis had remained as Corian''s guard, but had learned to allow for some peaceful silence between his odd conversations. When conversation became boring, the necromancer had gone around the small room to collect whatever pebbles and dried leaves he could find, and laid them out at the edge of Corian''s cell to fill in some of the squares he had neatly drawn in a grid. Corian knew how King''s Square worked, and reluctantly accepted the necromancer''s offer to play.


    It was a dead brain against a head full of leaves. Despite this, Quibbis had won every. Single. Time. Corian had been playing the game on repeat for three hours without a score on his side of the square. It was a matter of pride over entertainment at this point. He played until the sun found the slotted windows in the room, and sunlight splashed across his back. He hadn''t remembered being so focused, his attention settled on winning this last game as Qubbis danced his queen around the board cutting down his fleet. When he sat in the direct light his skin dried faster, and the light''s warmth would turn to a painful burn within a matter of minutes. It was probably the main reason Quibbis had ushered him into the cell furthest from the slotted windows. But he didn''t care if the back of his neck was bubbling at this point, he had to win.


    It wasn''t until the latch leading to the cellars opened that Corian withdrew to the shade of his cage. A single set of steps made their way down, iron boots scraping against the stone as Rikki came into view. They looked around the room, passing the makeshift board game and sliding a chair over to Corian''s cage to sit.


    Quibbis sprang to his feet. "Are we switching? I will be back, I have cards! We can all play!" He passed Rikki before any motion could be made to stop him, scrambling up the stairs and out the door.


    They remained silent as the latch closed, rigid as a statue and chin dipped to stare at the game on the floor. Corian eyed them cautiously, hoping they weren''t taking in the sight before wandering off to tell their father. But instead, when they stood again, they crouched down, eyeing the board for a mere handful of seconds before grabbing Corian''s horse and trapping Quibbis'' queen.


    Corian eyed the move, keeping his lips flat while he wished he had thought of that.


    Quickened steps reached Corian''s ears as he rested against the bars of his cage, his attention drawn to the windows as a shadow passed them. Quibbis'' excited cries were the next sound to reach the room as the necromancer threw open the latch, nearly falling down the stairs as he pushed past Rikkihalynia and latched onto the gate of Corian''s cell. He tore it open, flaunting that he had yet again forgot to lock the door. "Sweet face! There''s another sweet face!" He rushed over to the cringing blond with demented excitement, yanking on Corian''s wrist only to fail at bringing him to his feet. "You must see him!"


    Rikkihalynia came between the scuffle, shooing Quibbis away from dragging Corian outside and ushering Quibbis out of the cage with a couple satisfied claps before they nodded.


    Quibbis'' attention fell to the board, his face souring at his pinned piece. "Now Rikki, no helping." But his disdain did not last as his thoughts reeled right back to why he had come running back without his cards. "Can''t I take him outside for a few minutes?"


    Rikkihalynia answered Quibbis'' question with a pressing silence, turning away and plopping back in the chair.


    To their dismay, Quibbis didn''t catch on, letting out an excited whoop as he skittered back up the stairs. "I''ll just bring him in here! You''re right Rikalblegh!"


    As Quibbis'' manically excited rambles rounded the window once more, Rikkihalynia glanced at Corian again, a mysterious undertone of emotion crawling through their mask.


    Corian knew the exact face they were making under the veil of bones, nodding in silent understanding at their situation. He''d given them the same face after every pointless punishment his father relished in delivering, and the tables had been turned for quite a few years now.


    Rikkihaylnia barely nodded in response, almost fearing that Inprobus could see through the stone walls. With a fluid motion they pulled a package wound in fresh leaves out of their satchel and tossed it at Corian,


    He grabbed the gift and unwrapped it, staring at the small morsel of seared fish. He apologized to the fish before downing it with a couple chews.


    Rikki waited for him to finish the food, then pointed at the potato sack that had been discarded to the side of the room, motioning for him to pull it over his head.


    Corrian laughed out a scoff, but obliged.


    It wasn''t long before Quibbis'' singing voice returned, the necromancer practically dancing down the steps as he dragged a soldier down by their arm. Corian eyed the golden sigil plastered to their shoulder, a commander''s rank shown by five stars crowning a golden bird. They were tall, their back curving beneath their broad shoulders. Despite their crisp uniform being tailored to cuff at their wrists, they had pushed the fabric up to their elbows, and had neglected quite a few clips and medals that were good practice for their rank to wear, and left their shirt unbuttoned to their collarbone.


    Corian eyed the man curiously, holding back a smile at the metal helmet they wore that concealed their face with a visor.


    That was just one more soldier that he could use in his escape.


    Quibbis threw his arms out to frame Corian to the new guest. "You''re just in time! We''ll be taking this one off to the psyche ward when the mission ends, so I''m so glad you hopped into this one cutie pie!"


    The soldier looked around the room, strangely comfortable with his odd guests. He finally settled on facing Rikki, paying them a curt wave. "Hey Rikka."


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    Rikki did not pay back the wave, but the familiar voice spurred Corian snap his head around to the commander. He recognised it, and hardly believed that it was coming from the person Quibbis had dragged into the room. He had known the man it belonged to as a close friend, someone he had stuck with before tutoring and well into his training courses with the Heroguard. "Justin?"


    The commander turned his head, removing his helmet to allow his black hair to topple out in ringlets. It settled just above his shoulders, the commander''s sharp grey eyes landing on Corian in confusion. Corian knew the face, and rose with excitement, "Justin!"


    Corian pulled the sack off his head when Justin''s expression did not shift to familiarity. Then the commander blinked, staring at him for a few painful seconds before it clicked. "Corian?"


    Justin went to grab the cage door, stopped as Rikki stuck their foot out to pin it closed.


    "Hey man! How''s it..." His eyes travelled up and down Corian''s clothes, his expression sinking to worry. "You doing okay?"


    "Been better. What are you doing here?" Corian laughed, his voice cracking with a dry twang of panic when he remembered Rikki and Quibbis had ears on the conversation. "I thought you were-"


    "What? Dead?"


    Corian barked out a laugh. "No! Why would I think that?" He stepped closer to the door with an excited fling to his eyes. "I thought you weren''t all about that hero business."


    He shrugged. "I''m not. I was just walking through town and some soldiers started following me."


    Corian stopped, squinting at his embellished armour. It was clearly specific to the king''s royal army. "Why are you dressed like a commander?"


    Justin shrugged, toying with a clip pinning his cloak. "Looks alright... feels comfortable."


    Corian stared at his uniform, joined in confusion by Quibbis and even Rikki who had turned their head slightly.


    Seemingly satisfied by the reaction, Justin cracked a huge smile, "I''m screwing with you!" He gave Rikki''s shoulder a playful smack, which was met without a reaction. "Got you too! Got promoted two cycles back, saw a mission down here to scout for some witch, saw my old man was on a mission close by, thought I''d accept it as an excuse to pin him down for lunch."


    "Your father was here?"


    He leaned against the bars and scoffed, "What do you think?" He let out a sigh, looking down at the small board game his foot had brushed. He acknowledged Quibbis'' gestures as to whose turn it was, moving Quibbis'' queen to kill the horse. "There was a distress call the other night. He said he was on the way, but duty calls every day of the year for the great White Knight."


    Rikki turned their attention to the board, still committed to blocking the gate with their foot. They waved their hand, a small root sprouting through a crack in the floor and grabbing Corian''s paladin to take Quibbis'' queen. The root slithered across the board, grabbing Quibbis'' king and placing them face down.


    Checkmate.


    Corian composed his excitement into a small thumbs up that he shot Rikki. Rikki did not return the gesture, ignoring Quibbis'' gripes as they scattered the board into a pile of dead eaves and rocks once more.


    Justin let out a small sigh, turning to face Corian through the bars again. "I shouldn''t complain about my father. I mean, look at you. Should I ask?"


    Corian shook his head in defeat. "I''m sure my father told you."


    "Right. Took a match to a whole village. Remember in our second week of training? They almost booted you out cause you couldn''t hit flint well enough to get a campfire going? I swear you squeaked every time a spark flew at you," Justin replied, ignoring Corian''s sulking frown as Quibbis cackled. He casually walked behind Rikki''s chair to grab it and force it to turn sideways. Rikki''s foot slid right off the gate, and Justin stepped in the way before the follower could readjust their position. "Wagon''s ready, out you go prisoner."


    Corian pulled the sack back on his head, waiting for Rikki to fasten the chain around their wrist and lead him to follow. After a dicey journey up the stairs, Corian could see the light of the outdoors spilling from the rickety building''s doorframe. Fresh air. He quickened his pace, but not enough to overtake Rikki. As soon as his foot passed the threshold he felt a force impact his back, causing him to stumble forwards as a voice boomed from behind him.


    "Keep walking, demon."


    Corian almost snorted at Justin'' staged tone, thankful for the sack on his head hiding the grin he had just cracked. His voice had grabbed Inprobus'' attention, the archon stood next to an iron wagon, chattering with a small group of soldiers that were fiddling with a pile of objects on the ground. As they came close, Justin coaxed the chain from Rikki, pulling Corian along to the wagon with a few more choice insults that were loud enough for Inprobus to catch.


    They came close enough to see the project in the dirt. Chunks of smooth metal with arcane etchings splayed out into the familiar shape of a large dog. There were two of them, one far more put together than the other. The two soldiers knelt close to the ground were bickering with one another as to which of the arcane metal rods belonged to the front and the back legs of the deconstructed hound, and Inprobus, who definitely knew the right answer, simply soaked in the sound of their argument.


    Justin pushed Corian into the wagon instead of allowing him to walk up the steps, causing him to trip over his feet and awkwardly land on his face like a sardine. He heard Justin''s booming voice from behind, ordering Quibbis to go help with packing, which the necromancer obeyed without question. He saw a shadow pass, Justin''s hand pressing into his shoulder as a quiet whisper met his ear. "Sorry."


    Corian gave him a thumbs up, waiting for the door to swing shut before he pushed himself back up. He eyed Justin in surprise when he noticed he was still in the carriage, watching him secure the chain to the wall, and then walk over to Corian and punch the wall above his head with a reverberating thud. Corian flinched, eyeing the spot in confusion before looking back at Justin mouthing a word at him. Ouch.


    Corian squinted. "Ouch?"


    He moved his hands, spurring Corian to make it sound just a little more believable, and landing as kick on the bare wall.


    "Ouch! Lay off, skathead."


    Justin checked his shoulder, crouching down to whisper as quietly as he could. "Inprobus asked my squadron to take you to the psyche ward. We''ll take you close to a landport and tell the Heroguard you escaped. I''ll try and convince him to split off here."


    He grabbed Corian''s shoulders, dragging him a few feet and punching the wall that he dropped him off at. Corian let out a couple fake coughs to sell the act.


    "I can''t." Corian whispered, paying Justin''s confusion with a sorrowful frown. "I can¡¯t leave Rikka."


    "Rikka is connected to him, she''s his Follower," Justin argued.


    "Then we sever the connection." Corian replied, fully understanding the weight of his words. Justin had the expected reaction, his eyebrows lifting incredulously at the suggestion of killing an Archon. Or, better put, the astronomical possibility.


    Corian motioned for Justin to smack the wall again, faking a groan of pain.


    "I injured his arm, the left. Has he moved it?"


    Justin stopped, planting his foot in the wall right next to Corian. If Inprobus couldn''t move his left arm, he would need to depend on Rikki for any complex spells. And if they had Rikki on their side, or at least, distracted, the Archon was a sitting duck with eleven magicless soldiers and a scarecrow that picked its nails instead of fighting. He gave him a silent nod, his eyes understanding as he left the wagon. I''ll let you know.


    He popped his head through one last time, smiling. "Burn in hell, scum."


    Corian snorted.

 34. A Man of Science

    Quibbis stood awestruck, leaned against a rickety broom to keep him from swaying in the sunlight as he beheld the sight before him.


    He was perfect. Bent over pieces of an arcane hound in a way that forced his arms to flex. The way his voice boomed as he directed the soldiers around him to rearrange the hound was like an echoe in a deep ravine. Rich, and nourishing on the ears. He was taller than Inprobus too, by at least half a head, and without a wrinkle to his youthful and chiseled face. Not to mention, the way his brow rested over his dark eyes gave Quibbis the chills.


    While Corian was very cute with his antics and little temper tantrums, Justin had stolen the breath Quibbis never knew he had.


    Inprobus called Rikki over once Justin was finished, the Follower tracing a small incantation that made the runes covering the scattered metal glow a bright blue. The two sets lifted into the air, latching together to form into the thin, iron, alikeness of hunting dogs. They did not make a sound, their glowing blue eyes unfixed as they wandered around eachother in circles, testing a few bounces and pounces to make sure the enchantment held.


    After a sharp whistle sounded, the two hounds scampered to sit in front of Inprobus, their tails thumping despite the enchantments being unable to feel excitement.


    Inprobus held a seared chunk of bark out to the hounds, waiting for the golems to soak in the essence of magic that clung to it. Arcane hounds were the friendliest golems the Heroguard employed. On all fours they came up to the stomach of a full grown man, with long bent legs for running faster than a horse, and needle-like fangs that jutted from their mouths. Quibbis loved to give them head pats in the King''s court. It often cost him a limb, like it did with most cute things. And like most cute things, it was always worth it.


    He snapped out of his daydreams, noticing Justin''s turned back as he wandered off back to the carriage. Arms flailing he dropped the broom to scramble after him, making it to the carriage just as Justin ducked inside.


    He had heard a bit about the White Knight''s son through gossip in the court. Ra''zerun''s effigy had glowed to bless him the moment he walked into Toroy Gorozch''s grand temple. A momentous occasion followed shortly by Corian, who had knelt before the golden statue for hours, each day of the week long ceremony, without a flicker. Inprobus broke many things in Quibbis¡¯ workshop that week. The stories trailed them both, it was hard to bring a smile out of Corian when he babysat him and Rikki, and the task became impossible after their mother died.


    Justin''s story had been showered with love and praise, until he simply... vanished for a year. Much to the dismay of his father Caleb, who stuck his nose in Inprobus¡¯ dealings every chance he had. He must have returned sometime during Inprobus'' lengthy travels. Inprobus rarely visited the Golden City nowadays, and certainly never stayed for the gossip when he was there.


    Quibbis crept up to one of the windows, short enough that he couldn''t see inside, but he could still hear Justin''s rich and buttery voice.


    "You alright?"


    There was a shuffle, what Quibbis assumed to be Justin sitting down.


    "You''re looking pretty pale. Road sick?"


    Quibbis tried to wrestle his own tongue into his mouth, but he simply could not hold on to the slippery secret. "He''s dead!"


    ¡ª¡ª-


    Corian breathed out a deep sigh at the sound of Quibbis'' voice, the two of them listening to the necromancer scrabble by the side of the wagon and stumble inside. It was a simple wish that he could keep at least one awful thing from his friend, but Quibbis was there to ruin everything from tenth birthday parties to private chats.


    Quibbis dropped down right beside Justin, gripping his arm with famished excitement. "Do you like my work Sweetface?"


    Justin shrugged him off, paying more attention to the small fly buzzing around the wagon than Quibbis, who was practically drooling on his shoulder at this point. He kept a powerful gaze on Corian, his thin lips twitching with a smile. "Well?"


    Corian shifted uncomfortably under his stare. "Well what?"


    "Why are you so pale?" He scooched closer to Corian, the smile growing as he pulled back his damp hair to knot it into a messy bun. "Inprobus trying to make you the whitest White Knight in history? Cause I really don''t think you have it in you to be that level of an arsehat."


    Corian shook his head with a bitter laugh. "Sock puppet''s right. I''m dead I guess."


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    "Huh," Justin scoffed, leaning back with a swath of mockery in his tone. "Didn''t think hell would be so nice."


    Corian popped his head up in surprise, eyeing the accusing finger Justin shot his way.


    "If you''re dead, I''m dead. Like hell I died, there ain''t a thing from the mountain crowns to the Great Crevace that has the balls to kill me."


    Corian chuckled nervously at the presumptuous claim. "I don''t think that''s how it works..."


    "You''re talking, I''m talking." He barely tilted his head at Quibbis. "That''s talking. Dead things don''t talk, it''s real simple."


    "Oh no Sweetface, he''s quite dead," Quibbis chimed. "Cut off his head and it''ll pop right back on in a snap and a half! We just trapped his soul in an enchantment and shoved it down his throat."


    "Soul?" Justin finally turned his head to Quibbis, a faint spice of hostility mixed into his skeptic glare. "You really believe in all that spiritual crap? Do you predict your future with the stars and the moon too?"


    Quibbis'' smile finally stopped growing, frozen into his cheeks as he blinked a couple times to process the man''s words through his grassy brain. "I... you don''t believe in souls?"


    Justin shook his head, and over his shoulder, Quibbis could see Corian rest his head in his palms. "I don''t believe in such silly things."


    Quibbis squeaked in discomfort,


    He stuck his finger up to clarify. "Seeing is believing."


    "Oh! Well, I can show you a soul, that''s easy enough," Quibbis replied, sifting through his ragged pockets as he chewed on his tongue in excitement. "Got some spares in here somewh-"


    "Parlour tricks are not enough," Justin replied sternly. "Just cause you dipped my buddy in bleach and chained him up in a wagon won''t have me believing he''s the dead come to life from some spiritual healing skat. You''re going to have to back it up with some solid scientific proof."


    Quibbis drew in a sharp gasp, clutching his heart as his face contorted to pure offence. "By the gods! Such terrible words, there''s children in this town!"


    "What?" Corian cut in. "Skat?"


    Quibbis waved his hand to stop Corian. "No, not those ones. Who doesn''t swear anyways?"


    "Us." Corian shrugged at Quibbis'' confusion. "I feel like there''s worse things to say than skat. Seems like a cop out."


    Quibbis waved his hand dismissively at Corian. "No books for you, stay cute."


    Justin allowed the amusement to show on his face. "Is it science then?"


    Quibbis lurched back with another gasp, his voice a dry crack as he wheezed the words out. "Justin! Where in the nineteen steps of hell did you hear such foul language?"


    He passively kept his stare on Corian, the lack of attention to Quibbis'' croning clear again. "I''m a man of science."


    "You do realise that''s a banned belief in the Heroguard, don''t you?" Quibbis purred, rubbing his shoulder like a pet cat. "You''re such a stupid Sweetface, and it makes you even more adorable! I just want to stitch you and Corian together!" His cheeks stretched oddly as he pinched them like a demented chipmunk, looking between the two with another excited squeak. "What a gorgeous creation!"


    Justin shook his head at the proposal. "You can''t just stitch people together. There''s an entire procedure that goes with transplanting human parts. A simple needle and thread won''t stave infections and guarantee optimal functioning for the reattached nerves and tissues, you have to-"


    "Lace them with the appropriate enchantments. I know," Quibbis chimed, nodding exaggeratedly as Justin frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.


    "Enchantments? Don''t tell me you guys believe in magic," he sighed, his steel eyes digging into Corian for an answer.


    Justin never really took to school well, it was a constant struggle in their friendship. His mother had blamed a fairy curse to disillusion him from magic, but Corian suspected it was nothing so spectacular. It still couldn''t excuse the fact that magic was a real as the air they breathed, even his father boasting The White Knight''s title himself had a decent cache running through his veins. That, and Ra''zarun''s blessing he had received during his ceremony meant Justin had a good amount of magic too.


    "I... still believe in magic. It''s ruined my life enough times," Corian replied, his frown softening when he saw a part of Justin''s fire die with the defense.


    "Don''t worry Sweetface, I have a soft spot for radicals," Quibbis whispered, giving his bicep a consoling stroke as the man didn''t even budge.


    Justin twitched his lip in disappointment, finally breaking the heavy stare he was paying Corian as he went after a vacant wall instead. "I''m not here to attack your beliefs anyways, I just don''t see how everyone can believe such stupid stuff without actual scientific data to back it."


    Quibbis winced at the word, incapable of getting over the taboo curse that Justin was absolutely intent on preaching. Science was a radical belief amongst radicals, the bottom of the barrel in logical fallacies that was scarcely held by a small handful of criminal organisations. Quibbis did like bad boys, but this one was really starting off as a little too intense, yet delectably stupid at the same time.


    Quibbis kept a smile at bay as he skimmed Justin''s chiseled features. If he died- which was a hopeful fantasy of his - he''d just cut out his tongue before resurrecting him. That would definitely turn him into the perfect strong silent type, while keeping him from corrupting the children with his inane ideas.


    Justin glanced at the necromancer while he appraisingly squeezed his arm, waiting for their gazes to meet. "Hey."


    "Yes?" Quibbis replied, his tone drawn and squeezed to a high pitched ring while he got over the fact that Justin had finally greeted him with his rich and buttery voice.


    Justin stared at Quibbis for a couple seconds, every tick stretching the necromancer''s smile as he tightened his fists in excitement. Finally, the man cracked a small smile, the simple gesture nearly melting the necromancer on the spot . "Go tell that sweaty gorilla outside I''ll watch the prisoner for the trip. It''s nice and shady."


    Quibbis replied with an incoherent mess of sounds, springing to his feet as he rushed out of the wagon with an excited shriek.


    After a muffled conversation with Corian''s father, the wagon jolted to life, crawling along the bumpy gravel to a new destination, and leaving Corian alone with his new ally.


    Justin eyed Corian, his voice low to hide under the rock of the wagon. "You''re right. He hasn''t moved it."

 35. Red Light

    Morning still shackled the sun to the horizon, its flames peeking from behind the large white tower that sprouted from Bervolt. The trio and their new guest had found great success in teamwork, making the quest they held for passage far less daunting than it had been yesterday.


    Tim wiggled his butt around, trying to squeeze through the narrow crack in a small face of rocks. Cody and Sariel couldn''t hear a word of his muffled speech, but judging by the random spikes in volume, he was cursing as the nuttle dodged his hands.


    Finally, he slid out with a cry of success, clutching a gooey and writhing tail while he cracked the biggest grin on the planet. Sariel was quick to follow suit, infecting Cody as he accepted her boisterous hug.


    "We did it," Cody sighed happily, ending his half of the hug while Sariel still squeezed him. "We need to find the protagonist now."


    "Protagonist?" Tim piped, drawling his voice in a mocking whine. "What the skat is that supposed to be? More fancy garbage you rich snobs keep makin up?"


    Cody perked, his tone rising to a teacherly boom as he moved away from Sariel to stand over the child. "It is an individual driven by a just cause. A one in a million lucky draw carved soft so they may attain perfection at the end of their journey, and walk as the world draws and turns around them."


    "Yup, sounds like a mighty big ego of an arse there," Tim replied, spitting to the side and picking at the slivers of food jammed between his teeth. "We don''t got any narcissistic skattywoos unless ya count my brother. But th'' only thing revolvin around him is fat black flies an what''s left o'' his loopy brain."


    "We''ll see about that," Cody said, pulling past the child as his silky cloak battered Tim in the face. "Bervolt will be the first to spread my name in this land."


    Tim waited for Sariel to pass him, keeping in stride with the loony lady and her dinosaur pet. Cody was a couple skips ahead, his steps bounding faster with a spurt of joyous energy while he hummed. Far enough away to pay no mind to Tim''s conversation.


    "Hey lady, what''s a protagonist?"


    Sariel dropped her gaze on the boy, her mouth falling open with an airy hum as she grabbed her chin. "Now let me think..."


    Tim rolled his eyes. "Careful, don''t hurt yerself."


    "I got it!" she yelled, barely receiving a glance from Cody as Tim leapt up in surprise. "A pro-tag-onist." She lifted a finger for every part, her smile laced with false promises and a cache of unconventionally erratic knowledge. "A professional tag... onist."


    "Onist? What''s an onist?"


    "Well, when Rombel was still around he used to call my boss Medila an ''onist person''. That must mean Cody is lookin for a professional tag player that''s just like my boss Medila. Though I don''t think she was any good at tag, bristlbacks always got the best o'' her face."


    Tim slowly nodded. "An honest, professional tag player..."


    Hord''anne snorted, moaning as Sariel ignored his shaking head.


    "Well, we don''t got none of those, and even if we did, Mudface is acting real weird," Tim said, pointing at the lanky magician as he tried to crack his knuckles, seemingly muttering short and indecipherable one-liners under his breath while he chuckled to himself.


    Sariel laughed, patting Tim''s shoulder with a couple sharp slaps. "Oh don''t worry, he likes to have one sided conversations when he thinks nobody can hear him. He has quite the imagination if I do say so myself."


    The group was close, mere seconds from the towering crown of wooden pillars, and few short minutes from the closest entrance. Cody didn''t sneak this time, quest clutched firmly in one hand, with the amphibian stuffed satchel in the other. His determination had turned him cocky, the trance of confidence nearly stopping his fragile heart when it was shattered by the first guard''s fearful gasp.


    Her knuckles flexed around her spear, every muscle in her body tightening at the sight of him. Nostalgia coaxed a smirk out of him. That was the proper reaction around here, meaning some of Bervolt had shirked the spell.


    The woman remained rigid, her clear eyes digging into Cody while her partner stepped forwards. "Welcome to Bervolt adventurer." He jumped with a pitched scream, hugging his weapon before staring at Cody with an awkward smile. "O-oh! Wait... you finally got all the blasted creatures, haven''t you?"


    Cody held out the satchel, Tim and Sariel finally rounding into view, with Hord''anne''s pounding steps to follow. The guard didn''t pay Hord''anne his due screams, eyes clouded by malicious magic as he skimmed the paper, then pocketed the satchel without even looking inside.


    "I can''t thank you enough adventurer, now we can guard against the real dangers to Bervolt!" the guard announced, pumping his fist to celebrate the ironic victory.


    The woman hesitated as her partner stared her down, hands trembling on her weapon while the sight of Hord''anne sucked the blood from her face and wobbled her knees. "Y-yes adventurer. W-w-we''d be hap..." She couldn''t help herself, stumbling back a few skips as her spear held her up, the distance giving her a bit of strength. "Happy to have you all."


    Cody gave the two a sharp nod, so submerged in his fantasies of ending the protagonist he didn''t realise he was chuckling to himself again. But the eyes of the woman managed to pull him out, her cold gaze softened to worry as she stopped before the massive doors, her partner already working at trying to pull open the two man job.


    She wasn''t looking at Cody anymore, nor watching Hord''anne in horror, and it was quite likely that she hadn''t even acknowledged Sariel''s existence. She was staring at Tim, her entire body anchored to the ground as she flicked her gaze left and right, before softly mouthing a word.


    "Timber."


    Cody paid the boy a glance, watching him sternly shake his head as the woman discretely motioned for him to join her side.


    ''They knew each other. A mother and son?''


    Cody frowned. That would make her one hell of an unqualified parent, going so far as to leave her kid outside all night to fend for himself. A sibling would make more sense.


    Nonetheless, Tim didn''t budge, tightly paired to Sariel with his arms folded and shoulders squared. The act of defiance pulled a sharp sigh from the woman, but her face only showed dread as she willed herself towards the door, paying the gargantuan beast and smirking magician her clear horror at their presence.


    Despite her mind holding against it, she joined her partner, pulling at the door until it crack open a sliver.


    "That should do the trick," the male guard huffed, dramatically wiping his brow as he held up Cody''s crumpled quest, his voice falling to a griping mutter. "Course due payment is to be expected."


    He tossed a small sack at Cody, which he tried to catch with one hand, only to fumble about bouncing it between his palms before dropping it in the dirt. Unphased with how he''d ruined the entire scene, the guard slipped a silver stamp out of his pocket, pressing it into the sheet with the faintest dusting of silver glitter shooting out.Stolen story; please report.


    Cody quickly took the paper back, hoping to catch the spellbreaker before it faded. But the parchment in his hands was now useless, the magic ripped from its inked pores to create a key to their passage into Bervolt. The craftsmanship truly was a wonder to behold.


    Cody snapped at the door, smirking while Hord''anne thudded forwards and jammed his fingers in. With the smallest tug, the gate ripped open, tearing up a mound of dirt and grass that had never seen the thick fortress move so far.


    The woman gave the new landscaping a glance, training her gaze to the ground while she slowly backed into her position.


    Cody smiled. ''At least she was smart.''


    He passed her, another ghost to fade into parchment once he was finished with his work. If they gave up the protagonist peacefully, the village would be a softer start to this tale. But he was ready for anything.


    Any genre that didn''t mildly rhyme with ''go dance''.


    His determined strides stopped as Tim pushed past him, a small and starved blur running off into the town and out of a sight. Not a single warning to escape his lips as tragedy prepared to take its stroll through the spellbound community. Hord''anne''s thundering steps behind him, Cody entered the space, stopped a couple meters from the gate where the path thickened with freshly paved stones, the clean trail welcoming him deeper into the lines of ornate houses and shops with open arms.


    He felt the magic everywhere, a fine dusting that settled on every fence post to potted marigold. It was the same signature as the spell that had settled heavy into the minds of the guards he had disposed of, but instead of a fine dusting, that magic had been thick and clustered like the core of a spell he would expect from a familiar like Crow. He saw no source to the strange dust, either long gone, or hidden with deliberate magic that his senses would need more to detect.


    Regardless, there was far too much. Far too much for a normal sorcerer, blessed, booned, or otherwise.


    He discretely wiggled his fingers into his shirt as they walked the road, feeling Alina''s crystal and clutching it. Listening for her guidance.


    She never told him to run or flee, but he hoped she had some wisdom to ease his doubts.


    He felt the presence in his mind, Alina''s words echoing.


    "As if threaded by fate, Cody entered the town with his companions. He told himself it was a hunt for the protagonist, but perhaps the strange magics around him were the true lure. A curious cat, a fly that had flown too close to the sweetest honey. Regardless, this thread he followed was but one in the web he had stepped into. Was the one at its center the protagonist he so desperately sought to destroy?"


    "Do I belong in this story?" Cody hushed, trying to hide his frustration at how vague Alina had been. "Is the protagonist here?"


    "You do now. One walks this town, enchanted by the world around them. Another seeks vengeance, for a past they cannot change. And a third wears a mask, so they may not find their turmoil in their reflection."


    "Three?" Cody hissed, grabbing Sariel and Hord''anne''s attention.


    "And the fourth is the fool, knowing not boon from bane." Alina continued, her voice shifting to show some emotion. Humour perhaps?


    Cody dropped the crystal once Alina''s presence withdrew, grinding his teeth in frustration. Four. Four protagonists. There was only three of them, that was hardly fair.


    Unless that Maddison fellow Sariel was always on about would be meeting them soon. It was morning, they were in the town. He eyed Sariel, her usual smile downcast as she looked around at the bustling town for the person that had promised to meet her.


    "I''m sure he''s here." Cody reassured, his words reviving a light in her eyes as she nodded in agreement. "I know a way to get his attention too."


    He swiveled around, eyeing the small audience that bustled around the streets and shops. Many of the townsfolk held the malicious magic in their heads, and were trapped in their loop of tasks. From chatting quietly on the side of the road, to reading the same page of a book on a bench, to even jogging back and forth up the main road, they were all tranced. But there was no telling how verbal commands would interact with the curse.


    He sucked in a deep breath, his voice travelling down the main road, through every open door and window, and through the alleys closest to him. "People of Bervolt! I have an important announcement to make, join me in the town center!"


    In unison, they stopped their tasks, slowly turning their attention to Cody.


    Hord''anne grunted in discomfort at the reaction, the large beast gently grabbing Sariel to coax her onto his shoulder. Cody unlatched his spell book, turning to keep down the path, and realising the many crunching footsteps that mimicked his own. Almost everyone that had heard his call were following him now, a few steps behind in a blanket of silence that smothered his mind. Very few still kept to their tasks, keeping their heads down or rushing in doors at the sight of him. He had seen a man tanning skins follow such an action, giving him a wary look before walking into his house with a bundle of papers.


    None of the villagers were going to the town square as he had requested, they were simply following him, and him alone. So he was hoping the white tower was a good guide to find it.


    The walk felt like a hundred years, the air growing tense as Cody noticed the crowd behind him growing. Each cursed townsfolk he passed mimicked the ones that had first heard him speak. He gripped his pendant again, hoping to hear Alina''s voice as the nerves began to build up.


    Was this really a town for a protagonist? Already befouled with magic?


    The silence behind him crawled into his mind. Alina had nothing else to say, and he was a part of this story now. There was no escaping it until he finished it.


    Soon the streets opened up to a courtyard of grass, lined with shops and stalls. Many of the villagers manning and browsing the area had already noticed Cody''s crowd and joined it, but few remained silent spectators. One was a woman with dusty gold hair, she eyed Cody from the door of her shop, shook her head, and went back inside what looked to be a bakery. But the tower had indeed led him to the town square, sitting aloof upon a dark mansion that likely housed a person of importance. A lord or a mayor, or perhaps the sorcerer that now held the town under a spell. It was too far for him to see any magic that may have emanated from the structure.


    "Say... Cody." Sariel said, her voice a quiet squeak above his head as she sat on Hord''anne''s shoulder. She was pointing ahead, through the large courtyard of grass they had reached, and to the towering effigy of a stone woman. "Ever seen a gal that tall before? Big as a tree, colour me jealous."


    Cody laughed, finding some serenity in Sariel''s offhanded comment. "Can''t say I have. At least not a human that big..."


    He beheld the statue on the stage for a moment, skimming her long chiseled dress for any symbols or runes that would give her name. But her clothes were plain, her arms bare, and her hair unbound and waterfallling over one shoulder. She was just a woman, dusted with the same magic that settled over the town, and standing before three wrought cages. Empty and polished to shine in the sunlight.


    Cody looked up at Sariel, "Do you recognise her?"


    Sariel shook her head.


    Cody hummed in deep thought, ever aware of the quiet footsteps behind them as the crowd grew, and the townsfolk came so close he could feel their breath at the back of his neck. He turned to the masses, holding up his palm for them the wait, and smiling as they complied while he stepped onto the grass. The stage was too far for his voice to have any effect over the courtyard, so, he found an empty bench to stand on. He knew words to be the fastest cry of attention, it would take a simple few to call an entire village to his presence. And within this village, the protagonists undoubtedly sleuthed and festered. And perhaps the one to curse the townsfolk would join their side as well.


    He pulled in a deep breath, raising his arms in dramatic preparation for one of the many rehearsed speeches under his belt, but Sariel''s ringing voice had him choking instead of speaking.


    "Why Cody! Hord''anne''s noggin has a red light!"


    Cody cleared his throat, eyes squeezed tight in irritation before he cocked his head over his shoulder to meet her gaze. "Excuse me?"


    Her glowing eyes doubled in size as she flicked her gaze above Cody''s head, killing the glare he was holding as he went a little red in panicked embarrassment. Now would be a horrible time to have something on his face.


    "You''ve got one too!" Sariel hollered, intensely pointing at whatever she saw above him. "Why I never saw anything like it before, I swear. It just popped right up!" Sariel cocked her head up like a frightened cat, feeling her straggly bun. "I don''t have one, do I?"


    Cody stared at the empty air above her, shoulders sinking with disappointment until he looked at Hord''anne. Like Sariel had thoroughly pointed out, a blood red beacon hovered above the beast. Fragmented light magic sticking to his presence and spotlighting him with an eerie glow.


    He shuddered at the thought of such an unnatural spell holding him as well.


    "Well, do I have one?" Sariel said, moaning in disappointment when Cody wordlessly shook his head. "Why do you suppose you two got one? I completed the quest too!"


    "It''s just a light anyways," Cody muttered, eyeing the townsfolk as they shifted and muttered at the edge of the grass. Not a single one crossing the threshold. Raising his arms once more, the little strength in his cracking voice cut through the space. "People of Bervolt, what a pleasure it is to gaze upon your insignificant faces!" He popped on the biggest smirk he could muster when heads started to lift for him, a little more life sparking in the eyes of the spell struck people. "I''m Cody, and these are my friends Hord''anne and Sariel. We heard you have a new hero in town." Cody dipped his voice to a growling whisper, eyes glinting with the raging fire of battle. "So where is he?"

 36. Sajus and the Great Gorgonzola

    They say there is a beast.


    A beast that sleeps through fire and thunder,


    that feasts on the poison of this world,


    and breaths death instead of life.


    There is a beast that wakes with chaos,


    and rips the land with every step.


    A beast born of gods,


    dressed with a shimmering coat,


    with eyes that see only midnight.


    A beast as immortal as its legendary name.


    Gorgonzola.


    "What?" Maddison cut in, squishing his brow at Endris. "Gorgonzola?"


    She gave the paper a double take, her head gradually tilting as she read the quest over and over. "Oh... Did I write that?" She frowned. "Gosh, I keep forgetting its name..."


    "Gorgonzola," Maddison snorted, tossing his hands up. "Let''s hope the second terrifying beast Crackers isn''t in that cave as well. We''d have our hands full."


    Endris sighed.


    Sajus burst into laughter, prickling every hair dwelling on the nape of Maddison''s neck.


    "This questline has some pretty stupid names. I hope the next zone has a better plotline."


    Maddison and Endris paid the boy confused squints, their lips pursed as he continued to obliviously smile and follow them. Every statement of his was stranger than the last, his incessant humming and bouncing energy whittling away at their trust with every passing minute. Something had dragged the silent and dead eyed child from his trance, and pulled him into the light of an even stranger curse. Maddison could have sworn his cheeks had gotten a little fuller since last he saw him, the child now looking strangely healthy.


    It was certain that there was still a spell over the child''s mind.


    But there was only one goal in Maddison''s mind. After his fumble with Maynard, he had personally sworn to himself to keep his guard up until he had the sorcerer''s head in a bag. If that meant treating a bright eyed child like a backstabbing murderer, then he wouldn''t be one to shy away. He could immobilize an entire horde of Sajuses, broadsword and all, that wouldn''t be a problem. The problem was keeping a little boy alive as they faced whatever the cursed parchment was sending them off to kill.


    The Gorgonzola.


    Madisson snorted. He could have sworn the villagers had been calling it something else, but the name had escaped him too.


    The trio had been submerged in a small patch of forestry for some time now, walking a trail of trampled twigs and leaves fenced by thick patches of thorny bushes and mossy trees. They hadn''t looked for directions since entering the strange setting, simply because their trail never forked nor swerved from a straight driven route.


    It was made with one location in mind, and as Maddison saw the rugged scalp of a charcoal grey stone, his brisk pace quickened. The stone stretched and rose, its kin stacking below and beside it, buried in the viny mounds of shrubs and dried leaves. A black spot was its mouth, vines and roots dangling from its hard teeth and twining through the cracks of age. And at the foot of its mouth, a scorched halo had killed the greenery.


    "There," Endris said, her whisper now shaking with some fear at the setting. "It''s in there."


    Maddison held his gaze on the black mouth, the shadows thick enough to conceal its contents from their angle. "Be quiet." He muttered, holding his open palm out to keep Endris a couple feet back while they carefully skipped over the crunching leaves and rustling branches.


    Something was in that cave, and from the gnawing sensation burning Maddison''s gut, Bervolt had gone through warped lengths to make their fabled beast a reality. It wasn''t just a sensation of predatory danger that had Maddison''s hesitation on standby, he could already hear it breathing.


    Soft scrapes tuned to the wind that travelled through the trees, a seldom whistle of clogged air betraying its disguise.


    Whatever slept in that cave was massive.


    "God, why are we walking?" Sajus said, his leveled voice counting for a scream and a half to the silence Maddison had desired. "You do know we can run, right?"


    Before Maddison could make a move on the nimble boy, he''d ducked between the two adults and darted off. A crunching siren to the slumbering beast, as he made a dash towards the shadowed cave with his glistening broadsword bouncing loosely on his back like a schoolbag. As much as a hellsent beast school was however, Sajus was about to meet something far worse.


    "Wait!" Maddison barked, their gazes meeting as Sajus halted at the entrance.


    For a split second he saw everything. Youthful ignorance lit by excitement as Sajus'' eyes twinkled, then a surge of panic as he looked back at the sounds coming from the cave and his face contorted. Pale eyes meeting the creature bathed in black as it unleashed a blood curdling howl. Maddison had to cover his ears as the cry stabbed into them, his fight or flight favouring the second option and screaming for him to make himself scarce.


    For a split second, Sajus was okay.


    But the clock ticked in cruel silence as a scaled arm shot out, slamming the small child with full force and throwing him into the trees.


    Endris choked out a gasp, Sajus'' limp form tangled in the stabbing embrace of a bush, with his stomach slumped over a smaller rock.


    He was out cold.


    That''s what Maddison hoped.


    Another howl shook the forest, silencing the singing birds as the wind died. The beast had awoken, its dull coat of scales folding and sagging on a fattened arm as it dug six black talons into the dirt.


    With a dry and heaving breath another arm pulled out, dragging the beaten body of an oversized lizard into view.


    Maddison froze, his body numbed with terror at the creature squeezing out of the cave. Its horns scraped the roof of the large rock formation, as a set of massive wings squeezed out with the rest of its body.


    A dragon.


    The initial terror stilled as he fought to control his racing heart. Finding an enemy''s weakness had always proved to calm him in these situations, and as his gaze undressed the creatures every flaw, disgust pitted itself in his stomach.


    It was a dragon, but it wasn''t the type that struck fear into the hearts of adventurers. Instead of a noble monster with shimmering scales and steeled muscles, the beautiful creature was a dirty rag of its expectations.


    Starved and beaten, the beast sauntered about with a severe limp. Caked in crusts of blood and uncleaned wounds that split and glowed a bright crimson as it painfully moved about. A thick chain had rubbed the scales off it''s right leg, layered with gouge marks as if the creature had attempted to chew the limb off multiple times. But more disturbing than the regular wounds of torture, and the scorch marks eating holes through the webbings of its wings, the dragons eyes were empty sockets filled with rotting flesh and thick roping stitch marks.


    It wasn''t a fight to face the creature. Victory could never come from its death, only mercy.


    Endris didn''t see past the red in her eyes, flushed with rage as she ripped her sword from its sheath. "You monster!" she roared, sword raised as she rushed the creature, only to be quickly stopped when she was forced to dive from a jet of hissing flames.


    Maddison pulled Endris back as the beast cried, deftly dragging her away from the last spike of noise before the dragon leapt at it with a flurry of manic claws. With every step and pounce the ground beneath them shook. Even injured and exhausted, the beast would be able to kill dozens of men.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Endris thrashed about to rip out of Maddison''s hold, finally seizing his gaze with a bloodthirsty scowl. "Let go!"


    Maddison gripped her mouth before the dragon heard them, locking Endris'' arms behind her back to keep her from freedom. "That''s a dragon," he hissed. "I''ll bet our heads neither one of us has dealt with a bastard catch like that, half dead or not." He squeezed her wrists with a painful grind as she tried to squirm again. "We need to think about this."


    Endris relaxed a little bit, her gaze softening to worry as it lingered on Sajus.


    "He''s fine, don''t worry," Maddison lied, his hushed tone pulling the last shred of impulsive rage from the sword swinging soldier. "We need a pla-"


    "Well howdy adventurers!"


    Fear rammed a spear through both their hearts as they flipped around to stare at the trees, the voice''s owner a scraggly man fitted to a thick branch in the canopies. He flashed them a wide smile riddled with holes, half his teeth chipped and rotted out.


    "You''ve reached The Final Boss, The Lair of The Gorlgonazala," the man continued, mystically wiggling his fingers with an unstable chuckle. "Best of luck!"


    Maddison squinted, mouthing his confusion as the man slipped a small stringed instrument from his patched clothes and began to strum it, filling the space with a quick and energizing tune.


    The dragon didn''t pay the ambiance any sort of attention, sniffing at the scorched and flattened clearing for its sneaking prey. Maddison had ducked to the trees with Endris, closing in on Sajus'' resting point to check on the child''s injuries before anything else. But even with their distance, some of the blackened mounds clearly weren''t rocks. In the mounds, he had seen bits of metal armour and scorched insignias. Two mounds, close to one another, were still partially wrapped in the white cloak of the Heroguard. Now he knew the fate of five.


    And Maddison clearly hadn''t been the furthest reaching adventurer, the checkpoints of dozens before him marked with nameless graves.


    The thrum of music hit a quickened pitch, the dragon rearing up with a snorting roar as it unleashed a jet of blue flames, drenching a patch of already scorched trees a couple meters in front of Maddison.


    The pair was forced to stop, staring at the golden dust twinkling in the ashen pool. A few steps and they would have joined the pile.


    The dragon snorted again, ripping open the cuts lacing its neck and cheeks with another ferocious howl. It was blinded by cruelty and bloodlust, its nose clogged with clotted blood and the stench of its own rot.


    In a positive light, it couldn''t smell nor see them. But in the shadow of that same light, the loss of senses had given it a frenzied attack pattern, throwing flames in any direction it pleased as the clearing fell to ash and ruin.


    Sajus had been thrown far enough to escape the licking flames, but he hadn''t moved an inch since they''d made it their goal to reach him.


    Maddison sighed as the dragon cut them off again. Ten minutes of dodging and fleeing had felt like hours, the toll of exhaustion slugging his knees with invisible weight. Endris didn''t look any better, her frazzled hair sticking to her forehead as sweat dropped from her chin. Fire and fleeing had degraded the two to wet rags, and killed their confidence they came into the quest with.


    The dragon threw its paw down a foot from Maddison''s arm, sending soft dirt balls in every direction while the music twirled and danced to the attack.


    Maddison spat out the gritty blob that hit his lips, stumbling to his butt as Endris shoved him away from another swiping claw.


    She growled in frustration, bending down beside Maddison as the dragon twirled away to attack in the opposite direction. "We need to kill it."


    "Obviously," Maddison retorted, tugging the folded crossbow off his back. "It has some gashes, the skin will be easy to puncture there."


    "If there''s a gash the skin''s already been punctured you dimwit," Endris muttered, resting her broadsword on the ground as she poured a vial of green liquid over the blade.


    Maddison scrunched his nose at the powerful tang the liquid had. A bitter batch of potent poison. It was a shame the poison he prepared only worked on humans. Dragon slaying had been the last assumption on his list. "You know what I mean."


    "There''s a cut on its neck. We could sever an artery... maybe." Endris shuffled away with Maddison as the dragon turned around again. "I don''t know dragon physics."


    "Anatomy," Maddison corrected, swallowing the rest of his words as the dragon moved dangerously close to them.


    Its scales brushed Endris'' shoulder, the two of them pretending to be a rock while they individually cooked up plans of attack. Its hind leg finally passed, the thick chain ripping at its flesh as the string of steel refused to stretch. The dragon released a whimpering moan, giving it a couple harsh pulls before giving in, the boulder bearing the base of its cage far too powerful.


    Maddison eyed the jutting stick of metal wedged into the stone, despite a coat of thick rust and deep gouges, it wasn''t dislodging anytime soon.


    "The poison should act fast," Endris whispered, slowly rising as she used Maddison''s shoulder to get up. "I can get it."


    Maddison ripped back a lever on the crossbow, snapping out its wooden wings as the blade spitting bird readied for battle. "I''ll pull its attention, go for the spot with the least pointy things."


    Endris breathlessly nodded, deftly creeping away while Maddison loaded up an arrow. The tips weren''t poisoned like he''d expected, but if Endris pulled off her plan, all of that wouldn''t matter.


    Crouched in the cracked pools of cinder he slowly raised his weapon, mouth set on a thick rip near the dragon''s throat that gushed with every dry howl. For the moment it was still enough, busied by a wilted rose bush that had pricked its exposed hind leg one too many times.


    He glanced at Endris, broadsword raised while she flanked it.


    Now.


    The crossbow snapped back with a powerful punch, the thick arrow whistling through the air and lodging itself in flesh so soft it muffled the impact. The dragon let out a breathless whimper, quickly replaced with a hostile snarl while it raked the dirt and thrashed about, the few senses it had left training themselves where Maddison stood.


    He glanced at Endris, his mind screaming for her to get on with the plan while she turned her broadsword for a good angle.


    Maddison ducked away from the rampaging drake, keeping the crossbow safe in his arms while he rolled to his feet. When he pulled past the flurry of death he locked onto Endris again, gritting his teeth in disappointment while she scooped up the broadsword she''d dropped when the dragon bumped her with its tail and ran at her target.


    Too late.


    The dragon whipped around, the quick thinking soldier diving away from another jet of flames. With a couple audible curses she scrambled to her feet, fleeing back into the trees while she worked at another angle.


    Maddison scoffed at the gesture, Endris coming upon the dragon''s flank with her sword raised. Ready for him to distract it again.


    And he would have, if he hadn''t emptied his pouch of arrows when he rolled away from his death.


    Maddison waved his arms, the giant X only confusing her more. He skimmed the ripped up mounds of dirt, praying that an arrow had traveled from the bunch near the dragon''s leg. No such luck graced him however, and as he raised his head to mouth an apology to Endris, the woman stopped cold. Her chin was tilted upwards, resting her gaze a little above Maddison''s head, with the gaping mouth of the cave stood to be the only obstacle she would be able to see.


    Then a grinding voice cracked up.


    "Gargonoss!"


    Maddison swung around, his heart stopping at the feeble child poised heroically at the top of the cave. Sword clutched in both hands he grinned at the snarling dragon, an idiotic dose of confidence raising his shoulders, despite the clear smear of blood waterfalling down the left side of his face.


    If Sajus wasn''t loony before, that smack had certainly left no room for doubt.


    "Over here!" he screamed, his pitched voice swaying to the song as Maddison wondered what ludicrous idea could possibly be running through his mind.


    The dragon inevitably swayed to the young voice, a target painted to its torn eyes as it flailed to twist around and run at its prison.


    Maddison swallowed the warning that nearly leapt from his mouth. He certainly didn''t want to pull the dragon from a child with the high ground, and after paying Endris a glance, he confirmed that she wasn''t intent on the maneuver either. And so they watched.


    The dragon neared the lip of the cave, slowing down to try and sniff as it kneaded the soft dirt and roots. Sajus called out again, wedging the nose of his blade into an unstably perched boulder hanging above the drake.


    Maddison immediately clicked in.


    He wouldn''t.


    With a squeaking grunt the crazed adolescent cranked his sword like a lever, throwing his body against the hilt with a scraping crunch. To Maddison''s surprise the boulder toppled down. And to everyone''s utter dismay, it hit anything but the dragon.


    With a spray of dirt and small rock fragments, the thick slab of stone cut into the massive iron pike sealing the dragons confinement. In the settling silence a couple jagged chips of stone flew out, dislodged by the steel that ripped from the boulder like an uprooted tree.


    Maddison saw the tight chain go limp.


    He didn''t dare to move, holding his breath in rigid fear as the beast came to terms with its situation.


    Like an idiot, Sajus had freed it.


    The dragon went quiet, first sniffing at its shaved wrist and washing the raw flesh with a couple licks, then stretching its neck to the heavens and shaking them with a diabolical howl.


    The blood drained from Maddison''s face, and he chanced a retreat, carefully backing into the trees. Endris followed his actions, Sajus finally using his head and ducking down between the remaining rocks, mouth agape as he ogled the beast. All three would be safe with silence by their side, but the cost of its services were quick to show.


    The dragon breathed in a lungful of air, frisking through shattered memories as the faintest ghost of a scent spurred one in particular.


    Bread.


    It remembered flying over golden fields, young and racing to escape fall''s chilling touch. It remembered something hugging it, and then falling. Voices calling and screaming, people all around it, and the sharp pain before its world went black.


    Then, with its greatest sense stolen, it remembered the smell that visited it day after day. The musk of the demons that had caged it to a musty hovel of bugs and dirt. It remembered the scent of fresh baked bread, and other bits of food that would be left at its doorstep. The sweetest smell of revenge.


    The dragon snorted, painfully flexing its stiff shoulders as two broad wings unravelled above its head. A couple holes wouldn''t stop it, not without the chain that had grounded it for years. With a powerful blast of turbulence the dragon leapt into the air, catching enough to hold it up and boost it forwards, the trees below it thrashing and moaning under its bloodthirsty gale.


    With a final battlecry, the beast''s thundering sounds melted away, leaving a scorched clearing graced by three adventurers of varying levels of panic.


    The dragon was heading straight for Bervolt.


    Maddison''s heart sank as he remembered something about that morning. He was supposed to meet someone at the gates.


    He cursed under his breath.


    Sariel.

 37. The Honey and the Fly

    It was so quiet Cody could hear the echo of his voice come back to him. He kept his pose for the entirety of it, hands firmly to his hips and a devious smile on his face. But no whisper came of the hero he sought, dozens of gazes fixed upon his form like paintings to a hall.


    Not a blink or a flinch, no one even moved.


    He held back a shudder as the silence ensued, tempted to make a casual leave and forget the village even existed. It was embarrassing at this point. He was close enough to the gate to politely excuse himself, but the magic wafting through the air had intrigued him beyond repair.


    "Nevermind." He scoffed, snapping for Hord''anne to follow as he went for the sidewalk. But as his crisp boots clacked upon the paved stones, the magic lingering above his head spiked. He stopped, lifting his gaze to the red diamond illusion, pulsing with energy as it lit up like a lamp.


    Then, the crowd moved.


    From waddling children, to rickety elders, every villager within view shot up, slipping weapons from the folds of their clothing with shrieking cries as they charged him.


    In a surge of adrenaline, Cody threw up a quick shield, the hoard pounding against its weakening walls as he snapped his head back to see Hord''anne, crouched to help Sariel pick flowers.


    "Hord''anne!" Cody yelled, throwing up another shield as the old one began to crack. "Hord''anne you meathead help me!"


    Hord''anne didn''t even look, holding up a finger as he plucked a tiny daisy from the perfect grass. Sariel pulled her attention to Cody, lacking the proper panic for a bloodthirsty mob. "Say Cody, you don''t suppose they just paved that do you?" she called, pointing at the paved stones with a smile. "I find steppin on a fresh trails really gets people riled up."


    "They''re under a spell Sariel!" Cody snapped, throwing a roaring fireball at the ground to force the crowd back a few feet as his second shield began to crack. "Hord''anne, help!"


    The beast grunted, an irritated snort flaring his nostrils as he charged the crowd with a demonic howl. Cody looked to Sariel to make sure none of the villagers had slipped through to attack her, noticing her falling smile as she watched Hord''anne''s charge.


    "Hord''anne!" He shook his head when the beast halted his charge to shoot him a fiery glare. "Gentle!"


    His snout scrunched, frustration clear upon his face as he turned back to the crowd that had reached him, scooping up handfuls of villagers and lightly tossing them back as if they were a horde of nosey kittens. Cody breathed a sigh of relief as the bulk of the weapon wielding villagers were distracted with his large friend.


    "You''re doing great!" Cody called, the ground around him licking with flames as the living embers slithered and bit at any attackers that closed in past the brute. "We can pick flowers after we kill the protagonist."


    Hord''anne mocked his tone, flicking away a sneaky attacker that had poked his back with a paintbrush. The creature beat the ground as a another wave came at him, nearly clocking Cody as the man ducked under his swinging arms to grab a small knife wielding girl. He wrestled the blade out of her grip, his voice straining as the small child wrapped her arms around his neck instead. "And don''t eat anyone unless they''re already dead!" He choked out.


    Sariel came into the fray, stood at the edge of the sidewalk as she lifted the small child from suffocating her friend. The villagers hadn''t tried to lay a finger on her, her entire existence somehow immune to the magics working around her.


    "I say Cody," she started, locking the girl''s arms behind her back. "These villagers ain''t that friendly to you an Hord''anne." She stared down at the struggling child, a warm smile bouncing right off her empty and bloodthirsty gaze. "Whatchya have against my friend Cody?"


    "They are demons of the dark lord!" she shrieked, her voice carrying through the empty streets as doors began to open, and guards turned their attention. "Demon! The demons have come!"


    "Oooh," Sariel replied, watching the flames around Cody twist into a snapping dragon and leaving a sour stench in its wake as they singed eyebrows and stray clothes. "Oh no, we''re warlocks. We ain''t demons."The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Cody slid under Hord''anne''s legs, knocking another child over before they beat his friend with their ragedy doll. Like a huffing footballer, he scooped the toddler up, dodging a swinging sword from a guard as he dropped his loot off beside Sariel. "Hold them down, we need to keep them out of this!" he ordered, diving back into the flames of his own making to save the next child from Hord''anne''s gentle blockade.


    As he wrapped his cloak around the last fiesty child, a sound echoed through the sky. It was so loud it deafened him momentarily, despite being a distant and airborne beast. Cody had heard it before, its familiar ring draining the blood from his face. He had known better than to disturb it when its wails ripped through the night, a frenzied cry for help attached to a mind broken beyond repair.


    But a large shadow filled the clearing, webbed wings so broad they stretched to either side of the town square well before the beast made its landing. He screamed for Sariel''s attention, his order to run lost in the thundering crack as the beast crashed down on an outcropping of shops next to the manor. It was a flailing mass of scales and blood, and despite it''s size, Cody could make out little besides its many injuries before a twisted inferno spewed from its mouth as it blindly ripped at anything in its path. He threw up a barrier in the nick of time, shielding as many as he could from the beast''s molten breath. Despite the dragon being a long distance away, the flames still managed to crack the enchantment and nearly shatter it. But in the sanctuary he had created, Cody watched as the villagers twisted on their heels, a stampeding hoard headed straight for a fiery doom as the dragon carved through them.


    Sariel gasped as she watched the massacre, only coaxed to move when Cody pushed her back to force her into a run. He had one of the children by the wrist, and Sariel, seeing this, snatched the two she had been trying to keep still. It was all they could manage, Cody didn''t want to look at the dragon, fearful that he would see the rest. His lungs burned as he sprinted behind Sariel, down the path they had come from and straight for the doors that they had gone through great efforts to get into. He wasn''t going to relent until they were out of Bervolt for good.


    If there was a protagonist in this town, they were dead, or well on their way.


    Cody heard Hord''anne''s thudding steps as he took his side, a prompting nod directing the beast without a need of words. That gate was coming down. They were getting the hell out of Bervolt.


    Hord''anne took the lead, the dragon''s cries growing distant, and Cody''s coming second to his heart that pounded from his run. The beast reached the gate, reaching to dig his nails into the gate and rip it open. But as soon as he touched the wood there was a blue flash, and Hord''anne was thrown back.


    Sariel came to a skidding stop, wrestling the children down again to stop them from running back to the town square. Cody came up beside her, his expression falling to horror as he saw the surface of the gate ripple from where Hord''anne had tried to grab it.


    "No..." He breathed, the echo of shattering buildings and bloodthirsty howls filling the space behind him.


    He remembered the barrier that enveloped the walls, that shrouded Bervolt in a dome that blocked Crow from even flying into it.


    The dragon had met no such resistance.


    The sorcerer who made it had let the dragon in, and trapped everyone inside.


    Cody eyed the clearing, jets of fire and smoke crowning the buildings they were by to show that the dragon had hardly moved from the town square. Still, he needed some place protected to get some ingredients in order. Without a moment to waste, he called Sariel to follow him, going for the closest house. He kicked open the door and tossed his hitchhiker inside, helping Sariel drag the two kids she had by the collar and slamming down every lock on the door. A heavy sigh escaped him as he collapsed against the barrier, watching the fleeting flash of purple as Hord''anne stomped away to sit behind the house.


    The three children sat squirming in a beast of a bear hug Sariel was giving them, bound by the twisted spell to charge to their deaths so long as they had the will to move. Cody muttered under his breath, watching the sleeping curse take their conscious as they collapsed in Sariel''s arms, a haunting thought twisting his gut.


    Who would make such a spell?


    "Aww, little buggers finally burnt out," Sariel said, oblivious to the morbid pun as she smiled sadly at Cody.


    "We need to get the hells out of here" Cody replied, pulling himself past a stack of animal skins to peek through the curtains. "What skathead chained up a dragon and thought it was a good idea?"


    "Old Man Maynard."


    Cody flipped around at the voice, facing the slender man lingering in the doorframe to a kitchen. He had kept calm with their intrusion, watching them through a couple strands of rough brown hair with a set of leather armour already fitted perfectly to his build.


    The man had clearly anticipated a fight, but it couldn''t have been the massive dragon lighting up the rest of the town. And that aside, while Cody could clearly see the magic in his mind, it was far less pronounced. Unlike the guard at the door, he was cursed. But perhaps the strange deviation from the other villagers had kept his mind intact enough not to run headlong towards the dragon.


    "My name''s Tarson Grey," he continued, a chilling smile barely lit by the shadows of his house. "Are you two adventurers looking for a bounty?"


    Cody opened his mouth to speak, the lie he had prepared cut short by Sariel''s singing voice.


    "Oh no Mr.Grey, we''re warlocks, and we''re lookin for the protagonist!"

 38. The Cutscene

    ¡°I have no idea what that means,¡± Tarson replied, turning his attention to the door as a bellowing roar echoed from beyond it. ¡° And unless that dragon is a ¡®protagonist¡¯ I¡¯ve got a bigger problem than warlocks running scared into my house.¡±


    ¡°A bigger problem? You¡¯re saying that dragon out there is a bigger problem than me?¡± Cody snapped, moving into the living room as his hair flared to his rage. ¡°I¡¯ve worked hard to be called a villain, that over there? That¡¯s a mob. That¡¯s a cutscene!¡± He pulled open one of the curtains, pointing at the distant cloud of black smoke, an ominous orange glow at its base from the dancing flames. He eyed an errant villager as they ran past the window, armed with a dishcloth to fight the fabled beast. ¡°Do you even know the people it¡¯s eating?¡±


    Sariel nodded in agreement as Tarson looked at her questionably. ¡°Cody is real smart Mr. Grey, if he says that there outside is a cutscene it¡¯s a cutscene.¡±


    Tarson scrunched his brow. ¡°What the hell is a cutscene?¡±


    ¡°Something we¡¯re skipping over,¡± Cody replied, shouldering past Tarson and emptying his satchel on his dining room table. Tarson stared at the small pile of rock chips and vials that had tumbled out, reluctantly shrugging off Cody''s ill manners to go about his own business. Sariel stood at the door, not sure what to do as those who were awake worked at their various tasks. Eventually, she settled on eyeing the man who had introduced himself as Tarson, watching him grab random objects around his house and place them in peculiar places. He rounded into the kitchen, scooching past Cody to reach a healthy pile of delicious looking buns and scoop a couple into the sack he was holding.


    Her heart sank as he dropped the whole thing in a trash pail. "Now hold it right there!" She boomed, freezing Cody and Tarson at her tone as they paid her wide-eyed looks. She stomped over to the pail, ripping the sack out and hugging it close to her chest before Tarson could take it back.


    "Those aren''t for you," he hissed, finally relenting when Crow puffed his wings and let out a drawn shriek.


    "You threw them out," Cody argued, eyeing the small handful of perfectly fine lockpicks inside it. He caught the moment of confusion in Tarson''s eyes as the man stared at the door, and then his hands. "Who are they for?"


    "Never mind," he muttered, pressing his forehead with a pained sigh. He grabbed a random block of cheese from a small pantry, placing it on the table next to the pile of ingredients Cody was sorting through. "Thank Lao someone''s finally here..." He grumbled, his voice falling so it was barely perceptible as he paced about the floor. "Kalthos has completely lost it. Everyone has."


    Cody ignored his commentary, shaking a thin vial of glass that barely held a dusting of grey powder at the bottom of it. He watched the blacksmith pace about the living room for a couple seconds, the magic in his mind twisting and fluttering in tune to his steps. "Do you have any saltpeter?"


    Tarson perked at Cody''s request, his chest puffing with theatrical pride. "Well you''ve come to the right place, I''ve got the finest pelts in the-" he stopped, staring at the pile of animal pelts he was pointing at and dropping his arm, his expression growing a little more panicked. "Sorry... what were you looking for?"


    Cody narrowed his eyes. "Saltpeter?"


    He waved his hand, rubbing at his forehead again. "I have something more explosive."


    "Even better."


    Tarson rummaged about the kitchen, Sariel having to squeeze her fists to keep from tidying the cluttered counters. He made his rounds through the various tools and boxed powders mixed around with the cooking utensils, opening random tins and containers that held ingredients from dried and crushed spices to strange rocks similar to the ones Cody had emptied from his bag. Eventually, he sighed, striding to a door tucked in the corner of the kitchen.


    Sariel had assumed it was more space to store their food away from the messy kitchen, but when she peeked over Tarson''s shoulder, she saw the room descend with a dark stairwell. The man stepped aside to allow Sariel to satiate her curiosity, glancing at Cody who was still hard-pressed to his mysterious work, sorting his stones into neat piles and scribbling notes into his journal. "Do you need anything? Weapons?"


    More curious than caring for his question, Sariel followed Tarson''s lead down the steps, munching on a block of cheese that had been on the table. Tarson checked his shoulder to make sure she was still close behind, helping Sariel down the last few steps before lighting the torch on the wall to illuminate the room of weapons.


    "I''m actually a blacksmith," he trailed off, showing off the walls of weapons. Sariel munched on the gooey chunk of cheese, savouring the tart and creamy treat with every bite. The buns had looked delicious at a glance, but their crunch and bitter tang made for a combination that she wouldn''t even feed to a bristleback. There was a chance that Hord''anne would find them tasty, so she had kept the bag looped to her belt, but never before had she seen such an affront to the baking world. Tarson went on a ramble about each weapon, everything from the cut to the metal composition spilling out of his mouth as he showcased each of the pieces to the tune of Sariel''s randomly placed nods. That is until he came to a large sword that had been freshly mounted to the wall. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    It was in a very plain sheath, the metal case scratched and rubbed dark from being tossed about on the ground. Even the beaten leather strap hanging off of it was crackled and untempered, but still seemed to shine with a certain sturdiness that would last for many years more. She stared at it, the blade ringing bells, but in a tune that was dodging her memory. Still, Tarson noticed her interest, grabbing the sword off the wall to splay it out closer for her inspection. "this one is quite big for your height, but if you like it I might have a smaller fit." He popped the sheath, revealing the glimmering surface of a very familiar sword.


    In the five days she had traveled with Maddison, the one thing that really bothered her was how obsessively he cleaned and sharpened his sword, and nothing else. Not the sheath, not his stinky cloak, just the sword. The cheese she was chewing nearly toppled out of her mouth as she gaped at it.


    Maddison loved the sword. Why would he give it away?


    She slowly pocketed the rest of her cheese, shooting out and snatching the piece from Tarson''s hands. He beheld her with nothing short of confusion as she popped the blade repeatedly, her brow twisted in concentration as she watched its surface reflect in the torchlight. It held the unavoidable nicks of combat, but mixed with the markings were deliberate and fine etchings, spelling down the blade in symbols. Markings like the ones in the books Cody had shown Sariel.


    Sariel had never noticed the fine detail before, but still, this was Maddison''s sword. She was sure of it.


    She flicked her gaze back to Tarson, pulling the blade closer to her chest as she cocked her chin at the man. "Now, be straight with me Mr. Grey."


    He frowned. "Okay?"


    "This here yours or you got yourself some sticky fingers?"


    Tarson hesitated. "I didn''t make that one... An adventurer traded it."


    "For what?"


    "A new blade. Left his old armour too." He bounced his shoulders, pointing to an empty slot on his wall. He then crossed the room, pulling open a chest stuffed with discarded armour, dragging out a few pieces to splay them on the floor. Sariel recognized a set of tough brown armour, the noxious black cloak that had been clipped to it nowhere to be found. Her heart stilled as she stared at the clothing. The only reason her village ever stripped a man to his undergarments was death, and they tucked the valuable clothing into a chest much like the one sitting in front of her to distribute back to the community.


    But Tarson had said it was a trade...


    Her eyes wandered through the tangle of armour, another familiar piece peeking from underneath a hard square helmet. It was a stretch of leather pressed into a scale pattern, dark like the clothing the men with white cloaks they met on the road wore.


    Had those been traded too?


    She watched Tarson from the corner of her eye. Why did everyone want to trade with Tarson? The only good thing he had was the cheese sitting in her pocket.


    Tarson came up beside her, eyeing Maddison''s old armour. His mouth twitched to a saddened frown. "You knew him?"


    Sariel tilted her head. "Still know him, sir. Supposed to meet him here."


    Tarson shook his head, his eyes weighed with sorrow now as he firmly gripped Sariel''s shoulder as a gesture of assurance. "Did you want to take that blade?"


    Sariel looked at the weapon. Maddison had seemed to like it, keeping it close and taking great care of it. She could see why he would ditch the smelly cloak and grimy armour, but trading the weapon simply felt off to her. Tarson... felt off to her. So, against her best wishes, she nodded, unlooping the bag of buns and holding them out as a trade. Spoiled or not, it was a painful thing to part with something as valuable as food. She looked away as Tarson accepted the sack, too guilt-ridden to see it leave her possession.


    There had been three buns in the sack, however, and she was to make this a fair trade.


    She held a wary gaze on him, reaching for a crossbow hanging from the wall and slowly adding it to her collection.


    Tarson speechlessly nodded, motioning for her to go on with her collection.


    Taking a few steps back, she eyed the chest of armour, scooping up a leather helmet and dropping it on her head. It fit well enough, but slid about if she turned her head too quickly, and the brim of thick leather cut into her vision above her eyebrows.


    She nodded to herself, this was as good a trade as she could manage for the food.


    Sariel turned to the blacksmith, awkwardly wobbling her head to force the helmet to slide back into place. "You know where Mr. Sungard headed off to?"


    Tarson shook his head. "He''s gone ... he never mentioned that he was meeting someone." His face shifted to discomfort. "He didn''t mention you..."


    Sariel felt her chest tighten at the remark. It wasn''t the first time someone had stood her up for a meeting, it was very common in her village. She just hadn''t expected Maddison to be the type. "Right, well, suppose I''ll go find him once me and Cody leave here."


    "Leave?"


    "Right you are, sir. Out the front door when it stops havin'' an attitude."


    Tarson looked at her, his eyes wide. As if the entire idea was completely foreign to him. "Leave Bervolt?" His face contorted as the realization turned to a stabbing pain. He rubbed his forehead with a groan, pressing his lips tight to keep the words on his tongue at bay. But against his better wishes, they poured out like clockwork. "Adjustments will take a day... you can... crash here for the night."


    Sariel eyed him curiously as he headed for the stairs. She held up his rear, extinguishing the torch he had left burning on the wall.

 39. Professional Standards

    Cody let out a deep sigh, counting his chunks of flint again and eyeing the enchantment he had scratched down on paper. Being storyless had left him lax on ensuring his stockpiles were kept full, and although dragons were winged creatures, they didn''t fall out of the sky every other day. Hord''anne had grown big enough to take some attacks, but certainly wasn''t the size to be dealing with a full-grown dragon head-on.


    This was a problem.


    But all problems had a solution.


    He growled in frustration as the dragon''s howls rattled the air, the curtained window lighting up as it unleashed another pool of flames on the town square. It could move as it pleased. There was nothing stopping it from crushing the house they were sitting in, and Cody wasn''t versed well enough in shields to protect an entire building.


    "Cody!"


    His frustrations stilled at Sariel''s voice, her steps coming up the stairwell to chase her echo. He turned to greet her with a smile, his heart skipping when he saw the fully loaded crossbow in her hands aimed directly at him. He threw up a shield without even thinking, waiting for Sariel to point the weapon off into the living room as she made little noises under her breath to mimic shooting it, the oversized helmet she had put on bouncing with every step. Once he had collected his racing heart, he stopped the spell, looking at the various items Tarson had brought over. Cody tried to hide his disappointment when the man placed a giant sheathed sword on the table, nudging the gift forward with a smirk.


    The spell on his mind was not as pronounced as the other villagers, but ever since they had entered the house it had moved about erratically, spiking at his mind to try and take it.


    Tarson smiled obliviously. "That''s my best blade, use it as a finisher when that skat licker is begging for death. You can keep it after."


    Cody scrunched his face in confusion. "Who?"


    "Maynard," he replied flatly, sliding a black bow off his shoulder and placing it atop the sword. "Just in case he starts running, shoot him in the arse." he rounded the table, moving back towards the stairs. "I see you like cloth, I-"


    Cody snapped his fingers, a phantom force slamming the basement door in Tarson''s face and seeming to temporarily break him from his thoughts as he swiveled around to stare at Cody. The spell in his mind momentarily stilled, giving Cody hope that he had what was left of the man''s sanity.


    "There''s a dragon outside." Cody boomed, a distant roar perfectly trailing from his point as Tarson looked to the window with a quivering lip. "You''ve been bewitched, but the spell hasn''t taken full control. I need you to focus and give me what I asked for."


    "Right... something more explosive." Tarson''s face lit up as he reached into his pocket, holding out a vial of amber liquid to Cody. "Boom Tree Sap."


    Cody accepted the gift, paying the blacksmith a courteous smile. "That''s more like it." His eyes drifted to the sword Tarson had placed on the table, its cheap and soft metal was apparent at a single glance. It would serve a warrior poorly in battle, and likely chip on plate and chainmail alike. But for Cody, the decorative piece was to his advantage. "Do you have anything I can engrave that with?"


    After a few minutes of topping up Corian''s ingredients and providing tools, Cody put his head down to work. He had to prepare as many enchantments as he could for the fight ahead. The dragon was a problem, but the bigger problem had conjured a barrier he hadn''t the foggiest clue in breaking. Every piece of preparation he could pull off would go a long way in the fight ahead.


    As he pooled over his tasks, Sariels conversations with Tarson withered away, until the silence around him forced him to check on the two. They were both in the living room brimming with pelts, and Tarson had relaxed into a comfortable chair as Sariel carefully spread a cloth over his face. The idea of taking a nap while a dragon leveled the town was absurd, but Tarson had already provided all the value he could with his scattered ingredients and weaponry. Still, it was a curious sight for Cody, who could still see the magic of the spell in his mind. The wet cloth had somehow stilled the spell as he relaxed on the couch, reducing it to a weak and waning pin-prick of a glow. Cody was worried that the fluctuations he had seen were spurring him to attack them, but now the curse was nearly invisible.


    In the lighter air, Cody was able to focus on scratching out the last of the runes on the steel blade and having Sariel help him with the crossbow. He kept an ear out on the proximity of the roaring dragon while they finished up his projects, but strangely enough, even as a good half hour passed, it still seemed to be wreaking havoc in the town square. Perhaps it was bound to the square, protecting something? Or fate had been exceptionally kind.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    It held no worth to wonder. They were as ready as they could be. It had to die. Then, if whoever was keeping him, Hord''anne and Sariel inside didn''t surrender after that, they were dying too.


    The two packed up the various pieces they had prepared, Cody carrying the bulk of the strange tools that ranged from fist-sized metal capsules, to a sword now strapped to his back that he had diligently carved away at for most of their time. Tarson acknowledged their departure with a halfhearted wave, still relaxed in his chair with the cloth covering his eyes as the enchantment in his mind remained a withered ghost of its prior form.


    Cody forcefully loaded the crossbow, the runes Sariel had carved into the wood with him glowing a ruby red across the nose of the weapon and down the shaft of the arrow. He grinned from ear to ear as Sariel cooed with awe. ¡°No one outshines me in fire magic. Especially not a half-dead lizard.¡± He moved to the door, trying to kick it open, but it was a pull.


    Sariel came to the rescue, gently opening the door for Cody to run out. She gave Tarson a final wave. ¡°Pleasure meeting you Mr. Grey, your house is a bit of a muck with all the pelts and that, but I¡¯d be happy to clean her spotless for some-¡± Sariel let out a little gurgle as Cody pulled her by the back of her clothes, the two of them stumbling out the door.


    All at once, the thin trails of smoke that had made it to Tarson''s front door assaulted Cody''s nose, Sariel blocking the nose holes of her helmet with similar sentiments. The smell of burning flesh was unmistakably foul, and ten times worse when the flames still lived. He didn''t want to imagine what the air would be like in the billowing black clouds that crested the homes and shops before them, but it was ultimately something they would have to face. Alongside the beast that dwelled within.


    Cody let out a loud cattle whistle, Hord''anne''s thundering steps rounding the cover of Tarson''s house to rush to his side. The beast wore a pout at being left separated for so long, but an excited hug from Sariel lightened his mood as he let out incoherent grunts of enthusiasm at her new clunky accessory she wore on her head. Cody gave him his few minutes of fun, knowing full well he would be facing the brunt of a bloodthirsty dragon soon. Hord''anne had seen the sword strapped to Cody''s back - he knew what was going to happen.


    They walked slower than usual. Cody had set the pace but found each step heavier as the howls of the beast drew closer. In reality, he had never killed a dragon before. It was such a heroic cliche, he never found the stories Alina wove for him involving such beasts. They were messy too. Cody had always preferred a clean role, a simple story with a single target. Where he had full control over the morals he willfully abandoned.


    As they reached the wide road to the town square, the cloud finally struck them at full force. The foul air burned at the eyes, everything hazed with a sickly brown shade in the dead air. Although they could not see it yet, each cry of the dragon rattled Cody''s ribs. It had not lost even an ounce of its fury, vibrant orange flames jetting out to bring a haunting light to what was left of the town center.


    Perhaps, the most surreal of it all was, with every jet of flames that guided their sight, Cody could clearly see that the statue still stood. The clearing at her feet had been scorched black, a twinkling sea of embers sitting where the perfect grass once grew. She was blackened from where the dragon''s fire had touched her, but otherwise, as perfect and mysterious since last he had seen the effigy. A looming black specter now standing tall in the death that had consumed her surroundings.


    Cody felt something squeeze his wrist, eyeing Sariel''s hand in surprise as she nudged closer to him. She hadn''t focused on the eerie statue, instead eyeing a few blackened lumps that sat close by, where the dragon''s fire had withered to starving flames. Although twisted beyond recognition, the few parts that bent outwards in a limb-like fashion made it obvious as to what they were. With the way Sariel''s shoulders had squeezed, Cody guessed that she had clued in on the distressing sight.


    It was all a mess. Cody''s gaze drifted across the town square, finally catching a glimpse of dull scales where the dragon had made a nest out of a crushed stable. More lumps peppered the ground before the crumbled structure. He wasn''t going to count the lives that had been spent for the dramatic entrance, it was a steep cost for the cheap fear it would stir in the last remaining survivors. Senseless murder was a common tactic for villain wannabes. It was disgusting, sloppy, and unprofessional.


    He sighed, gently peeling Sariel''s hand loose and pressing the crossbow into it with a reassuring squeeze. He tried to find Sariel''s eyes through the slot in her helmet, his voice as soft as he could manage through the noxious air. "That dragon is making us look bad. Ready to kill it?"


    Sariel pulled the weapon close, paying Cody a sharp nod. "Shot a chicken by accident with one of these, won''t be an accident for that one."


    Cody unsheathed the blade from his back, allowing his magic to drizzle down the markings he had scratched into it and bathe the area around them in a red glow. He paid Hord''anne a smirk, the beast''s yellow eyes bright with hunger. "I bet fresh dragon tastes pretty good."

 40. The Henchman

    Maddison wandered around the burnt clearing while Endris patched up Sajus, toeing the scorched bodies for anything salvageable. Potions, arrows, coins. He just needed a distraction while he thought through the next plan. He came upon the two freshest corpses, a cheap shield partially melted to one of their arms, their entire body singed to be hardly recognizable aside from the metal sigils that had survived the inferno. The second, who appeared to have used them as coverage had their cape partially intact, but the iron helm they adorned had been their ending. It had caught the dragon''s fire and melted, oozing to their neck and shoulders.


    Common metals did practically nothing against a dragon''s fury, they would have been better to keep to their leather.


    "There''s a healing spread in my pouch," Endris called, eyeing Maddison expectantly as she pointed to the bag just out of her reach, her hands distracted with holding a wrap of linen around Sajus'' head.


    Maddison complied with the order, crouching over her pouch to sift around the surprisingly empty space. He saw the jar of spread right away, a small sharpening stone, a little bit of dried meat, and a chunk of flint for fire being the only other occupants. He frowned at the light packing, tossing her the spread and leaving the pouch where it was. To her credit, it wasn''t exactly a long hike to the dragon, but he had expected at least an antidote for the poison she had doused her blade in, and maybe a few more vials for variety.


    He slowed his walk, looking around for the glint of the glass bottle she had discarded. It was easy to find, some of the vibrant green liquid still coating its inside and oozing out onto the grass as a tacky paste. Careful to keep it from touching his skin, he lifted it, reading the inked label and immediately shooting her a curious look.


    "Smart thinking to put poison on your weapon."


    Endris paid him with a smirk. "Always gotta be prepared."


    "Got a kiddo, he''s interested in the stuff." Maddison continued, wandering about the clearing once more to slowly collect the crossbow arrows he had scattered in the dirt. He scraped what little poison was left onto as many heads as he could, and carefully packed them back into his quiver, leaving one to load into the nose of the weapon. "Vala Naga, hard to come by, isn''t it?"


    "Nearly impossible in this region," Endris laughed, distracted with patching a smaller scrape on Sajus'' shoulder. "Managed to pull a few strings."


    Maddison breathed out a chuckle, loading up the crossbow and aiming at Endris.


    She froze. "What are you doing?"


    "That poison only works on dragons."


    "And...?" She gave him a dead look, "A fearsome cave-dwelling serpent? You read the script!"


    "Dragons aren''t a dime a dozen in this region. There''s a basilisk in every other cave like this, how did you know?"


    "Lucky guess," she growled.


    "Bull." Maddison''s stone glare barely twitched into a smile. "Sajus, move away."


    Knowing a sour situation, Sajus scooted away, leaving Endris fully exposed to the line of fire as she held her open palms up.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Her lips flattened to disappointment. "I''m wearing armour."


    Maddison tilted the weapon up a little. "Your head isn''t. How many times have you been here?"


    Her gaze darted to the burnt clearing, then back to the crossbow, a defeated sigh hissing through her teeth. "Does it matter?"


    "You weren''t twisting that script to come with me?"


    "No," Endris admitted, dropping her gaze to the dirt. "But last night was the first time I changed that one, and it worked. I just skatted up my part." She spat, giving her sword a burning glare.


    Maddison put the pieces together, disgust pitting his stomach. "How?"


    Her gaze slowly drifted to the broken iron pike.


    He lifted the crossbow again.


    "That poison takes nigh thirty minutes to down a dragon, plenty of time for the bastard to land on Maynard''s house and eat him then keel over." Endris bit back. "I was supposed to drive that poison right into its flesh. It was written." She stood, uncaring for the weapon pointed at her as she rubbed through her hair in frustration and guilt. "At least, once he''s dead they can run, they can actually escape. They have a chance."


    Maddison let out a heavy sigh. "They don''t, you should have left it to a professional."


    "You? You really think you could have killed that bastard? He has a mob at his fingertips!"


    "So you sent a child here to free a dragon?" Maddison boomed, scaring every fire of rebellion back inside of Endris.


    "I didn''t. He wasn''t supposed to..." She choked on her words, her face slowly contorting as she came to a horrifying realization. She frantically patted down her pockets, ripping out a folded bundle of papers to hungrily read over the script she had made the night prior. Her eyes widened, the colour ebbing from her cheeks as she fell to her knees. "I didn''t write this..."


    Maddison eyed her curiously, lowering his weapon to pull out his quest.


    You have been tasked with slaying the demonic threat that looms over Bervolt.


    Endris Grey, and the Great Sajus have agreed to join your company to put an end to the beast.


    He skimmed the rest of the writing, stopping near the end where he had assumed Endris had added her input. Or at least tried.


    But as you fight the fearsome foe with your party, the creature of hate breaks its chains... thirsty for the blood of the man Town that cursed it.


    He lingered on the sentence, ''Town'' had been messily written in a reddish ink, replacing ''man'' which had been scratched out below it.


    "A change doesn''t work unless you burn the script..." Endris breathed, her voice shaking in fear and anguish. "But it''s here, I have it here. I didn''t write that."


    "No, you just trusted the rules weren''t a lie," Maddison growled, packing up the crossbow and slinging his bag over his shoulder.


    "You''re going back?" She said, aghast at the sight of Maddison packing his supplies.


    "Left something there," Maddison grumbled, trying to mask the worry in his words while he predicted what Sariel would do if she saw a dragon. Hopefully petting it wasn''t a contender. He eyed Endris, still sitting in the dirt with her sword splayed to her side. Defeat had hollowed her gaze, her bangs sticking to her forehead with mud a sweat as her arms hung limply. "You coming? Or are you a coward too, soldier?"


    ¡°There''s no hope," she spoke, her voice breaking up as she squeezed a handful of dirt. "How do we even catch up and kill that thing?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no defeating that thing now that it¡¯s airborne. We need to break the spell so the villagers at least have the wits to hide until it leaves.¡±


    ¡°You didn''t answer my question," she spat.


    The two of them cranked their heads at the sharp whistle that met their ears, watching Sajus in bewilderment as he poised next to two horses with a smug grin. Two horses that they didn¡¯t walk to the cave with.


    Maddison paid Horse a squint, the horse whinnying as if it hadn''t just appeared out of the bushes.


    Endris¡¯ mouth hung at the sight. ¡°How¡­?¡±


    ¡°Inventory.¡± Sajus chimed, giving Horse''s rear a little slap and earning a side-eye from the beast.


    ¡°I¡¯m not asking,¡± Maddison grumbled, quickly jumping onto Horse, and waiting for Endris to pull Sajus on to her mount. ¡°First stop, Old man Maynard.¡±

 41. Fire on Fire

    Cody watched the beast move through the smoke, gauging the best place to set up before they ran headlong into the fray. Sariel had confirmed that she also did not have hands-on experience with dragons, but it was easy to tell what to watch out for from the size of it.


    Everything. Even a misplaced sneeze from the beast could probably toast them alive.


    So the only person that was allowed anywhere near it in the battle ahead was Hord''anne. That was, of course, if everything went to plan.


    He eyed Sariel, unable to hide his worry. The enchanted crossbow in her hands would do wonders for defense, and her hesitation had all but left her at the prospect of fighting a creature bigger than the buildings around them. But still, something pitted his stomach at the thought of her running into that danger.


    He just couldn''t place the feeling. She had magic, albeit he didn''t know what sort it was. She also had the wits to hide and keep out of range of its fire.


    Cody swallowed his hesitation, eyeing the clearing of dirt near the statue that he had chosen for his plan. Distractions would just make it harder for Sariel and Hord''anne in the end.


    He lowered himself, readying for a sprint. "Are we ready?"


    Hord''anne grunted, Sariel nodded, and Crow let out the smallest squawk it could.


    Without a word, he ran for his spot, Hord''anne''s howl cutting through the air to his left, and Sariel''s steps passing him as she ran to the opposite end of the charging dragon.


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    The giant dragon had put an awful stink in the air, which made sprinting a little bit harder for Sariel without gagging along the way. Still, it wasn''t the worst thing she''d smelt. Mud and bristleback feces was a combination that could kill a man, and that never stopped Medila from using it to wake her up when she slept past sunrise.


    She found the half-crumbled towers of stone that once made up the corners of a shop, blinking the stinging air out of her eyes as she focused on the beast in the smoke. It was swaying its head to and fro, trying to find where Hord''anne had gone in the nest of splintered wooden beams and crumbled stone it had left. Cody was safely standing behind the cover of the woman''s statue, dragging the glowing sword in his hands through the dirt.


    Sariel focused on the dragon again, aiming the weapon at its large body and patiently waiting for a flash of Hord''anne''s purple skin to peek from the wreckage it was sifting through. Finally, she saw a shadow pass off, shirking the dragon''s attention despite being directly in front of the beast''s nose.


    The smoke was quite terrible, it must have been blurring the dragon''s vision too.


    She pulled the trigger, the force of the weapon nearly flinging it out of her hands as the arrow sailed low and struck the dragon¡¯s paw. The shot exploded on impact, nowhere near big enough to take the limb, but causing enough of a painful jolt to push the serpent into a stumble as it fell back onto a stone watchtower, sending the structure cascading over Bervolt¡¯s wall and crushing the area flat.


    The dragon let out a howl, Sariel running off to take cover behind the remains of a stone shop. Regardless of the size, she knew exactly what an angry animal sounded like. She¡¯d shooed off enough curious bears that would tiptoe her village during roast season. Sariel readjusted her helmet to see the weapon in her hands better, reciting Cody''s instructions on how to reload it like a little song. The dragon''s hissing snarls drew closer, every padded step rumbling the ground as it dragged itself from the rubble and toward Sariel''s last location.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    She fiddled with the crossbow, trying to work a new arrow into the device. As soon as she saw a dark shadow seep into her hiding spot, another roar matched the dragon''s, a little more nasally in its delivery. Regardless, Hord''anne''s call was enough to seize the dragon''s attention again, the shadow quickly receding as the dragon flipped around to charge him instead. Sariel finally worked the arrow into the crossbow, peeking out of her cover as the dragon''s tail slithered through the burnt soil next to her. She could hardly imagine a beast bigger than Hord''anne, but yet again, the world outside her village had taken her completely by surprise.


    Sariel watched the massive creature bite down on the side of a building where Hord''anne had once stood, its teeth carving through the stone to come out in chunks that toppled from between its jagged teeth. It hissed, flames spewing from its mouth and barely missing Hord''anne, who had tried to tip-toe around the beast''s left side to move closer to Sariel.


    She gave Hor''anne a little thumbs up. It was an idea Sariel wished she¡¯d thought of. If they both ran to opposite ends of the field and screamed in turn, the dragon wouldn¡¯t know left from right, and Cody would have all the time in the world to draw in the dirt. She always found the quiet ones to be clever, and Hord¡¯anne was no exception.


    She shot again, the arrow spitting out weaker than expected and exploding in the dirt near the dragon''s tail. Still, it swiveled around, pouncing on the flames in the dirt as Sariel ran off to a new spot. She caught the light of its flames in the corner of her eye as the beast bathed where she had been standing in a pool of flames. Sariel doubled her pace, the air singing her throat and squeezing her lungs. Through the thick smoke, she saw another structure, a large home, still standing tall despite the thick dark wood it was made of. The stone walls that enclosed a small courtyard in its front were too small to hide behind, but the shops close to it were made of thick white stones, and surprisingly still intact as well.


    Sariel stopped to catch her breath when she reached the house, her brow scrunching when the lungful of air she took in was light and clean.


    It made no sense.


    She eyed the ground curiously, fresh green grass nestled next to a clear and precise line of burnt soil. The air was barely weighed with smoke from where she stood, allowing the sun to scatter over the few standing structures, as it would have if Bervolt was not a pile of flames.


    An idea fluttered into her mind.


    Sariel checked for the closest cover, loaded her crossbow, and let loose a perfect shot on the nape of the dragon''s tail.


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    Cody dragged the blade through the dirt one last time, wiping the sweat that had clung to his face from the hot air and thick smoke. It was difficult to confirm that he had all the runes right when the scorched soil stayed black as deep as he carved it, but he trusted himself, just as he had trusted Sariel and Hord''anne to put up the distraction for the dragon.


    He watched the dragon blow past him after an arrow exploded on its rear, disappearing into the thick smoke to chase Sariel. Hord''anne''s howl was quick to follow, a large stone flying through the air and into the cloud. Despite the blind shot, the frustrated snarl of the dragon confirmed that Hord''anne had struck it. It flipped around, visible once more as the clouds of ash scattered off its dull coat and it lurched forwards to the flattened stable Hord''anne was standing in front of.


    Cody waited until it was all the way into the rubble. He found the center of the circle he had carved, plunging the glowing blade into its center as an incantation spilled from his lips.


    But he only worked through a few lines of the verse when silence fell on the clearing like a guillotine.


    The dragon had stopped.


    And then it turned.


    Cody felt a chill as the beast turned, the words dying in his throat as the beast''s eyeless sockets focused on him.


    How did it know?


    He hadn''t made a sound.


    An arrow whistled through the air, striking the side of the beast''s head. But the explosion did not throw its balance as it had done before, nor did it pull its attention. It was still fixed to Cody.


    How did it know?


    It flipped its body, a gust of wind blasting Cody as it arched its back and drew in a deep breath. The realisation hit him as he stared up at the beast, a glow flickering from deep within its skull. Twisting and thrashing violently like the curse he had seen in so many minds before. His body froze, every spell, every chance to run too little too late. The shield he cast to cover his body was like parchment to the swing of a claymore.


    The flames quickly wrapped the statue''s base, splashing across his shield and engulfing him. He watched the cracks web across the forcefield, Hord''anne''s howls ripping through the air. A sound torn between anger and anguish. As his spell caved inwards, he closed his eyes before the wall of flames came rushing forwards, the words falling from his mouth before he even thought. He didn''t know who they were truly for. His lifelong friend Hord''anne, his new one Sariel? Perhaps Alina for disappointing her. Or maybe it was simply all he had to say for himself. To the life he had lived up to this point.


    "I''m sorry."

 42. A Sitting Duck

    Sariel ducked into the stone courtyard, listening to the pounding steps of the dragon draw closer. She was far enough to the side for the jet of flames that would otherwise come to miss her and strike the mansion instead. But she had a nagging feeling that wouldn''t be the case.


    She listened to the beast draw in a deep breath, quickly followed by a bright orange glow as the flames spewed from its mouth.


    Carefully, she peeked over the fence, watching as the wall of fire before her splash across an invisible force. Like bubbles in water. She could pass through them, but the fire and smoke was left outside. Sariel tamed her excitement, running along the perfect line that cut through part of the grass and enveloped some of the shops, all of the structures unmarred by the carnage of the beast. Cody would be very excited to know about this bubble.


    She eyed the statue, barely making him out through the shifting clouds by the glow of his red sword.


    He was facing a massive shadow, the dragon''s head rearing back as its chest flared.


    Sariel aimed the crossbow, the arrow whistling through the air to perfectly strike the dragon in the neck. But it didn''t move to chase her, rearing up before Cody as she frantically tried to reload her weapon. But she wasn''t nearly fast enough, the arrow she was trying to load bouncing from her hands as the panic spurred her sloppiness. As she bent down to grab the arrow, an orange light scattered across the ground, a terrible light from the flames that had completely consumed her friend.


    She stopped, her legs refusing to move as she watched the flames shoot across the ground and lick at the wall of protection she had found.


    His hair was fire.


    He had to be fire proof.


    She grabbed the arrow, frantically jamming it into the weapon. A whimper escaped her throat as the arrow didn''t load. She knew she was doing it wrong, but she couldn''t remember the steps. There was no time for the steps.


    He had to be fireproof.


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    It was dark, muffled and suffocating.


    Everything around Cody was shrouded by a thick black cloud. He was on the ground, his body had gone numb from the adrenaline, or perhaps there were no nerves left to cry out in pain.


    Or he was dead.


    He lifted his palms, suddenly registering his blurry vision from the stabbing smoke. It invaded his next breath, clawing at his lungs and forcing out a cough.


    Ghosts didn¡¯t need to breathe. He flexed his palms, feeling the dry dirt topple through his fingers. His skin was still on his bones.


    It was impossible.


    His shield had broken immediately. He had felt the fire rushing forwards, its bite stilling to an empty coldness as soon as it had him in its hug. He had assumed it was his mind¡¯s way of protecting him from an agonizing death. Alina¡¯s magic hadn¡¯t swooped in at the last moment either. The goddess had favourite followers, and watched them die all the same when they didn¡¯t have time to make a trade.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    He shifted around, his shoulder brushing the blade he had planted in the dirt, still intact despite the flaming assault. As he moved to touch it, something tickled his wrist and tumbled from his sleeve.


    The bracelet Sariel had woven him met his gaze, split into dried and shrivelled pieces.


    He tried to focus his vision, his body freezing as he saw the large shadow move in front of him, a hissing breath blasting even more of the smoke in his face.


    "Cody!" He snapped back to reality at Sariel''s voice. She was near, somewhere in the thick and stinging smoke.


    Cody tried to answer her call, his voice coming out in painful gags. He could see the silhouette of a person fast approaching, ignoring the deep hissing growl that shook the air next to Cody as the dragon flexed one of its claws in the dirt. Without his voice to aid him, Cody waved his arms frantically to try and shoo Sariel away, his heart squeezing as he heard the scraping wheeze as the dragon drew in a deep breath.


    Sariel came through the smoke, planting her feet over Cody to face the glowing maw of the drake. She whipped up the crossbow, her next shot travelling point-blank down the dragon''s gullet and exploding. The beast gagged out a plume of black smoke and congealed blood, throwing it''s head to the side to whine in pain. Cody stared at the beast, flabbergasted.


    Cody felt Sariel lift his collar. He grabbed for the sword, catching the cold hilt and ripping it from the dirt. Everything was still a painful blur as Sariel dragged him through the haze, every breath coming out in a cough or dry wheeze. But through his blurry squint he could see an orange glow revive, refracting off the dark clouds around them as the dragon readied another shot.


    And they were directly in the firing line.


    Sariel resisted as he tried to pull them to the side, her superior strength forcing him to stumble after her and through the dark veil. He caught his balance with the sword he was holding, his teary eyes adjusting to the strangely bright area just as he saw the jet of flames come straight for them. His entire body lurched back on instinct, but the flames butterflied out, splashing across an invisible wall that was also holding the smoke at bay.


    Some sort of forcefield. He fell to his knees as soon as Sariel released his wrist, trying to dry his stinging tears with his sleeve. Despite the cough still stuck in his throat, the air he was now sucking in was clean, giving him a much needed break from the entire fiasco. When he had taken enough clean breaths to recover some of his voice, he looked to Sariel, the woman distracted with jamming the last arrow she had into the crossbow.


    They caught gazes, the concentration in Sariel''s face immediately melting as she dropped the weapon and latched onto him with a tight hug. "Knew you were fire proof! Thought I''d step in before testin if you were squish proof though."


    Cody didn''t have the strength to struggle out of the affectionate gesture, even if he had wanted to. His near death experience was looping in his mind, the flames ripping through his shield. Had he been brave enough to stare his doom down, he may have known what came to his rescue. His gaze wandered to the invisible wall holding the smoke at bay, a massive barrier.


    He pulled away, sizing Sariel up as his mind did laps for an explanation. "Did you... do this?"


    Sariel looked around, finally clueing in on what he was referring to. "Knew you''d like it Cody! But not me, can''t blow a bubble that big. Don''t got the breath."


    He hummed in disbelief. "You mean it?"


    "Swear on the slice o cheese in my pocket, Cody." Sariel assured.


    Cody coughed out a weak laugh, grounded by the absurdity of her promise, and how believable it was coming from her mouth. "Why is there cheese in your pocket?" He accepted her assistance in getting back on his feet, giving the shielding enchantment another inspection. If not Sariel, then someone else had raised the barrier. And with no other allies in sight, it was likely that one of the houses and shops the barrier was protecting housed the sorcerer that had been pulling the strings on Bervolt.


    Cody watched the large shadow of the dragon sway about in the smoke, its body lowered to a prowl as it searched the smokey arena for Hord''anne. Barrier or not, Cody couldn''t turn his back on a living dragon and risk the sorcerer revoking the barrier.


    He grabbed a piece of chalk from his satchel. He had saved the blade, and where there was dirt or stone, the symbols could easily be redrawn.


    That dragon was finally going down.

 43. The Beast

    Maddison kicked at his steed¡¯s side, checking his shoulder to make sure Endris was still on his tail with Sajus. The black plume of smoke had already crowned the trees before them, and it was no surprise to see its source.


    A howling roar rattled the air. Bervolt was in sight, bright red flames lighting up the blackened smoke, illuminating it like a land-born thunderstorm. Closer to the chaos he could hear the dragon''s cries of battle, explosions rumbling from the town square.


    Maddison wondered if some of the townsfolk had pulled out heavier weaponry on the beast. They¡¯d have had better senses to hide from the intruder, but the spell on the town had likely taken that option from them as well. As much as Maddison hated the thought of standing up to the newly freed drake, he couldn¡¯t leave the villagers to their fate.


    Maddison made a quick assessment as they reached the walls of the town. Potential weapons and danger. The two things he was taught to look out for in a fight.


    He couldn¡¯t see any mounted weapons on the walls, only a few scorched additions to the smaller stone watch towers where guards had likely tried to prick the dragon from afar. Thankfully the dragon¡¯s sloppy landing had freed up a new passage where one such tower had toppled and collapsed part of the wall. He signaled Endris to tail him as he maneuvered the mount through the opening, quickly coming upon the back end of the spitting dragon. All at once the smell struck him, Horse rearing up to throw him at some hay before taking off. Endris and Sajus received a similar treatment, the small boy slapping hay off his armour with a cross grumble. ¡°I wish you could ride in the town.¡±


    Maddison ignored the grumbling child, lowering his body to look around the dancing smoke for the creature. He felt Endris brush his side, her voice coming out in a shocked whisper.


    ¡°What in the hells is that?¡±


    Maddison traced her gaze, the dark shadow of a humanoid creature passing through the smoke to approach the dragon''s slithering tail. He could see the purple hue to its skin as it passed them, unable to see them hiding or entirely uninterested as it moved towards the dragon''s slithering tail. Maddison squinted as he made out an object in it''s hands, a long, splintered wooden beam that it was wielding like a spear.


    He frantically searched for better coverage, his attention stolen by the black bird that dived in front of him, squawking before flapping off into the smoke.


    Crow.


    "Go." Maddison hissed, pushing Endris to run for it before the beast drove the wooden beam into the dragon''s tail.


    The dragon shrieked, pain spearing through Maddison''s skull as he ran behind Endris through the smoke. The ground shook as the dragon flipped around, its wings throwing the haze around in gusts as it blindly bit around at the air to try and find the beast that had snuck up on it. As the smoke began to thin, Maddison''s steps slowed, and then stopped completely, He whipped his head over his shoulder, checking Endris'' side, and then trying to peer into the thick smoke.


    Sajus was gone.


    "He''s small, he can hide." Endris hissed, reading Maddison''s mind as she waved for him to join her in the stone remains of a shop as poor coverage. Maddison complied when he saw Crow perched on one of the crumbling walls, his eyes hungrily skimming the battlefield for a small shadow anywhere in the mess. Sajus was hardly making sense in half the things coming out of his mouth, but compared to the empty eyed counterpart he had been yesterday, Maddison was hopeful that he was overcoming whatever spell had been laid on him.


    It was stupid and reckless to have completely forgotten about him in those few critical moments.


    Maddison was so engrossed in his search that he nearly tuned out the new voice screaming for their attention.


    The familiar voice.


    ¡°Oyyy! Over here!¡±


    Maddison snapped his head around, squinting through the thinning haze at a familiar figure. He couldn¡¯t believe the name coming out of his mouth. ¡°Sariel?!¡±


    The figure waved its hands above it''s head. ¡°Oh! Oh over here Maddison!¡± Sariel hollered, not having to ask twice as Maddison shot to his feet to run her down. He pulled Endris with him, the smoke continuing to disperse until he could just barely make out her wild black hair. ¡°Dunno what the logic is behind it or what have ya, but fire¡¯s scared of the air over here!¡±


    ¡°Someone¡¯s set up a barrier.¡± Endris translated, doubt painting her face as she tried to make out more than the shrouded guest in the burning smoke. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize that woman, friend of yours?¡±


    Maddison watched Sariel continue to wave her arms, but despite his words, he was smiling. Relieved to see her well as they drew closer. ¡°Acquaintance I¡¯ve had the curse of running into twice now.¡±


    As Maddison followed Endris to the supposed barrier he noticed something, once perfectly concealed in the smoke, and what Maddison had initially thought was a brazier. There was a person near Sariel.


    If it could be called that.


    It had horns of a sort, wrapped with polished gold circlet that matched markings on its charcoal black skin. It¡¯s hair danced carelessly in the wind, it¡¯s tips melding to the flickering points of a living flame. Books aside, he had never seen anything like it before. Its features were too soft for demonic roots, and fairies stood clear of fire in every circle Maddison knew of. He had ideas as to what it could be, and none of them boded well.


    He watched it flourish its hands, spelling out symbols in the air as fiery red as its garb. As the ground pulsed with energy, a burning projectile shot out from its hands, ripping through the smoke and colliding with the dragon¡¯s jaw to stop it from biting into the giant purple troll that was still making a kebab out the dragon''s tail.


    Maddison grimaced as both creatures took a moment to return Sariel¡¯s thumbs up.


    He stopped himself from closing the last few feet on Sariel, Endris keeping to his side. ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°Calm down, they¡¯re fighting the dragon. Same as us,¡± Endris muttered.


    ¡°Oh Maddison! You haven¡¯t met Cody!" Sariel hollered, closing the distance between them to motion to the strange creature and confirm Maddison''s worst fears. "Cody, Maddison - Maddison, Cody.¡±


    Maddison shot Sariel a glare, making no motion to greet her guest. Turning his back for less than a day had resulted in her getting acquainted with a walking torch and a feral purple thing. He sized up the spellcaster, his frown intensifying as he saw the runic circle that had been scratched out beneath his feet. They caught gazes after his inspection, and his ill manners were instantly shot back at him as the creature''s orange eyes lingered on him for a brief moment before disgust pricked his lips.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Endris pushed past Maddison with a sigh, stretching her hand out to Cody with a smile. ¡°Thanks for helping out.¡±


    ¡°Not helping, just killing.¡± He blew some steam off his hand before shaking Endris¡¯, his eyes lingering on her forehead. ¡°You¡¯re not enchanted.¡±


    ¡°Neither are you it seems.¡± Endris smiled at Sariel. ¡°Or you.¡±


    ¡°Is that a bad thing? Should I be enchanted?¡± Sariel hushed, sighing with relief when Cody shook his head.


    ¡°Is the purple thing with you?¡± Endris said, losing some of her front as Cody raised his eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m just not quite sure what it¡­ is¡­¡±


    ¡°His name¡¯s Hord¡¯anne, if you get to close to him he¡¯ll eat you, same as the dragon. I¡¯ll light you both on fire if you try to kill him. We clear?¡±


    Maddison took a step forwards, stopped as Endris instinctively shot out her arm. ¡°As mud, if he kills the beast.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Cody replied, tossing Maddison one last look of disgust before turning back to the dragon and Hord¡¯anne as they wrestled. He stepped back into the magic circle that Maddison assumed he had made, pressing his palm against the hilt of a blade stuck into it''s center. Glowing red runes waterfalled down its face as he channeled his magic into it, and the air around it hummed with power. ¡°Should be charged." He cupped his hands, his voice deceptively loud for his size. "Hord¡¯anne make some space!¡±


    Once the beast slipped away from the thrashing dragon, the creature called Cody began on their spellwork. His voice was too soft for Maddison to hear the words, but within the first few verses a dry heat washed over anyone within a couple meters of him. He squeezed the hilt of the sword, the runes now seeping with liquid fire. ¡°Alturia Lizzrahm!¡± He boomed, the massive shadow in the smoke turning to face him. A swarm of embers rose from the ground, dancing around his feet like autumn leaves. He drew the glowing blade from the ground, raising it to the sky as the fire drizzled down his forearm with no effect. ¡°Shape your wrath so that my enemies are burned into a thousand shards of ash.¡±


    Maddison watched in horrified awe as the embers grew into flames that piled and swirled around him, feeding into the glowing sword and lifting it into the air above his head. The magical flames piled and expanded, until the once silver blade had dissolved into the body of an astral blade, too big for even Hord¡¯anne to swing around. For a moment the perfect spell hovered in the air, Maddison¡¯s stomach pitted with dread at the size of it.


    And then, Cody extended his arm, pointing at the dragon. ¡°Kill.¡±


    The blade blasted forth, knocking Endris and Maddison on their butts from the shockwave. The smoke parted in a wall, perfectly illuminating the dragon, chest puffed as it poised to loose a final spray of flames in a vain attempt to stop the spell. The singing whistle the blade made ended with a shrieking cry as it lodged itself through the dragon¡¯s neck, Endris and Maddison barely getting a view of the beast stumbling to the ground before Cody smiled at the whimpering beast - and snapped his fingers.


    All at once, the weapon exploded, its powerful shockwave gusting through the village to kill every flickering flame in the area. Everyone covered their faces as the rubble blasted forth, Maddison''s ears ringing from the booming crack the spell had made as it split the dragon wide at it''s neck. He only raised his gaze when the cracking boom had faded, and the world around them finally fell silent.


    Endris was the first to speak, on her feet but still wobbly as she peered into the plume of black smoke the spell had left behind. ¡°Think that did it?¡± She jumped as a chunk of something burnt and fleshy landed beside her.


    Cody kicked a small piece of burnt scale off his boot, unbothered by the rain of organic debris he had created. ¡°It¡¯s dead.¡± He dusted his robes and cracked his knuckles, ignoring his audience to pay Sariel a smile. ¡°See? There isn¡¯t a thing alive that¡¯s actually fire proof.¡±


    Endris and Maddison let out a collective sigh of relief as they looked around the quiet town. The carnage was apparent, but the bloodshed had thankfully ended with the mysterious hand of help. With the dragon dead, Sajus, and any of the other surviving townsfolk would have at least a chance.


    There was just one thing left to kill.


    Maddison gave the towering mansion near them a dark look.


    The sorcerer.


    Maddison''s thoughts were derailed as something impacted his side, two small arms trying to wrap around him in a hug. "Glad to see ya Mr. Sungard!" Sariel spoke, ending the hug with a squeeze as the mercenary stood rigid. "Knew you didn''t leave!"


    "I wouldn''t do something like that." Maddison sighed, giving Sariel a once-over to check for injuries. She had some soot on her face, and some cinders had caught the back end of her tunic and coloured it black, but otherwise, she was shockingly unscathed for being so close to a frenzied dragon. He sifted through a selection of scoldings for recklessness he had lined up, every word he had lined up jammed back by the object Sariel slipped off her back and held out to him.


    He stared at the familiar sword. His sword. The thought that he had lost it to this infernal town had been gnawing at him since he fell under Bervolt''s spell. By whatever graces the gods had placed on Sariel, she had made a choice that she hardly knew the weight of and gone out of her way to find it.


    She smiled, oblivious. "Tarson fellow said ya traded it. Back at my village there''s the chicken girl, Sadie. Shorts me on eggs every time, and he had that same look in his eye."


    He kept the mix of emotions from leaking into his courteous smile, unclipping the cheap blade that had been strapped to his waste and accepting the blade with a short thanks.


    Maddison lingered on Sariel for a moment, the excitement on her face reviving a sense of dread that he had hoped to bury. "You should leave Bervolt. We''ll kill the sorcerer."


    "She can''t."


    Endris and Cody shot eachother a look at the synchronized response, Endris taking the lead after a couple silent signals. "We''re trapped inside, the Gorganos quest is the only one that let''s you leave... momentarily."


    "Then hide in a building." Maddison sighed.


    "Why don''t you hide in a building?" Cody retorted.


    Cody didn''t look at him, busy reading over a tome of spells that was spread wide and floating in the air while stuffing some flint and powders into a metal ball he had pulled out of his bag. His only acknowledgement when Maddison stopped beside him was his judgmental tone.


    "No magic. You''re just some guy with a sword. Sariel on the other hand, helped me kill a dragon."


    Maddison crossed his arms, eyeing the man named Cody with a courteous smile. ¡°Today¡¯s your lucky day.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡± Cody hummed, snapping his tome closed to match Maddison¡¯s energy.


    Maddison still couldn''t place what exactly the creature standing in front of him was, but he had seen enough bounties involving sorcerers versed in flames. ¡°There¡¯s a good bounty on Khalin sorcerers after they burned one of Limbral¡¯s towers to the ground. But the hit I¡¯m on right now pays better. I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t see you as thanks for helping with the dragon.¡±


    Cody gave Maddison a long stare as the statement was processed. His eye twitching as he tried to decide on which accusation to address first. ¡°I¡¯m not a Khalin you racist skathead.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t feed a gift horse in the mouth.¡± Maddison growled.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the phrase. Is your mum your cousin too-¡±


    ¡°So sorry to interrupt this cat fight.¡± Endris cut in, standing between the two to draw their gaze to where she was pointing. They both looked to the cloud of smoke, trapped within the barrier that enveloped Bervolt, and twice as thick since Cody loosed his spell in the area. Still, in the deep black clouds, something moved.


    Maddison saw Cody''s entire form rise, his brow scrunched with worry as he cupped his hands. "Hord''anne!"


    A questioning grunt came from the group''s right, everyone eyeing Hord''anne who had managed to meet up with Sariel just inside the barrier.


    Everyone but Sariel paled at the sight. It was easy to tell even with the cloud of smoke standing strong that something was moving inside of it. They all stared in hopeful silence that it was simply the dragon in its throes of death, but Maddison knew, in his gut, that wasn''t the case. Cody had blown it to pieces at the chest. It was dead.


    Endris let out a cut gasp, stumbling away from something at her feet and catching herself on Maddison. He eyed the large chunk of flesh in the grass, wriggling with unholy life, the burnt mass dragging itself across the grass and into the smoke as if it was tied by a string.


    He looked around, the smaller chunks of debris following suit like an army of bloody and burnt worms.


    And then came a sound that no one wanted to hear. A crack, like glass, as a web of lines grew across the forcefield they had taken shelter behind. In a matter of seconds the spell collapsed, and the sea of smoke spilled forth.


    ¡°Hells no.¡± Maddison muttered.

 44. Phase Two

    Cody watched as the two new guests kicked the wriggling chunks away from their feet. Despite the growing panic that he was starting to share with the two buffoons, the wide-eyed stare Maddison paid him nearly pulled a laugh out of him as the hulking man pointed at the moving creature in the smoke. ¡°Shoot it again!¡±


    ¡°I did my part.¡± Cody huffed, propping his chin to hide his exhaustion. He stared at the cloud with a pit of dread, running through a list of spells in his head that he might be able to pull off with his remaining energy. Nothing could finish the beast like his fire lance.


    He watched a chunk of meat half his size drag itself through the smoke, disappearing into the moving shadow.


    Could it be finished?


    ¡°My, I¡¯ve never seen a worm like this! It¡¯s doing the spider thing,¡± Sariel said, seizing the attention of the group as she held up a small piece of squirming flesh by an invisible strand. Hord¡¯anne had joined her side to stare at the oddity, the two sharing a look of playfulness.


    ¡°Gods! Put that down.¡± Endris spat.


    Cody froze as he caught a glimmer of a thread pinched between Sariel¡¯s fingers. He grabbed it from her, trying to catch the magic in the light as the small piece of flesh wriggled about in the air. ¡°It¡¯s a spell.¡± Cody looked around, catching the fleeting strands of magic expanding from the cloud, paper thin and nearly impossible to see in the smoke. But for a moment he could see a glimmer. A cluster of threads coming out of the smoke and stretching skywards to a new destination. He pointed at the larger house that had once sat in the barrier with them, the dark wooden mansion that bore the lopsided white tower like an odd hat. ¡°The spell, it¡¯s attached there!¡±


    ¡°Maynard¡¯s house,¡± Endris growled, ¡°We need to stop him.¡±


    Everyone froze as a curdling roar ripped through the town square, its power trailing into a gurgling bellow unlike any beast its audience had heard. A scaly arm shot through the smoke, digging its bloodied claws into the dirt as it began to pull the rest of the mass out. Ribbons of wriggling flesh were still hanging from its neck and head, trying to find their places in the misshapen beast. But it had recovered enough to stretch its crooked jaw with another curdling howl.


    ¡°We won¡¯t get anywhere if we stay out here fighting that thing while he heals it!¡± Endris yelled, pointing to the houses that Cody had singled out. ¡°We have to stop Maynard.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a plan,¡± Cody replied, ¡°Hord¡¯anne, I need you to keep that thing distracted!¡±


    Hord¡¯anne snorted in acknowledgment, giving Sariel the gentlest head pat his pudgy hand could muster before barreling at the dragon with a blood-curdling roar. Hord¡¯anne swung to give its jaw a clean uppercut, dislodging the entire thing as it hung from torn flesh that quickly roped itself back together.


    But the dragon hardly stopped at the assault, shoving past Hord¡¯anne to crawl its way across the burnt grass - Straight towards the group of wide-eyed adventurers.


    Cody grabbed Sariel by the arm. ¡°Run!¡±


    The group scrambled to escape the beast, flames licking at their heels as Hord¡¯anne grabbed its tail and barely managed to stall it. The dragon lurched forward, creating just enough of a tug for its loose tail to tear clean off in Hord¡¯anne¡¯s grasp.


    The beast began its pursuit once more. Crushing small huts under its wriggling body as the group sprinted for Maynard¡¯s front door. Sariel yoinked Cody in by the arm, the two of them barely dodging a chunk of wood as it went flying at the door. Maddison felt a force shove his back before he could check how close the dragon had gotten, losing his balance as he tumbled between the pieces of debris sitting in front of the door.


    All he heard was Endris¡¯ voice as he picked himself back up.


    ¡°You get that son of a-¡°


    A loud crunch cut her voice, the last bit of natural light illuminating their surroundings blotted by the thick wooden beam that had fully sealed off the door.


    Maddison jumped to his feet, trying in vain to tug at the debris and clear a hole. ¡°Endris!¡± He gave in quickly when the wooden beam didn¡¯t budge, pressing his ear against the blockage to try and listen for her voice above the snarling howls of the zombified dragon. His heart sank as nothing came, and he began to search the floor for any signs of red.


    ¡°Wooaahhh! Can I touch it?!¡±


    Maddison flipped around to stare at Sariel. She was busy admiring Cody¡¯s flickering hair, nearly losing her mind at how it lit up the small area with enough light to see. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Cody gently grabbed her hands and lowered them away from his head. ¡°Later. It¡¯s not glowing any brighter than last night, and we have to be quiet, we don¡¯t know where this guy is.¡±


    ¡°The demon is right, hush up unless you want to die,¡± Maddison said.


    Sariel frowned. ¡°You was just wailing that lady¡¯s name there Mr. Maddison. Don¡¯t be gettin'' hypocritical on me.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t even know what that word means.¡±


    Cody stepped up between him and Sariel, a small flame pinched threateningly between his fingertips. ¡°I¡¯d hush up unless you¡¯re fireproof.¡±


    Maddison reached for his sword, but stopped at the sound of pattering steps. They all saw the small shadow as it ran up the stairs in front of them. A small child, or perhaps something far more sinister. What they could all accept is that whatever it was, it knew they were there now.


    Maddison and Cody exchanged a silent nod, making their way towards the steps.


    ¡°My what a lovely house,¡± Sariel exclaimed, rubbing her finger across a polished desk to produce a waxy squeak. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll get to live in a house like this someday?¡±


    Cody¡¯s irritation melted as soon as their eyes met. ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Shut up Sariel, if you keep making noise you¡¯ll get us killed,¡± Maddison growled.


    ¡°Killed? Did you let a monster inside?¡±


    Cody and Maddison flinched at the squeaking sound of a child, the two of them readying their weapons at the small boy stood at the top of the stairs. He let his sandy hair hang over the stair rail with him, a smirk catching Cody¡¯s light as he looked down on the three.


    ¡°Hiya Mudface! Bloody dragon outside, did you see it?¡±


    Sariel gasped. ¡°That¡¯s what a dragon looks like? I¡¯ve always wanted to see one!¡±


    ¡°Right¡­ but a lot further away would have been nicer.¡± Tim replied, ¡°This place is safe for now, come on up. I¡¯ll introduce you to my old man.¡±


    ¡°Your old man¡¯s Maynard?¡± Maddison spoke up.


    Tim nodded. ¡°Lost a bit of his senses like my brother, but harmless. Come on up! Take a breather before you pop back out to kill that dragon and whatever¡¯s got the town loopy.¡±


    Maddison held back his intent, softening his caution to an almost chilling calm. ¡°Right then, lead the way.¡±


    Cody eagerly cut up in front of Maddison as they climbed the staircase, joining Timber¡¯s side to invite a conversation. ¡°your father. Is he a sorcerer by any chance?¡±


    ¡°Not a chance. He did some transcriptions for the Hero Guard a while back. Nothing magical though. What¡¯s it to you Mudface?¡±


    Cody frowned, exchanging a glance with Maddison. ¡°You sure? No magic?¡±


    ¡°You tryna accuse my pops of something? He ain¡¯t no warlock like you.¡±


    Maddison snickered when he caught a glimpse of Cody¡¯s scowl.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being a warlock? At least I have magic on my side,¡± Cody replied through gritted teeth. ¡°There¡¯s a strong enchantment on this house, so I was wondering if he may have had a hand in it.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know nothing bout no enchantment, just the curse,¡± Tim retorted. Without much more to say, he quickened his pace to jump the last few steps, slipping his socks along the polished floorboards as he led the party down a dark hall.


    The house was decorated inside more to what Maddison would have expected from a lord of a tiny village. There were more handcrafted decorations than paintings upon the walls, with the few they could see sparsely bordered with embellishments beyond carved wood, and depicting pieces important enough to pay for the paint.


    In this case, it appeared to be Maynard¡¯s family. He eyed the larger portrait of the man he had seen in the square, younger and more confident in his posture. One hand rested protectively upon the shoulder of one of two blonde twins, and the other gripped the waist of a raven-haired woman.


    Maddison eyed the woman curiously until he felt Cody bump past him, the sorcerer giving him a judgemental side-eye as he kept walking. ¡°Eyes up front.¡±


    Tim slowed to take Maddison¡¯s side as they continued down the hall, ¡°That was my mum.¡± He dipped his gaze to the floor for a second of thought as his voice fell somberly. ¡°She got sick before the village went crazy.¡±


    Maddison kept his gaze ahead. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss.¡±


    ¡°My dad said it was a witch. You ever kill one? They all look like Sariel there?¡±


    ¡°They look like whatever you want them to look like.¡± Maddison sighed, shooting Sariel a disappointed look. ¡°I kill monsters and men with coin on their heads. Some of them might have been called witches, but that¡¯s not my business.¡±


    ¡°What about that witch of the Westlock? You ever seen that one?¡±


    Maddison¡¯s lips flattened at the name. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°You think it¡¯s here?¡±


    ¡°If it was, we would all be dead by now.¡±


    Cody scoffed. ¡°Maybe you.¡±


    Maddison hid a laugh at the cocky comment. The Witch of the Westlock was a creature with a bounty of gold big enough to swim in. So many riches that it would be impossible to spend it all in one lifetime.


    An appropriate prize for a creature that was impossible to kill. The most Maddison had seen of the creature were sketches, with only a name to tie them all together. From a hauntingly beautiful woman, to a man eating spider, to a chimera of human and monstrous parts, the eyewitness accounts were deliriously described at best. Images burned into the retinas of those who sat on their deathbeds, unlucky enough to have crossed paths with it.


    But where Maddison was lucky enough to have never faced it in person, he had seen the aftermath. It could rot entire fields over night, raise abominations from the soil, and turn bustling villages into accursed ghost towns. It was the walking calamity of the last decade, and well deserving of its title as an agent of death.


    He eyed Cody, the sorcerer always seeming to catch his gaze and greet it with a scrunched nose. What was the spell caster going to do if he saw it? Light it on fire and hope for the best?

 45. The Corrupted

    They closed off the last bit of hallway to reach a study room. Tim was just strong enough to push his way inside, holding it open to gesture at the figure on the other side. A man draped in expensive robes, his eyes aimlessly drawing along the floor as he muttered phrases to himself. Despite the man¡¯s manic pacing and disconnect from the world around him, the room was relatively well kept. It was just smaller than a bedroom, mostly occupied by bookshelves stacked with fantastical tales and children¡¯s rhymes. Off in the corner between two wooden shelves was a stringed instrument, coated with a clear line of dust that matched many of the shelves.


    Crouching near the only desk in the room was Sajus, changed into casual clothes and vacantly staring at the grey feather of a quill steeping in its ink pot. Maddison sighed at the sight, the intelligence, albeit very loonie, had left him again.


    Cody stopped at the door, sizing Maynard up with a cocked brow. ¡°You¡¯re-¡°


    ¡°If you¡¯re just going to stand around don¡¯t stand in the way.¡± Maddison boomed, shouldering past Cody as he unsheathed his blade. Maynard looked at the gleaming sword, his face contorting with fear as he backed further into the small office. Five steps in he tripped over his feet and tumbled to the ground, shaking the small desk as his back struck it.


    It was a familiar scene, and Maddison didn¡¯t intend to fall for it again. He readied himself for a swift strike, feeling a light force hit his legs as a the small and scraggly child named Timber tried to push him back.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t do it! My dad didn¡¯t do anything! Leave him alone!¡± He wrapped his arms around Maddison¡¯s waist, his feet sliding across the floor as he failed to budge the towering man. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person!¡±


    Maddison looked down at Tim¡¯s struggle, void of empathy as he lifted his blade to strike again. ¡°Look kiddo, your dad is a terrible person who happens to have a lot of coin on his head. It¡¯s nothing personal.¡±


    He pushed past the child, his path only stopped when something suddenly cut between him and his target. The crimson sleeve was enough to stir a growl in his throat as Cody held his arm out, practically beckoning Maddison to give it a lop.


    Cody pulled his arm back once he had Maddison¡¯s seething attention. ¡°Okay I want you to know, before I say anything. I love what you¡¯re doing. Crying kids, their father begging for his life, destroyed village¡­¡± Cody said, grinding his teeth as he painfully pushed out his next words. ¡°But you¡¯re wrong.¡±


    Maddison barely gave his remark the time of day as he lifted the blade to Maynard¡¯s neck. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re next.¡±


    Cody sighed. ¡°He can¡¯t use magic. How would he have cursed the town?¡±


    Maddison kept his blade pointed at the terrified man, cocking his head to the warlock. ¡°You think I¡¯ll believe that coming from your mouth?¡±


    ¡°Seeing as I¡¯m the only one that can tell aside from Sariel?¡± Cody snapped back, giving in to defeat as Maddison continued to scowl at him. He waved at him dismissively, turning to peruse a bookshelf. ¡°Believe whatever you want. I just wanted to correct you. You¡¯re not killing a mad sorcerer, because he¡¯d need magic for that. You¡¯re just killing a sad, cursed old man. Whoever cast the spell certainly isn¡¯t that guy.¡°


    Maddison swung around at Cody, only stopped by Sariel¡¯s surprising reflexes as she sprang up between them. Maddison thanked his lucky stars he had the reflexes to register her before her head was on the ground. His anger and surprise quickly dying at the sour look Sariel was shooting him.


    She scrunched her nose at Maddison. ¡°Cody here¡¯s my friend, Mr. Sungard, an we don¡¯t go pointing at friends like that.¡±


    ¡°He might be your friend, but he certainly isn¡¯t mine.¡±


    ¡°Well I think sharing is caring. That¡¯s what my old boss Medila always told me when I was holdin food. And she¡¯s always been right on the nose.¡± She backed up to Cody¡¯s side, giving his shoulder a friendly punch. ¡°We can share ''im.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°I humbly decline.¡± Cody replied, sizing up Maddison before paying Sariel a smile. ¡°Without magic, a campfire would make a better travelling companion.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll play nice until his head is off his shoulders.¡± Maddison growled, withdrawing his blade to point it back at Maynard. ¡°Get the kids out of here, and I¡¯ll give you a thirty second start on your swift departure.¡±


    Cody let out a bemused chuckle as he loaded up his bag with a few of the titles he¡¯d skimmed. ¡°I¡¯ll get the kids out of here, and I¡¯ll give you five minutes to start running. My fireballs go a long ways.¡±


    ¡°Then I guess we¡¯re fighting after this.¡± Maddison scoffed.


    Cody paid him a curt nod as he wrestled Tim under one arm, just barely strong enough to carry the screaming child out the door while his little brother obediently followed suit.


    Maynard whimpered as Maddison raised his blade to swing. There was a little bit of life in his eyes again, the man¡¯s act so good he was even working up a nervous sweat under the blade. ¡°Please¡­ please I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t understand how everything¡­ what I did¡­¡±


    Maddison frowned. The old man was a great actor, or legitimately clueless. He¡¯d seen this on rare occasions. Sorcerers that casted spells so powerful they took hold of them, destroyed their minds and swirled out of control.


    Maddison let out a heavy sigh. ¡°You still did it. Like I said, it¡¯s nothing personal, your head just has good coin on it.¡±


    ¡°C-coin¡­ coins. Gold¡­¡± Maynard muttered, scratching at the ground as his eyes widened. ¡°That¡¯s it¡­ that¡¯s it! I left her there, so very long ago. We gave her gold, and yet we suffered¡­ she did this. She left the town¡­¡±


    Maddison slowly lifted his blade to strike, brow furrowed at the mention of a she. ¡°What are you prattling on about?¡±


    ¡°Winter, summer, winter, summer. But then. Then she came back, the same woman I knew, ageless. She shouldn¡¯t have come back.¡± His eyes widened further. ¡°The forest took her, it should have taken everything.¡±


    Sariel¡¯s face twisted with discomfort as she tried to make Maynard¡¯s words clear in her head. ¡°Sorry there, not sure who you¡¯re talkin about sir..¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t entertain his rambling, he¡¯s buying time.¡± Maddison growled. He turned the blade, swinging to land a perfect strike at his target. But the sword didn¡¯t meet flesh in its journey, and no head fell from the end of his blade. Instead, Maddison felt his body freeze. A horrifyingly familiar sensation.


    Sariel cocked her head at the sight. Maddison had frozen, the steel of his blade just touching the whimpering man¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Now what are you up to Mr. Maddison, are you tryin to harass the elderly? Medila told me there was no good in that.¡±


    Maddison gritted his teeth, trying to will his mouth to speak. Something had seized his body within the blink of an eye. His cheeks flushed with rage as all he could do was stare down Maynard, every alarm bell ringing in his head that the man had fooled him again.


    But the man cowering at his feet remained in a state of terror, trying to press himself into the wall and away from the pointed blade that had barely pricked his neck.


    But then a voice came from behind them both. A woman¡¯s.


    ¡°You know, I was worried you group of adventurers were working together.¡±


    Soft yet powerful. And still full of buttered mockery from the flour laden baker Maddison had met in Bervolt.


    ¡°Must be my lucky day.¡±


    The woman it belonged to welcomed herself past Cody who was frozen in place at the door. His entire body quivered as he tried to fight an invisible force, the spell holding his body so tight he could barely breath.


    Maddison couldn¡¯t turn his head to see her face, but he was hitting himself for not puzzling at all together sooner. Cindy the bun maker. There was hardly a better enchantment than the ones you forced people to eat.


    Sariel stared at the woman in confusion, allowing her to take a few more steps into the room and look around. Her gaze landed on Maynard, and her lips twitched into a malicious smile.


    Maynard looked up at Cindy, hands shaking as his voice quivered with fear. ¡°Y-you. You died. You died! Died! Died! Died!¡±


    Cindy snatched his jaw, squeezing her nails into his cheeks as she shushed the man. ¡°What are you talking about dear? You said it yourself when you cast me out of my home. You can¡¯t kill a witch. Now sit still and shut it like the rest of these puppies.¡±


    All at once the fear wracking Maynard diminished, the man slowly sinking back down to the floor to stare blankly at the wall ahead.


    ¡°Now then,¡± Cindy said, turning to Maddison and stroking her hand across his back. She gazed at Cody, sizing him up as her voice dipped with a shimmer of empathy. ¡°A shame, there aren¡¯t many of you left.¡±


    Cody gritted his teeth, his hair flaring with stilled rage as he fought the spell Cindy had placed on them all.


    Cindy chuckled at the sight, turning back to Maddison to whisper a single command in his ear. ¡°Kill the caster.¡±

 46. The Mastermind

    Sariel¡¯s eye twitched as it began to dry out. Everyone had stopped, stiff as a board. She knew this game well. The first person to get spotted moving was the boar, and they had to run before the hunters caught them. She¡¯d played this game before in the village. She wasn¡¯t sure why everyone had decided to play it now.


    But she was ready.


    And she was good at it.


    She tensed in anticipation, grounded as a statue as the woman yabbered. She wasn¡¯t very good at getting people to move, tickling was always a dealbreaker and Maddison looked the part to crumble with a trick like that. But still, it didn¡¯t take long for one of them to shuffle.


    Maddison moved as soon as the woman whispered something in his ear. Lowering his sword and turning in plain sight of the woman as a clear trespass that he¡¯d lost.


    And the fun was about to begin.


    Sariel took in a deep breath, bellowing a yell that bounced off the walls as she charged Maddison. ¡°Boar!¡±


    Before anyone could do much she was flying through the air, colliding with Maddison¡¯s side, and successfully throwing the bulky mercenary into Cindy. All the woman could do was give Sariel a dish eyed stare as she hit the ground, the events unfurling so fast she nearly forgot to yelp as Maddison landed on her.


    Maddison felt the spell lax, immediately dropping his sword to pin the witch to the ground. The spell holding Cody quickly followed suit, the warlock falling to his knees coughing.


    ¡°How?! Get off me!¡± Cindy roared, wheezing as Maddison drove a knee into her back. She glared up at Sariel with burning eyes, her rage coming out in globs of spit as she yelled. ¡°You! You, how were you moving?! What tricks are you pulling?!¡±


    ¡°Oy that there is a good question.¡± Sariel spoke, puffing her chest with pride. ¡°When you play boar chase you gotta get like the trees. Personally, I turn off my head talker and forget I even exist. Unless I¡¯m the hunter like you of course. Then I always got a feather in my sock.¡°


    Her face contorted, confusion and then a sneer when Sariel''s confidence didn''t budge. ¡°You think you can trick me?¡± Cindy hissed, ¡°think you¡¯ve won because you have me on the ground?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Maddison replied, drawing a dagger and driving it into her back. Cindy gasped, any incantations blotted by the mercenary''s thick gloves as he covered her mouth. She flailed, pushing and clawing at the ground to try and throw Maddison from her back as he twisted the blade. The blue past that lined its edge sizzled as she wailed, the poisoned weapon quickly working its way into her skin to cut through every nerve it touched and devour her strength. After a few seconds her wails diminished to quiet sobs, and from quiet sobs, they shrank to silence.


    Maddison eyed Cody as he continued to pin the limp body, earning a nod as peeked through the curtains of the study window. There was a clear enough view of the dragon from their height, the beast fallen limp as Hord¡¯anne poked and prodded at it curiously to confirm it was actually dead. ¡°Dragon isn¡¯t moving anymore.¡±


    Maddison sighed with relief, stepping off of Cindy and tearing the dagger loose with a extra bit of force.


    Everyone beheld the body in the silence, collecting their thoughts, and exchanging a mix of looks that all held the same burning question.


    What now?


    Maynard was still sitting on the ground, his blank stare now flabbergasted confusion as his children hovered by his side. Sajus wasn¡¯t much better than he had been before, and Tim was shooting Maddison a cautious scowl whenever the man turned his head.


    Cody was still at the window closer to Sariel, his tome of spells spread wide. Ready to walk out the room or cast a quick spell if Maddison decided to wrap up their fight.


    And Maddison was dusting his new set of armour as if he hadn¡¯t just bled a woman on the floor.


    But Sariel had other occupations as she crouched to stare intensely at the corpse. Something felt off. She couldn''t place it. Maddison had certainly gone a little intense on ending the game, but she assumed he had his reasons. Hopefully better than the last person he stabbed. The issue was, the body seemed to still give off something.


    She craned her head, staring into Cindy''s dead eyes. They were vacant and pale, a dribble of slobber pooling from her open mouth as she kissed the floor.


    And then she saw it. The smallest twitch of her eyelid.


    ¡°Now I¡¯m confused.¡± Sariel spoke, standing straight and causing a few people to flinch at just how loud she was. ¡°I thought people died when you go and stab em in the back, does that mean that Corian fellow isn¡¯t dead either?¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Maddison stopped, dropping his head back with a sigh as he weighed the worth of responding. ¡°What in the name of the gods are you talking about?¡±


    Sariel pointed at Cindy¡¯s limp body. ¡°She didn¡¯t die.¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    Crow stamped its feet on the desk, sharing Maddison''s sentiment at her comment.


    ¡°No sir, she don''t seem right. Saw her eyelid twitch too. Bristlebacks didn''t twitch none when we put em down for bacon. Don''t think I saw Corian twitch either, but it was dark and a little hard to tell.¡±


    Cody squinted as she spoke, his gaze drifting to the corpse with a sense of unease.


    ¡°She¡¯s dead Sariel.¡± Maddison sighed, waving his bloodied dagger and pointing at the few smudges of blue paste. ¡°Maybe it''s the poison melting her nerves.¡±


    Sariel shook her head defiantly. ¡°Here I¡¯ll show you, I know all them ticklish spots.¡± As Sariel stepped closer, the apparent corpse shot its arm out, snatching her ankle with a white knuckled grip. Instead of screaming, Sariel pointed down at the moving body with a face brimming with excitement. ¡°You see?! I told you!¡±


    ¡°Get away from her!¡± Cody yelled, his fingertips flaming as he poised to deliver a final blow. But a gutteral scream shattered his focus, his attention ripped to the window as he saw the zombified drake bite down on Hord¡¯anne¡¯s turned back.


    His heart sank as he watched Hord¡¯anne drop, the panic swelling in his chest as he turned back to Sariel, hoping Maddison had the reflexes to do something.


    The mercenary was already back on the witch, tearing the blade out of Cindy¡¯s back after a second go at her heart and ramming it right into her wrist to loosen her grip on Sariel¡¯s ankle. As soon as Sariel got her foot loose he shoved her back, rising to make himself an obstacle between the two while searching every detail of the moving corpse to plan his next strike.


    The poison in the dagger hadn¡¯t been enough to kill her, even after piercing her heart. Such a hold on life didn¡¯t come easy, and certainly wasn¡¯t expected of a lone witch tormenting a village.


    Unless there wasn¡¯t anything for the dagger to kill.


    Maynard¡¯s words sprang into his mind, his stomach sinking as they started to make some sense. ¡®Died. Died. Died.¡¯


    He heard the howl of the zombified dragon as it rattled the walls, watching Cindy rise with a rigid twitch. Her clean appearance in the town had melted away, the sight of her confirming the worst. Her pale skin had a greenish black tint where parts of her flesh looked to have been ripped and torn at by wild animals. Her once done up and shimmering golden hair tangled loose at her shoulders and filled with a rancid mix of sticks and mud.


    The creature before them was a walking, talking, corpse. Just like the dragon.


    Maddison kept his arm out to keep Sariel from approaching Cindy, trying to discern their foe¡¯s next move. She stayed rigid. The only hint of intent they could see was the crooked grin peeking through her tangled hair. After some time to relax its body, the creature hissed out a sigh, rigidly cocking its head to gaze at the ceiling with eyeless sockets. ¡°It slipped away¡­ skat.¡±


    Maddison¡¯s spine tingled at its voice. Still a woman¡¯s but certainly not the voice the baker had once used. It was richer, and filled with a more sadistic inflection to its disappointment.


    ¡°I¡¯m assuming you¡¯re not Cindy?¡± Maddison finally spoke, gaining a reaction as the corpse twitched its head.


    The smile grew so much it started to tear at the flesh remaining on her cheeks. It spoke again, with a voice that echoed through the shell it had crawled into. ¡°That enchantment took so long to make. She was so pretty too.¡±


    The corpse took a step forwards, stopping when everyone in the room tensed.


    ¡°Cindy¡­¡±


    Her head turned at Maynard¡¯s voice, the creature snorting before letting out a chortling laugh.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. Please. Please have mercy!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re sorry?¡± The creature laughed, ¡°I think we¡¯re past verbal payment. Cindy is dead, obviously.¡± She said, motioning to her hanging and rotted flesh as her laughter rose to a cackle. The creature twitched again, its joints squelching as it took a few steps to hover over the horrified man. ¡°Did you ever tell the town how she slaved to save your dear little wife? You had her at her bedside every waking hour, let the sickness spread, the rest be damned if she died.¡±


    Maynard pressed his back up to the desk, trying to hold some distance between himself and the rotting creature. Timber didn¡¯t dare to stay near his father, and had pulled Sajus back to hide behind the thick desk.


    ¡°And then she did. Oh she tried so hard, but that bitch bit the dust.¡± The creature purred, it¡¯s voice sinking to a gutteral growl. ¡°And then what did you do?¡±


    ¡°N-nothing! I did nothing! She left, she left and never came back!¡± Maynard pleaded, his words ending in a scream as the corpse sunk down, grabbed his shoulder and drove its pointed fingers into his flesh.


    ¡°You¡¯re glossing over the best part darling. I thought you loved your songs and stories, where is the justice in cutting this one so short?¡±


    ¡°She killed her. She killed my wife.¡±


    Maynard screamed again as she dragged her claws across his skin, red quickly soaking his blue robes at the shoulder.


    ¡°She let her die, she wanted her to die.¡±


    The corpse¡¯s lip twitched with disgust, its head moving about as though it could see the room past its empty eye sockets. It pulled its fingers out of his shoulder, earning some relief from Maynard as he frantically muttered every prayer that came to his mind.


    ¡°You like to write songs¡­ to play them?¡± The corpse purred, gently tracing its fingers down his bloodied arm to rest its hand on his.


    He nodded, and it squeezed.


    An unnatural swell of strength crushed bone and flesh as he howled for it to stop. When it finally let go of the mangled mess, it drew in close to his ear with a honeyed whisper. ¡°Three times strikes a charm... right?¡±


    Maynard quickly nodded, tears swelling his eyes as he whimpered between sobs.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start with the story then. Bervolt needed to bury its dead, you asked her how far out to burn them and bury their ashes.¡±


    Maynard slowly nodded, ¡°I asked her to show me.¡±


    ¡°And when she did?¡±

 47. How Quietly Can You Scream?

    It had been a silent walk.


    Cindy kept two steps behind her lead, watching his thick cotton cloak scoop up the loose dirt and twigs as he wandered. Spring had finally won over the snow, but the morning frost still forced more layers on lengthy travels.


    With a quiet shiver, Cindy tucked her bare hands under her armpits. She hadn¡¯t expected the walk to be so long, but should have clued in when she saw how bundled up Maynard was.


    His face had sunken with both the sorrow of these past weeks, and a neglect to care for himself. His beard had grown somewhat wild, dusted with the early frost of age, and certainly the main source of the boozy scent coming off of him.


    Infected or not, the sickness had squeezed the energy out of everyone in Bervolt. She hadn¡¯t chanced a mirror in days, knowing full well what she likely looked like. The bags under her eyes held weight, and the skin on her hands had peeled and cracked from constant sanitation. All those who could aid her were untrained in medicines, and the ingredients that would make for a potent cure were beyond the coin and distance any of them could afford.


    But still, despite the small discomforts she was facing, walking in silence through the quiet morning woods had never felt so calming. It was an escape from her worries, even if briefly. The worry that her latest cure would hold no effect like so many before, that Bervolt would perish under her care, that the sickness would spread even further.


    It was a long trek, but free of most obstacles that would make transport difficult. Still, she was pleasantly surprised that Maynard had even half the energy to find a perfect burial spot, and then lead her back to it. He had been the life of the town before this tragedy. A lord once to a smaller city, retired to lead Bervolt with lively song and vibrant stories of his travels. Beloved and admired, even as misfortune tested his oversight. He was strong, Bervolt needed that energy now, more than ever.


    After a few more minutes, he stopped, allowing Cindy to catch up. He did not point at the clearing ahead, but his refusal to go further was a signal enough.


    This was the spot.


    She toed at the dirt, the cold ground still parting away easy enough.


    They would be able to bury the ashes at least, and allow the souls rest.


    ¡°It¡¯s good.¡± Cindy spoke, her gentle smile repaid with a dead stare from the man. ¡°Thank you for finding it.¡± She rested her hand on his arm consolingly, but he jerked it away.


    Cindy let out an understanding sigh, offering the shovel back to Maynard. He yanked it out of her hands, sending his gaze anywhere but her.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been tired, we all have. But after the funeral I think you should rest, spend some time with Sajus and Timber.¡± Cindy continued, finally earning his gaze. Something in his sorrow hardened, but from the way his eyes drooped with exhaustion, she could not discern it between confusion or rage. ¡°They need their father, I can take care of the sickness. Let¡¯s go back.¡±


    She turned, taking a few steps before a loud sound rang in her ears. It was strange, but she had assumed it was Maynard testing the shovel in the dirt and hitting a stray stone. There was no point in digging right now, she would have to convince him to head back with her, and rest.


    It was no time at all to her, but as echo of the noise died, she closed her eyes momentarily and found herself laying on the ground. Her mind first settled on it all being a dream, and she had yet to join Maynard on his trek. But she could feel loose dirt between her fingers, and as her eyes fluttered open, she saw a sky washed with a grey haze.


    She leaned up, her stiff body quickly tingling with enough energy to bring her to her feet. All around her a thick white fog shrouded the forest, the distant trees only towering dark silhouettes. Maynard was nowhere to be seen in the strange fog. It was likely he had run for help when she fainted. She had no idea the weeks had taken that much of a toll on her body.


    Still, now she felt light, burdenless. As if she could step into the air and simply float away. The temptation was there, no matter how ludicrous the thought. It would be a blessing if she could sprout wings and fly off to the next town for more medical supplies.


    As the thought of supplies came to mind she felt a weight. But this one did not press her down from the outside, as the stress of the past few weeks had. It seemed to grow from somewhere inside her, weighing her feet to feel the ground.


    They were sick.


    She had to go to them. If her latest treatment wasn¡¯t successful, the sickness would spread again.


    But where was she?


    She tried to pierce the thick fog, to remember any details about the path Maynard had led her down.


    She waited an hour.


    And then another one.


    And then she lost count. Count of the hours, count of the hopeless calls into the never-ending fog. Count of hope. The names she had called simply melted to screams for help - and then to screams in general.


    But silence was an uninvited guest that never seemed to leave. So she tried to leave it, and started walking.


    For an hour.


    And then another one.


    And then she lost count again.


    But still, she walked, hoping to see a town, a trail, anything. Her attention was dulled as she dragged her feet, the unchanging fog eating sound and light. Until a single piece of colour fluttered to the ground before her. She had detached herself from the world around her so much she nearly didn''t notice it. But somehow it ripped through her daze, and she stopped, looking down at the red leaf that had landed in front of her feet.


    As if energized by her attention, it caught a low breeze, rising back into the air to circle her and then flutter onwards into the fog.


    Her body moved to follow, until she stopped herself.


    A leaf? Following a leaf? Ridiculous.


    She walked after it.


    She was basically following a breeze because it happened to blow on her.


    But what else was there to do but trust fate? She was hopelessly lost, and Bervolt was depending on her. Perhaps Maynard would have returned if she had waited just a little bit longer, but she had lost track of the time, and the woods were dangerous at night.


    The wind carried the leaf far, but before Cindy knew it, she could see a figure in the fog. A person.


    Hope.


    Her steps quickened, and the fog parted to show the details of a woman sat upon a wide tree stump. She paid no mind to Cindy¡¯s approach, the woman''s gaze drawn to the bright red leaf that had blown into her cupped hands.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    A beautiful woman by all accounts. She was dressed in a black woolen tunic that covered her body, her black hair cascading in waves down her back, with a few stray strands hanging over her soft, pale face. She looked mostly human, the only piece that could betray it being the very soft point to her ears. An Elaren of very distant blood was likely to blame.


    Cindy kept a respectable distance from the stranger, trying to keep the desperation from her voice. ¡°Hello?¡±


    The women lifted her gaze, her soft hazel eyes skimming over Cindy and spurring a warm smile as she nodded in greeting.


    ¡°My name is Cindy¡­¡±


    The woman remained silent, simply staring at Cindy.


    Just her luck to find a mute in the middle of the woods. But that did not mean she could not provide directions.


    ¡°I¡¯m lost¡­ Would you happen to know where a town called Bervolt is?¡±


    The woman¡¯s gaze dropped to the red leaf, her eyes scrutinizing the object as if she could read the veins that webbed it. But after her silent inspection, her smile returned, and she rose, wandering into the fog with graceful strides.


    Cindy followed the stranger, keeping close enough to soak in the strange warmth she radiated. Having a stranger at her side made the time pass quicker as they walked.


    Finally, in the thick fog she saw a warm yellow light. It quickly multiplied, the torchlights carving through the fog to illuminate a town that Cindy knew well. All at once the relief washed over her as she beheld Bervolt, the thank you''s pouring from her tongue as she showered the mysterious woman in gratitude.


    Two figures emerged as they wandered down the trail. A man and a woman that Cindy had come to know well. The man¡¯s name was Tarson, he had a problem with filtering himself, and had called the sickness every curse word under the sun while helping Cindy with running fresh water. His sister, Endris, was by his side. She was half as colourful as Tarson in language, but made up for it with the strength and stubbornness of a bull.


    Cindy called their names, approaching them with an ecstatic smile.


    She expected them to run to her in greeting, given how long she had been lost. But they ignored her, Tarson¡¯s voice coming out in grumbles as he kept a heated debate with his sister.


    ¡°That bastard, calling her a witch.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± Endris hushed, her words only stirring more anger on Tarson¡¯s face.


    ¡°We could drive a spear up his arse.¡±


    Endris smacked his shoulder, the gesture returned with a soft elbow to her side as they ignored Cindy and continued to walk.


    She stepped in front of them as one final attempt to draw their attention. But they kept their pace, the siblings walking straight through her.


    Cindy shuddered as she felt them pass through, her mind racing to catch up to the sensation as she checked her shoulder to make sure she wasn¡¯t hallucinating.


    The woman looked on, and the siblings walked through her as well, her body parting like a mirage and swirling back together.


    She did not need the strange woman to speak to hold her own theories. Had the exhaustion taken her life? Cindy gazed at Bervolt, her heart sinking as she pressed onwards, passing through the gate without needing to move the door.


    What lay beyond was the town, just as she had left it, aside from one very important detail. The wrapped bodies they had laid in the town square were gone, the makeshift fences quarantining the sickest parts of the town stripped clean.


    And Bervolt was alive, with chatter, with excitement. The townsfolk were on the streets, no longer fearing the distance between each other. No longer fearing the sickness that had rattled her friends to their core and made her world a ghost town.


    ¡°They¡¯re alive.¡± She looked around at the lively town, children running and playing, her fellow townsfolk gossiping away with vibrancy and joy. It was a sight she had wished more than anything to see. Cindy turned to the woman, her stare still distant. ¡°Thank you for showing me this.¡±


    The woman flicked her gaze to Cindy, a little colder at the reaction. She did not seem to understand the gratitude Cindy was paying her. With a mysterious goal in mind, she passed Cindy, wandering to the town square where Cindy could see Maynard huddled around a small crowd of villagers.


    His old energy was back, and instrument in his lap as he held the circle of townsfolk in complete captivation at the story he was retelling. Cindy had heard many pleasant tales from the man, he had a magical way of making even the most mundane things extravagant and engaging.


    But she had not heard the tale he was telling before.


    ¡°I told her I knew her ruse, and drove her out. Said we would have her on a pyre if she showed her cursed face again. And then, less than a week later, the sickness was gone!¡±


    The townsfolk murmured in agreement, their gazes dark with anger at the subject of Maynard¡¯s tale.


    Cindy stopped at the mention of sickness, sitting to the side to listen to the tale.


    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine what would have happened if she had stayed. She would have taken so many more lives.¡± Maynard continued, his gaze filled with a theatrical sort of sorrow as he shook his head somberly. ¡°Cindy would have spread her blight beyond Bervolt. What a jealous and evil creature.¡±


    Her body froze at the words.


    ¡°What¡­?¡± she breathed, the words weak as she tried to replay his words in her mind and understand them in a different way.


    Maynard adjusted the stringed instrument in his lap, starting on a few notes. ¡°But with this song, far and wide, she won¡¯t be showing her face anywhere.¡±


    Cindy drowned in her spot, the shock still coursing through her as the song Maynard sang came out of everyone. Every child, every mother she had laboured to save, every man who had helped or lay in a sick bed of their own.


    They sang with so much joy it sickened her. And she felt something stir. A nauseating bubbling in her body that poured from her skin in tears and rage and settled on her skin like a million iron chains.


    And what was left of the light feeling faded altogether.


    She wanted to take the weight off, it was an awful sensation. An awful song. They deserved the chains, not her.


    And Maynard deserved the heaviest of them.


    As Cindy simmered in the center of the town, a motion caught her corner vision. She gazed at the strange woman, and the open palm she had stretched out to her in silent welcome.


    There was no thought to it. To the warmth and guidance the woman had provided her. She accepted the woman¡¯s hand, feeling the warmth tingle up her wrist, her plea breaking with sobs as she stared into the woman¡¯s hazel eyes. ¡°Make them stop. Please.¡±


    And with those words, the warmth spread across her body, and turned into a scorching blaze.


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    ¡°We found a spot. Far enough that no one would camp or disturb the dead.¡± Maynard whispered, his fear shifting to stilled anger as his next words were pressed out between his teeth. ¡°she spoke of my wife. How she would be able to rest peacefully there, in the middle of the woods as a sad, filthy mound of ashes. Not my wife, not the angel of my children. Ashes.¡± He spat. ¡°She even had the gal to smile to my face.¡±


    The corpse watched him silently, Maynard taking its ease as an invite to finish.


    ¡°I shattered her skull where she stood and left her there, in the woods. I gave my wife a proper burial. The sick stopped spreading after that.¡± Maynard hissed, his lips curving into a smile of bloodlust. ¡°I knew it was her. I knew she was a witch. She even called a demon here after her death.¡±


    ¡°A demon?¡± The creature mused, cocking its head rigidly. It¡¯s voice melted to false pity ¡°Oh darling. No no no. A demon feeds off pleasures and suffering, they need it to survive. A demon leaves when its had its fill." It drew close to his ear, its whisper sharp enough to travel to its audience. "I''m not a demon, I just think it¡¯s fun. She found Cindy in the woods, wandering, restless. The Wind lead her to us. Gods, to think she was willing to forgive you. Until you made that song.¡±


    Maynard watched the corpse with wide eyes as it began to hum, the familiar tune turning to a simple song that complimented the creature¡¯s voice. ¡°Have you seen the witch of late? A jealous evil crone. Fell in love with a married mate, so she caught his wife alone.¡±


    The creature raised its hand again, inching towards Maynard¡¯s other shoulder. He sang his part weakly before it had to ask twice. ¡°Cursed her dead, slept in his bed, and as the story goes - we chased that wicked woman to the woods¡­¡±


    ¡°And after that?¡± The corpse mused.


    Maynard remained silent.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, you know. You know that the sick would have spread to everyone, Bervolt would have become a ghost town if Cindy wasn¡¯t there. And still, you mocked her.¡± It rose, casting a cold shadow over the room as its voice bellowed with power. ¡°So a ghost town it shall be.¡±


    The creature raised its hand, the frayed flesh of its bony fingertips barely touching Maynard¡¯s face before the whine of a loose floorboard stopped it.


    It stilled, both it, and Maynard staring at the source of the sound.

 48. Theatre Etiquette

    Maddison tried to remain discreet as he watched the scene unfold. Whatever the creature was, it was thankfully distracted with monologuing, and he was using it¡¯s divided attention to prep a failsafe.


    Like the zombified dragon, Maddison had clicked in enough to know the creature before them wasn¡¯t the culprit, just another enchantment under a very powerful curse. A curse that was well above his pay grade and whatever ludicrous amount of rings Tarson had offered him. If the man was even alive after the dragon.


    Maynard let out a cry of pain as the creature dug its nails into his shoulder.


    Maddison ignored his screams. The bounty was on his head, if he died it was still a win in his books.


    The mercenary managed to catch Sariel¡¯s gaze, nodding his head to coax her to his side. She didn¡¯t catch the signal until Cody snuck over to her, the two of them silently tip toeing across the room as the creature kept to its rant.


    Maynard screamed in pain again as it ripped its claws down his shoulder.


    Sariel made it close enough to Maddison¡¯s side, and to the mercenary¡¯s surprise, the demon she had called Cody turned back, trying to quietly wave the two children over.


    The one he knew, Sajus, stared blankly into nothing. His brother at his side eyeing his father, engrossed and disgusted by the secret the creature was forcing his father to tell.


    ¡°I shattered her skull where she stood, and left her in the woods.¡±


    Timber¡¯s cheeks flushed, his face red with stilled rage as he grabbed Sajus¡¯ arm and snuck his way over to Cody. Maddison had heard bits and pieces from his distance, and the pain on Timber¡¯s face as he cast his gaze to the floor spoke volumes in how he¡¯d wished he¡¯d blotted out every word his father had screamed and hissed.


    As they all reached the door, the creature began to hum. Maddison remembered the song collaterally though Sariel¡¯s obsession with it, and motioned for her to stay quiet as soon as he noticed a rush of excitement on her face.


    He waited for the group to make it behind him, stepping back to ready for a final escape. But fate was not on his side as his foot pressed into the floorboards.


    Maddison winced as the board let out a drawn squeak, the whole group stiffening as the undead turned around. It remained silent, its lips flattened to a sneer. Somehow, through the rot and lack of eyeballs, it still looked disappointed to catch them all in the process of trying to sneak away.


    Timber turned heel to run, his feet sliding back as Sajus refused to obey his pull. He gave his brothers arm an extra hard tug, surprised at his continued resistance as he stood fixed upon the corpse.


    The creature faced them, the words coming out of it not aimed at Maddison and his group, but the man that still cowered behind. Gasping out panicked breaths. ¡°I won¡¯t let them kill you dear. That won¡¯t satisfy her. You need to suffer.¡±


    Maddison felt around his bag, running his fingers along the various caps of the potions he kept on hand.


    ¡°Little Sajus, darling.¡± It spoke, the blank eyed boy peeking up to gaze at her like a sky full of stars. Despite Timber¡¯s best efforts, his brother stepped forwards, passing Maddison by half a foot. ¡°You find yourself standing before your father, a man you had loved with all your little heart, now a shade, a lie. You ask yourself, how could this be? But it all just makes sense. You lift your blade and prepare for battle¡±


    Sajus pulled a little dagger out of his belt, ignoring his brother¡¯s attempts at drawing his focus and breaking the spell on his mind.


    ¡°For the man standing before you is not the father you knew. He is the dark lord, and you must vanquish him.¡±


    Sajus raised his dagger, lunging at his father only to be grabbed and dragged down to the ground by his brother. With a few choice phrases Tim was able to rip the blade out of his hand, the two of them ferociously slapping and biting at eachother while their father tried to break up the scrap with his limited mobility.


    Tim twisted his brother¡¯s ear while pinning his stomach down. He leaned down to practically scream in his ear, despite the spell blocking from anything he had to say reaching his brother. ¡°I was born two minutes before you, you don''t stand a chance crybaby!¡± He caught the zombified woman looking down at him, nerves of steel willing him to point his finger directly at her. ¡°You¡¯re next skat stick! Wouldn¡¯t pay a rat¡¯s ballsack to stop you from making your peace with my old man, but I ain¡¯t letting you touch me or my thumbsucking brother. I knew it was you, never seen a spooky freak so obsessed with putting berries in buns! Went and died in the woods? I bet the wolves wouldn¡¯t even eat your nasty arse!¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    The zombie breathed out a small sigh, planting her foot in Tim¡¯s side to knock him off Sajus as she kept her narrative tone. ¡°You feel a strength well up inside you. This underling of the dark lord is but a minor obstacle to your true goal...¡±


    Tim coughed, picking himself back up to ready for another scrap with Sajus. ¡°Stop talking like that you weirdo!¡± His glare shifted to a smirk, his gaze travelling just past Cindy at what stood behind her. ¡°And don''t turn yer back on Mudface over there.¡±


    The creature snapped its head to the rest of the group, just as Cody finished his spell. A fiery rope unfurled from his palm, looping its wrist in a tight knot. It tried to loose the rope from his grasp with a tug, only searing its flesh in the process. As the creature focused on its binds, Sariel dived past it, practically pulling the two children off their feet as she snatched whatever fabric her hands found first and hauled them to the door.


    The creature snarled at the trick, finally ripping through the ropes as she drew a quick incantation that stole the air out of Cody¡¯s throat. He buckled, grabbing at his neck to try and find the spell as the flaming rope disintegrated in the air. Maddison was the last one left now, poised to strike as the corpse turned its attention to him.


    But it did not lurch to attack, nor breath another curse. Instead, it¡¯s voice rose to a commanding boom that seemed to echo in the back of his mind.


    ¡°You face many foes, but worry not...¡±


    Maddison could feel something itching at the back of his skull. He was hoping to make a run for it while the creature had its attention drawn. But now with its full focus on them only one thing was running through his head.


    Now. Do it now.


    ¡°But as fate would have it, you made some friends along the way.¡±


    The itch in his skull grew, and without thinking twice he grabbed the vial out of his pocket and whipped it at his target. The container shattered on the zombie¡¯s face, the red liquid sizzling at its flesh as it shrieked.


    As the zombie bent over howling in pain, Cody let in a gasp of air, allowing Sariel to help him to his feet as they fled the room. Maddison held up the rear, kicking the office door shut and dragging a decorative table in front of it. Cody was already ushering everyone down the stairs by the time Maddison secured the barricade, eyeing the mercenary curiously when he joined his side. ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°Healing potion.¡±


    He hummed in understanding, his strides quickening as they reached the bottom of the steps. ¡°Sneak everyone out a back door. I¡¯m taking the front, I need to check on Hord¡¯anne.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a dragon at the front.¡± Maddison said, waving his hand dismissively when Cody acknowledged the warning. If Cody distracted the dragon and got himself eaten, then at least it would solve one problem and give them a chance to slip away.


    ¡°Sariel, go with Maddison!¡± Cody ordered, waiting for her to hesitantly follow the mercenary before charging up a spell to blast the debris at the front. But the small ball of fire splashed across the caved in door, the objects staying unnaturally still at its force.


    He was quick to notice the strange ripple that travelled through the air. The forcefield. Identical to the ones on the walls of Bervolt and now trapping them inside.


    ¡°No.¡± He breathed, his face dropping to dread as Maddison tried a window at the back of the house with the same results.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡± The familiar voice echoed through the walls around them. It belonged to the corpse, or, whatever was controlling it. But given that problem was still trying to break through the door upstairs, the detached attention made for an eerie setting. ¡°Fooled you twice now. It¡¯s a wonderful barrier. You can come as you please, but going is just a little bit harder.¡±


    Maddison backed up closer to Cody, blade drawn as he tried to center the voice. But the way it reverberated down the halls and up the stairs broke its source into half a dozen identical voices all traveling from different directions. Maddison felt Cody¡¯s presence, nearly back to back with the sorcerer as he darted his attention around the room on a similar quest.


    ¡°Can you break the barrier?¡± Maddison muttered.


    ¡°No.¡± Cody admitted. ¡°The best I can do is look for a hole.¡±


    ¡°How long?¡±


    ¡°If I can¡¯t find one in ten, we¡¯re stuck here.¡±


    Maddison nodded in understanding. ¡°Truce for ten more minutes.¡±


    ¡°A hole? You think I left one?¡± The voice mused, drifting back and forth in the space above Maddison and Cody. ¡°Just because I find you all so¡­ adorable. I¡¯ll let you all go, if you agree to play a game with me.¡±


    ¡°Trust me ma¡¯am Maddison here don¡¯t like games much. Tried em myself.¡± Sariel said, looking around as if she could see her voice bouncing through the empty house.


    ¡°Silence.¡± The voice hissed, the sound travelling from her left to the ceiling above her. She kept her eyes on the invisible force the entire time. ¡°Your entire demeanor upsets me. If I was here myself, I¡¯d have melted that enchanted blade to your skin. Pitiful weak excuse of an enchantment.¡±


    Sariel paused, eyeing Maddison with a hurt look. ¡°I think she¡¯s mad at me. I did nothing, poor sport I¡¯d say if me winnin'' Boar Chase got her all riled up.¡±


    ¡°Ten minutes." The voice boomed. "If you don¡¯t find me, then you will rot in these walls. That¡¯s my game. Play it if you wish.¡±


    Before a protest could be made, the voice shrank away, the party no longer feeling the weight of eyes upon them. Replaced with the presence of an invisible clock, that now ticked above them towards a strange fate.

 49. Caged Bird

    Maddison tested the door one last time, giving the debris that had scattered into the room a frustrated kick. He looked around the room, scrutinizing every able body standing around him. Something on his face screamed that he did not like the choices one bit, but one piece in particular seemed to spark some hope in his eyes. He pointed to the hilt peeking from Sariel''s bag, the enchanted dagger playing to the woman''s scathing words. ¡°Sariel, toss me that dagger.¡±


    Sariel eyed him up, holding the dagger tight. ¡°Trade yer sword for it.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re both mine.¡±


    Cody scoffed. ¡°And what? You¡¯d leave her defenseless?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d leave her with a snarky magician and his fireballs.¡± Maddison bit back. ¡°That thing can take a hold of minds, who would you rather fight? Me? Or Sariel?¡±


    Cody narrowed his eyes, glancing at Sariel and holding out his own dagger to her. ¡°Can we trade?¡±


    Sariel stared at his simple dagger, frowning.


    Cody sighed, pulling a small chunk of shiny flint out of his pocket. ¡°I¡¯ll add this cool rock.¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡±


    Cody tossed Maddison the dagger. ¡°I¡¯ll take Sariel with me to check for holes or an anchor.¡±


    Maddison nodded. ¡°Kids as well, I¡¯m looking for the sorcerer and don¡¯t need hostages.¡±


    Cody sighed through his teeth. If there was a weak point, nine times out of ten the spell caster would be standing by it, or have their own protections stationed. The curse, although weak, was still ever present in his mind; and he was only as useful as the sword in his hands. His uses in magical combat were probably far lower than Tim¡¯s knack for cutting words.


    He didn¡¯t manage to get a word in before Maddison turned heel and headed for the stairs. It seemed he was going to clear the rooms above first, however far they stretched aside from the study with the living corpse.


    Cody looked to Sariel with a smile. ¡°Where do you think we should look first?¡±


    ¡°Well I was gonna go on up where the voice was coming from.¡± She pinched her chin, eyeing the two halls before them. ¡°I say right.¡±


    Crow squawked to mock Sariel¡¯s directive, firm to her shoulder as she marched off. Cody held back from requesting her reasoning, waving Timber to drag his brother along in the center of the group.


    The hall they came into was normal. Dark wood on the walls and floor, and a strong mixture of clay and minerals plastered to the ceiling with hand cut swirls. The walls were mostly bare, and many of the doors either opened or unlocked, leading to empty dead ends and closets.


    Aside from the barrier, Cody sensed no magic around them.


    That is, until, they found the final door. It was just like the others, wooden, polished, and unassuming. But as Sariel grabbed the doorknob they were quick to realise that, despite having no keyhole, it was the only locked one. Cody tried his luck, feeling the minor spell that had been slapped onto it. He didn¡¯t have time to unwind the lock, and simply blew the entire thing in with a small bolt of fire. Shards of wood imploded inwards, tumbling down the dark stairwell beyond like a small symphony.


    The group eyed the path to the basement with some hesitation, but time was not a luxury they had to spend pondering the dangers ahead.


    Cody went first, the light of his hair barely enough to pierce the shadows. The stairs were solid stone, worn at the edges by objects that seemed to have been repeatedly dragged down them. With the sparse light that danced in his hand, he couldn¡¯t see much of any stains on the walls or ground, his hair barely providing enough light for the three behind him to quietly follow after him.


    No one heard sounds ahead. A drip of water, and moans from the house¡¯s age were the only ambiance that echoed into the dark room beyond.


    But still, his eyes could only cut through so much in the dark. A quiet spectator could have sat easily in the shadows ready to strike him first. He stopped at the last step, shooing Timber away to take Sajus back up, and waiting for Sariel to take his side.


    The fat black crow with green feathers still perched on her shoulder, its body lower as it looked on ahead, snapping its beak at the air and shifting its wings uncomfortably. Still, it wasn¡¯t alive. And it was better to lose a false life that could be conjured again.


    Cody waved for the bird¡¯s attention, making a flying shadow puppet with his hands and pointing into the dark room.


    Crow stared at him, miming a scoff at the order before diving off Sariel¡¯s shoulder and into the shadows. He heard three wingbeats, and then a loud crash.


    And then silence.


    Cody stilled his beating heart, brushing the spine of his tome in anticipation. Had Crow run into something?


    He pursed his lips. Could crows see in the dark?


    A rattle echoed across the room, metal striking the wall as if a creature was tangled in it. Surely enough, Crow let out a shriek of displeasure, followed by more struggles which seemed to set off another bird, far smaller as it chittered in panic in the dark room.


    He sighed and stepped inside to assist the familiar.


    The basement was large for a town house, but still tight enough for Cody to see the other side of the space with his light. The main room was cleared of most items, a small bundle of discarded blankets soaking up the leftovers of a dripping crack in the wall.


    He saw where Crow had turned his struggles into a theatrical act, the black bird hanging at an awkward angle as it batted its wings to try and loosen its foot that had wedged between the iron bars of a golden cage. The delicate object dangled from a chain thrust into the ceiling, protecting and encasing a small brown bird that chittered in fear at the screaming guest as the cage swung about like a pendulum.


    But it was no ordinary bird.


    The small cage had been polished with magic to seal it inside, and a strong bronze glow emanated from the magic inside of the creature. It¡¯s core was compact, far tighter than Crow¡¯s, and stronger than a familiar had any right to be.


    Cody stopped Sariel from helping the two creatures, eyeing the bird with caution. ¡°Do you speak?¡±


    Crow relaxed at his words, simply hanging upside down like a dead puppet to give the caged bird silence. The brown bird¡¯s chittering died to a calm tweet, but no words escaped its mouth.


    Sariel stepped forwards, and Cody immediately grabbed her wrist, holding her from approaching further. ¡°It could be dangerous.¡±


    Sariel furrowed her brow. ¡°What you mean there Cody? She¡¯s asking for help.¡±


    ¡°Help?¡± He stared at the small bird, noticing how it had fixated its attention on Sariel.


    It had been trapped in a cage, just as they had been trapped in the house. An idea grew in his mind. There was no point in trapping a creature twice, unless you were worried it could escape. He had seen the threads stretching towards Maynard¡¯s house, and no matter how small, there had to be a crack to allow the spell to spill out and control the dragon¡¯s corpse like a puppet. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    There was a very real chance the bird knew where that hole was.


    He approached the cage, feeling the pattern of the spell that bound the cage. He could break it like the door, but it would certainly cause the small bird harm.


    Crow squawked, ripping a yelp out of Cody as he remembered the dangling familiar. He wedged the bird¡¯s foot loose, awkwardly holding it by the leg and distributing it in Sariel¡¯s arms. Next, he reached for the cage door, hoping it was not the same barrier that encased the mansion and Bervolt. He felt the solid wall of magic blocking the lock, trying to gently pry into it with a few prodding strikes. The spell immediately bit back in protest, sending a surge of magic all the way to his forearm that left a stinging ache.


    His hand ripped back, smoke trailing from his fingertips where the enchantment had resisted. It was scaled down and far weaker because of it, but it was the same spell. He couldn¡¯t break it. ¡°It won¡¯t open.¡±


    ¡°Jammed hey?¡± Sariel¡¯s soft footsteps met his ears as she bent to eye the lock, her gentle touch failing to trigger the barrier as she eyed the little golden door of the cage. Having seen enough in her mysterious mission, she wandered across the room, crouching before the soaked blanket in the corner. He eyed her curiously as she cut loose a section of the dripping cloth, carefully folding it up as she came back to the cage.


    She came closer to it, Cody watching her curiously as she brought the wet cloth up to the lock. No incantation escaped her lips as she started to scrub at the metal without resistance.


    And before Cody''s very eyes, he watched the magic move. The spell unwound with whatever Sariel had done to the cloth, the residual magic soaking its way up into the wet cloth and fading altogether.


    Cody froze, eyes wide in shock as the cage clicked, and the locking enchantment faded.


    ¡°How did you¡­?¡±


    Sariel peeked over her shoulder at him. ¡°Little bit of water goes a long way. Just gotta get that stick out.¡±


    Cody stared at her blankly. Whatever she had done was definitely going to be a conversation topic once they escaped the house.


    The delicate door swung open and the small bird dived out, circling the dark room before disappearing into a shadowed corner. Its song like chirp was replaced by wet snaps as whatever had perched in the dark released its form. Cody could only see its glowing core expand into something larger, the figure of a person barely visible once the sounds subsided.


    He paled at the magic.


    A shapeshifter?


    The shadow charged Sariel, closing the distance far too fast for Cody to shoot a spell. His gut sank as he watched helplessly, every one of his spells risking striking Sariel at their proximity. But once the shadow reached Sariel it shot its arms out, wrapping them around her midsection in a tight hug.


    It was then that Cody shook off his panic and noticed the figure was smaller than a typical person, its shoulders shaking as it buried its face in Sariel¡¯s stomach to sob.


    It was a child.


    She seemed to recognise the stranger, crouching lower to return the hug. She whispered some words that Cody couldn¡¯t quite make out, reaching into her satchel to pull out some colourful petals, and a daisy she had picked in the town square. The shake in the child¡¯s shoulders levelled some as she accepted the gifts.


    A scoff echoed through the walls, the creature that had trapped them returning. The spite was clear, it did not like what Sariel had done. ¡°Careful what you distract yourself with. Five minutes remain.¡±


    Cody came closer, earning a flinch when he settled his palm on the child¡¯s shoulder. They turned to him, pressed to Sariel¡¯s hip as they gazed up at him through the eyeholes of an iron, squirrel-like mask. He crouched, careful not to terrify their new companion even more as he levelled his voice to a quiet whisper. ¡°We¡¯re trying to escape the house¡­ do you know how?¡±


    They paused, carefully approaching Cody to unlatch the pouch at his side. He allowed them to poke through its contents until they came out with a small stick of chalk, keeping an eye on them as they wandered to a wall and drew a large circle.


    He watched them scratch out more details, runes and connectors chalked out in wobbly lines.


    It was the start of a ritual.


    ¡°Say Cody¡­¡±


    He turned to a Sariel¡¯s call, watching her scuff her boots on the floor, and then wander over to the wall to scratch at the cracks in the laid stones. ¡°I been thinking about this town here, somethin odd about it.¡±


    Cody nodded. ¡°The villagers are cursed, they¡¯re acting insane because of the spell.¡±


    Sariel shook her head. ¡°Not them villagers, good idea to keep all the crazy ones together though.¡± She said, tilting her chin to stare at the plasterwork on the ceiling, her gaze lingering in the corners of the room. ¡°Besides Mr. Grey, who really likes fur and soot, never seen a smidge of dust or grime. Don¡¯t seem right, reminds me of that forest, all spaced out an neat.¡±


    Cody froze, the pieces Sariel had so casually handed him clicking. The dusting of magic that had settled upon every surface of Bervolt, the barrier so powerful he had never seen anything like it. The obsession with rules and making the carnage a game of strange tasks and challenges. He grabbed her shoulders. ¡°Sariel!¡±


    She grabbed his shoulders back. ¡°Cody!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a genius.¡± His smile did not falter at Sariel¡¯s confusion as he waved her over to the masked child.


    What they had started to sketch only solidified the theory. It was a ring with thirteen circles, partially interlacing one another to make the symbol somewhat resemble a flower. The runes that sat inside each of the circles could change based on the teaching or subject of the spell, but this did not change the audience they targeted. The child had made good enough progress on the calling circle, so Cody plucked the chalk from their hands, finishing the last of the sigils at a feverish speed.


    He tapped the finished drawing, making a few of the lines neater while he lectured his audience. ¡°This is a fairy domain. We agreed to its game, so we¡¯re stuck until we finish it.¡± He eyed the small golden cage, ¡°just like the town.¡±


    The follower nodded along to his explanation, keeping close to Sariel as she puzzled over the drawing.


    He thought on his next words. There were plenty of malicious domains that travellers could accidentally stumble upon. They were left off the beaten path for entertainment and food, the latter being exceptionally rarer.


    But an entire town? He had heard of cases where they set their traps in abandoned houses or run down bridges. Places that still wouldn¡¯t turn a head right away. They took a lot of time and magic to set up for a normal colony. To slap a domain on a bustling town before any of the villagers could flag the issue and stamp it out was a horrifying notion.


    He turned to the sigil, pricking his finger on a point on his circlet and allowing the blood to travel to his palm before laying his hand flat on the wall. He lingered in his position, considering if this was truly a good idea.


    But they were running out of time, and losing a game to a fairy was never a good thing.


    ¡°With this blood I offer you a treat, in the terrible hope that we might meet.¡± He channeled his magic into the chalked lines, leaving the spell open for the other side to connect.


    And then, he waited.


    Without its name it did not have to answer, but Cody hoped this was a domain of entertainment, and the invitation would be irresistible.


    He felt a strange magic reach back, connecting. The first sigil in the circle lit with blue fire, the glow travelling around the ritual mockingly slow to eat up their precious time that definitely hadn¡¯t stopped. Finally, as the symbols burned blue around Cody¡¯s hand, the woman¡¯s voice returned, no longer scattered through the walls as it boomed from a focused point within the summoning circle.


    ¡°To summon me with rhymes is a mediocre feat, but tell me your number of verses and perhaps I¡¯ll be sweet.¡±


    ¡°Six¡± Cody said, hopeful that the lowball would still hold the creature¡¯s interest.


    It hummed, taking its time once more. He didn¡¯t doubt that it knew he had his first verse ready.


    Finally, it sighed dismissively. ¡°What do I bet?¡±


    ¡°Answers.¡± Cody replied, frowning distastefully as he looked to the spell. ¡°What do I bet?¡±


    ¡°Your hand.¡± The fairy mused.


    He watched the blue flames crawl up to his wrist. The fire did not burn his skin, but if he fumbled the challenge it gave him a pretty good idea of how the fairy was going to take its prize.


    He cleared his throat, saying his first verse. ¡°You¡¯ve made this game impossible to win, for you¡¯ve trapped us in a house that you are not in.¡±


    A laugh greeted his accusation. ¡°In this house I surely sit, but I can hide in places you¡¯ll find hard to fit.¡±


    ¡°Then tell me what¡¯s the point to try¡­¡± he paused, realizing the small imperfection in his verse as it rolled off his tongue. ¡°if I will never spot you with my eye?¡±


    He felt a tingle on his hand as the fairy taunted him, but thankfully it continued, accepting the soft rhyme. ¡°Your claims are false, for I remain in the open. The rules of this game, I have not broken.¡±


    Cody thought on the response. The fairy sounded small, which did little to narrow his options. ¡°The final verse will end our chits. Tell me the creature you are that a common name fits.¡±


    The voice breathed out a deep sigh. ¡°A game of rhymes you¡¯ll need to win. This is a word that pairs with my kin. Rider.¡±


    The flames retreated from Cody¡¯s palm, choking themselves out as the magic withdrew and left scratches and smudges all over the runes.


    Sariel stared at the drawing in awe, flattening her palm in the same spot Cody had in some vain hope that it would light up again. Cody barely paid attention to it, his thoughts lingering on something decisively worse.


    There weren¡¯t a lot of things that rhymed with rider. And frankly, he hated the main contender.

 50. What Rhymes with Rider?

    With a well-placed kick, the final door caved inwards. Maddison¡¯s hands were fully occupied by a sword in his right, raised above his shoulder and resting on his left bracer to point forwards. In his left he held the enchanted dagger, the blade pointed downwards as he gripped the hilt in his palm to let the blade rest against his forearm.


    He hoped the blade would stave off the creature from seizing his mind again, and so far, it had worked. Regardless, separating himself from Sariel and the rest of the party was an additional precaution.


    He looked into the dark room, his eyes darting around the empty bedroom. The bed was tightly fitted with a red duvet, the softer cotton fabric still screaming money. The two plump, white pillows were free of guests, and the dark wooden nightstand next to it only boasted a candle on a bronze plate that had barely burned past brand new. The room was perfectly cleaned to await guests, just like the last two he had busted into.


    Maddison left the room, frustrated at his lack of success. The last room was barricaded shut by his own fault, the heavy table shaking once in a while as the shrieking corpse tried and tried again to break through the office door.


    Something else was controlling it, and Maddison hoped it wasn¡¯t hiding in that room either. His mind wandered to Maynard, as it often did, teetering on if he had a magical affinity. But regardless of the fiery warlock''s words, even if he was wrong and Maynard did posses the capacity for spell work, it was unlikely that he was committed enough to have an undead crush his hand and maul his shoulder to sell the lie. If not a sorcerer that lost control of his spell work, there was now room to wonder what had caused the curse on the town and given false life to a dragon. The creature had denied being a demon to Maynard, but deceit was not beyond infernal beings when their food source was threatened.


    Their control over death also left room for the boon of a more nefarious being. The Witch of the Westlock had revived many cults with its onslaught of undeath, and many gods of bone and blood had found themselves blessed with worshippers.


    But the statue outside did not look like the gods Maddison knew to support necromancy.


    He sighed. For how showy the creature was, it had kept its identity hidden well.


    So there was only one way to go.


    Maddison turned to check the other side of the hall. From the outside, the mansion had looked to normally be three levels, but he had remembered the white stone tower that had been stuck on afterwards. There was no telling how that space had changed the layout of the house, but it certainly wasn¡¯t solid, else it would have come through the roof shortly after being built.


    He sheathed his sword, eyeing the plain end of the hall. The wall was bare of decorations, with the only object being an old folding step ladder made of cheap wood.


    It was all Maddison needed to reach the handle of the trimmed square cut into the ceiling. First, he would check the attic, and if there was nothing he would hope there was a way up the tower.


    And that the culprit was something a nullifying blade could handle.


    He dragged down the ladder, resting his first step at its base but stopping when the sound of another footstep played off-tune to his own. He shuffled his feet, moving to take the next step up the ladder but stopping himself before his foot met the wood.


    And yet, another step sounded all the same.


    The guest behind him seemed to notice it had given itself away, and before Maddison could prepare for battle a small and pitiful voice met his ears.


    ¡°Are you leaving?¡± The small voice squeaked. Curious, sad, and hauntingly familiar. It should not have been a noise that met Maddison¡¯s ears in this place, and so he already greeted it with hostility.


    ¡°Nice try,¡± Maddison growled, back still turned to the entity as he secured the ladder for a climb. Be it a spell or creature, it had chosen the form of his daughter to grab his attention, and he was not going to give it that. He did not want to test the nullifying blade¡¯s strength.


    The voice behind him changed as soon as he gripped the next bar. Older now, and in a deliberate line of words that stabbed his heart. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving? Again?¡±


    He remained silent, his shoulders dropping as he fought the urge to look.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you just stay a few more days? We¡¯re almost done!¡±


    Maddison¡¯s heart sank as the sound mimicked her voice perfectly. The stern growl her mother always had in a pout, trailing off to the slight squeak she could never pull out of her voice when she had raised it too loud.


    She was nineteen when she said those exact words.


    And they were the last ones Maddison ever heard.


    He almost turned, his grip tight on his sheathed sword as anger bubbled in his stomach. Be it a specter or spell, it had successfully dug its claws in and wormed them right under his skin. He wanted to look. Wanted to make sure the hall was empty, and what stood behind him hadn¡¯t stolen more than his daughter¡¯s voice.


    More than that, if something stood there he wanted to cleave the mockery in two with his blade.


    He took in a deep breath, resting his forehead against a bar on the ladder. Nothing would come from it. It wouldn¡¯t change the past that he had set, nor vanquish the one responsible.


    ¡°If you¡¯re playing games like that I must be going the right way,¡± Maddison growled, forcing his hand away from the hilt of his sword to start his ascent into the attic. ¡°You¡¯d better pray I don¡¯t find you.¡±


    He climbed the ladder, cautiously peeking up into the attic that held a surprising amount of light.


    The swept wooden floor looked well taken care of, with a few tools and discarded boxes stashed against the darker walls. The white stone of a tower had encroached upon what would have been a very spacious room, nestled into the center of the attic with a single stunted wooden door to provide entry. The flooring that was left still provided a lot of space to move around, at least three bedrooms long and lit by a circular stained glass window at the end.


    But Maddison wasn¡¯t the only guest in the space.


    A man stood before the stain glass window, the bright orange haze from the burning town cast upon his form and spilling across the floor. His back was turned to Maddison, a billowing white cloak kissing the floor with a golden bird embroidered across the back.


    The sixth. The commander.


    The commander held his sword in the open, the silver blade rested upon the stone ground and lightly scraping it whenever his rigid body swayed. From the back, Maddison could not make out any restraints on the man. His cloak was immaculate, and the few pieces of leather armour that peeked from behind it glossy and clean.


    Aside from his occasional sway, he did not show signs of being wounded either.


    Maddison deftly lifted himself onto the floor, body low as he quietly drew his dagger. His sword would make far too much noise to unsheath, and while the man had been friendly on the road, there was no telling if he had been bewitched like the rest of the town.


    As he came closer, he could hear a sound from the commander, a quiet hum in tune to the song Cindy¡¯s corpse had sung to Maynard, and that Sariel had belted for three hours straight. It was getting old, but in the setting he had found himself in, it was equally creepy.


    He came upon his side, keeping the dagger out of sight in case it startled him. But as he came into the commander¡¯s field of view, no reaction followed. He still faced the window humming, body rigid and eyes closed.


    Maddison swallowed his doubts, readying his dagger as he paid the man a sharp whisper. ¡°Hey.¡±


    The man did not flinch.


    Maddison gripped his shoulder, trying to shake the man awake, and still falling short of any sort of response.


    With a sigh, he left him in his daze, approaching the wooden door that had nestled itself inside of the white stone wall. The door held no locks, but stuck as he tried to push it open. He threw his shoulder into the obstacle to force it inwards, the object relenting some as it pushed inwards with a strange crumpling noise. Maddison did not need to look far to find the source of the sound, a sticky film of white webbing stretching and tearing the more he pushed at the door, until it sat wide open to show him the room beyond.


    The entire base of the white tower was filled with globs of sticky cobwebs, plastered to stone, metal, and bodies alike.


    And there were a lot of bodies.


    They were piled at the edges of the walls mostly, tightly packed into webbed cocoons with a stray limb or rotted face peeking out to confirm the contents. He gagged as the smell assaulted him, the moisture in the air immediately sticking to his face and choking his throat.


    Maddison plugged his nose, scouring the room for any means to climb the tower further. But there wasn¡¯t a stairwell nor rope built in, the stone walls sticky with condensation and bulbous web-coated sacks. He hoped they were bodies too, but their shape alluded to something far worse. Further up, the webbing zigzagged across the tower walls, creating a sticky web for the creature that sat on it.


    Wide enough for its toes to touch either side of the tower¡¯s inner walls, it sat. Eight-legged, with ebony legs that pointed like blades, and a deep blue underside to its thorax that was covered in a hard and bony shell.


    It was, by far, the biggest damn spider Maddison had ever seen.


    With a deep breath, Maddison excused himself from the room.

 51. Dont Look Now

    The door was blocked from fully closing by one of the cocooned bodies that had tumbled over, but Maddison didn¡¯t suspect the door was how the spider came and went. At a guess, it was twenty times his size.


    Even if it was exactly his size he would have trouble justifying any sort of payment to try and dispatch it.


    He scraped as much of the webbing as he could from his boots, flinching when he turned his attention to the attic and saw that the commander had moved.


    The man was now standing before the door, graciously providing Maddison with enough space to leave without bumping into him. He no longer had his eyes closed, and the humming had subsided. His gaze was fixed on Maddison, eyes wide open to flaunt the dull fade that had consumed them. Within a blink of being spotted, he raised his sword, cleaving the cocooned corpse in two as Maddison ducked out of the way and drew his weapon.


    The second strike Maddison blocked, its sheer strength rattling his arms as he gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands to keep a hold of it. The commander pressed forward with another strike, his blade cutting into the wooden floor where Maddison had barely managed a side-step.


    His strength was certainly inhuman. He was swinging his blade with one arm and doing twice the damage that Maddison could do two-handed. As their spar continued, Maddison slowly worked through his affliction.


    His body was being controlled, it left his posture rigid and open every time he made a strike. The one pulling the strings certainly didn¡¯t seem versed in martial weapons. Maddison hadn¡¯t seen any wounds on him, aside from the shallow cut he had delivered to his shoulder with a lucky shot. And yet, without the orange glow that once bathed his face, it was clear that the blood had run from his cheeks and left his thin lips a sickly blue. The cut on his shoulder also failed to bleed as much as Maddison had anticipated, dark and thick as it globbed on his pauldron.


    After parrying a blow to his side, Maddison seized the opening in the commander¡¯s front. He threw his hand out to grip the man¡¯s throat, his ice-cold skin shooting up Maddison¡¯s fingertips as he kicked the commander¡¯s leg out from under him and threw him to the floor.


    He kept his grip on the man¡¯s throat for a few seconds longer, confirming the worst.


    There was no heartbeat.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡ª¡ª-


    Cody strode through the halls, Sariel at his side with her final crossbow shot at the ready. They had very little time to spare, those ten minutes were gone, or very nearly there.


    They had to find Maddison and at least have a meat shield before the fairy bared its fangs. Maddison was heading upwards last they split. Up to the tower that seemed to be a tacked-on addition to the house.


    An oddity that a fairy could certainly call a home in its circle.


    He reached the stairs, so consumed in his goal that he barely registered Timber as the small child took his side. But the short stack of blonde hair grounded his feet as he looked between the two twins and the strange masked girl they had picked up. ¡°None of you are coming.¡±


    Tim breathed out a scoff at Cody¡¯s comment. ¡°If ya need a babysitter guess I can watch Sajus and Sariel.¡±


    Cody frowned, his gaze drifting to the crow perched on Sariel¡¯s shoulder. He scrunched his nose in displeasure at Timber¡¯s logic. ¡°Can you keep an eye on them, Crow?¡±


    Crow let out a hissing squawk, jumping off Sariel¡¯s shoulder to land on Timber¡¯s with a wobble.


    Cody motioned for the pair to hold on, sifting through his bag to fish out a strange ball of metal. It was woven with fragile iron strings like a net, and was filled with little black and glinting shards. He muttered an incantation at it, his magic slithering along the netting with a red glow before fading away.


    ¡°If you run into something bad, throw this at it, and throw it far.¡±


    Timber held the ball with a frown, handing it off to the Follower who gently stashed the ball in their satchel.


    ¡°And scream like your life depends on it so we know to come back.¡±


    ¡°Got it, mom.¡± Timber retorted, giving him a curt wave before leaning against the rails at the base of the stairs. Sajus did not stir as Cody and Sariel departed, and Timber had a sour look on them until they left his sights.


    Maddison was right about one thing through his slew of grumpy remarks. If they were going to fight a sorcerer, they needed to keep potential hostages and collateral out of the fight. They came to an empty hall, each door stretched wide open to flaunt a fresh search. Still untrusting of the mercenary in general, Cody kept an ear out as they passed each room, his focus primarily on the ladder at the end of the hall. The way up.


    It was no sooner that he placed his palm upon the ladder that a voice erupted from behind him.


    ¡°Cody! Look over here!¡±


    He turned instinctively at Sariel¡¯s call, his mind catching up far too slowly.


    Sariel had been standing right next to him moments ago.


    The voice had not come from her.


    He saw a streak of magic, a sharp pain spearing his mind momentarily before stilling to nothing.

 52. A Taste of Home

    Sariel had never seen anything like it. One moment she was standing beside Cody, and the next, he was a little cloud of glittery smoke. Sariel had waved around the strange dust to make sure he hadn¡¯t gone invisible, but her swinging hand failed to make contact with anything.


    She frowned, tapping her foot as she thought through the predicament. People didn¡¯t just turn into clouds of sparkly smoke, but Cody¡¯s hair did remind her of a campfire, and those got smoking when you stamped them out.


    ¡°Sariel, over here!¡±


    She turned at Cody¡¯s call, scrunching her nose at the empty hall.


    ¡°Cody?¡± She took a step, tossing her gaze along the open doors. ¡°Thought we were lookin'' for Mr. Sungard, not playin'' hide n seek with him.¡±


    She took another step, the air filling with a strange buzz that tickled at her skin. Still, the halls and connecting rooms remained empty. Cody was nowhere to be found.


    She stood next to the last door, arms folded in confusion, and ears alert for the smallest sound that could guide her search. Until a door slammed behind her.


    Without a sense for survival, Sariel rushed the noise, ripping open the door in the hopes that she would see her elusive friend. But Cody was nowhere to be seen beyond the wooden frame, and instead of the plushy bed that had once greeted her, the room now opened to a familiar clearing.


    Ash coated every blade of grass where the mysterious inferno hadn¡¯t scorched nature clean. The skeletal frames of wooden homes stuck up from the ground like grave markers, with very few structures still standing through the blaze. One such being the mud and stone structure that had always sat at the center of Sariel¡¯s village.


    Sariel beheld her home with a mix of confusion and disbelief, closing the door and opening it again to make sure she wasn¡¯t seeing things.


    But the familiar sight remained regardless of the amount of times she opened and closed the door. It remained, exactly as she had left it.


    But she certainly hadn¡¯t left it in Bervolt.


    Sariel didn¡¯t like it one bit, and her mind was set on ignoring the room completely. But as she turned to leave and search elsewhere, a familiar voice called her name from somewhere in the ashen forest. It was aged and demanding, calling as if finding her was not a question, but a matter of time.


    The voice was Medila¡¯s.


    Instinctively, she stepped through the door, trying to catch the source of the sound through the charred skeletons of huts. The air grew cold as she left the hearth, smoke tickling her nose as an afterthought to the thick and poisonous clouds the dragon had left.


    ¡°Sariel!¡±


    She stopped as the call came closer, the sound of crunching steps reaching her ears before an old and shaggy woman stepped out from behind one of the few standing homes.


    Her wild eyes locked onto Sariel, more frenzied than usual as she quickly closed their distance. The woman hobbled like Medila, and scowled like Medila. Sariel tried to picture the woman in her head, scouring the lady that had stopped before her for any off details.


    It was Medila.


    Before she could open her mouth in greeting, Medila snatched her arm, shaking it with a painful squeeze instead of pulling her anywhere. ¡°Look at you girl! And where have you been off? Courting wild boars? Leaving us to starve?!¡±


    Sariel squeezed her shoulders at the scolding, holding her head low and awaiting a smack or two to the head. ¡°No ma¡¯am.¡±


    Medila dropped her arm with a scoff. ¡°You¡¯re not worth the energy. Useless girl.¡±


    She sounded just like Medila too. Sariel had gotten so accustomed to Maddison and Cody that the rude remarks had taken her by surprise.


    But that was how Medila always was.


    ¡°Looks like you got yer head up a horse¡¯s arse. What¡¯s gotten into you girl?¡±


    She looked around the empty village, hugging her arms tight. Hoping to see a living ember somewhere. Or a hulking mercenary. ¡°Have you seen Cody anywhere? Or maybe Maddison?¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Medila snarled, waving her hand dismissively before Sariel could give a reply. ¡°No time for nonsense, I ought to show you what your little stunt did.¡±


    Sariel paused as Medila turned, replaying the woman¡¯s face in her mind. She had been focused on checking for all the little nicks and wrinkles her boss had, but a detail had jumped out from between her flapping lips.


    Teeth. They were yellow and a little bit crooked. But like little yellow ducklings all following their mother, they were all accounted for. Not a gap to be seen.


    Sariel¡¯s eyes narrowed at the woman. ¡°My, yer teeth look nice ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Get yer head right girl. Follow me.¡±


    Sariel frowned. Perhaps she had looked at it the wrong way. She eyed the woman¡¯s back, searching every rag and stitch in her shawl of a shirt for an outlier. When she came out empty-handed, her gaze dropped to her feet, and Sariel had to hold in a small gasp at what she saw.


    Shoes.


    A little more beaten and stained than Maddison¡¯s, but luxurious to the foot wraps her villagers always used. Sariel wiggled her toes, still gleeful at the gift Maddison had given her.


    ¡°My oh my, nice shoes you have there Medila.¡±


    She cocked her head over her shoulder with a sneering growl. ¡°Took em off a body, wasn¡¯t usin'' em.¡±


    Sariel hummed in thought. That was a Medila thing to do.


    The problem to Sariel was that shoes didn¡¯t grow on trees, and her old boss certainly wasn¡¯t wearing Corian¡¯s clunky metal boots.


    To add to the problem, her old boss Medila was missing almost half her teeth, it made her voice slurp between the holes if she spoke too fast.


    And most importantly, the biggest problem of all. All Medila ever let Sariel call her was ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡± Not ¡®Mother¡¯, not ¡®Mom¡¯, and certainly not ¡®Medila.¡¯ Unless Sariel wanted proper manners smacked back into her.


    She slowed her steps and then stopped, the woman that looked like Medila obliviously continuing her walk. Sariel hastily ran her fingers through the dirt, feeling a sizeable rock brush her nails.


    She picked it up.


    ¡°Medila, wanna play a game?¡±


    The woman stopped, eyebrow cocked with intrigue at the invite. ¡°A game?" She quickly shook off the interest in her eyes, hardening her face back into a scowl. "Look around you girl! What could you possibly play?¡±


    Sariel pointed at her, her heart swelling with excitement. She had always dreamed of doing what she was about to do. Sucking in a deep breath, her holler rang across the clearing and deep into the dark trees that surrounded them. ¡°Witch!¡±


    Not clueing in, the woman turned to look for whatever witch Sariel was pointing at. Blind to the stone that sailed perfectly through the air and struck her on the backside of the head.


    She let out a cry of pain, some youth leaking from her voice before she corrected her tone back to a dry boom. ¡°What are you-¡°


    Another stone cut her off as it struck her nose, sending the woman stumbling back in shock. Sariel had been unnaturally good at Stone the Witch. She could hit a runner from a couple of yards away with deadly accuracy. It was her assumption that her friend had always made her the witch when they played because of it, but whether or not that was the whole truth, was something Sariel had not thought long and hard about.


    ¡°You little skatlicking feral rat.¡± The woman hissed, her act completely falling as she clutched her nose in pain. ¡°Let people finish what they¡¯re saying.¡±


    ¡°See that there ma¡¯am? Medila woulda caught that. Fast as a cricket, nothing gets past her.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what that shriveled husk would have caught!¡± She boomed back, her tone mimicking the woman who had spoken through the walls. Her fury quickly stilled as she drove a glare into Sariel, some of the wrinkles on her face fading as her lips twitched into a smirk. ¡°Do you know why?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t work for her?¡± Sariel gasped, holding her mouth with a pitiful look. ¡°Or she fired ya. So sorry ma¡¯am, real awful if that¡¯s the case.¡±


    Her smile faltered, but not enough to spur her rage again. With a deep sigh, she fixed herself, straightening her hunched figure and turning away from Sariel. ¡°Follow me. I¡¯ll show you where the real Medila is.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t reckon she¡¯s here. Took me five days to get to Bervolt.¡± Sariel replied, a hint of sorrow clinging to her ankles and slowing her walk. ¡°Wish you were Medila though.¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The woman stopped, not turning as she pulled her ragged hood up and over her head. ¡°Oh? Guilt?¡±


    ¡°Little bit. Wanted to let her know I quit,¡± Sariel said, crouching down to sort through the soot for another sizable stone.


    ¡°It¡¯s funny.¡± The woman spoke, hiding her relief when she pulled Sariel¡¯s attention from her quest. ¡°What a coincidence it is that the warlock you travel with loves fire so very much.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s a coincidence, ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°That your villages burned down, and there¡¯s a fire sprite following you around.¡±


    ¡°Cody¡¯s got a name,¡± Sariel replied, blind to just how sassy her choice of phrasing was. She found a couple of weighty stones, cradling them in her palm like a delicate stack of chicken eggs. ¡°And it definitely wasn¡¯t him ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°And how can you be so sure? This place is a shared memory. I saw this village in his mind. In Maddison¡¯s mind¡­ and now in yours.¡±


    ¡°Sure as they come ma¡¯am. Seen Cody shoot a good amount of fire, hasn¡¯t caught nothing on fire that he didn¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°And you think it burned down because one irresponsible villager dropped a torch?¡±


    ¡°Grass fire season ma¡¯am.¡±


    Her voice flattened to disappointment as she turned her head to Sariel, the patchwork hood covering most of her face. The only clear feature was her dark red lips, turned down in a frown as she motioned at their surroundings. ¡°You think a grass fire did this? Just¡­ avoided all the trees?¡±


    Sariel nodded with a smile, readying her next rock. ¡°Grass fire ma¡¯am, not a forest fire.¡±


    The woman let out a deep sigh, switching her tactics once again. ¡°You know what? Maybe it was a grass fire¡­¡±


    Sariel hurled a rock as soon as she turned away, but as the stone struck the hood it went straight through it, the entire bundle of fabric collapsing to the ground. Sariel readied her next stone, looking around the huts and trees for where the woman had run off to so quickly.


    ¡°Still, it¡¯s strange¡­¡±


    Sariel jumped as the voice tickled her ear, its tone warping with the new skin it had chosen. It circled her as the bulky mercenary, but it was easy for Sariel to tell this Maddison was fake too. Maddison would have stunk from this distance, but the cloak this one wore was wafting the fresh scent of flowers in her direction.


    She hurled another rock, but with the creature¡¯s eyes on the attack, catching the projectile was easy.


    The creature bounced the rock in its palm with a wry grin. ¡°It¡¯s strange that you¡¯re not even remotely sad that your friends and family were burned alive.¡±


    Sariel took a step back, and the creature, one step forward.


    Its body warped and shrank, the beaten leather armour melting into vibrant red robes. Again the transformation was uncanny. But the smile it wore was far too devious for Cody¡¯s soft features


    ¡°That they died screaming in agony because some pigskat little retch of a girl decided to stand up to a Hero.¡±


    Sariel paused, her gaze wandering through the ash and burnt huts. The layer of grey was completely undisturbed, except where Sariel and the creature had walked. And it was empty aside from them. If anyone had died, she would have seen it.


    It was just her and Maddison. Her village was empty.


    They had gone to collect supplies. To rebuild.


    She moved her confusion to the woman wearing Cody¡¯s skin, who now flaunted a twisted smirk.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. I remember¡­ the mercenary never showed you.¡±


    Sariel backed up until she felt a wooden wall press her back. ¡°Well, Maddison is none too observant ma¡¯am. If it¡¯s not somethin¡¯ to go stabbing he doesn¡¯t pay much attention to it.¡±


    The creature warped again, taking back the hooded woman¡¯s form. Even facing her, only her lips were visible, the rest of her face obscured by the beaked point to the fabric covering her face. Sariel wondered how she could see her surroundings, but she seemed to navigate the terrain with ease as she passed Sariel, drifting through the door next to her that had been left wide open.


    Sariel readied another rock, poising to deliver her next strike when the creature came back out. But instead, her rich voice thrummed through the air, a nimble hand with pointed nails coming into view to beckon her inside. ¡°Well? Don¡¯t you want to see what Maddison didn¡¯t show you?¡±


    Sariel glared at the hand, curiousity pulling her to follow, but caution rooting her to the spot. She could feel the crossbow strapped to her back. There was only one shot left, but that was one shot more than the unarmed woman. From what little Sariel had seen of her forearms, she was confident she could beat her in a wrestle too. The height advantage was on the woman¡¯s side, but half a foot didn¡¯t matter in tackling a midsection.


    And so, curiousity won the tug of war. She readied her next stone and entered the ruins of the town hall. In the dim space, she could not see where the woman had gone. Stray beams of sunlight lit parts of the floor, especially near the center where a wide hole had eaten through the roof, shining upon the packed clay that had acted as flooring. It was blackened and cracked by the blaze, giving Sariel¡¯s steps a distinct crunch as she walked.


    The few barrels and boxes that they often stored food and spare supplies in were either shattered to pieces or used to feed the blaze. The only partial survivors being two barrels they used for freshwater that had cracked at the bottom to leak their contents toward the center of the space.


    Where something else sat.


    They did not look like the people she grew up with. But then again, what did the flames leave to recognise? Bracelets and keepsakes were woven or wooden, their clothes were linen and would have burnt as quickly as their hair.


    But she knew them. They had seen homes burn before, faced illnesses, and dealt with difficult harvests. Teamwork was an instinct in a time of crisis. They would not have huddled in a pile while the flames blazed around them. They would have run, helped each other to get through the wall of flames to safety. But instead, the blackened bodies were huddled as one.


    As though the fire came without warning, and stole their freedom to flee.


    She gazed at the scorched ceiling, her mind pulling at theories that could explain it. For Sariel, it was fairly obvious what was left to blame. She had just seen a creature that could spread flames so fast running did very little.


    ¡°Now, I wonder what these could be.¡± A new voice mused, the chainmail it wore clinking with each playful step. She knew the new voice before she turned to face it. The way it put a knot in her stomach. Medila would spur a similar feeling with her outbursts when Sariel would mess up multiple chores. But it was nowhere near as strong as the knot of seeing Corian carving up Morris¡¯ corpse.


    Sariel took a few quick steps, kicking up the thin puddles of water as she tried to gain some distance. When she reached the first broken barrel, she swiveled on her heel, dropping the rocks cradled in her arms and reaching for the crossbow strapped to her back.


    She readied her aim, thankful that the creature had stayed on the other side of the room close to the burnt pile. It gave her and the weapon a devious smile.


    Of all the skins it had worn before her, this one fit it best.


    ¡°Oh¡­ this one?¡± The creature admired the glimmering gauntlets it wore, running its fingers through its golden hair with a laugh. ¡°You¡¯re scared of this one!¡±


    Sariel lined the shot, pressing the trigger with a dry click. It was only then, that she realized the arrow she had loaded was missing.


    The creature eyed the weapon, snorting at the confusion on Sariel¡¯s face as she looked around for her last arrow. It did not close their distance as she searched, grabbing a round and burnt chunk from the pile and bouncing it between its hands like a ball. ¡°How many villagers were there? Did you want to count them together?¡±


    Sariel crouched low, sliding the crossbow back over her shoulder and running her fingers through the puddle at her feet for one of the stones she had dropped. But the water seemed to guide her hand elsewhere, her hand brushing a thick splinter of wood that laid amongst the stones.


    She wrapped her hand around it, watching the creature wearing Corian¡¯s skin approach.


    ¡°You know, if someone burned me alive I would try my best to give them a smile.¡± It mused, turning the burnt chunk in its hands until it found what it was looking for. It held the object for Sariel to see, the burnt mass barely resembling a screaming face. ¡°To make sure that I can still live in the nightmares of all who gaze upon me. I wonder who did this¡­¡± It motioned to itself, its eyes gleaming with an animalistic shine. ¡°Was it this one?¡±


    Sariel rose halfway, careful to keep the stake hidden behind her back. ¡°Dragon in Bervolt did it.¡±


    Its face scrunched at the conclusion, the disappointment heavy as a stone in its voice. ¡°No. It didn''t.¡± It held her blank stare. ¡°I''ll give you that one for free.¡±


    Sariel squinted at them. ¡°You made more sense when you were rhyming with my friend Cody, ma¡¯am.¡±


    It stopped, processing Sariel for longer than it would have liked. The girl was daft. So dense she made rocks look like clouds. There was no way this wasn¡¯t a play at something else.


    It eyed her hidden hand. A rock would do little against the armour it now wore, Sariel had imagined a fear she could hardly fair against. Unless this was all an act from the strange girl.


    It narrowed its eyes. ¡°Do you think this is funny?¡±


    Sariel¡¯s brow dipped. ¡°You haven¡¯t said anything funny ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°What are you scheming?¡±


    ¡°Thought you were scheming ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Stop calling me ma¡¯am!¡±


    Sariel paused, sizing the creature up in Corian¡¯s body, her lips pursed in ponderment. ¡°Sir¡­?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Katryna!¡± She spat, her haggard rage stilling with the realization of what she had just done. ¡°Or¡­ not that. Not that one!¡±


    ¡°Katryna¡¯s a nice name,¡± Sariel replied, her body tensing as Katryna drew the sword at her waist, closing in on her. But as her foot met the tip of the puddle Sariel crouched in, it caught a glimpse of its disturbed reflection.


    It stopped in its tracks, staring at the puddle while it stilled. In the bits of sunlight that peeled through the scorched roof, Sariel could see the way the creature''s face contorted. It felt its cheek, eyes darting around as its panic seemed to rise. Its form had been molded by Sariel, and it had not seen the skin it had donned. But it seemed to know the man it saw in its reflection.


    The shock stilled to rage as it locked onto Sariel, its voice sharpened to a hiss. ¡°Where did you see this one?¡±


    ¡°Corian¡­? In the village here, accidentally killed him.¡±


    The sword twisted as it tightened its grip on the hilt. ¡°Accidentally? How?¡±


    Sariel made her move, whipping her arm out in a motion to throw.


    The creature raised its arm to block a stone, a reaction Sariel had hoped to see. Larger creatures never expected to be rushed head-on, which always gave her a few seconds to flee or take advantage of another option.


    She leapt forwards, ducking past the creature to slip around it and face its exposed back. To its detriment, the creature had copied Corian¡¯s armour perfectly. Where stones would not work against metal, she knew a spot that sharp objects did perfectly fine against.


    It could barely react as she rose to meet it, the stake of wood gripped firmly in her hand. It was all a reflection of the night that had changed her life forever.


    Only this time, as she thrusted the splinter of wood with all her might, she knew she would not regret this.


    She felt the wooden stake slide in perfectly between its armour. The same spot where she had driven the dagger into Corian¡¯s back. The creature tensed, a cut gasp escaping its throat as it stumbled forward.


    She watched it falter, giving it a few feet in case it had the energy for a last-minute strike. ¡°Like that.¡±


    The creature let out a light scoff as it fell to its knees, catching itself before it tumbled face-first into the puddle. The armour it wore seemed to ooze off its body, taking skin, muscle, and bone with it as it melted into an inky black mass on the floor. Soon, everything around Sariel melted in a similar fashion, peeling and dripping like hot wax to reveal the hall she had once stood in.


    With the last of its whittling strength, the mass of black that was once Corian turned its head, faint holes moving where its eyes and mouth had once been.


    ¡°If you¡¯re telling the truth. I will make sure your death is the furthest thing from peaceful.¡±


    The last of the mass collapsed, dispersing across the floor and crawling into the cracks and corners of the hall until all that sat at Sariel¡¯s feet was an upturned spider, the blueish creature no larger than her thumbnail.

 53. Parental Guidance

    Tim sprawled his legs out, leaning on the stairs with a bored whistle. He could occasionally hear a toppling object or quickened step upstairs, but nothing was as loud as the floorboards creaking in front of him as the masked girl paced back and forth down the hall. Much like Sajus, she didn¡¯t talk. Even before the curse took Bervolt, his brother hadn¡¯t been much into conversation, and left him to make up for the both of them.


    Unlike Sajus, this girl was adorned in leather armour, and definitely looked capable of a scrap if fate forced her hand.


    He watched her make a few more laps, rolling to his feet and cutting off her journey. He stuck his hand out, grabbing the girl¡¯s and shaking it when she didn¡¯t move at the gesture.


    ¡°Name¡¯s Timber, Tim fer short. What¡¯s yours?¡±


    She looked around in confusion, finally settling on toying with her sleeve until she could loosen the leather ties on it to scrunch up the fabric. She held out her bare wrist, showing the faint reddish scarring that drew out the Heroguard¡¯s sigil and a clean set of numbers.


    0285.


    Tim eyed the digits, the girl still saying nothing as she covered her arm back up. He didn¡¯t want to be rude off the bat, but a string of numbers was hardly a name.


    He nodded, more to himself at his decision. ¡°Gonna call ya Squirrel.¡±


    Squirrel nodded in understanding.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna go check on the adults upstairs, wanna come?¡±


    Squirrel fiddled with her fingers, glancing at Sajus as the boy mindlessly stood next to the stairs. Timber clued in on their exact thoughts, holding up his hand for them to provide him with the time to work out a solution. He wandered over to a small bench by the back door, grabbing a decorative pillow with gold lining from the furniture to wave at the girl.


    Not quite understanding his logic, she tilted her head. He dropped the pillow next to his brother, patting down his pockets until he found a sharp chip of stone. And then, he started the feathery dissection, cutting the decorative lining off the pillow until he held a little golden rope. He grabbed Sajus¡¯ arms without any protest, pulling them through two wooden pillars on the railing and tying them tight with the length of fabric. Sajus kept an empty gaze as his brother tied him up, his wrists now bound tight to the stairs, leaving Tim grinning from ear to ear. He instructed the bird to watch Sajus, and to his delight, the noisy familiar complied.


    ¡°Follow me, we¡¯ll keep to pairs,¡± Timber announced, jutting his thumb at his tied-up brother when Squirrel tilted their head even further. He bounced the sharp stone in his other hand, his voice thrumming with confidence at his plan. ¡°Got him good, he ain¡¯t going nowhere. You just stay behind me and I¡¯ll stab whatever comes near us.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    He sucked in a deep breath, swiveling on his heel to face the stairs. Instead of joining his side, Squirrel stayed back, the crunching snaps playing a familiar tune to the noises he had heard when she first turned from a bird into a person. He tried to keep the shivers from crawling up his spine, paying the small brown bird an energetic thumbs up when it nestled into his hair for the journey.


    Pointy rock at the ready, he crept up the stairs, ears alert for any nearby foes. The toppling impacts grew louder when he reached the last step, and he could now faintly hear metal clashing against itself. But it was not coming from the hall he now faced, whatever battle was occurring was still restrained to the attic. A part of him truly wished the battle was on this floor, because the first thing he noticed in the silent hall was a toppled table that had once trapped Cindy¡¯s zombified husk of a body in the study room. The door had been ripped through, and no sounds came from the upturned office beyond.


    A part of Tim wanted to run and check on his father. But his common sense easily wrestled down those instincts. He was small, and regrettably needed quite a few years on him to take on an undead. But his size held one advantage.


    He quietly slid his shoes off to avoid unnecessary noise, and without looking at a single open door he bolted for the ladder to the attic. Not a shriek met him as he reached his destination, hope flowering in his chest as he grabbed on to start his ascent. Until a voice called for him.


    ¡°Tim!¡±


    ¡°Dammit Sajus.¡± He growled, confusion whiling around his mind as he replayed the knot he¡¯d used on his brother. There was no way he had weaseled his way out of a triple tie. He was practically drooling while Tim tightened it.


    And now, of all the gods-forsaken times, he chose this very moment to yell his name?


    Tim stifled a growl, but before he turned his head, Squirrel let out a loud chitter, craning over his forehead to peck his eyebrow. He cried out in protest, receiving another pinching peck when he tried turning his head again.


    ¡°My brother¡¯s gonna get eaten.¡± He hissed, praying his voice was quiet enough not to attract anything unwanted. The fight just beyond the latter was doing wonders to muffle noises for him, but he didn¡¯t want to test his luck.


    Squirrel hopped off his head to perch on the ladder, pecking his hand.


    His cry of pain was more controlled as he rubbed the spot, wondering why he hadn¡¯t heard Sajus approach while Squirrel held his attention.


    Until a new voice came. A dead one.


    Not Cindy. It was something even more terrifying to the young boy.


    ¡°Timberrrrr.¡±


    His body froze at his mother¡¯s voice, the soft tones trailing to a song that begged for his attention. He had heard his mother sing before, she captivated crowds like a siren, and made every note his father strummed into honey for the ears.


    But she did not sing like that.


    ¡°Won¡¯t you turn around, Timber?¡±


    Timber understood why Squirrel was keeping his attention now. What stood behind him wasn¡¯t his mother, and Sajus was most certainly tied up at the stairs. He squeezed his eyes shut and scrambled up the ladder.

 54. Remote Chaos

    A trail of curses fell from Cody¡¯s tongue at the poor choice, as his eyes darted around the empty hall for a thread of spell work.


    He had accidentally obeyed the invitation, and was expecting the fairy to pick at his mind and try to conjure a trick of the eye. There were a few illusions it could choose from, especially if the magic he felt had made it into his mind. But he had a number of ways to dispatch such illusions.


    Typically it involved lighting the first thing that moved on fire.


    Nothing out of sorts greeted him though. He could feel a weight to the air from the spell, but the hall before him was quiet.


    Until he heard it. A music box. It was muffled by the closed door it hid behind, but the strange tune that zombified woman had sang before was clear enough. He readied his tome as he approached the door, ever so cautiously pushing on it to slowly swing the obstacle inwards.


    A well-lit room greeted him, centered by a luxurious bed that easily upscaled the guest room that had once sat in the same space. The thick bed frame was rimmed with wooden panels, detailed depictions of painstakingly carved dragons, knights and various magical creatures covering every inch of wood. He could pick out numerous common fairytales in the carvings, a childish detail if the bed wasn¡¯t so big.


    Or perhaps it was still childish. Spoilt brats often had beds big enough to swallow them whole.


    The rest of the room only supported the theory. The floor was covered in polished, dyed tiles, each a different twilight colour to turn the floor into a chaotic dark mosaic. The azure wallpaper was barely visible through the clutter of framed drawings and miscellaneous trinkets. Cody tried to scan for theories through the framed clutter on the walls. The pictures did not look to be family. Far from it. There was perhaps a pet or two roughly sketched by hand. But the prevailing theme was¡­ expletive.


    Well beyond his comfort zone, he distracted himself from searching the walls.


    He eyed the thin white veils that surrounded the bed, catching movement as something leaned up, giving a little stretch to ease the tension in the air.


    It definitely wasn¡¯t a child. Cody could clearly tell by the choice of artwork and the woman¡¯s silhouette behind the veil.


    A familiar voice came from the bed. The woman that had spoken through the walls. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to peek?¡±


    Cody eyed the silky white veil, the disgust creeping up his stomach and threatening an audible gag. This was certainly not an enchantment that had picked at his mind, the sorcerer had conjured the setting. Perhaps it was the very room they were sitting in while they tormented Bervolt. Regardless, the bed was definitely flammable.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather eat pig¡¯s feet.¡±


    The shadow behind the curtain moved, but not in an offended way. It shifted closer to the veil, pulling its legs up to sit.


    ¡°But I just got these,¡± The woman hummed, ¡°and I want to show them off to someone. Don¡¯t be a bookworm and a bore.¡±


    Cody frowned as the shadow moved, his tension stilling to confusion as a leg stuck out between the veil of curtains. He thanked Alina ten times over it was clothed, wrapped tight in black leather that ribbed at the shin with ornate stitch marks. Cody eyed his surroundings, making sure this wasn¡¯t a distraction to allow the real spellcaster to sneak up on him.


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t clap too loud.¡± The woman sighed, planting her foot and leaning up so her body was barely touching the veil. The shape of her silhouette gave Cody even more assurance that whatever was speaking to him was human.


    Or¡­ almost. There had to be a reason it was hiding.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t clap. That¡¯s all you get.¡± The voice remarked, as if reading Cody¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I finally got the fit right, and a slack-jawed wannabe villain can¡¯t even give me a thumbs up. Do you know how hard it is to dye human skin?¡±


    Cody retracted in disgust, drawing a chuckle from the creature.


    ¡°Gullible too.¡± The woman snorted. ¡°You can¡¯t make good leather out of that. It rips, like parchment.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not here for you to waste the clock,¡± Cody growled.


    ¡°You already won that game. The mercenary did all the work for you.¡± The woman mused. ¡°I wonder how long he¡¯ll last against my little darling though.¡± Her voice lilted with excitement. ¡°Shall we make that the next game?¡±


    ¡°Two minutes.¡±


    She snorted. ¡°Brutal.¡±


    ¡°For your pet. Anyone who has been adventuring as long as that mercenary has definitely seen worse. His knees are more likely to take him out than whatever fairy you¡¯ve roped into fighting him.¡±


    The leg retreated back into the curtain as the woman propped up into a more comfortable position. Cody tensed as she reached off into the shadow of her blankets and pull back a book. ¡°Oh? And what if I asked you to help me? Neither of us has heroism on our agenda.¡±


    ¡°Pass.¡±


    ¡°Even if I was to sweeten the deal and make you my little apprentice?¡±


    ¡°Even harder pass.¡±


    She tossed the book over her shoulder with a dramatic sigh, the volume sailing from the veil and landing on the tiles face down. Cody chanced the title, wishing he hadn¡¯t. ''The Eight Inch Sword.'' It wasn¡¯t far from the portraits in the room, and had taken the liberty of putting a clear visual on the cover. At least it wasn¡¯t a spell book the sorceress was grabbing.


    Cody cleared his throat awkwardly, ¡°This place doesn¡¯t appear to be in Bervolt. You¡¯re engineering these spells from your bedroom?¡±


    ¡°And what if I am?¡± She mused.


    He eyed the rest of the room, approaching a small vanity with a mirror to skim its cluttered surface for something he could use. If it was a fairy, a name would be the perfect thing to find. ¡°It seems impersonal to go through all this effort only to be somewhere else.¡±


    ¡°Part of the job description Cinnamon Stick. Our Lady said help Cindy, and I can do that just fine from here.¡±


    ¡°Our Lady?¡± Cody replied, his mind trailing to the effigy in the middle of Bervolt. ¡°The statue?¡±


    The woman gave him a little clap, sifting through her covers to retrieve yet another book. ¡°What would you call her? The Witch of the Westlock?¡± She fluttered a few pages to find her spot in the novel, pulling up a pillow to lean back on. ¡°She was a witch. On the first night, they burned her. On the second, they defiled what was left of her flesh. And on the third, she walked, and the city of Westlock fell around her.¡± The sorceress mused.


    ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯ve heard of them.¡± Cody checked his shoulder to make sure the shadow wasn¡¯t creeping up on him, going back to his search.


    ¡°She is the flame of change that will free us. The Heroguard will fall to its knees, and with it, the world it corrupted. And then it will start anew, in worship of the primal gifts and beauty that magic brings.¡± She continued, tittering before snapping her book shut. ¡°Or something like that.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°So a false god,¡± Cody said, earning an immediate scoff. He gave up on searching the vanity, checking around for the next promising clutter, and deciding on the small bookshelf that held a little army of figurines and statues atop it.


    ¡°You know, when a lady invites you to her room it¡¯s ill-mannered to sift through her things.¡±


    He checked his shoulder, the woman¡¯s shadow unmoving from her position as she continued to read the book she held.


    ¡°First time. Pardon the intrusion.¡± Cody replied, holding up a figurine of a gold-trimmed knight to admire its details.


    Coming up empty-handed from the figurines he crouched to skim the book titles, trying for anything that didn¡¯t elude to racey contents. Finally, his eyes settled on a contender, ¡®The Thousand Styles of Toroy Garoztch¡¯. A well-used and thick book, with its golden letters rubbed and cracked from time.


    He pulled open the cover, a message inked by hand on the first page.


    To my little seamstress,


    Love, Dad


    Cody cursed under his breath, closing the book and filing it back onto the shelf. Was there any power in discovering her name? She had acted just like a fairy before. Perhaps she knew her name was nowhere to be found in the room.


    ¡°You know, if you just tell me what you like I can name the title. I have them sorted.¡± She cooed, her shadow moving again as she craned her head around to stare at Cody. ¡°And, since we were just talking about false gods. I know there is a boon around your neck. A Fire Ink Sapphire. That¡¯s Alina¡¯s gem, cheap, but so flashy.¡± She mocked.


    Cody stopped, glancing back at the woman curiously. ¡°Have you had dealings with her?¡±


    ¡°No. Pity the fools who call themselves her followers. I would never hand my memories over to a goddess that squeezed herself out of a quill¡¯s nub.¡±


    Cody¡¯s curiousity flattened again at the insult. ¡°I choose the memories, and with your manners, I¡¯m tempted to feed her one.¡±


    ¡°Oh? You choose?¡± She mused. ¡°And do you have that in writing, little warlock?¡±


    Cody frowned, blocking out her remarks from seeding their way in. But the mention of Alina had inspired him in a different way. While the creature before him may not have dealt with Alina, that did not mean they were foreign to the goddess.


    He grabbed the crystal, feeling Alina¡¯s presence swell in his mind.


    ¡°Cody did not know exactly what sat behind the veil. A human, most certainly. A fairy, most definitely.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Cody grumbled.


    ¡°She was not a witch, much like the Witch of The Westlock she proclaimed loyalty to. Nor a queen of fairies that held power over her clutch, like her mother, Athansi. She was a princess of mortal corruption cast from the great spider queen¡¯s perfect web, and raised by a mortal father, who, by means unwritten, had managed to seduce Queen Athansi. She despised her birth name, and had taken a new title to torment the world as an Agent of Death, The Spinner. The second to rise close behind the Witch.¡±


    The cockiness melted right out of Cody¡¯s body. He was new to the region, and not well-versed in the Witch of the Westlock. But he was versed in fairies. Fairy Queens were powerful, just as formidable as Rethalon¡¯s First Lights, and the lesser gods and primal spirits like Alina. Being born from the blood of a Fairy Queen practically made the sorceress before him a demigod. And with only half the blood, the power of a name was not nearly as effective.


    The shadow on the bed kicked its feet up, head rested on its hands. ¡°Oh? Pray tell, what¡¯s Alina saying?¡±


    ¡°Athansi is your mother?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you glad I¡¯m not here in person?¡± She laughed, tapping her fingers on the book at her side and stroking through the pages. ¡°Tell me, Alina, do you still have your silver tongue up Rethalon¡¯s arse? How does sunlight taste coming out of that end?¡±


    Cody clutched the crystal as it began to thrum, Alina¡¯s presence in his mind spiking so quickly it was painful. ¡°She was a mistake. Unloved, and seeking attention from any corner that would toss her a thought. And so she found the Witch of the Westlock, and proclaimed herself an Agent of Death. But to her it was not loyalty, it was simply another spotlight to whine inside of.¡±


    Cody pursed his lips. But Alina was not finished.


    ¡°Cody, now knowing these things, was tempted to say them to The Spinner.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying that,¡± Cody whispered, eyeing the veil and praying he was quiet enough to avoid the demigod¡¯s ears. ¡°You come down here and say that.¡±


    Alina¡¯s voiced was steeped with disappointment. ¡°But alas, Cody was a coward and a fool. It was anyone¡¯s guess why he hadn¡¯t burned through the illusion he stood in yet.¡±


    ¡°I was trying to gather information,¡± Cody mumbled, his stomach blooming with worry as Alina¡¯s presence pulled away.


    ¡°Word of advice, if you manage to make it out of this house.¡± The Spinner mused, tickling at the veil playfully. ¡°If you want to be a real villain, drop that slippery snake around your neck and learn to screw with a few heads yourself.¡±


    ¡°Our visions for villainy are a little too¡­ different.¡± Cody replied, eyeing some of the decor in the room, his body stiff as a board as he spelled out an incantation behind his back. ¡°by the way, Alina says your story isn¡¯t all that entertaining. Poor plot, weak motivation. Her words, not mine.¡±


    ¡°And what do you think?¡± The Spinner replied, a weight piercing the veil as Cody could have sworn he saw a red glimmer in her shadowed eyes, boring directly into his soul.


    ¡°I think it would be great if we never met again.¡± He said, muttering a quick verse to finish the spell. The bed before him burst into flames, ripping through the illusion before him to expose the familiar guest room he had wandered into.


    But one detail sat out of place. This bed had no veil, but upon it, a person still sat. Rotted and twitching as it gave Cody a fleshy smile. No words came from Cindy, just a bone-chilling shriek as she lurched.


    Cody turned so fast his foot kicked out from underneath him, sending him and the tome in his hands tumbling to the floor. The creature landed on the floor just behind him with a bony thud. He felt the creature''s hand grab at his robes, its frayed nails snagging at the fabric as he desperately tried to scramble away. Sharing Maynard''s fate was not how Cody wanted to go. Dragon fire would be a better fate than torn to shreds by a empowered undead.


    A cry of fear slipped when he felt the creature tug him backwards, his fingers slipping off the cover of his tome and leaving it just out of reach. He threw a desperate kick at the undead, the creature catching his foot and ripping his boot off instead.


    Cody moved his leg away from a swiping claw just in time, his voice coming out as a yip of fright. "Help!" He didn''t care who came running, if the mercenary was nearby he would just refuse to acknowledge this embarrassment ever happened.


    But the doorway remained empty.


    He felt a swipe land, a painful sting swelling up his thigh as the creature tore down his leg. Cody clutched his last failsafe, feeling Alina''s presence drift back into his mind.


    "Alina, help!"


    The undead snarled at the name, lurching forward to try and swipe the necklace from Cody''s hands.


    Alina''s voice chirped with amusement at the predicament. "Cody was in trouble."


    "No shit!" Cody retorted, ducking another grab from the undead and trying once more to crawl away from it. But like a never-ending dance of terror, it grabbed his robes and dragged him right back to the spot he had wiggled out of.


    "But was he willing to trade?"


    Alina could feel Cody''s terror, they both knew this. But it was a procedural contract. Hell or high water. Dragon or feral shrieking undead. She did not provide freebies.


    A ''yes'' nearly left Cody''s lips when he caught movement by the door. Clunky brown leather boots that were clearly too big for their energetic occupant. A pair of fierce emerald eyes met his, and like a shower of cold rain after a heatwave, his body immediately filled with relief.


    He heard the snap of a crossbow, and threw his hands up to cover his ears as a ball of fire exploded just behind him. Sariel''s words were completely muffled by the ringing in his ears, but he could piece together the gist of it as she helped him to his feet, stared at his bloodied leg, then gave the headless corpse an aggressive kick. Cody poured out the thank you''s while his hearing returned, accepting Sariel''s arm as she helped him out of the smouldering room and into the hall.


    He could hear a scuffle upstairs, muffled impacts as various items toppled over. Whatever the mercenary was doing up there was anyone''s guess, but Cody would have to catch his breath and recollect himself before running headlong in to help him - he wasn''t intent on a third near death experience.


    He relaxed against the nearest wall, checking his torn pant leg and the bloodied scratch underneath. It was shallower than the pain had let on. He could walk with a minor pinch, and without Sariel to stop him, it would have been to the closest sanitation spread. Cody heard a loud slam from the attic, his lips pricking into a frown.


    But the mercenary needed help, and he wasn''t going to leave Sariel to do all the work.


    Cody sighed, accepting Sariel''s hand to help him back to his feet. It took Cody some time to realize Alina was still lingering in his mind, watching Sariel through his eyes.


    Alina was careful to keep her feelings from leaking through this time, which only put Cody more on edge.


    He focused on her presence, alerting her to his attention.


    Without a word, he felt Alina''s presence pull away.


    And then, the entire house trembled as a explosion echoed from the attic.

 55. Ive Got Eight Problems and a Spider is One

    Maddison felt his body shake as the commander landed another blow on his sword. Exhaustion was foreign to the man¡¯s strikes, but it was most certainly catching up to Maddison. He had delivered a few more shallow cuts, and they clotted the same each time. The rest of his strikes were dulled by the defensive enchantments that had been soaked in the man¡¯s armour.


    In his tired state, he had focused on conserving his energy. Most of that involved stepping on the commander¡¯s flowy cloak whenever he could to trip the man up and restrict his swings. The one in control of his body hadn¡¯t thought to discard the obstacle.


    Sword fighting was a matter of killing, not teasing to piss off the man trying to cut you down. But it was really all he could manage without magics or poisons that would afflict the undead. For once, he was hoping for some backup before the guest in the tower joined the scuffle.


    His prayers were answered by a shuffle at the hatchway to the attic. A head full of blonde hair popped through, one of the twins staring at him with dish eyes as they pulled themselves up through the hatch.


    His hopes faded as no one followed the kid except a small brown bird that was nesting on his head. There were quite a few ways to express a greeting or ask about the split company, but thinking too hard on trivialities while trying not to be sliced in half by a zombified commander was beyond Maddison¡¯s capabilities.


    He barely deflected another strike to his side, his shoulder spiking in pain. He shot Tim a glare, ¡°Where¡¯s the warlock?!¡±


    Tim flinched at the tone, a snarky reply dying in his throat. ¡°He¡­¡± Tim¡¯s gaze darted around the attic in confusion, his hands flexing around a shiny, woven metal ball. ¡°He said it was a fairy domain¡­¡±


    He sighed. What was he supposed to do with that information? So the sky was blue, kittens purred, and the unusually large spider could use magic. The best way to kill a fairy was to stab it through with iron, not play games with it.


    He planted his foot on the commander¡¯s cloak, shoving the man¡¯s back to force him to stumble. The commander dropped to his knees, flipping around to swing his blade before Maddison could deliver a strike with his sword.


    ¡°Tell him to come up here and then go hide!¡± Maddison boomed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know where he went.¡± Tim squeaked, scrabbling on top of some wooden boxes in the corner as the commander¡¯s sword struck the flooring a few feet from him. ¡°I thought he was up here.¡±


    Maddison grabbed the man, trying to lock him in a bear hug and drag him away from the frightened child. ¡°How¡¯d you lose track of him? He glows!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just a kid! Stop yellin'' at me!¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯ll only ever be a kid if you don¡¯t come back up those stairs with a warlock!¡±


    Timber didn¡¯t move, even as Maddison cleared the space for him to slip back down the hatch. He met the mercenaries burning glare with near tears in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not going back down there, Cindy¡¯s on the loose!¡±


    The little bird swooped in front of the man, flapping in place for a few seconds as if inspecting him. The commander tried to swipe the creature out of the air, forcing it to swoop away with panicked chirps. Maddison saw the small creature pass his right, soaring to the dark wooden beams holding up the ceiling.


    Maddison¡¯s attention went right back to fending off the commander as he tried another sloppy strike at the mercenary. But from the dark rafters came a loud squelch, and a chilling crack of bones as the bird turned into something else. Maddison clicked in when he heard a small and familiar voice in his head.


    ¡°Step back.¡±


    Maddison listened this time, taking a healthy step back as a shadow dropped on the commander, flattening him to the floorboards. Two massive paws pinned the commander stomach-down, the beast¡¯s short golden fur covering everything but its feathery mane and large brown wings.


    The creature let out a warbling coo in the commander¡¯s ear, met with silence as the man still tried to wiggle out from under the weight of an adolescent gryphon.


    Maddison kicked the commander¡¯s sword away, making sure the struggling foe didn''t have the strength to escape. He finally lowered his guard, too exhausted to care about the shapeshifter in front of him as he sat on the closest box to catch his breath. Tim didn¡¯t move from the box he had huddled atop, splitting his attention between gaping at the gryphon and watching Maddison uncap a vial of gooey blue paste and smear it all over his sword.


    The commander¡¯s struggles stilled by the time Maddison had something to say to his guests. ¡°Unless you have some firepower we need to get the warlock.¡±


    Tim scoffed at the comment. ¡°What you mean? Squirrel just did yer job.¡±


    Maddison eyed the shapeshifter, smearing the blue paste down the other side of his sword. Despite being very young, he would be a fool to assume the shapeshifter hadn¡¯t eaten the heart of a creature that could turn the tide in their favour. ¡°Can you get any bigger than that?¡±


    The gryphon cooed, its feathery ears dropping as it shook its head.


    ¡°Keep that one pinned.¡± Maddison ordered, giving his back a stiff stretch before waving Timber to the hatch. ¡°We¡¯ll find you a place to hide and get that damn warlock.¡±


    Timber wordlessly complied, lingering by the hatch while Maddison crossed the room. But something caught his eye as he stared at the colourful lighting the stained glass window behind him cast on the floor. Something long, and dark, moved. Cutting through the colourful shapes.


    They all stopped. Timber and Squirrel in confusion at the long and thin shape of the shadows, and Maddison in dread. Its spindly legs tapped on the fragile glass, teasing the barrier before one of the arms speared through it and shattered it. Timber barely threw himself back in time as it stabbed for the hatchway, the appendage hovering near their only escape route as the spider poked the front half of its body into the attic, and with it, three more bladed legs.


    The next arm tried at Squirrel, the girl thinking quickly and shrinking back into the small brown bird before the pointed leg could skewer her side. She twirled around the dangerous legs, finding refuge on Maddison¡¯s shoulder as he used a wooden crate as a temporary barrier. The commander did not move from the ground, now a limp puppet with the strings cut.


    The spider stabbed right through the crate, barely scathing Maddison¡¯s back as he jumped away, regrettably closer to the snapping mandibles of the creature. It bit down on his sword, trying to wrestle the object out of Maddison¡¯s hands. He held onto it like the last stick of candy on earth, failing to deter the creature with a few punches to its eyes. The beast readjusted its mandibles, finding his forearm and easily sinking a fang through the soft leather. With a pained grunt, Maddison unsheathed the enchanted dagger at his waist, finally finding some success as it easily cut right into the spider¡¯s eye.


    The beast shrieked in pain and relented, Maddison not sparing a second to rip his blade and arm loose and scramble to the other side of the room. Halfway there, he met Timber¡¯s terrified gaze, the boy pointing past him with a shout that he couldn¡¯t make out past the spider¡¯s cries.


    Obviously, there was a spider behind him. He knew that.


    Maddison felt a harsh tug at his cloak as the fabric clotheslined him and threw his feet out from under him. He struck the ground, twisting to dodge the spider as it tried to stab his legs. With a painful twist, he eyed what had caught his cloak, glaring at the leg that had pegged it to the floor as the spider, blueish blood oozing from the side of its face, let out a mix between a hiss and a laugh. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    He unclipped the cloak, and after a choice gesture, Maddison repaid the attack in kind, driving his sword into a soft joint on the spider¡¯s armoured leg. It ripped it back with another cry of pain, and Maddison scooped the cloak off the ground, running to join Timber on the stack of boxes on the opposite side of the room.


    The creature hadn¡¯t pushed its way in enough to reach them with its legs yet, trying to anchor itself with its three working legs by driving them into the wooden floor. The final limb sat paralyzed from the strike Maddison had delivered, but there was no telling how quickly the poison he had coated his blade with would spread.


    He squeezed his arm, feeling the tingle in it gradually grow to a sharp pain. The poison on his blade would definitely spread slower than whatever the spider had gotten him with. He hated the thought of depending on the warlock. But then again, no one had stuck a spider the size of a bedroom on the wanted poster.


    But first, someone had to make it to the hatch. It was either going to be Timber or the shapeshifter.


    He eyed the shapeshifter curiously as it formed into a small child to hide next to Timber. The familiar child. He felt some relief that they were alright. At least one had survived from the Heroguard squadron.


    Maddison stared at the little metal ball glowing in Timber''s hands, the small shards of flint packed inside of it glowing red with runes that had been scratched into their surfaces. It was definitely a rushed job, but he had a good idea as to what it was. ¡°Where did you get that?¡±


    Tim eyed the ball, paying Maddison an uncertain shrug. ¡°That warlock handed it to me. Said to throw it if something starts chasing us.¡±


    Maddison grabbed the ball, the terror rising in Tim¡¯s eyes as he knew what the mercenary intended to do.


    ¡°No, he said to make sure we¡¯re far away!¡±


    ¡°Far enough.¡±


    The spider shrieked as it saw the ball, the entire attic shaking as it rammed its body against the window to try and tear a larger hole. As Maddison raised to throw it, its legs drew back, perfectly lining up to a defensive wall in front of its face.


    But that wasn¡¯t the target.


    With all the strength he had, he threw the ball through the tower door, hoping the little shake would help the lopsided tower along.


    White stones erupted outwards in a wall of flames, Squirrel transforming again and shoving everyone down to wrap them in her wings as the debris flew. Even above the sounds of the explosion, the spider''s cries could be heard as the white tower crumbled on top of it, spilling its heavy debris across the front of the house and shaking the wooden structure to its foundations.


    Even after the stones had finished falling, the wooden supports of the house whined from the damage. The explosion had hopefully crushed the large guest, and most of its family inside the tower. There were a few little blue specks Maddison could see skittering between the rocks, and he aimed his steps for them wherever he could. The rocks had covered most of the window, the sunlight just strong enough to guide the rattled group to the hatch. Squirrel sluggishly pushed the debris away from it, shrinking back into a tired brown bird that cuddled into Tim¡¯s cupped hands when the route was cleared.


    He didn¡¯t protest as Maddison went down the hatch first, the mercenary, in his exhaustion, was even less amicable to conversation as he headed down the hall with slow and heavy steps. Tim kept to his side, until he eyed the open study room. Maddison greeted the look Timber tossed him with a tired scowl, shaking his head.


    His father had been trapped in a room with the zombified corpse that wanted nothing but a painful end for the man.


    He was most certainly dead, and very likely not in one piece.


    But Timber didn¡¯t move, clearly still pulled to check.


    ¡°Stairs,¡± Maddison growled, shaking some of the temptation out of him. Timber stopped, looking up at Maddison with pleading eyes.


    And then came a sound that no one wanted to hear. A howling roar, from the winged beast they had forgotten outside. The entire house rocked as something struck it. With the spellcaster disposed of, the barrier on the house had died. But some enchantments lingered longer than anyone liked.


    ¡°Stairs. NOW.¡±


    Timber scrabbled down the steps as a voice echoed up, Sariel meeting them halfway with a cry of relief and excitement. Cody was at the bottom of the steps, just finishing cutting through Sajus¡¯ ties as he met Maddison¡¯s gaze. Unlike the disgust that usually peppered his face, he beheld him with both shock, and some concern when he saw the handful of wounds the spider had delivered to Maddison.


    ¡°Thanks for the ball,¡± Maddison muttered. He didn¡¯t have the energy to engage more, giving him a dead stare as he passed him for the back door and kicked it wide open.


    The building shook again as the dragon struck it, everyone squeezing out of the house to a temporary freedom. Cody sized up the fenced backyard, waving the group to a small wooden shed peeking from behind a fat pine tree. It was coverage. Not for a dragon, just for hopeful idiots.


    And right now, Maddison was amongst such company.


    Maddison relaxed against the shed as soon as they reached it, the pain in his arm now reaching his shoulder with a burning tingle. He definitely wasn¡¯t swinging a sword with that arm anymore. Not that it would do skat against a dragon.


    He found the leather tie of his pauldron, pulling it tight to cut the circulation.


    Cody plopped down beside him, still a healthy enough distance to be clear that it was to hold his attention and not a show of camaraderie. ¡°Did you get the source?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, giant gods damned spider. Dragon¡¯s spell will wear out when it runs out of magic.¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re in there somewhere.¡± The Spinner hissed, its voice now booming from an unlikely source that hardly had the tongue to talk. The dragon craned its neck around the house, poking its snout through a window as its lips moved in tune with the words coming out of it. ¡°Come out and play, the game is almost over.¡±


    Maddison and Cody swore in synchronization.


    The anchor of the spell had moved.


    Maddison chanced a better look at the beast, getting everything he needed when he looked at a deep gouge in its back where one of its wings seemed to have been ripped out, white stones lodged in the crevice of an injury to spell fault.


    It wasn¡¯t healing anymore.


    He turned to Cody. ¡°Any more explosives?¡±


    Cody made a face, pouring out his satchel to skim through a few spare rocks. ¡°Fifteen minutes?¡±


    Maddison gave him a dead look. ¡°Does that dragon look like it will take more than fifteen minutes to find us?¡±


    Sariel hummed in disappointment, holding the empty crossbow in her lap. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Sungard. Used the last arrow on that Cindy lady. Was chasin¡¯ Cody around.¡±


    ¡°Hord¡¯anne might be able to help if I can reach him.¡±


    Maddison exchanged glances with the rest of the group. No one had heard the beast since the dragon bit down on its back. But no one wanted to speak the truth to Cody¡¯s hopefulness.


    Cody caught the obvious looks and returned them with a frown, ¡°He¡¯s probably fine.¡±


    ¡°Before the dragon eats you, do you have any antivenom?¡±


    Cody scrunched his nose at Maddison. ¡°For what?¡±


    Maddison tugged off his bracer, flaunting the deep gouge in his forearm that the spider had graciously given him. Aside from the thick saliva dripping off of it, the wound had gone a sickly green, whatever blood was meant to pour out congealed by the venom.


    Cody grimaced at the slimy wound, cringing away and holding his tome tight as if it could somehow harm it. "Why would you show me that?¡±


    ¡°I got somethin!¡± Sariel burst, the doubt even finding its way onto Cody¡¯s face as she untied a little leather flask from her belt. She wrestled the cap off it, splashing the clear liquid over Maddison¡¯s arm until the contents were entirely emptied.


    Maddison stared at his soaked arm, waiting for some kind of sensation that wasn¡¯t coming. The only thing his skin felt was cold mixed with the same stabbing pain. He looked at Sariel. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Water, sir.¡±


    Maddison let out a deep sigh. ¡°Sariel¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    He gave her a hard, long stare, catching that same dumb innocence through the slot of her helmet. ¡°Nothing. Thanks.¡±


    Tim looked between them all, his hands fidgeting on his knees as the little brown bird slept in his lap. ¡°Are we going to die?¡±


    ¡°No, the dragon¡¯s just going to take us to a nicer place,¡± Maddison replied, resting his head against the shed and closing his eyes in defeat.


    Hope withered quickly after that, everyone stewing in their own bubbles of silence. The dragon came closer as it fully rounded the mansion, its scarred and bloodied tail in their sights as it swayed about the backyard. That was, until a sound carved through the dragon¡¯s destruction.


    It started in a tuned bellow that trailed high like a trumpet. Maddison didn¡¯t like the noise, except at this very moment. Even the dragon recognised it. What stood of the mansion groaned as it moved its weight off the debris to follow the noise, a string of curses dripping off its tongue like a mother that had just heard a glass shatter.


    It was a signal of entrance the Heroguard used.


    Reinforcements had arrived.

 56. Here Come the Cavalry

    The man knew there had been a mad sorcerer in the area for quite some time, but he never liked taking a learning opportunity from the initiates. That is, until a beacon flapped its way to his tent, pleading for rescue. There were opportunities, and then there were emergencies.


    And no matter how small a town it was, Bervolt was now an emergency.


    Without time to lose, he changed his plans, writing a letter to the one who awaited his arrival. He had found himself writing this letter day after day, and year after year. The words may have changed with each apology, but the broken record still sang loud for all to hear.


    Hello Justin,


    I apologize, but we will need to push back our lunch. There is an emergency that I simply cannot ignore.


    How does next week fit your schedule?


    Duty calls!


    Love, Dad


    The Great White Knight of the Heroguard was a glowing symbol of valor and righteousness to the people. But, despite being the loving father of two children, nowhere in his words of praise did family fit in comfortably. His beloved Eliza was his second wife in more ways than one, the strongest reasons being that duty was his first. And the second reason, was the one he had first proclaimed love to. An elephant in the room.


    Crisis never slept, and no matter the size, he would avert all tragedies he came across so long as there was air in his lungs.


    It made scheduling difficult, which is why the White Knight was the only Archon that regularly travelled without a squadron or a follower. He did not need a party for their might, he carried the strength of an army on his body. Mythica a blade forged by Ra¡¯zerun¡¯s very hands, that could conduct the stars, and Svalan, a golden scale from Rethalon¡¯s body, was forged into the sheet of a shield that could devour even the hottest of fires.


    His only constant companion was the gryphon he rode. Two tons of pure muscle and feathered fury, bred for the front lines of war and conquest. His talons could pierce any metal short of Noctra¡¯s tears, and his cry was almost as foul as his attempts at singing to the morning birds in the woods.


    This airborne killing machine was lovingly named Bagel by Caleb¡¯s daughter. Bagel Evangeline Creamcheese.


    Through coddling at home, Bagel had never grown out of his puppy-like demeanour, but certainly, one or two saddles that should have fit the full-grown beast. It was no complaining matter for Caleb, the extra servings gave the mount more energy in his long travels.


    Bervolt was a short journey from his initial destination, within a single sunrise he could see a plume of black smoke on the horizon, and within a few short hours, he was outside the town¡¯s gates. The walls were bare of patrols, and the wooden gate was wide open, with just two individuals huddled to the side of the wall, having long since abandoned their guard duties.


    The guard that was still on her feet beheld him with hope and hesitation, not leaving the unconscious guard''s side as Caleb approached. He had assumed the downed guard had suffered wounds before he had gotten close enough to see the cluster of magic crawling around his mind.


    ¡°Ra¡¯zerun¡¯s blessings be upon you both. What plagues this town?¡±


    The woman eyed him, clearly ready to turn him away until she saw the sigil marking his rank. ¡°Thank you for answering our call for aid Archon. A mad sorcerer was our first problem, but a dragon swooped down not long ago.¡±


    ¡°Have you finished evacuations?¡±


    She eyed the gate, looking at her unconscious companion. She held her head low. ¡°They¡¯re all cursed, they can¡¯t leave. Only the guards can come and go.¡± She grabbed a sheet of paper, offering the object to the knight. ¡°I can grant you entry, but I cannot do anything if you choose to flee.¡±


    He eyed the enchanted parchment, waving his refusal of the gift. Fairies had come up with many indirect ways to find names and invite people into their games. These written favours were a new trend that didn¡¯t even require a signature line. It was a trade, a simple task for entry or coin. But there was always fine print either in invisible ink, or a long line of text that no one in their right mind would ever find the time to read, that also included a request for the individual¡¯s name.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Although there was no doubt this fairy knew his name, he wasn¡¯t going to act like this was fun and games for them.


    He drew Mythica, the golden broadsword twinkling like golden fire under the sunlight. He could see the barrier that enveloped Bervolt, its strength waning from the conflict within. He drove the weapon into the air, the magic splitting like threads as he carved a doorway just big enough for Bagel to squeeze through.


    The woman beheld the hole speechlessly. He paid her a polite bow, turning to the gryphon to work at unclipping the thick leather mittens covering its paws and rear talons. ¡°I¡¯ve got the dragon and the sorcerer. Might I trouble you to accompany Bagel to deal with evacuations?¡±


    ¡°Bagel?¡± She hesitated, eyes wide with fear as the gryphon cocked its head at her.


    Caleb whistled to grab the bird¡¯s attention, handing the guard a fat sack of jerky in view of the hungry bird. This did very little to ease her fears as she accepted the gift.


    ¡°Smart bird, he knows when he¡¯s working. One per survivor and he won¡¯t throw a fit.¡± He gave her shoulder a reassuring smack, departing through the hole he¡¯d carved without another word.


    His destination was a clear path this time. There were few places a dragon would be hiding aside from the towering clouds of black smoke. He used the short walk to ready himself, tightening any straps on his armour that had a wobble, and pulling Svalan from his back to make sure the shield was ready to eat some dragon fire. He found his target quickly, the dragon wrapped around a mansion as it poked and prodded at the windows, speaking in a hissing voice that Caleb was well acquainted with.


    It was far from the biggest dragon he had seen, but still a handful for a small town like Bervolt. He could see the fine stitches of magic all over its body, confirming that it was being puppeteered in a manner akin to undeath. It seemed to be on its last threads however, given that one of its wings had been left discarded under the debris of a toppled white tower.


    Still, it was ill-mannered to strike an enemy when their back was turned.


    He unclipped an ornate horn from his belt, and blew it.


    The dragon immediately turned, its scarred face twisting with disgust at the sight of him. After one too many swears, it bent low, fixing an eyeless socket on him with a rolling chuckle. ¡°Oh-hoh. This is rich. The White Knight himself is here. Tell me, did you really think I¡¯d come here myself? To this dump?¡±


    Caleb adjusted his shield with a sigh, drawing his sword in preparation for the inevitable. ¡°Just cut the spell, you know you can¡¯t kill me with that.¡±


    The zombified dragon snarled, its tongue lashing about unnaturally as it spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll settle for something achievable in this skin, like whatever finger you use on your whore wife.¡±


    Caleb checked the scorched clearing for guests, hoping to save himself some embarrassment in this conversation as he lowered his voice. ¡°Katryna, can we please be civil and just talk? ¡±


    The dragon lurched back, spewing a stream of flames out at the hero. He readied his shield, the flames withering on its surface without so much as an ember to touch the ground. He ducked a swiping claw, raising his blade to slice one of the dragon¡¯s digits clean off as it passed.


    He got some breather room when he side-stepped the dragon¡¯s second strike, pulling up his visor to check around for something on the dragon¡¯s body. ¡°Where are you? Give me a hint.¡±


    ¡°Check the chute.¡± The dragon spat back.


    He clicked his tongue, raising his shield to bounce back a swiping strike from the dragon. ¡°Too vain. What did these people do to deserve this?¡±


    ¡°They were terrible singers. No one will miss that noise.¡± Katryna laughed, pouncing at Caleb to try and squish him with a paw. Her claws slid right off the forcefield he threw up, golden flecks of magic spraying into the air as she tried another swipe at the defense. Her voice dipped to amusement as the words sang off her tongue. ¡°Are you mad?¡±


    He waved his hand in defeat, pushing his visor down. ¡°Forget this. No sense fighting until sundown.¡± He tipped his blade towards the sky, freezing the dragon in its tracks. ¡°Ra¡¯zerun, lend me one of your stars.¡±


    She snarled with fury, her back arching for a strike as she saw the blade glow. ¡°You cheating-¡°


    The dragon¡¯s words were cut short as a beam of light shot from the sky, cutting directly through its skull. The hot and condensed column of starlight whined with power, scorching the flesh of the dragon into fine dust, and leaving a half-skeletal, half-burnt corpse as it faded.


    The beast stood rigid for a moment, collapsing to the ground to shoot a wave of salty dust in all directions. Caleb took a moment to brush the debris away, pulling off his helmet to rub at some of the dust that had slipped between his visor and into his eyes. When his vision was cleared, he caught a flutter of movement in the air, a tiny webbed parachute passing his gaze and drifting to the ground to deliver a small blue spider to safety.


    He picked it off the ground, holding the spider up to his face. Eight twinkling red eyes met his as the spider poked at his leather glove.


    A pitying smile touched his face as he watched the little creature, knowing his words would reach the sorceress that controlled it. ¡°I¡¯m never mad, just disappointed.¡±


    He closed his fist, its hard shell crunching with a small cry.

 57. The White Knight Caleb

    Of course, Cody had snuck a peek at the fray. His curiosity was a lost cause when Maddison mentioned the horn was Heroguard reinforcements. He had expected to see a gaggle of idiots try their best against the weakened drake, and hopefully provide enough of a distraction for him to sneak by and check on Hord¡¯anne.


    Seeing the dragon be obliterated by a beam of starlight was far from his list of expectations. The man just stood there, sword raised. It was as if he was plucked from the pages of a fairytale. He certainly had far more than the favour of a god on his side. The only positive note from the sight was that the beam had missed Hord¡¯anne, who lay face down near the crushed stables.


    But despite the desire to check on his friend pulling at him, he didn¡¯t want to move. The last thing he wanted to do was make himself known to the man who stood in the clearing.


    There was nothing threatening about his demeanor. From what Cody could see once he removed his helmet, he was human. His armor, albeit more decorative than most, coloured a welcoming white and gold. The magic he could sense was vast, but not oppressive, settling close to the ground like bunches of leaves that could be kicked up with ease.


    But still, Cody felt his heart sink at the sight of the man. His body had gone cold as soon as he saw the dragon drop. He would have found more comfort if the man was adorned with dark steel and a blood-spattered cloak. Something to give him an obvious reason to fear him.


    Because right now, what he was feeling simply boiled down to an inexplicable and chilling terror.


    Maddison brushed past his side, lifting the helmet off of Sariel¡¯s head. She was unable to overcome the height advantage Maddison had before he stuck the helmet on. But before the protest could be put to words he held out a little satchel, and to her delight it was filled with nuts and dried berries.


    The man finished patting the dust out of his hair, immediately spotting Maddison when he stood straight again. He raised his hand high above his head in a friendly wave. His voice was trained for large speeches, and flew across the clearing quickly. ¡°Oh, Survivors!¡±


    Sariel returned the wave and the man swiftly approached them. Cody felt a little more comfortable with Maddison in the lead, but kept clear of eye contact once the stranger was in conversation distance.


    He gave Maddison''s arm a pat when he reached the group, eyes twinkling with energy that thrummed through his voice. ¡°Great job!¡± After letting out a happy sigh he eyed the group of speechless adventurers, then gazed back at the dragon¡¯s corpse that was still crackling with energy. He looked back at Madison, sizing up his gear, and then clicking in. ¡°Oh! Oh no. Was that¡­ were you fighting her? Did I steal your kill?¡± He rubbed his head awkwardly, his face filling with regret. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I saw a dragon and got a little excited. That''s why they say to never meet your stars, that dragon can attest." He snickered, raising his hand to his mouth to block the nonexistent eavesdroppers. "It can get a little hot.¡±


    Cody looked back at the obliterated corpse, and likely didn¡¯t realise his mouth was hanging wide open.


    ¡°The credit is your group¡¯s, don¡¯t fret. It¡¯s like¡­ a pickle jar!¡± He gave Maddison¡¯s shoulder a friendly punch, earning a stifled grunt as he went for the injured arm. ¡°You loosened it for me!¡± He laughed, peeking past the mercenaries shoulder to nod at Timber and Sajus, and then looking around the rest of the backyard. He fixed his gaze on Maddison, a smile never falling from his face. ¡°Anyone else?¡±


    ¡°The squadron of heroes you¡¯re looking for are all dead.¡± Maddison replied flatly.


    Cody stiffened as the man¡¯s face fell some. What a way to have worded it.


    ¡°I suspected as much.¡± He sighed, gazing back at the statue of the woman with a somber look. ¡°What about the Follower?¡±


    ¡°No clue.¡±


    Caleb eyed Maddison curiously, nearly eye to eye with the hulking man. His features were well set for the Heroguard posters he was often depicted on, steel grey eyes and ringlets of black hair that flowed just past his thick jaw. But he could turn a poster smile into a dark look at the flip of a coin, and Maddison¡¯s manners were definitely forcing his brow to furrow.


    His eyes narrowed, and his voice dipped as he raised his shoulders. ¡°You''re a tall fellow.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t toot your own horn,¡± Maddison replied.


    His smile hollowed as he sized Maddison up, lingering on the familiar pieces of scaled armour he was wearing. The White Knight''s hands did not move from his sides, but he didn¡¯t need a sword to silence Maddison with his magical advantage.


    And suddenly, in the tense air, Cody did not feel so safe standing next to Maddison.


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥


    ¡°Guild?¡± Caleb questioned.


    ¡°Greenhorn.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    He relaxed a little bit at the name, eyeing the crow puttering around the grass at Sariel¡¯s feet to confirm Maddison¡¯s claims. And then he laughed, only managing to relax Sariel as she awkwardly joined in on the humour while trying to search for it. After composing himself, Caleb gripped Maddison¡¯s injured arm, squeezing just hard enough to stiffen the mercenary. ¡°Had me worried, friend. It''s a good set, but it''s still mighty suspicious putting on Heroguard armour.¡±


    Madison felt a rush of warmth travel from the knight¡¯s hand and through his body, tingling its way up to his skull with a small pinch. He ripped his hand away, letting out a few dry coughs. ¡°Are you trying to cast a spell on me?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m just removing her eggs. That¡¯s how she controls things.¡± Caleb remarked, ¡°Little surge of holy energy fries them easily though. Should close that bite up quicker too.¡± He tossed his gaze to Sariel, quick but deliberate. ¡°She¡¯s got a nasty bite, glad you had a cure.¡±


    ¡°Her what¡­?¡±


    ¡°Her eggs. In your skull.¡± Caleb repeated, smiling through the horrified silence Maddison paid him. ¡°It¡¯s okay, they¡¯re gone now! Didn¡¯t hatch a single one. Chin up soldier, there¡¯s worse ways she can fight you. I¡¯d say you all did a stellar job!¡± He smacked his pockets, awkwardly trying to shove his thick gloves into a tight coin purse. He finally managed to get a silver coin from his pocket, flashing its shiny surface at Maddison. ¡°Ten slivs to help me search?¡±


    Maddison¡¯s voice was unbreakably flat at the bribe. ¡°I¡¯m not taking side jobs right now.¡±


    Caleb didn¡¯t linger long in Maddison¡¯s silence, moving to Sariel to quickly size her up, and then turning his attention to Cody, the strange air of excitement returning when he accidentally locked gazes with the man.


    ¡°Hello, young lad!¡±


    Cody jumped when he realized Caleb was walking towards him now, throwing up his open palms in surrender. ¡°I¡¯m not a Khalin sorcerer!¡±


    ¡°Might you have a little bit of magic to spare? Katryna¡¯s curse is still active. I¡¯d like to break her anchor here before she sends another string.¡±


    ¡°I-I would but-¡°


    ¡°Lovely! I¡¯ll just grab your hand.¡±


    Cody let out a little squeak of surprise as the knight grabbed his hands, a strange energy running down his arms as he felt the knight''s magic gently pull at his flow.


    ¡°Fire, very useful for this,¡± Caleb remarked, his eyes dropping to the ground as a string of runes slithered out from beneath their feet. Cody stared at the symbols, his nose scrunching as he didn¡¯t recognize the text. It didn¡¯t seem to come from any elemental dialects he was well versed in, and the way it flourished reminded him of Elaren roots.


    But he could piece together most Elaren sigils. This was older. Much older.


    The runes quickly scattered into the grass, and as they did, the sound of falling glass filled the town as the forcefield around Bervolt completely shattered, golden shards falling to the ground like bullets to strike the few remaining spiders that were drifting about in their little parachutes.


    The dusting of magic throughout Bervolt quickly dissipated once the spell was through, the only saturation remaining belonging to Caleb¡¯s residual spellwork. Cody was quick to take his hands back once the knight loosened his grip, chancing a look at his face. The knight was eyeing the sky, lips relaxed into an approachable smile. Cody cast his gaze back to the ground as he felt the weight of the Knight¡¯s stare.


    He felt relief once more when he saw Caleb¡¯s boots turn away from him to rejoin Maddison.


    But as the knight¡¯s back turned, a shadow swooped, growing over Sajus as a large beast landed in the grass just behind him. Despite its clumsy landing, it was quick to its goal, snatching the back of Sajus'' shirt and pulling him into the air. Timber instinctively grabbed onto his brother, Cody grabbing Timber¡¯s ankles before he was completely lifted out of reach as well. The gryphon pounded its wings, Cody feeling the airborne beast start to lift his weight, until the small bird in Timber¡¯s free hand awoke, turning into a much smaller gryphon to tug at Timber¡¯s shirt and barely keep him grounded with Cody.


    A sharp whistle cut the air as Caleb intervened, his voice booming at the beast once he had its attention. ¡°Bagel! Down!¡±


    The gryphon dropped Sajus, landing next to the terrified boy and chittering questionably at the knight. He put an arm in the way of the gryphon as it tried for Cody¡¯s robes, swinging both arms to wave the beast back.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already rescued them!¡±


    Bagel chuffed, twittering crossly as he bumped his beak against each of the guests, stopping momentarily when Sariel gave him a chin scratch. He didn¡¯t care much for the space he occupied, his tail slapping Maddison twice, and his body nearly throwing Cody to the ground as he spread his wings to take to the sky once more.


    Caleb lifted Sajus back to his feet, looking around for any other damage the bird might have caused. ¡°My apologies. I told him to rescue. He¡¯s taking all the survivors just outside the gates.¡± He explained, eyeing the large beast as it landed near the crumbling mansion to dig through the debris and seek its next victim. Caleb¡¯s attention quickly shifted to other things as he eyed the smaller gryphon, his smile returning as he opened his arms in welcome to the creature. ¡°There you are! Splendid to see you unscathed 285!¡±


    Squirrel circled the backside of the group to keep a wall of people between her and the knight, stopping behind Sariel to fit her head under her arm.


    Caleb approached Sariel, eyes only on the Follower. ¡°And where is your assignment?¡±


    Maddison moved in front of Sariel, the wound on his arm preventing him from raising it much. ¡°She did everything she could to protect your Commander.¡±


    Caleb held his smile and practiced positivity. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t doubt it! It¡¯s part of their training after all. And it is part of my training to ensure that I have saved every one I can. 285 got along well with her commander, I would like to confirm that he has truly passed.¡±


    Maddison thought for a moment, his voice darkening. ¡°And if he has?¡±


    ¡°Worry not, she has no strikes. So I¡¯m sure you know the answer to that, mercenary.¡± Caleb replied, crouching down to eye the gryphon from under her cover. ¡°May Ra''zerun bless you, so that your new company is as compatible.¡±


    Squirrel let out a somber coo, the knight¡¯s strange words somehow convincing her to shed her form and turn back into the familiar masked girl. She still kept close to Sariel, gazing up at the collapsed attic of the mansion where a trail of white stones cascaded off its face. Caleb eyed the wreckage, paying Squirrel a grateful nod before letting out a loud cattle whistle to call for Bagel''s attention.

 58. A Rope of Stars

    Bagel circled back, landing on the pile of stones that Caleb pointed at and prodding through the pieces. Somewhere in his heart, he tried to hold out hope for the commander, that he had come just in time, or Katryna had shown just a little bit of mercy to him.


    The beast stopped poking at the white stones, digging deep into a single spot to haul away at the debris. He had found something.


    The gryphon stopped digging after a few seconds, shoving its head into the hole it had made. It cocked its head to Caleb, and shrieked back.


    Caleb sighed. Bagel had already confirmed his fears. ¡°He counts.¡±


    Within minutes Bagel pulled the body free, ferrying the man to the scorched grass in front of him. There were cuts delivered to his body, but the blood that clotted them was well past expired. He had been dead for a fair bit of time, and the cause was obvious to Caleb.


    All he could see in the commander¡¯s mind was a crawling curse that had hollowed out his skull. Athansi¡¯s children had hatched and eaten their full. Soft steps approached his side as he knelt over the body. He looked to the Follower, still a few feet back as they gazed at the commander with squeezed shoulders.


    Caleb muttered a quick healing spell, more for show to the child than anything. There was nothing that would bring him back. He watched the healing threads wither in his palm, holding his head low as he closed the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    The Follower came closer, paying Caleb hesitant glances as they cautiously knelt at the commander¡¯s side. They reached for his belt, carefully sliding a beaten journal free. He watched them carefully sift through the pages packed with an array of crushed and dried flowers, until they reached a blank. They took a daisy from their satchel, and three colourful petals, arranging them on the page before grabbing the commander¡¯s limp hand and using it to close the book.


    And they sat, unmoving, in painful silence.


    Caleb left them to their grief, his eyes scanning the rest of the man¡¯s body in search of a final detail. He found his goal on the man¡¯s other wrist, a dark tattoo that almost resembled stars wrapping around his wrist.


    It was a recent and unnecessary addition to Follower requirements for all squadrons who had one. Engineered to address the very rare issue of Followers that were able to unwind other linking spells and flee the Heroguard.


    The spell worked in such a way that even if their link perished, a follower could not flee unless they could carry the body with them. A step too far from the spell¡¯s range and it would start to squeeze, and it would not stop until the Follower came back within range, or whatever it was wrapped around was cut through completely.


    He carefully peeled the enchantment away, discarding it in the dirt and double-checking the rest of his arm to make sure no sigils remained. The commander could be put to rest, and his Follower would be free to travel with Caleb outside of Bervolt.

 59. The Demon of Rot

    Cody had been very eager to leave the fancy knight¡¯s company as soon as he turned his attention, and Sariel was happy to follow him on his quest to check on Hord¡¯anne. Maddison remained in his own space, sat upon a half-crushed bench toying with some bandages he had packed. Timber and Sajus surprisingly stayed next to him, maybe for a sense of safety in the chaos and confusion they had been thrust into. Or, his glum attitude made him the closest thing to a parent figure that they could find at the moment.


    Sariel felt the same as the two twins. Relieved, saddened by loss, and just a little bit confused at the hand life had dealt her. She had never imagined the world outside her village to move so quickly, and so strangely.


    She would lose things she loved in unexpected holes in her tunic pockets, like colourful rocks and vibrant flowers. But she had not expected people to act in the same way. The people she grew up with, friends and family, simply fluttering away in the blink of an eye.


    Once she joined Cody¡¯s side in front of Hord¡¯anne, she feared he was also a treasure that had tumbled from her pocket, never to be seen again.


    He was face down, arms spread wide and unmoving. The dragon¡¯s bite had gorged deep into his back, and Sariel could not see his body rising with any breath. She felt the sorrow in her chest splash up to her eyes.


    She wished she hadn¡¯t accepted Maddison¡¯s trade for her helmet.


    Cody''s lips pricked downwards with disappointment as he inspected the wounds, taking large steps around Hord¡¯anne¡¯s limbs to reach the beast¡¯s waist. He found what he was searching for, grabbing the blade that had been strapped to Hord¡¯anne and putting his back into tugging the weapon free.


    He patted the dirt off the weapon, his positivity only waning when he finally noticed Sariel¡¯s puffy eyes. He froze, eyes wide while he stammered about his words in his quest to fix Sariel¡¯s current mood. An answer jumped into his mind, and he simply blabbed it out. ¡°Hord¡¯anne¡¯s gonna be okay.¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡± Sariel choked, trying to rub the stray tears out of her eyes and fix herself. Cody obviously hadn¡¯t realized it yet, and she didn¡¯t want to be the one to make him sad, but Hord¡¯anne had certainly expired from his wounds.


    Cody awkwardly hopped over Hord¡¯anne¡¯s limbs to get back to Sariel, grabbing her arm reassuringly as he held up the sheathed blade. ¡°I¡¯m serious. He¡¯s going to be just fine. I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    Sariel watched Cody with some hope, the warlock eyeing Caleb cautiously to make sure they didn¡¯t have an audience. The White Knight¡¯s back remained turned to them while he was distracted with consoling Squirrel, allowing Cody to happily act incredibly suspicious. He popped the hilt of the blade, revealing a half foot of the blade beneath. It was a giant piece of rust, a once keen blade chipped and dulled. The damage was so pervasive the coppery colour had warped with what looked to Sariel like a purplish mold, webbing in veins further into the sheath.


    Cody gripped the weapon with his bare hand and squeezed, the dull weapon still drawing a trickle of blood with ease. Once the cut had bled deep enough, he unsheathed the rusted blade, stabbing it into the open wound on Hord¡¯anne¡¯s back.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s helpin¡¯ him, Cody.¡± Sariel sniffled, watching the fresh blood from Cody¡¯s cut make its way down the veins of the sword.


    This trick felt different from the fiery ones he had pulled to protect Sariel and fight the dragon.


    This trick felt wrong.


    Once the blood reached Hord¡¯anne¡¯s wound, he ripped it clean, quickly sheathing the blade and tossing Caleb a few more cautious glances. He then knelt over the cut he had made, forcing his hand into the opening to pull something out. Sariel could not get a good eye on the procedure until Cody had finished, excitement in his eyes as he wandered over to her with his blood soaked hands cupped around something.


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    He came as close as he could to Sariel, using her back as coverage from the knight¡¯s potential gaze while he revealed the sticky mess of blood in his hands. It was moving, a purplish worm as stubby as her middle finger hovering close to the open cut on Cody¡¯s palm. ¡°Ta-da! It¡¯s Hord¡¯anne!¡± Cody whispered, watching the strange purple worm flail in his palms with a smile. ¡°See? He¡¯s waving at you.¡±


    Sariel cupped her hands for Cody to roll the hapless creature into them. She gasped, her breath drawing into a little coo of adoration. ¡°Hord¡¯anne has a baby?¡±


    ¡°No no.¡± Cody laughed, pointing at the sword now strapped to his hip. ¡°This is Hord¡¯anne.¡± He motioned to the strange little worm now flopping like a fish in Sariel¡¯s cupped hands. ¡°And because swords don¡¯t usually talk or see and all that, that¡¯s his solution.¡±


    Sariel kept coddling the little creature in her hands, paying Cody a pensive stare as she tried to work through his explanation. Maddison however, very much noticing the entire spectacle appeared at Cody¡¯s side. He tried to swipe the creature from Sariel¡¯s palms, cut off just in time as she closed them protectively.


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Maddison growled, holding out his open palm with ill effect as both Sariel and Cody squared defensively. ¡°No. Cursed. Weapons.¡±


    ¡°Swipe at my friend again and I¡¯ll show you the curse of a third-degree burn.¡± Cody retorted.


    ¡°Do you know what a cursed weapon can do to you?¡±


    Cody scoffed incredulously, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a villain, of course I know how to handle Hord¡¯anne.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Are you now?¡± Maddison hissed under his breath, shooting the White Knight an obvious look. ¡°Let¡¯s see what Caleb thinks about that.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what he thinks when I knock your helmet off on your way over.¡± Cody bit back, a staring contest ensuing as the two of them itched for the other to make their first move and justify a fight. Sariel felt the tense air tug at her mood again, and to Cody¡®s confusion, she handed off baby Hord¡¯anne to him and stepped between the mercenary and warlock, raising her hands high in the air.


    ¡°Mr. Caleb, sir!¡± Sariel called, spurring panic in Cody and Maddison as they both turned to her in silent betrayal. The knight heeded her call, lightly jogging to make it over to them. She pulled her arms down into a fold as Cody and Maddison simply stared at her aghast, her tone irritated instead of confused. ¡°Thought you both wanted to tell him somethin¡¯.¡±


    Caleb dusted the dirt off his palms, immediately drawn to the large purple beast face down in the dirt. He crouched low to look at Hord¡¯anne¡¯s old corpse, letting out an impressed whistle. ¡°I had a coworker looking for this one. He¡¯ll be happy to know it¡¯s dealt with.¡± Caleb eyed the deep gouge the dragon had left, his optimism waning. ¡°Maybe not. But the head can still be mounted.¡±


    Cody discreetly dropped baby Hord¡¯anne in his satchel, moving his hands behind his back to rub the blood off into his robes.


    The knight rose, eyeing Cody and Maddison for some sort of reason for the call. But the two looked at each other silently, each nodding their head for the other to spit out a lie. He settled his confusion on Sariel as she stepped up.


    ¡°Need any help, sir? I¡¯ll do a good job if the food is right.¡±


    ¡°Are you all low on rations?¡± Caleb replied, his smile bouncing off of the glaring men, but finding a positive reaction from Sariel. ¡°I can set you all up, no worries! But if you do have some time to spare assisting with search and rescues, I can make it worth your time.¡±


    Sariel stuck her hand out. ¡°We¡¯ll help ya, sir.¡±


    He accepted the shake. ¡°Splendid! Very much appreciated, my lady.¡± He flicked his gaze between the other two. ¡°What about your companions?¡±


    Cody¡¯s eye twitched as he met Caleb¡¯s stare, his words practically pushed through his teeth. ¡°She said we, didn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure everyone is dead.¡± Maddison retorted.


    ¡°Oh don''t be so hard on yourself, we all have to start from somewhere. And look, not everyone is dead, not that lad over there!¡±


    The group shot their attention to where Caleb was pointing, watching Tarson maneuver three kids around the debris at the front of his house. Although distant, he stopped when he saw them, waving his hand in a manner that was unclear between a greeting and a dismissal.


    No sooner did he lower his hand than a large shadow swooped on him, Bagel taking his next victim for rescue as he screamed in the airborne beast¡¯s hold. The children that once stood hopefully by his side scrambling in every direction to hide.

 60. What Did You See?

    The weather fared well for the morning¡¯s travel. Not that Corian could tell beyond the blankets that covered the carriage¡¯s windows. It was dark, like it always was. The only light that had joined him was Justin.


    To avoid full-blown suspicion, Justin would alternate with various members of Inprobus¡¯ squadron, complaining about the hot sunlight in the peak hours, and then his sore feet as it started to dip. He was the somewhat magically demented son of an Archon, and the spoilt behaviour flew over most heads as entirely expected. During his watch over Corian he would chatter, and plot out their plan. Justin¡¯s squadron already knew the details, faithful to their commander and sympathetic to Corian¡¯s situation.


    He had shown Corian a map of where they planned to camp, the directions to run, and the overall order of events.


    In a perfect world, they would escape while Inprobus slept, and shirk the gaze of Quibbis or any patrols. Justin and his squadron would sleep in their armour to avoid the noises and wasted time that would come with packing. Corian and Justin would handle taking Rikka with them, either willingly, or unconscious.


    If Inprobus awoke, they had bigger problems. However, his incantation to call upon Ra¡¯zerun¡¯s blessing, the Eternal Flame, needed two hands to work. He would be limited in the spells to choose, and Justin would act as a frontal defense with his magic - that he wholeheartedly did not believe in - deflecting the attacks. The key was to stay back from testing the Archon¡¯s swordplay, and to avoid noises that would awake his squadron.


    Corian felt hope for the plan. Hope that his father would be awake and he would be able to drive a blade through his chest.


    But he also felt guilt.


    In the way Justin smiled at him and patted his shoulder. The way he always remarked that Corian didn¡¯t have it in him to burn that village to the ground.


    But, even if it wasn¡¯t exactly the same, he had taken lives. Traded them for signatures on a piece of paper. What would Justin think of that? Did he already know?


    It ate at him as the morning turned to afternoon. Gnawing worse than the physical hunger that rumbled his stomach. It had its hands wrapped around his very soul and left his body feeling suffocated.


    Until Justin made another remark about the village, and the words simply slipped out.


    ¡°What if I did?¡±


    Justin stopped, his smile falling to confusion. "Did what?"


    ¡°Killed people that didn¡¯t do anything yet.¡±


    Justin paused, his brow furrowed as he toyed with his gauntlets. ¡°Yet?¡±


    Corian stared at the ground. ¡°Or ever.¡±


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    The horse had refused to kick through some small bushes, and now he could feel at least three burs that had crept their way into the lining of his boots. It was going to be an itchy and uncomfortable night in another mud village with skat for amenities. But they were the perfect targets. The only targets.


    They barely knew magic. Had no blades, no travelers. Trusted folks that came with gifts, and barely had the wit to question facts thrown to them. He was immediately greeted by two men in rags when he approached the huts, gently led inside with smiles of welcome. They always smiled when he came in, hovering in crowds and whispering. And they smiled when he left, waving and cheering.


    They brought him to a stage, a couple dozen gazes fixed upon him in wonderment. They had likely never seen so much gold in their life. Let alone so much clothing to cover one person.


    It seemed a sad life. But they were always happy.


    Always welcoming.


    Always idiots.


    Their leader approached, an older fellow who seemed to struggle on the steps to the stage. He made his remarks to the crowd, and then Corian made his own. ¡°Good Day! I am here to slay the beast that plagues this town!¡±


    As he watched the shocked crowd, his eyes rested on a young girl at the front. There was an old crone muttering things in her ear, but she seemed distant to whatever she was being told, dazzled by his armour.


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    Or maybe the horse beside him?


    Regardless, she would make a perfect alibi to tell everyone where he was at night.


    The murmurs rose, but their leader did not seem so convinced. ¡°What beast?¡±


    Corian frowned. This one was going to be a hassle. ¡°The beast! Has it not stolen a victim yet? Then you''re in luck, for I''ve been tracking it for days! It smells of iron¡­¡± his thoughts fluttered about as he made up an excuse on the spot. He looked at the bewildered girl again, her eyes shining like emeralds. ¡°With piercing green eyes! A creature born of wicked witchcraft. I''m sure you''ve heard the rumours on the wind, the Witch of the Westlock has been spotted at the northern pass.¡±


    ¡°We''ve never heard of this beast, and we''re far too humble to have spurred the wrath of a witch.¡±


    Corian kept his smile rigid, considering simply walking out at this point. They were usually begging him to go look for the monster at this point, not squinting at him and whispering.


    But if he left now that would be suspicious.


    He just had to make sure his example was the one with the smart mouth.


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    The night moved along. The girl he had chosen as an alibi was unfortunately somewhat insane. But she nodded along to his every word, and that was all he needed. If suspicions ever arose while he did his work, she would be a fine candidate to fight his case.


    He didn¡¯t want to stay here for more than two nights if he didn¡¯t have to. One night would have been ideal, but that was not a risk he was taking with the village being so skeptical. He had to put their skepticism to rest.


    Rombel looked to have less than three winters left in him anyway.


    He found the village leader had waited for him to stable his horse. Fate smiling on Corian as he learned his lodging would be in the man¡¯s house. He walked side by side with the village leader, trying to warm up the man with small talk that he graciously accepted.


    ¡°Oh, I have no doubt you are tracking something. But I do not wish to waste your time here.¡± Rombel remarked, his hand finding Corian¡¯s shoulder with a firm squeeze.


    ¡°I do not wish for you to be wrong though. Perhaps we can watch together for a few hours with some tea? I have the cups and ingredients, just water would do. If anything, you can try to bore me to death with stories of this place.¡±


    Rombel chuckled, accepting Corian¡¯s arm to assist him up the steps to his house. ¡°Tea is nice.¡±


    Corian worked away at setting up the tea. It was a ritual at this point, one no one ever refused. He knew how to make it quick, how to colour it right, and how to mask the flavour with the perfect amount of honey. In Rombel''s cup, he discretely dropped an extra plant to steep. A white flower that almost resembled a dandelion before its second bloom. It was called a ferryman flower, its poison slowed the heart, and turned deadly once it lulled its victim to sleep.


    And with their cups of tea, they talked. Mundane stories about the village that made Rombel laugh, and stories of another¡¯s travel that Corian took as his own. After an hour, Rombel yawned, his eyelids drooping as he nursed the brew. ¡°I am very sorry, it¡¯s not your conversation putting me to sleep, lad.¡±


    Corian nodded, keeping his smile strong. ¡°I know.¡±


    Rombel fell asleep at the table shortly after. And in mere minutes, his heart stopped.


    Corian hated this part.


    He wrapped the body in his cloak, and waited for every torchlight in the village to fade. With only the moonlight to guide him, he carried Rombel to the woods. The man was light, which helped him not to think about what was in his arms. When he reached a spot far enough away, he rolled him out of the fabric and laid him in the dirt. He moved his dead face from a peaceful slumber to a wide-eyed scream.


    And then he started to carve. He closed his eyes, humming a tune as he drew three long cuts along the man¡¯s torso. He cleaned the blade in the dirt, and clipped the cloak back on.


    The ritual was done.


    The village was harder to spot without any lights to guide him, but after an aimless journey, he could eventually make out some huts, bunching up his cloak to avoid snagging branches as he neared the homes.


    He braved one last wall of poking hedges, his cloak snagging on a dry branch while he tried to awkwardly step over it. He struggled to see where the fabric was tangled, his eyes travelling around his clothing, and then the ground. And then to a shape. Feet?


    His heart stopped when he saw the outline of a man, and he nearly fell the rest of the way. He fumbled around for his sword as the figure moved, only stopping in confusion when a small halo of light sprouted around him, the villager holding a torch they had freshly lit.


    He looked up at the taller man, still trying to swallow his leaping heart as he picked himself off the ground. ¡°I¡­¡± He stared at the bush and the pitch black beyond. He had been disoriented without a torch to lead the way. He did not know how close the light was to illuminating Rombel¡¯s carved-up body. ¡°I heard noises.¡±


    The man did not speak, weighing him with a strange and dark look.


    How long had he been standing there?


    Corian hesitated under his gaze, looking around the dark huts for something else to grab at. An excuse. ¡°Where are your bathrooms?¡±


    The man pointed to the bushes in the pitch black beyond.


    Corian hid a grimace. ¡°Ah¡­¡± the excuses ran laps in his skull, inspiration striking him just in time. ¡°That¡¯s where Rombel went? Those were the noises?¡±


    The man nodded. ¡°Probably. He¡¯ll be back. Sleep.¡±


    Corian chuckled nervously at the order, and complied with a wave goodnight to the mysterious guest.


    But he did not sleep that night.


    In his mind, every snapping twig was the man rounding the house to break in and slit his throat as he slept. Or perhaps a mob of villagers quietly grouping up to beat him to death. The shadows in the small room danced whenever he opened his eyes, specters hiding in the corner of his vision to keep his heart racing.


    It was going to be a long night.

 61. Unconditionally

    When the morning birds sang, he was one of the first to wander into the sunlight. And among the few awake villagers milling about was the man from last night.


    They caught gazes, and Corian¡¯s heart pounded.


    He knew.


    Corian faked a yawn and a stretch, turning his back to the man. He stopped the first villager he passed, another young woman who blushed when they locked gazes.


    She seemed a lot more sane, but he just needed to plant a seed.


    ¡°Have you seen Rombel?¡±


    She looked around, confused, then shook her head, leaving the conversation to ask the others if they had seen their leader. With his first task complete, he focused on blending in. Keeping himself well-liked among the villagers was another trick up his sleeve.


    And so he found the girl again. Slaving over her ¡®chores¡¯ that the crone handed her off. But every time he lifted his gaze, he would see the man. Walking by, chatting with a nearby villager, chatting with the girl he was helping.


    He was there. Every time.


    When they finally found Rombel, he was there.


    Staring at him.


    And now even the strange girl was being nosier than he''d liked about Rombel''s death.


    He had to know. Had he told everyone?


    Corian went back to helping the girl. His nerves raw.


    And there he was still.


    When the sun finally went down, he nearly cried with joy. He was ready to end this. He just needed to place a cheap trinket at the treeline and slash the magical shadow it made. So simple. So easy. One signature for a beast that had taken one life. One step closer to being knighted.


    But as he approached the trees, there was a figure. One he had mistaken for a tree until his torchlight illuminated the man¡¯s feet.


    Staring. Silently.


    Corian¡¯s heart dropped, the blood rushing from his face as he let out a breathless gasp, forcing it to turn into a laugh for the man. ¡°You are very good at scaring me.¡±


    The man stared at him, his motives a complete mystery to Corian. ¡°My name¡¯s Morris.¡±


    ¡°Great.¡± Corian sighed, looking around the bushes. ¡°Bathroom?¡±


    ¡°Comin'' with you,¡± Morris said, his gaze heavy as it bore into Corian¡¯s soul. ¡°Two blades are better.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t hide the worry from his laugh anymore. ¡°I can dispatch them, worry not, friend.¡±


    ¡°I know these woods. I¡¯ll watch if I think ya don¡¯t need help.¡±


    He knew.


    Corian stilled his panic, holding his gaze with a warm smile. ¡°Then who am I to refuse company?¡±


    He entered the woods, Morris keeping the front. After a few minutes of their fake search, he realized he had missed a crucial piece. His hand brushed his side, an empty space where his sword was meant to be. With a deep breath, he composed himself. If Morris knew what he did to Rombel, he didn¡¯t want the man to know he was also helpless.


    He hadn¡¯t slept the previous night. He was exhausted, and now without his sword, walking with an armed, larger man that was giving him nothing but quick and suspicious glances.


    The voice at the back of his mind had only grown louder as they walked together. How would he not know? He saw Corian come back to the village, in the dead of night. And the next morning, Rombel was dead.


    They kept their quiet search. Corian continued to drown in his loud thoughts. Until Morris finally fancied a conversation. ¡°That girl you were helping, Sariel. Are you taking her with you?¡±


    Corian laughed, feeling just a little bit of ease. ¡°No, not my type.¡±


    Morris kept his back exposed, voice flat. ¡°Oh. Good.¡±


    They walked in silence for a bit longer, Morris checking his shoulder, but never really looking at Corian. Just the woodlands beyond.


    Slowly, the voice at the back of his head returned. Was this his trap?


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    ¡°Rombel was nice.¡±


    Corian slowed, his shoulders squaring. Was that a threat?


    Morris stopped, and in the flickering light of their torches, Corian saw the man¡¯s hand move towards the sheathed blade.


    He knew. He knew. He knew.


    Corian leapt for the blade first, ripping it from the man¡¯s belt and rushing forwards as he turned. A wet squelch met his ears as the blade went through the larger man¡¯s chest, a breathless gasp escaping Morris¡¯ throat as he slumped. Corian kept his eyes on the ground, not wanting to meet the man¡¯s gaze as the life faded.


    He watched a little piece of flint roll out of Morris¡¯ limp hand. The same one he had moved towards the blade.


    ¡°Pocket¡­¡± Corian sighed, his heart sinking as he let out a string of curses and moved the limp body to the ground. He wasn''t moving to the blade. He was moving to put the flint in his pocket.


    Corian planted the torch in the dirt, shakily rifling through his satchel as the adrenaline and lack of sleep sent his mind into a spiral. He reached for his trinket, stopping himself. Not that. Not yet. He had to make it look like Morris was killed too.


    The curses spilled from his mouth as he grabbed his hair, staring at the crude and bloodied blade on the ground. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and whistled a tune. He waited for the song to still his mind before grabbing the blade.


    He made the first cut with some difficulty. This blade was duller, and the man had some leather mixed with his linen. But he kept his eyes closed, whistling louder.


    And then he heard it. A rustle.


    He stood straight, eyes wide as he whipped around and saw it. That same girl, frozen in fear, the sword he had forgotten laid in front of her. And then the excuses poured out. The panic was so loud he could barely hear his thoughts, unable to process the words of comfort he tried to speak to the girl. He just talked. Talked and smiled until she seemed to ease some. Until he couldn¡¯t face her anymore and had to turn to compose himself.


    And then he felt something strike his back. He swiped the spot, his hand coming back a scarlet red. His blood.


    He cried for help as his knees gave out. His panic swelled to something else as he saw the bloodied blade in her hands. He was weak, unable to pick himself back up off the ground. Everything was terrifyingly cold.


    She had done some serious damage.


    ¡°Th-the Black Witch! She''s here¡­¡±


    The words echoed in his mind, his head as foggy as his failing vision. She hadn¡¯t moved, the terror in her eyes the last thing he remembered.


    What had she done?


    Except the right thing?


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥


    Justin stared at Corian, still processing the story. ¡°How many signatures did you actually collect?¡±


    Corian remained quiet, eyes cast to the floor as his voice washed with shame. ¡°I couldn¡¯t fix the real problems, I didn¡¯t have magic.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think magic is real, I¡¯ll stand by that belief. And I saved villages.¡± Justin pressed.


    Cody felt the heat rise to his cheeks at how easy Justin made it all sound. Blessed by Ra¡¯zerun, and the son of the White Knight. It didn¡¯t matter if he believed in magic, his blessings in life were so strong the magic would still swirl to protect him. Hells, most of the Heroguard would get on their knees and kiss his boots to protect him.


    ¡°Alone?¡± He hissed. ¡°You saved villages alone?¡±


    ¡°You could have joined my squadron,¡± Justin said, sighing as Corian¡¯s glare remained. He looked around the wagon, clearly torn at the news, something in his eyes almost taking part of the blame. ¡°I kept a spot open for months¡­ I was hoping you would.¡±


    ¡°And waited years to have a high enough rank to take a Follower?¡±


    Justin¡¯s face fell. Realisation. Corian had not been so rushed to climb the rankings for his pride. He hadn¡¯t done those things for himself. He peeked through one of the cloths covering the windows, catching Rikki¡¯s back as they remained with Inprobus at the front of the charge. He looked back at Corian, eyes heavy with pity. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t have given her to you.¡±


    ¡°I would have made him.¡± Corian spat.


    ¡°Would you have?¡± Justin replied, his lips pricked to a frown. ¡°Alone?¡±


    Corian¡¯s own words were heavy to hear back. If his plan succeeded, he would have rank, but an empty badge. It was true that he would be no stronger than the apprentice he had started out as. But there were Followers so twisted and powerful that no squadron dared to remove them from the Psych Ward. Ones that actually deserved to rot in their cages. It was as simple as it was desperation for him. The head of his father, for the freedom of one wicked sorcerer. If Inprobus was dead, Rikka was free. Half the world could burn after that, he didn¡¯t care.


    But he was terrified to admit that to Justin. There was still hope in his friend¡¯s eyes as he gazed down at him. Even after he had exposed himself as everything his friend hoped he wasn¡¯t. And that, Corian truly did not understand.


    Justin peeked through the window, before moving to sit next to Corian. ¡°Do you know why my squadron was in Stonesong?¡±


    ¡°Looking for the ¡®Black Witch¡¯.¡± Corian replied.


    ¡°Collections actually.¡±


    Corian eyed Justin with surprise. There was absolutely no way Justin had been rifling through the skat of the lowest-end commander job. There was no glory in collections. No one would sing your names in the streets of Toroy Garotzch for bringing coal and protection taxes from neighbouring villages, except perhaps, the merchants and treasurers that held a cut of the investment.


    Justin smiled at Corian¡¯s confusion. ¡°I asked. That¡¯s been my job as a commander for the most part. I want to travel and see new places without the hassle. I¡¯ve seen enough of what the Heroguard does to people when you climb that ladder.¡±


    Corian¡¯s voice dipped with judgement, ¡°Does your dad know?¡±


    ¡°Yup,¡± Justin replied, a certain smugness in the way he relaxed against the carriage wall. ¡°You know what he said? Don¡¯t be a hero for others, if you cannot first be one for yourself.¡± He held Corian¡¯s gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t know what that looks like for you, but if it is truly saving Rikka, make sure that at the end of the day, it¡¯s the brother she remembers saving her, not someone else in his skin.¡±


    Corian kept his gaze low as Justin rose.


    ¡°The sun¡¯s almost down. Make sure you¡¯re ready.¡±


    Corian lifted his head, the confusion striking him like a guillotine. ¡°What? Why?¡±


    Justin stopped, scrunching his nose at the question as he kept his voice low. ¡°We¡¯re escaping tonight?¡±


    ¡°No¡± Corian pressed. ¡°Why do you still want to help me?¡±


    He shrugged, a genuine smile never feeling warmer. ¡°Because I want to save my friend.¡±

 62. Good Job Sock Puppet

    Night had come. Each second only elevated Corian¡¯s excitement. He had retained his strange strength, and was able to warp the chains around his wrist to slip from them when the moment called for it. He had been sitting in the same position, hands hidden in his lap, potato sack on his head.


    It had likely disturbed the random member of Inrpobus¡¯ squadron that was watching him. But he didn¡¯t want them to see his giddy smile and know something was up.


    And then, it came. The key lock jiggled. A switch in shifts. His body rose with excitement. It had felt like hours since he had last seen him. But this was it, it was finally Justin¡¯s shift.


    The door opened.


    And Quibbis stepped in.


    Corian stared at the necromancer, the confusion in his mind rotting to worry as he excused the guard.


    ¡°Hello Sweetface!¡± Quibbis gave Corian a cheery smile, his hands fidgeting around his robes. ¡°I brought my cards. I had to make new ones.¡± He wiggled a wad of leaves pridefully. "The old ones cracked!¡±


    Corian didn¡¯t wait to humour the necromancer. As soon as the guard closed the door his voice grew sharp. ¡°Isn¡¯t it Justin¡¯s turn?¡±


    Quibbis averted his gaze, pretending to shuffle the leaves. Like a cornered cat he kept close to the opposite side of the wagon, carefully crouching down. ¡°Would you like to play Four Guilds? Or maybe War?¡±


    The worry grew into a sinking dread as Quibbis avoided the question. ¡°Quibbis.¡±


    His voice was a quiet mutter as he willed himself to meet Corian¡¯s gaze. ¡°He¡¯s busy. Inprobus is asking them questions.¡±


    Corian¡¯s blood went cold as a scream ripped through the forest.


    Quibbis cast his gaze away once more. ¡°He did not like that answer.¡±


    Corian shot to his feet, his body cold with terror as another scream pierced the forest. "What did you do?!" He ripped the chains off his wrists, replaying the voice in his head. It did not sound like Justin¡¯s. He''d never heard his friend scream like that before. God''s he hoped it wasn''t.


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    Quibbis cringed as Corian looked down at him, balling up his knees to prepare for a strike.


    "Where are they?" Corian growled.


    "A bridge." Quibbis replied quietly, turning his head and pulling at his black hood to cover his eyes. The thin fabric did little to cover his odd face, and it certainly wouldn''t protect him from any of Corian''s strikes.


    He was tempted to rip the necromancer''s head off right then and there. He always had an ear on the wagon. It would be just like the rotted sack of leaves to let word of their plan slip to his father just for a pat on the head. He was pathetic and cowardly. Never fighting back, never even standing to see if he had the strength to. His thoughts never mattered, because, regardless of what was between his ears aside from worms and dried leaves, he never spoke nor showed it.


    The necromancer was useless. Sitting obediently in a wagon and cowering from the shadows that stood tall over them.


    Quibbis pulled his knees in tight as Corian took another step forwards. Like a child, hiding in a corner from their father.


    Corian relaxed, taking his attention from the twisted reflection and trying to focus it on his next plan instead. Justin hadn''t accounted for the tables turning and Corian having to rescue him. But it didn''t matter at the moment. He needed to protect his head, and if that involved kicking open the door and making a run for it until he saw a helmet, that''s what he''d do.


    As Corian stepped closer to the door, Quibbis'' quiet voice met his ears. Somber as the necromancer still mostly hid in his hood. ¡°I miss Airlia.¡±


    Corian stopped. The name had taken him by surprise. But she was the one who had first enchanted Quibbis. He had been a child-sized doll at the time, and could do very little as Corian and Rikki tore around the house.


    ¡°She had pretty cards. She always said Quibbis did a good job.¡± He squeezed at the little stack of leaves, his voice meek. ¡°Inprobus doesn¡¯t like Quibbis. That is why I forget to lock the door."


    Corian¡¯s body stilled as he looked down at the little ball Quibbis had squeezed himself into, his fist loosening. The necromancer had not lifted his gaze once. Corian dipped his head, pulling the sack off his head so Quibbis could see his somber smile. ¡°I miss mom too... You did a good job. The best one you could.¡±


    Quibbis lifted his gaze, his mouth twitching as he fought off a smile. He eyed the doorway hesitantly. ¡°There is a man with a bow at the door.¡±


    Corian nodded in thanks, keeping his head clear of the door as he kicked it open.


    An arrow whizzed into the wagon, bouncing off the back wall and tumbling to the ground. It barely dented the metal.


    A wicked idea fluttered into Corian¡¯s mind. He grabbed the swinging door, and pulled, hard, tearing through its iron hinges. The door came off in his hands before the archer could load their next shot.


    He gripped the barred window of the door like a handle and readied himself, the whining metal attracting shouts.


    If he didn¡¯t have a helmet, a door would have to do.

 63. Cliffhanger

    Corian charged the first soldier, striking them to the ground with the iron obstacle. Their bow went flying as they fell, landing in front of a soldier who charged with their sword. Corian swung the door like a hammer, striking the man in the side and feeling his body crush from the impact.


    The soldier slumped on the door and fell to the grass, the sword slipping from his hands.


    Corian picked up the blade, feeling a strange rush tickle his body as he beheld the two downed men. It grew as another soldier charged him, and he thrusted the blade straight through their shield and plate. Their blood drizzled down his sword and over his hand. He felt the blood soak into his sleeve, the pleasure rising.


    He knew what the feeling was. Elation. A strange glee in seeing the red stain the grass at his feet, and fill the air with a sweet scent. He wanted to cover himself in it, listen to more metal and bones crush under his strike.


    A creak of wood met his ears, and he swung around, instinctively raising his arm to block the arrow that whistled through the air. It dodged the door, sinking into his arm. But he only felt a soft impact. The pain was completely gone, simply filling his body with another rush.


    Corian dropped the sword, ripping a gauntlet off one of the fallen soldiers at his feet. He eyed the hesitant archer as they lowered their bow, a laugh involuntarily slipping from his throat as he threw the piece of metal. It flew so fast it whistled itself, impaling the archer¡¯s chest before they could turn tail to run. They dropped, Corian¡¯s laugh rising to a cackle at the way the piece of armor stuck out of their body and caused the blood to trickle into the grass. Even he was struggling to place the humour as he picked the sword back up. Maybe it wasn¡¯t funny at all. It just felt so good, so fantastic, to make everything bleed.


    He looked around the campsite hungrily, the excitement buzzing through his body when he saw another soldier. They stood back, their sword wobbling in their hands as they beheld the carnage Corian had left. He flicked his sword, welcoming the man to approach and fight. But he did not, backing away even further.


    Corian¡¯s voice dipped to a feral growl. ¡°You. Come here.¡±


    They dropped the sword as he stepped closer, irritation swelling in his chest. There was no fun in that. He stepped closer, kicking the sword in the grass to the man.


    ¡°Pick it up.¡± His voice rose to a roar as the man clasped his hands together in prayer instead of obeying. ¡°Pick it up!¡±


    He moved to strike the man, his body freezing as a chilling sound met his ears.


    A scream.


    His mind whirled. He was forgetting something.


    The scream was important.


    Why had he left the carriage?


    The elation faded as his memories settled back into his mind. ¡°Justin.¡±


    He had forgotten him.


    He dropped the door, the panic returning twofold. Had those screams been ripping through the forest this entire time?


    He looked at the trembling man, and ripped off their helmet, shoving it on his head.


    Was that enough protection?


    No.


    He took their shield too, locking eyes with the terrified man and eyeing their plate armour.


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    The fit was close enough. He had put on the pieces he needed to cover his vitals but still run. Towards the screams in the woods. He recognized the trail they were on. The arcane hounds had lead Inprobus¡¯ squadron backwards. To the familiar makeshift bridge of vines, where the strange trail he had seen once - and unfortunately smelt - split off into the grass. There wasn''t a doubt in Corian''s mind that this revelation had irritated his father to no end.


    And there they were. What he assumed to be the remainder of Justin¡¯s squadron were lined along the bridge, Inprobus¡¯ remaining soldiers behind each one of them. But instead of a blade, a familiar necklace of rope sat tauntingly around each of their necks, and they were poised at the edge of the vines, ready to be dropped at any moment. Three ropes had already gone over the side. Three more remained.


    Justin was not among his kneeling squadron, instead standing to face Inprobus, his arms bound by vines. Rikki was close, their bow drawn and at his side.


    Corian could hear Justin¡¯s voice, booming at Inprobus¡¯ back as he paced the remaining three members of his squadron. ¡°There is no plot against you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been saying that.¡± Inprobus replied, ¡°And yet, I find one of you dismantling the enchantment on my hounds and the rest sleeping in their armour... Interesting.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t run a tight dress code.¡± Justin bit back, flexing his hands to try and squeeze out of Rikki¡¯s binds. ¡°But Rayao will hear of this. You¡¯ve executed without evidence.¡±


    Inprobus wandered to the first taut rope, drawing his sword and driving it through. It snapped, and whatever body was attached to the other end fell to the trees below. ¡°Executed who?¡± He eyed Justin as the commander simmered with rage, wandering to the next rope.


    Corian stepped into view, his presence spurring Rikki to load an arrow. He spoke loud enough to pull Inprobus'' attention before he severed the next rope. ¡°I don¡¯t need a squadron¡¯s help to escape, you paranoid prick.¡±


    Inprobus stopped, eyeing the blood that soaked Corian¡¯s arm and sword, his lips twitching with disappointment. ¡°How many?¡±


    Corian smiled. ¡°Go count them.¡±


    Inprobus lifted his blade, poising it to rest below Justin¡¯s chin. A stoic calm remained in the commander, his jaw clenched as he held the Archon¡¯s stare. He lowered the blade to the roots binding Justin''s wrists, tapping them to pull away and release the commander.


    ¡°Well, if you¡¯re telling the truth, capture him.¡± Inprobus mused, motioning his blade to Corian.


    Justin eyed Corian, paying Inprobus a sour glare. ¡°Can I have my sword?¡±


    Inprobus nodded to one of his soldiers, the man stepping forth to offer the sword strapped to his side. Justin tugged the sword from their grip, eyeing the arrow Rikki had aimed at his skull with a scoff.


    Justin turned to Corian, discarding his billowing white cloak at his feet along with the Heroguard emblems that pinned it. He raised his blade, memories of their spars during training flooding back to Corian. For scoring, they were always evenly matched. For fun, Corian had a recurring problem of falling for every trip Justin snuck on him.


    This was going to be just like training.


    As soon as Justin was in range of a strike, Corian spoke through his teeth. ¡°Shoulder,¡± he made a swing over his head to cut Justin¡¯s left shoulder. Justin raised his guard to deflect it, stumbling back as the blade rang in his hands.


    Corian grimaced. He had tried to be gentle.


    Justin gave Corian¡¯s right leg a very obvious look, Corian deflecting his strike in kind.


    They exchanged a few more blows, Justin never taking charge to strike first. His lack of forwardness allowed Corian to keep pushing him back, and before long, they were on the vine bridge once more.


    Corian¡¯s senses were still sharp. He could smell the fresh blood on his body, and the minty spread under the bandages on his father¡¯s limp arm. Inprobus had only moved to the side to watch the scuffle, and Rikki still held their bow drawn, their aim moving between Justin and Corian.


    He needed to make her fire it somewhere. If his sister was still behind that mask, she would care more about the childhood friend who wouldn¡¯t recover from an arrow through the skull.


    He moved to strike Justin from above, twisting his aim at the last second. Justin¡¯s shock was apparent as he tried to readjust, but missed. Corian felt his sword snag in the air before it could meet Justin¡¯s ribs. The commander¡¯s magic forced the blade to turn in Corian¡¯s palms, the flat side of his sword striking Justin instead of a sharp edge.


    He hadn¡¯t swung hard anyways.


    A loud ftang! rang in Corian¡¯s ears as the arrow struck his helmet, barely missing the eyeslot. It ricocheted off the metal and sailed into the dark ravine below, and Corian didn¡¯t even have to signal Justin, he was already running straight for Rikki. He tackled them before another arrow could be loaded, the bow flying from their hands as he locked their hands behind their back. They struggled for a bit under his hold, but he had fitted his hand under their mask to cover their mouth, and weighed on their hands with his body. The struggled had lasted perhaps five seconds, and Rikki suddenly relaxed, and then went limp.


    Likely not by spellwork, but he had successfully knocked her out. Corian¡¯s body lifted with hope. There was one problem left.


    Corian raised his blade to block his father¡¯s sword, the strength behind the blow much stronger than what Justin was delivering. Justin was afraid to accidentally cut Corian open, meanwhile, Inprobus wanted his head off his shoulders. The difference in force made sense.


    And he was going to return it in kind.

 64. The Personification of Evil

    Rikka felt Justin¡¯s weight shove into her back. Despite the man trying not to harm her in his hold, he was incredibly heavy. She strained to rip a hand free, stilling as he shifted to whisper close to her ear.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to kill him.¡±


    She numbed out the words, forcing down any hope from rising. If she felt something like that right now, Inprobus would feel it too. And she would be in deep trouble.


    ¡°Stop struggling if you want him dead.¡± Justin continued, the emotion clawing its way up. ¡°Close your eyes and don¡¯t move. You don¡¯t have to fight.¡±


    Rikka stilled.


    She could do that.


    She laxed her body, feeling Justin¡¯s weight lift. She watched the fight through her mask, imagining anything but the outcome. Twittering birds, a splashing coast. She could not hope that they would win. Or Inprobus would feel it too. Inprobus felt everything, except an emotionless void.


    She watched Justin charge to strike Inprobus¡¯ left side, his strike barely missing the Archon, who skillfully twisted around to parry the stab. He ducked a head strike from Corian, sticking his leg out to throw his balance. Justin dodged Corian as he stumbled to the ground, trying for another swing at Inprobus¡¯ left side. But the Archon did not close in to block, stepping around Justin¡¯s swinging sword to follow Corian.


    Justin cried out in warning as Inprobus stabbed at his fallen friend, the broadsword spearing through Corian¡¯s thigh. He gauged the time he had, pulling the blade free and stabbing again at some exposed chainmail at the small of Corian¡¯s back.


    He cried out, her brother¡¯s voice more cross than anything in response to Justin¡¯s worry. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine!¡± He let out another cry as Inprobus ripped the blade out to block Justin, his voice shaking and pinched with some pain, but remaining stubborn. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡±


    Justin went for another attack, and Corian twisted around, latching onto his father¡¯s boot to keep him from stepping around the blow. Inprobus threw up a sloppy guard, Justin¡¯s blade pushing closer to the Archon¡¯s neck.


    It was a losing battle.


    Inprobus was locked, and once Corian got up, he would be completely exposed for a strike.


    But the Archon had different plans than submitting defeat to the commander. He clenched his fist, his free arm flying out in a mean left hook.


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥


    Corian saw Inprobus swing, his fist colliding with Justin¡¯s jaw and throwing him to the ground. Even with the magic lacing his skin, the impact rattled the commander into a daze as he lay on his back.


    Corian froze.


    The arm he had swung was the one wrapped taut with bandages. The one he hadn¡¯t moved, that Corian and Justin had assumed to be crippled. That needed to be crippled. Inprobus caught the horror on Corian¡¯s face, lifting the same arm to pay him a wave, his father''s eyes glimmering with excitement.


    It was a setup.


    Corian strained to reach his sword, trying to force himself to his feet. He could see the deep cut in his leg closing. If he could push through the pain he could make it the few feet to stop Inprobus.


    ¡°Ra¡¯zerun, I stand before corruption.¡±


    Corian¡¯s blood went cold at his father¡¯s words. Inprobus¡¯ hands were cupped to the sky, his head bowed in prayer.


    He was calling the flame.


    ¡°Blackened souls in need of cleansing."


    Corian reached the hilt of his sword, a weight pressing on the other end as Inprobus stepped on it.


    "Bless me with the Eternal Flame.¡±


    A light grew in his hands, a golden flame, flickering like a candle. It was always small, the flame itself casting little light upon its surroundings, making it seem even more unnatural than it was. It burned as hot as Inprobus wished it to. And latched onto that which was deemed corrupt before the god of starlight.


    And Ra¡¯zerun was a very strict judge.


    So much as a harmless lie could make one flammable, and the only one who could extinguish the blaze was Inprobus, or Ra¡¯zerun himself.


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    Inprobus grabbed his sword, the flame spreading along the metal to bathe it in golden fire.


    Corian pushed through the pain, ripping his sword free and forcing himself to stand and raise his blade. It had to be now, before everyone was cleansed.


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥


    Rikka had seen Corian rip through the wagon that night. He had quite literally torn through the first guard that tried to restrain him, and reached Inprobus within the blink of an eye. Before Inprobus had his head off his shoulders, he had taken at least two deep and bloody bites from his arm.


    She had seen down to the bone when Inprobus ordered her to wrap his bloodied arm. This was the first time she, and his squadron, had ever seen the Archon bleed. It was because of his history of being unscathed that there were no healers.


    The wound was crippling. He should not have been able to move it as he was.


    And so, watching him move it to deck Justin was a shock. The surprise came so quickly. She could not suppress it.


    And it slipped.


    Inprobus looked at her, feeling the emotion leak through.


    She quickly rose to her feet, pretending to have awoken.


    But instead of anger, Inprobus¡¯ face shifted as he eyed her. Smiling.


    His eyes drilled into her, his voice crawling through her mind. Dark and loud. ¡°What are you standing there for?¡±


    Fear now. One slip had made it even harder to stop the next emotion from reaching him. She saw Inprobus¡¯ hand move to make an incantation, she saw Corian on the ground, pushing past the wound in his leg and spine to stumble to his feet. She saw Justin on his back, still trying to recover from Inprobus¡¯ strike. She saw the eternal flame that flickered over Inprobus'' blade.


    She made a choice.


    Roots sprang from the ground, grabbing Inprobus¡¯ feet to ground him, and seizing the flaming sword in his hand to keep him from defending himself as Corian charged.


    But there was something missing from her father¡¯s face. Something she had hoped desperately to see in his eyes. Surprise. He did not show it, his smile did not move.


    Her heart sank.


    She had made the wrong choice.


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥


    Corian pointed his blade, throwing his entire body into the strike as Inprobus stood bound by Rikki¡¯s magic. The blade ripped through his armour, goring him through completely as the bloodied point of the sword peeked through the back of his white cloak. The flaming sword slipped from Inprobus¡¯ grasp, flickering on the roots without spreading. Blood immediately pooled at his lips as he felt the hilt of Corian¡¯s sword, letting out choked gargles.


    No one moved in the silence. The Archon¡¯s remaining squadron was shocked into silence at the turn of events. Corian¡¯s aim had perfectly pierced his father¡¯s heart.


    Corian stood, his grip tight on the blade, and any words dead on his lips. Every emption had struck him at once. Fear, adrenaline, relief. Sorrow.


    He felt his father¡¯s hand rise, weakly resting on his shoulder as he leaned closer to his ear. Corian felt a chill seize him as he saw his father''s face. His lips were still curved with malice and glee, the hissing words bubbling through the blood in his throat. ¡°I¡¯m disappointed.¡±


    Corian felt something strike his chest, a pain like no other crushing into his bones. Whatever lingered from the stab Inprobus had given him disintegrated in an ocean of agony as he felt his knees drop. Blood burned its way up his throat, his eyes clouding with tears as he watched his father flick away a coat of blood that had soaked his armour up to his forearm. Corian''s blood.


    Inprobus licked the blood off his lips and spat it at Corian, gripping the hilt jutting out of his chest. His father¡¯s eyes glowed a ghoulish red as he slowly removed the bloodied blade, seeming to savour every second of his own pain. ¡°Immortality... It¡¯s wonderful, isn¡¯t it?¡± He dropped the blade in front of Corian, before grabbing his flaming weapon and turning towards Justin. Corian watched in horror as the deep wound he had built the courage to deliver closed, any words he tried to speak simply coming out as blood while the hole Inprobus had ripped through his chest tried to heal.


    Inprobus grabbed Justin by the collar of his armour, hoisting the commander up with unnatural strength and walking him to the edge of the bridge.


    No. The words Corian wanted to yell came out as blood again.


    Justin came out of his daze, his face twisting with sorrow as he eyed Corian curled in a bloody puddle. He then directed his ire at Inprobus. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re trying to start.¡±


    ¡°I have every idea. A commander going behind an Archon¡¯s back to try and release a powerful undead? I¡¯m not starting anything, just disposing of a commander that has broken his oaths.¡±


    ¡°Rayao will hear about this.¡± Justin spat, his body stiffening as Inprobus held him out a little further.


    ¡°Who is going to talk about this?¡± Inprobus boomed, tossing his gaze along his remaining squadron, and the three of Justin¡¯s. In the terror of what they faced, every last one shook their head. Inprobus smiled, waving his hand to spread a burst of golden flames across the bridge.


    Corian squeezed his eyes shut, barely gargling out his response. "Yes."


    Rikki shook their head.


    It did not catch on the vines, sweeping everyone¡¯s feet. Two of Justin¡¯s soldiers burst into flames, and one of Inprobus¡¯, their screams piercing the night.


    He eyed Justin, raising an eyebrow as he held up a small golden flame in his palm. ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Justin growled.


    He blew it, the embers bouncing off Justin¡¯s face and withering away.


    Inprobus snorted, ¡°I appreciate the honesty.¡±


    Justin could do very little as Inprobus shoved him backward, his one hand sliding off the slick blood that coated Inprobus'' arm, and the other grabbing for air as Corian''s father pulled away.


    Corian watched it all unfold in horror. His one friend falling, with nothing but a gaping ravine to catch him. They locked gazes, Justin¡¯s fear stilling to an apologetic smile as his lips moved with a final command. ¡°Run.¡±

 65. I Remember

    Everything went numb. Not the numbness that came with the glee of crushing Inprobus¡¯ squadron. This was a primal, raw, dread that threw him to his feet. Like a fleeing animal that could feel teeth snapping at its tail.


    The blood pounded in his ears, his eyes clouded and stinging with blood and tears. He saw Rikka as he passed, grabbing her wrist and pulling her along. He had to run. He couldn¡¯t let the Eternal Flame touch them again, or it could burn them to ash. Or something far slower, and far more painful with his father at the controls. He wouldn''t kill them, and that was the most terrifying truth about the situation. Everything. The bandage, the fight, allowing Corian to hold on to a mere second of hope as his sword pierced his father''s heart. He had played it out in his head before it ever happened. Orchestrated a hopeless mission just to see the anguish it wrought.


    After a few seconds of sprinting, he felt Rikka¡¯s legs drag. And then resist.


    Corian kept pulling, until a root snagged his ankle, throwing his balance and both of them to the ground.


    The cold dirt brought him back from his blind panic, but anxiety still swarmed in his chest as he eyed the forest with wide eyes. Searching for the light of their pursuers. He saw the glow of his father¡¯s sword, still at the bridge. He was coming closer, but at a slow pace.


    Walking.


    Why? Where was the urgency?


    Corian looked around for his soldiers. Someone would have run after them.


    Rikka coughed, struggling to lift to her knees as she held her neck. He came to her side, fearful that she may have caught a branch to the neck while he was dragging her through the forest.


    He pulled her mask off with little resistance, catching a glimmer of red at the nape of her neck.


    Corian brushed her black braid out of the way, folding down her collar to see the cut more clearly. Tiny pricks of blood lined a tattoo of star-like shapes that glowed like embers around Rikka¡¯s neck. Corian stared at the marking, the fear rising as he tried to touch the tattoo, only for its magic to bite back and draw more blood. He could barely push out the words as the panic swirled into his vision. ¡°What is that?¡±


    Rikka stayed quiet, trying to get up again, but falling to her knees.


    ¡°Rikka, what is that?¡±


    Rikka lifted her gaze to the trees, pointing to Inprobus. He had stopped a ways away, simply waiting as the remainder of his squadron filtered through the trees.


    Corian suddenly realised why his father hadn''t made chase. There was no point in chasing a dog leashed at your wrist. Rikka couldn''t run.


    ¡°You have to come with me, how do I get you out?¡± Corian pleaded.


    Rikka scooped up a handful of dirt, her hands trembling as she spoke a soft incantation. Corian watched the spell hopefully. Praying that Rikka was working on a way to break the tie. They had no time. They had to break it. They had to run or everything. Justin. His squadron. Everything they lost so far would be for nothing.


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    But from the dirt in her hands, a small blue wildflower sprouted. Rikka didn¡¯t have to speak, Corian knew what she was trying to tell him.


    I remember.


    But now wasn''t the time.


    He didn''t have magic. The only one that could do anything against the spell was Rikka.


    But she knew they had no time, except time to waste in a situation neither could fix.


    His voice hitched as he stared at the flower, meeting his sister''s pained eyes. ¡°I know.¡±


    He felt Rikka¡¯s arms wrap around him. The embrace felt cold and heavy. Like chains. A tie that neither could rip through. The hope had fallen from his eyes in tears, and died in the grass at their feet. Or maybe it had been pushed off a bridge, and smiled at Corian as it fell to its death. And these tears meant nothing. Just like his attempt to free Rikka.


    He could hear the soldier¡¯s footsteps approaching, his body devoid of a will to fight. Maybe if he didn¡¯t fight back, Inprobus would lay the punishments on him instead of Rikka.


    But she had attacked an Archon.


    That was a strike.


    Rikka pulled away from the hug, her face wet with tears as she kept her gaze on the ground. But there in the anguish, she willed her lips into a smile, pressing the blue flower into Corian¡¯s hand.


    And then he felt the root wrapping around his leg.


    Before he could react, it pulled, dragging him away through the woods and towards the edge. Rikka shrank from sight. And then, he was free falling.


    Rikka


    The converging soldiers.


    His father.


    All of them quickly disappearing from view as the ravine engulfed him.


    He did not feel it as he struck the ground. Just a consuming darkness that he wished would last forever.


    He had escaped...


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    Without Justin.


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    Without Rikka.


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    Alone.


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    End of Act 1