ã€ŠThe Hybrid: Chasing Destinyã€‹


 Chapter 1: Part 1 - The Hunter and the Beast

    Twelve days! Twelve days of endless searching and at last I have finally found it!

    Ava carefully repositioned herself along the thick, gnarled branch high up in the barren tree, hoping the beast confined to her belly would remain silent. Her hybrid eyes readjusted to the shifting light.

    It was high noon. She knew because it was the only time of day the sun could be seen through the thick mass of clouds that blanketed Spectermere¡¯s grey sky. The small, white disk offered little light and even less heat. It had no power here, where frost, wind, and dark reigned over the land ¨C a place where an easy death came to the weak and unwary.

    She risked her life trekking through Draugr Forest for the miracle fountain. Minervin said every land on Archaicron had at least one, but even he doubted she would find one in this frozen wasteland. She knew better though, there was no doubt in her mind that she would find one eventually if she went deep enough into the forest.

    It did not have the exact look of the Panacean Fountains he described in his tales. The waters were a light turquoise instead of deep blue. And the surrounding rock formations, covered in the long-forgotten writings of The Ancients, were weathered and in ruin. But there was no denying its effect on the scant wilderness around it. The frost-bitten vegetation was thicker and had better colouring, as much as it could in a land like Spectermere. The nearest trees had a few blackened leaves blowing in the chill breeze.

    It was a Panacean Fountain! It had to be! She was almost certain of it, far too desperate for those healing waters to nitpick on small details.

    Ava stared at the rippling waters that never froze and wondered idly if it would clear the stain of her birth. A thought she dismissed almost immediately. Still, Minervin needed them; the ailing man was getting worse and worse with each passing day. She needed to get back to him soon. Already she had been away from him for far too long. Though all her efforts, all her time, and all her meticulous planning would be all for naught if she could not eliminate the troll squatting at the fountain¡¯s base, gnawing on a piece of fleshy bone from its latest kill. Sounds of bone cracking, grunting, and lip-smacking filled the silence. Noise bred from the certainty that it was alone and safe in the area.

    Wrapped in a thick coat of dark grey fur, the troll was largely fat, brawn, and hard bone, standing a full chest, shoulders, and head over her at full height. They would not have normally been a problem for Ava when she hid this high up in the trees, but the abnormally high number of migrating beasts to the northern forest had been taxing on the arrows she brought with her.

    She only had one left, for one perfect shot to the eye. Hitting it in the dense muscle anywhere else would just enrage the beast, and Ava would rather freeze up here than engage an angry troll in melee combat. They were vicious beasts, ready to impale themselves on a sword just to kill a man with a swipe of its overlong arm. She had seen it happen once to a fisherman at The Frozen Lake.

    She had the element of surprise at least, the troll had not caught her scent yet, but it would soon. The cold winds of Spectermere changed in the blink of an eye. The troll just needed to turn toward her. Ava nocked her arrow.

    A chill breeze blew at her back and rustled her tattered fur cloak. The troll snuffled as it whistled past. It turned and roared when it spotted her, dropping the flesh from its hand and stumbling to a stand. Ava pulled on her bow¡¯s string and loosed. The troll howled and thrashed when the arrow met its mark, it snapped her arrow in two with flailing arms and fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Curses, there goes my last arrow.

    Ava waited until the troll¡¯s body stopped convulsing, then sheathed her bow. She made her way down the tree with an agility and dexterity that awed Minervin when he had first seen her climb and he told her that she reminded him of the Earth Elves. Ava beamed at his praise, quick to accept the comparison.

    To the undiscerning eye, she might have passed as an elf, with her glimmering golden-brown eyes and long, pointy ears, but the fangs gave her orcish paternity away. Yet, some differences made these features her own. Her ears were shorter; ending just passed the top of her head and the fangs were tiny, fitting neatly inside her mouth. Minervin said she owed these differences to the human half of her heritage.

    Her skin was another story. Minervin had never seen anything akin to it before. ¡®A perfect combination of two races,¡¯ he said. It was mostly the pale skin of humans, but at some places it darkened into a purple dusting along the tips of her ears and ran across her hairline to arrow between her brows, deepening at the center of her forehead.

    Ava once hoped to find at least one of her parents at the Outpost; a purple orc ought to stand out, except Minervin told her that the orcish sub-group died out sometime in the First Era.

    He explained that the sudden re-emergence of her purple skin was a result of her spirit grabbing at certain unused traits from both her parents when she was conceived. An abnormal spirit grabbing at abnormal traits is what she understood of his daft explanation. But he always insisted she had a strange sort of beauty, and she believed him most times, except when she went to the Outpost. There she could not delude herself, because the denizens would not let her. There she was always reminded as to why she was left out in the frozen wilderness to die.

    Though relations between the races were not unheard of, especially at the Outpost, their hybrid offspring were taboo and murdered at birth while both parents were branded and shamed for the rest of their lives. Ava supposed there was a small mercy in being left out in the cold rather than being murdered at birth. It was, after all, where Minervin found her, took her in, and raised her despite the outrage he received from many at the Outpost. For that, Ava owed him her life, and finding a cure for his illness was the least she could do to repay him.

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    She shoved all thoughts of her parentage back to the recesses of her mind, dwelling on it would make her angry and miserable, and filled two water skins with the Panacean water. She emptied her third and filled it too. She will return to The Outpost following the stream and take what she needs from it.

    A strong, icy wind blew past her, its cold tendrils finding their way through her layers of wool and fur. The beast she was carrying at her belly whimpered, curling into a tighter ball. She shivered and pulled her wool scarf over her mouth and nose, turning to the whirlwind that twisted and twirled far in the distance.

    Even at this far end of Spectermere, the upper half of it was still visible. It was a menacing sight, a swirling mix of violent wind, frost, and cloud that no one dared go near.

    ¡®It is the spirit of this land,¡¯ Minervin told her, ¡®As much a part of it as Wraith Mountains to the west and Draugr Forest to the east. Maybe even more so.¡¯

    It was the reason she and the rest of the Spectermere¡¯s denizens went about their business, barely giving the whirlwind a second thought, despite suffering miserably from the frosty winds and blinding fog it blew about in heavy waves.

    She often had odd dreams of limping into the roaring vortex, clutching her frozen shoulder, seeking out what lay at its center, and waking before she would reach it. It astounded Minervin whenever she spoke of it, and he always warned her against attempting it.

    ¡®A spirit¡¯s mood is an unpredictable thing, Ava. It will tolerate man¡¯s intrusion only so much before removing the threat completely,¡¯ he told her.

    Ava turned from the sight and walked over to the troll¡¯s carcass. She picked up its legs and dragged it along the frozen ground in search of Bluebeard and Longhorn. It was an arduous journey; the troll was full grown and heavier than the one she killed two days before. She had to let the beast out eventually to make it easier for herself, hoping it would not get itself into trouble while she was on the ground and out of arrows.

    But, instead of following along beside her, the beast hopped onto the troll carcass and proceeded to lounge on it while she struggled to pull it along.

    ¡°Troublesome beast!¡± she sneered over her shoulder, ¡°I do not need your added weight on it right now.¡±

    She should have left it out in the cold to die seven days ago. Already she was using too much of her food stores just to feed it.

    Ava had watched as its mother, a massive beast with terrifyingly long upper fangs, engaged a male of her kind in battle. Both beasts were the size of large cattle, but the male was slightly bigger. It had seemed a hopeless fight from the start.

    One of her cubs had lain in pieces at the base of a tree, its blood a frozen smear on the ground. It had been the first sign that something was amiss with the male. She had seen predators kill their young from hunger. But the level of violence was ¨C odd. The carcass lay strewn all over, a wasteful way to kill, as if eating it was not its main motivation.

    The battle had been the second sign, the female fought tactically, aiming for the jugular, belly, and hindquarters while the male snapped at anything that came close to his jaws. He had a mad look in his eyes. His attacks were ferocious, relentless, and reckless.

    The female had used this, finding an opening between his snapping to go for the jugular, but her victory had been short-lived. She had turned to go to her last remaining cub, hiding behind her in the tall straw grass, and keeled over.

    Her sudden death had been a shock, and Ava did not come down from her perch until the mother had not moved at all for a time. She had inspected the frozen carcasses warily and had been puzzled by what she had found. Apart from its frenzied fighting, the male had not had any of the typical signs of the foaming rages. The blood freezing from his grievous wound was especially peculiar and dark as night. Whether the ailment was due to poison or disease, she could not tell.

    The female, on the other hand, had had no serious wounds. Was it possible that her heart stalled? Either way, Ava did not like the look of the entire thing. Even the remaining cub, who had abandoned its grassy cover to watch her curiously, did not go near its fallen kin.

    Ava had left their bodies there, which was a pity since she had not seen their like in all her years. Their pelts would have fetched a great price at The Outpost. She would have left this cub there too, but it followed her and got itself, and her, into more trouble than it was worth.

    She had considered killing it after it woke the first troll she encountered from its burrow and then led it straight to her while she searched the ground for rabbit holes. It took a great deal of running away and cost her four broken arrows before she killed it. All the while the beast hid from view in the grasses nearby. Ava could not say why she did not end up doing so. Over time the creature just grew on her.

    ¡°Looks like I am stuck with you for the near future,¡± she sighed at it. Ava had to admit the beast was pretty, maybe that was it. It was grey, like most creatures in this land, but it had a beautiful patterning of black, white, and tan stripes around its front and spots around the backside. It was not a dog or wolf, Ava knew that much, its tail was different and moved like a serpent, and its muzzle was squashed closer to its face, not long and sharp.

    ¡°You would not happen to know why more creatures are suddenly moving north of the stream, would you?¡±

    The beast just grunted and licked its nose.

    ¡°Fine, keep it to yourself,¡± she huffed, struggling to get the carcass over a small hill, her breath clouding in the air from her efforts.

    It was a few hours before sundown when she finally made it to her campsite with the half-frozen troll. Bluebeard and Longhorn were grazing nearby, never inclined to wander too far from the wagon or her tent. Both cattle were large and burly, covered in a long, thick, livid coat. They lifted their heads and followed her progress as she moved to the wagon, Minervin¡¯s protective wood charms dangling from their horns.

    Only then did the beast decide to get off to wander the area. She removed the troll¡¯s innards and then attempted to heave it onto the wagon. The beast leapt onto the wagon and helped her by pulling on an arm while she lifted and pushed. It was intelligent, she noticed that much. But not quite clever enough to know not to disturb a sleeping troll in its burrow.

    When they accomplished the great feat, Ava gave the troll¡¯s innards to the beast and set about rekindling her fire. Once she had the blaze going, she skewered one of her rabbits over it and then set about righting the tent for another cold night. The beast amused itself by disturbing the cattle as they grazed, and eventually wandering off deeper into the forest. It was almost dark when the beast came loping back into camp, a dead bird between its jaws. Ava ate her rabbit meat, cheese, and hard rusk as she watched it rip the feathers out and devour it before her fire.

    It was the first time it hunted successfully. Maybe it won¡¯t be such a drain on my stores, anymore.

    The fog became so dense when dusk fell that seeing through it was a trial. The barren trees faded into dark shadows, becoming the silent, menacing specters this land was named for. Ava called Longhorn and Bluebeard and opened the flap of her tent as they herded inside with the beast. She secured the ties on the flap, pushed the beast off her furs, unstrung her bow and covered the cattle with blankets, then snuggled down in her own. She waited for the forest to wake.

    It did not. Not even the wind howled or beat against her tent and the silence made her feel more ill at ease than a fully enraged troll charging at her from out of nowhere.

 Chapter 1: Part 2 - Two Drunken Fools

    ¡®

    ¡®Come to me! You must not tarry here!¡¯

    Ava started at the sound of the ghostly voice. The beast¡¯s yellow eyes greeted her. It crawled under her fur during the night and was staring at her curiously now.

    She lay unmoving and listened for the voice to come again, but only the wind whistled, and her tent clapped.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t happen to hear that too, did you?¡± she croaked to the beast.

    It sniffed her nose in response.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think so,¡± she mumbled, pushing off her coverings.

    The cattle woke at her movement and shuffled to a stand. Ava crawled over the beast, unfastened the flap, and looked out.

    It was early morning and darkness still fought the grey light for reign over the land. Spectermere was still, but this quiet was normal. Ava had slept fitfully in the silence of the night, tormented by an unknown threat felt in the back of her mind and the pit of her gut.

    She moved to the side so the cattle could file out, removing their blankets as each of them exited. The beast exited too. Ava gathered her cloak tightly around her, wrapped her scarf around her face and exited after them to find wood. She wandered near the leafless trees nearby collecting sticks and pieces of bark, deep in thought.

    Ava asked Minervin once about Draugr Forest and its dead trees.

    ¡®Oh no, Ava,¡¯ he said. ¡®The trees are not dead, they look that way on the outside, but inside the trees are very much alive! And deep beneath the ground their roots are alive, that is why they keep growing so tall! They call it Draugr Forest because the spirits of all those who perished there still linger to warn the living away. That is why no one, except you, is so mad as to travel so deep into it and stay there overnight!¡¯ Ava thought the notion absurd, at least of the forest north of the stream, but after last night she might just reconsider that.

    She restarted her fire and went to the stream to fill a pot with its partially frozen water. Perhaps she had lingered here for too long and a slight madness had come over her. Ava set the pot over the fire to boil and broke up camp. She needed to leave the forest anyway, the frost season would start soon and living outdoors would not be wise.

    For three months, every year, Spectermere had long sleet storms, making the ground muddy with half-frozen slush. Minervin would complain, as he always did when the first storms came.

    ¡®This is a poor excuse for snow,¡¯ he would say. ¡®Not at all like the snowstorms in Skyreach at the top of the world. You must see it, Ava. That is a land where the cold has great beauty and wonder!¡¯

    Ava took the water from the fire and sat on a fallen tree waiting for it to cool. The beast¡¯s sudden appearance at her side startled her from her thoughts. It plopped a wiggling frost serpent onto her lap. She bolted upright and yelped, chucking the venomous creature a short distance from her. Its fangs caught on the sleeve of her overcoat before it fell harmlessly to the ground.

    The beast grunted at her reproachingly, not taking kindly to the way she had treated its gift. Bending low to the ground, it stalked behind the serpent as it tried to slither away. It was not doing a good job, since the serpent would turn and hiss at it threateningly when it got too close, sometimes even striking out at it with its fangs. Ava watched the scene playing out before her as she sipped on her warm water and munched on her leftover food, then packed up the rest of her camp when she finished. The beast, in the meantime, finally gave up toying with the serpent and pounced on it theatrically, quickly beheading it and enjoying the victories of the hunt.

    She fit the wagon¡¯s yoke to Bluebeard and Longhorn, and the cattle pulled the wagon into motion. Ava led them through the forest, sticking close to the stream. The beast jumped onto the wagon and watched the forest pass by from its highest perch.

    <hr>

    It took Ava nine more days to clear Draugr Forest. The hours she took to rest shortened night after night, eliminating the prospect of making camp entirely on the ninth night. Normally, it would be a foolhardy decision, but her trepidation became so poignant that she felt the cold fingers of death brushing the back of her neck in her waking hours as well. The beast¡¯s playful nature ebbed away as well, and it constantly paced the edges of the wagon, warily watching the surroundings.

    A wave of relief washed over Ava when she led the cattle to the edge of the forest at the breaking of dawn.

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    ¡°Come,¡± she ordered the beast, stopping the wagon and lifting her wool tunic.

    The beast obeyed oddly, and she tightened her belt to keep it from falling out. She pulled her fur cloak tightly around her to hide the visible mound and pulled her hood low over her face. Only then did she lead the wagon away from the forest edge and make for The Outpost.

    Minervin told her that The Outpost was first built by Orc invaders in the Second Era who used it as a midway stop to restock and regroup. But, they long since abandoned it. Preferring instead to journey to the perilous Serpa-infested Squall Islets before moving on to the bountiful human lands.

    ¡®It is a warning,¡¯ he said. ¡®When the mighty orcs, who fear no living creature, retreat from a land and take nothing with them, we should all be wary of what lingers there.¡¯

    Whatever frightened the orcs from this land had long faded into history and now humans and dwarves used this land to rid themselves of their criminal and undesirable aspects. An exile punishment the orcs adopted recently as well. The Criminal Outpost outlanders called it.

    The voices of the watchmen posted at its gate echoed across the flat, cracked plains as she drew closer to the wooden fortress. Strong crosswinds that blew from both land and sea took parts of the conversation away with them.

    ¡°...sorcerer! What¡¯s the man think¡­?¡± said one guard.

    Curses, what has Minervin done now?

    ¡°Who knows... Never trusted spell-casters meself. ¡­bend such forces with... It¡¯s the Reaper¡¯s doing, I tell you. They¡¯re his seeds o...¡± the other supplied. Both men sounded deep in their cups and were practically yelling at each other.

    ¡°I¡¯ll wager you two coppers that the sorcerer don¡¯t turn up a¡¯tall after the snow season,¡± the first offered.

    ¡°Done! I¡¯ll wager he comes back mad before the snow season is up. Halt! Who goes there?¡±

    ¡°A draugr!¡± Ava shouted back, irritated. They may be drunk, but they knew full well who she was. As if they ever let her forget.

    There was a long pause. ¡°It¡¯s the hybrid! Open the gates!¡±

    A loud scraping sound came from beyond the gate as both men lifted the heavy wooden bar from its metal holders. The gates creaked and groaned as they opened, and Ava led the wagon inside.

    The layout of The Outpost was set up as an orcish stronghold, with smaller huts surrounding a large central one. Its design was a protective measure against enemy invasion in any direction and modern orcs still built their strongholds this way, at least that¡¯s what Minervin told her. Large elephant tusks and bones poked menacingly from every nook and cranny. There was also a scattering of human roundhouses and shacks among them, some even sporting small pens and farm plots, useless without expensive magical help. Ava hoped to rectify that today, for Minervin and herself, at least.

    ¡°You don¡¯t look too dead to me, girl,¡± the first guard replied, sneering at the last word as if her very existence tainted its meaning. ¡°Though most of us thought you were, being so long away in that accursed forest. I owe Jaefrey four coppers now,¡± he groaned regretfully, cocking his head to the other guard, and moving to inspect her wagon.

    Ava did not feel the least bit sorry about the man¡¯s loss; it would teach him not to bet against her next time.

    ¡°What is this talk of sorcerers?¡± Ava asked the guards, while she warily watched him going through her haul.

    ¡°Awful man that. He came to The Outpost off a pirate ship not three days after you left, wearing those long, hooded robes of master mages. Crastius put him up for the night.¡±

    ¡°No doubt expecting the sorcerer to cast some spells for him in exchange,¡± Jaefrey interrupted with a chuckle.

    ¡°¡¯Cept the man only demanded provisions for a journey through Wraith Mountains and the Land Unknown the next day. Crastius told the man that the journey was madness. But the sorcerer would hear none of it.¡±

    ¡°It is madness,¡± Ava whispered, not even she had the urge to venture there.

    Minervin felt a darkness beyond the labyrinth of mountains that spanned the western half of Spectermere, and Ava felt it too. An ancient fear she could not name that made her innards tremble and her body sweat whenever she ventured too close.

    ¡°See, even the hybrid has enough good sense not to go traipsing around there. We¡¯ve had people venture there before. Fool adventurers looking for glory and fame, alone and in large groups, fully armoured and carrying an arsenal of weaponry. Most never come back, and the few that did come back mad and couldn¡¯t tell no one of the things they¡¯ve seen.¡±

    ¡°Mad with rage?¡± Ava enquired.

    ¡°No, girl.¡± He clucked at her as if she were dim. ¡°Their minds were broken. I remember they locked up one man who returned. Day and night, he would shriek like a wild creature in pain, and when he wasn¡¯t shrieking, the man would use the contents of his privy to draw strange symbols that vexed your cursed wizard on the shack walls. Made everyone feel ill at ease.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t they put the man out of his misery then?¡±

    ¡°We wanted to, but your cursed wizard suspected he carried some sort of message from those mountains and hoped he¡¯d snap out of it long enough to tell it proper. Only he managed to escape one night. Sliced his guard¡¯s neck so deep the head near came off, and then he walked off the pier and drowned, or froze, either way, the man died, and we fished his floating corpse out of the water the next day. We set it and the shack alight. Slept better that night than I had in weeks!¡±

    ¡°So, what happened to this sorcerer of yours?¡±

    ¡°Crastius gave the madman his provisions, free of charge mind you, and set the man on his way. Told us the man was out to cause trouble and not to allow him into The Outpost if he ever came back. Said he didn¡¯t like the looks of him from the start. I''ll be agreeing with him, the man had an ill-favoured look about him,¡± Jaefrey answered her.

    ¡°Everyone here has an ill-favoured look about them,¡± Ava quipped.

    ¡°Iller, then. They¡¯re the servants of The Reaper, these magic wielders. You¡¯d best watch yourself when you¡¯re alone out there with that cursed wizard, girl.¡±

    ¡°Minervin is not like your sorcerer, and I would suggest that you hold your tongue about him when you are around me,¡± Ava growled, fingering the hilt of her dagger.

    ¡°Not like your sorcerer!¡± the man burst out. ¡°He¡¯s much worse, only The Reaper¡¯s minions would curse themselves like he did. Alright! Alright! Easy with the blade!¡± Jaefrey stepped back from her, rubbing his throat where Ava¡¯s dagger nicked him, then waved her carriage forward. ¡°¡¯Tis a good haul you¡¯ve brought us, girl. You¡¯ve had a better hunt than Malgorn. Least, we won¡¯t be eating fish through most of the snow season. Now get on with you and be quick about your business.¡±

 Chapter 1: Part 3 - The Red Berserker

    Ava led her wagon towards the centre of The Outpost. The denizens watched her shuffle along, each one with a sly and suspicious look in their eyes. They kept their distance, waiting in the shadows of their ramshackle houses. But given the opportunity, they would not hesitate to swarm and leave her with nothing.

    Ill-favoured, indeed. They started early today, already there was a half-naked body growing stiff in the path, a knife wound in his chest. A robbery gone wrong, no doubt. He would lie there ignored and forgotten until Crastius¡¯ men deigned to build a pyre for him. With the snow season so close though, they would probably throw him in the Frozen Sea than waste the wood. Ava watched her haul carefully as she maneuvered the wagon through their dwellings.

    They slinked off into the shadows, clearing the path like fish sensing a predator in the water and Ava pulled her hood further back to see why. She sighed miserably. I hoped my day would get better, not worse. I should have known that there are no blessings to be found in this place.

    Malgorn lumbered in her direction further up the path. His long, black plaits swayed to and fro on his large chest as he walked, twirling his great Warhammer in his enormous red hands. He grinned slyly at her, his lower fangs protruded like tusks over his upper lip and made his smile that much more menacing. Seemingly unperturbed by Spectermere¡¯s frosty weather, the only clothes he donned were leather armour and a thick fur cloak. As a towering mass of muscle and bone, he was by far one of the biggest and tallest orcs anyone had seen in this land and out.

    It was said that Malgorn was once a warlord of one of the Red Orc Strongholds, but his kin betrayed him and exiled him because he was far too savage, even by orcish standards. The denizens here gave him a wide berth because of his volatile temperament and Crastius did not trust the red orc enough to keep him beside him for too long.

    But Ava had no intention of scurrying away from him like a coward. She did not doubt that he would kill her if she did. Ava suspected that the orc, like many of the denizens here, let her be because he was wary of Minervin. But that was not entirely enough to keep him at bay. Already she could hear him mumbling the word repeatedly putting her teeth on edge. She could brush off every offensive word these people could produce, but she always took exception to that one word he always insisted on calling her.

    ¡°Detchien,¡± he sneered clearly by way of greeting.

    Waste dog, he called her, a creature of The Burning Wastes that was so squalid, mangy, and pathetic that it would eat its waste to survive. She ignored him, grinding her teeth and led her wagon past his hulking form. He stopped it in its tracks with one hand. Her cattle heaved and moaned with the exertion to pull free, but it was a wasted effort.

    Ava would have been awed by his strength were she not so annoyed by his intent on prolonging their encounter. She moved closer to the orc and gripped her dagger¡¯s hilt. Not that it would do much good against his raw strength, but at least she would be able to slice something off first before she died.

    ¡°It is a good haul you have brought. You have great skill with the bow, detchien,¡± he said, stunning Ava from her murderous thoughts.

    He reached for one of her deer.

    ¡°Hands off, or you will lose some fingers!¡± Ava snapped at him.

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    To her chagrin, Malgorn only chuckled at her threat.

    ¡°You have no fear, detchien. You would make me a fine and fierce wife.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± She blurted in disbelief, taken aback by his sudden declaration. The orc must have knocked his thick, fool head somewhere and was not thinking straight.

    Malgorn grinned widely at her reaction, treating her to a view of his fearsome upper fangs. He reached over to grab a clump of her dark brown hair and ran it through his long fingers, curling it around one before letting it drop back to her chest.

    ¡°I am willing to look past the stain of your birth, detchien. And you are fragile, little, so I will have to be gentler with you. But you would make a better wife than any orcish warrior woman on Blood Rock and give me sons and daughters fiercer than any of the orc raiders there. Provide for me, fight beside me and I will give you any land and its riches that you wish. You will get no better offer.¡± Amusement glimmered in his bright brown eyes as he stared down at her and Ava could not tell if he was serious or mocking her.

    ¡°And what lands would you raid without ships and an invading army at your back?¡±

    ¡°A true orc warlord needs only one ship to raid. One ship to sail to Blood Rock, take back Bloodgore and reclaim his raiders. Only one ship, detchien, and there are trees abundant to build it in this frozen waste of land,¡± he pointed out with a small measure of annoyance.

    ¡°And why have you not built this ship by now?¡± Ava asked, equally annoyed.

    ¡°You are a quarrelsome child, detchien. But so are all orcish women before they settle into the life of a wife. Ship building is a labourer¡¯s work and Malgorn is a warlord. Warlords sail ships,¡± he explained. Ava would have expected the words to sound patronizing, but he stated them in such a dry, matter-of-fact way that it reminded her of Minervin¡¯s many lessons and lectures. Was he trying to teach her about his culture?

    ¡°The greedy dwarf charges a fortune for his carpentry skill, but I am close. Soon he will build my ship. So, what say you now?¡± he asked.

    Incredible! The Red Orc is serious about his proposal. It is absurd! Is it not? The orc still called me detchien, why would he want to take me as a wife? He must be making a mockery of her; she will teach him.

    ¡°Warlords do not take their offspring as wives either.¡±

    Malgorn¡¯s hand tightened on the wagon and the wood beneath it groaned in protest. ¡°Watch your tongue!¡± he rumbled. ¡°You are not my child!¡±

    ¡°You do not sound very certain. People say we look alike, and I have heard whispers about you and the human women here. How sure are you that you did not get one heavy with a hybrid child seventeen years ago?¡± Ava demanded of him.

    ¡°Gahg!¡± Malgorn exclaimed, releasing her wagon so suddenly that it lurched forward, and she nearly lost her balance. ¡°Brain-rotted humans are putting thoughts in your head to divert from their transgressions. Very sure, I was warlord over Bloodgore,¡± he said with certainty before his brow creased with puzzlement.

    ¡°You are an anomaly, detchien. Now, get on with you before you make me lose my temper,¡± he muttered, swinging his Warhammer onto his shoulder, and turning from her.

    He stopped further down the path and turned back.

    ¡°Eh, I will have you as my wife, detchien. When the dwarf starts with my ship, I know you will come to me of your own free will.¡± His smile was smug.

    ¡°I will not!¡± Ava scowled at him, highly offended.

    ¡°You have the wanderlust of the orcs; you cannot deny it. You will come.¡± And with that certainty, Malgorn turned and lumbered away, twirling his Warhammer on his shoulder.

    Ava led her wagon away, the wheels rattling and bouncing off the cracked ground. The further away she got from the accursed Red Orc, the better.

    The nerve of the man! Thinking I will sell myself like one of Crastius¡¯ women for a ship and lands I have only ever dreamed of! Although he did offer her more than Crastius could ever offer his women, or that she was ever likely to get. A husband, a stronghold, any land and its riches, and children!

    No, no, the whole thing was absurd! The man was absurd! Mad!

    I would have to find another way to get Minervin and myself on his ship.

    Why am I even considering this? Malgorn¡¯s ship does not exist!

    Not yet anyway.

 Chapter 1: Part 4 - The Outposts Warlord

    Ava was in a foul mood when she made it to the giant hut at the centre of The Outpost. It was a massive dwelling and had four smaller huts connected to it. Minervin told her that the wives of Orc warlords slept in those. The more huts, the more wives and with no bedroom of his own the warlord had the freedom to choose in which hut, and wife, he would lay with each night. How many add-ons did Malgorn¡¯s hut have at Blood Rock, I wonder?

    Crastius was no orc warlord, however, and used one of these for his bedroom, another for all his women and the rest for storage. The main hut was a tavern, a shop, and a brothel. However, if men had money to waste on a night with his women, they would have to find a bed elsewhere.

    ¡°Tell Crastius Ava¡¯s brought in a haul,¡± she ordered the man sitting outside the tavern, buried inside his fur cloak. He got up in a panic when he realised who she was and disappeared beyond the entrance.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± She heard Crastius shout from inside a little while later. ¡°Well, why¡¯d you keep her waiting outside, you fool? Bring her in!¡± The man returned quickly with a few others and set about removing her cattle from the wagon and pulling it inside.

    The air inside the hut was so warm and stuffy that Ava doffed her hood and scarf soon after entering. It was dark too, the only source of light coming from a large fire pit that burned in the centre. There was a scattering of tables and stools placed around it. A drunken pair of dwarves occupied one of these tables; both were red-cheeked and semi-conscious.

    A large bar stood before the far wall. Behind it were numerous tables and cases displaying varying types of merchandise, from food to armour, but Crastius chose the wall itself to portray the weapons up for sale. The centrepiece was a beautiful Sabre with the thinnest blade and an exquisite swept hilt. Ava wanted that sword the minute she first saw it adorning Crastius¡¯ wall, but the imbecile stubbornly refused to sell it to her, despite her being the only person able to buy it.

    The man himself was waiting behind the curved bar, beaming at her. Wonderful! I see he has lost his mind too.

    The Outpost¡¯s sole merchant was exiled from the human lands many years before he came to Spectermere and lived them out sailing all three oceans as a pirate ship captain. No one was entirely sure how he ended up here, but there were rumours that Crastius¡¯ cowardly nature in battle turned his crew against him. He kept his former pirate connections though, and set up shop, becoming the most powerful and richest man in The Outpost. Everyone went to him for the goods they needed to survive, and for goods that they did not, as well.

    Crastius moved to her side with ill-concealed excitement and looked over her haul. Ava was immediately assailed by the man¡¯s stench, a heavy mixture of perfume, sweat and something akin to fish that made her instantly nauseous. He was a seedy, leather-skinned man with greying copper hair, green, shifty eyes, and a rotund belly. He was never afraid to flaunt his riches in a town filled with murderers and thieves and preferred to wear the expensive silk, velvet, and satin fabrics of the Empire¡¯s nobility beneath his cloak rather than wool, leather, and fur.

    ¡°You killed two trolls?¡± he said, his bushy eyebrows lifting skyward.

    ¡°I would not have their carcasses if I did not,¡± she responded, dryly.

    ¡°Barter or coin?¡± Crastius asked, almost foaming at the mouth for the sale. Crastius always itched to have a troll carcass brought to him, its fat was used in smithing and candle making, and rich outlanders would pay handsomely for their pelts and mounted heads. Ava would bleed him dry for these trolls.

    ¡°Barter of course! What use would coin be to me in this wasteland?¡±

    ¡°Well, you can buy food and drink at the tavern,¡± he explained as if she were dense, waving to the drunken dwarves. Both were passed out and snoring loudly now. One knocked over his cup and its contents dripped to the floor.

    Ava frowned at his reasoning. ¡°You would have me sell my haul to you for coin, only for me to give that same coin back to you for a small piece of my own game and your vile, poison water?¡±

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Crastius sighed, waving her to silence. ¡°You¡¯re far too clever for your own good, girl,¡± he said, sneering at the last word. ¡°Name your terms then.¡±

    Ava handed him one of the water skins hanging from her shoulder. ¡°Panacean water for half your arrow stores, cattle feed, hay and one Illuminaris.¡±

    ¡°You lie!¡±

    ¡°If you do not want it, give it back then. I am sure everyone else would pay all of their coins for just one drop of it,¡± Ava growled.

    Crastius moved the skin far from her reach. ¡°No, I never said I don¡¯t want it! Get her everything she asks for and a new water skin,¡± he demanded of the man behind him, draping the water skin on his shoulder and putting a protective hand over it. ¡°So, you¡¯ve finally found the fountain, have you, girl? Didn¡¯t doubt that you would. Where is it?¡±

    ¡°Will you go searching for it if I tell you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! That forest is far too dangerous for a man like me,¡± he confessed with a hand over his heart.

    ¡°Yet, I am sure you will get some poor fool to go after it for some meagre coin. I very much like being your only supplier for now, Crastius.¡±

    He scowled at her in silence until his men returned with a large chest, feed, and a small wooden container. Crastius opened the chest to show her the arrows inside and when she nodded her approval, he took the smaller box from one of the men and opened it. A warm, blinding ball of yellow light floated in the centre of the box.

    ¡°T¡¯Illuminaris, the little sun. A Dorcan magical item created to radiate sunlight at a temperature and brightness ideal for growing crops, especially in harsh environments. Works in their desert caves and it¡¯ll work here, though I wouldn¡¯t stare too long, girl,¡± he warned when Ava didn¡¯t take her eyes off the ball of light. She straightened immediately and tried to blink away the temporary blindness that came over her eyes. ¡°The item becomes rather expensive when traded so poorer farmers will never get their hands on it. Are you pleased with it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, five rabbits for eight fish and two deer for their value in bread, seal meat, salt, spice and a few bottles of your poison water...¡± Crastius clicked to the men around him and they scurried around her wagon, removing items and replacing them with others. ¡°And two trolls for the sword,¡± she finished.

    ¡°No, ask for something else,¡± Crastius grunted.

    ¡°Why not?¡± Ava raged, just stopping short of stomping her foot like a petulant child. The sword¡¯s value was far less than the Illuminaris, the trolls should have covered it. Why was the man being so hardheaded about it?

    ¡°Because that is too fine a sword for the likes of you, now ask for something else.¡±

    Ava did not want something else, she wanted the sword, but she also did not want to sit with a couple of troll carcasses either.

    ¡°I have the finest elven silk dresses, very expensive. Female nobility in the Empire would die for them,¡± he offered softly.

    ¡°Why would I want silk dresses? And where would I wear them? I cannot hunt in them, and I would freeze the minute I step out in the cold, you dense man.¡±

    ¡°You could wear them here.¡± Crastius waved to the tavern.

    ¡°Why? So, you can make me The Outpost¡¯s laughingstock?¡±

    The man was being absurd, thinking she would trek from Minervin¡¯s cabin to wear a stupid dress at his tavern. What was he playing at?

    Crastius looked genuinely surprised at her outburst.

    ¡°No, of course not, girl. No one would laugh at you, no one would even dare,¡± he said with deadly seriousness. ¡°I have one that seems as if the elves spun threads of the sunset in it, it would go well with your skin. On any other woman here, it would have made them look like a hag. But you would look like a goddess in it, Ava, especially with eyes and ears like yours.¡±

    Ava slapped his hands away before he could touch her ears, shocked and embarrassed by the man¡¯s odd behaviour. That was the first time he called her by her name and it made her shiver. Not even Malgorn made her feel this distressed.

    ¡°Have you been drinking your poison water? I do not want your elven dresses!¡±

    ¡°Then take it as a gift, but wear it here,¡± Crastius offered. Even his own men¡¯s eyes bulged at their master¡¯s uncharacteristic generosity.

    ¡°I do not want it, I said. Nor do I want to be one of your women.¡±

    ¡°Must you be so stubborn, girl?¡±

    His hand snaked out and grabbed her. Ava recoiled from him, but the man refused to let go, and her hand quickly went to the hilt of her dagger.

    The beast at her belly moved and growled before she could draw it. At least, she thought it growled. It was a threatening enough sound that Crastius released her in his fright and backed away.

    ¡°She carries The Reaper¡¯s demon in her womb!¡± one of Crastius'' men shrieked, scrambling from her wagon in his panic and stumbling from the hut.

    The commotion woke the dwarves, who watched her in wary confusion. On any other day, Ava would have found the scene mildly amusing, but the strangeness of today spoiled her good humour.

    ¡°Pay the boy no mind, he¡¯s new. What have you got under there?¡± Crastius asked, reaching for her tunic.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Ava turned from his hand. The beast growled more threateningly, and he snatched it back.

    ¡°What do you want for it?¡± he demanded, salivating at the chance to sell something rare.

    ¡°It¡¯s not up for sale.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you the sword for it.¡±

    Ava dithered over the prospect for a moment.

    ¡°It¡¯s not for sale,¡± she said. ¡°If you will not give me the sword for the trolls, then I will take the armour instead.¡± Curse her stupid affection for this beast.

 Chapter 1: Part 5 - The Untouchable Exile

    Minervin¡¯s cabin was nestled away between small hills and overlooked the half-frozen waters of the Calm Ocean. The view provided solace for the aging wizard, and Ava would often find him strolling along the coast and gazing at the watery horizon when he was feeling up to brace the cold. But it was not the only reason why Minervin erected his cabin in this spot. The hills that surrounded the cabin obscured much of it from the views of both The Outpost and Draugr Forest.

    Men tend to worry a throbbing sore they can see Ava, more so than one they cannot. Out of their sight, out of their minds.

    Throbbing sore it may be to anyone who lived at The Outpost, but Minervin¡¯s cabin had better amenities than the dwellings there. Magic goes a long way here, even if said magic comes from a cursed wizard.

    The cabin had three outlying buildings. A barn to house Longhorn, Bluebeard and a cow named Princess, a smaller building they used for storage, and a greenhouse. There was no smoke coming from the cabin¡¯s chimney when Ava finally led the cattle through the meandering path to Minervin¡¯s Nook. Slivers of trepidation slithered down her spine, but she quashed it. Minervin was strong, a wizard, he would never allow himself to die from some silly illness.

    Princess looked up from the small stack of feed before her and mooed. She had the same long livid coat as her male counterparts but was slightly smaller with shorter horns. The cow was their main source of milk when she ate well. She greeted Ava by poking her in the belly with her snout but snorted in disgruntlement when she got a whiff of the beast beneath her tunic. Ava gave her a scratch on the head before the cow left the barn to wander off outside, and Longhorn and Bluebeard followed when she untied them. Minervin must not have let the poor cow out for some time if the state of the barn was any indication. Ava cleaned it up, emptied out a bag of feed and refilled the water trough.

    Ava skinned and salted her last remaining game and hung them with the fish in the storage shed, leaving their hides to dry outside. Minervin had neglected the greenhouse as well. There was a chill in the air and the plants were wilting as frost nipped at the tips of their leaves.

    Maintaining the garden was a huge drain on Minervin¡¯s magical reserves, and yet he would rather expend the reserves on it than use it to regain his health. And now he would not need to sacrifice himself for it any longer. She walked to the centre of the garden and opened the small container. As if sensing its purpose, the Illuminaris floated from it and into the air, stopping midway between the ground and the roof. It burned brighter as it levitated in that spot and the temperature in the greenhouse rose slowly.

    Finally satisfied that they might just survive the snowy season without starving, Ava entered the cabin she shared with Minervin.

    The air inside the cabin was colder than the greenhouse, the fire pit in the centre was burned down to fine ash and had not been rekindled for quite a while.

    ¡°Minervin, I have returned,¡± she told the big bundle of furs atop Minervin¡¯s bed and set about stacking wood and hay in the fire pit. ¡°Minervin,¡± Ava called again when only silence greeted her. ¡°Minervin!¡± Ava¡¯s voice rose in pitch as she rushed to his bed.

    She was startled when Minervin burst upright in his bed in an explosion of fur and blankets. He looked around the cabin and then at her in wary confusion. Lines from the bedding were etched onto his cheeks and his normally curly, short grey hair was flattened and mussed on the side. He looked pale and feverish, and his grey eyes held untold pain.

    ¡°Ava! Why in Holden¡¯s name are you yelling so? You have disturbed me from a good dream,¡± he croaked, miserably.

    His attention quickly turned to his bed covers and he searched between them with an ill-concealed alarm. Ava reached over to clutch one of Minervin¡¯s unearthed handkerchiefs. He tried to grab it from her but in his weakened state he was no match and gave up.

    ¡°Your cough is getting worse,¡± Ava pointed out when she saw the dried blood on it. She collected the bloodied rags and threw them all into the fire pit. ¡°Here.¡±

    She handed him a water skin.

    ¡°You have found it?¡± he asked, raised a dubious brow and took a drink from it.

    ¡°I told you I would.¡± Ava beamed, but her smile faltered when a coughing fit overcame him. Ava took the skin from him and patted him on the back until his body calmed. ¡°I was sure the waters would cure your ripping cough, maybe I was mistaken about what it was.¡± Crastius would be in a massive rage if he found out the water was not what I said it was.

    ¡°I would not fret about it, child. At the bottom of the world, we are too far south of the mountain for its waters to remain pure. Besides, these waters cannot cleanse a curse from a spirit and my illness is no less than that.¡±

    ¡°Maybe if you tell me what causes it, I could find the proper treatment. You are nobler than all the Outpost combined, yet they remain fine while you are cursed and treated like dirt.¡± Ava pleaded, her eyes blazing indignantly.

    ¡°Bah, it helps them sleep better knowing there is someone out there far worse than them. Pay them no mind. Did ¨C those people say something to you?¡± he replied, his shoulders drooping as if he carried a great weight upon them.

    ¡°No. It¡¯s just not fair,¡± Ava mumbled sulkily.

    ¡°It is, Ava, ladies always use language correctly and do not mutter when speaking. Eloquence is key. Let it rest. I would not tell you if you used your last breath to ask it of me. Now help me up,¡± he ordered, pushing the rest of his furs from his body. Ava supported his weight as he got to his feet and gave him his walking stick. He waved a hand, twisting it slightly as he did and fire flickered from his fingertips, springing into the pit. The wood and hay she placed in it instantly ignited and calmed in a slow burn. ¡°It is too cold in here.¡± He said, rubbing his hands. ¡°I must have slept longer than I intended to. Fetch water to fill the tub.¡±

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    ¡°You want to bathe now?¡±

    ¡°No, you want to bathe now. How long since you have washed, child? You smell something fierce.¡±

    Ava¡¯s face heated in mortification. ¡°I cleaned the important bits. There is no place to wash up in the forest unless you want a quick death.¡±

    Minervin clucked and shook his head at her excuse. ¡°You had fire and water, and my charms would have protected your camp under sudden attack. You had no reason not to wash up. Ladies should always keep clean.¡±

    ¡°Well, the people at The Outpost did not find anything wrong with my smell and they certainly do not see me as a lady either. I am barely a girl for them,¡± Ava pouted, petulant.

    ¡°Of course, they would not, all of them smell worse than you do. And I have seen how the men there look at you to know that you are woman aplenty for them. Now stop arguing with me and go get water. And get enough for a separate tub so that I can soak your clothes.¡±

    Ava smiled when she left with a bucket. The Panacean waters must have helped more than she thought if he was willing to soak her clothes.

    It took Ava several trips to the stream to fill the tubs to Minervin¡¯s liking. He heated it by dipping his hand into the ice water and leaving her to see what she accomplished around their plot of land.

    She was still in the tub, struggling to comb the knots from her hair when he returned a little while later and quickly averted his gaze. His behaviour always amused her, since he had seen her naked more times than she could recall.

    He went to sit with his back to her at the fire pit, the few things she left in the wagon floating in the air behind him. He put the chest of arrows and her new leather armour in the cabin¡¯s corner with just a wave of a finger and then called forth a pot filled with bread, meat, and an assortment of crops, setting about making a meal.

    ¡°Should you be using that much magic so soon after recovering?¡±

    ¡°Well, I certainly was not going to break my back carrying that chest over here instead, but your concern is duly noted. Your hunt must have gone well if you came back with so much.¡±

    ¡°A little too well, if you ask me,¡± Ava quipped absent-mindedly, wincing in pain when she came upon a rather troublesome knot.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Minervin stilled in his work but dared not look at her. And Ava knew he wanted to, Minervin always told her that he could read the truth in a man¡¯s words by watching the way his face moved when he said them.

    ¡°Too many creatures are migrating north of the stream, they are living on top of each other. There were even creatures lurking there that I had never seen before.¡± Ava¡¯s attention shifted to the beast, leaning over the rim of her tub, and dipping a paw into her bath water before licking the wetness off. The creature completely escaped Minervin¡¯s notice when he came back into the cabin. But he squinted and frowned down at it now when he turned to enquire about her meaning. ¡°Do you know what it is?¡±

    Minervin got up, wrapped his brown robe around him and clutched the beast by the scruff of its neck. He inspected it, front and back in the air, then sat down and examined it in his lap more thoroughly. The beast did not appreciate the prodding and probing, and it hissed and spit in disgruntlement the entire time.

    ¡°Yes. I know what it is, though they were thought to have gone extinct at the beginning of the third era. It is a sabre cat; their species habited every land known to man until they were hunted to the last. Now here in this long-forgotten wasteland, they re-emerge from the pages of history. This one is a male. The mothers were known to be viciously protective of their cubs, how did you get this one away from her?¡±

    The cub jumped from Minervin¡¯s lap and shook his coat, plodding to her as she got up from the tub and wrapped herself in a drying robe. He watched Minervin warily from behind her leg.

    ¡°I did not.¡±

    Ava described the scene she witnessed in the forest to him and how the beast came into her care, while Minervin coaxed the beast out by running the end of his staff along the floor before him.

    ¡°There is a threat growing in the southern forest. I know it, Minervin. I felt it breathing down my neck on my last few days there. Have you not felt anything?¡±

    Minervin halted in his play with the beast, sudden fear filling his eyes. ¡°I have always felt a forbidding in that forest, but I have been too weak these past few days to notice any change in that.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I was being silly. That part of the forest has not frightened me before, but then I have never been so deep or so long away in it,¡± Ava sighed.

    ¡°Do not doubt your instincts, Ava. They have never failed you before. I will scrye the southern forest and see if I can view passed the barrier that blocks it from my sight,¡± Minervin offered before returning to his cooking.

    They sat in silence for a time while Ava dressed.

    ¡°Do you think the Red Orcs of Blood Rock will accept us if we go there and make a new home?¡±

    Minervin sighed, ¡°I have told you before Ava, we will find no refuge or kinship among any of the races and less so among the orcs. Your existence would be an affront to them, a living symbol of the weakness that now stains their blood. And a cursed wizard brings with him only misery and despair. They can barely tolerate each other, but the only thing the Red Orcs of Blood Rock and Green Orcs of Brown Stone would unite on is how quickly to slaughter us both the minute our feet touch their red sands.¡±

    ¡°What if I were to become the wife of a warlord before he goes to reclaim his stronghold? Would they accept us then?¡± Ava scratched the beast¡¯s neck, but her full attention was on Minervin.

    He turned in surprise at her question and his thick brows dipped with suspicion.

    ¡°They will accept you, as long as he lives. If the warlord that comes into power after him does not favour you as well, you will die. Why do you ask?¡±

    She pursed her lip and blurted quickly, ¡°Malgorn has offered to take me as a wife...¡±

    ¡°Ava!¡±

    ¡°He says he is close to having a dwarf build him a ship, so he can sail to Blood Rock and reclaim his stronghold. He will take us with him if I become his wife,¡± Ava pressed on despite his dismissive tone.

    ¡°You are not marrying that deranged orc for his ship, Ava! I will not allow it! You have a far greater destiny than wasting away as a warmonger¡¯s forgotten wife and fighting in pointless battles over filthy water!¡± Minervin scolded, the skins from the potato he was peeling flew in every direction. He wanted to say more but was overcome by another fit and doubled over. Ava rushed to his side and patted him on the back. He waved away the water from the skin she offered.

    ¡°We have to leave this place, Minervin,¡± Ava whispered once his body calmed. ¡°We have to be on that ship when it sets sail, and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to make that happen.¡±

    ¡°Why are you so insistent on this? Malgorn does not have a ship yet.¡±

    Ava could not explain her sudden desperation to him, its intensity surprised her as well. Yet, she knew it went beyond her wanderlust. Minervin will understand. Minervin always understood. Sometimes he knew her mind better than she did.

    ¡°The Whirlwind says I must. I have heard its voice telling me so.¡±

    ¡°The Frost Spirit speaks to you?¡± Minervin asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied, growing uncertain under his intense gaze. The surprise she expected of him was not there in his reaction.

    Minervin got up and paced the cabin floor, rubbing his lips with his finger whilst deep in thought.

    ¡°The spirit speaks to you,¡± he muttered to himself.

    ¡°There are drawings of this ability among the ancient elves in the Age of the Gods. It is theorized that they could converse with the spirits of the land. Many believed this to be the origin of magic, but we could not be certain. This power has been long lost to that time, though many of the modern elves do an excellent job pretending that they possess it.¡± His voice dripped with bitterness.

    ¡°What does it tell you, Ava? When it speaks to you what does it say?¡± Minervin rushed to her, holding her hands in his spotted ones.

    ¡°It wants me to go to it.¡± Minervin reacted as she expected this time. But he was so still that Ava feared that his heart had stalled.

 Chapter 2: Part 1 - The Orcish Way

    Ava tested the bow in her hand. It had a comfortable grip, was surprisingly light for its size and seemed to be well crafted.

    It came a week before the snow season started in earnest. The messenger boy bearing it stammered, ¡°M-m-malgorn wants you to have this,¡± before thrusting the cloth-covered package into her arms and fleeing back the way he came as if the Reaper himself were on his heels.

    The weapon was a marvel, created from diamond-crust obsidian; a valuable, rare, and very expensive commodity. If the smith had the skill to mould this stone, the resulting craft would be far more versatile than plain old steel or wood. And, like all obsidian that spewed from the belly of Archaicron, it could shape, modify, draw from, or dispel magic. How did Malgorn get his hands on something so precious when he could barely pay a dwarf to build a ship?

    The bow¡¯s outer layer had the clarity of clear-cut ice but became frosty white at its centre as if snow itself were trapped inside. The limbs arched forward and broadened toward the grip. But what made this bow unique was not what it was crafted from; it was the razor-edged blades that curved out along the limbs.

    A hybrid weapon, both bow and sword, of unmistakable orcish design. Minervin marvelled at it with her, testing the bow in his hands, impressed by the innovation and craftsmanship. Until he learned that Malgorn gave it to her, then he threw it down as if the feel of it burned his hands and demanded she take it back.

    She put off returning it until the snow season was done, and fortunately for her, the season was uncommonly long. Now, five months after she received the bow from Malgorn¡¯s messenger, she could not quite bring herself to walk over to The Outpost and give it back. At least, not without trying it out first.

    Ava pulled a diamond-crust arrow from the quiver. It was serrated with red and black fletching and nocked it. The arrow whistled through the air when she loosed and pierced straight through the hay target. The bow had twice the speed and power of her old longbow. It was a fine weapon. I will make good use of it.

    ¡°Ava!¡±

    She turned as Minervin stomped towards her, his brows bunched and his robes flapping about his legs. She hid the bow behind her, unable to think of another way to appease his wrath on such short notice. He was in such a foul mood lately, snapping and barking at everything and Malgorn¡¯s bow seemed to be the main focus of his odd temper.

    ¡°It was a gift. It is not fair that I must give it back,¡± she told him defensively.

    ¡°A gift with strings no doubt. Return it before he expects more of you than you are willing to give.¡± Minervin heaved a sigh at her crushed look and pouty lip. ¡°I am not doing this to hurt you, Ava. You are worth more than a pretty bow and a ship.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I will take it back,¡± she mumbled, marching over to grab the arrow from the ground and put it back with the others. She walked past Minervin without a word.

    She spotted Beast among the hills, awaiting her in ambush. He grew a lot in these five months and reached just above her hip now, far too large for the sparse brush he was hiding behind to conceal him completely. Ava walked as if she did not notice him there.

    ¡®Mother!¡¯ He growled, leaping from his cover, only to find that she slipped out from under him, and landed with a grunt. Ava regained her feet and jumped on him, struggling to tip him over to his side. He easily rolled out of her grip and sat on her, pawing harmlessly at her face.

    ¡°I give! I give!¡± Ava called after a while, breathless with laughter. He plopped down onto her chest and licked his nose.

    ¡®Where is Beast and Mother going?¡¯ he asked, his yellow eyes gleaming.

    Ava was not sure when she first started hearing the sabre cat¡¯s voice in her head, only realizing it when Minervin noticed the odd exchange and brought it to her attention. She explained it as best she could to him. It puzzled him greatly, and he often muttered, ¡®I was certain she had no magical abilities,¡¯ to himself whenever he witnessed the exchange again. Ava paid it no mind. She knew something troubled Minervin, bigger than Malgorn¡¯s bow or her strange behaviour with Beast. He would tell her eventually when he was ready.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°To the Outpost, Beast. To buy a bow.¡±

    <hr>

    There would be space aplenty at the Outpost when the next ship of exiles came in. There were bodies piled atop a pyre at the gates, victims of starvation, sickness, and the cold. Far too many for the smothered flames licking out between them to consume. Ava retched from the heavy black smoke that bellowed out from the burning corpses. Any remains left once the fires die down will be thrown to the Frozen Sea and their spirits will be left to find their way to the Eternal Lands or wander the seas until they are claimed by The Deep, or The Other.

    Malgorn¡¯s hut was tucked away at the far end of the Outpost, surrounded by seemingly uninhabited rickety shacks. Unlike the small, single orc huts she passed on her way here, Malgorn¡¯s home had two other similarly sized huts connecting to it and each other. Smoke rose from the chimney of the foremost hut and a long, sharp shrieking filled the eerie silence when she walked up to the door and knocked.

    The shrieking stopped and the door swung open. Malgorn¡¯s face scowled down at her, turning quickly to puzzlement, and then he looked at the area behind her suspiciously.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he grumbled, retreating deeper inside before she could answer. The shrieking started once again.

    ¡°Wait here, and do not get into trouble,¡± she told Beast before she entered.

    His home was a wonder. Every inch of the wall held an orcish weapon of some kind; swords, scimitars, axes, maces, and Warhammers, each exquisitely crafted but none crafted from obsidian like her bow. At the centre of the hut a forge burned hot and red, accompanied by bellows, an anvil and a workbench holding tongs, hammers, and other strange-looking implements. Malgorn himself sat at a grindstone sharpening a scimitar.

    ¡°You made all of these?¡¯

    ¡°Eh,¡± Malgorn grunted. He looked almost embarrassed by the admission.

    ¡°And the bow too?¡±

    ¡°Eh, your bow as well. All orcs must learn how to craft a decent weapon before they can learn to wield it, to strengthen the bond.¡±

    ¡°Why do you not sell them to Crastius? You have expert skill, I''m sure they would fetch a great price...¡±

    ¡°Gahg!¡± he snorted, standing from the grindstone, and placing the scimitar on the wall with an odd sense of reverence, then moving to his workbench to straighten his tools.

    ¡°You would make more money to pay for your ship.¡±

    ¡°Ne, Malgorn does not sell the weapons he makes.¡± He waved a giant hand to stem any more of her outbursts on the matter. ¡°Why did you come?¡±

    Ava ground her teeth at being so thoroughly dismissed, unable to understand the orc¡¯s unwillingness. Why was he struggling so when he could make more gold with his skill and reach his goal much faster? She sighed defeated at his stubbornness.

    ¡°How much do you want for the bow?¡±

    She jumped back a pace when Malgorn upturned the workbench, his smithing implements scattering everywhere. He raised his fists to his forehead, the muscles in his arms bunching before he let them drop to his sides. ¡°Gahg! You annoy me like no other!¡± He spat at her in orcish.

    She gaped at him first, taking a moment to recover from his tantrum. ¡°Well, considering that I am in one piece and the workbench is not, I will take it that it annoyed you more.¡±

    Malgorn chuckled at her reply. The tension immediately left his body.

    ¡°Did your wizard not teach you orcish culture? He taught you our tongue well enough. Malgorn is a warlord, he does not sell his wares like some common labourer or merchant. It is enough that I must hunt for my food and protect that fat fool whenever he feels threatened. Do not insult me further. The bow was a gift.¡±

    ¡°And what are your intentions behind this gift?¡± she asked, holding the bow in question before him.

    He gave her a lopsided grin. ¡°You have spent too much time among humans. If I wanted a whore as a wife, I would have asked one of Crastius¡¯ women instead and resigned myself to the life that has been shoved on me here. The bow was only a gift, a small token to show you what you will receive once I reclaim Bloodgore Stronghold. Throw it away, keep it or give it away, but do not offend me by selling it or leaving it here.¡±

    He turned away from her and sat at a small dining table, eating the food he found on the plate before him. The conversation, for him at least, was over.

    ¡°So, this is your way of courting me?¡±

    ¡°Ne, this is the orcish way of courting, as you say. To make you more receptive to my offer once my ship is built, I will expect an answer only then.¡±

    Ava turned to leave but found that she could not. She swore to herself when she first entered his hut that she would not ask and now the question bubbled up again, too overwhelming to push back down.

    ¡°You can smith any kind of weapon, yes?¡±

    Malgorn twisted in his seat, staring enquiringly over his shoulder, a dark brow raised at her question.

    ¡°Eh, I can.¡±

    ¡°Even human swords, like the Sabre in Crastius¡¯ shop?¡±

    ¡°Eh, I can even smith that one, but I will not,¡± he told her, turning back to resume his meal.

    ¡°Oh, why not?¡± Ava whined. Why were these men so intent on not letting her have that sword?

    ¡°Because it is a weakling¡¯s sword, only good for thrusting. Humans, slow and heavy in their armour, will probably make good targets for this sword but no orc worth his training will stand still while you try to poke at him with a blade, no matter how pretty it looks.

    ¡°Besides, it is too long and heavy for you; it will slow you down and throw you off-balance, especially when you insist on climbing trees like an elf monkey. Now leave me to eat in peace.¡±

 Chapter 2: Part 2 - A Pretty Blade

    Ava still bristled when she stomped back home. Beast trailed silently behind her.

    Elf monkey! The nerve of that ¨C orc! I am not some annoying child to be so easily dismissed! She should have thrown one of his smithing hammers at the back of his big, fool head. But at least she still had the bow, Minervin could not find fault with the gift now. At least she thought he could not.

    She stopped at the end of the meandering path so that she would not intrude on the conversation Minervin was having with a dwarf. He was stout and reached Minervin¡¯s waist, with coarse honey-blonde hair and a permanent frown on his face. They both looked up from the large parchment the dwarf was holding but went straight back to it without saying a word. After a few minutes of back-and-forth debate, the dwarf nodded, rolled up the parchment and tucked it under his arm.

    ¡°You will keep this quiet for as long as possible?¡± Minervin asked the dwarf.

    ¡°Aye, the wrath of a cursed wizard will keep my men silent,¡± the dwarf responded, his long, thick beard bobbing up and down when he spoke.

    ¡°How soon will you start?¡±

    ¡°T¡¯morrow or the day after, no later.¡±

    ¡°Very well then, we have a deal,¡± Minervin said and extended his hand down to the dwarf. He took it in a firm but quick shake and scurried down the meandering path, nodding to Ava in greeting but not waiting around for her reply. He gave Beast a wary glance before rushing past him at a quicker pace.

    ¡°I thought you took the bow back,¡± Minervin pointed out when she turned back to him.

    ¡°I did. He was deeply offended, as you suspected he would be.¡±

    Minervin''s snort told her that her assumption was correct. He knew too much of orcish culture to not know what the outcome would be.

    ¡°You hoped he would be too offended to want to take me as a wife anymore, did you not you sly, old man?¡±

    ¡°Bah! Ava, the things you think of me,¡± he told her with mock innocence. Ava laughed at his expression, glad that he was in a better mood.

    ¡°Are you going to tell me what that dwarf was doing here?¡±

    ¡°He came to negotiate terms for a deal. He will start building a ship for us.¡±

    ¡°He is the shipwright?¡± Ava asked incredulously, ¡°Malgorn said he charged a fortune! How did you manage to get him to build us a ship?¡±

    ¡°Coin cannot make a capital offence go away, but magic can Ava. He wants to return to Haalkinguit but cannot under the pain of death. I made him an offer he could not refuse.

    ¡°I did not want to tell you this before I had a solution in place, but I scryed the southern forest.¡± Minervin expression turned dark, and trepidation squeezed at Ava¡¯s chest.

    ¡°And what did you see? Did you get passed the barrier?¡± She had trouble breathing just thinking about the threat she felt in the forest.

    ¡°Yes, easily. The barrier was broken, but before I could see what lay beyond, a shadow crossed my vision and turned the seeing waters dark and foul. It is a dark omen, Ava. We must flee this land as soon as we can.¡±

    <hr>

    Another package arrived two weeks after Finklhaan, the dwarven shipwright, started building. The time was spent levelling the western tip of Draugr Forest, north of Crystal Stream, and large planks and poles lay in a growing heap on the coast. Finklhaan oversaw the progress with a booming voice and an iron fist. Among the large group of strong, hulking labourers, he seemed the biggest man around. Ava was gob-smacked at how many curses he could squeeze into one sentence.

    Ava was up in a tree surveying the forest depths, Minervin charged her and Beast with the protection of the men as they fell trees when the boy appeared at its base holding the cloth-covered package. When she jumped down before him, the boy cowered, holding the package out for her. She raised a brow.

    ¡°F-f-from Malgorn.¡± He dumped the package in her hands but did not leave as before, shifting his weight restlessly from foot to foot, long enough to draw her questioning gaze.

    ¡°W-w-what are you building?¡± he stammered out. ¡°I want to h-h-help,¡± he added when she only stared at him.

    She squinted at him suspiciously for a while and then sighed. They would get more offers like this when the ship started taking shape and became more difficult to hide. Minervin¡¯s cloaking spell was doing a well enough job for now.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°Go talk with the dwarf, Finklhaan.¡±

    She sat down on an exposed root beneath the tree, leaving the boy to find his way and untied the package.

    Her breath caught when she uncovered a sheathed sword and dagger. Both blades were diamond-crust and beautifully crafted. She picked each one up and inspected them carefully. The dagger was serrated and jagged; its hilt curved and had a hooked pommel of ice and snow. For something so tiny it could inflict a large amount of damage, a true Orcish weapon.

    But the short sword was different. Straight-edged but no less sharp, it was another of Malgorn¡¯s hybrid weapons, a cross between an orcish scimitar and a human sabre and much smaller than both. The blade was slightly curved and broadened out near the middle before curving up sharply into a double-edged point.

    Ideal for poking, but a weapon largely used for hacking and slashing, nonetheless.

    Ava smiled, Malgorn had incorporated a swept hilt on it as well, one end of the cross guards curving down beautifully to protect the fingers of its wielder. It was a simple enough design so as not to be too pretty for the hand of a true orc to wield. Ava sheathed the weapons and was already untying her old steel dagger from her belt before Minervin appeared at her side and startled her.

    ¡°Ava!¡± He was fuming and red in the face, tapping his foot as he towered over her with his hands on his hips.

    ¡°You are not going to make me offend him again by returning it, are you? They were gifts.¡±

    ¡°Gifts you are receiving in bad faith! We have our own ship now. If you are adamant about continuing this damnable courtship at least go and renegotiate the terms. We do not need Malgorn causing unnecessary problems for us.¡±

    ¡°Oh, fine.¡± Ava hated when he made her feel like a child, but she had to admit that he was right.

    She called to Beast, and he came lopping out of the foggy forest, a half-eaten rabbit dangling between his jaws. ¡®Mother called Beast?¡¯ he asked, stopping before her.

    ¡°I am going to the Outpost. Do you want to come?¡±

    ¡®Beast¡¯s place is always at Mother¡¯s side.¡¯

    <hr>

    Ava found the Outpost gates closed to her when she walked up, an oddity for this time of day. After going through the irksome protocol of identifying herself and stating her business to the drunken fools, the guards admitted her. Jaefrey stood in the entryway, adorned in a wolf pelt headdress. He was holding in a laugh, amused by her reaction to his new garb. There was a tale about it he was just itching to tell her.

    ¡°Why are you...?¡±

    ¡°Wolves!¡± the man burst out. ¡°A pack of them entered a few days back in broad daylight! Took us completely off guard. Rampaged through the Outpost for hours, they did, before Malgorn helped us clear them out. Made meself a hat from one of them that near took me head off,¡± he said, stroking the pelt around his shoulder proudly.

    ¡°Yes ¨C er ¨C it is quite lovely. Was there anything odd about the wolves¡¯ behaviour?¡± The last thing she and Minervin needed now was the strange illness she saw in the forest making the rounds in the Outpost.

    ¡°Odd? Nothing odd, just starved. Ripped poor Zenith to pieces. We barely heard her scream when it happened. There was hardly anything left of the girl when we found her. Such a pity, she was me favourite.¡± He shifted uncomfortably when his gaze dropped to Beast, the dead rabbit still dangling from his mouth. ¡°You keep that creature under control while you¡¯re here, girl. The last thing we need is another animal attack.¡±

    ¡°Beast will not be a problem if he is left alone,¡± she told the man as she left the gate behind.

    At least the illness had not found its way here yet. The animal attacks will increase though, it was bound to happen with the migration into the northern forest and the Outpost was such an easy target for starving creatures. It was also possible that the creatures could bring the disease with them, eventually. Yes, better that they closed the gates. But Ava worried that she, Minervin and the builders were too exposed to attack so close to the woods. She would have to talk to him about adding more protection. Hopefully, that will not drain him overly much.

    A crash came from inside Malgorn¡¯s hut, halting her knock at the door, it was followed by a series of loud thuds and thumps. Ava drew her sword and rushed inside, Beast dropped his meal and dipped low, ready to pounce on whatever threat was inside.

    Malgorn stood hunched over his anvil. He twisted it into place on its wooden block and grunted from the effort. His fur coat and armour glistened with melting frost.

    ¡°What in Holden¡¯s name are you doing?¡±

    He straightened once he was satisfied with the anvil¡¯s position, dusting his hands on his armour.

    ¡°Remodeling,¡± was the only explanation he offered up. Ava snorted at his tone but let the matter drop.

    ¡°I hear you are the Outpost¡¯s newest hero.¡± Her tone dripped with sarcasm.

    ¡°Gahg! Glorified dogs! Nowhere near as challenging as the detchien from the Burning Wastes. Only weaklings would take pride in killing such weak things. What did you come here for, elf monkey? Malgorn does not make armour as well as he does weapons.¡±

    ¡°I have armour, and it is still new,¡± Ava sneered defensively, looking down at her leather breastplate. She tightened it as far as it would go and still, it sat loose and bulky on her frame. There was still the chance that she could grow into it.

    ¡°Then you need better armour, or at least armour fit for a woman¡¯s form. That armour will hinder you more than it will help,¡± he replied, shaking his head. ¡°So then, you have come to offend me again?¡± he asked, pointing to the sword she still brandished in her hand.

    ¡°No.¡± Ava sheathed the sword, while Beast, sensing the lax nature of his mother, retrieved his abandoned meal and found an area near the wall to finish it off. ¡°But things have changed, and I cannot accept your gifts in good faith.¡±

    ¡°Since your wizard has the dwarf building a ship for you?¡± He smiled at her expression. ¡°It is not hard to figure out what the dwarf is doing on the coast even when there isn¡¯t anything there to see. But that has changed nothing.¡±

    ¡°I do not understand.¡±

    Malgorn grunted and stared down at his anvil, he was distracted, his attention elsewhere.

    ¡°What good is a ship when you have nowhere to sail to? As my wife you will have a place in my stronghold on Blood Rock, and your wizard among the Unnamed; maybe even among the Named if he proves more useful. In the end, it will be better for me that you and the wizard build the ship instead, so keep the sword, though it will be useless in your hand.¡±

    Ava bristled. ¡°I can use it! Minervin taught me how to wield a sword!¡±

    ¡°Eh, I have seen. With magical spectres as opponents that he could strengthen and weaken at will. The spell caster would fare better teaching you how to fling fire from your fingers than how to wield a sword. I will teach you the proper way to fight. The orcish way.¡±

 Chapter 2: Part 3 - The Dark Plague

    Ava fell back hard. The wind was knocked from her chest by Malgorn¡¯s last blow. The crowd of builders groaned and cheered in equal measure. It became an amusing pastime these past six months for them to watch Ava get beaten on by the tall orc.

    You are not a tree, elf monkey. Do not keep your feet planted too long in one spot. You are quick and tiny, so move just beyond your enemy¡¯s sight and reach.

    You will never match a man¡¯s strength. Do not engage him in a duel. Do not block. Watch as he moves. Deflect his blows. Let him tire. Learn where his weak spots are. Look for openings, close in and then cut away.

    Month after month he drilled this into her head, showing her that his manner of fighting was unpredictable and that she needed to move at a moment¡¯s notice. That a numb hand cannot grip a sword after blocking a blow. Malgorn¡¯s lessons were harsh and bruising, but she learned fast, right through the snow season that did not come.

    Her lungs burned and her chest ached where his pommel made contact. She would not cry. She wanted to, but she would not. Not in front of the workers, not in front of Malgorn, and not in front of Minervin.

    ¡°Malgorn! Must you be so rough?¡± he yelled at the orc.

    ¡®I am fine,¡¯ she wanted to say, but only a pained squeak escaped her lips.

    ¡°Gahg! You are too soft, wizard. This is why she finds this exercise difficult. She will fight men twice her size on Blood Rock and none of them will show the level of restraint that I am now. She must learn to take the blow in stride or die.

    ¡°Get up, elf monkey. How long do you plan on laying there resting? Terrebelle would have been up and fighting again by now,¡± he taunted.

    It irked her that he insisted on comparing her progress with Terrebelle¡¯s. She rolled onto her feet and leaned on her knees, forcing the cold air into her lungs. She jumped away with a shriek as Malgorn¡¯s heavy war hammer came crashing down, breaking the ground beneath, and sending bits of frozen dirt flying.

    ¡°No orc worth his training will stand around and wait until you catch your breath. Hurry up and attack a weakness, you are tiring faster than I am.¡±

    As if it was that easy. Ava found a weakness, if she could slip her sword past the slit in his armour at his side, she could potentially rupture a kidney. But every time she tried to get in close Malgorn found a way to maneuver some part of his war hammer in between them and knock her away with it.

    ¡°You have a longer reach than I. I cannot get passed it,¡± she wheezed.

    ¡°Gahg! A true assassin will find no qualms with my reach. Terrebelle could get it done.¡±

    ¡°This is the same Terrebelle that took over your stronghold by drugging and shipping you off here?¡±

    Malgorn roared with laughter at her clumsy attempt to offend him.

    ¡°Terrebelle knew that neither she nor anyone in Bloodgore could beat me in a battle for Warlord. So, she used what feminine wiles she had, to do what she thought was necessary for the stronghold. You are not as wily, but you will learn as you grow older that not all your battles will be fought with blades and bows. Sometimes, seduction and poison are enough.¡±

    ¡°That is hardly an appropriate teaching!¡± Minervin blustered out with embarrassment.

    ¡°Gahg! You coddle her too much. Now enough stalling,¡± he barked, swinging at her.

    His attacks were relentless. He blocked his weakness so well that Ava was certain there was no way through. And maybe there was not. Malgorn already knew where his weakness was, and he would keep fending her off to defend it.

    Bruised, sore and tiring, Ava made a last-ditch attempt to get close. He worked his war hammer between them as expected, and she turned on her heels, avoiding the blow from his pommel. He was slightly off balance now and she rushed around him, deflecting the oncoming blow from the war hammer¡¯s head, and extending his lack of balance for a moment longer. She used the strap of his leather armour to haul herself onto the Red Orc¡¯s back and pressed the tip of her sword to Malgorn''s throat.

    A cheer went up and Malgorn chuckled.

    ¡°Good, I thought you would never learn how to cover up your intent in battle. You might just be worthy of being an orc assassin.¡± He reached behind him and, grabbing the back of her collar, threw her onto the ground before him. ¡°Now, try and do that again.¡±

    Ava sighed, she did not think she could, but rolled out of the way before his war hammer came crashing down upon her. She was instantly on her feet and searching for another opening to his weaknesses. If she could get through once, she could do it again.

    ¡®Come to me! Do not tarry here!¡¯

    She turned toward the voice. Malgorn¡¯s war hammer found its mark in her chest. She heard a crack as she flew to the ground. Ava winced at the pain that spread through her insides.

    Malgorn came to stand over her, a confounded look on his face.

    ¡°You let yourself get distracted in the middle of a fight?¡± he asked. He fully expected her to dodge the blow.

    ¡°Get back, you savage! I told you that you were being too rough!¡± Minervin stormed between them waving the orc back with harmless swishes of his arms.

    ¡°Gahg! She will survive, wizard,¡± Malgorn shrugged. He heaved his war hammer onto his shoulder and stomped off toward The Outpost.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough amusement for the day, the lot of you!¡± Finklhaan bellowed. ¡°Get back to work or get lost!¡±

    ¡°I swear that orc is trying to murder you, there is no other reason why he needs to use such force in his swings,¡± Minervin muttered, helping her into a sitting position.

    ¡°I ¨C I will be fine,¡± Ava assured him breathlessly, flinching from the painful effort it took to talk.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°Why did you become distracted? It is unlike you,¡± Minervin whispered beyond the wandering workers hearing nearby.

    ¡°I heard its voice again, Minervin. The Whirlwind called to me.¡±

    <hr>

    It took a few weeks for Ava''s bones to heal with Minervin¡¯s constant fussing. Malgorn visited her once during that time, his hand bound terribly with a bloody rag. He stubbornly refused to let her tend to the wound and was tight-lipped about how he acquired the injury. She nearly hit him upside his big, fool head that day.

    Once she was up and about, he came again to resume his teachings. He was slower on his feet, tiring far too quickly, leaving openings where there should have been none, and suffered all day from a slight fever. Ava worried for him, but still, he refused any aid from her or Minervin. And now, he had not shown up at all in two weeks.

    Ava tightened her sword belt more securely on her waist, watching the men on the coast scurry along the ship¡¯s deck. It took shape quickly these past few months and the dwarf assured them the two-masted sailing vessel would be seaworthy enough to brace the Dark Ocean at its worst. It would only be a month or so before they set sail. She was both thrilled and frightened at the prospect.

    She turned from the sight and made her way to The Outpost. Beast fell in line beside her. He got so big that he reached below her shoulder, a great mass of patterned grey fur and long terrifying fangs. He kept his wandering of the forest to a minimum now, wary of it. But could not explain why, only that he felt he was being hunted by death on the wind. Ava knew it frustrated him. It was in his nature to wander. The sooner they left Spectermere, the better it would be for all of them.

    ¡°Your red orc¡¯s been in a foul mood lately,¡± Jaefrey told her, sober and alone. ¡°Took Aindel¡¯s head off with his bare hands two days back.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± It was the only reply she could think of after hearing that.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know meself! Suppose he had head pain and Aindel laughed too loud or spoke of you too fr¡­ Anyways, he¡¯s been looking ¨C sickly. I¡¯d steer clear of him if I was you.¡±

    Ava nodded and left him to his post. Gods, what was happening? She tried to stifle the dread in her heart and convince herself that Malgorn would be fine. He was strong, healthy, and stubborn. This sickness would pass with proper treatment. She would drag him by the ear to Minervin if she needed to.

    ¡®I don¡¯t like this place, mother. The air smells of rot,¡¯ Beast told her as they walked towards Malgorn¡¯s hut.

    ¡°When does it not?¡± she answered, trying to make light of his observation, despite the persistent knot in her stomach. She could feel something was not right here.

    ¡®This rot is different. It is sick and hungry, burning at my nose like the wizard¡¯s magic...¡¯

    A shriek echoed through The Outpost, the sound almost a relief to hear in the tense silence. Ava moved against the wall of a shack as two men ran past her, glancing back in a panic. They were followed by a half-naked woman, one of Crastius¡¯. She stopped the aging blonde by her arm.

    ¡°What is it?¡± she hissed quietly.

    ¡°The red orc! He¡¯s gone mad! Let go of me, you creature! You¡¯re going to get me killed!¡± she yelled, ripping her hand from Ava¡¯s grip, and disappearing into the fog.

    ¡®I smell blood on the wind,¡¯ Beast told her.

    Ava unsheathed her bow and drew an arrow; she moved slowly in the direction the men and woman fled from. The rapid speed of her cloudy breaths echoed the beatings of her heart. They contrasted with how slowly the world moved around her with each terrifying step forward. Blood rushed loudly in her ears as she turned the corner.

    Malgorn was kneeling on the ground, eating the innards of a dead woman before him. His chewing was slow and lacklustre. He stared unseeing toward the clouds above. Ava was sickened at the sight. Beast growled beside her, the noise drawing the orc¡¯s attention. He stood from the body and Ava¡¯s heart fluttered fearfully in her chest.

    There was madness about his dim brown eyes and the veins beneath his red-tinted skin were as dark as night. He was struck by the illness Ava saw over a year ago in the forest. He stepped towards her, dragging his war hammer on the ground behind him. She backed away and he charged. Left with no choice, she aimed her bow and loosed.

    The arrow flew past his shoulder as he ducked beneath it. She jumped from the path of his Warhammer¡¯s swing. He turned and swung again and again, barely allowing her enough time to lunge out of the way. She saw Beast stalk behind him just before the sabre cat pounced.

    ¡°Back, Beast!¡± she screamed in panic.

    The sabre cat twisted mid-air and landed with a thud near Malgorn, scurrying out of reach only seconds before his Warhammer crashed to the ground. She was not sure enough of the illness to allow Beast physical contact.

    His strange backhand swing caught her in the chest, and she flew back against the wall of a shack in a crumpled heap, her breath knocked from her lungs. The old pain tightened around her chest as she rolled back onto her feet and jumped away from Malgorn¡¯s reckless swing.

    The Warhammer broke a plank in the shack¡¯s wall and got stuck. Ava reached back for an arrow from her quiver and found it empty. Curse the Reaper. They were scattered on the ground just behind the red orc¡¯s hulking form. It would be a risk to try and retrieve one, but she knew she would die in a melee battle with him. Malgorn was no longer the orc who trained her, now he was a wrathful creature who only wanted her dead.

    He saw her intention, ripped his Warhammer from the wall and charged at her. Ava ran for the closest arrow, leaping to the ground before it, and turned to him as she nocked it. He was on top of her before she could fully draw her bowstring.

    His swing went wide, and they fell onto a heap of muddy snow. His weight above her was crushing. Something close to a pained moan escaped his lips and the madness from his eyes cleared. He looked down between them, shifting his weight from her.

    Dark blood dripped from the arrow impaling his chest and the blades of her bow cut into his shoulder and side.

    ¡°Ava? You¡¯re so bright. I can barely stand to look at you,¡± he said. His brows furrowed as he held her face in his hand. ¡°Oh, I will never again see Blood Rock. Or feel the warmth of your body lying next to me.¡±

    ¡°Minervin can help. He will find the cause of this disease and he will cure you,¡± she assured him, blinking back the tears that came to her eyes at the sorrow in his tone.

    ¡°Ne, I feel the darkness eating away at my spirit. For the longest time, I felt myself lost to it, consumed by an insatiable hunger to murder and feed. I followed the will of a lord whose words I did not understand.¡± He drew up her hand that still held the bow and placed the blade at his neck. ¡°You must end it.¡±

    ¡°No, I ¨C I cannot.¡±

    ¡°You must. I will help you. I would rather die free than live as a slave to a faceless master whose worth has not been tested. Anarchaen Mulgrath would leave my soul to wander the oceans for eternity if that happens.¡±

    Ava blinked, at a loss for solutions to help and nodded, hesitantly. Malgorn wiped away the tear that fell from her eye with a large finger.

    ¡°You cry for me? Terrebelle would have never shown such weakness. How strange that such useless emotion would gladden my heart,¡± Malgorn said, before helping her slide the bow¡¯s blade across his throat.

    His body fell lifelessly on top of her, and Ava let his weight crush her as she struggled to stifle a wail. She pushed him off her carefully and sat there. As she tried to think of what to do next, she was roughly pulled to her feet and pinned against a shack¡¯s wall.

    ¡°How far is your wizard with the ship?¡± Crastius barked at her, his sour breath pelting her face.

    ¡°What?¡± Ava asked, dazed by the sudden question.

    ¡°Wake up, girl!¡± he muttered, shaking her roughly by the collar. ¡°How much will it cost me to buy passage on your ship? I know there¡¯s something evil roaming this land. That it¡¯s got your wizard running. It¡¯s that sorcerer¡¯s doing, I know it. I heard him talking to no one in a tongue I¡¯d never heard before, and then I heard no one answer him. ¡®Twas the Reaper¡¯s voice, I tell you. I¡¯ve experience sailing ships. You will need a captain now that the orc is dead.¡±

    ¡°Let go of me!¡± Ava pushed him from her. ¡°Get away from him, you scavengers!¡± she yelled, pushing one of the Outpost denizens away from Malgorn¡¯s body and scattering the rest. Already, his great Warhammer was nowhere to be seen. Ava collected her remaining arrows and sat at his chest, putting a protective hand over his chilling body and warning everyone away.

    ¡°Fern¡¯s breath, girl. Don¡¯t tell me you loved that savage!¡± Crastius exclaimed behind her.

 Chapter 3: Part 1 - A Must See

    They burned both Malgorn¡¯s and the woman¡¯s bodies on a pyre at Minervin¡¯s insistence. Ava watched the raging inferno with Beast, unable to warm the growing chill inside her. She knew what she needed to do, but the courage to do it failed her, time and time again. And now that failure had cost the red orc his life.

    Whether she and The Outpost acknowledged it or not, these were her people and Spectermere was her home. From many, including herself, it was the only one they had. Despite the hardships, she should help them defend it. But they needed information to do so, and it was something only she had the means to do.

    Minervin marched angrily to her side.

    ¡°I swear if that fat merchant tries to barter his way onto our ship one more time, I might just set him aflame!¡± he muttered to himself and heaved out a long, frustrated sigh.

    He coughed noisily, drew his robes tightly around him and turned to watch the pyre burn.

    ¡°Are you alright, child? I may not have approved of the orc and his methods, but he had his moments, especially when it came to you.¡±

    ¡°It should not have been this way. His body should have been set adrift, where Anarchaen Mulgrath could find it and take him to raid The Lands Eternal upon his mighty warship.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that would be a fitting funeral for a Warlord. You understand I could not risk the illness returning and spreading through the water?¡± Ava nodded. ¡°The fire may burn the body, but not the spirit. Anarchaen Mulgrath will find Malgorn wandering the seas and be a fool not to accept him onto his ship.¡±

    ¡°Crastius says it is the sorcerer¡¯s doing. He commands through the magic of the illness.¡±

    ¡°You think the illness and the sorcerer are connected? The illness started in Draugr Forest. I cannot see the connection to the sorcerer in the mountain yet. Let us hope he has perished on his mad journey and has not found what it is he seeks there.¡±

    ¡°Accompany me, Minervin. Perhaps some answers lie within Malgorn¡¯s possessions, and you have a better eye for such things than I do.¡±

    <hr>

    Malgorn¡¯s hut was stripped bare when they entered, the walls empty of his weapons and all his belongings gone. Only the smithing forge, his workbench and the grinder remained, and Ava knew those would have been stolen too were they lighter to carry or not nailed to the ground. To know that the weapons Malgorn put so much care into crafting and maintaining were now in the hands of the inept and unworthy, he would have raged.

    ¡°These people have no shame! If there was anything of value left here to find, it is long gone now,¡± Minervin sighed.

    Ava knew he longed to see the orc¡¯s collection of weapons, but pride prevented him from stepping foot inside Malgorn¡¯s hut while he was still alive.

    ¡°Perhaps not. Malgorn was no fool. He would not place the items he valued in so obvious a place. There must be something here they might have missed,¡± Ava said as her eyes fell on the anvil.

    Why was he moving such a heavy thing, anyway? And into the same place it was before? Ava bent over it, running her fingers across its edges. There was nothing odd about the anvil itself, but a spattering of blood stained the side of the wooden block below it. She tried to move the anvil from it. It would not budge. She sat on the floor and tried to push it off with her feet.

    Minervin let her struggle with it for a few minutes before removing it with his mind magic. It fell heavily to the ground.

    ¡°The orc¡¯s innovation continues to surprise me,¡± Minervin exclaimed when they revealed a hollow in the block.

    Inside were three coin-purses, a leather-bound book, and a sharpened piece of coal.

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    Of all Malgorn¡¯s many possessions, these were what he placed value upon?

    Minervin took the coin purses and opened one, tipping it out into his hand. Large gold coins fell from it. Holden¡¯s bearded face gleamed from one as Minervin held it up to inspect.

    ¡°Well, I do believe we have found the stash Malgorn was going to pay the dwarven shipwright with,¡± he sat on the floor before her and started counting it.

    Ava took the book from the block and untied the string. Drawings filled the parchments inside. The first few were of an orc woman, tall and shapely. Her bottom fangs were barely long enough to cover her upper lip, and her dark hair was braided loosely in long plaits. She had a fierceness about her eyes and wielded two double-edged blades in her hands.

    Terrebelle, no doubt. No wonder Malgorn was so enamoured with her.

    ¡°Who knew the orc possessed such artistic talent,¡± Minervin said, pausing in his counting to look over at it.

    ¡°Indeed, though it would have shamed him to admit it.¡±

    She paged through more pictures of Terrebelle, two of them were nude and made Minervin redden in the face, much to Ava''s amusement. The next drawings showed a cracked land with flat mountains and spiky, bulbous trees spotting its plains. The sun could be seen setting through an arched rock formation.

    ¡°Blood Rock,¡± Minervin offered.

    ¡°It looks beautiful.¡±

    ¡°Only through an orc¡¯s eyes would it be, I suppose. Sparse land for miles and one filthy lake, I could never see the appeal.¡±

    ¡°Look Minervin!¡± Ava exclaimed as she paged further along.

    The drawing she stopped on was one of Spectermere. Dead trees cluttered the picture, but the Whirlwind swirled unmistakably between them in the distance. The end of it could be seen touching the ground. Strange figures stood beneath the trees, and more appeared closer to the twisting vortex, all brandishing weapons. They seemed to be frozen amid a fierce battle.

    ¡°What was that fool orc doing so close to the Whirlwind? He is lucky he did not die sooner. Look, Ava!¡± Minervin pointed to the sword of the frozen man standing closest. The way Malgorn drew the blade differed to how he drew Terrebelle¡¯s blades. It was shaded in the centre and lighter around its edges. ¡°It may be diamond-crust. Is that where he found the material for your weapons?¡±

    Ava¡¯s cheeks heated at the notion that Malgorn would endanger himself to please her. She turned the page hoping Minervin would not notice the blush, and saw herself up in a tree, hooded and holding her old long bow with a nocked arrow before her. The next one was of her as well and the next and the next, all at different times and places. The earliest one was when she was a little girl of about nine years.

    ¡°I was not aware the orc watched you so closely, or for so long. Was he ¨C testing your worth?¡± he asked pensively.

    ¡°I remember this. It was the first time we met. He wandered upon me playing in the forest and scolded me for having no fear of it, then he insulted me, and I threw him with a stick. It hit his back, though I was aiming for his head. I did fear he might kill me then, but I refused to run away, and instead, he just laughed at me. That was more upsetting.¡±

    Ava closed the book. He drew her so beautifully. It was hard to imagine him seeing her as such. She took the third pouch from Minervin when the second one revealed silver coins with Fern¡¯s elven face on it. She tipped the pouch over her hand, expecting copper coins bearing the six lands of Archaicron.

    Stones of darkest obsidian fell into her palm, so dark Ava felt lost inside. The tiny, engraved runes coating them swirled and made her dizzy and confused. Yet she could not look away.

    She started when Minervin smacked them from her hand.

    ¡°Do not touch them!¡±

    ¡°What is it? It is only black obsidian.¡± She groaned and touched her fingers to her forehead. A mild ache developed between her brows.

    ¡°There is a dark enchantment on them, an ancient one. Leave them where they lie,¡± Minervin said, stepping back and pulling Ava with him.

    He used his mind magic to put the ones that scattered back in the pouch and placed it in the hollow, sealing it off again with the anvil. He took the coin pouches and ushered her out, Ava turned back only to retrieve Malgorn¡¯s leather-bound book.

    ¡°Minervin?¡±

    ¡°I do not know how the orc came by those things, but we should leave them there. Bad things happen when we tamper with magic from the Age of Gods,¡± he said, once they were outside.

    ¡°Like a sickness that turns a man mad and the veins dark?¡±

    Minervin turned to her suddenly, then turned back and continued at a brisk pace. His mind was racing. ¡°Let us hope not, let us hope the illness does not find its way back to the Outpost before the dwarf completes the ship.¡±

    ¡°Minervin...¡±

    ¡°Only a few more weeks and we will be ready to set sail from this place. With Malgorn now dead, we will have to make our way to The Motherland.¡±

    ¡°Minervin...¡±

    ¡°I do not know how we will fare in The Burning Wastes but of all the races, the Dorcas will be most accepting. They judge people based on their deeds rather than their birth. Though I may have some proving to do...¡±

    ¡°Minervin!¡±

    ¡°What is it, child?¡±

    ¡°I must go into the forest again. I must go south. I must go see what causes the mad illness and I must walk into the Whirlwind to see what lay at its centre,¡± Ava said in a rush, burdened with every word.

    ¡°Absolutely not! I will not allow it.¡±

    ¡°I would prefer your blessing, Minervin, but I will go without it if need be.¡±

    Minervin paused as fear and regret reflected in his eyes. ¡°You are set on this course? You are still so young, there is still time enough.¡±

    ¡°I must. Now.¡±

    Minervin sighed, defeated. ¡°Very well, do what you must.¡±

 Chapter 3: Part 2 - A Burning Heart

    Ava nocked her arrow and aimed, unsure where to hit the creature. She was certain that if she did not kill it with one shot it would kill her. Bulky and clumsy it may look. Its eight legs made it six times faster than her.

    It lifted its foremost limbs threateningly, the action making the creature twice her size, and emitted a clicking sound. Beast hissed at it from behind her.

    She had heard of these creatures in Minervin¡¯s tales, though he made them seem so much smaller. Beast had entangled himself in their thick webs six days into their journey south and she struggled to cut him loose. Their efforts, thankfully, had stirred nothing predatory. She had thought the webs long abandoned at the time.

    ¡®Is it sick? Frenzied? Does it bite?¡¯ it hissed.

    Ava lowered her bow, recognizing the look in its four, large, beady black eyes. She had seen it so many times already, sometimes reflected in the pools of water she found. The spider hesitated, it flexed its foremost legs at her uncertainly before lowering them and scurrying passed her. It raised them once again and clicked a warning at Beast before continuing north.

    ¡®We must leave this place, mother. It is wrong when predators flee like prey and prey attack like predators,¡¯ Beast pleaded as she continued deeper into the forest.

    Not once in their journey did he walk beside her, always following a few paces behind. A show of hesitation to continue as well as an unwillingness to leave her behind. And despite his constant whining about the forest¡¯s dangers, she was glad for his presence. The further south Ava went the more pervasive and heavier the sense of forbidding became. It was a weight on her shoulders, a stone in her gut and a constriction in her chest. Everything told her to turn back. But what good would that do for anyone?

    ¡°The deer had the mad illness, Beast. It would not have attacked otherwise. You should go back and help Minervin, but I need to see.¡±

    ¡®Beast¡¯s place is always at mother¡¯s side. Mother has no one else to protect her from mad deer. Beast will stay close.¡¯

    Ava had feared for Beast when he attacked the deer, both of them had battled creatures with the mad illness and neither had suddenly died as Beast¡¯s real mother did or developed the symptoms that Malgorn displayed. She and Minervin were certain Malgorn became infected through his wound, but how or where he got the illness from, they could not say for sure.

    It was on the eighteenth day when Ava reached the edge of Draugr Forest. Fog hung thick and heavy in the air and with it the sharp and cloying stench of rot. She would not continue into it, her sight of the land before her so obscured she could not see the nose on her face.

    Beast lowered himself closer to the ground, the hairs on his neck raising.

    ¡®Beast does not like this place, mother. Let us leave.¡¯

    ¡°Hide yourself Beast. I will climb a tree and attempt to see the lay of the land ahead,¡± she whispered.

    Ava picked a tree that offered the most cover and climbed high enough to see through the fog.

    Dread entered her heart at the sight ahead. Crypts and barrows littered the land, so many and so vast it seemed the hilly ground was made from them. Humanoid creatures shuffled between them silently, disturbing the fog around them.

    Dead things, dead people, far too numerous for her to count. And these are only the ones I can see through the fog!

    Her eye caught another movement, it did not shuffle like the others but glided through the air, and the fog gave way to it as if revolted by its presence. A faceless figure formed of the blackest smoke, its eyes and heart burned with an angry red haze. Ava felt evil emanate from it in malicious waves and sank lower down onto the branch.

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    It drifted to the entrance of one of the barrows, from which two Draugr appeared, carrying a desiccated body. They placed it on a cracked altar. The shadow floated over to it, placing his hand over its grimacing mouth.

    Ava started when the body convulsed a moment later and emitted an unnatural shriek. The shadow turned and looked up. It took a dread-filled moment for her to realise that it was staring directly at her. Her heart plummeted and then beat hard and heavily against her chest. She jumped down to a lower branch before the shadow flew at her. She tried bringing her bow around to face it, but it was too late. Darkness surrounded her and she was pushed from her perch. Pain ripped through her shoulder when she landed, and her lungs emptied of air.

    She gasped for breath and clutched her wound. Her blood was warm against her frozen fingers. The shade hovered before her. The sword it brandished in place of a hand glinted like dark, jagged glass.

    It spoke. The sound of its voice was long and dissonant. The words were strange, yet familiar, like a distant dialect of elven or orcish. Her head swam with dizziness.

    ¡°You do not understand me, do you?¡± It asked when she did not answer.

    ¡°What a disadvantage the spirits and their god have gifted you with in place of a solution. They sought for the remaining races to forget how Archaicron broke. Yet they have only delayed our plans to an age where they both have grown weak. How can I not laugh in the face of their fruitless efforts? Tell me now, where is the Artifact?¡±

    Ava willed herself to move. Her bow was in her hand, yet she did not have the strength to strike out with it. The will to fight vanished the moment it had cut her.

    ¡°You are a fool, Dra¡¯On. You will die in their name, and they will offer you nothing for it.¡±

    Ava lay frozen as the shadow stepped over her and placed his sword at her neck. Her death was so close she could taste the sourness of it in her mouth.

    The shadow dissipated before her, the sword at her neck melting back into smoky nothingness as Beast jumped into it with a menacing growl. He looked around befuddled when he landed over her and said in a panic, ¡®We must run, mother! Beast still senses the strange shadow, even though Beast cannot see it.¡¯

    She forced herself to stand but collapsed again after a few paces.

    ¡°I cannot, Beast. He did something when he cut me,¡± she told him, weakly.

    ¡®Then climb on Beast¡¯s back, Beast will carry you back to the wizard and his magic water.¡¯

    Ava dragged herself onto his back, gladdening at the feel of his warm body. How long has it been since I felt any form of heat?  She was surprised that her added weight did not slow his pace. Trees whirred by in a blur as he sprinted, and Ava watched them pass with darkening eyes.

    The shade appeared suddenly at their side. Beast hissed as it continued to keep pace beside them. It reached out for her. Ava drew her dagger and sliced its hand, uncertain as to what it would accomplish.

    The shade shrieked in pain and disappeared, the echoing sound still lingering in her mind afterwards.

    ¡®Come to me! I demand it! We cannot linger here any longer!¡¯

    ¡°Go left, Beast,¡± she muttered into his fur.

    ¡®The wizard is before us, mother.¡¯

    ¡°I know, Beast. Go left.¡±

    <hr>

    Beast stopped at the edge of the forest and refused to go any further, Ava slipped off his back, her legs and hands stiffening from the blasts of cold wind that blew. The Whirlwind of Frost twisted and roared menacingly before her in the clearing.

    Just as Malgorn¡¯s drawing depicted, there were people here. A field of frozen corpses, rooted in place.

    Ava clutched her shoulder, the cold piercing painfully into the injury. She pushed her weak legs forward, fighting the wind that blew her back. Her cloak flapped violently behind her, pulling at her neck. Frost and clouds blinded her as she made her way into the roaring vortex.

    ¡®Mother! Beast cannot follow! The cold wind bites him!¡¯

    ¡°Fall back, Beast. Do not follow me!¡± she yelled.

    Whether he heard her she could not tell, but she knew he would not listen if he did. He would follow until the wind froze him in place. She just needed to keep going, to save him. To save all of Archaicron. His reply did not enter her head. She could hear nothing but the deafening roar of the swirling wind. It moved through her body as if it were a part of her.

    She fell forward suddenly, the push of the wind gone, yet it surrounded her, twisting around and around this small space but never touching it. Ava looked up and saw the sky, so blue and bright the sight of it nearly blinded her.

    Then, it disappeared, leaving only grey cloud. A woman hovered before her, wind and frost shaped her form and dress.

    ¡°Why have you tarried? My power is failing! All our powers are failing!¡± she screamed before reforming into a crystal. Cold mist emanated and swirled lightly around it. ¡°Take it, quickly and leave this land before the evil I have kept frozen here consumes us all!¡±

    ¡°What must I do with this?¡± Ava asked, touching the crystal tentatively.

    ¡°Take it quickly!¡± It yelled.

    Ava stood dumbfounded, turning the intricate crystal in her stiffening hands. Take it where?

    She started and ripped her arm from the blackened, emaciated hand that grabbed at it, then moved away from another¡¯s grasping arms, and another, and another. Her heart hammered in her chest. All around, the frozen corpses were coming alive.

 Chapter 3: Part 3 - Call of Destiny

    The days blurred together as Beast ran with her on his back. He would stop at times and find abandoned troll dens for them to rest in. A chill seemed to seep into her bones and never leave. It was all she could feel apart from a gnawing hunger, even the pain from her shoulder disappeared into numbness. The only reprieve she had from it was the warmth of Beast¡¯s body. He was her only flame in the darkening, cold wilderness around her. If he had the energy, he would venture out and find something for them to eat. It was never enough. She always needed more.

    She saw no sign of the Shade but heard his voice in her fitful dreams. He spoke to her, called to her in a tongue she could almost understand. Azael, The Shadow King he called himself. Then, Beast would wake her again when the smell of death got too close. She would drag herself onto his back, each time the effort grew more strenuous, and they would run again. Ava yearned to feel warm again. Struggling through the desolate cold was tiring, he told her that it was easier to give in. Warmth would be found if she would just come to him.

    ¡°No! Do not listen!¡± the Frost Spirit would shout, and Ava clung to Beast as the cold air whipped against her face.

    It was five days when Beast finally broke past the forest. At least she thought it was five, she lost count so many times. He sped towards Minervin¡¯s Nook and made it to the edge of the hill before his legs gave out suddenly and he rolled over, throwing Ava from his back. She gasped painfully when she landed, her arms too heavy to break her fall. The crystal slipped from her grasp, clattering along the ground like glass.

    The ground around it froze instantly and frosty wind swirled around it, growing with such force that Minervin needed to put up a barrier to protect himself. It shattered instantly at contact, and he groaned at his frost-covered arms. Ava crawled over to reclaim it quickly.

    ¡°Minervin, are you alright?¡± Ava asked weakly when the winds died down.

    ¡°Of course I am, child. Fern¡¯s Breath Ava! Your skin!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Never mind,¡± he answered, pulling her up and guiding her to the cabin, wary of getting close to the crystal in her hand. ¡°Is that the spirit? What happened? It has been utter chaos here after the Whirlwind disappeared from the skies.¡±

    His face held concern but a great measure of relief as well. He plopped her down on his bed, rifled through a chest and pulled out a satchel. The leather was worn and discoloured, but big enough to hold the coin purses and a few extra items.

    ¡°Here, put the crystal in here. It is a magi¡¯s satchel, there is a void inside, a space between this world and Lands Eternal. It was created to hold an unlimited number of items, provided they can fit into it. It should keep the crystal and its power under control. When you need it again, stick nothing but your hand inside and it will fall into your palm. I give you fair warning though, put in only what you can remember to take out, lest the item be lost forever.¡±

    Ava put the crystal inside. Wind and frost burst out from the seams. He threw it quickly over Ava¡¯s uninjured shoulder before it broke apart, and it calmed.

    ¡°Interesting, only you can possess the spirit,¡± Minervin observed.

    He gave both Beast and her a drink of the Panacean waters. Beast was on his feet almost instantly. But Ava felt all the energy seep from her body after she swallowed a sip of the sweet water. She collapsed weakly into the bed with a painful groan. Her vision blurred and she heard him laughing in the dark recesses of her mind.

    Alarm crossed Minervin¡¯s features, and he folded her clothing away from the injury. It looked like a clean cut, but it was deep and showed some early signs of infection. He cleaned it out and bandaged it as best he could.

    ¡°I need to have another look at it once we have everything on the ship. Now tell me what happened.¡±

    Ava described what she saw, what Azael the Shadow King told her and how he cut her. Ava flinched and groped at her shoulder. ¡°It was raising an army, Minervin. The shade is raising an army of dead. I ¨C think it wants all of Archaicron to bow before it.¡±

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    ¡°Then we leave immediately, the dwarf assures me the ship is ready to sail. Whatever else needs to be done, will be done at sea.¡±

    Minervin lifted her from the bed and guided her outdoors, stopping only for Malgorn¡¯s leather-bound book when she beckoned for it. Screams filled the crisp air outside, so many and so tortured. Minervin turned from the path to the coast and followed the sounds.

    The Outpost was ablaze, set upon by an army of rotting dead filing from the forest. They tore at the wooden walls and the gates. Barging through whatever gaps they could find.

    ¡°No! I have led them here,¡± Ava mumbled beside him.

    ¡°Hush, child! The Outpost would have fallen with or without your interference,¡± Minervin chided.

    Ava squinted when a figure rode out of the blaze atop a horse and galloped toward them.

    ¡°That damn imbecile will lead them right to us!¡± Minervin growled, turning them around and heading toward the coast. Ava watched, unable to rip her eyes from the massacre.

    Crastius rode through the dead, his horse dodging through the mass of hacking and slashing Draugr, but he did not see the archer aiming from a short distance away. The arrow caught him in the head, and he flew to the ground from the impact. The horse, however, continued to gallop, speeding passed them as the archer watched and spotted them. It yelled hoarsely to the others, indicating to Ava and Minervin with his bow.

    ¡°Curses,¡± Minervin muttered, rushing them to the coast.

    Ava¡¯s breath caught when their path was blocked by a pair of Saber cats, their fur was matted and mangy.

    ¡°But they died in the forest, I was certain of it,¡± she said.

    Minervin let her slip from his grasp and called flames to fingertips. Ava tried to unsheathe her sword or dagger but lacked the strength and energy to pull them out, she felt so useless. It is my fault, I just wanted to help and made everything worse.

    The larger Saber cat with a gaping hole in his throat attacked them first, but Beast intercepted it. Minervin threw a fireball at the second attacking Sabre cat and flames engulfed it, fire taking to the rotted fur like kindle. It left a strange painful roar behind as it careened back over the hills.

    Minervin turned to the second Sabre, locked in battle with Beast. He could not attack it without hitting Beast as well.

    No, I will not falter now. She reached for her bow and nocked a diamond-crust arrow. It whistled past Minervin and hit the dead Saber cat. It lost all its fight and stood unmoving. Minervin looked at Ava, then threw his fireball when Beast backed away, warily. As the fire consumed it, the Saber cat still did not move.

    Minervin turned from the dead army approaching and rushed to Ava, dragging her to her feet with a strength she did not know he possessed.

    ¡°Beast!¡± he called, then shoved Ava onto his back when he came. ¡°Take her to the ship, I will keep them at bay to allow you the time to set sail.¡±

    ¡°No! I am not leaving you behind!¡± Ava yelled. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of losing him.

    ¡°Do not argue, Ava. We will not make it to the coast together and they cannot get their hands on the Spirit,¡± Minervin took her arm and placed his hand over it. When he removed it, a strange metallic symbol was branded into her inner forearm.

    ¡°Should you ever find yourself in Casimir Empire, go to the Snake Tongue Inn in Landon and show the innkeeper this mark. She will give you the key and directions to my cabin. Everything inside is yours now. Make a home for yourself there if you can. Beast will enjoy the woods, I think,¡± he said sadly, then tied Malgorn¡¯s coin purses to her belt. ¡°Now run, Beast and keep her safe!¡±

    The Sabre cat took off like the wind, ripping her grasping hands from Minervin''s robes. He turned to the mass of dead running wildly behind him before the hills blocked her vision. Flame and fire rained from the sky between them, and unnatural shrieks filled the air.

    Ava turned and buried her face in Beast fur. How will I face the world without Minervin¡¯s guidance? This is my home. It is not fair that I must lose so much.

    ¡°No!¡± she moaned, and her heart dropped discouragingly.

    The ship set sail and was drifting from port, already too far from it for Beast and her to make it aboard.

    Beast growled and turned suddenly, nearly throwing Ava from his back. He ran up the hills and onto the cliffs that overlooked the half-frozen sea. The men saw them and shouted, gesturing to them as the ship turned and sailed passed it.

    ¡°We will not make it, Beast. The ship is too far.¡±

    ¡®Beast will make it. Mother must hold on tightly to Beast¡¯s fur even if it hurts Beast¡¯s back.¡¯

    The Sabre cat veered onto an overhanging cliff and increased his speed. He jumped as the ice cracked and a big chunk of the cliff face disappeared into the sea below. Beast crumpled as he landed on the bridge with a loud yowl and Ava was thrown from his back. She tumbled painfully before coming to a stop. Finklhaan helped her up.

    ¡°The wizard?¡± he asked.

    Ava looked to Minervin¡¯s Nook, the dead filed in great mass between his cabin and The Outpost. Both locations were ablaze, and smoke filled the sky. Bursts of light still flickered between the hills of the nook, often at first and petering out until nothing flickered at all. Ava¡¯s heart grew far too big for her chest to hold, and she attempted to stifle a mournful wail.

    The shade appeared from between the hills, drifting and stopping at the edge of the cliff, a dark glass bow glinting in its arm. He took aim and released; Ava ducked as the arrow flew towards her.

    The dwarf was not as quick. The arrow hit him in the shoulder and then disappeared in a smoky haze.

 Chapter 4: Part 1 - The Paladin in White

    Caeden folded the spyglass and glanced at the sky. His golden blonde hair and white Ashen Keep surcoat blew gently in the mild wind. It felt cool on his fair skin. The ocean air still had the crisp, fresh smell of rain, but the sky was clear and bright. Not a cloud spotting it, yet. But he knew better than to predict the Dark Ocean¡¯s fluctuating weather patterns. It was best that they make headway now before they get caught in or wait out another long storm.

    He turned toward the sounds of heavy footsteps behind him. Ser Morley¡¯s sword grip clinked against his steel-plated greaves with every step. Though he was twice Caeden¡¯s age the Knight-Commander of Ashen Keep¡¯s Royal Guard still looked robust. The only signs of his fifty-two years showed in the lines at the edge of his grey eyes and the slight greying of the red hair at his temples.

    ¡°The captain has no record of the colours it bears, nor do I know of any nation that uses a flag with a plain grey field. No one here can figure out what it ought to signify other than the land we suspect it hails from. It is of dwarven make, of that the captain is certain,¡± he said, taking his place beside him on the forecastle and looking through Caeden¡¯s spyglass.

    Caeden squinted at the ship, his green eyes scanning it, looking for any movement beyond its gentle sway with the waves. The ship appeared on the horizon once the storm calmed and now drifted aimlessly in the ocean¡¯s waters. It was square and bulky, made for carrying a small load and not for speed or warfare. A dwarven passenger ship. Yet, it had veered so far off the trade routes and was flying strange colours.

    Its sails were ripped to shreds, no doubt by storm winds, and it lay low and heavy on the water. Either it was overburdened or taking in water. But the worrisome part was that there were no sailors and no response to his men¡¯s signals.

    ¡°Suppose the storm took them by surprise?¡± Caeden suggested, tugging at the embroidered gold pouch at his belt. The forlorn ship made him nervous.

    ¡°Or there was no one alive to be taken by surprise?¡± Morley countered.

    ¡°Well then, we shall have to find the answer on board,¡± Caeden told him, turning to step from the forecastle.

    Knight-Commander Morley followed. ¡°The dwarven ship gives the men chills. They would prefer to leave it to drift the oceans until it sinks. But, if you are set on boarding her, they will follow as any loyal soldier would their emperor, Prince Caeden.¡±

    ¡°The men should know that if they are following anyone, it will be the bastard second son of their Emperor¡¯s Mistress. I am neither their emperor nor their future emperor, only ever a Prince. I wish you would stop encouraging their treason.¡±

    ¡°I cannot deter men from thinking, Your Grace. Your birth and station mean little to them. They need no encouragement from me or anyone to know they would fare better under your rule than your brother¡¯s. You cannot stop them from wanting you upon the throne.¡±

    ¡°No, but Kael sure can and I would rather not have my men beheaded over a foolish hope. Their like would be hard to replace.¡±

    Knight-Commander Morley tried to stifle a smile and shook his head at his commanding officer¡¯s stubbornness.

    Caeden had already set a few plans in motion, and he could already tell that they irked Crown Prince Kael, or irked his mother rather, Queen Aeline. She would not stand idly by when faced with treasonous subordinates while her son¡¯s future reign was being subtly undermined and threatened by his half-brother.

    He had put those plans on hold for this mission, Queen Aeline¡¯s and Gildaen¡¯s idea. No doubt to get him away from the Casimir Empire and solidify Kael¡¯s and their positions without his interference. Bless the woman and her magical court jester.

    The empire¡¯s investigations into the strange plague and the appearance of wights in the Ashen fields had led them to Spectermere. If played just right, he might just get his heart¡¯s desire while exposing Kael¡¯s advisors as the imbeciles that they are. He could abandon his treasonous plans and rid himself of the bad blood that developed between himself and his brother.

    ¡°Ahoy! We¡¯ve come to lend assistance. Are there any alive onboard?¡± Ser Shael yelled. Caeden¡¯s thoughts returned to the matter at hand. Only the mild sloshing of waves against the vessel¡¯s hull disturbed the silence. Caeden gave his Knight-Captain a short nod. ¡°Prepare to be boarded!¡± Ser Shael bellowed.

    Caeden rushed along the plank and onto the deck of the drifting ship, his men fanned out around him and scoured the deck, hands ready on the hilts of their swords. The Knight-Commander and a few of his guards stayed at his side as he searched for signs of the missing crew.

    The ship reeked of death and decay and there was a soft thumping echoing below deck. The thumps were periodic and consistent, like a slow heartbeat. Caeden caught Ser Morley¡¯s wary glance before they moved to its entryway.

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    A choking moan stopped them short. A dwarf shuffled out from the darkened entryway, his skin was blue and macerated, and the veins behind it were as dark as night. His entrails spilled from his belly and trailed along behind him as he walked. His pained moan turned to an angry hiss, and it rushed at them.

    Knight-Commander met his charge, moving in front of his Prince and taking the dwarf¡¯s head off. He moved away as both pieces fell to the ground in a lifeless heap. Caeden bent over the remains to inspect them. What he saw was disturbing.

    ¡°How could he continue with his entrails trailing in that manner?¡± the Knight-Commander asked incredulously.

    ¡°Perhaps the better question would be how could he continue after he has long passed on?¡± Caeden replied.

    ¡°A symptom of the Dark Plague we were not yet aware of?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, it was best that we burnt the bodies after the infected expired as Oswin suggested. Have him look at this,¡± Caeden told his Knight-Captain before moving down through the entryway towards the sound of the consistent thumping.

    Caeden slipped when he stepped down to the floor at the foot of the stairs, only the Knight-Commander¡¯s steadying hand kept him from embarrassing himself in front of his guard.

    ¡°Why, in Holden¡¯s name, is there ice below deck?¡± Caeden exclaimed, nudging the offending piece away with the toe of his steel-plated boot.

    More pieces floated in the ankle-deep water. The vessel was taking on water slowly, but the Dark Ocean¡¯s waters were not cold enough this far north to form ice. Where did it come from?

    ¡°This ship is cursed. Best finish our business quickly and be on our way,¡± the Knight-Commander whispered.

    Caeden ignored Ser Morley¡¯s warning. He knew the Knight-Commander was the superstitious sort, throwing reason to the wind when he came across a situation that he did not fully comprehend at first. Still, he was more likely to fall back and analyse than overreact. The ship had him on edge. It had them all on edge., judging by their wary glances and stiff gaits.

    The thumping came from a lanky boy, trying to ram his body against a closed door in the passageway. The way he went about it was all wrong. He threw his whole body into the door, as if unconcerned by the possible injury he could inflict upon himself. There was a heavy limpness in the way his body moved.

    ¡°Hey, boy! What, in Holden¡¯s name, do you think you are doing?¡± Caeden asked when the boy''s head banged painfully against the door and left a bloody smudge behind.

    Knight-Commander gasped when the boy turned toward them. Half the skin on the boy¡¯s face and neck was missing, the bone visible beneath the torn flesh. The creature abandoned the door and rushed at them.

    Caeden cursed. The passageway was too narrow to draw and use his great sword; instead, he halted the boy¡¯s charge with his arm to his chest. The boy struggled at arm¡¯s length, twisting his face to nip at Caeden¡¯s armoured hand. The smell of rot drifted from his body.

    How odd that he does not use his own hands to remove my arm. He turned the boy to the side, shoving him against the wooden wall and stretched as far as he could from him without losing his grip. Knight-Commander¡¯s sword swung between them and took the boy¡¯s head off. It bounced off Caeden¡¯s outstretched arm and landed with a splash. He released the body when it grew limp.

    ¡°Ghouls?¡± the Knight-Commander suggested.

    ¡°Out in the middle of the ocean? I doubt it. Perhaps this is the fabled draugr? No, it does not match the tales either, not quite. This must be something else entirely. Oswin may know something about it. But first, let us find what it was after.¡±

    Caeden tried the door. It was unlocked and opened when he turned the latch.

    ¡°Whatever they are, they are not the intelligent sort,¡± Ser Morley noted with a raised eyebrow.

    The room they entered smelled of wet dogs and sick. A little girl lay on the ground before a massive bundle of wet grey fur that might have been beautiful once. Caeden rushed to her side and pulled her face from the shallow water, wiping away the long, wet tendrils of dark hair that covered it. She was alive, but just barely.

    ¡°Fern¡¯s breath, ¡®tis a hybrid! I knew there was something unnatural on this ship. We must kill it now before it spreads its evil,¡± the Knight-Commander sneered, turning ghostly pale with fear, and drawing back his sword.

    ¡°Wait...¡±

    A growling hiss emanated from the fur bundle and slitted, yellow eyes opened and glared threateningly at the Knight-Commander. The massive creature lunged at Ser Morley with teeth and claws.

    He went down with a grunt, his sword falling from his hand at the creature¡¯s impact. Caeden drew his great sword and charged at its backside.

    An arrow whirred passed his face, so close that he felt the wind of it brush across his cheeks and lodged itself in the wall behind him. Caeden turned in bewilderment at the place it originated from.

    The girl was on her knees, an odd orcish bow in her hand. The arrow she nocked wobbled unsteadily as she struggled to aim. She looked feverish, thin and on the verge of collapse. But there were no dark veins behind her strange skin.

    Caeden slowly sheathed his great sword and raised his hands in surrender.

    ¡°We are only here to lend assistance. We mean no harm. The creature protects you, yes? Please ¨C call it off my man.¡±

    The girl looked uncertainly at him and the creature, unable to decide whether a threat stood before her claiming to be peaceful. The hands holding the bow shook from the weight of it, but they held the bow with enough skill and certainty that Caeden knew that she would not miss a second time.

    ¡°Beast, come!¡± she whispered, falling to her hands, and dropping the bow. She struggled to keep herself upright.

    The creature jumped from the Knight-Commander¡¯s chest and limped to her side. It was suffering from a leg injury. It spilled the contents of its stomach after a few paces and flopped to its belly, moaning unhappily, but watching both men warily.

    ¡°This is folly,¡± Ser Morley opined, standing and retrieving his sword with an equally wary eye on the creature.

    ¡°Sheathe your sword, Knight-Commander. Fern¡¯s Grace has allowed the girl to live this long, it is not for us to decide her death now without due cause.¡±

    ¡°Fern¡¯s Grace or The Reaper¡¯s? This whole ship is due cause...¡±

    ¡°Enough,¡± Caeden interrupted, kneeling before the girl, and catching her before she fell over.

    He cradled her in his arms and inspected the wound on her shoulder. The veins surrounding the cut were dark and angry. Curse the Reaper, she has the Dark Plague.

    ¡°Ser Shael.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Grace,¡± The Knight-Captain answered from the doorway.

    ¡°Have Oswin come immediately, we may have found just what he seeks.¡±

 Chapter 4: Part 2 - Threads of Fate

    Oswin hurried into the room, excitement clear in his friendly, dark brown eyes. Surrounded by disease, a hybrid survivor and a mystery, the mage was in his element. His brown hair was mussed by his hood and his shimmering bronze robes were soaked near the bottom and only got worse when he kneeled before the girl, seemingly unperturbed by the massive creature lying next to them.

    ¡°A strange-looking girl. Has a call of destiny about her, I am sure you feel it too, Prince Caeden? Whether that bodes well or ill for us, I cannot say. But I sense no ill will in her; no more than I do any other person,¡± he commented. ¡°What races do you suppose she is birthed from?¡±

    ¡°Orc would be my first assumption, but only Elves have such iridescent skin,¡± Caeden answered, parting her lips to inspect her teeth. ¡°Perhaps, she is a mixture of both Elf and Orc. What a scandal that would cause for them,¡± he smiled as he stroked her ear in absent-minded wonder.

    ¡°You ¨C should not touch my ears,¡± the girl muttered weakly, pushing his hand away.

    Oswin failed to stifle a smile and cleared his throat, busying himself with loosening the ties of the girl¡¯s overgrown armour. Knight-Commander sniffed disparagingly behind him, and Caeden felt himself redden. Everyone on Archaicron knew that Orcs and Elves had a thing about their ears and touching them displayed an intimacy that went beyond mere friendship. What in Holden¡¯s name possessed me?

    The girl grunted when Oswin tried to remove the satchel from around her shoulders to get the armour off. She grabbed it possessively and held it to her belly. Oswin let her hold onto it, slipping the armour through its straps with some effort.

    ¡°How strange. The wound is old, yet the disease has not progressed as far as it would have with the others. Perhaps hybrids possess a resistance to it? Whatever the case, she has been fighting it for a long time. I may just be able to help her,¡± Oswin said.

    He brought forth a golden flame to his left hand. Unlike most of Oswin¡¯s fire spells, this one did not burn or radiate intense heat, it merely flickered and glowed warmly. These flames were meant to heal instead of harm. He placed his hand over her injured shoulder.

    The girl squirmed in response, grimacing, and struggling to suppress a scream. She grew limp, her eyes growing distant and her breathing deep and erratic. The darkness spread further along her breast and shoulder.

    Oswin removed his hand and patted the creature, calming its growing restlessness. Caeden often wondered at the easy kinship spellcasters had with wild beasts, doubting that they knew why or how it developed themselves.

    ¡°I tested this spell on the severed skin of the diseased; the illness retreated in the face of it. All I needed was to test it on an infected person whose illness had not progressed to the point of madness. I do not understand why she grows worse,¡± Oswin vented in frustration.

    ¡°There is something inside. I ¨C felt it ¨C move. He put it there ¨C I think - when he cut me,¡± the girl whispered, breathlessly. She stared unseeing at the roof of the cabin.

    ¡°Who? Who put it there?¡± Caeden asked.

    ¡°He, who commands ¨C in a strange tongue. Can you not hear his voice?¡±

    Caeden grabbed her chin and turned her face until her eyes registered his presence.

    ¡°You will not listen or obey, the only voice you will hear is mine! Is that understood?¡±

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    The girl¡¯s brow creased, unsure of what to make of him. She nodded but continued to watch his every move, not with suspicion, but something else. What did she see, I wonder? What was she learning? She was skilled enough with the bow to be a hunter, was that what she was doing? Learning her prey? Or learning to behave like it? She was certainly not from the Empire, far too bold for a girl so young.

    Oswin cleared his throat. ¡°She might be suffering from the early stages of madness. Hold her still while I check the injury for what she speaks,¡± he said, separating the skin and glancing inside. ¡°I see something,¡± he declared after gazing into it from all directions.

    Caeden saw it too. A dark glimmer reflecting the rays of light. Oswin inserted the clamps he was holding and probed the injury. The girl writhed in his arms and Caeden stilled her movements as much as he could, but he could do nothing to prevent her pain-filled screams.

    ¡°I have it!¡± Oswin yelled in what seemed like an age, holding the clamps in the porthole¡¯s light for them to inspect.

    ¡°What is that creature?¡± Ser Morley muttered, fingering the hilt of his sword as they watched the shiny, black insect writhe.

    It stopped moving, suddenly. Long, thin legs folded in on themselves until it was nothing more than a sliver of glass so dark that Caeden felt lost inside it.

    ¡°Seems to be nothing more than black obsidian,¡± he said, averting his eyes from the stone.

    ¡°Dark Obsidian,¡± Oswin corrected. ¡°It is enchanted, most likely with a curse. What is the purpose of such a spell? To infect, yes, but why? To what end?¡± He placed the obsidian on a nearby table and covered it with a tin cup he found there. ¡°I should have insisted we take apart the afflicted dead. The knowledge we let slip our grasp.¡±

    ¡°And deal with the corpses walking among us together with those ash creatures? Not to mention having Fern¡¯s wrathful eye turned upon us because we desecrated the dead. Perish the thought. You, girl.¡± Caeden shook her gently from her fitful sleep. ¡°What happened here? Who cut you?¡±

    ¡°He shot the dwarf... His burning eyes... He went mad... So many dead...¡±

    ¡°The fever has her delirious, but her wound will heal now,¡± Oswin said, moving his golden flame across the afflicted area of her shoulder.

    ¡°It is her delirious ranting that troubles me. Can you read her mind? See her memories?¡± Caeden asked.

    ¡°Not if you want me to turn her into a drooling babe! Prince Caeden, for the last time, I am a mage and specialize in Pyromancy. Any Psionic spells I attempt will have undesirable effects more often than not. If you wanted a wizard as your Magic Advisor, you should have brought Gildaen.¡±

    ¡°I would rather not,¡± Caeden answered, his mouth turning down at the thought of the Master Wizard. Oswin may only be a mere mage, but he had a far better bedside manner than that insufferable man. ¡°Tell me your name, girl?¡±

    The girl stared at the roof, her eyes were livelier, more golden than the brown he thought them before, but they were still not fully aware of their surroundings.

    ¡°I am Ava ¨C First of her Kind.¡±

    ¡°Well, Miss Ava, First of your Kind. I am Caeden, son of Emperor Haeden and Lady Ella, Prince of the Casimir Empire. Tell me where your ship was heading.¡± He stood, carrying her in his arms. The creature trailed behind the three men on unsteady legs.

    ¡°The Dorcan ¨C Trading Post and then The Motherland.¡±

    ¡°Then your ship veered off course, you were heading to Casimir Empire and Haalfkinguit, the human lands. Oswin, make sure this ship and its disease sink to the bottom of the ocean. Ser Shael, set course for Spectermere. We sail as soon as everyone living has boarded the Lady Ella.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± she rasped, squirming in his arms. ¡°You cannot. You will find only death and shadow.¡±

    ¡°Be still, Miss Ava, lest you slip from my grasp and fall to the ocean.¡±

    Caeden watched the dwarven ship burn as they sailed south, Oswin¡¯s fire elemental could still be seen hovering mid-air as it continued to throw balls of fire at its surroundings. She would go down with the ship when it sank to the ocean floor.

    ¡°Minervin,¡± she whispered fitfully.

    The name brought a cold shudder to his body. His fingers itched to caress the gold pouch hanging from his belt. Why would she know such a cursed name?

    ¡°You should have left the girl there to burn with the rest, Your Grace. She is evil, whether you or Oswin see it,¡± Ser Morley muttered beside him.

    ¡°Be that as it may, Knight-Commander. The girl knows something about the origins of the Dark Plague and the land to which we sail. Perhaps she knows something about the power growing there that Gildaen spoke of. She will serve as our guide. I will not have us trek through the frozen wasteland blindly.¡±

 Chapter 4: Part 3 - The Shadow King

    Ava started from her sleep with a moan. Her body shivered and was drenched in sweat.

    ¡°Terrible dream?¡±

    She looked at the robed man in the cabin with her as he put a few things into a chest and came to her side. Ava nodded and attempted to sit up. Her memories of this man were fragmented, but he seemed to harbour no ill intent.

    ¡°I was admiring your weaponry. Barring the dagger, I have never seen their like, especially crafted from diamond-crust obsidian. The orc smith who crafted them had great skill. How do you fare?¡± Oswin asked, touching the back of his fingers to her neck.

    ¡°Better, I ache again,¡± she rasped.

    ¡°And you did not feel such while afflicted with the Dark Plague?¡±

    Ava shook her head, growing weary from the effort. ¡°No, nothing. Just unending cold, hunger and Beast¡¯s warmth.¡± Ava started and scanned the room. ¡°Where is Beast?¡±

    ¡°Safe outside the room. It has been hard to separate him from you. I have healed his leg, and he should have no long-term damage so long as he remains off it and rests. As should you, you still have a fever. We have eliminated the Dark Plague, but your wound became infected from remaining untreated for so long.

    ¡°It shows great promise that you have awakened. Prince Caeden will be pleased. We have questions. Mine have to do with the satchel you carry.¡±

    Ava hugged the satchel tighter to her body.

    ¡°Rest easy, Miss Ava. I will not take it from you, but whatever it holds is powerful and potentially dangerous to spill out of a magi¡¯s satchel in such a manner. Prince Caeden has heeded my council to have it kept secret for now. People mistrust you already, do not give them cause for it when you are questioned about it. Your bow and weapons lay in the chest, along with some clothes. I doubt you will find much use for your armour though, whatever cut you sliced right through it.¡±

    ¡°Where are we?¡± Ava asked.

    ¡°Anchored off the coast of Spectermere, we were waiting...¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Ava yelled, dashing from the bed.

    <hr>

    ¡°Every tale of Spectermere I have heard tells of the twisting vortex so massive it spans from sky to land and can be seen from the edge of the Frozen Sea. Yet, we are so close to shore and nothing,¡± Caeden muttered with disappointment. Witnessing the great and powerful Frost Spirit from this distance would have delighted him. ¡°What a miserable land this is, only fog as far as the eye can see. It is no wonder the spirit decided to leave it behind.¡±

    ¡°Nothing of this accursed place rings true, the tales tell of a foreboding from the land, a warning to travellers and there is none. Only strange silence,¡± Ser Morley whispered beside him. He looked through the spyglass to the barely visible remnants of a burnt settlement, ¡°It is hard to tell but, I make out no survivors nor any bodies among the rubble.¡±

    ¡°We would be sailing into a possible ambush if we port. Is there no other way to make landfall?¡±

    ¡°None charted, Your Grace. We could sail around and hope to find another beach between the cliffs, but we would risk sailing into Turbulent Ocean waters,¡± Knight-Captain Shael answered.

    ¡°Why did you come here? I warned you not to!¡± the girl shrieked from the entryway.

    She rushed to the anchor chain to pull it from the water. A sailor attempted to stop her, but she turned and punched him in the face. The effort seemed to weaken her, and her legs buckled. The sabre cat was instantly at her side, hissing at everyone who dared come close.

    Caeden sighed, walking into the crowd to calm flared tempers when he spotted large, bulbous eyes staring at him through the ship¡¯s wooden railing. It blinked. Two pairs of eyelids closed and opened when it did. A croak emanated from its position before it climbed with wet round fingers to the top of the railing and squatted on it. Its mop of tangled brown hair clumped in frozen icicles. Only the skin down his front seemed to have the pale skin of a human. The other parts of its skin were a beautiful hue of blue with a pattern of black spots. It shone in the sparse light,

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    ¡°What in Holden¡¯s name? Are these frog ¨C men?¡± Knight-Commander said, coming to his side and fingering his sword.

    ¡°Knight-Captain Shael,¡± Caeden ordered.

    ¡°All hands on deck!¡± Ser Shael shouted to the men standing frozen in place.

    Caeden grabbed and pulled Miss Ava to her feet, intent on getting her to the safety of the cabin.

    The frogman climbed down from the railing and croaked again, the skin of his neck extended as it did. It drew the fishbone sword at his side and lunged at Ser Morley. The Knight-Commander met its parry as Caeden dragged the girl away.

    Curse the Reaper. The frogmen were swarming the ship. Caeden drew his great sword and cut down the one that crossed his path, but Ava disappeared from his side in the chaos. He caught sight of the sabre cat as it danced around his quarry, distracting it until Oswin¡¯s fireball engulfed it from behind.

    Suddenly, a shadow blocked his path, so dark it seemed to take on a corporeal form. Burning red eyes flickered with excitement.

    ¡°Our time has come, Prince. Join with me and the Empire you yearn to rule will be yours, along with all Archaicron,¡± it said.

    Ser Morley jumped in front of him, his sword swinging. The steel blade passed harmlessly through the shadow with every strike he landed. The shadow¡¯s arm transformed into solid black glass and blurred upward in a smoky haze. The Knight-Commander fell limply to the ground.

    Caeden¡¯s limbs froze, cold fear running through his veins as the shadow approached. It reached for him. He felt the dark presence enter his mouth and nose, and he choked.

    ¡°Do not fight me. It is your destiny to carry me to mine,¡± the voice echoed in his mind.

    Caeden fell to his knees, watching the shadow enter him. He recoiled from the darkness entering his mind, helpless to defend against its invasion.

    As his vision darkened, Ava appeared from the shadows awash in light. The blade she brandished shone so brightly that it nearly blinded him. She slashed through the shadow, and he felt the painful cut of the accursed sword as if the injury were his own. The shadow disappeared from his sight and mind, its furious shriek echoing in his mind.

    The ship turned about and sailed into open waters. The shadow had disappeared, but the frogmen still swarmed the deck. Caeden could not find the will to move or to fight off the attack. The ship was lost, he was lost, and his men would die. Holden help us!

    Ava reached into her satchel, drew out a glimmering crystal and collapsed to her knees. He caught her in his arms, her body aflame with fever.

    ¡°I ¨C do not know if it will work,¡± she muttered, her breath clouding in the chilling air. ¡°It attacked Minervin and the Draugr, but not Beast.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± The crystal levitated from her hand as he asked, it spun mid-air and Caeden swore he saw a woman form from it.

    ¡°It is the Spirit of Frost, the Whirlwind of Spectermere,¡± Ava said.

    Caeden shielded her from the sudden burst of wind that erupted from the spirit, his limbs growing stiff and numb when it passed over them.

    It felt like an eternity before the icy winds died down. Caeden¡¯s ears ached, the tips stinging from exposure. Thin shards of ice fell from his body as he tried to move his stiff limbs and check on the girl.

    She was shivering uncontrollably. Her lips were cracked and her cheeks gaunt on pale blue skin. Her breaths clouded in the air before her in short, quick, and shallow bursts while she held up the bag for the crystal to fall into. Even now, with one foot in the grave, there was still fight in her eyes, and it shamed him greatly.

    He scanned the ship. The wind blew many of the frogmen overboard and those that remained were frozen in place. The ship¡¯s entire surface was covered in a layer of frost. His men were shuffling stiffly on the deck, caught off guard and warily eying the frozen statues. They were uncertain of what to do next.

    ¡°Knight-Captain Shael,¡± Caeden moved to stand, and his knees groaned in protest. He bit down the ache. He resolved that he would die first before appearing so weak to his men ever again.

    ¡°Yes, Your Grace?¡± The Knight-Captain was instantly at his side.

    ¡°Have the men throw those things overboard and make sure they truly are dead before they do.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Prince Caeden.¡±

    Caeden eyes drifted to Spectermere as it slowly shrunk into the distance, hovering above a cliff face was a lone shadow. Though he could not see its glowing red eyes, it pinned Caeden in place, exposing deeply suppressed desires with its intense stare and his heart beat with dread. He wrenched his gaze away and looked at the girl as she pulled at his cloak, attempting to stand.

    ¡°Os¡­¡±

    ¡°It is fortunate for us that wraiths cannot travel over large expanses of water. Banishing that one to The Deep may prove difficult. I will get Miss Ava below decks to warm up, Your Grace, no need to worry,¡± Oswin appeared, pulling the girl to her feet like a toddler. ¡°Send anyone to me in need of medical aid.¡±

    Once Oswin led the girl downstairs, Caeden walked to Ser Morley¡¯s body. His hand instantly went to his hilt as the Knight-Commander jerked and wheezed. Ser Morley pushed himself up into a sitting position, his face twisting in pain as he pawed at the armour above his heart.

    ¡°Knight-Commander Morley! Are you injured?¡± Caeden assisted the man to his feet.

    Ser Morley looked at his hand incredulously. All the pain was gone from his face now, replaced by disbelief.

    ¡°How strange? I could have sworn the shade cut me.¡±

 Chapter 5: Part 1 - The Lost Girl

    Caeden pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. Tonight was the first in several that he seemed to shrug off the bone chill and dread of the events at Spectermere. He could no longer feel the tendrils of that vile shade worming its way into his body and curling around his spirit to slowly snuff it out. Ava called it Azael, the Shadow King, the shade that cut and infected her with dark obsidian. He would task Oswin with finding everything they could about that creature once they reached the Casimir Empire, but that was for another night. On this night the sky was clear. The stars were bright and gentle winds filled Lady Ella¡¯s sails. A night to give thanks.

    This calm was a blessing from the gods! Caeden hoped he would get a chance to ask for guidance through the storm they would face tomorrow, but his advisors¡¯ bickering was testing his patience.

    ¡°And what would you have His Grace do, throw Miss Ava overboard and leave her to drown?¡± Oswin exclaimed aspirated.

    ¡°That girl, at the very least, is an ill-omen. Wherever she goes evil follows,¡± Ser Morley responded. ¡°Perhaps a more agreeable solution would be to keep her in the brig for the prince¡¯s safety as well as her own.¡±

    ¡°Imprison her? Without cause? Need I remind you that she saved us from those frog creatures at a great cost to herself.¡± Oswin replied.

    ¡°She has lived among criminals for years, cavorted with orcs and finds no difficulty with speaking an untouchable¡¯s name without shame or hesitation. Who can say that she was not party to all this strife from the very beginning? She is a hybrid. Chaos is in their nature. No, I will not risk the prince¡¯s safety to satisfy your thirst for knowledge, mage.¡±

    ¡°Enough,¡± Caeden interjected, his patience at an end. Gods, I just wanted some peace. ¡°You will leave the girl be.¡±

    ¡°But Prince Caeden!¡± the Knight-Commander blustered.

    ¡°I doubt the girl will do anything that will leave her stranded and adrift in the middle of the ocean, Knight-Commander Morley. Once we dock, Miss Ava will be taken into custody. If she is deemed a threat to the Empire, we will deal with her accordingly. Will that satisfy you both?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡± Both men echoed.

    ¡°Good, now leave me be and get some rest, you will need it tomorrow.¡±

    His advisors bowed and turned to leave. Once they disappeared from his view Caeden made his way up the stairs to the poop deck, throwing his embroidered gold pouch up and catching it with every step. The sound of the stones inside knocked against each other and calmed his frayed nerves once again.

    He leaned against the far railing and poured the four stones out onto his palm. They glinted beautifully in the Moonlight. He picked at the yellow stone but started and snapped his hand shut when he heard a grumbling yawn.

    Ava sat cross-legged against a mast behind him, scratching the sabre cat¡¯s massive neck in her lap while it stretched in a drowsy doze next to her. It moaned pleasurably and started purring. Caeden did not realise she had recovered enough to move about. In the dim lamplight, she still looked so thin, almost drowning in the sailor¡¯s shirt they gave her to wear. Yet, her eyes were light, vibrant and filled with suspicion.

    Caeden sighed internally. ¡°How much did you overhear?¡± He asked, jerking his head to the stairs he came from.

    ¡°I am not sure what you mean, I did not hear much of anything,¡± she replied, innocently.

    Liar. Caeden smirked, jingling the stones in his hand. She heard everything. She knew they did not trust her but antagonizing anyone now would not help her situation. She is clever, keeping a close watch on her after Lady Ella docks would be wise.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°You should be resting to regain your strength. Is the food to your liking?¡± Caeden queried, changing the topic onto more neutral ground.

    ¡°Yes. It is delicious. I¡¯ve never ¨C I¡¯m ¨C I am tired of resting, tired of just laying around.¡± She replied, taken aback by his concern. ¡°This is the first time that I have left Spectermere, and I have not been able to see much of anything. Are ¨C those praying stones?¡± she asked.

    Caeden stopped his movement, suppressing the urge to hide the stones in question behind his back, her querying gaze catching him off guard. ¡°Well, yes. I was hoping to have a quiet moment.¡±

    ¡°You are one of the People!¡± she blurted out, his hint falling on deaf ears. She rushed to his side, looking over the stones in his hand with unbridled wonder.

    ¡°You say that almost like an accusation.¡± Caeden rubbed his temple nervously as he stared at the stones. He had never felt embarrassed about his faith before, but then again it had never become a topic of discussion either. The People kept their worship to themselves and prayed in private. This whole conversation felt altogether strange and untoward.

    The girl spoke properly for the most part but had no social graces whatsoever. Her blunt and bold nature could have unfavourable results for them all if she offended the wrong people. Perhaps there will be time for Oswin to give her some lessons in etiquette before we dock.

    ¡°No, not at all. There were never any faithful in Spectermere. If there were they would not last long. Minervin said they are usually plain stones, but yours are obsidian?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I suppose they are overly luxurious, but they were a gift from the Queen. It is ¨C a common interest we share. Would you ¨C like to pray with me?¡± he asked warily.

    ¡°Oh ¨C No. It would be pointless for me. Hybrids have no place in the Eternal Lands.¡±

    Caeden reeled back as if struck by the sudden realisation. ¡°That cannot be right, can it?¡±

    Ava took his hand in hers. They felt rough and callous and were in stark contrast to how small and delicate they looked. ¡°Yellow for Holden, blue for Fern and black for the Reaper, yes? I suppose you hold by Holden and yearn to be accepted onto the Pearly Shores?¡±

    ¡°I do hold by Holden, yes. But, if I must choose an Eternal Land for my spirit¡¯s destination, it would be the boredom of Fern¡¯s Evergreen Garden, not the battle-beaten Pearly Shores.¡±

    Ava¡¯s brows furrowed in puzzlement. ¡°You seem to have trouble reconciling your faith.¡±

    Caeden chuckled, ¡°I have trouble reconciling certain details of my faith. It comforts and strengthens me when I need it to. But I will spend my entire life fighting in battles and waging wars for the emperor and my people. It is not something I wish to continue doing for eternity once my life is over.¡±

    ¡°I think I understand. From what Minervin has told me, I do not think Fern would agree. Your face is pretty, though. Maybe she will take you in if you keep it unmarred for the rest of your life.¡±

    This time Caeden laughed, ¡°The goddess of love, inspiration and beauty would not be that superficial. There are ways to earn her grace and favour through other means. But I am flattered that you consider me pretty.¡±

    Ava flushed red before turning to regard the stones with a singular focus. ¡°Which god does that stone represent?¡± she asked pointing to the fourth stone.

    ¡°This one?¡± Caeden grasped the diamond-crust stone between his thumb and forefinger and raised it, turning it in the lamplight as he inspected it. ¡°This one represents The Other. Similarly, with the Reaper¡¯s stone, we do not pray to him, but we recognise the mysterious god with this stone.¡±

    ¡°You do not have a stone for Anarchaen Mulgrath?¡± she asked earnestly.

    ¡°The orc would-be god? No, it would be sacrilegious to recognise, let alone pray to him. He is considered an imposter. Do you ¨C hold by him?¡±

    Her eyes widened in shock, then became dark with shadow. ¡°No, I do not, but I would be lying if I said I did not consider it. Malgorn could be part of his warband by now and Mulgrath has been known to take in other spirits besides orcs. Rare, I know, but spending an eternity on a warship seems a better option than the alternative, I suppose.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Caeden looked at her pensively. She would become an unclaimed spirit after death. Everything he knew about the orc imposter told him that Mulgrath would not look past the stain of her birth. Even if her spirit were unburdened by ill intent, it would fall to The Deep between the cracks the gods left behind. It was a grim fate. But there was at least some solace he could offer her.

    ¡°If there is no place for you in the Eternal Lands, you could perhaps find one in the stars.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Her golden-brown eyes glimmering with curiosity in the lamplight.

    ¡°Your ¨C wizard did not teach you about the stars?¡±

    ¡°You could not see them through the clouds in Spectermere. I will admit they are so beautiful.¡±

    ¡°Even more so when you know their true nature. Come, I will show you.¡± Caeden placed the praying stones back in his pouch and reached out a hand for her to take.

 Chapter 5: Part 2 - The Right Path

    Caeden clutched the railing of the poop deck and braced himself as Lady Ella nosedived and cut into a massive wave. Salt water splashed over the deck, his men shrugging it off and continuing their vigil as if it were the smallest inconvenience. This was the Dark Ocean at its worst, torrential rainstorms, hazardous waves, and territorial dangers that lurked beneath its surface.

    He spent much of the previous night showing the stars to Ava, stopping only when the ship entered waters so rough that she turned green and could not keep her meal down. He escorted her and the Saber Cat to Oswin for something to settle their stomachs, bumping into a haggard-looking Knight-Commander along the way. With dark circles below his eyes, Ser Morley seemed to have gotten less rest the previous night than he did. Though, the Knight-Commander seemed to have shrugged off his exhaustion quickly as he secured a life rope around Caeden and himself. He was now minding a ballista on the quarterdeck and scanning the waves for serpentine shadows.

    They had entered Sea Serpent hunting grounds and while they were not often found near the ocean surface, the risk of attack by the massive monsters was always a possibility. A harpoon or two would be enough to deter them from coiling around the ship to drag it under, but vigilance was essential to ensure that they had that fighting chance.

    Caeden wiped his eyes, they stung from the salty water and lack of sleep. Ava stumbled into his vision when they cleared, she tripped forward as the ship lurched and clung to the mainmast tightly. She stared in terror at the waves beyond the starboard and he ground his teeth angrily. Why in Holden¡¯s name was she up here? Could she not just do as she was told?

    ¡°Knight-Commander take up my vigil!¡± he commanded over the roar of the storm.

    ¡°Yes, Your Grace,¡± Ser Morley answered as he took his place at the railing.

    Caeden marched to Ava, irritated by her presence. In situations like these, every sailor had a duty, and every failure would have dire consequences. Her distraction could cost them their lives.

    ¡°I told you to stay below deck! It was an order, not a request,¡± he shouted as he pinned her with his body and untangled a life rope from the mast. ¡°It is dangerous up here!¡±

    ¡°I ¨C heard something out there, calling¡± Ava replied entranced and pointed off into the distance.

    ¡°Are you mad? What in Holden¡¯s name could be calling...¡± Caeden shook his head incredulously and glanced to where she pointed. He caught sight of it just before it slipped below the waves. A finned tail a few miles out. Gods! It was that far out and still that large? Could it be?

    ¡°Prince Caeden!¡± Knight-Commander shouted, pointing to where the tail disappeared. ¡°Leviathan!¡±

    He gave up on the life rope and grabbed Ava by the arm leading her to his cabin, ¡°All men to starboard! Knight-Captain Shael¡­¡± Caeden¡¯s heart dropped as the serpent¡¯s massive head lifted from the water in a massive wave and the ship swayed dangerously to the opposite side. He steadied himself and Ava.

    The serpent towered over them, waiting. It watched them, focusing on Ava intently. Her fingers dug painfully into his upper arm and although she trembled from fear, she was eerily silent in the face of this massive monster.

    ¡°Shoot it!¡± Caeden yelled.

    ¡°Wait¡­¡± she responded uncertainly.

    Before his men could respond to his order the great sea serpent reeled back and spit. Torrents of pressurized water poured from its jagged maw, Caeden grabbed Ava to him as the water pushed them up and over the ship¡¯s railing.

    The life rope cut painfully into his sternum as they came to an abrupt halt over the edge. The excess water from the deck fell over them like a waterfall as the ship swayed to and fro.

    ¡°I can¡¯t swim,¡± Ava stated, she was shivering uncontrollably in his arms.

    ¡°It will be alright. My men will pull us up as soon as they are able.¡±

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    The way she stared into the waves below made Caeden wonder if she heard his response or if she was talking to him, to begin with. The suspicion intensified when a long rumble echoed up from below in response.

    Caeden felt a tugging in his rope and looked up. He allowed relief to settle in as two of his crewmen heaved them up. This encounter was altogether unnatural. If the serpent wished to drag them down, it would have done so already. Was it targeting Ava alone? Would it drag the ship down to get to her?

    He spotted the Knight-Commander manning the ballista above, pointing it down toward them.

    ¡°Morley, it is in the waters directly below!¡± he yelled to the Knight-Commander as he reached for the railing above. Ava twisted in his arms and slipped from his grasp. He grabbed her wrist instinctively, his grip tenuous and wet. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he yelled at her stupefied.

    ¡°It knows what I need to do,¡± she answered, loosening his grip finger by finger. Yet despite her actions, her eyes were terrified.

    ¡°This is madness, Ava. You will die!¡± he hissed through his teeth.

    Uncertainty stopped her from picking further at his fingers until another long rumble echoed below. This time she reached up and bit his remaining fingers, the tiny fangs piercing into his skin painfully. He squeezed tighter, but she only clamped down harder until his grip failed. He could only watch as waves swallowed the girl whole.

    <hr>

    Ava watched Prince Caeden and the ship blur into the darkness as she sunk deeper into the muted noise of the watery abyss. Uncertain whether she could reach the surface again if she tried. This was a mistake! A piercing pain shot through her side as something sped past, she covered her fresh wound with her hands, the red tint of her blood floating swiftly away in the water. The frogman stopped above her and turned, raising the bone knife before it, and pointing.

    It spit something in the ancient tongue, but the exact words were carried away in the current.

    It kicked its legs and dived, picking up speed, and Ava kicked herself out of the way, but it was useless. Minervin could never teach her how to swim in the freezing waters of Spectermere. She shut her eyes and braced herself for the end, but it never came, only a strong force of water pushing her body back like a leaf in a windstorm.

    ¡°Breathe sister.¡± The words entered her mind, long and echoing.

    Ava sank further and stopped on rough and ragged ground. She opened her eyes and stared into the massive blue eyes of the silver serpent that the Knight-Commander had called Leviathan. The frogman was nowhere to be seen. Her lungs burned in her chest. She panicked and pushed off from the serpent''s snout hoping to make it to the surface before her air ran out. Her efforts were in vain, she never moved anywhere but back down again.

    She took an involuntary breath and water rushed in, but it never choked her. She landed back on the serpent''s snout, breathing water as if it were air.

    ¡°How is this possible?¡± she asked incredulously.

    ¡°The landwalkers are not the only ones who can wield the power of Archaicron. But I did not call to you to show you simple magics. With your seeker undone and your guardian lost, I have been tasked with delivering a message.¡±

    ¡°A message? From whom?¡±

    ¡°The Maker.¡±

    ¡°Is he a god from Ancient Times?¡±

    ¡°He is the god of all Times, the Weaver of Destinies,¡± The serpent responded looking at her curiously. ¡°He wishes to set you back on the path to yours.¡±

    ¡°Would I have a choice?¡±

    ¡°All of Archaicron is teetering on the brink of chaos, you have seen. What has happened to the Frost Spirit is happening to all the Spirits, their magic is failing, and the evil they have kept suppressed for millennia has awakened.

    ¡°You are the Chosen One, Keeper of Spirits. You must find them and keep them from those who would wield them for tyranny and domination. It will not be an easy path to travel and one you can turn from, yes. But death will not wait and remain cloistered in the frozen land. He will spread chaos to the world, and you will eventually lose what your heart so desperately seeks.¡±

    ¡°You ask much of me,¡± Ava responded pensively.

    ¡°The Maker is not always kind with the threads he weaves. I ask no more of you than to keep my home safe and unchanged. We, in turn, will keep your ships safe from those that rise from below.¡± The serpent tilted its head to the side, giving Ava a view beyond its massive body.

    Beneath the waters of the Dark Ocean, as far as Ava¡¯s hybrid eyes could see, a battle raged, and her heart plummeted. Hundreds of Sea Serpents and many more frogmen were tangled in an ever-moving frenzy.

    ¡°How many are there?¡± her words rising with panic.

    ¡°As many as there are minnows in the ocean.¡±

    ¡°And you prevented them from attacking us all this time?¡±

    ¡°We did, yes. And we will in future provided that you fight for us in turn. Many beasts have forgotten, but we still remember the agreement we brokered with the keeper.¡± The Leviathan looked at her intently. ¡°However, while the Oceans are our domain, the Seas are not. We cannot protect you once you enter them. It would be wise to warn the humans above.

    ¡°But be wary of the human boy. His heart may be honourable, but it is split between many things. He does not yet know where to place you among them. Getting trapped in the trifles of humans would doom us all.¡±

    Ava flattened against the Sea Serpent''s snout, holding on for dear life as it moved forward, undulating ethereally in the water until it broke the water surface. She coughed the water from her lungs and gasped for air.

 Chapter 5: Part 3 - A Caged Beast

    ¡°It would have been essential to know of this animal communion of hers before, Oswin.¡± Caeden slammed his armoured fists on his desk, glaring at his Magic Advisor.

    His jaw tensed tightly, and it fed into the headache he was developing. He was still incapable of fully lending credence to what Ava reported after she emerged in another massive wave on the snout of a Leviathan. A battle below the ocean and sea serpents keeping them safe! It was preposterous!

    And yet, the giant sea serpent did not attack and disappeared back into the depths after she climbed from it onto the poop deck before his disbelieving eyes. The seemingly benign serpentine shadow now trailed below them, creating waves in the water to guide the ship in the directions it wanted, much to the chagrin of Knight-Captain Shael. It soon became clear why when the ship skirted around a battle between a smaller sea serpent and the frogmen that eventually broke to the surface.

    Wraiths in Spectermere, whispers of wights at the Wyvern Jaw, the appearance of frogmen and a dark plague spreading among the living and the dead. What did it all mean and where did Ava and the Spirits fit into it all? There were so many questions Caeden needed answers to. He needed something to snap into place.

    ¡°Well, I did ¨C It is not common ¨C I noted she spoke to the Saber Cat but assumed it stemmed from loneliness rather than from any magical ability she possessed. The ability is simply unheard of in the Age of Man, Prince Caeden.¡± Oswin stammered out.

    ¡°The girl is lying then.¡±

    ¡°Unheard of does not mean outside the realm of possibility, Ser Morley. I will need time to ascertain its nature and workings. The knowledge we can acquire from Miss Ava would be invaluable, Your Grace. She could be the key to unlocking information previously unknown and inaccessible to humanity!¡±

    ¡°Even so, we have only that girl¡¯s word of this so-called conversation with the Sea Serpent, for all we know this all could be some elaborate ill-intentioned plan. It will be safer for all if she remains where she is.¡±

    ¡°There is no evidence to suggest such a thing. I agree that there is a greater plan afoot that we cannot yet see, but she may simply just be caught in the middle of it rather than its root cause.¡±

    ¡°Supposition, mage. You risk much.¡±

    ¡°Are we to ignore that the Frost Spirit follows her of its own free will? That is not an achievement those of ill intent can so easily accomplish. I am not saying Miss Ava is entirely trustworthy, but I would advise not corroding the relationship further until we know more, Prince Caeden. Spirits are capricious creatures and the one in her possession is extremely powerful. It will destroy us if it finds the need to.¡± Oswin interlaced his fingers, and his hands disappeared within the bronze sleeves of his robe.

    Caeden looked to his Knight-Commander for a rebuttal. Ser Morley grunted in defeat. ¡°Oswin may be right,¡± He touched his fingers to the bridge of his nose and frowned before continuing, ¡°but I still think it would be wise to keep her imprisoned until we know more.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Caeden waved them to silence. ¡°I need to speak with her to determine what my final position will be.¡±

    He exited his cabin and crossed the deck with Oswin and the Knight-Commander trailing briskly behind. His men scuttled about, preparing for an attack once they entered the seas surrounding the Casimir Empire. They had abandoned the ballista and now scanned the ocean waves with crossbows, their true targets clear. He stepped below deck and stopped at the door to the brig.

    ¡°I will go in alone,¡± he told his entourage.

    ¡°Prince Caeden, I must protest! This is most unwise!¡± Ser Morley blustered.

    ¡°I have spoken, Knight-Commander.¡± Caeden reiterated, taken aback slightly by Ser Morley overstepping within earshot of someone he considered an enemy.

    ¡°Yes, forgive me, Your Grace.¡± His Knight-Commander straightened ready to take up his vigil at the door with Oswin.

    Caeden entered and walked down the stairs. The brig was dim and musty. A shallow pool of water rippled from one side to the other as the ship swayed and lurched. Cages lined the walls, and both the girl and Beast occupied the central one facing the door. The Saber Cat sat perched upon the prison cot, its tail swishing at its back with an agitated stiffness, its ears forward and its pupil¡¯s thin slits in its menacing yellow eyes. It was not happy at being drugged and caged.

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    Ava on the other hand sat next to him, leaning against the wall, calmly petting Beast with one hand, and nursing the bandaged wound at her waist with the other. The bruise from his grip peaked out from beneath her shirt sleeve. Her right leg was folded beneath her while the left swung back and forth over the side of the cot. Next to Beast, she seemed to look relaxed, but the stilted movement of her leg and her intense glare belied that fact.

    ¡°How is your wound?¡± he asked, ignoring her insolence.

    ¡°It is well-tended too. Oswin is a fine healer when he is not secretly feeding his patients sedatives and then hauling them off to prison.¡± She answered through gritted teeth, giving him the answer that he was expecting. She was not going to make this easy.

    ¡°Miss Ava¡­¡±

    ¡°You have no right to keep us here, I know the laws of your Empire. You cannot imprison someone without due cause,¡± she stated. There was a hint of desperation in her voice. From what he gleaned from her stories and how she enjoyed the freedom to wander, this was not a comfortable place for her to be in.

    ¡°Lest you forget, you assaulted a Royal Prince of the Casimir Empire,¡± he replied holding up the wounded hand in question. ¡°Our laws could call that treason.¡±

    ¡°Bahg, it was only a tiny bite. Hardly something to complain about.¡± She got up and started pacing the cage, thinking before stopping before him. ¡°You are angling for something else. Why are you here? Say it plain, royal Prince.¡±

    ¡°You truly have no manners, but ¨C fine.¡± Caeden gritted his teeth, trying to lead the conversation to a more civil place. As much as her bold nature amused him, it could grate on his nerves just as much. No one would ever dare speak to him in that manner, no one except some savage outlander orc. ¡°I want the whole truth, all of what the Sea Serpent said to you.¡±

    ¡°I already told you and it landed us in here,¡± she responded exasperated, going back to pacing the floor.

    ¡°No, it was the information you omitted that landed you in there,¡± he countered and smirked when she fell silent and gawked at him. ¡°People who speak their minds tend to make terrible liars, Miss Ava, whether through omission or not. I may not know much about Sea Serpent intelligence but asking you to jump into the Dark Ocean during a storm and amid battle seems foolhardy. You are special to it, so why would it endanger you so?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like you gave it much of a choice at the time. You were trying to kill it.¡± Ava paused, thinking.

    She fidgeted nervously and looked at the Saber Cat. Its ears twitched to the sides, and it readjusted its weight on the cot. Ava seemed to wave something away and shook her head. Caeden assumed the conversation between her, and Beast was over. It seemed so obvious now that it was difficult to fathom how he had missed it before. Ava moved in front of him, gripping the cage door before her.

    ¡°Will you release us if I tell you?¡±

    ¡°That depends.¡±

    She stared at him dubiously, trying to determine his intent.

    ¡°There would be no reason to keep you here if you are not a threat, Miss Ava.¡±

    She sighed in resignation and told him everything she knew. The message from the Maker, the failing power of the Spirits, the evils that now roamed free and what she was tasked to do. Her golden eyes were so earnest. There was no doubt in his mind that what she was saying was the truth.

    ¡°Can you release us now?¡± she asked when she was done, pointing to the cage door.

    ¡°Why you?¡± Caeden asked, mulling over the information.

    ¡°Because I am the Keeper of Spirits?¡± she replied, confused by the question.

    ¡°Yes, I understand that, but why were you specifically chosen?¡±

    ¡°Are you asking me to explain the reasoning of a god I have never heard of before? Because I cannot.¡±

    ¡°We do not even know where some of them are, how will you find those that are lost to us? What are you to do with all the Spirits once you have collected them all? Will they help at all with the evils that are unleashed? How are we to deal with them once the Spirits are gone?¡± Caeden had so many questions, and so many contingencies to plan for. This quest, if true, will not only pose a danger to every land on Archaicron from creatures they know very little about, but it would also be near impossible to accomplish.

    ¡°Well, I do not know,¡± her words broke.

    She picked at her fingernails nervously, a flicker of frightened uncertainty entering her eyes. She clearly did not think that far ahead, and the full gravity of her task seemed to be dawning on her as well. This will indeed be difficult.

    Ava herself was another conundrum altogether. Having a single person wield all the powers of the spirits could at best make them a target for control, or at worse become a threat all the armies on Archaicron combined could not equal. It would be dangerous to allow her to wander alone, she would need a high level of oversight.

    ¡°Prince Caeden! Are you going to release us or not?¡± she asked, almost desperately.

    ¡°One more question,¡± Caeden replied.

    ¡°What? I told you everything I know. I just need to get out,¡± she whined, shaking the door of her cage in frustration.

    ¡°Why would you want to do this?¡± Caeden watched her intently.

    ¡°What?¡± She blurted, surprised by his question.

    ¡°This mission. What are you planning on getting out of it? Your endgame? What is in it for you?¡±

    ¡°Is saving Archaicron not good enough for you?¡± Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

    ¡°Is it enough for you, Miss Ava? You know nothing of Archaicron beyond Spectermere and what your wizard has told you.¡±

    ¡°His name is Minervin! I see what this is now. Because I am a hybrid, raised by an untouchable and lived among criminals, I cannot have noble intentions.¡±

    Gods damn it, Knight-Commander. Caden heaved a sigh. ¡°This has nothing to do with what you are or how and where you were raised. This is all ¨C extremely bizarre, Miss Ava. For whatever this is to succeed I need you to trust me.¡±

    ¡°I do trust you ¨C as much as you trust me.¡± Ava pointed to the cage door and backed away from him. There was hurt in her eyes. ¡°Do not ask for something you cannot give in return, royal prince.¡±

 Chapter 5: Part 4 - The Wyvern Beckons

    Caeden stood on the deck of Lady Ella as she slowed and eased into Landon Province¡¯s Trading dock. He would have preferred to sail further along the coast and dock at the Empire¡¯s Naval port, but the frogmen threat had forced him to choose the safer but more public option. Large shadows of the airships overhead darkened the ship''s deck as they whirred passed to land further in. The rhythmic hissing of their steam engines could still be heard as they disappeared from his view. They were quick to answer his signal once the ship entered their range of sight. As the Leviathan forewarned, frogmen swarmed the ship as soon as they entered the Sapphire Sea, and the battle would have gone south were they not there to lend assistance. He lost two men in the fight due to poison and grievous injury, and his Knight-Captain was stricken with a paralytic agent and was with Oswin in the sick bay. But at least their sacrifice had netted a price.

    He looked at the frogman standing in the centre of the ship. It stood unresponsive as his men secured its limbs, staring blankly ahead. They were careful not to touch the colourful parts of its skin and watched it warily as they worked. Not that it mattered. It seemed to lack any will at all and was either unaware or unperturbed by the potentially fatal wound gushing through its gut.

    Caeden raised Ava¡¯s orcish sword to the light. It was not his preferred weapon of choice, but the gamble paid off. The blood that coated the tip was a vibrant red. The frog creature was living and was not afflicted with the Dark Plague. Yet, a cut from the diamond-crust blade seemed to interrupt or sever whatever control it was under, so much so that it followed no command, not even its own. Answers that lead to more questions.

    Caeden wiped the blood from the blade with a cloth as men milled about offloading. He could admit that it was a well-made sword, a pity about its brutish design, though. It matched Ava perfectly.

    A commotion on deck drew his attention, Ava¡¯s Saber cat scrambled across the deck, its claws leaving scratches in the wood. It growled menacingly, yet its eyes seemed more fearful than aggressive. It tumbled through a few boxes and men before jumping from ship to dock and ran through the mass of panicked onlookers before disappearing into the underbrush of Wizard Wood.

    Caeden chuckled at the display. It seems Ava already has plans. He knew enough about the two by now to be certain the Saber cat would not abandon its master so easily. He turned to the girl in question and raised a querying eyebrow.

    ¡°Well, what did you expect?¡± she barked defensively as she and Ser Morley stopped before him. ¡°He has been confined for the first time in his life. He is Beast, he yearns for freedom and the wilds,¡± she answered with a sniff. Her haughty demeanour changed when she caught sight of her weapons in his possession. ¡°You used my sword? Give it back.¡±

    Caeden inspected the sword again knowing it would grate on her nerves, before sheathing it at his side. ¡°You know what? I have grown quite fond of it myself. I think I will keep it. Your bow and dagger too,¡± he sniffed back haughtily.

    ¡°Those weapons are useless in the hands of the unworthy, royal prince. Give it back, I said!¡± she sneered viciously, and Caeden bristled.

    ¡°Is that some sort of wisdom your orc lover taught you? I am curious to know how far his teachings went,¡± Caeden snapped back, instantly regretting it when both Ava and Ser Morley reeled back at the bite in his words.

    Anger flashed in Ava¡¯s eyes when she recovered from the insult. She broke from the Knight-Commanders grip, reached for the bottle left on a cask and hurled it at his head. Caeden scrambled to get out of the way, the bottle missing him by hairs and shattering on the floor.

    Accursed woman, the utter gall! She reached for another bottle before Ser Morley caught her and pulled her away from the cask and its contents.

    ¡°That is quite enough!¡± The Knight-Commander bellowed bewildered. ¡°Ser Derric, escort the girl to port, ensure that no one speaks to her, nor she speak to anyone.¡±

    ¡°They were gifts! You dishonour Malgorn¡¯s memory! Give them back!¡± she yelled as she was dragged from the ship by Ser Derric. It was clear to him she was holding back tears.

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    ¡°Your Grace, such conduct is wholly unbecoming for one of royal blood. The girl has poor manners, yes, but you need not match her with such uncouth behaviour.¡±

    ¡°Spare me the lecture, Knight-Commander. I already know this has gone too far,¡± Caeden growled, annoyed that this incident warranted Ser Morley¡¯s disapproval in the first place. The old man had not made him feel like a misbehaving little child in years.

    ¡°As you say, Your Grace. We have indeed given the Trade Council too much of a show already, I beg you keep that in mind in all future dealings with that girl.¡±

    Caeden disembarked with his Knight-Commander, his stride quickening as he made a beeline to Ava and her guard. Her foul mood grew fouler with every step. She had drawn an audience and chief among them was Master Bartus himself, accompanied by his six equally flamboyant comrades. It was a vain hope that he would get a reprieve from dealing with the Trade Council and its garish leader.

    As useful as they were in their trade dealings within the Casimir Empire and without, all seven heads of this particular hydra were opportunistic, deceptive and prone to eating any one of their fellow compatriots to get ahead. None of them would pass up the opportunity to rub shoulders with a royal, bastard son or not, or get their hands on useful information firsthand. Having to tiptoe around them would become a nuisance. He must get Ava back on his side before she blurts out something important and puts ideas in their heads.

    ¡°A benign hybrid, how prodigiously novel,¡± Master Bartus beamed over Ava with a queer look in his eye.

    ¡°Sir, as I¡¯ve said, please step back and do not interact with my charge,¡± Ser Derric commanded.

    ¡°Gods, that thing isn¡¯t contagious, is it?¡± Master Bartus put his yellow silken sleeve to his nose and gestured superciliously to Ava to get back with the other. Ava¡¯s eyes narrowed and Caeden could see the cogs spinning in her mind. She was about to do something very foolish.

    ¡°Master Bartus, I am offended. You attend to a commoner before me, the pleasure of your hospitality has waned in recent years,¡± Caeden smiled threateningly.

    ¡°My deepest apologies, Your Grace.¡± Master Bartus bowed low, and his entourage followed suit. ¡°I hope you find me worthy of forgiveness. I was overtaken by sheer curiosity, where did you find such an intriguing creature?¡± The man''s eyes never left Ava, even when addressing him. Caeden could not name the numerous ways that irked him, but he could tell that in Master Bartus¡¯s eyes she was a spectacle he could sell off for a small fortune.

    Caeden smile faltered. He loved the Empire, but the rot that sometimes festered within his people revolted him. ¡°Rise, Master Bartus. Miss Ava is my charge. Indeed, a benign hybrid survivor, and thus is of great importance to me and the Empire. I trust she will receive treatment befitting guests of the Imperial Crown?¡±

    Master Bartus straightened and smoothed his robes. ¡°Why, of course, Your Grace. The hospitality of the Trade Council has a reputation to rectify. The girl will be treated with the utmost respect and enjoy every pleasure our Manor has to offer. If I may enquire, what news from Spectermere?¡±

    ¡°That will have to wait. I am afraid I must task you with errands of great import first. Letters must be sent to Castle Caedence and all leaders of the five nations. I also must insist that you increase your guard at the coasts, there is danger lurking in the seas.¡±

    ¡°At once, Your Grace,¡± Master Bartus answered fretfully.

    ¡°The Knight-Commander will assist you with these matters.¡± Caeden indicated to Ser Morley and took Ava by the arm. ¡°Please have someone show me to my quarters, I am in dire need of¡­¡±

    Caeden stopped short as the ground started to rumble and shake beneath them. So violently that he had to readjust his footing or lose his balance. Water sea drenched the docks in heavy waves, swaying the ships and banging their hulls against the peer. Both tradesman and customer screamed in terror, fleeing for shelter as small cracks formed along the ground. Wood cracked and splintered, and buildings groaned. Then, just as suddenly as it started, the quake stopped.

    ¡°My, the wyvern is not very pleased today, is he?¡± Master Bartus chuckled anxiously as he straightened. Brushing at the dust that landed on his robe.

    Caeden looked north to the horizon. At the Empire¡¯s centre in the far distance, he could see the reddened tip of the Wyvern¡¯s Jaw bellowing a black plume of smoke into the clear blue sky. The Empire had experienced these quakes for some time before he left on his journey, but nothing this severe.

    ¡°I do not recall them being this bad before.¡± Ser Morley remarked.

    ¡°They have been getting worse the past three days, though this one has been the worst of it so far.¡± Master Bartus replied.

    ¡°I ¨C need to sit down,¡± Ava muttered weakly. Her eyes were closed, and she rubbed at her eyebrows with a shaky hand. Her legs buckled beneath her, and Caeden caught her before she fell. Heat wafted from her body in heavy waves, and she was drenched in sweat.

    ¡°Is it ¨C ill?¡± Master Bartus muttered, eyeing Ava warily.

    Caeden tipped her head up to him, worried at the flush in her cheeks and her shallow breaths. ¡°What is the matter?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ¨C too hot.¡±

 Chapter 5: Part 5 - The Chosen Ones

    Caeden woke with a start and tried to rub the burning tiredness from his eyes. He sat up on the edge of the bed and tried to get his bearings. His muscles bunched tightly in his back. The relief he received from his bath was now completely gone. Everything in his body told him to lie back down and rest.

    He looked out the window and winced. It was late, the sky dark and the air misty. He had only lain down to rest his eyes, not sleep into the night.

    ¡°Prince Caeden, are you awake?¡± The knock came again behind his room door.

    Caeden wiped the sleep from his face, took a moment to collect himself and stood to don his shirt. ¡°Enter, Oswin. Why did you allow me to sleep this long?¡±

    Oswin entered the room with a flustered look on his face and bowed. ¡°My apologies, Your Grace. After attending to Ava, I was waylaid by Master Bartus and spent the better part of the night trying to allay panic and fear about ¡®the hybrid spreading plagues.¡¯ He is also clearly not satisfied with the little information he has received about Spectermere and is attempting to ascertain the full truth of it, no doubt to use to his advantage. I only just managed to excuse myself from his company.¡±

    How irritating. ¡°Send him to me if he hounds you any further and do not bother yourself with the Council anymore. I think the seven Masters need to be reminded of their place. What news of Ava?¡±

    ¡°Well, she is a perplexing creature. Her fever has gone down, and I have given her a draught to help her sleep through the night. There are no signs of an infection, and her wounds are still healing quite favourably,¡± Oswin reported, pursing his lips as he took a moment to think.

    ¡°Well, then what is the issue?¡± Caeden coaxed.

    Oswin heaved a sigh. ¡°It is hard to explain, but as I was examining her, I felt a hint of magic, a lingering sensation both raw and familiar. I tried connecting with it, but it seemed to recoil and disappear at my touch.

    ¡°It is only a theory, but I suspect that Ava¡¯s fever was a result of her communing with the Wyvern.¡±

    ¡°Fern¡¯s Breath! Did she tell you anything about the conversation between them?¡± Ava had barely set foot in the Casimir Empire and the Wyvern was already calling to her? He needed more time to set contingency plans in motion. Will this play out similarly as it did in Spectermere? There were still so many unknowns.

    ¡°I am afraid not. She was not coherent during the examination, and I fear her trust in me has diminished. Ava is not as forthcoming as she was before.¡±

    ¡°You seem almost sad about that, Oswin. Has the girl grown on you?¡± Caeden chuckled.

    ¡°Your Grace! Well ¨C I would not say ¨C In terms of ¨C her tales of Spectermere were insightful¡­¡± Oswin stammered.

    ¡°I only jest, Oswin. She is a bit hot-headed at times, but she does seem the reasonable sort. Once she understands the situation at hand¡­¡± Caeden stopped short, interrupted by the tolling of bells across the Manor.

    He ran to the ledge outside and watched men run to and from the peer. He squinted into the darkness but could not make out anything. Terrified screams filled his ears from the distance.

    ¡°Is the Manor under attack?¡± Oswin questioned.

    ¡°My Prince!¡± Knight-Commander Morley yelled as he barged into Caeden¡¯s room. ¡°Frogmen are attacking the port!¡±

    Both Oswin and Ser Morley scrambled to assist Caeden into his armour and the three men rushed through the Manor Gardens and up onto the ramparts. He looked at the port below.

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    Sailors and guards fought off a mass of darkened silhouettes emerging from the sea waters. He could see white capes fluttering among them. His knights had already joined them in battle.

    Merchants and civilians ran for their lives between the skirmishes and banged against the closed gates of the manor. They pleaded for help while a contingent of guards and patrolmen watched fretfully from above. Caeden bristled at the sight.

    ¡°What in Holden¡¯s name are you doing? Open the gates!¡± he yelled at them.

    ¡°Your Grace, we are under strict orders from the Masters¡­¡± A guard muttered shamefully.

    ¡°You are under new orders. My orders! Open the gate and show them inside! If you have no will to fight, then go hide alongside your Masters. I need warriors, not cowards.¡±

    Caeden looked to the airstrip and spotted the Manor¡¯s airships, parked and powered down. ¡°Oswin, get those ships up and running and move each along the north and south of the port. Hurl fire wherever you see an opening.

    ¡°I need archers stationed along the ramparts!¡± he ordered the guards. ¡°Morley with me.¡±

    Caeden readied his shield and Ava¡¯s sword and moved to the gate, waiting for them to open. To his surprise, many of the guards who stood idle joined his formation, along with a cloaked figure who moved silently to his flank. The figure wielded a set of long, curved twin daggers in anticipation. He did not need to see its tail or the clawed, furry hands to know that the tall, lean figure was a cheeteng. A bestial race that inhabited the desert caves of The Motherland.

    The cheeteng tilted its head respectfully in silent greeting, its eyes glowing an eerie pale green beneath its hood in the sparse torchlight. Caeden acknowledged him with a respectful tilt of his own in response.

    Civilians rushed past them as soon as the gate was ajar, and Caeden''s attention was drawn back to the fight at hand. He moved his men beyond the gate to stave off the frogmen chasing the fleeing people. They just needed to hold the gate until Oswin could get the airships into position. Caeden parried one and sliced its neck, it went down with a spurt and a gurgle, before moving to the next and the next.

    The rhythmic whirring of engines filled the battlefield, and soon fire rained down from the airships. Both from Oswin and the elemental he had summoned in the second ship. Caeden moved his formation forward.

    ¡°Push them back to the waters!¡± he yelled to his men.

    Little by little they took more ground until they reached the dock houses and merchant stores. His formation broke into separate alleyways, hunting down every frog creature. Caeden walked through one, two men at his back, searching for signs of the enemy when he heard a croak from above. He looked to the roof of a dock house and spotted bulbous eyes staring down at him. They glimmered in the moonlight.

    It tilted its head curiously and croaked, ¡°Give us dra¡¯on, Shadow King.¡±

    The foreign word swirled in his head, and he quickly put it out of his mind. Nausea would come next, then headaches and nosebleeds if he dwelled on it any further. The ancient tongue was not meant for the minds and mouths of mortals, yet this creature used it without issue. Was the word meant for Ava or the Frost Spirit? ¡°What is she to you? Why do you hunt her so?¡±

    ¡°Dra¡¯on! Dra¡¯on!¡± It screeched, hopping in place almost manically. ¡°Dra¡¯on is death. Dra¡¯on conspires with the great spirits to enslave our souls. Give us Dra¡¯on. Give us the freedom you have promised.¡±

    ¡°I have promised you nothing! I am not your Shadow King, and you are not welcome in this land!¡±

    The creature tilted its head from side to side, watching as if it were silently considering his words. It leapt from the roof, and Caeden dodged out of the way. The frogman landed on the wall behind him. The guards charged at it. It spat something at one of the patrolmen, and he went down, clawing at his face. Caeden rushed at the frogman with the remaining guard. Compared to the other Frogmen he encountered, this one was far nimbler and more reactive, dodging between Caeden and the guard¡¯s slashes like a dancer. It croaked rapidly and Caeden realised it was calling to others as another leapt on his back, the weight of it slamming him to the ground. Ava¡¯s sword clamoured along the docks before him. The guard coughed and clutched at his throat, wheezing as he fell to one knee.

    Caeden rolled the creature off his back, but it jumped back and straddled him. He caught the creature¡¯s wrist in his hands, fighting to stop it from touching any part of his exposed skin. On the roof just above, he saw the glowing green eyes of the cloaked figure. The cheeteng lifted his arm and a twang echoed through the air. A dart appeared through the frogman''s throat. He shoved the dying creature to the side while the cheeteng took aim at the first Frogman. Another twang and the dart hit against the wooden floorboard as it jumped away. It hopped onto the roof of a warehouse and down another alleyway, vanishing in between the houses as the cheeteng reloaded his hand crossbow.

    The sun peaked on the horizon when they finally managed to push the retreating creatures back into the sea, their shadows speeding through and then disappearing into distant waters. A cheer went up from the battle-weary fighters when the last frogman fell dead on the docks.

 Chapter 5: Part 6 - The Diplomatic Assassin

    ¡°Conspiring with spirits! Could it be true?¡± Ser Morley asked once Caeden reported the bizarre conversation with the frogman to him.

    Caeden rubbed the bridge of his nose. ¡°I can hardly answer that, Knight-Commander. It seems to me that not even Ava knows the purpose of the quest she has been tasked with.¡±

    At every turn more unknowns crop up, confounding his plans. If he went to the emperor with his current demands, they would seem more and more unreasonable with every question he could not answer.

    ¡°The creature also named the prince ¡®Shadow King.¡¯ It is clear that its perception is warped. I would not place faith in any words it uttered,¡± the cheeteng interjected.

    Caeden stopped short and looked up to the cheeteng, considering his words. They were comforting, but the dread in his heart did not dare let him forget the shade in Spectermere and what it brought forth from the deep recesses of his heart. It would not be prudent to tell the cheeteng about this, but it would be foolhardy to completely dismiss the frogman¡¯s words out of hand.

    ¡°My apologies,¡± the cheeteng doffed his hood and bowed.

    He had a short coat of gleaming black fur with a patch of white around his right eye and ear. His white mane curled over the left side of his forehead but shortened and disappeared into the fur at the back of his head.

    ¡°I only wished to offer perspective and have inserted myself in a conversation not meant for me. Forgive the offence that I have caused.¡±

    Caeden smiled amusedly to himself. He certainly did not match the stories he had heard of the cheeteng. While they kept themselves sequestered to their own shores, their race was known to be just slightly more refined than their orcish neighbours.

    ¡°No, there is nothing in need of forgiveness. Your advice is most welcome. I only wish to know whose words it is that I should consider,¡± Caeden replied.

    ¡°Ah, my manners fail me. I am Kama, Cheeteng Emissary to the Casimir Empire. It was an honour to fight beside you, my Prince.¡± Kama announced and bowed again with a flourish.

    ¡°The honour was mine, Master Kama. You have my gratitude for saving my life. Should you require anything to aid you on your diplomatic mission, name it and you shall have it.¡±

    ¡°Only Kama, my Prince. I have not earned mastery for my skills from any official guild.¡± Kama¡¯s bright green eyes snapped up to Caeden and he straightened. ¡°But indeed, there is one thing that I am in dire need of. I would like to meet the girl you have brought here from Spectermere.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°Is this truly wise, Your Grace?¡± Ser Morley whispered to Caeden as they walked across the gardens to the Council¡¯s Manor.

    Caeden waved away an approaching Master Bartus. The plump man pivoted course mid-stride and pretended to listen to a report from a guard captain, all while staring longingly at the group as they made their way inside.

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    ¡°Calm, honoured Commander. I will not harm the girl ¨C or your Casimir Empire. I only wish to confirm a rumour,¡± Kama answered as he trailed a distance behind them. The cheeteng¡¯s ears were sharp.

    ¡°Might I enquire as to the nature of this rumour?¡± Caeden asked. He was not sure what to make of Kama¡¯s request yet but if humouring him brought some answers, it was worth the risk.

    ¡°It is our shaman¡¯s interpretation of The Mother¡¯s will. It speaks of a keeper sent to retrieve her and her brothers and sisters from across Archaicron,¡± Kama answered.

    The Mother, another spirit. This one of nature. She resided in the Mother Tree in the land of Dionyshia, centred within The Vibrant Forest. It was an elven territory, and the elves had granted no one access to the great tree since The Great War in the third era, including both the Dorcas and Cheeteng who journeyed there for their pilgrimages.

    This ¡®rumour¡¯ must have come from one of her children, the small tree-sprouts the Beastkin races revere. As far as Caeden knew, it was through these sprouts that The Mother relayed her will to their shamans. His words were honest, if there was one thing the cheeteng would not lie about, it would be the spirit they considered to be their god.

    ¡°And what is the keeper to do with these spirits, does the Mother say?¡± Caeden asked, earnestly.

    ¡°She does not,¡± Kama answered, and Caeden¡¯s shoulders drooped.

    Kama chuckled, ¡°You struggle to find sense in the will of the spirits, my prince? The cheeteng take the Mother¡¯s will on faith because we know that she will provide for us. But the others, their intent is not so clear, not even to us.

    ¡°If you cannot understand anything else, understand this. Spirits cannot dwell in the mortal world overlong. It is time for them to return to the Shapeshifter or be lost to us forever.¡±

    ¡°The Shapeshifter?¡± Caeden wracked his mind for information about this spirit or god and came up blank. This one was new.

    ¡°The Father? I think your people revere him as The Unknown One.¡± Kama explained.

    Ah, of course, The Other would be involved in grand designs with so many unknowns. ¡°I thank you for your valuable input, Kama. It has been insightful and has decided my course.¡± Caeden bowed.

    Kama bowed back awkwardly, for once the cheeteng could not make eye contact with him. Caeden was certain he was blushing beneath that fur. ¡°You honour me greatly with such praise, my Prince.¡±

    The three men turned the final corner steps up to Ava¡¯s floor and stumbled across Oswin and Ser Derric, Ava¡¯s assigned guard. The panicked look on both men¡¯s faces did not bode well and Caeden scowled.

    ¡°She is gone, Your Grace.¡± Oswin blurted.

    ¡°What? How?¡± Caeden yelled, pushing past both men and into Ava¡¯s room. The bed stood slightly dishevelled but empty. Nothing seemed out of place. Kama sniffed at the air in the room, moving further inside.

    ¡°Your Grace, I stood watch at her door since Master Oswin left. No one entered. No one left. Not even during the battle. There was not a peep from inside the entire time. I should have checked,¡± Ser Derric reported morosely.

    Curses. I knew she would try something but try it so soon? How in Holden¡¯s name did she even escape? ¡°Do not fret Ser Derric, we need only to get her back safely. I need to know if anyone has seen her leaving.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Grace. I will begin the investigation immediately.¡± The knight answered and left the doorway.

    Caeden looked over the room and stopped to watch Kama on the balcony outside. The beastkin inspected the railing and then looked down below. He walked to the cheeteng as Kama leapt onto it and then jumped down onto the balcony below arms first. He crouched to inspect its railing as well, then leapt down again to the ground below and brushed at a bit of dirt before moving a short distance away. Is this the way Ava escaped, jumping between balconies? Such high jumps would injure a human if they tried it. He would have to watch her far more closely once she was back.

    Kama turned and yelled back at Caeden, ¡°She is nimble and light-footed, it will be difficult, but I think I can track her.¡±

 Chapter 6: Part 1 - No Turning Back

    Ava stood at the base of a tree in Wizard¡¯s Wood and marvelled at the look and feel of it. There were just so many greens and browns and yellows! She placed her hand on the rough bark and felt warmth permeate into her palm. It was such a stark contrast to the cold range of white, black and grey of the sparse flora in Spectermere.

    Minervin had shown her his memories of the various lands he had travelled to, but his conjurations seemed so dull, lonely, and muted in comparison. As if they were seen through a veil of sadness. They certainly did not do this place justice.

    She turned to a couple of small brown birds chirping noisily at each other in the tree behind her, free of the predatory fear that the fauna in Draugr Forest had to survive at any given moment. Everything in the Casimir Empire felt so ¨C boisterously bright and alive.

    She backed away from the tree and strolled deeper into the forest. It would not do to dwell overlong, as much as she wanted to. Her greedy eyes drank it all in, the trees, the flowers, the grass, the buildings, and every stall in the market she needed to slink through to escape. It will be a regret she will need to live with, thanks to that accursed prince.

    It was enough that I must make do without my weapons, but now he is robbing me of my experiences as well. She would have tried stealing her weapons back before escaping but feared that she was on thin ice with him already. When the Spirits'' business with her is resolved she will go back to collect them and preserve Malgorn¡¯s memory properly one way or another. But right now, Ava did not want to test the boundaries of his royal humour and sabotage her mission. Throwing that bottle at him was a mistake. Minervin would have been appalled at my ¡®uncouth behaviour¡¯ as Ser Morley put it. A twinge nicked at her heart at her thoughts of Minervin. She missed him so much. This would not have seemed such an impossible task if he had been at her side.

    She thought she could find some assistance from that prince since he genuinely seemed to want to help her. But the Sea Serpent was right, no matter how honourable the prince in white was, there was cold calculation in his eyes that she would be foolish to ignore. Her task was a struggle enough, getting dragged into his political intrigues in a land not her own would only end badly for her. This was something she and Beast needed to do alone.

    She called to the sabre cat and bent down to examine the intricate orange colours of the flowers at her feet, their delicately sweet fragrance wafted to her nose, and she sniffed it in. Hours had passed since Beast fled the ship and he must have scouted out something of note. A place to start.

    Beast bounded through the forest brush and skid to a stop before her, touching his nose to hers in recognition. Ava gave him a comforting pat on the head. He seemed to be a little manic, as excited and overwhelmed by the atmosphere here as she was.

    ¡°Did you find anything?¡± she asked.

    ¡°There is an outpost a ways away,¡± he said as his eyes darted to everything around them.

    ¡°Lead me to it then, Beast. I will follow.¡±

    <hr>

    Beast¡¯s outpost was indeed a small town. Snake Town if the signage were to be believed. Ava squatted with Beast behind an outcrop of bushes, watching the comings and goings of the townsfolk. On the surface, it seemed nondescript and relatively quiet. A few women walked around carrying baskets of goods, others shuttered their windows, calling to kids and waving goodbye to neighbours. A tight-knit community settling down for the night.

    Situated this close to the human trading post, market and Trade Council Manor, Ava gathered the people who inhabited this town were either craftsmen or families of the workers there. Possibly a town for visitors who could not afford to stay at the trading post but had business there.

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    ¡°Beast, I might be a while. If I am not out by sunup or anything untoward happens go find that prince. Do not risk yourself, you are a rare find here,¡± she whispered.

    ¡°Yes, mother.¡± He replied and lopped deeper into the forest. Ava knew he was itching to hunt once again. It would keep him busy and hopefully out of trouble until she finishes her business in town.

    Ava dithered for a moment, attempting to garner how the village here would react to her presence. Minervin already put the fear of The Deep into the Outpost¡¯s denizens long before she was old enough to realize how truly reviled hybrids were. The prince and his crew did treat her decently enough, even that sour-faced Knight-Commander. And she did manage to slip through the market at the Manor without raising too many eyebrows. Perhaps blending in is possible. She took a bracing breath and left the cover of the brush. It cannot be helped. I must do what is needed.

    Ava got a few wary stares as she strode through the village but fortunately, there was no panic or alarm. The hooded wine-coloured cloak the prince had given her was doing a well enough job of covering up her ears and forehead. It was soft, thin, and looked expensive. But its luxury did not detract from its comfort and function. She loved it, but she was not about to tell the prince that, even though he did look worried about her well-being when he gave it to her.

    She almost felt bad pretending to be unwell after that. The truth was that she had already begun feeling better by the time Oswin came to fuss over her. The overwhelming heat that accompanied the Fire Spirit¡¯s rumbling voice slowly ebbed away after a time. But it granted her an opportunity to create a crack in the prince and his men¡¯s unwavering vigilance over her. Enough to slip away and find Minervin¡¯s cabin.

    Ava forgot about her guardian¡¯s last words in her frenzied and fevered escape from Spectermere, but the Spirits did not, and they commanded that she go there. Regardless of what they hoped to find there, this seemed to be the best starting point for the daunting task they set upon her shoulders. Minervin would have something useful tucked away, she was certain of it.

    ¡°What d¡¯ya want?¡± The question came from a guard atop a horse. He looked down on her with a raised eyebrow and seemed to have the same bearing as Knight-Captain Shael but lacked the decoration befitting a Knight. She assumed that he might be a high-ranking Guard or Guard-Captain. It would be best to tread carefully.

    ¡°I am looking for the local inn,¡± Ava replied, then quickly pursed her lips. The guard¡¯s eyes widened in shock before squinting with suspicion. He leaned on the saddle of his horse in a clear attempt to peer through the shadows of her hood.

    ¡°Aye? And what business d¡¯yer have at the inn?¡±

    She stifled the urge to snap at the man. What business does anyone have at a damnable inn? Biting her tongue, she answered stiffly, ¡°I need provisions and have the coin to pay for it.¡±

    The guard stared at her silently for a moment, his eyes still filled with suspicion and turned on his horse to trot up the path ahead. ¡°Well, keep up. I¡¯ll escort you. I¡¯ll be warning you not to do anything funny, I ain¡¯t in a humourous mood,¡± he warned back at her.

    Ava fell into pace with the horse, watching anything with an avid interest in a clumsy attempt to hide much of her face from the guard¡¯s overt and curious gaze.

    ¡°You been in Landon Province long?¡± he queried eventually.

    ¡°Only just arrived and I am just passing by,¡± she answered with as much nonchalance as she could muster. She could already tell this interrogation was going to be an aggravating trial.

    ¡°Passing by to where?¡±

    ¡°Right now, to a place I could rest for the night.¡±

    ¡°Aye? And where d¡¯yer arrive from?¡± the guard asked, catching on to her non-answers. Ava was never good at dancing around the truth, the prince said it plain in the ship¡¯s brig. I am a terrible liar.

    ¡°From across the ocean. Is there a purpose to this line of questioning? I just need to get what I came for. I am not here to cause trouble.¡± She turned to face him, unable to contain her frustration and impatience any longer.

    ¡°Bah, no need to get fussy now, little lady. Snake Town¡¯s a humble town with good folk, but only ne¡¯er-do-wells ask after Snake Tongue Inn. It¡¯s me job to question strangers and determine their business there.

    ¡°Well, there you go, Snake Tongue Inn.¡± The guard motioned to the building before them.

    Dim candlelight shone through the windows and a loud cacophony of music and singing could be heard from inside, broken occasionally by fits of shouting and raucous laughter.

    ¡°I should warn you though, Hestrin likely won¡¯t sell you nothing and sure won¡¯t put you up for the night. You seem a good sort, but you look peculiar.¡±

 Chapter 6: Part 2 - Finding A Foothold

    Ava strolled through the tavern doors. It was a small room despite being packed with patrons of varying levels of sobriety. The air sweltered and smelled of stale sweat and sour ale, evoking memories of Crastius''s tavern. Though admittedly the tavern in Spectermere was far more presentable. This place was coated in filth and grime.

    Every table was centred around a small platform that showcased a female bard with a neckline so low it barely covered her breasts. She strummed a tune on a lute and gyrated to it. Her rouged lips mouthed a song, but the sound was drowned out by the drunken patrons who sang raucously along with her.

    The innkeeper stood behind a bar at the far end watching the scene play out with a sly smile. Ava had a feeling that something untoward was happening between the innkeeper, the bard and her entranced audience. Still, she was not inclined to determine its nature or meddle in others¡¯ affairs. Just get what you need and leave.

    She weaved her way through the crowd and drew a few eyes as she passed. Hestrin watched her warily, the smirk fading from his face as she stopped before the bar.

    ¡°We¡¯re full up and can¡¯t take in no more,¡± he stated, flicking his head toward the door she came from.

    Ava slipped a gold coin across the counter, thankful she had the wherewithal to slip Malgorn¡¯s coin purses into the Magi¡¯s Satchel as soon as she landed with Beast on the dwarven ship. She had no doubt the prince would have taken those too had he known about them.

    ¡°I am not here for a room, I need information,¡± she responded.

    Hestrin slid the coin into his pocket. ¡°Aye? And what¡¯s it you looking to know?¡±

    Ava lifted her sleeve to show the man the rune Minervin cast on her forearm. ¡°I was told you have directions and a key to the cabin in the woods.¡±

    The innkeeper cupped his upper arm and backed away in fright, ¡°N-now hear here, I¡¯m a good man and ain¡¯t looking to do business with cursed folk. Be gone with you, creature!¡±

    The crowd died down to a low murmur, but the bard continued to play a soft tune. The entire tavern tuned in to their conversation. She could hear the bard milling through the crowd as she strummed and had a feeling that whatever the bard was up to, they were now using her as a distraction. Ava grounded her jaw in a rage at being the center of yet another spectacle.

    ¡°Listen fool, just give me the information and I will be on my way!¡± she hissed between clenched teeth.

    Hestrin seemed to want to bark something back but doubled over in pain as he clutched his arm and groaned from the effort to suppress it. Ava was never able to grasp the workings of magic, but usually spells that held command over others were considered profane and illegal to use. Panic consumed Ava¡¯s mind and her heart raced. She stepped back from the bar and its agonised innkeeper. Surely, Minervin would never use such foul magic. If people thought I was the cause of it. I would be hunted down like an animal. She needed to leave and put some distance between her and this town.

    ¡°Fine!¡± Hestrin huffed between clenched teeth. He searched behind the bar and resurfaced with a dented tin lockbox, which he threw open and retrieved a piece of rough parchment and a rusted key. The innkeeper chucked them both at her.

    ¡°Directions and the key. There ain¡¯t nothing there anyway. Now get lost and don¡¯t come back!¡± he spat.

    Of course, the fool looked inside the cabin. Her trepidation fading, Ava looked at the parchment and recognized Minervin¡¯s writing. Hestrin was telling the truth with this at least.

    She tossed another gold coin at the innkeeper, ¡°I need provi¡­¡±

    Hestrin flicked the coin back to her and grunted, ¡°Get lost demonkin or I¡¯ll throw you out meself!¡±

    Ava ground her teeth. She was certain the innkeeper could try and fail miserably. But she knew that forcing the issue would not end in her favour. Cowards like him had people to do his dirty work for him. She had attracted too many curious eyes in any case. She turned on her heel, pocketed Minervin¡¯s items and marched out of the inn.

    The guard was waiting at the entrance, picking and fidgeting at his sleeve with a discomforted look on his face. He turned to her when she exited.

    ¡°I take it Hestrin didn¡¯t furnish you with provisions?¡± he asked when he found her arms empty.

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    ¡°No, the imbecile.¡± Ava huffed. Her fingers itched to throw something. I should be used to this by now. How is it that I am disarmed so easily here than in Spectermere? Tears prickled at the back of her eyeballs.

    The guard chuckled, ¡°Aye, his mum was a good woman, she¡¯d die twice over if she saw what he''d done to the family establishment. Come along then.¡± He pushed his horse into a trot.

    Ava took a step toward him then hesitated, trying to determine the man¡¯s intention. He did not seem suspicious, but why in Holden¡¯s name was he being so helpful? ¡°Where are we going?¡± she asked.

    ¡°To the barracks,¡± he stopped and snickered when she glared at him. ¡°Oi now, it¡¯s not like that, I¡¯ve no time to worry meself over random passersby¡¯s who aren¡¯t in Hestrin¡¯s purview. We just need to make a quick stop before I escort you out of town.¡±

    Ava fell into step beside him, ¡°I need to visit a merchant before I leave.¡±

    ¡°Aye? You won¡¯t find one open at this hour, they close at sundown. But if you come t¡¯morrow, you might find one willing to serve you.¡± The way he emphasized the word might, told Ava that the probability was slim.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t happen to see anything strange in there, did you?¡± he asked, cocking his head toward the inn.

    ¡°I did not see anything, no. Though, I am pretty sure that the fool and his bard are pickpocketing his patrons somehow.¡±

    The guard groaned loudly. ¡°Well, everyone who frequents Snake Tongue Inn knows what they¡¯re getting into. Guess it was too much to hope that Hestrin would do something besides petty thievery in town.¡±

    What did that mean? Ava decided not to pry, this village¡¯s business was its own and did not involve her. They walked in silent contemplation for a few paces before the guard started up again.

    ¡°There¡¯s been a rumour coming from the docks that the bastard prince returned from a trip across the ocean with a funny-looking elf girl in tow. You wouldn¡¯t happen to know anything about it, would you?¡± he queried with a raised eyebrow.

    Ava¡¯s heart skipped at the sudden change in topic. She instinctively pulled her hood further down her face and mentally kicked herself at how suspicious the reaction made her look. ¡°No, I do not know anything about that.¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± the guard replied unconvinced. ¡°Well, here we are. Wait here a second and take care of Betsy.¡± He hopped off his horse and tossed her the reins, marching up the stairs and disappearing into the dimly lit building.

    Ava dithered about whether she should take the opportunity to leave this confounded town behind in a trail of dust. But she had never ridden a horse before. She would probably do it wrong and get kicked off. Beast would probably scare the creature too, not to mention how she would manage to keep the animal fed.

    Betsy nudged her on the shoulder and said, ¡°I¡¯m thirsty.¡±

    She led the horse to the water trough and let her drink when the guard burst from the building again with a small sack in hand. He gave it to her and took the reins, securing Betsy to a post.

    ¡°What is this?¡± she asked warily.

    ¡°Ain¡¯t nothing much, just sourdough bread, dry meats, and some cheese. It¡¯ll get you through a day, maybe two if you ration. Nobody¡¯s going to say that the people from Snake Town ain¡¯t good folk. Plus, I don¡¯t want you expiring before the prince has caught up with you.¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know what you are talking about,¡± Ava blustered.

    ¡°Sure, sure.¡± He waved away her excuses. ¡°I hear His Grace has a good head on his shoulders but has singular focus when it comes to getting what he wants. Folks reckon he¡¯ll succeed the throne ¡®stead of his brother. Never expected I¡¯d be visited by royalty before in my lifetime, but then again, frogmen, ashwights, plagues ¨C strange-looking elf girls. They¡¯re all just rumours. You watch yourself out there in those woods.¡± He turned at the edge of the town and left her there.

    Ava ambled into the woods checking the contents of the sack. It was, as he said, possibly two days¡¯ worth of food, one if Beast was not successful with his hunt. As much as she was grateful for it she wondered if this was her life now, relying on the pity of others to survive.

    She suppressed the helpless feeling that bubbled up. No, I will not allow this to break me. She saw too many in Spectermere fall into that hole and never dig themselves back out. They ended up as soulless objects to be used and abused by people like Crastius. I just need proper rest and a plan to move forward.

    Ava lurched forward as something stung her, wincing at the sharp, burning pain it caused. She reached over her shoulder and pulled at the implement lodged in her back. A dart. Judging by the musty smell coming from the sharp point, it was laced with hemlock.

    She hid quickly behind a tree and glanced out to see who shot her. Three men rushed to surround her and from what she could make out, their faces were unfamiliar. Her heart beat painfully in her chest and her hand gripped her satchel in blind panic. The Frost Spirit would not allow them to take it from her. Ava steadied herself with a hand on the tree¡¯s trunk, fighting off the effects of the sedative. Her vision swirled. She needed to escape her pursuers before she lost consciousness.

    She ran, dodging through trees as her vision blurred and darkened.

    ¡°Fern¡¯s Breath, she¡¯s fast!¡± she heard one say.

    Then a second dart pierced into her shoulder.

    Ava cursed and stumbled. Her legs were growing weak and numb. She abandoned her plan and jumped up onto the nearest branch. She moved up and up, to the next tree and then next.

    She stopped when her legs and arms no longer had the strength to carry her weight anymore. She reclined along the branch she landed on, balancing her weight along it and hoped it would be enough to keep her from falling when she passed out.

    The four men stopped at the base of the tree and looked up at her breathlessly.

    ¡°Gods! D¡¯ya think we can climb it?¡± one asked.

    Ava tried blinking the fog from her eyes, her hammering heart sending the sedative coursing through her body with each frantic beat. Each time it got harder and harder to keep herself alert.

    ¡°Go see if Hestrin has a ladder!¡± the other barked back at him. ¡°And mind his brother!¡± On her final blink, she saw him signal the third to start climbing.

 Chapter 6: Part 3 - A Convenient Lie

    Caeden stood at the entrance of Snake Town, trying to stifle his growing annoyance as he watched Kama scan the ground between it and the Wizard¡¯s Wood. The cheeteng did well tracking Ava into the village but seemed to have great difficulty picking up her trail back out again. If she had indeed left it in the first place.

    He had thought that she would make a beeline for the Wyvern¡¯s Jaw and the Fire Spirit. This town was way off course and a strange detour, if not an extremely dangerous one. Foolish girl, what was she doing here? He knew his foul mood came from the trepidation he was feeling for Ava¡¯s wellbeing. The worry gnawed at his peace of mind. Though jaded in her perception of how people viewed her, she was incredibly na?ve about how the world truly was. There were rumours about this place.

    The sight of Ser Morley and a nervous Guard-Captain did not ease his anxiety. The guard dropped to one knee and bowed his head. The movement was so stiff and awkward that Caeden was certain the man never had cause to use it before this moment.

    ¡°Prince Caeden, this is Guard-Captain Naetin. He has confirmed that girl¡¯s presence here,¡± Ser Morley reported.

    ¡°Please stand, Guard-Captain and tell me what you know,¡± Caeden prompted.

    The guard shuffled to his feet. ¡°Aye, I¡¯ve seen the girl. Thought she was some fancy elf before I saw the fangs. Said she¡¯d come for provisions, but she was looking for information at the inn.¡±

    ¡°Then we need to speak to the innkeeper,¡± Ser Morley interrupted.

    ¡°Aye, unfortunately, Hestrin ain¡¯t at the inn this morning. Slipped out from under our watch sometime during the night. Curse that brainless idiot, I warned him,¡± Naetin muttered angrily under his breath.

    ¡°Where is he then?¡± Caeden stressed, alarm ringing in his mind.

    ¡°My guess is he¡¯s at the wizard¡¯s cabin with the elf girl, Yer Grace. My family had an agreement with him before he ¨C got cursed. A pact that was passed down from generation to generation by way of a mark. It did something strange and then disappeared after the girl finished her business with my brother. He confirmed that she came for the parchment and key that the wizard left behind.

    ¡°He¡¯s been obsessed with finding hidden magical treasure, damned fool. Never thought he¡¯d be reckless enough to act on it. Whatever¡¯s in there was never meant for him,¡± the guard sighed in frustration. ¡°If you please, Yer Grace. I will take...¡±

    Two menacing hisses drew their attention. The guard-captain reached for the sword on his hip and Caeden stayed his hand. Both Kama and Ava¡¯s Saber cat were locked in a stare-down. Their ears pulled back and flat against their head, fangs bared, backs arched, and tails erect. Each was ready to attack at a moment¡¯s notice.

    ¡°Beast!¡± Caeden called in relief.

    Beast¡¯s ears lifted at the sound of his voice, and he risked a quick look in Caeden¡¯s direction before focusing on Kama again, but the tension in his stance was lost. Kama straightened onto two legs and eyed the sabre cat inquisitively as it loped to Caeden. He brushed against Caeden before grabbing his cape in its mouth and pulling on it.

    ¡°You are familiar with this creature?¡± Kama asked.

    ¡°This is Ava¡¯s ¨C pet, the one we¡¯ve been tracking. Beast where is Ava?¡±

    The sabre cat tugged on his cape again.

    ¡°He is asking you to follow,¡± Kama said.

    ¡°Guard Captain, I need you to round up your guards and follow us as soon as you are able. If your brother somehow caught up in something nefarious, it is expected of you to do your duty.¡±

    ¡°Aye, Yer Grace,¡± Naetin turned on his heel and rushed into town. Caeden ignored the crestfallen look on the man¡¯s face.

    Caeden, Morley, and Kama followed Beast. The Saber Cat was agitated, his impatient and distracted gait seemed to indicate that he was distraught.

    ¡°Calm friend. We will find your companion,¡± Kama cooed soothingly.

    Only Beast¡¯s ear twitched in response, but the cat¡¯s body seemed to switch to a more focused nature. The Saber cat was hunting.

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    ¡°You ¨C can understand him?¡± he asked Kama.

    The cheeteng chuckled softly, ¡°Oh no, my prince. We lost all kinship with our four-legged brethren when we began walking on two and started communing with the elves and orcs. But some feelings are shared across all living beings.

    ¡°We have only heard stories about this creature as children, my people will be most jealous to know that I have not only seen one with my own eyes but have hunted with it as well.¡±

    They walked in silence, and it was not long before Beast stopped short and bent low behind the brush. Kama followed suit, ducking behind a tree and watching the scene before him. Caeden crept up behind the cheeteng, trying to minimize the noise of his armour. He looked back and saw Guard-Captain Naetin signal his guards to move to the surrounding area.

    Caeden gazed passed Kama¡¯s shoulder. There were five men camped around a fire. Four were sitting, tying ropes into knots. The fifth stood at the base of a tree, looking up at it with hands on his hips. From the apron tied around his neck and waist, Caeden judged him to be the innkeeper. He squinted to see what the man was gawking at and spotted Ava¡¯s limp body lying across a tree branch. The satchel that housed the Frost Spirit was still in her possession. He sighed with great measure of relief.

    There were a few signs of failed attempts to get at her. A ladder was placed against the trunk, far too short to reach her position and there were a few broken branches further up, either dangling from the tree or lying scattered on the ground. She seemed to have chosen a good spot to perch.

    ¡°You think a hybrid would fetch a good price at the market?¡± Hestrin yelled to the cohorts behind him. The question held a great measure of doubt.

    ¡°Fern¡¯s breath Hestrin. What are you involved in?¡± Guard Captain Naetin whispered behind him.

    ¡°That ain¡¯t no gods damned hybrid,¡± Hestrin¡¯s cohort replied, his brows furrowing as he concentrated on knotting the rope in his hands.

    ¡°Oh aye, yer an expert on hybrids now, are you?¡±

    ¡°You forget I¡¯m from Elwood? That kingdom¡¯s a beacon for orc raiders and pirates. After every sacking, there¡¯s always some woman with an abomination growing in her belly.

    ¡°They¡¯ve got claws, you know. And a tail, wings, and horns as black as night,¡± he motioned above his head to indicate the curve of a hybrid¡¯s horns. ¡°With eyes like red obsidian. You don¡¯t even need to be in the same room with one of those things to feel its malice. The only things in common she has with hybrids are the fangs and the colouring on her head, and even those are wrong. So, aye, she¡¯ll fetch a good price, ¡®cause she ain¡¯t no hybrid.¡±

    Could it be? Caeden had never seen a hybrid before. But like everyone on Archaicron, he had heard stories of the demon-cursed spawn sired from the union of two races. They were the monsters that parents used to scare their children into behaving. When Caeden first laid eyes on Ava, her appearance and her behaviour went against everything he had heard of them, and he thought the rumours false. Faulty stories born of traumatised minds and embellished evermore as they passed from one telling to another.

    Ava moved, pushing herself up along the branch into a sitting position. Caeden noted no visible injuries on her body as she plucked something from her back and threw it down at Hestrin.

    ¡°Ow, you damnable pest! You could¡¯ve poked me eye out,¡± Hestrin yelled back at her, cupping the side of his face, and checking his hand for blood.

    ¡°That was my objective,¡± she stressed between clenched teeth.

    ¡°Ah, the fair maiden¡¯s awake,¡± his cohort purred, the only one in this group besides Hestrin who seemed to have a voice.

    If Caeden''s initial assessment of the situation was correct, that one was the true leader of this merry gang of ruffians, the other three were his lackeys and Hestrin was the one who scouted out their targets at the inn. All of them utter scum.

    ¡°Come down and let¡¯s have a chat,¡± he continued sweetly.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you come up and if I don¡¯t like what you have to say, I¡¯ll push you back down again,¡± Ava sneered.

    ¡°Mouthy one, aren¡¯t you? No worries, they¡¯ll teach you proper manners at the market. The bold ones always break first,¡± he said cheerfully.

    Beast¡¯s ears flickered and bent lower to the ground. Caeden recognized it for what it was. He was communicating with Ava. She knew they were here, and Caeden immediately understood her tactic. She was serving as a distraction, drawing the bandits¡¯ attention so the guards could ambush them from behind.

    Caeden signalled for Naetin and Morley to move forward, he followed and then Kama. Beast stayed hidden in the brush. It was good that he did, having him in the fray would cause more confusion among the guards who were unaware of his tactics.

    ¡°Be gone imbecile, I will go nowhere with the likes of you!¡± Ava yelled.

    ¡°Now, now. It¡¯d be in your best interest to be nice...¡±

    Caeden grabbed the man by the hair and ripped his head back. Before he could reach for his sword Caeden brought Ava¡¯s blade up to his neck.

    ¡°I think you have that backwards,¡± Caeden whispered as he unsheathed the man¡¯s weapon and threw the blade apace from them.

    He kneed the man in the back of the legs and brought him down to the ground to secure his hands. A terrified shriek echoed through the forest and Caeden scanned the area for its source. One of the lackies had slipped through their ambush and now had the massive sabre cat on top of him, hissing menacingly into his face. Kama was quick to assist, turning the bandit on his belly and tying his hands. Blood stained the shirt where Beast clawed into his shoulders.

    Caeden straightened when Ser Morley came to take the man from him. The tree rustled above him, and he spotted Ava jumping to a branch of another tree close by and hopping down to the ground. Her movement through the trees and the weightlessness of her body as it landed seemed majestic to his eyes.

    Beast rushed to her, a long and odd chirping sound emanating from his throat, and she grabbed his large head in a hug.

    ¡°I thank you, Prince Caeden,¡± Ava sighed. Her voice was thick as she attempted to rein in the flood of emotions coursing through her eyes.

    Caeden could only nod in response, the scathing scolding he planned for this moment dying in the face of her efforts to hold back tears.

 Chapter 6: Part 4 - The Cold Truth

    ¡°You set me up!¡± Hestrin spat as they walked through the doorway of the barracks.

    Of the five men, the innkeeper was the only one foolish enough to spew venom and vitriol in their direction the entire way back to Snake Town. The rest were smarter and followed in silence, allowing him the honour of tying the noose around his own neck, in the hopes that it would spare theirs.

    ¡°You set yourself up. I warned you to leave the girl alone, that someone was coming for her, but you just couldn¡¯t help yourself. Mum said your obsession with that cabin would be your end,¡± Naetin replied.

    ¡°You¡¯re just jealous she left me the inn,¡± Hestrin sneered angrily.

    ¡°I never wanted the inn, you idiot. That¡¯s why I joined the Knight¡¯s Guild.¡±

    ¡°Aye and came back a failure anyway. And she still wouldn¡¯t stop singing your praises.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s just no winning with you, is there?¡± Naetin sighed. This seemed a tiresome fight to him. One he has had with Hestrin repeatedly throughout their lives.

    ¡°Had you not been such a disappointment time and time again, she might have thrown some your way, but I¡¯ll be damned before I let you drag her legacy down into your criminal enterprises. Trafficking, Hestrin! What were you thinking?¡±

    Caeden balled his fist and shoved the frustration bubbling to the surface back to the dark recesses of his mind. This was not a conversation he wanted to hear or deal with.

    ¡°I think there might be a slight misunderstanding of the situation at hand, Your Grace,¡± the bandit leader finally spoke up.

    ¡°Yer Grace?¡± Hestrin blurted, his eyes widening in shock.

    ¡°Yes, Hestrin, Yer Grace! Why d¡¯ya think there are Knights here? Just shut it.¡± Naetin shook his brother¡¯s collar in frustration.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Caeden raised an eyebrow. The leader cut an intriguing figure, especially now that his manner of speech changed from what he had heard in the forest. Caeden twirled the golden ring in his hand. They had found it stashed away in the leader''s inner pocket.

    He pondered whether he should indulge in this dance. Ah well, what could it hurt? Let us see if he can make it to the end without stepping on my toes. He pocketed the ring and took a seat at the table before him, indicating for the man to sit at the opposite end. Ser Morley pushed the man toward the seat and shoved him down into it.

    ¡°Untie him if you will, Knight-Commander.¡±

    Ser Morley drew a dagger and severed the ties binding the man¡¯s hands. The man rubbed at the places where the rope cut into his wrists. He then interlocked his fingers on the table and leaned forward. The stance of a nobleman ready to ¡®negotiate¡¯. Excellent.

    ¡°Please do clarify,¡± Caeden prompted.

    ¡°We were only attempting to help the young lady down from the tree, Prince Caeden. She unfortunately had been stuck up there all night and had called for help,¡± the man stated.

    From the corner of his eye, he saw Ava visibly stiffen and bunch her fists. But she seemed to have enough sense not to interrupt. Caeden had to admit that the charlatan was a good actor and sounded earnest. No doubt the honourable nobleman act worked on those easily intimidated by his assumed status, but he was not dealing with a witless imbecile. He would have to try harder than that.

    ¡°The young woman seems to have a different recounting of the night¡¯s events. Be that as it may,¡± Caeden waved away the discussion. ¡°You seem to have me at a disadvantage. You know who I am, but you are?¡±

    ¡°Evan Peresburgh, Your Grace. My men and I are humble businessmen who facilitate the transport of goods between villages,¡± he introduced with a hand flourish and a tip of his head.

    ¡°Smuggling illicit goods, no doubt,¡± Naetin scoffed. ¡°Been trying to root out your syndicate for years!¡±

    ¡°I am offended, Guard-Captain. Our business operations are all perfectly legal, I have the guild paperwork stored in my room at the inn,¡± Evan added smugly.

    ¡°Peresburgh,¡± Caeden rubbed his lips pensively and retrieved the ring, staring at the crest etched on the face. ¡°Well, Evan. Can you tell me why we found the signet ring of the disgraced noble house Gueterath on your person? If I recall correctly, the head was a man called Evan as well. Or was it, Ivan?¡±

    The flare of Evan¡¯s nostrils told him that the man did not expect him to recognize or remember the crest and name of a minor noble house. They were usually beneath the notice of the emperor and his imperial Family. But this noble house¡¯s ambitious machinations had irked the emperor greatly.

    Their head had orchestrated an ill-conceived plan to smuggle dwarven firearms to the Casimir Empire in the vain hope of currying favour from the emperor and raising his house¡¯s status. The ordeal had caused a diplomatic incident with Haalfkinguit, damaging the alliance between the two lands and ultimately sabotaging and prematurely ending any plans the Empire had to negotiate for the arms.

    His father initially sentenced Ivan to death, but the ever-gracious Queen of Elwood managed to convince the emperor that an exile punishment would suffice. As a show of gratitude for her efforts, however, Ivan slipped from her grasp soon after, leaving her to look like a weak-willed and incompetent fool among her peers.

    ¡°I am unsure who wants your head more, Emperor Hayden or Queen Lernae?¡± Caeden smirked.

    ¡°I suspect His Majesty, The Emperor, would be more concerned about his son cavorting with a hybrid than worrying himself overly much with an old irritation. I heard you had a bit of a lover¡¯s spat when you arrived. I understand the appeal, she is quite comely, is she not?¡± Ivan smiled, flicking his head toward Ava.

    Scandal. Of course, this would be the recourse he takes. It was one of the few weapons these noblemen had to leverage against the Imperial Family if given the opportunity. Ivan was resolved to either take Caeden¡¯s royal reputation down with him or use it to squirm out of the situation he landed himself in.

    Caeden did not find either of those options appealing. He unsheathed Ava¡¯s dagger and jammed it down into the back of Ivan¡¯s hand, pinning it to the table. The action was so quick that blood pooled on the table before Ivan unleashed a blood-curdling scream. Panicked, he grasped his wrist and then the dagger¡¯s grip, abandoning the idea when he discovered that he needed to wiggle it to successfully dislodge it from the table.

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    ¡°I do believe you are right, Ivan Gueterath. I have grown quite fond of Ava and have taken it upon myself to ensure her safety and well-being. She is my charge, my cause, and my responsibility. In a sense, she belongs to me!¡±

    He leaned toward the cowering man and caught Kama scratching his furry chin pensively. His cat eyes darted to Ava and then back to the interrogation. Caeden stored that away, he will assess it in greater depth later. He rested his elbows on the table and interlaced his fingers before his mouth, allowing the full display of his impatience and anger through the movement of his hands. They will know my wrath.

    ¡°You can imagine how displeasing it was to find her harassed and threatened by some lower-born trafficker and his band of scoundrels.¡±

    ¡°Now, I ain¡¯t with them, Yer Grace,¡± Hestrin pleaded.

    ¡°You seem to want to insult my hearing and intelligence as well, innkeeper.¡± Caeden¡¯s words were cold and his eyes icy. Hestrin paled in the face of it. ¡°I want names and locations. Every connection you have to the Marketplace, I want it all. Ser Morley?¡± Caeden indicated to Ivan¡¯s pinned hand.

    The Knight-Commander reached over and retched the dagger from the table. Ivan tried and failed to stifle another scream.

    ¡°Curse you, bastard prince. I will give you nothing,¡± Ivan muttered, nursing his bleeding hand.

    ¡°The Marketplace is an odd cause to die for. But, since you have made up your mind, I will graciously oblige. Ser Morley if you will escort Ivan Gueterath and his cohorts below. If they refuse to provide any useful information, I will be satisfied with having their fingers and toes instead.

    ¡°And start with the nobleman, I am curious to see how many he is willing to lose for his enterprise,¡± Caeden commanded cheerily.

    As the Knight-Commander and the guards led the bandits to the brig, Caeden picked up the dagger and wiped the blood from its blade with a handkerchief. The serrated weapon was as dangerous as it looked. The nobleman was bound to lose some functioning in his hand even if he managed to keep all his fingers. Orc blades do not make clean wounds. He pushed to stand and sheathed the weapon.

    ¡°You are quite frightening, my prince,¡± Kama exclaimed, breathlessly. The cheeteng expression belied his words. In place of fear, his eyes glimmered with admiration and awe.

    ¡°I am ¨C sorry you had to see that,¡± Caeden said to Ava.

    She was eerily quiet through the worst of the interrogation, and he worried that he may have scared her. It was a side he usually never showed to civilians or ladies. But to keep the people of the Casimir Empire safe, he would use any means necessary.

    The Marketplace had been an ongoing problem for years and every investigation had always resulted in a surface-level eradication of its infestation. Caeden hoped Gueterath would be the card they needed to topple the criminal enterprise in its entirety. A nobleman, even a disgraced one, would not settle on being some small-time lackey. He must know something of great import they could use.

    ¡°No, you did what was necessary. I thought you might need my testimony. Minervin told me ¨C It does not matter. I cannot linger here any longer, but I need my weapons back,¡± Ava indicated to the dagger at his hip.

    ¡°What?¡± Caeden blurted.

    ¡°My weapons! I need to protect myself. You need not be responsible for me any longer. This is my mission and my business,¡± she argued.

    ¡°This does not involve you alone,¡± he whispered harshly.

    This was not the place to have this argument, he needed to explain the situation properly to her elsewhere. He took her arm gently to guide her outside, but she instantly tried to rip away from him, and his grip tightened as a result.

    ¡°Leave me!¡± she yelled. But she stopped suddenly, all fight lost as her colouring paled and her eyes glazed over with white frost.

    She swayed on her feet and Caeden steadied her. She moaned and her breath clouded the air between them. He felt the atmosphere chill and the ground vibrate before growing into a violent rumble. A strong gust of icy wind threw him back.

    Furniture flew around him as Caeden struggled to regain his balance against the two forces. He knelt and braced against them. Kama scurried along the floor and took cover behind a doorway. Caeden could hear Knight-Commander Morley calling to him through the whistling of the wind. Its pushing force seemed to prevent him from re-entering the room.

    The woman of frost and wind floated before Ava, reaching out to grasp her head. Frost crystals formed along her skin and hair where the icy fingers ended.

    ¡°You are becoming a hindrance, mortal,¡± Ava said. Her voice echoed with a ghostly resonance.

    Ava croaked something incomprehensible, her hands moved to the Spirit¡¯s arm but jolted to her sides against her will. A tear ran down her cheek and froze in place.

    Caeden scowled and ground his jaw. He pushed against the wind and cold, his hand going to Ava¡¯s sword. The leather of his gloves stuck to the frosty hilt.

    The Frost Spirit bellowed angrily. ¡°Arrogance! Insolence! Your purpose is done, leave us be.¡±

    ¡°She cannot do this alone!¡± Caeden bit out. The room grew colder and the tips of his ears stung.

    ¡°She is not alone. She has the beast,¡± it said.

    ¡°You are a fool if you think that will be enough!¡± he spat as he took another bracing step forward on the shaky ground.

    ¡°Do not test me! You have no authority over the will of the Spirits, I will not warn you again!¡± it said and lifted its hand toward him.

    Caeden was not certain what he was doing. The Spirit could destroy him with a flick of a finger, but he knew he had to get Ava away from it. The wind picked up and frost coated the metal of his armour, biting through his gambeson to the flesh beneath. Caeden groaned against the discomfort.

    ¡°Great Spirit, I am an envoy of The Mother. I beg you to commune with her and consider the young prince¡¯s words before deciding the keeper¡¯s course.¡±

    Kama moved unsteadily to Caeden¡¯s side and knelt with his forehead to the floor, never once gazing at the spirit directly.

    The Spirit floated silently amid the chaos of her power. The ground steadied and the rumbling died down. After a hesitant moment she looked down at Caeden and said, ¡°I will hear you.¡±

    Caeden assumed ¡®The Mother¡¯ had managed to placate the Fire Spirit, but the Frost Spirit needed more convincing. He looked at Kama, uncertain as to how to navigate this fickle creature, and the cheeteng nodded him forward.

    ¡°The Spirits only see the greater tapestry and the threads necessary to achieve it. Help her reach her goal better, not faster,¡± he explained.

    Caeden breathed in and sent a prayer to the gods in hopes that they would help him. ¡°The Spirits are a part of each land, each culture. They have been so since the beginning of this Age. Whether you like it or not, you spirits belong to its people!¡± Caeden began, and the frosty face glowered at him.

    ¡°If Ava marches up to The Wyvern¡¯s Jaw and plucks the Fire Spirit from its maw, she will turn the Casimir Empire against her. Every spirit she steals will turn minds and nations against her. They will see only a hybrid sowing chaos. Borders will close to her entry. Mercenaries, hunters, knights and assassins will stalk her to the ends of Archaicron. She cannot do this alone. She needs official backing. She needs a people.¡±

    ¡°You do it. Your people understand the Spirits,¡± the Frost Spirit indicated to Kama.

    Kama huffed an awkward chuckle, discomforted by the suggestion, ¡°It was our plan, Great Spirit. The prince, however, has claimed her and we cannot interfere unless he releases her to us.

    ¡°Loathe am I to admit it, the Cheeteng are a small people with little influence over other lands. The keeper would fare better if backed by the Empire. But, the Empire will not be alone in this. The beastkin has proclaimed that The Motherland¡¯s borders will always be open to the keeper. She is The Mother¡¯s chosen, and we will fight on her behalf. With the Empire or against it if it chooses its path poorly.¡±

    Caeden scowled at Kama¡¯s threat but was glad for it all the same. Blasts of windy frustration blew from the Frost Spirit. It was not the answer she was looking for, but it stopped after a few angry bursts.

    ¡°Very well. I will go along with your plan for now, mortal. But your destiny is not yet set, and you have several threads before you. Do not think I will hesitate to destroy you should you choose the incorrect one.¡±

    It transformed into a crystal and floated into Ava¡¯s satchel.

    Ava breathed out heavily and fell to her knees, still dazed. Caeden rushed to her and untied his cape, wrapping it around her cold body.

 Chapter 6: Part 5 - Rumour Has It

    Ava railed and kicked against the confines that smothered her. She heard a crash and something smashing in the distance. The darkness ebbed as she regained consciousness. She was lying in front of a fireplace in a room she did not recognize. There was no fire, but the blazing embers still emitted waves of heat. As were the furs she was wrapped in, and she threw them from her sweat-drenched body with the strength of a newborn foal. Her limbs trembled from weakness.

    She crawled to stand but fell back down when her vision blurred, and darkness clouded her mind. There was buzzing in her ears. She was certain she was sitting but whether it was up or down, she could not tell.

    Something cold and hard was pressed against the bare skin of her chest and a fresh-smelling, but callous hand smeared cool water over her face. After a moment, the darkness dissipated, and the prince¡¯s face came into focus. She was panicked by the worry in his expression, but it soon turned into the arrogant smirk she assumed was meant to be charming. It made her want to chuck something at him, but she settled on a glare.

    ¡°Ah, there she is, my disagreeable charge. I thought I lost you for a moment. Drink,¡± he commanded, indicating to the decanter he held to her chest.

    Ava repositioned her lopsided shirt, tightening the laces at its collar and took the decanter from him. The weight of it slipped from her weak grasp, and the prince caught it, but not before spilling a few drops of water into her lap. Not that she minded. The cool feeling was welcome. Her arms dropped to her side, no longer able to hold up their weight. She groaned miserably. He held the decanter up to her lips and she took a few sips before needing a breather.

    ¡°More,¡± he coaxed.

    Ava acquiesced, took a gulp, and rested her head on the bed. She relished the cold feeling of the water moving down her throat and settling in her gut.

    ¡°Where are we?¡± she asked once she felt more alert.

    ¡°Snake Town¡¯s Inn,¡± he answered and moved to sit beside her at the edge of the bed. ¡°I suppose we should consider ourselves lucky that this room was clean. It seems Ivan Gueterath never lowered his standards, despite rubbing shoulders with the lowest dregs of society. It was the only place we could bring you to warm you in the moment.¡±

    He seemed to be embarrassed by the thought of her staying in such a place. Was he under the impression that I was some delicate lady who needed to be surrounded by comfort and luxury? Perhaps it was something baked into his very being. Minervin was much the same, always thinking I deserved better and regretful that he could not offer it. Ava could never understand the feeling. She always made do with what she had and was grateful that she had anything at all. Perhaps he would fret less if she told him outright that such things did not bother her.

    ¡°Nevertheless, I would advise you not to invoke the Frost Spirit again, her powers have put you on the brink of death twice now. She seems far too volatile for a creature meant to be the personification of cold,¡± he added with a distasteful frown.

    ¡°I did not invoke her. Not this time. But she grew impatient and has a will of her own I cannot fight against.¡±

    Ava clutched the satchel in her hands. Even though the Frost Spirit was inactive, she could feel it inside there, silently fuming. Something had changed in her mind after the Spirit had entered it. There was a connection now that had not been there before. Little threads that linked them to her. She could feel them all, impatient, fearful, and very angry.

    ¡°I worry that will become an issue. I have made preparations in the meantime that could expedite our Imperial Sanction to claim the Fire Spirit. But it is a gamble. A risky one the emperor may take issue with. Having the spirit run amok in Daaria will hinder my plans in ways I cannot rectify and can set us back, possibly putting us on a path at odds with the Empire. I need you to do everything in your power to control its sway over you. I will have Oswin assist you.¡±

    He looked as if he expected an answer. But this was an order disguised as a request. Was he waiting for me to respond with ¡®Yes, Your Grace?¡¯

    ¡°I will do what I can,¡± she responded.

    She was unsure how anyone would be expected to control a powerful spirit of that magnitude even with a magic wielder¡¯s help. It barely tolerated her because she was the only option it had, and she could only invoke the spirit because it was choosing to answer her call.

    She was startled from her thoughts by Caeden¡¯s fingers at her neck. They moved to her forehead, brushing the wayward tendrils of her hair out of the way before resting there for a moment.

    ¡°Are you feeling better? I must apologise, I should have checked up on you, but I got caught up with reports.¡±

    He rubbed his face with his hands and shook the tiredness from his head. There were dark shadows beneath his reddened eyes that he fought to keep open.

    ¡°How long has it been since you slept?¡± she asked.

    ¡°There is far too much to do, I will rest when it is calmer,¡± he responded.

    ¡°You can die from lack of rest. What use would you be to me then? Go sleep.¡±

    He chuckled, ¡°Just who is supposed to be whose charge here? Fine, tell you what. It will be a few hours until sunrise. I will use the time to get some rest, and you can use it to regain your strength. Guard Captain Naetin said he found the bag of provisions he supplied you with untouched within the Wizard Wood. We will head to this cabin of yours once we have both recovered. There is food on the table in the room beyond.¡± He tilted his head to the open doorway and crawled onto the bed.

    Ava stood carefully. Her legs still trembled, but at least they could hold her weight now.

    ¡°Oh, and do not think you can use this opportunity to escape and go without me, I am wise to your charms now, woman,¡± he said cryptically as she left the bedroom.

    Chagrined, Ava turned in the doorway and eyed the decanter left at the foot of the bed. Bagh, throwing it would sap all the strength she had regained.

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    <hr>

    ¡°Is the cheeteng not joining us?¡± Ava asked expectantly, gazing over Caeden¡¯s shoulder and scanning the village.

    ¡°Kama? No, he seemed satisfied with how events played out, despite it not playing out entirely in his favour. He is returning to The Motherland to report back and prepare his people,¡± Prince Caeden answered.

    He formally introduced her to Guard-Captain Naetin and ushered her to follow behind as the man and his guards led them deep into the Wizard Wood. Despite the harried look in the guard-captain¡¯s eyes, he still had the friendly demeanour she remembered from the night before. It made her feel more at ease.

    She also found familiar comfort in the weight of her bow at her back. The prince had returned it and her dagger as well. He kept her sword, promising to return it once they reached Daaria Kingdom. He seemed accommodating so far, so she did not fight him. Having most of her weapons back again made her feel like her old self. Strong and confident, not weak and uncertain.

    ¡°Would you have gone with him, had he asked?¡± the prince queried.

    ¡°Possibly, yes.¡±

    Though, Ava suspected he might have fought vehemently against it, had events played out differently. For reasons known only to himself, the prince in white seemed desperately intent on helping her. Yet whether or not his reasons were to be self-serving, and she strongly suspected that they were, her gut told her they were nothing nefarious. Perhaps that could be something I could turn to my favour should the need arise.

    ¡°Kama seemed to know about me. I had questions I would have liked to ask him.¡±

    ¡°Their knowledge about you is only slightly superior to our own. What answers would you seek from a stranger across the sea?¡± Prince Caeden queried with a raised brow, and then comprehension dawned. ¡°How long were you lying awake in that tree?¡±

    ¡°What am I if not a hybrid?¡± Ava blurted nervously.

    ¡°That is a question that I have asked myself as well. Since hybrids were only rumours and stories in my mind I did not think much of the differences when I first met you. You were close enough in appearance to what I heard that it seemed the obvious conclusion at the time.

    ¡°What I do know is that adult hybrids are a rare sight, appearing sporadically with no clear intent beyond sowing chaos wherever they tread. The only certainty we know of them is that they will appear to collect a hybrid spawn, thus keeping one alive poses a danger to everyone around it. Did nothing of the sort happen in your case?¡±

    Ava gulped nervously, ¡°No. I did not enquire much into my origin, perhaps I was too afraid to hear the answer. But I would have heard something about it if that happened. I would have been treated far worse than I was.

    ¡°I thought the denizens at the Outpost were ignorant imbeciles, judging me without due cause. I guess I was the fool in this case. Minervin would have known! Why would he allow me to believe¡­¡±

    Her voice cracked and tears burned behind her eyes. Ava tried to blink them away. There was no way Minervin would have let her believe she was a hybrid if it was not true. Or he must have had his reasons.

    ¡°What did he tell you about your birth parents?¡± Caeden asked evenly. She was certain he saw the tears in her eyes but was glad that he chose to ignore them.

    ¡°That he found me abandoned as a baby in Draugr Forest, my parents were nowhere in sight. No one has claimed me since. But now that I think on it Minervin was never one to wander the forest, nor anyone else at the Outpost save for a few unflappable or desperate hunters,¡± Ava replied. Her mind raced.

    ¡°He said I was a half-human-orc hybrid. There were rumours, about Malgorn and the human women. It still irks me that I entertained such foolish nonsense enough to confront him about it despite knowing the reality of the situation,¡± Ava groaned and dug the palms of her hands into her eyes, hoping to stem the flood that threatened to burst forth. She had never struggled this much to stifle her tears before.

    Prince Caeden took her wrist gently in comfort. ¡°And what reality was that?¡± he prompted.

    ¡°That there were no orc exiles before and after Malgorn. That my parents were not at the Outpost.¡± That Minervin lied to me. ¡°It was a small community. Someone would have known something about them. Pointed a finger in the right direction, rather than start a rumour about an orc who arrived in Spectermere when I was already a child,¡± Ava grunted, the sadness and frustration she felt morphed into anger.

    ¡°I will have Oswin research this when we reach the capital. Either you are an anomaly or something else altogether. In the meantime, do not dwell on it, knowing probably would not help you much.¡± He rubbed his lips pensively and stared unseeingly into the distance.

    ¡°You do not think such information would be vitally important?¡±

    ¡°Not to the mission, no. Knowing might hinder it further. But to you, perhaps. Is it something you truly wish to know? Will it change who you are? Will you be satisfied with the answer? Will you grow or will it knock the legs out from under you? These are things you may need to consider.

    ¡°For me though, knowing will change nothing. You will still be Miss Ava, first of her kind, keeper of spirits and a charge in need of my protection,¡± he smiled charmingly.

    Ava straightened and looked ahead, away from him. It was becoming aggravatingly clear that he enjoyed making her feel awkward. Ava swore she would find a way to make him regret his teasing. Despite this, he made some interesting points she could not ignore. What would it change? The truth of the matter would remain the same, I would still be an abandoned child.

    ¡°There is one more thing I would suggest,¡± he said after a while. ¡°After your business at his cabin is completed, you will need to cast your association with the cursed wizard aside.¡±

    Ava scowled at the prince. How dare he suggest such a thing! Lies and half-truths aside, Minervin saved and raised her. To cast him aside now would be unconscionable. She squared her jaw stubbornly, intent on telling him exactly where to shove his suggestion.

    ¡°Your association with him will not help our cause in the long term,¡± he continued, countering her response before she could even say it. ¡°You will not win the trust of any of the races, let alone the Empire¡¯s while you remain shackled to him. The connection will be considered suspicious at the very least and they will have more reason to deny you access to the spirits.¡±

    ¡°I do not understand why everyone despises him so. He took care of me. He is a good man!¡± Ava flexed her hands uncertainly. The prince had a point, but to do what he suggested felt like a betrayal to Minervin¡¯s memory.

    ¡°You ¨C do not know, do you? Of course, it makes sense that he would not tell you,¡± Caeden pondered.

    ¡°What? The story of how he was cursed? No, he would not tell me. You tell me, then.¡±

    The prince smirked, ¡°You have gall to order me so. Very well, have you heard of the magical leaching in the fourth era?¡±

    Ava turned from Caeden, already regretting wanting to know. ¡°Yes,¡± she responded evenly.

    ¡°Numerous accounts recorded during that time place your wizard at its source. Together with the elves, they conducted a world-rending ritual that resulted in the sapping of most of Archaicron¡¯s magic. Ask Oswin for the specifics, that is beyond me.¡±

    ¡°He must have had his reasons. Minervin would never do that without due cause. He always said magic was dangerous,¡± she stated stubbornly.

    ¡°Your loyalty is commendable, but blind and misguided. The issue was not with the disappearance of magic but with what came after. Magic was the backbone and the foundation of every nation. Its unexpected disappearance caused all civilisations to falter. What was once a magical golden age regressed to a time before the Casimir Empire was founded. Archaicron was dragged into a dark age overnight and people perished in droves.

    ¡°It took much for those that remained not to descend into another Great War. But at that point, the elves revealed that he misled them, and it was decided that bringing Archaicron from the brink of anarchy would be the best way forward.

    ¡°Understand that he knew the level of devastation the leaching would cause and went ahead with his plan anyway, willing to curse himself in the process. I will not harangue you further about the issue. I would only suggest you consider how your associations may help or hinder us. Your wizard may have been a good man, but he has not been so in the past.¡±

 Chapter 6: Part 6 - A Loose Thread

    Ava was not sure what she expected when they found Minervin¡¯s cabin. It was smaller than the one they had shared in Spectermere, but ramshackle it was not. Sure, some upkeep was needed, and the cabin was largely overgrown with vines, but it looked as if it had faired the times well. It was strange for a long-abandoned cabin, and she doubted that it was Hestrin¡¯s doing, judging by the state he kept his inn in.

    She struggled to get the key in the lock, the excitement making her fingers fumble. Prince Caeden loomed behind her, his hand held her shoulder firmly and the other gripped her sword at his hip. He was poised and ready, waiting to face whatever magical trickery he thought lay beyond. She tried to keep his trepidation from making her nervous and unsure. The mark on her arm glowed brightly when she turned it.

    She opened the door and was greeted by an utter mess. Everything in the cabin¡¯s interior was tossed and picked over. What furniture she could see was either scattered and broken or aged beyond use.

    ¡°Gods dammit Hestrin!¡± Guard Captain Naetin hissed over her shoulder.

    Ava stepped over the threshold and instantly felt the warm weight of the prince¡¯s hand disappear from her shoulder. Ava looked back to see what had happened. There was a glowing archway before her. Through it, she could see Prince Caeden staring at her. His brow creased in confusion, blind to her presence before him. He reached out his arm and it disappeared beyond her sight. He and the guards drew their swords and entered the cabin, all disappearing from view and reappearing at the doorway again a short time later. He became engrossed in a discussion with Guard Captain Naetin, who indicated to his forearm and shrugged nervously.

    Disoriented, Ava took in her surroundings. The mark had teleported her elsewhere. The room she was in currently opened to a quaint veranda overlooking a vibrant and colourful forest and had no visible exits besides the portal she entered through.

    It was comfortable with a cool breeze flowing through occasionally. Its furnishings were luxurious and consisted of a huge bed in the centre, a dining table, and an unlit fire pit. Every table and every shelf were filled with books, scrolls and arcane curios. There were no weapons, she noted with disappointment.

    The Frost Spirit floated from the satchel and transformed into the woman. She had changed. Underneath the frost and wind, there was something more. Something that Ava could not see before. Filaments spread across her form all coalescing into a single core at the center of her chest. It flickered and shone like a bright star. A star she could reach out and touch.

    The Spirit floated along the room¡¯s edges, inspecting it, though Ava doubted it was what she was truly looking at.

    ¡°The wizard wielded powers far beyond any mortal¡¯s capabilities,¡± she said.

    ¡°What is this place?¡± Ava queried.

    ¡°A spirit domain, an element of creation magic that should be known only to the spirits. It is an affront and we should tear it down,¡± she raged. ¡°But it will suit our needs.¡±

    ¡°What needs?¡±

    The Frost Spirit simply ignored her and floated away, the winds rustling the furniture as she passed.

    ¡°I am talking to you. You are not helping me by keeping me in the dark. Let alone using me as a voice piece to threaten princes!¡± Ava yelled.

    A blast of wind blew her back, and although the ice still bit her skin, the wind itself was not as powerful as it was before. Was the Frost Spirit getting weaker or was it holding back for once?

    ¡°And I help no one by telling you everything. You will be whatever we need you to be! Archaicron teeters on the brink of destruction and I will not risk its fate to spare your or that prince''s feelings! Ah, it is here!¡±

    Ava reeled at the sudden shift in the spirit¡¯s mood. It floated over to the desk of curios and hovered before a large tome placed on display. It was covered in dark wrinkled leather and its edges and spine were rimmed with gold. The aura it radiated was strange, neither malignant nor benign, but was threatening enough to make her wary of it.

    ¡°Open it,¡± the spirit ushered. Her tone seemed uncharacteristically light and friendly, and it unnerved her.

    ¡°Are you sure? The tome feels hostile,¡± she said staring at it, expecting it to grow fangs. Ava wished she understood the nuances of magic, but like everyone else, she only had her gut instinct, and it told her not to trifle with it.

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    ¡°Open it,¡± the spirit repeated in the same tone.

    After a moment of hesitation, Ava turned the tome¡¯s leather-bound cover over. She caught sight of the scribbles on the first page and quickly averted her eyes, turning her back to it. It was just a glance, but it was long enough for the ache to pound between her brows and her stomach to turn. She recognised Minervin¡¯s hand in the writing.

    Minervin wrote in the ancient script! Minervin understood the ancient script! How was that possible? Ava''s mind raced as the spirit paged through the tome using a light wind behind her. By all accounts, he should have gone mad or died from the attempt.

    ¡°I am satisfied, you may close it,¡± the spirit declared, oblivious to the turmoil of its Keeper¡¯s mind.

    Ava reached behind her to shut the book before turning and facing the spirit.

    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked.

    ¡°A thread. One we thought he had abandoned in his quest for the Artifact.¡± The spirit shrunk before her, turning its form into that of a girl.

    The Artifact? Ava started, and the terror-filled memory came into focus. The same artifact Azael was looking for? Was Minervin connected to all of this? Did he tell her something about it that she can no longer recall?

    Ava looked at the tome, uncertain if she would find answers within. What was the point of leaving behind something she could not read or use?

    ¡°It is a thread, but not yours,¡± the spirit answered.

    ¡°Then what must I do with it?¡± she asked in frustration.

    ¡°What you are destined to do,¡± it replied cheerily.

    Seemingly bored with the conversation, it frolicked over to sit at the edge of a small, wooden pier overlooking a brook. It swung its legs over the edge, the balls of its feet touching the water with every movement. Thin sheets of ice developed at the contact and floated downstream. The tome had put the accursed spirit in a good mood, but she was not planning on divulging any more information on the matter.

    Ava moved to lie on the edge of the bed, needing to find her bearings. This place felt like one of Minervin¡¯s conjurations, beautiful but sad and lonely. If he were still alive, would he tell her anything if she asked? He was never forthcoming about his past before.

    She thought she knew her guardian better than anyone, but out of his long life, she only knew about the years he had spent in Spectermere. Was Minervin not the man she thought he was?

    She shoved those morose thoughts away and focused on the bright side. At least, Beast and I will have a place to come back to once this business with the spirits is all over. He could run around in the woods. Ava looked at the sky and wondered how time worked here. Did it become night after a while? Would I see Casimir, the leader who united the warring human kingdoms into one mighty Empire in the stars here? Or Tekkhan, the first and only orc king? Or Frikka? Or Solstein? When I die, will I be included among them?

    Beast would hate it here. At the errand thought, the tears Ava had kept from spilling for an age burst forth like a flood. She pressed her fingers to her eyes to stem the flow but found she could no longer stifle them. There was nothing for them here. When this all ends, the prince will return to his empire and she and Beast will have this spirit domain.

    It would not be fair on him. She would have to let him go to find his place in the world. She had no meaningful place or future to offer him. My place, my home and my future died along with Minervin and Malgorn in Spectermere and it was all that accursed shade¡¯s fault!

    Ava sat up and touched the scar on her shoulder. That is right! I have a score to settle!

    Resolved and dry-eyed, Ava heaved herself off Minervin¡¯s bed and searched through the remainder of his things. She started collecting the things she thought would fetch a good price and shoved them into her satchel when her eyes fell onto one of Minervin¡¯s curios.

    It floated mid-air in a red jewellery case, the light emanating from the box causing the curio to dazzle beautifully. Ava looked at the floating jewel and recognized it as diamond-crust obsidian, covered in runic symbols. The piece was enchanted in some way. A tiny flicker at its frosty center made her examine it more closely.

    She recognized the familiar light and the filaments that danced around it. Similar in shape and feel to the Frost Spirit¡¯s core, only much smaller and much weaker. A mortal soul.

    Ava closed the floating jewel into its box. The words ¡®My Heart¡¯ were lovingly engraved in elvish on the cover. Minervin had an elven lover? Her brow creased in perplexity as she shoved the box into the satchel, unable to formulate a good argument against taking the jewel with her. At the very least, she could ask Oswin if there was a way to free the soul from its cage. It did not seem right to keep it trapped inside.

    The tome was another conundrum. There was no scenario she could think of where it would end well for her should it be found in her possession. A hybrid in possession of a hostile tome filled with ancient script written by an Untouchable? No, it will need to remain a secret to keep this refuge safe. She could always return for it later.

    She called the Frost Spirit forth and placed its crystal form back in the satchel. With a deep breath, she walked through the portal to the world outside.

    Caeden sat on the floor above the cabin steps, reflecting light from his gauntlet onto the ground for Beast to chase after. He stopped as she suddenly appeared and seemed to want to say something biting but decided against it when he saw her face.

    ¡°Did you find what you were looking for?¡± was what he settled on.

    ¡°You asked me once why I was doing this?¡± Ava asked, watching Beast twist and writhe on his back and grunt pleasurably. He was happy here. Free.

    ¡°Yes, I recall the conversation. You have yet to give me a satisfying answer.¡± His tone was haughty, but his brow furrowed slightly. He was worried about where this conversation was heading.

    ¡°Vengeance, that is my endgame. Azael, the Shadow King stole my life from me, now I will take his from him. Does that answer satisfy you, Prince Caeden?¡±

    The prince smirked, the cold calculation returning to his green eyes. ¡°Yes, that is indeed something I can use.¡±

 Chapter 7: Part 1 - The Haunted Keep

    Caeden squinted into the early sunset and hoped Raeburn¡¯s men would join them soon. Never mind the fact that every moment they wasted waiting out here gave the smugglers and traffickers inside ample time to prepare or escape, exploring these ruins in the dark seemed foolhardy.

    Ser Morley¡¯s ¡®persuasive¡¯ measures had convinced Ivan Gueterath that giving up his buyers was his only option, and the disgraced nobleman had pointed his remaining fingers at the head of the Trade Council, the vainglorious Master Bartus and two other members. Caeden would have happily passed this mission off to a Knight-Captain to oversee once they gleaned a location of the Marketplace from the blubbering fool, but the mention of The Haunted Keep set his hairs on end and made his skin crawl.

    They were a remnant from Ancient Times, one of the thousands of ruins buried across Archaicron. Every civilization was built over the structures the Ancients abandoned when they ascended to godhood, and the Casimir Empire was no different.

    Situated deep within Thorn Wood in the Everard Kingdom and snuggled close to the borders of Landon Province and the Ashen Fields, it was a great location for a smuggling operation if the smugglers themselves were entirely insane. With everything going on between Ava and the Spirits, the flimsy connection to the Ancients was a coincidence he could not ignore.

    Caeden assumed that much of the keep was buried underground, the tip of a crumbling tower and parts of the remaining battlements were exposed to the light of day. There was still evidence of an excavation site erected by the Mage¡¯s Guild but abandoned soon after once numerous reports of inexplicable incidents occurred, and more and more mages succumbed to the madness. People had steered clear of the Haunted Keep ever since. Its entrances were boarded up and magical barriers were placed over them. This place was forbidden. Yet, the Marketplace thrives here. How and why? He fingered the gold satchel at his hip and could not shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

    It was in the way Master Bartus blubbered and trembled with his two cohorts. How he was willing to lose four fingers first before giving up the location. How they refused to look at the ruins behind him. Whatever these men were involved in it was fear that motivated them into action or inaction. Enough fear to betray their nation and people. He tried to stifle a shiver. Are we truly dealing with ancient threats? Or is the truth of it simpler, that a rogue sorcerer is behind it all? Could there be one in existence capable of such great feats?

    A procession of horsemen broke his thought process. Both men and horse were adorned in the deep purple of the Everard Kingdom. At the center of the procession rode ¡®The Winemaker¡¯ King Raeburn himself. It was clear the man was made for the battlefield and not for pomp and ceremony, as the brawny man looked uncomfortable keeping his kingly stance atop his horse and promptly abandoned it once he reached Caeden¡¯s side.

    Master Bartus¡¯ cohort whimpered. The reaction was unsurprising since the man was Everard¡¯s representative and its King was known to have very little patience when it came to treachery and disloyalty.

    ¡°Prince Caeden, Everard is honoured to have you. Though I had hoped it would be under more festive circumstances,¡± King Raeburn boomed and bowed, his dark brown eyes glimmered with unbridled mirth. He was once again struck by the stark difference between King Raeburn and his daughter.

    ¡°The honour is mine, King Raeburn,¡± Caeden responded, recognising the king¡¯s bow but ignoring the man¡¯s attempt to gauge his current mood toward his future marriage prospects. ¡°When I requested aid from Everard, I did not think it would come from the King himself.¡±

    ¡°I could not sit well on my fat arse while a trafficking syndicate is operating on my front door and one of my subjects is involved. Is this him?¡± he asked, pointing a large finger at Everard¡¯s quivering Trade Council representative.

    ¡°Yes, but¡­¡±

    The man was already incoherent on the floor at his feet by the time Caeden realized that Raeburn had swung his heavy maul into the representative¡¯s head. The resulting crack still echoed in the tense air. Raeburn continued to smash at the man¡¯s face, each swing sending bits of blood, dirt and gore flying onto Master Bartus¡¯s silk robes and Caeden¡¯s sabatons and greaves. He stopped when there was nothing left of the man¡¯s head but paste. The Winemaker, indeed.

    Once the Marketplace was taken care of, Raeburn would string this body up along with the rest they find inside as a brutal message to future transgressors. The spectacle at the very least would give Master Bartus pause from getting any ideas once inside.

    Caeden ordered his men to put the body in a cart for Raeburn and commanded Ser Morley to get the rest into position. Raeburn fell in beside him.

    ¡°How well-versed in the ancient magic are your sorcerers?¡± Caeden asked as two females in purple robes took position behind them. They were identical in appearance with violet eyes and long dark hair adorned with amethyst circlets.

    ¡°Well enough to protect us from the worst of its effects, but I would advise against dallying overlong with whatever we find within, everyone succumbs to the madness eventually. Swift and decisive is our way forward,¡± Raeburn replied.

    Caeden indicated Ser Morley forward and the Knight-Commander pushed Master Bartus into motion by the collar. The tradesman was not willing but stood no chance against Ser Morley''s grip and strength. Like it or not, he would be the first to enter.

    The sorcerers swished their arms in tandem and summoned a reinforced protective barrier around them. The men broke passed the bordered door, and Caeden instantly felt a forbidding emanating from the darkness inside.

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    ¡°The protective seal was broken and replaced by an imitation,¡± one of the sorcerers declared after inspecting the entrance.

    ¡°Then we are dealing with a rogue sorcerer,¡± Caeden whispered. ¡°Be on your guard and brace for spell fire!¡±

    The contingent moved slowly down the tower stairs until they entered a hallway. The place was eerily quiet, its walls foreign and lost in a time long past. A familiar malice seemed to radiate from its walls and Caeden¡¯s hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He felt the stifling presence of the wraith from Spectermere here.

    ¡°Tread carefully and touch nothing,¡± the sorcerer whispered. ¡°There is magic woven into the structure, and we are most unwelcome.¡±

    ¡°I will lead,¡± the other said. ¡°I feel the tug of the profane coming from further below.¡±

    The sorcerer led them through a maze of rooms and passages. As they moved further into the ruined keep it became more evident that people had been there recently. Burnt-down candles and footprints littered the place. Dried blood smears ran along the floor toward what Caeden assumed was the dungeon. Nondescript flesh piles and body parts littered the floor, along with large piles of dust. There were signs that a fight had broken out here. One involving humans, possibly the traffickers, and something else he could not determine.

    ¡°Fern¡¯s Breath!¡± Raeburn exclaimed at the gory scene.

    ¡°This is odd for traffickers,¡± Caeden looked at Bartus, the man was a dribbling mess and kept his focus squarely on the floor before his feet.

    Caeden kneeled before a pile of dust and tested the texture between his thumb and forefingers. It was off-white, harsh and gritty with a lingering sulphurous smell.

    ¡°Sand?¡± Raeburn asked.

    ¡°Ash¡±

    ¡°Here?¡± Raeburn asked, perplexed.

    ¡°You have heard the rumours of the wights at the Wyvern Jaw, have you not?¡±

    ¡°Gods, Caeden what are you saying? That they have somehow escaped through the quarantine?¡±

    ¡°Or someone has smuggled them out,¡± Caeden responded, ignoring Raeburn''s failure to use his proper title and suppressing his irritation. Now was not the time to dwell on small matters.

    ¡°If magic held them together,¡± the one sorcerer interjected.

    ¡°There are no residual effects left remaining in the pile,¡± the other finished.

    So, either we are dealing with an expert, or no magic was used here at all. Nevertheless, it was only a theory.

    They moved to the dungeon and heard the cacophony before they saw what it emanated from. Many voices, choked and groaned as if in unending pain from below.

    ¡°What in Holden¡¯s name is that?¡± Raeburn muttered.

    ¡°People afflicted with the Dark Plague. Dead ones from what I gather,¡± Caeden replied.

    ¡°We isolated the infected at the quarantine camps and burned the dead. What are they doing here?¡±

    Caeden moved his torch along the cells, just out of reach of their grasping hands and attempted to count the bodies in the cells. His attention was drawn to moaning below the grate at his feet. A mass of bodies moved against each other and reached up. Too many, enough to spread unchecked. The wraith would cripple and conquer the Empire without needing to lift a sword against it.

    Caeden straightened and rushed to Bartus, holding him just out of reach from the grasping infected.

    ¡°I will have the name of the magic wielder you are working with!¡± Caeden roared.

    ¡°I cannot! He will kill me!¡± Bartus sniveled.

    Caeden pulled him away from the cells and locked eyes with him. ¡°That is true. He probably will. I, on the other hand, will keep you very much alive and have you suffer through every moment of it. Do not test the limits of my patience Bartus. If you want a quick and painless death, you best choose your side wisely.¡±

    ¡°I ¨C It¡¯s¡­¡± Bartus mumbled his next word as his jaw cracked and dislocated. It hung from his face at an unnatural angle, then his arms and legs cracked, and he fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. It felt like an age before the cracking of bones stopped.

    ¡°Fern¡¯s Breath!¡± Raeburn exclaimed.

    ¡°We are not dealing with a regular mage,¡± the one sorcerer spoke, paling as she stared at Master Bartus¡¯ deformed flesh pile.

    ¡°He is well-versed in magic most profane,¡± the other interjected. If she was disturbed by what they witnessed, it did not show on her face. ¡°He is a magic-wielder ranked Sorcerer or higher.¡±

    Neither sorcerer showed any inclination to inspect Bartus'' body. Either they were afraid to or knew there would be nothing there for them to find. Their confirmation was a good lead. But was this the work of the same sorcerer in Spectermere?

    ¡°What is the range on casting this spell?¡± Caeden asked them, looking over the mangled body.

    ¡°Depending on the mastery of the magic-wielder,¡± the one answered.

    ¡°It can be cast from anywhere,¡± the other interjected. The twins moved to opposite ends of the dungeon scanning the walls and ceilings.

    ¡°Sight of the target is needed, but a direct line of sight is unnecessary,¡± the first stated.

    She squinted at the red obsidian gem embedded in the wall above the door. It had a swirling rune carved into its center. She threw three arcane missiles at it, and it cracked and shattered into tiny shards of glass.

    ¡°A scrying eye,¡± she said afterwards.

    ¡°Its partner eye will need to be housed within the borders of the Empire to be at an effective range,¡± the other interjected.

    Interesting. If we were dealing with a skilled and powerful magic wielder, teleportation was an option, but it seemed unlikely. Best work with the theory that there was a second magic-wielder involved. That limited the potential wizard suspects down to one at the very least.

    Raeburn grabbed his arm, stunning Caeden out of his train of thought once again. ¡°What in Holden¡¯s name is going on here, Caeden?¡±

    ¡°You forget yourself, King Raeburn,¡± Caeden admonished and pulled his arm from the man¡¯s grip, irked once again by his familiarity. ¡°As relayed in my message to you when I arrived, there is a wraith in Spectermere that seeks to overthrow the emperor and conquer the Casimir Empire, this is the beginning of its invasion. And it seems it is being aided by one or more magic wielders.

    ¡°Spread out as far as you can, find something, anything that can point us to who is responsible,¡± he ordered the men.

    Before he could move to fan out, he was grabbed by another hand. This time by a tall, gaunt, grey-faced man. Amidst the writhing, grasping, dead-eyed bodies surrounding him, he seemed eerily calm, still, and present. A faint red glow glimmered in the depths of his eyes.

    ¡°Your attempts to rail against your destiny are futile,¡± the afflicted spoke over the baleful moans. ¡°Yet, I cannot help but admire your force of will. We are very much alike, you and I.¡±

    Caeden attempted to rip his arm away, but the creature¡¯s grip was strong and steadfast. Raeburn heaved his maul high and let the full weight of his strength behind it fall on the elbow of the creature. He pulled his arm from the weakened grip of its broken arm. It did not flinch or shriek in pain, it only retracted its arm from between the cage bars.

    ¡°Herald the Shadow King¡¯s return, Prince. Soon the world will quake before our feet,¡± it said.

    A strange red light illuminated Raeburn¡¯s horrified face as it disappeared behind the writhing bodies. Caeden looked down to see where it emanated from.

    Between the grate, underneath the writhing bodies of the undead, a sigil glowed. Becoming brighter and brighter until the eerie light blinded him. The cages rattled and shook, sigils within each cell lit up. Red and angry. It reached a crescendo, and flames burst forth around him. The floor gave in, and Caeden fell into the raging inferno below.

 Chapter 7: Part 2 - Autopsy Turvy

    ¡°Oswin, what is your understanding of Creation Magic?¡± Ava asked as she cleaned the implements the mage would need for his grim task.

    He had fully planned to launch into a long lesson on how to do it competently but stopped midway after realizing she had experience with the task. Minervin had the same impossibly high standards when having her prepare his equipment, the Mage¡¯s Guild must have had strict and unbending rules regarding their curative methods and processes.

    The mage himself looked up. He held a tiny steel blade in one hand while the other tapped lightly near the collarbone of the deceased frogman on the table before him. A frown creased his brow as he pondered where his first incision on the unfamiliar creature would be.

    Oswin had spent much of the past few days trying to heal and coax any reaction from the injured creature. According to him, they had all been colossal failures. Not only had the frogman been unresponsive to external prompts, but the wound in its gut failed to heal. It gradually became infected, spreading unchecked until death claimed it.

    A book was placed on a table close by, along with an enchanted inkpot. The quill floated mid-air above it, awaiting his verbal input. Ava wished she had had such a thing for Minervin¡¯s accursed lessons and assignments years ago. It would have saved her so much time.

    ¡°Where did you hear about that? Does it have something to do with the Artifact you spoke of?¡± he asked curiously.

    ¡°I cannot say for certain. The Frost Spirit says things as if she assumes I should already know about them. Or perhaps take her word on faith alone,¡± Ava shrugged.

    She had told them most of the truth once they returned to the Manor, but they had assumed she teleported somewhere in the Vibrant Forest based on her description, not into a different domain entirely. She had decided in the moment not to correct them and hoped she would not suffer for it later. After all, the prince did tell her to leave her association with Minervin behind.

    ¡°Hmm, it is difficult to explain such a controversial topic filled with theory and conjecture to mages, let alone non-mages. The guild would have discarded it as myth or spiritual hokey long ago if not for a few historical incidents to lend credence to its existence.

    ¡°First, you must realise that creation magic is not magic. Not in the same sense that my pyromancy is magic. To you, I conjure flame from nothing, but in truth, my flames manifest from a source we call the Magical Font. It is a raw and benign force that flows across Archaicron. Mages can feel and tap into this to manifest the powers and spells you see before you,¡± he explained, indicating to the floating quill between them.

    ¡°There are limitations however, to how mages can draw from or dispel this force that goes beyond mortal laws. We can alter things to a certain degree but cannot create anything new, at least not without the result being stunted, flawed and unstable. Take my elemental, for example, a humanoid being created with a singular purpose, to destroy my perceived enemy. A puppet with no real thought of its own that dispels as soon as it fulfils it.

    ¡°Creation magic is different in this sense, not only can it create something new, but it can alter, shape, or remove something entirely from existence or memory. Creation magic could make my elemental real. A fully functioning being, independent of my prompts and capable of determining its own purpose and direction. A fearsome power, not meant for mere mortals. There is a popular theory that creation magic stems from a different font altogether, one no mortal can access,¡± Oswin said pensively. He thought about it for a few moments then turned to the frogman and made the first, slow incision.

    ¡°So, it would be impossible to use creation magic,¡± Ava asked. She knew the answer. She had seen it with her very eyes. Yet, she was still trying to convince herself that Minervin was just an ordinary wizard. Perhaps, I had a few beliefs I was struggling to reconcile as well.

    ¡°The first thing a mage learns in the guild is that impossible is not the same as improbable.¡± Oswin straightened to swish the blade as he imitated his lecturer and went back to his cutting. ¡°As I have said, there are incidents in the past indicating that exceptions to the rule exist. The most famous is Anarchaen Mulgrath, the mortal orc who ascended to demi-godhood and created his warship. Perhaps not an Eternal Land in its true sense, but a feat no other mortal has been able to duplicate.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Oswin squinted at the innards of the frogman as he shifted the two halves of the ribcage out of the way.

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    ¡°What is it?¡± Ava asked. Her morbid curiosity got the better of her as she abandoned her task to look as well.

    ¡°They have a complex breathing system, both gills and lungs. They are similar to the Serpa, an amphibious species as well. I assume these frogmen share the same weakness?

    ¡°What in Holden¡¯s name is that?¡± he exclaimed, tapping the back of his blade on an emerald stone seen just below the left lung.

    The blade clinked against glass and a sinking feeling developed in Ava¡¯s gut. It was the same shape as the curio she found in Minervin¡¯s spirit domain. Something she failed to mention as well, hoping to bring it up to Oswin when an opportunity arose, and he was alone.

    ¡°Is this ¨C its heart? How does it function?¡± he asked incredulously, moving the lung out of the way.

    It seemed attached to the body by normal means, obsidian blending and interlacing into flesh. Oswin cut at the arteries carefully, taking the heart gently from the chest and placing it on the table.

    ¡°Perplexing,¡± he muttered with a frown, then squinted more closely at it.

    Etched onto the surface were runes, Ava could not say if they were similar but there were more on the frogman¡¯s heart than the curio in her satchel. Some of them swirled in her eyes. The obsidian stone housed a spirit inside, sputtering dimly like a flame struggling for air.

    A drop of blood fell from Oswin''s nose. He straightened and put the sleeve of his robe to it to stem the bleeding, searching his pockets to retrieve a handkerchief, and grunting in pain as he held his forehead.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Ava asked.

    ¡°I am fine. Serves me right for attempting to interpret ancient rune script without taking precautions. I just need a moment to recover,¡± Oswin said, slumping down into a seat nearby.

    He wrung the bloody handkerchief in his hands nervously, completely baffled by the discovery.

    Ava reached into her satchel, retrieved Minervin¡¯s curio and handed the box to Oswin. He looked at it and then at her curiously before taking it.

    ¡°Is it the same?¡± she asked once he opened it.

    ¡°Where did you find this?¡± he asked with a raised eyebrow. When Minervin did that, he was about to launch into a lecture about his disappointment.

    ¡°From Minervin''s cabin. I was going to show it to you eventually, but that doesn¡¯t matter now,¡± she chuckled nervously.

    Oswin sighed sadly but held the curio up to examine it. ¡°It could be a heart as well. It is similar in shape, though smaller. This one lacks the secondary spell. Is it due to it being diamond crust, I wonder?

    ¡°When Solstein brought the lost School of Runecraft into the new age, his sigils were adapted versions of ancient ones, made safe to use. He discovered through experimentation that diamond crust did not take particularly well to certain spells, specifically those considered profane.

    ¡°The first spell is archaic and complex, but I understand it as a binding spell. The secondary spell however is a jumble for me. But, based on the frogmen¡¯s behaviour and my knowledge of magic, I can only assume it is a control spell. An addendum of sorts to the binding spell. Bind and control, used together you have the perfect marionette doll.

    ¡°The only thing that confuses me is why anyone would bind and control a heart. It is inefficient and has limited use at best. It would be like binding a singular eye. The mind would be ideal. The ancients make no sense,¡± he muttered, staring at the curio.

    ¡°To bind and possibly control the spirit inside?¡± Ava guessed uncertainly.

    ¡°An interesting idea,¡± Oswin rubbed his jaw in thought. ¡°Could such a thing be possible? How did you come up with such a theory?¡±

    Ava frowned. Could he not see the spirit inside either of the obsidian hearts? ¡°It¡¯s not a theory. There are spirits trapped inside both.¡±

    ¡°Truly? I do not see nor sense anything. What manner of spirits are they?¡±

    ¡°I do not know ¨C mortal?¡± Ava shrugged, unsure how she could answer his question adequately. ¡°Both are weak compared to the Frost Spirit and the frogman¡¯s spirit is in distress. Will it be possible to free them?¡±

    ¡°Free them?¡± Oswin repeated incredulously. The thought never crossed his mind. ¡°Perhaps ¨C yes, that would be ideal, robbing the wraith of his control over the seas. Unwilling puppets usually turn on their puppeteer.

    ¡°It will be a daunting task, unveiling the nature and mechanics of the spells. Let alone knowing if it is successful. How does one go about unbinding something that cannot be seen?¡±

    ¡°You will not hurt it, will you?¡± Ava asked, instinctively reaching for the curio in his hand.

    Oswin relinquished it as an adult handing a child their favoured toy would. It was bizarre to her that she had become so attached to it so quickly.

    ¡°Runecraft is not my specialty, but I will need to submit the frogman¡¯s heart to the guild. It is the one with the second spell we need. Grand-Master Gildaen would be hard-pressed to reject my research proposal this time,¡± Oswin chuckled, victoriously.

    He picked up a rag in his palm and placed the obsidian heart in the center. It flickered erratically from unknown pain and the spells across its surface flared.

    ¡°Master Oswin!¡± a panicked voice came from behind the door.

    ¡°Enter Ser Derric,¡± Oswin responded, unperturbed by the changes in the heart.

    Ava flinched at the tortured shriek the spirit made. She rushed and slapped the heart from Oswin¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Ava!¡± he chided.

    The heart shattered to pieces in midair, sending glass fragments flying in every direction. Oswin barely managed to put a barrier up in time.

    ¡°Are you alright, Miss Ava?¡± he asked, looking her over for injuries and ascertaining that she was fine. ¡°What in Holden¡¯s name was that?¡±

    ¡°I ¨C can¡¯t rightly say,¡± she said breathlessly. ¡°It was like the spirit itself was torn to pieces.¡±

    She could still feel it as if it was her own soul. The fear of becoming nothing still lingering. Oswin squeezed her hand in comfort.

    ¡°Ser Derric, have you brought tidings from Prince Caeden?¡± he asked, turning to the stricken knight.

    ¡°Yes, sir. Unfortunately, there has been a collapse.¡±

 Chapter 7: Part 3 - The Darkened Ruins

    The night was unnaturally dark and thick around the area of the collapse. The eerie atmosphere felt like something foul had walked the land and scarred it in its wake. So similar to the forbidding she had felt in Spectermere. It gnawed at the back of her mind and the muscles in her back tensed defensively. Her gut was telling her to run from this place. Could I live with myself if I left these people behind knowing something was wrong?

    The cave-in was a massive depression filled with displaced chunks of rocks, dirt and shattered debris. It was hard to imagine anyone surviving with such weight pressing down on them. The rescue was slow, wholly dependent on the physical removal of debris while all magical intervention was focused on protection from the fell effects of the rubble. Ava bit her fingernails in agitation, unable to cope with the unwelcome feeling and the inability to assist or help.

    Her presence had been detrimental, taking focus away from excavation and placing it on herself. They blamed her for the disaster and her appearance, a hybrid¡¯s appearance, amidst this devastation had only confirmed it all the more. Oswin and Ser Derric had refocused the men and mages back to their task. But they were still openly hostile, glaring at her warily as they moved leaden-footed through the affected area. One false move and she would place everyone¡¯s life in danger.

    Oswin had gone in further to gather information and assess the situation. Ser Derric had not left her side, nor did his hand leave the hilt of his sword at his side. In the presence of the Knight Captains of Everard, he was outranked, despite being one of Caeden''s personal guards. He could do nothing more than default to the prince¡¯s last order and protect her at all costs.

    It would be better to wait in the airship for news. She was only aggravating the situation further. She tapped Ser Derric on the shoulder but felt a chill bite into the fingers of her other hand. She ripped it away from the feeling in a panic, causing the Knight to flinch and partially draw his sword. His eyes scoured the area for the perceived threat.

    The Frost child stood between them with her hand raised to Ava in expectation. Its face held no emotion, yet the filaments of its spirit flared. She got the distinct feeling that it was trying to hold her hand and was now annoyed by her overreaction.

    ¡°I would kindly ask that you put the spirit away, Miss Ava. Its presence will only invite further aggression,¡± Ser Derric whispered. ¡°Men are not rational when afeared.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ¨C¡° Ava whispered, peering over his shoulder.

    Fortunately, no one had spotted the accursed creature yet. Of all the times the spirit could choose to be whimsical, it had to be now. Her irritation grew at the very thought.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked through clenched teeth.

    ¡°If the prince insists on entwining his destiny with yours, then I will help keep him on the path. But the price will be yours to pay,¡± she answered.

    <hr>

    Ava watched as Oswin argued with a Knight Captain with the lightest hair and eyes she had ever seen. She mulled over the spirit¡¯s plan. It was risky, but sound. The condition it had proposed, taken at face value, was nothing unusual or unreasonable. A time limit the prince needed to adhere to before Ava moved on from his plans. It was sensible. Something she would have done regardless, should she get the feeling that events in the capital would not play out favourably for her. Yet, she could not help but feel like she had fallen into the Frost Spirit¡¯s trap, the mechanics of which she could not yet see.

    ¡°Enough, mage! Be assured that Prince Caeden¡¯s and King Raeburn¡¯s safe extraction is our top priority, you only serve as a distraction by wasting magical resources on nonsense. Remain here and out of our way. And keep that pet hybrid of yours on a tighter lead,¡± the knight captain ordered.

    ¡°You can be certain that Prince Caeden will be hearing of this, now be gone fool!¡± Oswin raged back.

    ¡°Bah!¡± The Knight Captain muttered and left them.

    ¡°What is the situation, Oswin?" Ava asked him when the captain was out of earshot.

    Oswin slumped and sighed, ¡°They have established communication with the survivors below and the prince is alive, but from what I have gathered, the situation is dire. The sorcerers who accompanied them are preventing the rubble from crushing them, but they will tire, and their barriers will break. I know the situation must be handled delicately for everyone¡¯s safety, but this is going too slowly.¡±

    ¡°Can you get me in to talk to the prince or the sorcerers?¡± Ava asked.

    ¡°They refused to let me talk to the prince. Unfortunately, my magic is useless in situations like these. It is guild code to defer the task to a magic wielder more capable of executing it efficiently. Rank does not take precedence. However, there is no small measure of political scheming involved as well. By keeping me distant, they are attempting to garner favour from the prince should their efforts to save him prove fruitful¡­¡±

    ¡°Oswin,¡± Ava interrupted his ramblings with a shake of his arm. ¡°The Frost Spirit is willing to help, but I need to talk to the Prince.¡±

    <hr>

    Ava scurried down the tree once she had decided on her route. The only time she was glad to have this eerie darkness over the collapse. It obscured her from human eyes while she plotted a way to the communication tent Oswin had described.

    ¡°Well?¡± Oswin asked as she jumped down.

    ¡°There is a way through to the tent, but I did not have time to determine the exact patrol patterns. We would have to play it by ear, and hope their sight is impaired much by this dark,¡± she answered as she began to unbuckle Ser Derric''s chest plate.

    ¡°Milady!¡± he hissed, pushing her hands from his side as a flush entered his cheeks.

    ¡°Ser Derric, either your armour stays behind, or you do. It is far too noisy for a task such as this and I may need your sword arm should things go sideways.¡±

    The knight looked at Oswin¡¯s bemused face and then let out a resigned sigh, before setting out to loose his armour¡¯s fastenings. They set to work helping the discomfited knight. As he stood in his gambeson and chausses, fastening his sword belt once again around his waist, Ava and Oswin hid the pieces of his armour behind the tree.

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    Ava led them through the area, bypassing patrols. They were not hard to spot in the distance, the light of their lanterns giving them away. A few spoke far too loudly. She picked up the tremor in their voices. Even with the protection from the mages surrounding the depression, the feel of this place was straining their nerves to the point of breaking. Ser Derric was right, they would not be rational if they found them sneaking around.

    The proximity to the tainted rubble beyond the tent seemed to have a visible effect on the knight. He had a haunted look in his eyes and his breaths came out in short rasps as if the journey through the ruins had been physically draining. He attempted to stifle them as much as he could, but they sounded louder than they should in her ears.

    They were close now, creeping up to the entrance of the communications tent. The sound of marching and armour clanking stopped Ava short, and she backtracked behind the tent. Ser Derric and Oswin followed suit and listened.

    ¡°Master Oswin and his hybrid have disappeared from the entrance to the ruins. Remain here and guard High-Master Earland. Until they are found, nothing and no one must interrupt him. I will not entrust the prince¡¯s and king¡¯s lives to a mere mage, let alone one who could be under the influence of a demonkin.¡±

    The voice came from the Knight-Captain and his order was affirmed by two fellow knights. Ava could only guess based on their voices that they were standing at the tent''s entrance. She could also hear voices coming from the interior of the tent, but they were garbled and incomprehensible to her ears. She found that strange when she could hear everything else so well.

    The guard captain left, so focused on his destination that he failed to see them creep away from his approaching lantern light as he passed. She motioned for the two men to wait and snuck around to check the entrance. The two knights stood erect and on guard, their hands gripping their sword hilts readily.

    She double-backed to Oswin and Ser Derric and led the two men a short distance away.

    ¡°The two guards are positioned on opposite sides of the entrance and are on high alert. It will be hard to sneak up without them noticing beforehand. Should we try cutting through the tent instead?¡± she whispered.

    ¡°No, Earland will notice and alert the guards before we are fully through,¡± Oswin countered.

    ¡°If they are on high alert every suspicious noise will need to be assessed for potential threats. We will need something for them to focus on, even for a moment. It will be sufficient time for me to take one down,¡± Ser Derric suggested.

    ¡°Alright, Oswin will create a distraction, then you move to the guard positioned on the left. He has a heavier set. I will take down the one on the right. Oswin can deal with Earland once we have them down.¡±

    Malgorn had taught her a hold she could use to render a man unconscious, but she wondered if she could lock it in and keep it long enough without the man making a sound or struggling overly much. It would be difficult to maneuver it around the armour as well. It would be easier if she could shoot an arrow through his eye, or throat, but that would not serve her purpose here in the long term.

    ¡°Leave the other man to me. You go after Earland, nicking him with your dagger should be sufficient to disrupt any spells he may cast. Just a nick, mind you. Try not to injure him overly much, we still need him,¡± Oswin said, creeping towards the tent again. Ava stopped him with a hand on his arm.

    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Ava asked doubtfully. She understood that she might not equal a trained man in melee strength, but Oswin was not any better.

    ¡°Trust me, I have my own methods in dealing with brutes,¡± he said cryptically and moved to the tent.

    Ava looked at Ser Derric, who shrugged and crept along the other side of the tent. She followed after Oswin. The mage stopped and flicked his fingers. A small flame flickered along the ruins of a tower wall in the distance and disappeared as it reached the ground. The guards had taken notice and became deathly still. Ava scanned the area to see if any others had noticed. All were still grimly focused on their task. They were in the clear.

    Oswin summoned the flicker again and this time the guards moved slowly towards it. Ava pushed the mage lightly on the back, signalling him to move. He rushed around the tent and reached up towards the man¡¯s head. A dim blue spark shot between the man¡¯s temple and Oswin¡¯s fingers. Both men moaned in pain, but it was the guard''s body that crumpled to the floor before her. Ava climbed over it and drew her dagger, catching a glimpse of Ser Derric choking the second by pushing the guard''s neck against his own bevor. The hold he had locked around his head was similar to the one she knew, only Ser Derric was using the guard¡¯s own armour against him.

    ¡°Accursed demonkin, I knew you would try something else,¡± Earland hissed, he flicked his hand to a ceremonial bowl and Ava saw Caeden¡¯s face disappear from the clear water.

    ¡°No! You need to reestablish the connection!¡± Ava rushed toward the sorcerer at an angle and cut his arm as he attempted to form an offensive spell against her. The magic dissipated in a puff of white vapour as the blade made contact, but she had cut him deeper than she wished to.

    Earland yelled out painfully. She danced around to his back and wrapped her arm tightly around his throat, bringing the tip of the dagger underneath his chin. A drop of blood ran down the blade as he flinched and swallowed. Ser Derric dragged the unconscious body of his guard inside the tent and then exited for the other.

    ¡°Oswin, so far you have fallen in your grab for power,¡± Earland croaked out to the mage as he staggered into the tent, holding his head.

    ¡°Oh, hush yourself, I have neither the time nor patience to deal with your envy. Reestablish the connection to Prince Caeden. We have a plan and need his cooperation,¡± Oswin demanded.

    ¡°I will not place the prince in further danger of this hybrid!¡± he spat toward Ava.

    She tightened her grip around his neck. There was no time for this.

    ¡°Earland, Miss Ava is not the danger here¡­¡± Oswin began.

    Ava spotted a rippling in the seeing water and a figure within attempting to take form.

    ¡°Oswin,¡± she indicated to the bowl and the mage ran to it, placing his hands carefully and deliberately around the outer edges.

    ¡°Ow. Oswin is that you?¡± a female voice echoed from the water.

    ¡°Elise?¡± Oswin answered.

    ¡°Elise! Warn the Prince¡­¡± Earland shouted, and Ava wrestled him to the ground. She made sure her grip on his neck was punishing.

    ¡°Stop trying to use hydromancy, Oswin. You are making my headache worse. I will retain the connection from my side.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? I wished Earland could do this. But he is proving to be ¨C non-compliant.¡± Oswin¡¯s hands fell limply to his side and trembled slightly.

    ¡°It is fine, Eliza is injured but can maintain the barrier.¡±

    ¡°Oswin, tell me you have a plan. I doubt we can survive down here any longer. The air grows darker and heavier with each passing moment,¡± Caeden interjected. He sounded pained and exhausted.

    ¡°Yes, Ava has said the Frost Spirit has offered to help. She will remove the rubble.¡±

    There was a pause on the other end, so long that Ava broke her hold of Earland but kept a firm hand on his back and peered into the bowl. The image was unclear, but he was still there.

    ¡°The Frost Spirit offered,¡± he began suspiciously. ¡°Fine. What is needed from our side?¡±

    ¡°To do it she will need to revert to her true form, The Whirlwind of Spectermere,¡± Ava said, relinquishing Earland to Ser Derric and going to Oswin¡¯s side before the bowl. ¡°The sorcerers with you need to reinforce their barriers as much as they possibly can. She will be at her most powerful and her most volatile. If their barriers do not hold long enough for her to clear the rubble, she could end up freezing you in place, enemy or not.¡±

    ¡°It is risky, but right now it is the only viable option we have to extract you quickly,¡± Oswin added.

    ¡°Madness!¡± Earland added. ¡°Why would the Frost Spirit do such a thing for mere mortals? They have been indifferent to our plights since time immemorial!¡±

    ¡°Why indeed,¡± Caeden added dryly. ¡°Can you manage it?¡±

    ¡°We have no other choice. I feel a shift in the flow of the profane. We must leave now. I will use whatever remaining power I have left,¡± a weak female voice drifted through the water from a distance.

    ¡°I will reinforce it with all I have as well, but I cannot retain this connection at the same time,¡± Elise added.

    ¡°I will retain it,¡± Earland said angrily as he wrapped his robe¡¯s sleeve tightly around the cut in his arm. ¡°Gods help us all if this plan fails.¡±

 Chapter 7: Part 4 - The Illest Omen

    Ava stood at the edge of the collapse with the frost crystal in her hand. It permeated with such begrudging acceptance to complete the task ahead that she wondered why it suggested it in the first place. Oswin and newly armoured Ser Derric stood a pace away watching her with the group of knights and mages. It had not taken them long to organize once they had Everard¡¯s Knight-Captain on board. The men seemed almost relieved to put some distance between themselves and the ruins.

    The wait for Earland¡¯s signal was nerve-wracking and stilted in the tense silence. Eventually, the sorcerer exited from the communication¡¯s tent and nodded to her, rushing to join the rest. She released the frost crystal and it floated to the centre of the rubble. Ava backed away. There was an audible gasp from the onlookers as it transformed into the woman and then gradually turned into the raging vortex that she remembered from Spectermere.

    It enveloped her before she could clear the edge and she wrapped her cloak around her body to stave off some of the biting frost. A barrier of flames surrounded her, but it shattered instantly at the contact with the winds.

    ¡°I will need to work on strengthening my barrier,¡± Oswin lamented when she reached his side.

    Earland snorted at his comment, and Oswin scowled while conjuring a ball of fire for her to use to warm back up.

    Ava shivered as she watched the whirlwind pick up the rubble and toss it further in the distance. She felt the spirit recoil and bend in disgust at the feel of the fell debris, each piece it touched sapped at its magic. She panicked, her heart dropping in her chest.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Oswin asked grabbing her arm.

    She had started moving toward the Spirit without realizing it.

    ¡°I ¨C I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s struggling,¡± Ava answered.

    ¡°Go to it now, and you could get hit by a piece of rubble. Barring that, Oswin says you may have a higher tolerance than normal to its cold effects, but resistance is not immunity,¡± Earland said with a quizzical look on his face.

    ¡°Earland is right, all we can do now is trust that it knows what it is doing,¡± Oswin responded.

    ¡°High-Master! High-Master Earland,¡± Earland corrected.

    ¡°Bah!¡± Oswin waved him away and the two men scowled at each other.

    The last few bits of rubble fell to the ground as the strong winds died down into the Frost child once more. Ava rushed to the spirit. The normally emotionless face looked exhausted. She managed to reach its outstretched hand before it transformed into the crystal.

    ¡°Take your prince and begone from this place. The cursed magics and tragedy here have created a creature most foul,¡± it warned.

    ¡°Is it alright?¡± Oswin asked, stopping next to her as Earland and the men ran past them to check on the survivors.

    ¡°It is weaker, but I think she may be ¨C sleeping?¡±

    The Frost Spirit seemed alive but unresponsive, like a troll hibernating for the frost season. The contact with the fell rubble had drained it more than she originally thought. But one thing was certain, the frost spirit was right. There was something foul down there. She could feel it in the shifting darkness.

    The world was so keenly out of focus, so silent and surreal that she was the one who was now struggling to breathe. Oswin and Ser Derric tugged her along the edge of the massive hole and pointed to Caeden milling among the survivors below.

    The prince was covered in grime and soot, his left arm mangled and hung limp and bloody at his side while his right held her diamond crust sword. He surveyed his surroundings warily. Ser Morley struggled to a stand in the corner of the blackened ruins, a tortured look haunting his face. Two knights were trying to carry an unconscious burly man closer to the edge to be hauled up, while Elise fussed over a moaning Eliza.

    Caeden looked up when he heard Oswin¡¯s excited voice. The tired relief in his smile was evident, but his expression became puzzled when she could not return it.

    Ava''s gaze landed on the source of her unease, a body lay abandoned and separated from the surviving group. Its armour was blackened from soot, but she could make out patches of deep purple in its singed cape. The center of his chest plate was dented inward. A spirit unlike any she had seen so far wriggled irascibly within, consuming the eerie darkness around it, and deforming into a darkened frenzied blob with tentacles. The spirit felt and looked cumbersome.

    It raged against its destiny, cursing it, unable to come to terms with the lot it had been given. It refused to. Waves and waves of anger and hatred vibrated off the spirit as it shrieked in pain and Ava flinched from the sound. She drew her bow and retrieved an arrow from her quiver.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Oswin asked, eyeing her curiously.

    ¡°It¡¯s ¨C Tell them to hurry up,¡± Ava said, her eyes never leaving the spirit.

    It should have surprised her that Oswin and Earland listened to her after exchanging worried glances. After harrying the men working to drop a stretcher down, Earland returned to her side.

    ¡°That is Ser Lukas, Knight Commander to King Raeburn. The King succumbed to the ancient madness and attacked Eliza. He broke her arm before Ser Lukas got in between them and took a maul to the chest. Prince Caeden knocked him unconscious while the Knight-Commander held his attention,¡± Earland explained. ¡°He is dead.¡± The statement held a hint of a question as though he were seeking confirmation of that fact.

    Resolved, the foul spirit sunk into the chest. The body started and murky eyes shot open. An aura of darkness surrounded it as it sat up and moved to stand, warping the armour and corpse within. It brandished a broadsword in one hand and a dark chain in the other. Its breath misted through its helm and echoed angrily in the stunned silence. It stared at Prince Caeden with bitter hatred.

    The prince watched the monster wide-eyed, unable to comprehend what he was seeing, and too shocked to move beyond bringing her sword up to face it.

    ¡°Revenant!¡± Earland shouted.

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    The men moved in a frenzy as his voice reverberated through the air. They tried to lower the stretcher faster, while the rest filed around the edge of the ruined pit and shot arrows at the creature. Most bounced off its armour with a click¡ªa few buried themselves within. The revenant ignored them all and stepped toward the survivors.

    It whipped its black chain, sending it toward the prince. Caeden dodged out of the way, but the grimace on his face, and his sluggish movement told Ava that he had no strength for a fight. The creature whipped its chain again, wrapping it around the prince and locking his arms to his sides. Caeden groaned in pain as they squeezed against his injured arm. He was yanked toward the Revenant and stumbled, then straightened and strained against its pull. It was futile, the revenant brought its broad sword forward, intent on impaling the prince on its end.

    Ava aimed and loosed, shooting one of the few diamond crust arrows she had left into the taunt chain between the creature and the prince. It shattered on impact, the profane magic it was formed from evaporating into the surrounding darkness. Caeden fell back and the female sorcerers came to his side to offer aid. She knew from the way they struggled to hold themselves upright that they were no match for the revenant either. She would have to draw it away.

    She nocked another diamond crust arrow and shot the creature in the shoulder, it stumbled and paused before grunting angrily and turning in her direction.

    ¡°Hybrid spawn! Accursed demonkin! Illest of omens!¡± the Revenant growled. The force of its anger now focused solely on her.

    It jumped from the deep pit and landed before her. Ava stumbled back and fell. She felt a hand tangle into her hair and grab the back of her shirt collar. She was jerked back to her feet and thrown a short distance away. She looked back to see Ser Derric and a few Everard Knights charge the creature, joining the rest to intercept and surround it. It fought them off with forceful swings of its sword. Steel clanged against steel, but as the revenant pushed back one knight, another took their place. Ser Derric was in their midst, swinging and dodging the creature''s mighty blows.

    The creature fell to its knee, its hateful gaze never leaving her form. Unperturbed by the swords hacking and slashing against his back. Darkened air swirled menacingly to its chest and the Revenant released it in a force-filled explosion. The knights ragdolled away from the creature and Ava lost sight of Ser Derric among them. The revenant stood and stepped toward her.

    She shot her second last diamond crust arrow into his chest. It lodged itself into the chest piece and the creature paused, stunned. It recovered quickly and moved toward her again. She grabbed a steel arrow this time and ran. The diamond crust seemed to work on its chain but not on the Revenant itself.

    She strained to run forward, and her breathing laboured. She could not understand why until she realized the darkness was moving against her. The Revenant had created a void that was pulling her towards it. Her legs gave out and she fell. She looked back in fear as she was dragged across the ground toward the tip of the creature¡¯s broadsword.

    Ava felt the chill in the air before she saw the wall of blue ice form between her and the revenant. Her body slammed against it and the pull of the void ended. She saw flashes of a fiery explosion through the wall. Ignoring the pain in her body, she touched the ice and wondered where it came from. She usually could feel the Frost Spirit stir before it used its power, but it was still and unresponsive in her satchel.

    ¡°Ava!¡± Earland yelled from the top of a ruined tower. He was joined soon after by Oswin.

    ¡°We need to destroy the revenant¡¯s armour to get at the corpse beneath it!¡± Oswin shouted.

    The creature smashed through the ice wall and towered over her, lifting its broadsword for the killing blow.

    A large chunk of ice hit it in the side, knocking the revenant off balance. It stumbled and struggled against the ice that crept up from its legs to envelop its body. Ava turned and ran, hearing the ice crack and shatter. A piece of it ricochetted against her back.

    The revenant threw his broadsword sword at the magic wielders in the tower, they dived out of the way as the void bent inward then outward. The tower exploded and Ava scurried across the ground, dodging the falling rubble. She saw Earland and Oswin float to the ground in what she assumed was a psionic barrier bubble from the corner of her eye.

    Ava turned and loosed another arrow into the revenant¡¯s frosted armour. The creature growled. Small cracks appeared around the arrow hole. She heaved a sigh of relief. Earland and Oswin had not only distracted the revenant to save her, but their efforts had made the creature''s armour brittle. But, would my arrows be enough to break it though?

    The creature pulled its sword back into its hand and rushed at her. She dodged the downward slash and nocked an arrow. As she aimed, she noticed a fiery swirl around the steel arrow. It sparked and crackled. Oswin. She released.

    Nothing. The revenant did not flinch when it lodged itself in his chestplate. Was Oswin waiting for something more? She dodged another of the revenant''s charges and nocked another arrow. Again, Oswin''s crackling fire swirled around the arrowhead and she sent it into the creature.

    Again nothing. She groaned and tried to put some distance between herself and the revenant, shooting the creature with Oswin''s magic arrows as she dodged its swings and charges. It stopped moving, its armour riddled with arrows and the dark air shifted again.

    Ava tried to run behind a wall, but a void pulled her in. She fell on her back, the wind knocked from her lungs, and she gasped. She could already feel the tip of the sword pressing against her body at any moment now. She tried to turn to face the creature, and a piece of rubble hit her shoulder.

    The fiery explosion echoed through the ruins. The orange light it emitted reflected against the ruins. The sudden force pushed her in the opposite direction, and she rolled along the ground to a stop. She watched the blackened chest pieces fall from the charred corpse as she struggled to get to her feet.

    It was still moving and had grown more wrathful. Ava paled in the face of such unbridled anger. It began consuming the darkness again, attempting to reform the armour. More stronger than before.

    She reached for her last diamond crust arrow and nocked it. Oswin¡¯s magic swirled around it again and intensified. The frosty white obsidian turned a vibrant, almost blinding, orange. The crackle in the magic became manic, popping in tiny explosions around the arrowhead.

    Ava aimed at the revenant¡¯s heart and sent the arrow flying. The arrow whistled across the ruins and lodged itself in the Revenant¡¯s chest. The creature reeled from the impact and exploded. The force pushing her a fair distance back, she covered her face from the flying debris and launched herself behind a wall to wait it out.

    She peeked out once the air had settled and saw the darkened spirit hovering midair. The pain and distress at the loss of its body were palpable and its anger and bitterness increased. Ava knew this spirit would be a menace to the living world if it was left alone and unchecked.

    Creeping out from her protection, she walked toward it. How does one banish a spirit to The Deep? She reached out and tried to call it. It begrudgingly answered, moving warily toward her. Its tentacles whipped around threateningly. She felt the spirit¡¯s need to lash out and harm her, despite its compliance. Feeling evermore uncertain and afraid as it grew closer, she rescinded her invitation. Rejected, it grew angrier.

    ¡°This spirit is beyond you,¡± she heard someone say.

    ¡°What?¡± she asked, the guilt of what she had unwittingly done to the spirit plaguing her conscience.

    The dark spirit wrenched away from her, falling into the hand of a silhouetted figure standing among the trees beyond the ruins. She squinted through the darkness for a clearer view of the person and was oddly unable to make out anything. She could not even tell if they were real, or an aspect of the darkness twisting around this accursed place.

    ¡°Your lack of control is astonishing, Oswin! That last blast could have killed us all!¡± Earland admonished Oswin.

    ¡°Bah!¡± Oswin grunted. ¡°Miss Ava, come. All the survivors are secured, and we are evacuating and quarantining the area. The Mage¡¯s Guild will send magic wielders more adept at dealing with this ¨C mess.¡±

    ¡°Oswin, do you see that?¡± she asked, pointing toward the dark figure.

    Oswin squinted into the darkness, trying to determine what she was referring to. A worried frown etched on his face.

    ¡°See what? Is it a spirit?¡± he asked.

    Ava looked at the silhouette. She blinked and it was gone. She looked around, but it was no longer there.

    ¡°No, it is nothing.¡±

 Chapter 7: Part 5 - The Dread of Fear

    Caeden walked through the Trade Manor, cursing his life. Not once since his rescue had he been left alone. They had treated him on the flight back to Landon, poking and prodding, ripping and cutting. His body pained, his head ached, and his left arm still felt like it was ablaze. Yet, those feelings were preferable to being bombarded with noise, both within his mind and without.

    His mind was unravelling, he knew it. He could feel it come on faster than he could control. His burnt arm shook as he fielded questions about his experience before the explosion and after the collapse. He could hear the strain in his voice. The tired frustration. The growing irritation. His muscles bunched. So close he was to snapping.

    Ser Morley had become a useless mute both now and on the entire journey back, his right hand was incapable of picking up the slack to allow him the peace to collect and conduct himself with propriety.

    The Knight-Commander had been the first to break in the hours after the cave-in, curling into a ball in a corner and blubbering ¡®It is the hybrid. She is an ill omen¡¯ repeatedly. It had grated on them all, each muttering felt like a lesion ripping through their minds, but he had remained largely harmless.

    It was King Raeburn who had turned violent. So suddenly had he lunged at Elize that it had taken them some time to realise what had occurred at first. He still could not understand why she had been his target. Caeden should have suspected something was amiss with him. The man had acted peculiar the moment they stepped into that accursed keep. Dealing with the paranoia that followed the wake of his destruction had been challenging. As each hour passed he had also begun to doubt what was real in that stifling darkness.

    Relief flooded him when he finally burst into his room and sat on the bed. A relief that dissipated soon after, as the crowd followed him in, and he was immediately poked and prodded by healers. He rested his arm on his lap in the least painful position and noticed its shaking became uncontrollable.

    ¡°Leave me a moment,¡± he ordered the room.

    ¡°Your Grace, your arm needs treatment,¡± one of the Adepts told him as he placed a watery tray beside him.

    ¡°Leave!¡± Caeden yelled in his face.

    The entourage stood stunned but filed out silently at Oswin''s prodding. Their worried exchanges told him this incident would smear his image in their eyes, but he was too desperate to care how irrational he was becoming.

    ¡°You too,¡± Caeden told Oswin as the mage picked up one of the moist grafts floating within the watery tray.

    Oswin plopped the graft back into the tray and bowed, leaving him.

    Caeden pressed his palm to his throbbing forehead. This was hundreds of times worse. The scratching at the back of his mind intensified in the silence. The accursed wraith became a persistent and malevolent presence in the corner of his eyes, disappearing the moment he looked directly at it. He squeezed his eyes shut to block it out, but then the mocking laughter came, and his heart raced. He groaned as he tried and failed to get the noise to stop, and his legs shook.

    His eyes shot open as a series of heavy grunts and moans echoed outside his balcony. He reached for Ava¡¯s sword and stopped himself from charging out there, trying to determine if the noises were real. The door opened and Ava peaked in, scanning the room in confusion before entering and standing before the door.

    ¡°Miss Ava, why in Holden¡¯s name are you sneaking about on the balconies?¡± he questioned, sheathing the diamond crust sword, and placing it a distance away. Until he regained his wits, it was the safest option.

    ¡°Well, I was not going to deal with the jumpy guards outside your door. And sneaking is not the word for it, I was trying to make noise because you seem a little ¨C on edge. Perhaps that was not the best decision on my part,¡± she responded, her eyes dropping to his shaking hands.

    ¡°I should rephrase my question. Why are you here?¡± This was not the way he wanted anyone to see him. She needs to leave.

    Caeden flinched at his pounding headache and pushed the palm of his hand between his brows to try and alleviate the pain. When he opened his eyes, the wraith was hovering behind Ava, a raised sickle for a hand poised to strike at her back. He lunged and pulled her behind him, lifting his uninjured arm to fend it off.

    Azael was gone. Ava walked back around to study his face and the wraith followed, mocking him. She was surprisingly calm, despite the danger. The wraith was toying with him, making him seem crazy.

    ¡°You should leave. It is unsafe here,¡± Caeden told her, watching the shade intently and trying to determine its next move.

    ¡°Prince Caeden, look at me.¡± She touched his face, turning his head and dragging his gaze away. ¡°Look only at me.¡±

    He stared into her golden eyes, so bright it almost hurt, like staring into the sunset overlong. It was enough, the feel of her fingers on his chin and the scent of her freshly washed hair. She was real. He had to convince himself that the shade was not, but how could he when it refused to go away?

    ¡°Oswin came to my room and asked me to assist you. ¡®Since I am the only one who can actively disobey a direct order without consequence,¡¯ he said. Your burn needs immediate attention and cannot be left untreated any longer. Luckily, I do have experience with grafts. Now sit.¡± she said, indicating to the bed.

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    He was too drained to chide her for ordering him around again and gently flopped onto the edge. She picked up the abandoned mug left on his vanity and brought it to his lips.

    ¡°Drink,¡± she commanded.

    Caeden raised a brow in question. Azael still hovered menacingly. But if he kept his focus on her, the wraith felt less threatening. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Tea. Judging by the smell, it has ginger and clove in it. Possibly willow bark extract as well.¡±

    Caeden sipped the warm liquid and gagged at the taste. He gave the so-called tea back to her, but she pushed it back to his mouth.

    ¡°Drink all of it. It will help with the headache,¡± she said, sitting beside him and pulling the tray closer.

    It was difficult to blot out the wraith from his view now and he dropped his gaze to the mug. Closing his eyes he downed the contents. She took it from him and placed it on the floor.

    ¡°Oh, before I forget,¡± she said, rummaging through her satchel. ¡°Managed to retrieve this from the remnants of your armour when they cut it off.¡±

    Ava handed him his golden pouch. Not so golden anymore. It looked like she had tried to clean it, but the embroidery stitching had been singed and soot had darkened the material. She upended it and the cool stones fell into his palm.

    ¡°You said they gave you strength before, perhaps they can do so once more?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± he responded with relief. His mind had become so clouded with darkness that he had forgotten about them. The noise they made as he shook them lightened his mind already.

    Ava carefully placed his burnt arm across her lap and then set about preparing the grafts.

    They made a sucking and squishing sound as she picked up the first translucent white piece. The pseudo-skin quivered disturbingly as she held it up and he recoiled.

    ¡°Are you sure you know what you are doing?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she answered with innocent surprise. ¡°I assisted Minervin. The Outpost could treat most of their basic injuries, stabbings and such, but they came to him to treat their burns. That and the occasional plague that spread beyond control.¡±

    ¡°I would not think such a small community would have many plagues being so isolated from the rest of the world. Did new exiles bring it with them?¡±

    ¡°Surprisingly not, most plagues were started by the denizens doing things they should not have, mostly to ingratiate themselves to Crastius. A particularly severe plague broke out when he convinced them to set up a mine close to the base of Wraith Mountains and they unearthed some long-buried disease.

    ¡°It took out a third of the population before I caught it. Came home from getting provisions feeling odd and by the next day I was bedridden with a fever Minervin could not break.¡±

    ¡°That is odd, Oswin was certain you had an innate resistance to disease,¡± Caeden said.

    ¡°Where did he get that idea?¡± she said, incredulously. ¡°No, I get sick like any other person. Now keep still, unless you want this to grow out rough and uneven.¡±

    She gently placed the graft on his shoulder, pressing and wrapping it over the damaged skin. It immediately replaced the persistent burning with a cold, stinging sensation.

    ¡°I have always thought of these things as the epitome of human innovation, magical ingenuity and natural remedy,¡± she marvelled as she continued the process with the rest of his arm.

    ¡°How did he break it?¡± Caeden asked, placing the stones on the bed to prepare for his prayer.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Your unbreakable fever? How did the wizard break it?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Frost Serpent venom,¡± she chuckled when his eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°He was desperate and believed I would not survive much longer. He adamantly believed afterwards that every disease had a weakness, and that nature would always provide the solution. We need only to look for it.

    ¡°After my fight with the revenant, I am starting to wonder if that is not the case for all things¡­¡± she said, trailing off.

    Even wraiths from Spectermere. In theory, he knew that to be true. But in practice, that was easier said than done. Information was what they needed most of all. It would be foolhardy to engage Azael without it. He was not particularly fond of risking becoming the wraith¡¯s meat satchel while they stumbled around the frozen wasteland searching for it.

    ¡°Ava, I need you to kill me.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± she blurted out, stunned.

    ¡°If I ever fall to Azael and he takes control. It will be the end of the Empire. It will be the end of me. Promise me, if that happens, you will kill me,¡± he pleaded desperately.

    ¡°I won¡¯t do it,¡± she bristled, the skin shook in her arms. ¡°Ask Ser Morley or Oswin.¡±

    ¡°They will falter and fail¡­¡±

    ¡°No, I said! I won¡¯t do it. Not ¨C again,¡± she sniffled and collected herself. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking straight. Just ¨C just don¡¯t fall to Azael.¡±

    Caeden massaged his pounding head. Perhaps she was right. He had allowed his fears to overrule his judgment and placed an unnecessary burden on her shoulders. She was still so young and had far too much to bear with that temperamental Frost Spirit already.

    ¡°I apologise, forget I said anything,¡± he turned to his stones and offered a prayer.

    She listened to him in silence and the tense atmosphere calmed.

    ¡°All done!¡± she exclaimed when she placed the last piece around his wrist.

    ¡°Well Adept, what is your prognosis?¡± he asked, staring at the pale white pseudo-skin latching onto his numb arm. As disturbingly grim as it looked, it was a far better sight than the burnt flesh from before.

    ¡°It is still too early to tell but there is some pink colouring already. This is a good sign. There will be some scarring no matter how well the grafts foster healthy skin growth. Let me know immediately if it itches too much or turns grey. And whatever you do, do not fidget with it, or scratch it!

    ¡°Fortunately, it was only your arm and not your face,¡± she smiled proudly.

    ¡°Fortunate indeed,¡± he chuckled. ¡°I would have hated to rob you of the very thing you admire most about me.¡±

    ¡°Bahg!¡± she exclaimed before smirking. ¡°Oswin said delusions were a common symptom of the Ancient Madness. That particular one you are harbouring is quite worrying, to say the least.¡±

    He laughed but decided to let her off the hook.

    ¡°How are you feeling? Oswin tells me the fight with the Revenant was trying.¡±

    ¡°It is only whiplash and a few bruises. I will probably feel them more tomorrow, do not worry about me.¡±

    ¡°Most knights struggle to take the creature down. Their gravity voids are difficult to counter. I am impressed. And thank you for saving me.¡±

    ¡°Thank ¨C It ¨C I had help, I doubt I would have succeeded if not for Oswin and Earland,¡± she said embarrassed. It amused him that she was so uncomfortable with compliments.

    ¡°Tell me about these spirits you are seeing,¡± he said, shaking the sleep from his head. His eyes drooped.

    ¡°Looks like the sedative is kicking in. Perhaps a conversation left for later. Lay back and rest.¡±

    He pushed himself further up the bed and lay down. He closed his eyes for a moment and opened them when she came to hover over him. Gone were the bright golden eyes. In their place were vibrant red ones. The Frost Spirit floated behind her, cold and angry, a frosty palm gripping her head as twisting horns grew from her forehead and frost crept down her pale face.

    Her clawed hand reached out to him. He smacked it away and reached for his sword.

 Chapter 8: Part 1 - Elemental Eruption

    ¡°Beast! No!¡± Ava yelled as the hyperactive Saber cat sped across a wheat field and trampled the crop in his wake. Beast pounced at something on the ground and buried his head in the dirt, nuzzling further into it and grunting as he sent heaps of dirt flying in every direction with massive paws.

    He emerged shortly after with a giant Burrow Mole dangling between his jaws and loped proudly back to Ava, oblivious to the damage he had caused. Ava could only shake her head in dismay, staring at the devastation he had left behind.

    The farmer Caeden had been talking to, watched the scene unfold with raised eyebrows. His eyes moved from Ava to Beast, back to Ava and then to Caeden. He was waiting for the prince¡¯s prompt to decide how to react.

    ¡°I do apologise, Mister Gerold, you will be compensated for the damage,¡± Caeden offered.

    ¡°No need for that, Your Grace. I¡¯m only glad that mole won¡¯t be ruining more of my crop. Been struggling to catch that accursed creature for two Reaping Seasons now,¡± the red-faced farmer replied.

    ¡°I am relieved, how is the latest batch of crop looking thus far?¡±

    ¡°Very well. Might be the best one yet if the Wyvern continues to play nicely. It¡¯s been in a mood most foul, spewing ash every which where until a few weeks ago. Despite the rumours of the wights and the dark plague still making the rounds, it has been mostly quiet. Least ¡®til the knights and guild started milling around the borders of the Fields with renewed purpose. Yet, the Guild confirms that we aren¡¯t in any immediate danger. What¡¯s that mean, immediate danger? That there is danger, but we will only be in it later? We should be leaving the Wyvern¡¯s territory alone. Nothing to be gained from messing around with a Great Spirit when it¡¯s moody.¡±

    Caeden glanced at Ava. She seemed frozen in place by the man¡¯s words before turning to the Red Mountain when he caught her eye. They were close enough to the border to see the white fields and the dormant volcano colour the distant horizon.

    ¡°You are an astute man, Mister Gerold. It is good to see you and your family prospering,¡± Caeden observed. He excused himself before the farmer became engrossed in another of his musings on the Wyvern¡¯s moods and ushered his envoy forward.

    He had chosen to travel on foot to Castle Cadence, Daaria¡¯s Capital, hoping to familiarize Ava with his home. If he was honest with himself, his intentions were to foster a bond between her and his kingdom, a bond strong enough to give her cause to fight for it. Vengeance would work for his plans in the short-term, but she needed a less corrosive motivator if the Empire were to survive whatever plans The Shadow King or the Greater Spirits had for it.

    She had marvelled at everything he had pointed out on their journey, listened intently to every piece of information he had told her, and questioned him about everything she wanted to know. In the end, he was the one who began to see his Empire anew. The sunflowers seemed more vibrant, the wheat more golden and the air smelled fresher. He was not one to entertain such fancies before but there was wonder to be found in seeing the world through her eyes. Especially after the weeks of mental torment and unbearable pain he had had to endure.

    He could still not recall whether he was lucid when he saw Ava as a red-eyed demonkin. The memory seemed to fade in clarity like a half-forgotten dream upon waking. In it, he had said some callous things to get the demonkin to leave him alone and he felt the need to apologise, but Ava had behaved like nothing untoward had happened between them. So, he left it alone, not seeing the need to dredge up unnecessary animosity between them if the events had only happened in his mind.

    ¡°Your people love you,¡± Ava murmured after they had travelled a short distance alongside the wagon he had hired.

    Her sudden declaration took him aback. ¡°As they would had I been any prince of theirs, I suppose.¡±

    ¡°No, not any prince. Their opinion of your brother is not very favourable.¡±

    Caeden turned to her with a raised brow.

    ¡°You do not see. It is probably one of the perks of walking behind you. You hear things from people who would not dare say it to your face. Your people love you. They want you to be their king. And I can see why, you are a man for the people. You listen when they talk and speak to them with respect. I understand why Sir Morley is so fiercely protective of you.¡±

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    ¡°Miss Ava do not repeat this to anyone,¡± Caeden bit out.

    ¡°Of course not, why are you annoyed? I thought you would have liked to hear what your people think of you.¡±

    ¡°I am not annoyed. My brother is ¨C difficult. More so his mother.¡±

    ¡°Hence, his unfavourable reputation. You think your people may suffer because of their allegiance to you?¡±

    ¡°Enough Miss Ava. Never mention this conversation again. To me or anyone else, do you understand?¡±

    She squared her jaw stubbornly but let it slide and turned to watch Beast distract himself with everything that moved. She hopped to sit on the wagon edge and grabbed a fan from the interior to cool herself from the midday heat.

    He trailed behind her and absent-mindedly scratched his arm, his thoughts elsewhere.

    ¡°Do not scratch!¡± Ava admonished as she rested her head against the wagon and fanned herself furiously.

    He chuckled self-consciously. The affected area felt tender the moment he stopped. His arm had healed, for the most part, the grafts taking to his burned skin without issue. Oswin had complimented Ava on the work and told her that she had the potential to make a fine Adept one day. Caeden agreed, his arm looked as good as new. Only the telltale patchwork scars between the grafts puckered out to mar the otherwise smooth appearance. Oswin had assured him the these would fade gradually over time. But the gods help him with the infernal itching. It was hard to ignore when he was conscious of it and impossible when he was not.

    Caeden hopped on the edge beside her, a frown creasing his brows. Something Sir Gerold had said still bothered him. What were knights and mages doing at the borders of the Ashen Fields? And why were Oswin, Morley and I not informed of any changes in their plan?

    Ava moaned beside him, reaching out to something unseen and falling over. He steadied her before she fell from the wagon. Alarmed by the heat he felt permeating from her back.

    ¡°Prince Caeden, something is wrong,¡± she murmured listlessly.

    A blue glimmer caught his eye in the distance. A large barrier spanning the entire horizon lifted skywards, surrounding the Ashen Fields and doming over the Red Mountain.

    ¡°What in Holden¡¯s name are they doing? Ser Morley!¡± Caeden jumped from the halted wagon and turned Ava to lie across the edge.

    Her breathing was erratic and her eyes fluttered closed. Sweat drenched her body. Beast was at her side, pushing past him to lay next to her and emitted a long moan into her face.

    ¡°Yes, Your Grace,¡± Ser Morley cantered past the wagon on horseback.

    ¡°Ride to the Guild at the border and order them to remove that barrier!¡± Caeden yelled.

    The earth vibrated beneath his feet and Morley¡¯s horse reared up. He grabbed the reigns to assist Morley with the panicked creature. It neighed and bucked, and Ser Morley slid off before it threw him. He landed on his feet next to Caeden before the horse wretched its reigns from their hands and bolted away. The ground rumbled dangerously, and he heard a loud crack before he and Morley were thrown from their feet. An explosion ruptured through the air, so loud Caeden had to block his ears.

    Bright orange lava poured from the Wyvern¡¯s Jaw, flowing down the Red Mountain. Black smoke bellowed thick and heavy into the air. A pair of fiery wings cut through it, followed by a snaking, flaming head. The Wyvern was so large it took up the entire circumference of the volcano¡¯s vent. It flew up, a great streak of flame across the sky and breathed a long stream of violet fire. The barrier flared and shattered, the fragments falling and dissipating. It crowed at something in the distance.

    Ava stumbled into view, struggling to walk along the shaky ground. Beast trailed quickly after her, pouncing on her back with a growl and sitting on her collapsed form. He looked at Caeden with what seemed like a plea for help.

    Caeden shuffled along to them and dragged Ava out from under Beast. He could feel the heat radiating from her body before he touched her arm. The skin on her face and neck was patchy and red. He searched the area for the fan she was using earlier and spotted the upturned wagon. Oswin and his men were trying to untie the horses from it. The earth behind him had splintered in two, a winding crack separating them. The land he was standing on had risen higher than the other side.

    Farmhouses had collapsed on themselves, and his people cried out for help. Was this the end of us?

    ¡°I ¨C need to go to it,¡± Ava muttered, pushing against his chest weakly.

    Would they make it in time? Would she make it there alive? He looked around for a solution, his eyes landing on a farm dam. He pulled her into his arms. Her limp weight pressed painfully onto his injured arm, but he gritted through it and ran haphazardly to the edge, sliding down into the sloshing water.

    Her eyes widened in shock as the cold water swallowed them. He could see it now, contrasting with the darker water surrounding them. A sliver of a flame turned the colour of her eyes molten.

    Caeden pushed them up to the jostling surface and steadied her head with a hand to her jaw.

    ¡°What are you doing? You will destroy us all!¡± he shouted at the spirit behind her eyes. Could it hear? Would it listen?

    Ava''s hand snaked out to choke him and he croaked when it closed around his throat. Caeden twisted her wrist to prevent her from squeezing any tighter.

    ¡°Long have I stayed upon this mountain, blessed your lands with fertility and kept you humans safe. And this is how I am repaid! With treachery! I will not be bound!¡±

    ¡°We ¨C I will fix this! Just give me time,¡± Caeden pleaded.

    ¡°Bring me the Keeper or I shall cleanse the cursed from this land in flame! There are no other options left to you!¡±

 Chapter 8: Part 2 - Entropical Empire

    Caeden marched through the black gates of Castle Caedence with mild disappointment. He had missed his home and was elated to see its crimson banners flapping against its sun-kissed walls, but he would have loved to see Ava marvel at his golden city.

    After threatening him, the Fire Spirit had retreated from her eyes, rendering her unconscious. She had not awakened since then, but her temperature had slowly returned to normal.

    Atop the erupting Red Mountain, the Wyvern folded into itself, floating above it in a ball of flame that blew off wave after wave of heat. It was fully intended to burn the Casimir Empire to ash. Caeden could not fail at this point.

    He spotted King Raeburn¡¯s daughter gliding down from the castle steps as he slid off his horse and wiped the sweat from his brow. She looked ethereal in a light, white elven dress. The silver threads sewn into it glimmered in the sunlight. Her long platinum hair was tied in a single braid and interlaced with silver ribbons. Before Spectermere, he would have considered this a great sign, but right now, she was another problem he would need to address. A problem of his own making. Caeden stroked his horse''s neck, trying to pull himself together and muster his propriety.

    He must have failed because when Bethany reached him with a big, wonderous smile, it faded and she stopped awkwardly, frowning delicately as she tried to gauge his mood.

    ¡°Lady Bethany, your beauty today would rival the goddess Fern,¡± Caeden beamed and bowed before her, reaching out to ask for her hand.

    She placed it tentatively in his palm and he kissed her fragranced fingers. Her silver eyes glimmered and she twirled. The fabric spun around her legs, revealing shapely calves.

    ¡°Do you like it? I have not had a chance to wear them, but since it has become so uncommonly hot, I thought now would be the best time,¡± she breathed.

    This conversation was already becoming tiresome, and it surprised him. He had had no issue putting on airs with her and had been fine listening and responding to her inane conversations before. And, despite his disinterest, he had thought he could have had a tolerable marriage with her. After all, it was not as if Lady Bethany was in this hoping for love. Her ambition for the Queen¡¯s throne was why they had chosen her.

    Had I changed so much in such a short time? The path he walked before and the path he walks now are so vastly different that it has changed his entire perspective on everything.

    ¡°It is lovely¡­¡± he began.

    ¡°Oh, is that the creature?¡± she interjected, grabbing and squeezing his arm to her breasts in fright.

    He stifled a grimace as pain shot through his injured arm and turned to see his men heaving the stretcher carrying Ava off the wagon.

    Oblivious to his discomfort, Bethany peered closely at the ¡®creature¡¯. Oswin and Ser Morley turned from directing the men to bow to her, but she failed to recognise and acknowledge them. And they were left to awkwardly decide whether to straighten or keep bowing until she did. Caeden silently signalled them to carry on with their duties.

    ¡°It looks not at all what I expected. Perhaps that is why hybrids can manipulate men so easily.¡±

    Something in the way she said that made Caeden''s heart flip over. Is that the narrative going around in the castle?

    ¡°Lady Bethany, I apologise but I must leave you. I need to prepare myself to speak to the emperor,¡± he said, removing his arm from her vice grip.

    Her expression dropped. ¡°Yes, I understand. The court is meeting currently, and they have summoned you. Lady Ella sent me to retrieve you. I will escort you there.¡±

    ¡°That will not be necessary,¡± he stated as he turned to make for the throne room. ¡°I will send for you later.¡±

    <hr>

    Fern¡¯s Breath, not even a moment to wash up. Caeden felt every speck of dirt from his journey clinging to his body. This was not how he had planned to make his report to the emperor. But with the Fire Spirit radiating like a second sun, perhaps this was for the best.

    The ornate doors parted, and the Herald announced his arrival. The emperor sat on a large golden throne bejewelled in rubies and red obsidian. The shadow it threw over the walkway was long and cold.

    Ambassadors from the other kingdoms lined the floor below the dais. A representative from the Trade Council was noticeably missing from them. Understandable, since the betrayal from Master Bartus and two other council members had thrown them into disarray and they were now working to get back on their feet once again. The only one among those present who seemed pleased to see him was Elwood¡¯s ambassador. The decision to relinquish Ivan Gueterath to Queen Lernae to enact appropriate punishment had worked in his favour. However, it seems he might have fallen out of favour slightly with Everard¡¯s ambassador by entering without Lady Bethany on his arm.

    Two smaller thrones flanked the Ruby Throne on either side. On the left throne sat the emperor¡¯s wife, Queen Aeline, her expression carried its usual measure of disapproval and disdain. His mistress, Lady Ella sat on the right, looking mildly perplexed.

    Crown Prince Kael stood next to his mother, his hand placed firmly on her shoulder and despite his carefree demeanour, the way he cracked the knuckles of his other hand told Caeden that he was either impatient or annoyed.

    His uncle, Knight Admiral Kaelyn, military advisor to the emperor, stood behind the throne bearing a stern expression. Caeden knew him to be reasonable. Of the group gathered, he would be the one to share his point of view, but whether he would act on it was another issue altogether.

    The one person out of this group that irked him the most was Grand Master Gildaen, representative of the Mage¡¯s Guild and the emperor¡¯s magic advisor, who stood next to the Knight Admiral and stared smugly down at him.

    It was hard to read his father¡¯s stoic expression as he watched Caeden walk to the base of the dais and fall to one knee before the throne.

    ¡°Emperor Haeden, Queen Aeli¡­¡± he started.

    ¡°We have received your correspondence, Caeden. Explain the situation in its entirety,¡± the emperor boomed.

    Caeden frowned, befuddled. Was he not going to acknowledge me? He hazarded a glance up and quickly lowered his eyes. A small smirk broke the emperor''s stoic expression. I see.

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    This was his punishment for his gamble in Landon. He would be humbled by giving his report on one knee. Caeden gritted through his humiliation and gave his report to the floor before him.

    ¡°Control of the Great Spirits! The gods have blessed the Empire with such might,¡± Queen Aeline huffed with wonder, patting her son¡¯s hand lovingly. ¡°We would be a beacon of their light to all races.¡±

    Caeden stiffened in disbelief and pursed his lips. Her suggestion was absurd. Why the emperor tolerated her ridiculous nonsense in court truly baffled him.

    ¡°Perhaps we should focus on verifying the threat in Spectermere first before antagonizing our potential allies with such talk, Mother,¡± Kael answered, patting her on the shoulder in a way that was more silencing than comforting.

    Caeden froze. That was the first time Kael had openly disagreed with her on something. He had always allowed her or Gildaen to speak for him, never gainsaying, either through sheer cluelessness or a complete lack of interest in the subject. It was hard not to smirk as Queen Aeline¡¯s pale face twitched ferociously in the face of it.

    ¡°I agree,¡± his father echoed. ¡°I cannot ready the army, let alone hand the power of another Great Spirit to a demonkin due to a single wraith and draugr shambling across uninhabited foreign soil. Quarantining Spectermere is the best option moving forward. We should focus on taking back our seas.¡±

    ¡°This is no mere wraith!¡± Caeden stressed. ¡°It has abilities far beyond any we have come across. It can turn parts of itself material and can not only control the plague but speak through it. It risked crossing part of the Frozen Sea to reach my ship and has the Great Spirits so afeared that they have moved into action. We cannot ignore it. Whether through the Frogmen or other machinations, Azael will not remain in Spectermere.¡±

    The emperor shifted in his seat and pondered.

    ¡°And this artifact? Has there been any progress with the demonkin in finding out what it is?¡±

    ¡°No, Your Majesty. She knows nothing about it. I am not entirely certain that she is a demonkin either. I have Oswin researching Ancient Records for any indication or references to what they both truly are.¡±

    Caeden bristled at Gildaen''s audible snort of derision at the mention of Oswin¡¯s name.

    ¡°She claims ignorance, yet even the cursed wizard who raised her was after it. How quickly you trust the word of this demonkin of suspect origins with so little evidence, Prince Caeden,¡± Gildaen sneered.

    Ah, and there it is. ¡°Just what are you implying, Grand Master? That my mind is not my own?¡±

    ¡°I am sure the Grand Master only means to question whether this hybrid was sent by this wraith to capture and control the Great Spirits. Is she truly on our side or spinning tales to distract you, brother?¡±

    Caeden¡¯s brows furrowed. This was unlike Kael. What was he playing at? ¡°Azael tried to kill her, burned her home and killed her guardian. They are not allied. Miss Ava has every intention of seeing the wraith destroyed. We are both aligned with the Great Spirits in this respect.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, so aligned are you both that the demonkin attacked and threatened you on the journey here?¡± Gildaen countered.

    Caeden started, surprised that he was party to such information. He ordered his men to silence.

    ¡°The cursed wizard was aligned with elves as well, yet in the end, he led them and Archaicron to the brink of ruination. It is an association we cannot ignore,¡± Gildaen continued.

    Caeden glared up at his smug face. It was obvious that the wizard was enjoying this unique opportunity.

    Gildaen had still not gotten over Caeden¡¯s slight in choosing a mage as his advisor over him. It had been an easy choice, Oswin had pragmatic advice and delivered it without airs or condescension. It was far more palatable than the wizard''s dogmatic patronization.

    Whether out of spite or something more nefarious, it was clear to him that the wizard was placing obstacles in his path and was veering the conversation away from any solution. But, unfortunately, his efforts to bury Caeden beneath a pile of doubt had provided him with sufficient dirt to bury the wizard along with him.

    ¡°I agree, it is an association we should not ignore. He was your mentor once was he not?¡±

    Gildaen turned beet red, and something clicked into place in Caeden¡¯s mind. ¡°If I recall correctly, there was also an incident involving your apprentice''s use of profane magic in the past. Such suspect connections considering multiple magic wielders were running a trafficking syndicate with ties to the plague and Azael.¡±

    ¡°B-Baseless accusations!¡± Gildaen spluttered.

    It might be for now, but it was enough to plant the seed in their heads, judging by their frowns. They will not place trust in him easily, and despite giving away the element of surprise in that avenue of investigation, it was worth it.

    ¡°I will wager that it was your idea to antagonize the Wyvern by trying to bind it. ¡°

    ¡°The blame cannot be placed solely on Grand Master Gildaen, I was the one who approved it. We were not certain of the Great Spirits'' motivations after the Whirlwind appeared in the sky the night of the collapse. Tell us how to move forward from here, Caeden,¡± the emperor requested.

    First, they question my judgement and now they defer to it. Do they even have a plan?

    ¡°I would suggest evacuating all villagers near the borders of the Ashen Fields and increasing our food reserve requirements. Then send Miss Ava to retrieve the wyvern. It will not accept anything else,¡± he replied.

    ¡°No, I cannot allow it.¡±

    ¡°Yet, you will allow the Empire to burn because of your fear! Miss Ava is not the threat here,¡± Caeden burst out angrily.

    ¡°Then bring me something more substantial than a demonkin¡¯s word and supposition!¡± The emperor smashed his fist on the throne¡¯s armrest, silencing him. ¡°Dismissed!¡± he hissed to the room.

    Caeden waited for Queen Aeline, his brother, mother and uncle to pass before he moved to stand.

    ¡°Remain, Caeden,¡± the emperor ordered as he walked to stare out a window.

    Caeden¡¯s jaw tensed as Gildaen walked past him. Silence filled the room as the door closed behind him.

    ¡°Your Majesty, I¡­¡±

    ¡°Your gambit has failed, Caeden,¡± he said, readjusting the ruby crown on his temples. ¡°You wished to pressure me into sanctioning your quest into the Ashen Fields by seeking approval from other nations first, did you not?¡±

    ¡°I ¨C It was the best course forward to expedite the process. There is no guarantee that the Spirits would fight on our side should Miss Ava collect them all. And ignoring them leaves the risk of Azael twisting them to his cause. We keep the battlefield level by safely securing them and removing them from play completely. The Beastkin find this plan agreeable.¡±

    ¡°Yes, they sent a letter saying as much, and have stated in no uncertain terms that they are prepared to follow her into war if she so wishes. They have sanctioned your quest to retrieve the Earth Spirit in the Motherland and approved the retrieval of their ¡®Mother¡¯ as well.¡±

    Caeden smiled, Kama pulled through and the Beastkin were onboard. A small but meaningful ally in this war.

    ¡°I would not celebrate just yet. The elves have sent correspondence as well. In it, Arch-Magi Edelweiss stresses that The Mother is perfectly calm and safe in their care and has been so for eons. He also strongly emphasizes that the Magus Fellowship does not appreciate the Empire''s involvement in what seems to be a Beastkin plot to seize the Nature Spirit for themselves.

    ¡°That puts it at odds with your report about the incident with the Frost Spirit in Snake Town and places the Empire in a delicate position.¡±

    Caeden bristled. No wonder this meeting had become a blasted disaster. One of the two nations was lying and by doing so tied the hands of the Empire. The emperor could not side with one nation without angering the other.

    ¡°The workings of the Spirits are beyond my expertise, but I do not recall duplicity being an aspect of the ¡®Mother¡¯s¡¯ dual nature. And unless the culture of the Beastkin has changed drastically in recent years, they would not actively provoke another nation first,¡± he deducted.

    ¡°That leaves the elves. Yet, I cannot see what they would gain by acting against the Nature Spirit. Regardless, both the Earth and the Nature Spirits are beyond you for now. I suggest you focus your attention elsewhere,¡± he said, turning to the window.

    ¡°Have you received word from Haalfkinguit and the dwarves?¡± Caeden enquired.

    The emperor¡¯s smile reflected in the window. Of course, he was goading me in that direction.

    ¡°The dwarves have cancelled all non-essential trade to and from Haalfkinguit and have diverted all essential ones to the trade posts. They have closed their borders, no one is allowed to enter or leave. And we have had no communication as to why whatsoever, not even from the ones still stuck on the surface,¡± he answered.

    ¡°Is this in response to my request?¡± he asked, confused.

    ¡°It happened three days after you left for Spectermere, thus it seems unlikely. Your connection to the Trade Guild might shed some light on what exactly is happening in Haalfkinguit. If you can get the dwarves to ally with you against Spectermere, then I will sanction your quest to retrieve the Wyvern. Now leave me.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± Caeden affirmed and headed for the exit. His mind whirring with this new information.

    ¡°And Caeden,¡± the emperor called. ¡°Overstep again and spend the rest of your days in an ash mine so deep the very stars will become a distant memory.¡±

 Chapter 8: Part 3 - Mothers of Kings

    A wave of dry heat hit Caeden as he exited the throne room. Ash floated around him like snow. Casimir Empire burns yet its emperor uses this dire situation to finagle inroads to the Haalfkinguit firearms from him. Caeden frowned in distaste. He would have been closer to brokering a trade deal years ago had he listened to my recommendation. And now, my people suffer for their Emperor¡¯s lack of foresight.

    Regardless, it was unusual for the dwarves to close trade routes. It has only occurred once before, at the peak of the Great War and never against the Empire. That they have now did not bode well. Haalfkinguit trade needed to be re-established. The Empire needed access to their diamond crust mines if nothing else.

    Ser Morley fell into step with him.

    ¡°Update me on Miss Ava,¡± he commanded.

    ¡°The girl is conscious, Your Grace,¡± Morley responded.

    Caeden nodded. Good, the sooner the court sees that she is just a girl and not a threat, the better.

    ¡°Has she said anything about the Wyvern?¡±

    ¡°Only that it is impatient, and fully intends on following through with its threat. She fears it will attempt to come to her instead, burning its way across Daaria. As much as I hate to admit it, I see no lie in her eyes,¡± Morely muttered and groaned.

    The Knight Commander pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes tightly and flinched in pain. He held the man up by the shoulder.

    ¡°Are you still suffering from the headaches?¡± he asked, concerned.

    ¡°They have yet to go away. I apologise, Your Grace, I need a moment,¡± he grimaced.

    ¡°Perhaps you should see Oswin again and get some rest. The past few days have been trying, I will delegate your duties to a captain in the meantime,¡± Caeden suggested.

    ¡°No! No. I need something to keep me busy, if you do not mind, Your Grace. Oswin is busy with the girl so I will find an Adept if the headaches do not pass,¡± he said.

    Morley¡¯s eyes were not fully focused on him.

    ¡°If you are certain,¡± Caeden started doubtfully.

    ¡°I will not fail you again, Your Grace¡± his Knight Commander reaffirmed.

    ¡°Very well.¡± Caeden patted the man on the shoulder reassuringly and continued to his room. ¡°I need a scout sent to Haalfkinguit. Ideally, I need a direct communication line to Findlaan. If there is anyone there who will understand the gravity of this situation, it will be him.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Your Grace,¡± Morley bowed and turned to leave.

    ¡°Oh, and Ser Morley,¡± Caeden called to him as he opened his bedroom door. ¡°There is a spy among my guard. Someone is passing information to the court, primarily Grand Master Gildaen. Vet them all. If it was unintentional, dismiss them. Revoke their knighthood if it was not.¡±

    Caeden entered his room. As much as he loved travelling, nothing could beat the comforts of home. His valet had drawn him a bath and set out his attire but was nowhere in sight. The outfit was appropriate for court but had too many layers for this heat. He moved straight to the tub.

    He dozed in the water, idly planning his next steps when he heard his valet enter his room and mill about.

    ¡°Mister Jaemes, I need something lighter to wear,¡± he spoke to the room.

    His heart skipped a beat when a feminine hand caressed his shoulder. He instinctively grasped the fingers to stop them from trailing further.

    ¡°I think you are fine just as you are,¡± Bethany whispered against his ear.

    His eyes shot open, and he launched himself from the tub, pushing her hand away. He quickly covered himself, surprised by both her presence and his initial reaction.

    ¡°I would not have expected you to be this shy,¡± she flirted coyly but stopped short and frowned angrily. ¡°Or were you expecting someone else?¡±

    ¡°I was expecting my valet,¡± he countered walking out into his room.

    ¡°Yet, you only recoiled after hearing my voice and not at the touch of my hand,¡± she retorted.

    She was right. He had ridiculously thought it was Ava, despite knowing her hand did not feel as delicate. The time she spent helping him through his madness and injury made him accustomed to her presence in his room. But explaining that to Bethany seemed a waste of time and effort.

    ¡°Lady Bethany this encounter and conversation is wholly improper,¡± he said, ushering her to the door.

    ¡°Wait! Lady Ella wishes to see you. I was sent to escort you,¡± she said placing a palm on his chest to stop him and pondering through an internal dialogue. ¡°Caeden, I do not mind if you seek out another¡¯s company during this time, but perhaps a hybrid is not the best choice.¡±

    Irked by her implication, he removed her hand from his chest.

    ¡°I did not realise I needed your approval,¡± he growled coldly. ¡°Let me be clear, Lady Bethany. We are nothing to each other. Do not address me without my title again.¡±

    He escorted her to the door and opened it.

    ¡°I will head to my mother shortly. Now, please leave.¡±

    <hr>

    Lady Ella sat at an ornate tea table in her parlour. Her brows furrowed delicately as her green eyes considered the cup of dark sweet tea in her hands. Her long, blonde hair was gathered and secured inside a red jewelled hair net. Her posture, mannerisms, and attire showed her to be Queen in everything but title.

    ¡°Mother,¡± Caeden greeted her and planted a kiss on her cheek.

    She leaned into it and patted him on his cheek a tad harder than usual. Caeden flinched and straightened before heading to an open window to catch a breeze blowing through it.

    ¡°Sit with me, Caeden. And have some tea,¡± she invited.

    ¡°No, thank you,¡± he responded. As much as he wanted the chill of the drink, his mother preferred it far too sweet for his liking.

    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°How are you, truly? I was worried when I heard of the collapse. More so knowing we could not send aid to you in time,¡± she asked, biting her lip.

    ¡°I am well considering Ser Morley still struggles with headaches. I had an excellent healer. My arm is tender but healing favourably.¡±

    ¡°I would not have thought Master Oswin had much talent in healing. Perhaps he was indeed a good choice for you.¡±

    ¡°How has it been here?¡± he asked, changing the subject.

    ¡°A whirlwind of confusion. Your father had been overwhelmed with allaying fears from the nobility. I am sure you have already noticed, but Kael has been acting out of character and has become very much involved. This has delighted your father, much to my irritation. Which brings me to ask why I had to console a sobbing Lady Bethany. What did you do to the poor girl?¡± she asked with annoyance.

    ¡°She overstepped and insulted my honour and Miss Ava in the process,¡± Caeden answered dryly. He did not bother to tell her about Bethany¡¯s impropriety. He had no doubt that it was his mother who planted the idea in her head in the first place.

    The news of his brother was interesting. He would have to gain more insight into where his brother''s head was currently and if it would change in future. But, how to go about it? After all these years it would not be like Kael to suddenly reveal his mind to him, especially if he was still under the influence of Queen Aeline.

    His mother sighed, ¡°Yet your attitude changed before that. Why did you not allow her to escort you to court? Perhaps you would not have had to report to the floor had you shown your father that you still had King Raeburn on your side.¡±

    ¡°It would not have changed anything. Despite that, I have doubts about her suitability and her legitimacy. I met a Knight Captain with a similar likeness in Everard.¡±

    ¡°Mannerisms can be taught and adopted over time,¡± His mother countered, indicating to herself. ¡°And King Raeburn recognises her as his daughter. That is all that matters.¡±

    ¡°What matters is not splintering the Empire further with political or civil tension while an enemy turns its gaze upon it. We need to remain united. If I must give up all claim on the Ruby Throne, then so be it.¡±

    Caeden placed his palms flat on the table and stared squarely into his mother¡¯s eyes. ¡°Send Lady Bethany home, she will be safest with her family should war come to the Empire.¡±

    His mother shook her head in frustration. The obsidian crystals in her hair net clinked together.

    ¡°I understand your reasoning, but I do not see the need to give up the throne or Lady Bethany. You should be the emperor leading us through war, not Kael or your father. You were willing to ignore Lady Bethany¡¯s ¡®flaws¡¯ not so long ago. Are you certain your desire to save the Empire and not a comely woman motivates you? I have not seen the creature myself, but rumours have reached my ears about its strange beauty.¡±

    Caeden ground his jaw. ¡°Let me be clear, mother. The Empire is my priority, no woman will change that!¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± his mother responded dryly. ¡°Because no man has ever been swayed by a woman before. I am certain your father always thought he would be a pious leader and loyal husband before he met me.¡±

    ¡°Mother!¡± Caeden admonished, quickly preventing her from launching into the tale of how she, a common merchant¡¯s daughter, caught the gaze of the Empire¡¯s most powerful man. He never could understand why she was so proud of turning a man away from his wife, no matter how insufferable the woman happened to be. ¡°I am not my father, and I will not be persuaded away from my goal. My path is set. I do not want the throne. My aims are greater.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± she agreed and sipped her tea. Her lips pursed with disappointment. ¡°You want your likeness painted in the stars and your legacy remembered throughout the ages. Are you truly willing to give up everything for such a lofty and impossible goal?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and I will not reach it if the Empire crumbles before it has the chance to fight,¡± he responded without hesitation. ¡°Do not gainsay me on this, we need to be allied in purpose. Send Lady Bethany home. I will not entertain further marital discussions.¡±

    Caeden straightened and walked to the exit. He turned in the arching doorway.

    ¡°Mother do not refer to Miss Ava as a creature. Treat her respectfully when you speak to her. I need her on my side.¡±

    <hr>

    Caeden walked towards the temple Queen Aeline had erected in honour of the gods. The temple was meant to be the first step in her campaign to convert the Empire into a holy one under the sovereign rule of the gods, the emperor and his queen serving only as vocal instruments of their will. It stood a grand and glorious failure as not only did the Faithful¡¯s Hermits reject her vision, but she lost her benefactor when his mother turned the emperor from a path of piety.

    In her righteous fervour, Queen Aeline underestimated how the extravagant temple would look to the humble Hermits who survived off the bounties provided by the gods, and the goodwill of their fellow man. Their sole purpose in life was to provide the gods¡¯ guidance to the lost and were wholly disinterested in power, gold and ambition. The sheer magnitude of the temple¡¯s luxury had turned them away the moment they had laid eyes on it. Caeden did not mind it though, it offered him a private space to pray and clear his mind, away from everything and everyone.

    A massive golden statue of Holden, the stern warrior god graced the right entrance wall while his lover, the vivacious goddess Fern graced the left. He entered through a grandiose arch between them and walked down the aisle of the empty temple. But he stopped short when he spotted the swathed figure sitting at the front pew.

    Everyone except one. He turned to leave.

    ¡°Sit with me,¡± Queen Aeline commanded without turning to look at him.

    He hesitated, wondering if he could sneak out without her noticing. He purposely scheduled his times at the temple when he knew she would not be there. So why is she here?

    ¡°You are the only one who appreciates this place besides me, Caeden. Come,¡± she said coldly, staring at the two smaller statues on the dais before her.

    Caeden groaned inwardly and marched to the front aisle.

    ¡°Your Highness.¡± He bowed stiffly.

    She nodded but adamantly refused to look at him directly. It still irked him that he had not been able to outgrow her passive dismissal, but at least now it pained him less.

    He straightened and flopped in the pew next to her. She adjusted the white wimple at her jaw, clearly uncomfortable. Only the flushed skin of her face was exposed to the light of day, the rest was covered in heavy linen. The woman valued piety to a fault and would suffer through the heat in all her layers of clothing.

    Caeden pulled at the ties of his stone pouch. Assuming Queen Aeline was here for him, he would wait for her to make the first move or leave.

    ¡°You need a new pouch,¡± she said, reaching to take his singed one.

    ¡°No,¡± he said impulsively and yanked it away from her grasp. ¡°I still ¨C prefer this one, Your Highness.¡±

    Her face twitched in what seemed to be a half smile before becoming severe again.

    ¡°Have you been speaking to Kael?¡± she asked.

    He wondered at her reasoning for asking him, but if it gave him more insight into where Kael¡¯s head was, perhaps there was nothing wrong with indulging it.

    ¡°I have not spoken to him since I left for Spectermere,¡± he answered. To be honest, he had not spoken to Kael for a long time before that. They had led very different lives.

    Queen Aeline''s brows furrowed, and she shook her head, seemingly unable to reconcile whatever discussion she was having with herself.

    ¡°I have heard that Lady Bethany was seen in tears earlier. I certainly hope there have not been issues since your return?¡± she asked.

    ¡°At the moment, I think it would be wise to send her home where her family can protect her,¡± he replied, trying to determine where her concern truly lay.

    ¡°Yes. I think that would be best,¡± she pondered. ¡°I hope this means you will be putting your ambitions aside once and for all. The People do not lust for power...¡±

    ¡°They protect the weak, honour the gods and exact justice through order,¡± he replied stiffly, irritated that she was using his faith to manipulate him again. ¡°I know Holden¡¯s doctrine. Did you forget it when you suggested we use the Great Spirits to cow the other nations, My Queen?¡±

    Faced with her hypocrisy, Queen Aeline¡¯s face reddened and twitched with anger and embarrassment. She stood abruptly and clenched her fists.

    ¡°You are impossible to speak to,¡± she said when she regained control and turned to leave. Her angry footsteps echoed in the silence.

    Caeden closed his eyes and sighed. He was sure that their relationship could become civil if he tried. But he still hung onto the disillusionment he felt upon discovering that she had used the faith he thought they were bonding over to try and convince him to reject all worldly claims and become a Hermit. She abruptly stopped fostering and encouraging their shared interest after realising he had no interest in doing so. It was a betrayal and rejection he could not and did not want to overcome.

    He shook his head, intent on clearing his mind of such useless thoughts and feelings.

    ¡°Caeden.¡±

    He frowned, annoyed, but ignored the voice.

    ¡°Caeden!¡±

    He shot from his seat, ready to give the person a dressing down for using his name with such familiarity. He turned and searched the temple.

    No one was there. His heart pounded heavily in his chest.

    He turned to the statue of Holden. The white alabaster stone eyes shone fierce and bright. Caeden rushed from the temple, digging his palms into his eyes.

    No. No. No! I was supposed to be free from this madness!

 Chapter 8: Part 4 - The Crimson Rogue

    It was stiflingly hot. Ava pulled at her shirt in discomfort in a vain effort to cool herself. She did not think she would ever miss the cold of Spectermere but freezing to death seemed preferable to this. I could always fight off the chill with a warm fire, but how does one avoid such smouldering heat? Not that she could if she wanted to. The Fire Spirit''s presence in her mind felt like a hot breath on her neck. He retreated after the eruption, but not fully. Always there as a persistent reminder to harry her into action and as a compromise to keep him stationary atop the Red Mountain.

    It took all her willpower to ignore it, hoping Prince Caeden would come up with a solution soon. She did not want to poke the hornet¡¯s nest again as she did in Spectermere, nor did she want an enraged spirit burning its way across the Casimir Empire to get to her. Her best recourse right now would be to find out everything she could about Castle Caedence and establish a weakness she could slip through to escape if necessary.

    ¡°Miss Ava, are you listening? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Oswin asked, flicking his bronze sleeves back to test her head with his hand.

    They were standing in another one of the many courtyards Oswin brought her to for his tour. It was an ideal way to gather information, but she was finding it difficult to concentrate on anything with the wyvern¡¯s invasive presence within her mind.

    They had released Beast in the King¡¯s Wood surrounding the castle while she was unconscious and assured her of his safety since they restrict hunting there to noble events. Perhaps she could have him scout around the edges and see if he could find a weakness she could sneak through.

    ¡°I am fine. My apologies Oswin, my mind was elsewhere. What were you saying?¡± she asked.

    She was still distracted when she noticed a robed figure sauntering over ¡ª a wizard, judging by the unmistakable brown garb. Unlike Minervin or Oswin, the figure¡¯s dress was highly decorated. He looked young at first glance. Not a wrinkle in the taut skin stretched over a sharp bone structure nor a single grey strand in his long, auburn hair. But he had the grey eyes of a very old man.

    ¡°Master Oswin, you are dismissed. I will take this hybrid into the Mage¡¯s Guild¡¯s custody,¡± he ordered, wrapping long fingers around Ava¡¯s upper arm.

    Ava frowned, ripped her arm from his grip and backed away, alarmed by the audacity of this stranger. Ser Derric, who had been trailing behind at a distance moved swiftly to her side.

    ¡°Grand Master Gildaen, this is quite improper! Miss Ava is Prince Caeden¡¯s guest! I doubt he will be pleased with her being manhandled in such a manner!¡± Oswin admonished in shock.

    ¡°I am sure the prince could not deny the value of the research we could get from a captured demonkin,¡± he responded smugly.

    His fingers snaked out and grabbed her wrist. He was surprisingly fast and strong for a magic wielder. Ava could not react fast enough to avoid his grasp nor pull her wrist free of his grip.

    ¡°Release her immediately, Grand Master!¡± Ser Derric ordered. His hand slowly and hesitantly unsheathed his sword.

    Oswin''s posture changed as well. She had never seen him angry. He eyed the offending wizard with a singular focus and his brown eyes blazed with undisguised loathing. This had escalated into a fight, but she was unprepared to leave with this wizard to calm everyone down. Perhaps¡­

    ¡°Grand Master Gildaen, did you forget your manners?¡±

    A man slid between them, his face friendly and smiling. His fingers curled around Gildaen¡¯s wrist and squeezed. The hold must have been punishing because the wizard flinched, and his grip eased enough for her to free herself.

    Ava had thought it was Caeden, both men at first glance were similar in height, colouring and physical features. But this man was slightly leaner and had shockingly bright blue eyes instead of green. His voice had a cheery lilt as if every conversation amused and bored him simultaneously. He wore a crimson mantle cape over his left shoulder and stood in elegant and impeccable noble attire.

    ¡°Crown Prince Kael,¡± Gildaen blustered in surprise.

    He bowed to the prince as did Ser Derric and Oswin. All the fight had gone from the three men''s postures.

    ¡°I was only acting in accordance with Guild law. A new species must be turned over to the guild for research. Oswin has flagrantly flouted this rule numerous times and has compromised the Imperial family due to his incompetence,¡± he said, giving Oswin a hostile once over.

    ¡°If I recall correctly that rule only applies to animals. Field research is required for living humanoids with their permission. I trust Mater Oswin is completing¡­¡±

    Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°That thing is a hybrid! Not some peaceful-thinking creature. You might not understand the nature of its schemes now, but it needs to be secured for your safety. You will thank me later, Your Grace,¡± Gildaen interrupted.

    Something dangerous passed through Kael¡¯s eyes. His mouth turned downward in a small frown for a moment and then it was gone, replaced by the charming demeanour once more. Alarm rang through Ava¡¯s mind and put her on edge.

    ¡°I am sure if she posed such a threat both Caeden and Oswin would have taken appropriate measures.¡±

    ¡°Prince Kael, I doubt your mother would approve of you cavorting with a demonkin,¡± Gildaen admonished smugly.

    ¡°Another disapproval added to an overlong list of disappointments. I can hardly keep up anymore. Now I suggest you take your leave before you earn my father''s ire once more by continuing to harass his Imperial guest.¡±

    Kael turned to her and bowed graciously, dismissing any further argument from Gildaen. The wizard fumed silently before turning on his heel and storming off. His failure to bow drew audible gasps of shock from Oswin and Ser Derric. Something Kael had noticed as well because that look appeared in his eyes again. Yet, he did not feel the need to correct the impropriety.

    He looked up at her expectantly.

    ¡°Did you forget your manners as well?¡± he asked, indicating to his outstretched hand waiting to receive hers. ¡°Caeden¡¯s correspondence stated that you are versed in social decorum, but whether you deign to use it is another matter entirely.¡±

    It was usually easy for Ava to determine someone¡¯s feelings toward her, but it was hard to get a proper read beyond the persona he chose to show. She hesitantly placed her hand in his and he brushed his lips against it lightly. He did not release her hand though, and fluidly placed it in the crook of his arm and held it there with his hand over hers.

    ¡°That will be all Master Oswin, I will take over from here,¡± he said.

    ¡°Crown Prince Kael, I must protest!¡± Oswin replied flabbergasted.

    ¡°I am sure you must,¡± Kael laughed. ¡°It is noted. Besides, Ser Derric is here to dissuade me from doing anything untoward with the lovely Miss Ava. Now, I am sure my brother had a list of things for you to research, we will not delay you further.¡±

    Oswin dithered. Ava had not realised that this tour had kept him from more important work.

    ¡°Do you have anywhere in particular you would want to go first, my dear?¡± Kael asked her.

    ¡°The King¡¯s Wood?¡± she asked uncertainly. Unsure if this would put Oswin in a precarious position.

    The mage seemed almost relieved at her suggestion and bowed to Kael before leaving them to it.

    ¡°Oh, wonderful! I have been itching to see your beast myself!¡±

    <hr>

    Ava called to Beast as they moved further into the King¡¯s Wood. Prince Kael had brought them directly from the Royal Quarter through a private exit, avoiding both the Noble and Common quarters through which she assumed they entered when they arrived. The exit was an enlightening discovery but ultimately useless to her since it was under strict guard and patrol. They dithered, fussed and protested to Kael about letting them through but eventually relented.

    It made Ava evermore wary around the enigma that was this prince. That they would allow him outside the castle walls without the company of guards, let alone with a hybrid in tow, was strange. Something was off with him. It was frustrating to try and navigate through his fluff and pleasantries to get to his true intentions.

    Beast bounded through a brush in their periphery and startled Kael. He exhaled and laughed nervously before moving slightly behind her when Beast pranced to her. She knelt to scratch Beast¡¯s neck. The expression of wary wonder on the prince¡¯s face was genuine.

    ¡°Mother, there are others following the small prince. They watch him from a distance, but their eye magics still burn my nose. Beast will root them out from their hiding places.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Ava pondered. That answers why Kael was allowed to walk around unescorted. His guard moved along with him in shadow using illusion magic. What kind of prince used assassins as their royal guard?

    ¡°Leave them be Beast, I have another mission for you to focus on,¡± she replied and told him what he needed to do.

    ¡°Interesting, Caeden¡¯s description of your communications does not do it justice,¡± Kael drawled out. ¡°But how are we to build trust between us if you keep your conversation so secret?¡±

    ¡°Call your guards to your side where I can see them and I will tell you what my conversation was about,¡± she countered.

    ¡°Oh dear, no chance of you doing anything untoward now that you know more eyes are on you,¡± Kael laughed. ¡°They must be slacking if you noticed them ¨C or was it your Beast? Can I pet him?¡±

    ¡°You can,¡± she said. So, this prince was testing me to see if I was a threat? Or was it something else entirely? I still cannot tell. Caeden¡¯s relationship with him seemed strained, it would be folly to discount the possibility that his brother might try to sabotage them both. Perhaps I should test his intentions as well. Kael removed his glove and reached out to Beast¡¯s head. ¡°Whether he will let you is another story.¡±

    Kael paused with his hand in midair. He changed tack and lowered his hand closer to Beast¡¯s nose. The sabre cat stretched to sniff it and then tilted his head to allow Kael to rub it. Kael knelt next to her and stroked between his ears.

    Beast purred in delight at the attention he was getting. He was completely relaxed around Kael and did not see him as a danger to himself or her at all. Not an immediate danger, but I still consider him a potential threat.

    ¡°Such a magnificent creature, how did you tame it?¡± Kael asked, smiling as he scratched Beast''s neck vigorously.

    ¡°Beast is not tame. We just understand each other. I cannot explain it.¡±

    ¡°Like so many things about yourself. You are an enigma to one and all,¡± he lamented, straightening to a stand. There was an accusation in his statement. Was he under the impression that she was intentionally hiding information?

    ¡°Then we are alike in that respect,¡± she retorted, peering at him suspiciously.

    ¡°Those probing eyes of yours will get you into trouble. I do not think I care for them over much, but I do like your mouth,¡± he said, placing her hand securely in the crook of his arm once more. ¡°Now the real tour begins.¡±

 Chapter 8: Part 5 - A Derelict Ship

    Prince Kael took Ava to a rooftop garden on the highest floor of Castle Caedence that overlooked the capital. He pointed out the four coloured spires of the Mage¡¯s Guild in the distance, peaking mystically out among its surroundings in the Common Quarter. The picturesque view of the sun setting over the golden city was majestic even with the ash falling lightly over it. Or it would have been, had it not been for the cold shiver that ran down her spine at the presence she felt.

    She fingered her dagger nervously. Alerted, Ser Derric pushed in front of her with his arm ready on his sword hilt.

    ¡°Which direction?¡± he asked gruffly, scanning the surroundings.

    How to answer that question? She knew which direction, but to send a knight off based on a feeling of an unknown presence. Was I overthinking? This could become as dangerous as the Revenant. Maybe if she had acted sooner, and spoken up more clearly, perhaps they could have prevented the spirit from becoming that abomination.

    ¡°Best answer quickly or we will all end up looking mighty silly,¡± Kael drawled out.

    Despite his attempts to lighten the atmosphere, the crown prince¡¯s jaw was tense. His alarmed eyes scanned the area below, but his brows creased with perplexity. Kael toyed uncertainly with the decorated sword hilts at his side, seemingly able to sense something untoward, but like her could not discern what the threat was.

    The presence disappeared and the alarm left her body, her shoulders drooped in relief. ¡°I ¨C I apologise. I don¡¯t know what that was,¡± she stammered, feeling foolish. She walked to the balcony to stare at the building it emanated from.

    ¡°Describe it,¡± Kael commanded, joining her.

    ¡°It felt like a Great Spirit, but not quite. Almost like many spirits together. I ¨C I ¨C This is new to me, maybe if I saw it, I could understand it better. What is that place?¡± she asked, pointing to a building in the Noble Quarter that almost rivalled the castle in majesty.

    Two statues towered over a doorway, but it was hard to make out their detail from this distance.

    ¡°That is the temple dedicated to the gods. That presence came from there?¡±

    Ava nodded. Kael looked beyond her and Ser Derric and flicked his head to someone. She gazed at the area and could see nothing until the guard moved. Light bent in the shape of a lean person, distorting the area around them as they ran swiftly across the court and down the stairs.

    It was unnerving to realise how close the guard had been without her sensing their proximity. Her discomfort was echoed in Ser Derric''s grunt of disapproval as he relinquished hold of his sword and took his place further away. As far as she knew, Knights found assassins for hire dishonourable.

    ¡°You believe me?¡± she asked, unsure why the prince was humouring her.

    ¡°I am undecided, but I do not wish to leave a potential threat unchecked in the Capital. Caeden and his knights are not fools either. Let us say I trust their summation of you for now,¡± Kael answered, the coldness in his eyes was evident.

    He seemed to realise this and chuckled, blinking the warmth back in his eyes with a perplexed expression. ¡°You must be starved. Come, I am sure they have prepared dinner for us,¡± he offered, leading her to the castle interior.

    His mood switches were difficult to adjust to, and she preferred not dealing with this disingenuous mask. He might be undecided about trusting her, but she knew she could not trust him regardless of his intentions. Extracting herself from his purview as soon as possible would be ideal.

    The crown prince escorted her down a grand stone staircase when he stiffened at the sight of a woman in a white and silver dress hovering in the entrance of a large alcove. Despite her face being red and splotchy, her features looked ethereal. Unable to recall where she had seen their likeness before, Ava put it from her mind.

    Kael frowned reprovingly when the woman signalled to him and disappeared from view. He turned to her at the end of the stairs and bowed. ¡°My apologies, excuse me for a moment,¡± he said absentmindedly, before turning promptly and heading toward the alcove.

    A whispered argument ensued a moment later. Ava surveyed the foyer she was in to try and avoid eavesdropping on their spat. Her eyes fell on an ornate door. Large and intricate, it was far older than its surroundings.

    She felt a pull beyond it, a piece of familiar music she had heard in Draugr Forest so long ago. She reached for the door handle and started when a gloved hand curled around hers.

    ¡°As an Imperial guest, you have full access to the royal quarter, but that door, the Queen¡¯s court and the temple are out of bounds to you,¡± Kael ground out.

    He was angry, but not with her, his argument with the woman had put him in a foul mood and he was struggling to don his charming mask again. He pulled her hand into the crook of his arm, a lot less gently this time and she reflexively pulled away.

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    ¡°Apologies, I am out of sorts. Allow me a moment to recover my wits,¡± Kael admitted and stopped short, his brows furrowed. He shook his head incredulously but led her to a parlour room.

    The smell of the food that bedecked the table made her stomach rumble. They had their dinner in stilted silence. The crown prince ate each bite with a scowl and despite his poor company, she did enjoy the food. She might have moments where she missed her life in Spectermere, but she did not miss the food.

    ¡°Such a large appetite for such a little frame,¡± Kael commented, eventually.

    Ava stopped and stared at him with a raised eyebrow. She had never thought of her appetite as anything out of the ordinary. She ate as much as she could whenever she had food, and rationed when unsure where her next meal would come from. She supposed that would be strange for someone unfamiliar with her lifestyle.

    ¡°My apologies, that was rude, but I did not intend to be offensive,¡± he smirked at her, his mood improving slightly. He seemed genuinely bemused. ¡°You are frustratingly unusual, and I cannot figure you out.¡±

    Well, that makes the two of us, then. ¡°It has been forgotten. Do not worry about it.¡±

    Kael frowned and gazed unseeingly in the distance. ¡°I would prefer if you also forgot about the incident with Lady Bethany earlier.¡±

    Was that who the woman was? She already had, but the fact that he mentioned it again in this manner made her wonder if she should have paid more attention to their argument. Nothing of what she heard was particularly interesting. It revolved around her seeking him out for comfort and him getting angry at her gall. It was a typical lover¡¯s spat. She had seen such arguments play out many times with men who became over-involved with Crastius¡¯ women. It usually did not end well for both people. Did I miss something? No, it does not matter.

    ¡°And I would prefer not to be dragged into political intrigues,¡± she responded. It annoyed her that he was pulling her into his schemes, no matter how accidental.

    Kael chuckled and stood from his seat, plucking a blood-red rose from the vase and perching on the edge of the table before her. She leaned back against her chair defensively, meeting his scrutinizing stare with one of her own.

    ¡°An odd request coming from someone who is the catalyst to many current intrigues, not only within the Empire but across nations,¡± he tilted his head curiously. ¡°Tell me honestly now, why risk yourself on this mission?¡±

    This again? She pursed her lips. Her answer would never satisfy him or Prince Caeden. The Empire could slowly fall into the ocean, and they would find a new place, people and purpose in Haalfkinguit or Dionyshia. She, on the other hand, had nowhere and no purpose beyond this mission the spirits had saddled her with. She was only tolerated because of it. Without Minervin, it was her only lifeline in this world.

    ¡°It seems I may have touched a nerve,¡± he observed, then set about ripping the leaves from the rose¡¯s stem and leaving them to flutter forlornly to the floor.

    ¡°Answer me this then and the game between us can be over. You are aware Caeden will always put the Empire first, are you not?¡±

    ¡°If this is your way of sabotaging him, it is not going to work,¡± Ava stated dryly, peering at him suspiciously.

    ¡°Is that what you think I am doing?¡± he drawled. His eyes grew distant and unfocused. ¡°No, Caeden and I want the same thing; to protect the Casimir Empire and its people. We just want it for very different reasons.

    ¡°Caeden wants his legacy written in the stars. That is what you and your mission are to him,¡± he leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially. ¡°You are a pretty little ship to the stars he can stowaway on.¡±

    That was his intention all along? The prince wished for the stars instead of the Eternal Lands of his gods. She should have figured it out when he spoke of them with such admiration. Prince Caeden harboured some lofty goals. Though she was not sure she would be the one to help him reach it.

    ¡°And what is your reason?¡± she asked.

    ¡°The Emperor¡¯s Crown? Keep up, my dear,¡± he answered, peering at her like she was dense. ¡°For a chance at the stars, Caeden will give up the Ruby Throne and I would no longer need to keep fighting my brother over it. So, rest assured, I have no intention of sabotaging Caeden. Quite the opposite actually.¡±

    ¡°Then just stop acting the fool. You are more calculating than people give you credit for. Why make them think you are clueless and blithe when you are clearly not? So, your path to the throne is easier?¡±

    ¡°Are those Caeden¡¯s words?¡± He asked, stunned. ¡°No, his knights have become chatty again. Perhaps, I should give my brother a bit of a scare so he can quieten his guard down.

    ¡°I jest,¡± he admitted when he spotted the worry on her face. ¡°Only a little. You would be surprised how quickly people reveal themselves when they think you are a witless imbecile. Unfortunately, my father has allowed far too many fools close to him who put themselves and their ambitions before the Empire. It will be far better to root them out now than when I sit on the throne, and they seek to blind me with pomp and ceremony. Though, I did reveal my hand over much with our illustrious Grand Master Gildaen earlier. I hope you are grateful.¡±

    Ava glared at him, as much as she was grateful for his interference, his arrogance was grating. ¡°You seem certain it will be you on the throne and not your brother.¡±

    ¡°Do his chatty knights say different?¡± Kael leaned back on his hands and watched the ash fall over his golden city. He flicked the rose back and forth in his hand with his thumb in contemplation.

    ¡°Caeden is an idealist. Honourable, just and faithful, with an implacable will to boot. He is the perfect son, the one my mother would have preferred, if not for those accursed green eyes,¡± he laughed, the sound resentful. ¡°He has a clear vision for the Empire, one that could take it to the next golden age. Alternatively, if the Empire does not follow this vision freely, he could lead it back to the dark ages to build it anew brick by brick.

    ¡°For simple men like King Raeburn, who despise the political dance and find worth in the honour of battle, Caeden is an easy choice. But the rest, who cleave to their power and luxury, they will not risk the latter for a small chance at the former. They will opt for what they think is the safe option. Theirs are the voices that matter most to my father, and they are the ones who will pressure him into choosing me.¡±

    Kael laughed mirthlessly before shaking his head in confusion.

    ¡°How odd, I am not sure why I told you that. Perhaps because you have no stakes in the future of the Empire¡­ No, it is those invasive eyes of yours,¡± he shrugged. ¡°Well, since I am feeling unusually chatty, I will confess one more thing to you.¡±

    He pinched the rose¡¯s stem, halving it and chucking the extra piece to the floor. He placed the rose in her hair and lifted her chin to meet her eyes. His blue ones were as cold as ice.

    ¡°If this is some ploy of yours to lead Caeden to his doom, rest assured that I will hunt you down and gut you myself.¡±

 Chapter 8: Part 6 - An Age of Trickery

    Caeden sat in Oswin¡¯s guest parlour at the Mage¡¯s Guild, watching the enchanted blue obsidian crystal floating midair. It made a soft puffing sound and periodically blew off mild gusts of chill air. The enchanted runes carved into its hexagonal surface glowed two at a time, on and off. A magical invention reverse-engineered by the guild from the Dorcan Illuminaris, though it lacked its predecessor¡¯s longevity. He wondered idly at the viability of installing these Ice crystals in the castle. No, it could not work. The magic required to recharge it could be better spent on more important matters.

    Caeden shifted in his seat, stretching his legs out. The unease he had felt in the temple slowly ebbed away as he sat marvelling at the runic hexagon. The hallucination had felt so real but now it was hard to tell, so different it was from his mad episodes in Landon. A result of my exhausted mind and body perhaps.

    The door opened slightly ajar, and he heard Oswin talking to someone before he entered the room, along with all the hustle and bustle outside. The guild was abuzz when he arrived. Many of its residents rushed about in a restless hurry to organise. It was surprising to learn that the court had heeded his suggestion to evacuate the borders along the Ashen Fields. More so, that the emperor had delegated the immense task to Kael. Would it be too soon to hope that he was finally becoming a leader I could follow?

    Oswin and a scrappy man in white robes bowed as he stood to greet them, their arms filled with scrolls, heavy parchment and a rolled-up tapestry. They placed them all on a table nearby.

    ¡°Your Grace, allow me to introduce Adept Graeyson,¡± Oswin introduced his unkempt companion. ¡°He has been assisting me with some of my research.¡± There was strain in his eyes and voice.

    ¡°A pleasure¡­¡±

    ¡°The pleasure is all mine, Your Grace!¡± the man blurted enthusiastically. ¡°I cannot believe I have the opportunity to study a rare species!¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡± Caeden asked dumbstruck, sending a questioning gaze to Oswin. The man¡¯s excitement was overbearing.

    ¡°Adept Graeyson is a biologist with specialisation in anthropology, Your Grace. We worked together on a Beastkin study before going into our respective fields. I have enquired about Ava¡¯s differences in likeness to typical demonkin¡­¡±

    ¡°Typical demonkin! There¡¯s nothing typical about them. A physiological curse that only affects most half-race offspring. Why, despite their differing parentages, are they all born with horns and feathered wings? To what goal and purpose is this curse intended? They have never been seen working together but will always collect an afflicted child. Most curious societal behaviour, indeed!

    ¡°My working theory is that environmental factors may have caused Miss Ava¡¯s mutation. There were no hybrids birthed in Spectermere recorded to date! Though I will not rule out it could be a result of her sex,¡± Graeyson rambled joyously.

    ¡°Her sex?¡± Caeden asked, stifling a smile.

    It was amusing to see Oswin subtly try to silence the overexcited Adept and fail horrendously.

    ¡°Yes, did you know that most demonkin are male? There are females, but they have been few and far between. Only five sightings in 1,132 years of recorded history! But these are only theories. I cannot say for certain until I study her blood work, Your Grace. At the very least, it could identify the nature of her birth parents.¡±

    He seemed to be asking for permission. Did Ava disapprove of them taking her blood? It would be hard to believe her doing so when she sought the answers it could provide. No, judging by Oswin¡¯s sour expression, something else occurred.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Caeden prompted Oswin.

    Oswin''s form puffed up with a deep breath and then released it with a heavy sigh of defeat.

    ¡°My apologies, Your Grace. I feel it would be unwise to study Miss Ava at the Mage¡¯s Guild. We encountered Grand Master Gildaen a few hours earlier, who seemed adamant that she be taken into guild custody despite the emperor¡¯s royal decree allowing her to walk freely. It was only through Prince Kael¡¯s interference that we managed to rebuff his attempt. Their interaction was uncomfortable to witness and given our suspicions of the Grand Master, I am loathe to share any information with the guild that could be used against her and this mission,¡± Oswin admitted sheepishly.

    Caeden had figured Ava would be far too important for either man not to swarm around her eventually, but to have them show their hands this quickly. Yet, Kael seemed at odds with both his mother and the Grand Master. Cracks were forming between Kael and his foolish future advisors, now would be the ideal time to reconnect with his brother and establish his position as the future emperor¡¯s sword arm and military advisor. The Casimir Empire would see him acting with his brother in this mission instead of against him.

    ¡°Establish a private research team on my order and relocate it to the castle. You will conduct your research with Miss Ava there. No results will be shared with anyone without my explicit consent,¡± Caeden commanded.

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    ¡°Wonderful!¡± Graeyson exclaimed. ¡°I will pack my things immediately.¡±

    The Adept turned and pranced excitedly out of the room, oblivious to Oswin''s dismay and unsaid objection.

    ¡°My apologies, Your Grace. Graeyson forgets himself in his excitement, but his ability to retain and archive massive amounts of information would put most mages to shame and will be invaluable in this endeavour. Unfortunately, he has not had much interaction with nobility, I will admonish him on his impropriety.¡±

    ¡°I took no offence, Oswin. Are you sure he can be trusted?¡±

    ¡°He holds no magical aptitude and is therefore beneath the notice of the Grand Master. I do not know him to be easily swayed by those who have shunned him in the past, nor will he pass up the rare opportunity to study the enigma that is Miss Ava. Therefore, I trust him to act with the utmost integrity and discretion.¡±

    ¡°Then I will be satisfied. I will issue an official request to the Guild for your research team. Gildaen cannot deny it,¡± Caeden confirmed. He pursed his lips, raised a brow and thought for a moment. ¡°What do you know of Gildaen¡¯s former apprentice?¡±

    ¡°Shaennen? Very little, he was gone from the guild years before I was first brought here. From what I have heard, he was considered a prodigy, Gildaen¡¯s pride and joy, and rumoured to become Grand Master after¡­ Ava¡¯s wizard. Gildaen was the one who exposed his illegal experiments after he noticed Shaennen¡¯s assistants acting strangely. He died soon after he was found out. Or did he go missing?¡±

    Who knew? The Grand Master had had a moral compass in the past. ¡°Well, which is it? Did he die or go missing?¡±

    ¡°I cannot rightly recall. I seem to remember hearing another rumour that he was burned at the pyre as well. For such an infamous character, it is odd that his end is a mystery,¡± Oswin pondered through the conflicting stories with bunched brows.

    ¡°Find the truth of it,¡± Caeden commanded. ¡°It may uncover who this second sorcerer in Spectermere is.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, I shall, Your Grace. I have found some interesting information in the ancient archives on your order. I could not find anything on Azael or the Shadow King. Graeyson does not recall seeing records pertaining to a wraith with burning red eyes. But his ears pricked up at the mention of the conversation between Miss Ava and the Leviathan, mainly the part of setting her on the correct path.¡±

    Oswin indicated to the parchment piled on the table. They unfurled them, laying them out over the floor and table. They were all etchings and sketches of different places in the ancient times, depicting one of two scenes, all except the tapestry. Both scenes featured a shadowed figure. In one scene the figure guided a mortal away from the path they were taking and onto a new one. And in the second the figure was depicted stealing a mortal soul from the receptive palms of either Holden or Fern. Each mortal soul was etched with a saddened expression on their faces.

    Caeden moved to the tapestry. The images sewn into it told a story of a human hero, faithful and bathed in the light of the gods. In each step of his journey, each battle he had, the shadowed figure was there, prompting him further and further away from their light until the hero followed him into darkness as a spirit. There were beasts and humanoid figures along with them in this last scene. Caeden¡¯s eyes lingered on one. A woman in a flowing dress made from wind and snow.

    Perturbed, Caeden frowned and rubbed his fingers across his forehead. Is that the future I would lead the Empire to with Ava¡¯s mission? A time of darkness or possibly¡­

    ¡°I cannot decide on how to interpret them. I can only assume this recurring shadowy trickster figure is the Reaper,¡± Oswin said after a time.

    ¡°I can understand why but no, the depictions of Holden and Fern are post-ascension. They would have already banished him to the Deep. And why deviate from his depictions as a hooded shade? Besides, the Reaper is not known to have much interest in souls, his aim has always been to sow chaos among the living,¡± Caeden replied.

    ¡°His demonkin, perhaps? No, they would have been depicted with wings and horns.¡± Oswin¡¯s eyes darted from etching to etching as his mind searched for answers.

    Caeden ran his fingers over each shadowed figure. In every scene, the figure had a different form, an elf, a four-armed orc, a tiny dwarf or a burly human, always matching the race of the ancient mortal it was attempting to influence. In one scene it bore the curves of a woman, in another a man and in yet another it had the tiny frame of a child. There seemed to be something about the figure¡¯s eyes the original artisan wanted to focus on. They were always prominent and unobscured by shadow, but their meaning was lost over time or in the artist''s interpretation as he copied it from the ancient records.

    ¡°Multiple people with a shared purpose or a singular shapeshifting god?¡± Caeden asked, hoping Oswin would latch onto his train of thought.

    ¡°Yes, the Other would make sense given current events. However, his intentions do not seem to be benign in these etchings. The faith does not show him to be openly antagonistic toward Holden and Fern,¡± the mage opined.

    ¡°I cannot speak to the grand dance that the gods have among themselves. However, the shadowed darkness in these depictions could mean the unknown rather than a malevolent void. I will go with the former until we find out more. Would it be possible to see the original records?¡±

    ¡°I would advise against it, Your Grace,¡± Oswin moaned painfully, rubbing the space between his brows. ¡°I compared them to determine their accuracy. Even with all the protections in place, the originals are torturous to look through when accompanied by their ancient script.¡±

    ¡°I see. What does Miss Ava make of these?¡± he asked, holding up the tapestry and trying to make out the rest of the spirits surrounding the hero and shadowed figure. He recognised none, except to assume that the lizard creature who stood ablaze could be the Wyvern. He would need more time with the tapestry to match them to the ones he knew about.

    Oswin stared at him in confusion. He looked at the mage equally confused and sifted through their interaction thus far to determine if he had missed something. Now that he thought about it, it was odd that she had not been with Oswin and Graeyson when they arrived.

    ¡°Oswin,¡± Caeden bit out and glared at him. ¡°Where is Miss Ava?¡±

    ¡°Your Grace, I sent a messenger earlier to inform you that she was with Prince Kael,¡± he blurted nervously.

    ¡°Gods dammit, Oswin!¡± Caeden growled, immediately dropping the tapestry to the floor and storming from the room.

 Chapter 8: Part 7 - Belligerent Blood

    Caeden jumped down from his anxious and breathless horse and ran as soon as his feet hit the ground. He rushed up the grand staircase two at a time, his blood pumped in his ears from his exertion.

    Kael¡¯s usual blithe drawl drifted down to him, but he could already pick up the disguised threat in his brother¡¯s tone before he heard the words outside the parlour door.

    ¡°¡­rest assured that I will hunt you down and gut you myself.¡±

    His jaw stiffened, he bunched his fist, and his body tensed in rage. Caeden burst through the door, crossing the floor with an ungodly speed.

    Kael¡¯s eyes widened in bewilderment and straightened, too slow to avoid his fist to his face. He tumbled from his perch on the table. Stopping his fall with one hand, he struggled to right himself with a couple of heavy steps.

    Caeden bunched his fist again, ready to swing. This time with all the force of his weight. He pulled his arm back, but a slim hand curled around it, preventing further movement. He looked back angrily and met Ava¡¯s saddened eyes. The red flower in her hair brought out their dejected expression all the more. His fingers flexed, torn between wanting to comfort her or rage once more against her aggressor.

    Behind her, a blurred movement caught his eye. Ser Derric faced it in a defensive position. He had yet to brandish his sword, waiting for one of Kael''s so-called guards to make the first move. He frowned with displeasure but lowered his arm. Curses! He had acted without thinking.

    ¡°Ahh! Gods dammit, you reckless brute!¡± Kael exclaimed angrily once he regained his balance, pressing the tips of his fingers against his reddening cheek. ¡°Years of trying to get some sort of reaction out of you and you finally lose yourself over her?

    ¡°Do not flatter yourself, my dear. Caeden is not defending your honour. He just does not like anyone playing with his toys,¡± he spat viciously at Ava.

    Caeden ground his jaw and stepped threateningly towards his brother. Fifteen years later and he was still holding on to that old fight?

    ¡°Prince Caeden, stop,¡± Ava whispered desperately as she pulled on his white mantle.

    ¡°He threatened you! Why are you defending him?¡± he bellowed furiously.

    ¡°He¡­¡±

    ¡°Tsk, Tsk, my dear. I do not believe it is your place to be spilling my secrets,¡± Kael interrupted with annoyance.

    Caeden glared at him, ripping the rose from Ava¡¯s hair and crushing it within his fisted palm. He threw it to the floor before Kael''s feet as he led Ava out of the parlour.

    He was seething and he tried to focus on his breathing to calm his irrational rage.

    Fifteen years with barely any meaningful contact, and only one sentence brings forth all those years of bottled resentment and frustration over Kael''s indifference. The Knights Guild would have been ashamed of my lack of discipline.

    He led Ava to a small waiting area along the grand staircase and released her arm. He flopped onto a sofa, closed his eyes and heaved heavy breaths. He heard Ava shuffling around and cracked an eye open.

    She moved around the area, taking in the space and its furniture with a raised quizzical eyebrow and a half smile.

    ¡°I did not know there was a room back here,¡± she said in amazement.

    Understandable, it was designed as an optical illusion, making it look like a deep alcove rather than an entrance to a larger room from the outside.

    ¡°Castle Caedence has a host of interesting nooks, crannies, and secrets. We would always find something new as children,¡± he responded. He would have wished to show her everything he knew if he had only the time.

    ¡°What is behind the elaborate door in the foyer?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Caeden grimaced. ¡°Forget you saw it.¡± That was something he was forbidden from sharing with anyone, not just her.

    ¡°I wonder if I should get used to princes telling me to forget things,¡± she muttered sarcastically.

    She moved to a window when she heard a Knight contingent marching across the ground below. The commanding captain bellowed an instruction. His contingent shouted their affirmation in tandem and then followed his direction with a clamour of metal. They would join the mages from the guild to assist with the evacuation.

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Caeden asked. What games was Kael playing?

    ¡°Nothing, it is already forgotten,¡± she glared at him before turning back to stare out of the window.

    Caeden¡¯s jaw tensed. Her insolence was annoying, but he should have known she would close up if he offered her nothing in return. He allowed his head to fall against the sofa¡¯s back and stared at the carved wooden pattern along the ceiling.

    ¡°What happened between the two of you?¡±

    He heaved a sigh. It was not a discussion he wanted to have, but he needed to give her something meaningful to satisfy her curiosity.

    ¡°We were close once. My brother and my mother were the only people I could trust without any measure of doubt back then. We played together often, even when things got tense between our parents, and we were warned away from each other. After much trial and error, we found a secret place where no one could find us and spent hours in our own little imaginary version of the Empire.

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    ¡°But as we grew older the burden of my role and the bitterness of our mothers started to weigh heavy on me, and I began to resent Kael. I think he felt it too, and a rift developed. He was the son who got and had everything while I was the bastard spare. A second thought in the emperor¡¯s mind and a constant reminder of his infidelity in the Queen¡¯s eye. He would get the Empire, get our home, and have a wife and family while I would get battles and an ash fort by the sea, surrounded by knights for the rest of my life.

    ¡°My mother tried to compensate for this lack. Everything Kael received my mother tried to gift me something similar. At the time a toy range became popular among the noble children. They were wood carvings of the greatest heroes across Archaicron ¨C Casimir, Solstein, Irahaan and Frikka. But there was one Kael¡¯s mother would not allow him to have ¨C Tekkhan, the Orc King and Mulgrath¡¯s disciple.

    ¡°That toy was my pride and joy purely because it was the one thing I had that Kael did not. And naturally, it was the only toy my brother wished to play with the next time we met. We fought about it and the resentment I tried to bottle up burst forth. The folly of youth, such a stupid thing to pick a fight about,¡± he muttered with a frown.

    ¡°I went back to our secret place the following day to apologise and was willing to lend it to him to play with. He was not there. For a week he did not show up before I mustered up the courage to seek him out at the Queen¡¯s Quarter. Each day I went there and each time I was mercilessly shooed away with the excuse that the crown prince had no time to humour my childish fancies. Eventually, I stopped trying.

    ¡±To think that Tekkhan¡¯s toy caused the rift between the Empire¡¯s princes. The orcs would have a grand old time guffawing at that!¡± Caeden laughed bitterly.

    ¡°I watched him from a distance since then and was bitterly disappointed that he had grown into a voiceless shadow of his former self through which his mother and her court jester could speak. The idyllic vision of what we would make of the Casimir Empire together dying with his every inaction.

    ¡°And now I cannot decide whether he could be an ally in this endeavour or not,¡± Caeden ended with a sigh, rubbing his palms across his face.

    ¡°He can be,¡± she responded evenly.

    Caeden raised an eyebrow at her matter-of-fact tone, enquiring at her meaning.

    ¡°Your brother wishes to support you. His reasons may not be selfless, but I think neither one of us has entirely selfless goals in this.¡±

    His eyes narrowed suspiciously. He wondered if Kael had gotten to the truth of her goals yet. He had tried to figure them out oftentimes himself. Vengeance was the only goal she had that fully made any sense to him, but he knew there had to be something more. She did not harbour sufficient bitterness toward Azael for it to be her sole motivator.

    ¡°Regardless,¡± she continued. ¡°Our aims are the same ¨C to save Archaicron. He said as much.¡±

    ¡°Then why did he not come to me directly?¡±

    ¡°Because he is obstinate and stubborn. One of the few personality quirks you have in common. Why did you not go to him directly if you were considering having him as an ally?¡±

    Caeden glared at her with undisguised annoyance but could not deny that she had a point. He scratched his chin thoughtfully. As much as he preferred not dealing with his brother, it was something he could not avoid. He certainly did not want him dealing with Ava directly.

    ¡°Why did he threaten you?¡±

    Ava sighed sadly and she fidgeted with her nails. His threat got to her.

    ¡°He was trying to protect you, to ensure that I do not mislead you. I think your brother still cares for you deeply. And I think you are the same, but you are both too hard-headed to show it and make the first move.¡±

    Caeden shifted forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. He placed his head in his hands, stared at the floor and moaned from exhaustion, still indecisive on his next move with Kael.

    ¡°I suppose I have to trust your mind because I certainly cannot trust my own anymore,¡± he muttered, more to himself than her.

    She walked over to him and pulled his hand away from his head, dragging his face up to look into her frowning one by the chin.

    ¡°Are you getting headaches again? Have the hallucinations returned?¡± she asked as she pulled down his lower eyelids to examine his eyes.

    ¡°No headaches, but I thought I saw something in the temple earlier, Holden¡¯s statue¡­¡± he trailed off when her eyes widened in shock. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked in alarm.

    <hr>

    Caeden looked up at the stern face of Holden¡¯s statue. The white stone eyes stared unseeingly across the temple to its grand exit. They were empty and blank, no longer glowing vibrantly as it did when he fled from it in fear.

    ¡°Anything?¡± he asked Ava. His heart fluttered excitedly as he waited for her response.

    She stood awkwardly in the central aisle. Her eyes swept through everything in the temple suspiciously. Clutching the magi¡¯s satchel to her chest protectively, she was clearly discomforted by being in here.

    Ava shook her head. ¡°Nothing. Whatever you saw, whatever I felt, is not here anymore.¡±

    ¡°There are stories about the gods appearing to mortals in dire times and giving them divine instruction. To think I ran away in the face of such honour,¡± Caeden muttered with disappointment.

    Against his judgement and rationale, he had begun to hope and believe when Ava explained what she had felt earlier.

    ¡°Are you certain it was Holden you saw?¡± she asked, her brow furrowing with perplexed concern.

    ¡°Well, who else could it be?¡± he countered. He knew he sounded foolish and irrational, but his faith told him it was true. Holden had spoken to him, and he had fled in fear.

    ¡°I ¨C I don¡¯t know. That presence did not feel¡­ right,¡± she sighed. ¡°Perhaps that is what god spirits are like, I cannot be sure myself. But you need to tread carefully.¡±

    ¡°Rest easy,¡± Caeden chuckled. ¡°I will not allow my faith to blind me if that concerns you. Not that it matters now. I have shown cowardice to the god of protection, honour and order, I doubt he will return.¡±

    He heard a gasp across the aisle and his eyes landed on Queen Aeline standing agape at the entrance. Anger shook her frame and she struggled to formulate the words her gaping mouth attempted to form.

    What was she doing here at this hour? Queen Aeline was usually sequestered in her quarters during the evenings. He moved to Ava and dragged her behind him.

    ¡°How dare you?¡± Queen Aeline screeched.

    ¡°This is not as dire as you wish to make it. I suggest you calm down,¡± Caeden said calmly.

    ¡°Not as dire? This is the gods'' temple and you of all people sully it by bringing that accursed demonkin creature here?¡± she shrieked aghast.

    ¡°Queen Aeline!¡± Caeden snapped. ¡°This is just a building, and she is just a girl. I beg you to remember where your faith truly lies!

    ¡°Ser Derric, Her Highness has grown hysterical. Escort her back to her quarters,¡± he ordered the knight.

    The queen ripped her arm from Ser Derric¡¯s reaching hand and looked at him hopelessly.

    ¡°You cannot see that she has blinded you. She turns you against your brother and now turns you away from the light of the gods. I will free you from her influence,¡± she spat furiously before turning to leave.

    ¡°I apologise,¡± Caeden whispered to Ava with a sigh. ¡°She was not supposed to be here¡­¡±

    He trailed off. Queen Aeline''s words had affected him, reminding him of the hero in the tapestry. The chilly fingers of uncertainty crept through his mind and made his heart flip over. No, I must trust that the path I am on is righteous. Faith and reason say it is so.

    Caeden''s eyes narrowed as they exited the temple, and a silent rage flared. Grand Master Gildaen stood outside watching the Queen and Ser Derric¡¯s retreating forms. His smile was smug when he turned to him.

    ¡°You grow bolder with each passing day Gildaen. One day, you shall know my wrath,¡± he threatened.

    ¡°A frightening prospect, forever prince,¡± he bowed. The action was meant as a mockery. ¡°But today is not that day.¡±

 Chapter 9: Part 1 - A Deadly Dance

    Ava shot an arrow into the hay target. It embedded itself near the outer edges. Exacerbated, she exhaled heavily. Her aim was off. Her movement was stiff and her frame tense from frustration. She had hoped the time alone with her bow would calm her down, but this was worsening her mood.

    A gaggle of giggles filled the silent air and the whispered hisses that followed broke her concentration. Ava tried to stifle her annoyance. Somehow, she had earned Lady Bethany¡¯s ire and had become a walking spectacle for her and her handmaidens to gawk, point, whisper, and giggle over.

    The pettiness of women was not a new concept for her. She had put a swift end to it when she had become much of the same for Zenith and her brothel sisters in Spectermere. But Lady Bethany¡¯s situation would not be so easy to handle.

    Caeden had assigned Ava a handmaid of her own, Gretchen. Apart from being a nonstop gossip and chatterbox, the girl was friendly and cheerful for the most part. It was from her that she had learned of Caeden¡¯s marriage prospects, enlightening her to just how deeply Kael had dragged her into his intrigues. It would have been easier to tell Caeden of the relationship between the two back when she first met Kael. Curse my stubbornness.

    Neither had been around these past few days, robbing her of the opportunity to remedy this issue quickly. While Kael had been organising the evacuation, Caeden was back in Landon wrapped up in the bureaucracy between Haalfkinguit and Empire. It irritated her that they had landed her in this mess and went about their business as if nothing untoward had occurred. At the very least they had managed to convince the emperor to eject the Grand Master from the royal quarter and shuffle him back to the Mage¡¯s Guild while Oswin conducted his study.

    The queen had been quiet too, despite her threat. But the incident in the temple resulted in a new set of hostile knights shadowing her from a distance. She was certain that Kael had one of his assassins following her around as well.

    The royal quarter had become a stiflingly hot prison without bars, and she needed to leave it behind. The wyvern would not wait any longer. The one grace was that Beast had found an exit¡ªan unused tunnel to the outside. But to find its entrance from the inside, especially with all these guards following her around was nearly impossible. Regardless, there was something she needed to do first.

    The giggles came again. Ava frowned, her irritation rising. She nocked another arrow, pivoted and sent it flying into the flowerpot on the balcony above them. It shattered into pieces and its dry contents poured over the women below.

    Ava grinned as the women screamed and jumped away.

    ¡°How dare you?¡± Lady Bethany growled in their midst. Her pretty hair and dress were soiled with dirt and ash.

    She nocked another arrow and pointed it directly at the noblewoman, her grin fading. She was done humouring their nonsense.

    They shrieked in fear, nearly clamouring over each other in retreat. Ava laughed at the spectacle.

    ¡°You play dangerous games.¡±

    Ava flinched at the sound of the amused voice and spun around. It took all her willpower not to hide her bow behind her back as the noble lady walked to her. Lady Ella, she assumed. She had the same vibrant green eyes as Caeden, though her blonde hair was more pale than golden. A gentle smirk pulled at her lips.

    ¡°I was not going to shoot her,¡± Ava admitted without thinking.

    Lady Ella walked to the archery station and fidgeted with the arrows there, straightening each one.

    ¡°I know,¡± she sighed. ¡°You think I disapprove? I do not. These noblewomen forget themselves and need to be reminded of their fragility. But I would advise you to pick your opponents carefully. You have antagonised two of them. Had you been anyone else, you would have lost your head.¡±

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    ¡°It would have been worth it,¡± Ava muttered to herself.

    Caeden¡¯s mother spoke as if she were not a noblewoman herself. According to Gretchen¡¯s gossip, the woman had the emperor¡¯s ear, making her close if not equal to the Queen in influence and power.

    Lady Ella laughed. ¡°You remind me of my younger self. It is fortunate that both the emperor and her son no longer listen to the queen¡¯s fervent ramblings. And, that Lady Bethany has not yet engrained herself fully within key areas of influence. But that can change, the political dance is as fickle as your spirits. I will ensure that Lady Bethany does not bother you again with the agreement that you keep your head down. I say this for Caeden¡¯s sake as well as yours.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± she mumbled, taking her place before the target and nocking another arrow.

    She had been trying to do that exact thing. Lady Bethany¡¯s continual harassment had made finding that exit harder. But at least she would not be a problem anymore. Ava shot an arrow into the target, elated that she had finally managed to get one closer to the center.

    ¡°You are quite skilled at archery. I would have liked to learn it myself. What drove you to pick it up?¡± she asked.

    Ava looked at Lady Ella, trying to figure out why she was interested. If there was another motive behind her curiosity, she was far better at covering it up than Kael. Her question seemed earnest.

    ¡°I needed to know how to protect myself in Spectermere, one way or another. I had no magical capability, and the sword had limitations with my build and strength. Archery just seemed to come more naturally to me. Did you take up horse riding instead?¡±

    Lady Ella laughed, bitterly. ¡°No, my father thought such athletic pastimes would hinder my chances of marrying above my station. Most of my time was spent in etiquette lessons and winning over the nobles we often rubbed shoulders with.

    ¡°Suffering from naive confidence, I thought I had befriended a few of the more influential ones. Until a noblewoman¡¯s snub shattered my very being. Every ¡®friend¡¯, and every invite disappeared overnight. I realized then that I had been a pet that humoured these nobles sometimes. Only to be discarded when I became socially unacceptable to be around. My family¡¯s reputation was in ruins and our livelihood devastated all because I dared exist next to her.¡±

    ¡°I ¨C I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ava responded awkwardly.

    ¡°Do not be. I got my revenge in the end.¡±

    ¡°What did you do?¡±

    ¡°I seduced that noblewoman¡¯s husband and bore him a child,¡± she said with a bitter smirk. ¡°I knew the cost would be my head, but I thought it worth that risk at the time. Of course, I had nothing to lose and her life to gain. And all those nobles who snubbed me because of her are my pets now. Come, teach me the basics.¡±

    Utterly dumbfounded, Ava went to pick out a beginner¡¯s bow and tutored her through the stance, showing her how to aim and when to release. It was hard to grasp that Caeden¡¯s seemingly benign mother was that ruthless.

    ¡°You do not approve?¡± she asked quizzically.

    ¡°I ¨C It is not something I would do, no,¡± Ava responded with a discomforted laugh. ¡°Not that I can anyway, men are repelled by what I am.¡±

    ¡°I disagree. You will become very dangerous once you realise that,¡± Lady Ella countered, she tilted her head curiously as she considered Ava.

    Ava shook her head at the idea. She just did not have the nerve to follow through with seduction. It required far more than she was willing to give.

    With the bow in hand, Lady Ella seemed to shrug off her refinement. Her eyes glimmered with wild excitement. She was freer, unburdened ¨C happier.

    ¡°Do you not regret anything at all?¡± Ava asked with a frown.

    Lady Ella shifted uncomfortably.

    ¡°Some days. I am not as cold as some may think. But it is hard to be remorseful considering the despair I crawled out of, and Caeden was a joy I would not give up for anything. His well-being is my life¡¯s purpose. ¡®My charge. My duty. My cause.¡¯ As he would put it.¡±

    Her first shot landed on the floor before them, the arrow skittering across it to a stop.

    ¡°Curses!¡± she exclaimed.

    ¡°Be patient with yourself, you have accomplished more than most on their first try,¡± Ava responded, retrieving the arrow for another attempt.

    After correcting her stance, Lady Ella¡¯s second attempt landed just before the target.

    ¡°Ah-ha, you see! With some practice and less restrictive clothing, you will manage to get the target eventually.¡±

    ¡°Are you feeling more at home? Gretchen mentioned that you seem a bit restless,¡± Lady Ella asked after a few more shots.

    ¡°This is not my home. My home died with Minervin,¡± Ava bit out. The question had caught her off guard. ¡°I wonder if I am even a guest. Guests tend to be free enough to leave.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Lady Ella pondered. ¡°Where would you go? I hope you understand that the Wyvern is out of the question.¡±

    ¡°The ¨C market? I have seen so little of this place.¡±

    ¡°Well, that can be easily remedied. I shall arrange the details immediately,¡± Lady Ella stated cheerily.

    She returned the bow to the table and adopted the stance of a graceful noblewoman again. Before leaving, she took Ava''s hands gently into hers.

    ¡°Ava, if you feel stifled again, please come to me directly. Neither I nor Caeden wish you to feel like a prisoner here.¡±

 Chapter 9: Part 2 - Hell Hath No Fury...

    Ava bent over the market stall to examine the rows of dolls. She had always enjoyed playing with her bow and dagger outside with Minervin¡¯s conjurations to make her adventures exciting. Dolls were never an option and had never been a thought in her mind. But seeing them all lined up with their elegant lace dresses and shiny curls, she had to admit they were all terribly pretty.

    She reached for the prettiest one and her hand bumped against a tiny one. The child standing beside her started at the sight of Ava. But, as the general shock wore off, she stared, tilting her head from side to side as she examined her curiously.

    Ava gave her a toothy smile, half expecting the child to run off in fear. Surprisingly, the girl returned it with a toothless one of her own.

    ¡°You¡¯re really pretty,¡± the girl exclaimed.

    ¡°And you are adorable,¡± she responded, taken aback.

    The girl beamed as her cheeks flushed red.

    ¡°Do you want one?¡± Ava asked, pointing to the doll they were reaching for.

    The girl''s eyes sparkled, and she nodded vigorously. She fidgeted with her fingers excitedly and bounced up and down.

    Ava fumbled with her satchel, reaching into it for the coin pouches. A shadow fell over her vision. She blinked and looked up to see a woman grab the girl''s arm, glaring back at her as she dragged her child away from the marketplace.

    ¡°Mama, wait!¡±  the girl whined as they disappeared into the crowd.

    ¡°My apologies. I suppose it is for the best. The mother would have taken it away as soon as she learned where she got it from. People are so silly,¡± Gretchen grumbled angrily.

    ¡°I suppose so. I would not worry about it as long as they are not attacking,¡± Ava responded, absent-mindedly.

    ¡°Were you attacked a lot in Spectermere?¡± she gasped.

    ¡°Not attacked. I have been robbed a few times, but most of the time people wanted nothing to do with me.¡±

    ¡°It must be a nice change in pace then. You have caught the eye of a Prince, and now everyone who matters treats you like royalty,¡± Gretchen muttered with admiration. ¡°So, to the armorer¡¯s as planned?¡±

    Ava nodded. A change of pace indeed. She could not move without a bevy of guards, seen and unseen, following her around. She could not understand how any royal could stand it. At least she had only Ser Derric this time. She much preferred his presence to those other ones.

    The armourer sat in the corner of his store, polishing a steel pauldron on his lap. He raised his eyes quickly to take them in and they dropped back to his work.

    ¡°I ain¡¯t serving you,¡± he stated dismissively.

    Ava¡¯s back straightened with annoyance, and she felt her frustration boiling over once again.

    ¡°What do you mean, you won¡¯t offer me service? I have gold.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want your gold, demonkin. Now get out of my shop before I call the guard.¡±

    The armourer seemed ready to yell when she felt Ser Derric enter behind her.

    ¡°Ser Derric, it¡¯s been a while. Your visit honours me. This customer was just leaving, how may I assist such an esteemed royal knight?¡± he said, putting the pauldron to the side to stand and tilt his head in respectful welcome.

    ¡°It is alright, Master Pietr.  The girl is an Imperial guest,¡± Ser Derric replied. ¡°I only ask that you assist her.¡±

    ¡°Ogch! I didn¡¯t realise. Of course, she¡¯s looking for archery gear judging by how she holds herself. Boiled leather for maximum protection without sacrificing agility. Don¡¯t usually make armour for her frame, but I can give even the finest elf smiths a run for their money,¡± the armourer gushed.

    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Ava said, turning on her heel with a sniff. ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind and will take the honour of my business elsewhere.¡±

    She marched back into the street, attempting to control her increasing irritation. It is far too hot.

    ¡°Master Pietr is considered one of the best armourers in the Empire, that smite will linger with him for a while. Are you alright? Your tether seems shorter than usual,¡± Ser Derric asked as he exited behind her.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, I apologise. I thought a trip to the market would put me in a better mood,¡± she responded, regretting her rash actions. She needed that armour. She needed peace, away from guards and the fiery spirit squatting in her head.

    Something was wrong with it. It tried to hide it, but she could feel its restless panic.

    ¡°Should we go back and come another day?¡± Ava asked.

    ¡°Oh wait, there is a dress shop I have been dying to show you,¡± Gretchen burst out excitedly, pulling her arms. ¡°Come on, do not make that face. You will love them.¡±

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    Ava begrudgingly allowed Gretchen to drag her through the meandering streets. The handmaid¡¯s excitement was contagious as she rambled endlessly about skirts and ribbons.

    ¡°Wait,¡± she heard Ser Derric command from a distance.

    She turned and searched for the knight. He was nowhere in sight. There was no one in sight. The street was not just empty, it was abandoned. Strange, compared to the busy market streets they had come from.

    Her gut squeezed in trepidation, and she stopped, pulling her arm from Gretchen¡¯s easy grip. The girl rambled on, oblivious to her growing dread and carried on down the street.

    ¡°Gretchen! Come back!¡± she whispered desperately.

    ¡°Come on, it is just this way,¡± the handmaid responded, skipping as she turned a corner.

    Ava stepped back, torn between wanting to drag Gretchen back and finding Ser Derric. Her gut told her not to go any further.

    ¡°Gretchen, come back to me. I will go no further,¡± she whispered again.

    She turned back to find Ser Derric, cursing herself for not bringing her bow. Ava had left it behind to avoid becoming a threatening and suspicious spectacle. She buried her hands within the flaps of her cape and fingered her dagger. It will have to do.

    She walked through the streets, hoping she could retrace her steps back to the knight and turned back to call for the handmaid again.

    Ava started, stifling a scream when Gretchen appeared before her. The girl reached for Ava¡¯s hands again.

    ¡°Come on, silly. We are almost there,¡± she echoed with a smile.

    She pulled her hands through Gretchen¡¯s ethereal ones, stepping back from her specter. Dread gripped her chest in a crushing vice.

    The girl looked at her transparent palms and her brow creased.

    ¡°What just happened?¡± Gretchen asked, confused. ¡°How? I ¨C I think there is somewhere I need to be.¡±

    Ava turned and ran, looking back to watch the girl reform into a mortal spirit ball and float toward the Sapphire Sea. There was a weight on one of her filaments. Guilt.

    She fled through the streets, each looking more and more familiar. Almost there! She turned the street corner and spotted Ser Derric, sitting against a wall. He gurgled as he tried to stem the flow of bright red blood gushing from his throat.

    Panicked, Ava rushed to his side, pushing his head down.

    ¡°Keep your chin against your chest,¡± she said desperately. She needed something to stem the flow of blood.

    Ser Derric lifted a hand to her face, blocking her view of his injury. He mouthed something, but only moans and gurgles came forth.

    ¡°Shh, don¡¯t talk,¡± she ordered desperately. She moved his hand out of the way before she saw a handkerchief nestled within his grip. ¡°Yes, this will work!¡±

    She took it from him and worked it between his chin and chest.

    She tried to tie it at the back of his neck. But before she put the knot into place, a hand tangled in her hair, pulled her head back and smashed it against the wall.

    Her vision blurred and she pressed her hand against her head. Warm blood trickled down her face. Confused, she moved back to Ser Derric to finish tying the knot.

    A hand gripped her shoulder painfully, pushing her down. She gave willingly. Ser Derric pulled the man''s arm as she dragged him with her to the ground. Her attacker fell onto his side, and she twisted around, unsheathing her dagger. The bandit¡¯s eyes were surprised when she jammed it into his neck with all her strength. Blood spurted from the wound as she ripped it out.

    Once she straightened, another man ran into her out of the corner of her eye. The impact of his charge threw her off her feet and her dagger careened from her grip. Her head pounded from the collisions. Ava crawled toward the struggling knight. If I could get the knot in place quickly, I could deal with these attackers afterwards. The man flopped on top of her. Ser Derric reached out to her, lifting his chin from his chest. He seemed unconcerned about his own well-being and was solely focused on helping her. Why? Why? Why!

    ¡°Get off me!¡± she screamed, clawing forward along the ground.

    The knight¡¯s hand dropped to the ground, his eyes glazed over, and his body fell to the side.

    Ava¡¯s heart skipped painfully, and tears stung her eyes.

    ¡°Aw, looks like you couldn¡¯t save the pitiful knight in time,¡± the man taunted above her. He pulled at her pants, laughing.

    Coldness coated her breaking heart, and her breath misted as she groaned from the loss. Spinning her hips, she turned and gripped the man¡¯s face, her nails digging into his skin. The muscles in her arm strained and stretched as frost spread from her hand.

    A half scream died on the man¡¯s lips as he stiffened into a frozen statue above. Her arm fell limply onto her chest, pale and blistered. She pulled herself out from under the man.

    She had barely wobbled to a stand when another man was on her. She ripped herself from his grasping hands and called the magic again from her other hand. Ice spikes consumed the man before spreading along the path to destroy the house behind him. Her hand trembled and tingled as it fell numbly to her side. Light snow and wind surrounded her, but the Frost Spirit was nowhere in sight.

    A hand spun her around violently and she felt a dagger blade rip into her belly. The hulking man pushed her down and she fell to the ground, her arms too numb to break her fall. She grunted against the wound in her abdomen.

    ¡°Curses, she said the girl would be fierce, but the Spirit would be inactive! I knew that brainless harpy was crazy,¡± she heard another man comment behind the man with the bloody dagger.

    ¡°Watch your mouth!¡± her attacker bit out. ¡°It does not change our mission here.¡±

    ¡°If you want to test a spirit¡¯s patience, go ahead. But no favour and prestige will make me carry that bag back¡­¡±

    She could see something. Barely visible, it wavered in and out of her vision. A tattered, smouldering tapestry with a single frayed thread floating just beyond her grasp. Was this the end of her miserable destiny?

    ¡°Treacherous, hateful and mercenary. Their honour sold and bought for a trifle while their world crumbles around them. One good decision millennia ago cannot change who these humans truly are. They seek chances but refuse to be better,¡± the Fire Spirit rumbled. ¡°Allow me to help. We must burn it down and start anew.¡±

    The image of the girl she met earlier flashed in her mind, then Naetin¡¯s, Oswin¡¯s and ¨C Prince Caeden¡¯s.

    ¡°No, there are some still worth saving.¡±

    ¡°Who is she talking to?¡±

    ¡°How must I know? Just kill her and let us be done with this devilry. Leave the bag if...¡± the man gurgled mid-sentence and dropped to the ground, clutching his throat.

    His cohort turned in alarm to search the area. He switched the dagger to his left hand and reached for the sword on his hip. A small dagger flew into his throat before he fully unsheathed it. A blur moved above her, invisibility fading to reveal the crimson armour of Castle Caedence¡¯s royal guard. Long, gold-dusted ears pointed out of the masked helm. His vivid amber eyes seemed to peer into her soul.

    The elf picked up the fallen man¡¯s dagger, sniffed it and chucked it away. He knelt beside her and pulled a syringe from his belt, stabbing her with it. Ava flinched from the sharp pain.

    ¡°You have been poisoned with an unfamiliar toxin. This will slow it down until we can get it treated.¡±

 Chapter 9: Part 3 - Honour Bound

    Caeden jumped off the airship before it fully landed and rushed across the strip to the guest¡¯s quarters. He knew it would be useless to dwell on regret, but he should have been here ¨C not in Landon re-establishing trade communications. His father was misguided, and he had been a fool to follow his orders.

    He leaned against the cool stone once inside the castle interior. Reaching for his water skin, he took a few large gulps. It did nothing to ease the dryness in his lips.

    Unending heat and no rainfall in weeks. The Casimir Empire¡¯s crops would not survive this weather for long. They were well on their way toward suffering through a drought. Not to mention the Fire Spirit''s rage should it decide to lose the last remnant of its patience. That it had not already told him that there was still hope. Ava was alive and still clinging on.

    He pushed further in but stopped at the sound of his brother¡¯s angry drawl.

    ¡°Your duty was to shadow her, imbecile! Not follow after every person that catches your fancy,¡± Kael bit out at his guard.

    The guard kneeled, head bowed, before Kael. His head tilted slightly at the sound of Caeden¡¯s approach, but his eyes never left the crown prince¡¯s travel boots. Caeden had seen the elf in passing before, but his brother''s right hand kept himself hidden and out of sight. He was non-existent to most.

    The vivid eyes and star-shaped pupils of the elves gave them an all-knowing perception among the other races. A perception he had never bought into, except for this one. This elf¡¯s eyes had always given him the chills.

    Kael quietened when he spotted Caeden¡¯s approach.

    ¡°Leave me before a flail you alive,¡± his brother dismissed the guard with a wave.

    The guard stood and walked off, disappearing behind his illusion.

    ¡°My apologies Kael, I have no time to greet you. I will seek you out soon.¡±

    ¡°A moment, Caeden?¡± Kael asked, grabbing his arm before he bolted up the stairs. ¡°Ava is stable ¨C or as stable as the Adept Graeyson can get her.¡±

    Caeden stopped and walked back down the stairs as he gave his brother a querying gaze.

    ¡°Ser Morley is not with you?¡± Kael asked, brows furrowed.

    Somehow Caeden knew that was not what he had stopped him for. Why the sudden change in tack?

    ¡°No, I left him here to watch over Ava and Oswin while I dealt with Haalfkinguit.¡±

    ¡°He failed in that respect, clearly,¡± Kael spat out.

    Caeden knew there was no love lost between the Knight Commander of the Royal Guard and his brother. Ser Morley had chosen to throw his lot in with him instead of the crown prince after all, but he did not expect Kael to harbour such undisguised vitriol toward him.

    ¡°He is currently investigating the attack,¡± Caeden offered, uncertainly.

    It was Morley who sent him news about Ava¡¯s attack, requesting his urgent return.

    ¡°Datura!¡± Kael commanded and the elf shimmered into visibility again.

    ¡°Yes, Your Grace,¡± the elf answered.

    ¡°Go assist Ser Morley with the investigation,¡± Kael ordered, turning to climb the stairs and leaving his guard to find his own way.

    ¡°How long have you been back?¡± Caeden queried.

    ¡°I arrived two hours ago. I was on an airship back yesterday when the Fire Spirit unfurled itself and a flame barrier fell over the borders of the Ashen Fields.¡±

    ¡°And the evacuees?¡±  Caeden asked. He had seen the fiery dome over the fields on his way back. It did not bode well.

    ¡°Safe. But the barrier radiated such heat that Elwood¡¯s orchards were set ablaze. We had to turn back and assist with the forest fires. Nook Town is cinders. Many people will not have homes to return to once this is over. Worse still, the barrier is encroaching further over time ¨C the Empire has a time limit.

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    ¡°Forget Haalfkinguit, Caeden. Once Ava is on her feet again, the Fire Spirit must be dealt with. Firearms will not feed a hungry nation if this drought continues. If it is not burned to ash first.¡±

    ¡°We are of the same mind. But the emperor¡­¡±

    ¡°Leave the old man to me. You worry about Ava and getting her back into the fight again,¡± Kael continued up the stairs but stopped. ¡°Oh, there is something more. Datura reported that three of the five attackers were common thieves and bandits, most likely hires. But the two remaining had the bearing of knights.¡±

    ¡°Then the mastermind is royal,¡± Caeden thought, staring queryingly at Kael. ¡°Do you wish to investigate this further? Your mother could be implicated.¡±

    ¡°No more than yours. It was she who arranged this little excursion on such short notice, and with so little guard. I may not be a knight Caeden, but I know the sacrifices that come with honour and duty.¡±

    Caeden grimaced as he followed behind his brother. It was likely, loathe as he was to admit it. But she knew the stakes involved, knew his mind, it would be hard to believe his mother would be so foolish. Holden¡¯s doctrine to his knights was clear, regardless. No one man¡¯s ambition is greater than the Empire¡¯s prosperity. It kept the powerful honourable and the weak protected. If the Queen or his mother had willingly and knowingly endangered the Empire, he knew what his duty would be.

    They entered Ava¡¯s quarters and found Adept Graeyson behind a table filled with smoking vials and notes. To his surprise, the twin sorcerers, Eliza and Elise, were bent over another table filled with books and parchment.

    He heard their presence in Castle Rymsworth had become detrimental to King Raeburn¡¯s recovery. To ease his discomfort, they moved back to the Mage¡¯s Guild for reassignment. It was interesting that Oswin had chosen them to assist in his study.

    ¡°Forget the formalities until Ava is well,¡± he said as they immediately dropped their work to bow in greeting. ¡°Where is Oswin?¡±

    He scanned the room.

    ¡°Two city guards came to the castle to question him. It seemed serious. He is in the guest waiting room down the hall answering their questions, Your Grace,¡± Eliza responded.

    ¡°Does this have something to do with Ava¡¯s attack?¡± Kael asked.

    ¡°We cannot be sure. As far as we know, given Ava¡¯s status as Imperial Guest, the investigation was handed over to the knights to conduct. Sending a city guard to question Oswin about it seems strange,¡± Elise responded.

    Caeden looked at Kael and wondered if his brother knew anything about it. It was unusual for the city guard to interfere in knights'' business without good reason. His brother grimaced and shrugged his shoulder, clearly at a loss as well.

    ¡°Update me on Ava,¡± he commanded, waving away the discussion.

    ¡°She is resting in the room beyond ¨C stable but still weak,¡± Graeyson said, indicating the closed door leading to the ensuite bedroom. ¡°Her bloodwork is simply fascinating, for lack of a better word.¡±

    ¡°As is the poison she has been afflicted with,¡± Eliza interjected with a half-smile, drawing an alarmed side eye from her twin.

    ¡°Explain,¡± Kael demanded.

    ¡°Well, Your Graces, initially Oswin and I assumed she had an innate resistance to magic and disease, which was why she lasted as long as she did while afflicted with the Dark Plague. But, according to her bloodwork, she has one other ¨C poison. We call the combination of the three, Blight Resistance,¡± Graeyson explained. ¡°This information seemed to confound Ava, and she has denied it. But bodies adapt when new external factors are introduced or change, whether we are aware of it or not ¨C as I suspect it did when she was infected.¡±

    ¡°We think the poison was tailor-made for her with this in mind,¡± Eliza interjected. ¡°It is an infusion of disease and poison with a touch of profane to guide both. The poison eats at the stitches of the entry wound while the body fights the disease. It would kill an average human in a matter of hours. With Ava though, her resistance can fight all these effects off, for a time. A battle of attrition. Whoever created it was hoping that she would weaken from the disease or blood loss through her wound to a point where she cannot fight against it anymore.¡±

    ¡°We are managing to help her by slowing its progression to a crawl, but without a sample of the poison itself, we cannot cure it. Both Ava and the poison are unknown, testing curatives on the battlefield that is her body could be fatal,¡± Graeyson added.

    ¡°There is something more, Your Grace,¡± Elise added, grimacing with uncertainty.

    Caeden¡¯s heart skipped. Gods, what more could there be? The empire was under the threat of an angry fire spirit and the only woman who could stop it was at death¡¯s door. There was not much more he could deal with.

    ¡°There were reports at the scene of the Frost Spirit¡¯s activity. Ice and Frost took out two of the attackers and a homestead. But we do not think that is the case. The injuries and frostnip along Ava¡¯s arms indicate magical strain and fatigue. It only occurs among magic wielders who use spells they are not proficient in or reach their magical limit.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying Ava was wielding magic?¡± he asked, incredulously.

    ¡°It certainly seems that way. I have tested her. Multiple times. All of them indicate that Ava has no magical capability. She should not be able to access the magical font in the first place, let alone cast spells using it. The very idea beggars belief!¡±

    Caeden''s brows furrowed and he moved to Ava¡¯s bedroom door. If Ava were capable of magic, she would have had numerous opportunities to wield it in the past, purposefully or not. What has changed?

    ¡°Your Grace, if I may ask a favour of you. Have her drink this, please,¡± Graeyson asked, picking up a cup and rushing to his side.

    The cup was filled with a grey fluid with blackened specks floating within. It smelled of burned milk.

    ¡°Ava may still be fighting but her will is faltering. Her bloodwork results did not only yield her resistances, but they also did not match against any existing race. She did not take well to this news.¡±

    ¡°What? What does that mean?¡± Kael blurted out.

    ¡°Put plainly, she is a new species ¨C not born from the union of two others. If there are others of her kind, they are unknown to us.¡±

 Chapter 9: Part 4 - The Songstress

    Caeden tentatively entered Ava¡¯s bedroom. Beast lay at the foot of her bed. The saber cat looked calm but for the agitated swishing of his tail. He had caused quite a stir in the castle, from what he had heard. How the animal had slipped into the interior was anyone¡¯s guess. He would need to remember to check the walls for possible breaches.

    He had expected Ava to be asleep, but she shifted on the bed to watch his approach. Her brows were creased in pain, her breathing deeper than normal and her eyes held such despair. He averted his eyes as his guilt clawed back up to the surface.

    She had heard everything said in the adjoining room.

    ¡°First of Her Kind,¡± he said, recalling the day they met on the doomed dwarven ship. ¡°Who gave you that title?¡±

    Her eyes widened and she reeled as if struck by the sudden question.

    ¡°Minervin. But I thought he meant¡­¡±

    She raised a bandaged arm, pensively touching the purple and white dusting on her forehead. The colouring was darker from the bruised cut along her hairline.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now. He¡¯s dead and took all his secrets with him,¡± she said bitterly.

    Caeden placed the cup on the bedside table and Ava grunted, grimacing as she attempted to inch slowly into a seated position. He perched on the edge of the bed next to her, slipping his arm around her shoulder to assist. She pulled away and Caeden stilled, uncertain as to why she was suddenly fighting against him.

    She sighed, overcome with exhaustion and pain, and gave up, allowing him to manoeuvre her into position. Her body trembled and her skin was chilly.

    He pulled at the bedding, swathing her in them before he fed the drink to her.

    ¡°Do you recall anything of note during the attack? Names? Places? Anything?¡± Kael asked, pacing impatiently.

    She shook her head, then stopped, staring unseeingly at the wall.

    ¡°No names, but they received their orders from a woman. They referred to her as a crazy harpy. She was after the Frost Spirit and knew it would be inactive,¡± she grunted.

    ¡°Was it?¡± Caeden asked. Ava had said it was weak and hibernating, but he thought it would awaken when she was in danger, or an obstacle presented itself. He could not understand the whims of these spirits.

    ¡°Yes. I think I confused them and made them uncertain about their information. They would not risk taking the satchel.¡± Her eyes dropped to her injured arms.

    ¡°So, you were the one wielding those Frost spells. How can that be?¡± Kael asked, curiosity overriding his impatience for answers.

    Ava clutched her chest tightly. She was trying not to unravel into tears and was so close to breaking. He shot a look at Kael to ease up.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. My heart felt cold, and I needed to release it.¡±

    She burst into tears, covering her face in her hands to hide the shame of it. He pulled her to his chest, but she recoiled, pushing him away with an elbow.

    ¡°Don¡¯t comfort me,¡± she wailed. ¡°I¡¯m a walking curse, regardless of what Adept Graeyson says! It¡¯s my fault. Ser Derric didn¡¯t deserve to die for a nothing ¨C a nobody.¡±

    ¡°That was not what you were in Ser Derric¡¯s eyes. You were his charge, his duty, his cause. He chose to protect you, and he deemed you worthy of dying for. This guilt you carry, rid yourself of it. Ser Derric would not want his sacrifice to burden your heart,¡± Caeden consoled her.

    She cried into his chest. Her despair shed with every tear until she fell into a fitful sleep. Caeden laid her down to rest.

    ¡°Blessed are you, Ser Derric. She will keep you in her memories for as long as she lives,¡± he whispered.

    ¡°There is no greater honour for a Knight,¡± Kael finished.

    They exited the room, and Caeden closed the door softly. His eyes landed on a drawing and recognised the figure immediately. Feathered wings, horns and a malicious face with darkened scales arrowing down its forehead. This demonkin seemed to have a strong lower jaw reminiscent of an orc but without the tusks. He could not decide which fate was worse; a cursed existence or one without ancestry. Would she have preferred the former? It is no wonder she despairs.

    Oswin entered the room. He seemed utterly addled and confounded, scratching his head as he looked back out the door. So much so that he failed to recognize the two princes'' presence in the room.

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    ¡°Care to explain what that was about, Oswin?¡± Caeden asked, shocking the mage out of his troubled thoughts.

    ¡°Your Grace! Prince Kael,¡± Oswin bowed stiffly and shook his head. ¡°They were questioning me about a murder.¡±

    ¡°Does it concern Ava¡¯s attackers?¡± Caeden asked perplexed.

    ¡°They are uncertain. Michael¡¯s body was found in his practice a fair distance away from the market¡­¡±

    ¡°Oswin! Were you still in contact with that man?¡± Elise gasped.

    ¡°Of course not!¡± he snapped quickly. He turned to the confused princes, explaining, ¡°Michael was a former friend. Generally friendly, with a thirst for knowledge that tended to become¡­ obsessive. He was qualified to specialise beyond Adept but chose not to.

    ¡°Unfortunately, he was expelled from the guild because not only did his curative methods break the rules of ethics and morality, but he also simply could not comprehend why they were there in the first place. I was unaware of his comings and goings after he left the guild, let alone that he had opened an illegal practice until today.¡±

    ¡°Then why come to you for information?¡± Caeden asked.

    ¡°Apparently, he was in the midst of penning a missive addressed to me before he was cut down. ¡®Oswin, there is something of great import¡­¡¯ was the sum. His practice was ransacked, and records and reports were tossed or stolen. Based on the type of clientele such a healer attracts, they were hoping I would help narrow down the list of potential suspects.¡±

    ¡°Would he be capable of engineering Ava''s poison?¡± Caeden asked, rubbing his chin in contemplation.

    ¡°It is possible. He is knowledgeable about disease and poison while being is proficient in magic. But this does not seem like something he would do. He would probably sicken a healthy patient solely to see if he could find a curative for them, yes. But murder without study would be wasteful.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps the Knights should look into it. There could be a connection or a potential antidote,¡± Caeden pondered.

    ¡°The imperial scrutiny could drive any potential suspects to ground,¡± Kael countered. ¡°This could be nothing more than an act of a disgruntled patient. Let the guard do their jobs, if they find a connection to Ava, then the Knights can take over.¡±

    <hr>

    Caeden¡¯s hand went to his sword before he was fully alert. He blinked and unfurled his long limbs as he frowned at Kael¡¯s amused face. Clearly, Kael had never learned how to wake someone gently from a slumber.

    The dark of night still filled the room. The castle was silent and asleep. He stretched his stiff joints. The chair he had been sitting in and watching over Ava was comfortable but not something to sleep in.

    ¡°You need proper rest,¡± Kael muttered with a small measure of annoyance. ¡°You do no good by pushing yourself past the point of exhaustion. Things slip your notice.¡±

    Kael pointed at Ava¡¯s ruffled but empty bed and her saber cat was gone.

    Caeden shot up from the chair, heart hammering. He scanned the room for evidence of their passing.

    ¡°Relax, my guards know where she is. Follow,¡± Kael ordered, taking him to one of his guards.

    The assassin led them down the passage and to the grand staircase.

    ¡°I had them watch her from a distance. They reported that she was weak and behaving strangely. Her beast following along.¡±

    They stopped on the floor to Kael''s private dinner hall and waiting room. Another guard stood at the foot of the stairs and pointed to the grandiose door left ajar at the end of the hall.

    Curses! Why there of all places?

    ¡°How curious!¡± Kael laughed. ¡°She has entered two forbidden places now. Not one to follow rules, I see. I wonder how she managed to get in?¡±

    Caeden grimaced. An interesting question. The doors were charmed, allowing only a very select few to enter.

    They passed through the doors and made their way down the stairs. The reflection of water danced off the walls. Ava¡¯s weak voice drifted up.

    She was covered in her bedding and sitting on the edge of the smooth rock with the lower half of her legs in the pool. The ancient script carved into them had been filed off in eras past. She hummed a broken tune, watching her feet swish back and forth in the clear water.

    Beast sat beside her with a stiff edge to his posture, far too alert compared to his master. He relaxed when he heard their approach, loping behind him and pushing him toward her faster with his massive head. There was something wrong with her.

    ¡°Miss Ava? How did you get in?¡± Caeden whispered tentatively.

    Ava looked up at the sound of his voice and smiled.

    ¡°Oh, Prince Caeden. It let me in. I didn¡¯t know there was a Panacean Fountain here in the castle,¡± she said breathlessly. ¡°But why aren¡¯t the waters blue?¡±

    Caeden sat beside her. He turned her gaze from the waters to face him. There was a distance in her stare, and she seemed to be listening to something beyond his hearing and comprehension. It was like she was not fully present. Her skin was damp and overly warm.

    He pushed the bedding from her shoulders but stopped when she started to wriggle and complain.

    Dipping his hand in the water, he touched it to her cheeks and neck to cool her down. Her body melted into his shoulder, and he cradled her to keep her upright.

    ¡°They have not been anything other than clear in my lifetime. It had already lost much of its colour in my father¡¯s time, along with its healing properties. The Casimir Empire¡¯s most guarded secret. We have lost the ability to heal our people with it. Our Panacean Fountain only holds pure water now,¡± he responded between his ministrations.

    ¡°Oh,¡± she groaned with disappointment. ¡°The fountain in Spectermere still had some of its colour. It sang a different song too. This one mourns the loss of your adventurers together and seeing your dreams of the Empire. It misses watching you two play.¡±

    Caeden shot Kael a worried look. His brother¡¯s brow creased, perturbed, but he seemed curious about what she had to say.

    ¡°You have been chatty,¡± he grumbled.

    Possibly, but I never told Ava that this was their secret place. What is happening here?

    Ava shifted painfully, pulling on his mantle to help move into a comfortable position. Her eyes drooped.

    ¡°Caeden.¡± Kael¡¯s voice was deep and concerned. He tapped on his shoulder.

    Caeden looked down at his mantle. Ava¡¯s bloody handprint was smeared across the white fabric. He shifted Ava and pulled the bedding away.

    Dark and wet blood stained her shirt as he pulled it up to view her wound.

    ¡°Curses!¡± he exclaimed, lifting her carefully in his arms and moving to the exit. ¡°Your stitches have come undone.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± she blurted, reaching for Kael and pulling him closer. ¡°I must tell you something.¡±

 Chapter 9: Part 5 - Whispers in the Dark

    [Note from the Haelionthyne, the Original Author of The Hybrid: Chasing Destiny: This novel is only published and freely available to read on my Patreon, Royal Road and Tapas. Support me directly with your readership there. No other websites or reading platforms have my permission, express or blanket, to publish my novel or distribute it further.]

    Caeden pushed into Ava¡¯s room with her semi-conscious body in his arms. Her temperature was rising. The heat from her small frame almost seared through her clothes and into his arms. She could not hold out like this for long.

    Oswin¡¯s study group was already waiting inside, groggy-eyed, but they moved into action as soon as he entered. He will admit that Kael¡¯s assassins were as efficient as they were skilled, regardless of how much their skulking disturbed him.

    He placed Ava on the bed and left her to Graeyson¡¯s ministrations.

    Kael entered when he exited into the lounging room, focused to the point of distraction on removing dust and cobwebs from a miniature in his hands. There was wonder in his eyes.

    Caeden raised a curious brow and looked closely at what had his brother¡¯s rapt attention. His heart lurched when he recognised the old toy.

    ¡°Give me that!¡± he muttered, embarrassed.

    ¡°No! She said you left it for me,¡± Kael smirked. ¡°It is mine now.¡±

    He had forgotten that he had left the Tekkhan toy in their secret stash. His last attempt, his last hope, to mend the rift he had caused between them. It was a mortifying thought to have Kael find it now.

    ¡°You are childish,¡± Caeden hissed.

    ¡°Me?¡± Kael asked with mock innocence. ¡°I am not the one trying to start a fight over an old toy.¡±

    Kael swayed joyously on his feet. Caeden had not seen that spark in his brother¡¯s eyes in a long time. He had missed the smile he tried to hide whenever he looked at the toy. It was like his brother was returning to life, back to his old self.

    They heard heavy footsteps up the hall and Ser Morley entered, holding a piece of fabric and Ava¡¯s recovered dagger in his hand.

    ¡°Get out!¡± Kael exclaimed. His glad expression turned dark in an instant.

    ¡°Hold Kael,¡± Caeden muttered, taken aback by just how much the Knight Commander seemed to vex his brother. He would have to keep them separate from now on. ¡°What is your report, Ser Morley?¡±

    ¡°It is possible that the handmaiden, Gretchen, could have been paid off. Her letters home came with a pouch of gold and expressed her excitement over a recent promotion. However, she was unusually tightlipped about the details,¡± Ser Morley stated. If he was perturbed by Kael''s behaviour, he did not show it.

    ¡°The knights were in plain clothes, and there was nothing on them to identify who they were. We are searching the guild records to match their names and current assignments. It is clear they did not account for Kael¡¯s assassin following Ava. It is only a matter of time before their commander comes to light.¡±

    ¡°Time is not a luxury we have, Ser Morley,¡± Caeden pondered. ¡°Ava is deteriorating, and we need an antidote, the sooner the better. Whatever you need to speed it up. Do it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡± Ser Morley took a deep breath and exhaled. ¡°Ser Derric¡¯s body has been released to his family. They will have his funeral this Zinnia¡¯s Day and have inquired whether you would be attending,¡± he asked, offering Caeden the piece of fabric.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Caeden confirmed.

    He frowned disapprovingly as Kael turned on his heel and left the room in a huff. He took the fabric from Ser Morley with a small measure of undisguised annoyance at his brother¡¯s behaviour.

    It was a white, silken handkerchief. Cleaned, but brown washed-out blood stains still remained.

    ¡°What is this?¡± he asked his Knight Commander.

    ¡°Ser Derric¡¯s family would like it returned to Miss Ava.¡±

    Caeden turned the handkerchief over in confusion. Sure, he had seen Ava marvel at luxurious items before, but her current lifestyle dictated that she prioritise function. This frivolous fabric was mostly decorative, serving more as a lady¡¯s favour. Ava would have no use for it.

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    He marched into Ava¡¯s room and roused her from her fitful sleep, much to Oswin¡¯s and Graeyson''s dismay. She moaned unhappily, pain entering her distant eyes.

    ¡°My apologies for disturbing you. This handkerchief,¡± he asked, holding the fabric before her eyes. ¡°Is it yours?¡±

    ¡°Ser Derric¡¯s,¡± she muttered, pulling the fabric closer. ¡°He had it in his hand¡­ to stop the bleeding.¡±

    ¡°Alright, go back to sleep.¡±

    He pulled on the handkerchief and found that she would not release it.

    ¡°I would like to keep it¡­ to remember,¡± she grimaced. Her eyes were sad.

    ¡°Not just yet,¡± he said, rubbing her head in comfort, and pulling the fabric free when her grip eased from exhaustion.

    ¡°Did Ser Derric have a lady love we were unaware of?¡± he asked Ser Morley.

    ¡°None that his family knows of. He was committed to his duty and had neither the time nor inclination to nurture a long-term relationship,¡± he responded. ¡°His lack of defensive injuries and unsheathed sword indicates that he was caught off guard, but he could have ripped this off his attacker in a desperate attempt to try and identify them.¡±

    They unfolded the handkerchief and looked it over. Caeden squinted at the crest embroidered in one of its corners ¡ª green grapes on a purple background ¡ª the sigil of the ruling noble house Rymsworth in the Everard Kingdom.

    Caeden scrunched the handkerchief in his palm. Rage overcame his body. He charged out the door.

    ¡°Stay,¡± he growled when the Knight Commander followed.

    <hr>

    Caeden could feel the blood pounding through his veins. Anger squeezed around his chest so tightly that he could scarcely breathe.

    He charged up the stairs and through the passageway to Lady Bethany¡¯s quarters but stopped short when he heard another¡¯s hissed whisper coming from her room. Caeden moved into a shadowed alcove, his heart hammering, and listened in shock.

    ¡°Give me the antidote, Bethany! I will not ask again,¡± Kael whispered menacingly.

    Were they on familiar terms? When did this happen? Did mother know? No, this was a kept secret.

    ¡°I ¨C told you. I have no idea what you are talking about, fool!¡± Bethany hissed back angrily.

    Kael laughed mirthlessly.

    ¡°You have precious few strategies left in this dance, my dear. Playing dumb is not one of them. They found your favour. It is only a matter of time before they connect it to you. Cooperate and I will see you through this.¡±

    ¡°Ha! With what power, puppet prince?¡± she taunted venomously. ¡°Besides, a favour means nothing. It is not my fault that some wayward knight decided to keep it on their person.¡±

    ¡°Yes, indeed an error on his part,¡± Kael responded annoyed. ¡°But I have to wonder, just what did you do to earn such devotion to the exclusion of common sense?¡±

    ¡°Get out! Or I shall tell Lady Ella ¨C or Prince Caeden,¡± she ordered. Her voice quivered. She was discomforted by the implications of his question.

    ¡°Poor Lady Bethany! You had both princes wrapped around your finger and the Empire''s future in the cusp of your hands. Until a nobody girl from nowhere showed up and gave us exactly what we wanted without batting an eye. You may offer my brother the crown, but she offers him the stars. If I have little power here, you have even less now. Caeden and Ella will not take your side over mine. Especially after I show them the favour you bestowed upon me and relay exactly what I did to earn it,¡± he stressed.

    A smack echoed from the room and down the hall. There was a tense silence and Caeden shifted uncomfortably. Should I interrupt before this escalates further?

    ¡°How quickly your affections change. It was not too long ago that you were kissing that cheek. Do not do that again,¡± Kael said coldly. ¡°Now, give me the antidote before I lose my patience.¡±

    ¡°Or what?¡± she retorted, the venom in her trembling voice returning. ¡°Will you show me how inept you are? I think I will let that whore die just to prove it.¡±

    There was a scuffle and then bumps and grunts within the room. Caeden rushed out of his hiding place to her door.

    ¡°You are choking me!¡± Bethany rasped.

    ¡°I know!¡± his brother responded. His voice sounded almost maniacal. ¡°Tell me where the antidote is, or I will squeeze tighter.¡±

    A struggle of breathless squeaks followed.

    ¡°Alright. Alright!¡± Bethany grunted.

    She gasped when Kael released her, falling to the floor and clutching her neck.

    ¡°I was not provided with an antidote, just the poison. It is in the chest there.¡±

    He heard Kael''s footsteps cross the room and the creak of a chest opening. His brother rummaged through its contents as Caeden slinked back to his hiding place.

    ¡°Ingenious, hiding it in a perfume bottle. How did you get your hands on it?¡± Kael¡¯s usual drawl was back.

    ¡°I did not. I found it in my room. A note with information and instructions was attached. All they asked for in return was the satchel with the inactive Frost Spirit. Niklaus and Micca were to travel out and leave it at the God Stones.¡±

    ¡°So familiar you are with them,¡± Kael gritted out harshly. ¡°Give me the note.¡±

    ¡°I ¨C burned it.¡±

    ¡°Fool!¡± Kael blurted enraged. ¡°You destroyed the only evidence that ties back to whoever engineered this treacherous plot. You are now the only connection left to Ava¡¯s attack.¡±

    ¡°The ¨C they said to burn it and keep the remainder of the poison just in case it was needed again,¡± she stammered nervously.

    ¡°Clearly, they were counting on your single-minded ambition rendering you senseless and made sure any investigation ultimately ended with you responsible.¡±

    ¡°Kael help me,¡± Bethany whined.

    His brother grumbled with annoyance and paced the floor.

    ¡°Pack your belongings. Leave Castle Caedence and return home. This is as much as I can offer you.¡±

    ¡°What? No!¡± Bethany growled before changing tack. ¡°I made a few mistakes. I understand that. But we can ¨C forget everything, can we not? And start anew. Let us ¨C be together, Kael. You and I.¡±

    Kael huffed a disbelieving, mirthless laugh.

    ¡°A few days ago, I would have relished the thought. But you have endangered the empire for your own selfish reasons and left yourself vulnerable to possible malicious influence in future. You have the wrong type of ambition, Bethany, and have fumbled the dance for the Queen¡¯s throne. It would be irresponsible of me to allow you anywhere near the crown. Go home with your family name and reputation intact while you still can.¡±

    The door swung open.

    ¡°And I suggest that you do not leave your room until I have cleared the mess you have caused.¡±

    Kael hurried down the hall and passed Caeden''s shaded alcove. He was about to turn the corner when a crash of shattered glass came from Bethany¡¯s room. He stopped and stared at the door in disgust before his eyes found Caeden¡¯s in the dark.

    There was shock at first and then nothing. His expression turned empty and stoic as he placed the poison on a table nearby and disappeared from view.

 Chapter 10: Part 1 - A Tortured Construct

    [Note from the Haelionthyne, the Original Author of The Hybrid: Chasing Destiny: This novel is only published and freely available to read on My Patreon</a>, Royal Road</a> and Tapas</a>. Support me directly with your readership there. No other websites or reading platforms have my permission, express or blanket, to publish my novel or distribute it further.]

    Ava waddled up the staircase back to her room, chewing a piece of bread lacklustre. She was not hungry, but she needed to show all these fresh new guards a reason for her impromptu visit to the kitchens.

    Pilfering from the people who housed and guarded her did not sit well. But she needed to stock up on food without raising an alarm.

    Beast¡¯s presence at her side had been valuable in keeping the guard a bit more distant so she could do it successfully. The saber cat had been irritable lately, hissing and growling at anyone who stepped too close. Part of it had been at her request but the other part was due to how uncomfortable Beast had become with the unbearable heat. He had been shedding like mad, leaving tuffs of fur floating everywhere.

    With enough of the poison now in hand, Oswin, Graeyson, Elise and Eliza had managed to engineer an antidote that nullified all three of the effects. She just needed her wound to close, but her recovery was far too slow and painful.

    She felt every ache now with each careful step. The peaceful haze over her mind disappeared along with the fountain¡¯s song. The tune was still stuck in her mind though. It was a beautiful song whose words she could not recall but all the feelings within it remained. She caught herself humming it mindlessly sometimes.

    She waddled to her door and opened it. Then suddenly, she was forcibly pushed into the interior. Her stitches stretched and she grimaced in pain as she stumbled inside, struggling to regain her balance without ripping them. The door slammed behind her, and she turned at the sound of the lock falling into place.

    Bethany stood before it, panicking and panting, pushing against it as it rattled from Beast¡¯s growling thrusts. She heard guards shouting from the other side.

    ¡°Get out!¡± Ava grunted, stifling the rage that flared up.

    Lady Bethany had some gall to show up after everything she had done. It was enough that she had to keep quiet about it so as not to ruffle the wrong feathers. Kael and Caeden needed Raeburn¡¯s support and Bethany¡¯s mishap had put the King of Everard in a weakened political position, making him more open to negotiation. The empire¡¯s never-ending dance was exhausting and getting on her nerves.

    Ava nursed her wound and pushed the noblewoman out of the way to unlock the door.

    Bethany removed her hand from the lock.

    ¡°Wait!¡± she said desperately. ¡°I have come to broker a deal!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Ava blurted, utterly dumbfounded by the suggestion.

    ¡°Let me speak plain, demonkin. You can have Prince Caeden ¨C and the Queen¡¯s throne if that is what you want. I will not interfere with your plans for him. But let me have Kael. Give me the power to hold sway over him again and I will help you accomplish your aims,¡± she panted breathlessly.

    Ava stared at her in utter shock, incapable of comprehending this woman¡¯s state of mind. Was she willingly trying to sell out the Empire, including the man she claims to want, to someone she considered a demonkin?

    ¡°You¡¯re insane. Leave, I said.¡±

    Ava turned to enter her bedroom and hoped to lock herself in until Bethany left. She was getting faint and there was a ringing in her ears. She had little energy left to deal with this woman¡¯s madness.

    ¡°No!¡± Bethany shrieked and reached for her arm. The noblewoman¡¯s nails dug into her skin. ¡°I will lose everything! I cannot become a nobody!¡±

    ¡°Let go of me!¡± Ava grumbled miserably.

    Bethany¡¯s ambition was overwhelming. She was the daughter of a King. Regardless of whether she married into the Imperial family, she would never be a nobody.

    Ava doubled over. Her skin crawled and a pit of fear coiled in her stomach. She felt dread and alarm, but not from the lunatic woman standing before her.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    The ringing turned to screaming, so loud she had to block her ears. She smelled something burning in her room.

    ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± Bethany asked with a haughty brow, her mania changing into wary curiosity.

    Ava pushed the woman out of the doorway. A pile of ash was left dumped on her bed. Her bedding smouldered around it, igniting into small patches of flame. Her brow creased with confusion at what she was seeing.

    ¡°That was not my doing,¡± Bethany blurted self-consciously, picking up a cushion in the sitting area. ¡°We need to put it out before the room catches fire.¡±

    Ava stopped the woman before she bounded to the bed, cushion held high. She remembered Prince Caeden¡¯s report about the piles of ash he found in The Haunted Keep, and how he suspected them to be the Fiends rumoured to be wandering the Ashen Fields. But those were inert, just harmless piles. This one was aflame, screaming and in pain. Its jumbled thoughts blared into her mind.

    ¡®Pain! Kill! No! Break¡­ the Bond.¡¯

    The ash pile shifted, falling to the ground like sands rolling down a hill. Two malformed legs and torso constructed themselves from the roiling pile. Then two misshapen arms and a deformed face appeared from the smoldering mass. A red rune glowed hotly at its chest, and she recognised the feel of a mortal soul within.

    The soul seemed to strain against the body it found itself in. Each moment the unnatural bond continued was a torment it desperately sought the release of freedom from ¨C the freedom her death could provide.

    It lifted its hand, and warmth radiated in the air around it. It dithered between its conflicted and confused thoughts, fighting against itself on whether to attack.

    ¡°Move to the door, now!¡± she whispered to Bethany.

    The woman was frozen in place, mouth agape as she stared at the fiend. Ava grabbed her arm to push her slowly to the door.

    ¡°No!¡± Bethany screamed, ripping her arm from Ava¡¯s grip and pushing her toward the ash creature. ¡°I will not die because of you!¡±

    The creature flinched at her shriek and fire flared from its arm. Ava fell to the ground as her stitches ripped and her wound reopened. She stifled her painful grunt and crawled swiftly toward the balcony. She could feel the heat of the fire pass above her back and stiffen the material of her shirt.

    Bethany screamed, the sound ringing in her ears. She could not see, but she knew as she braced against the balcony wall outside that the noblewoman had been caught in the fire stream.

    Fire poured from the balcony doors, the heat causing her sleeve to darken and smoulder before catching alight. She furiously smothered the small fire and moved over the railing and along the ledge. She scanned the area for an easy escape, the closest cover she could find was the mountain lion statue built into the golden wall.

    She clambered over the body and braced herself against another fire stream.

    It careened against the statue, whorls of fire swirling over the side. Licks of flame burnt through her shirt and seared her skin. She shrunk further down to avoid the heat and fire. She hissed and groaned against the onslaught.

    She felt the cold around her heart again. It was weaker than before, but a small gust picked up around her. Her arms trembled and strained against the icy magic building within them. She stifled it down, too afraid to lose the function of her arms while she was balancing on a ledge.

    Ava heard a crack and crash from within her room.

    ¡°Gods! Ava! Where are you?¡± she heard Caeden yell.

    ¡°Here!¡± Ava gritted out through the bombardment.

    She heard the ash fiend groan in pain, and she hazarded a look over the statue and saw Caeden facing the creature behind a shield, her sword in hand, while ice shards flew around him into it.

    Flecks of ash flew off the creature where the shards made an impact, only to return to the spot and reform. The creature hesitated uncertainly. Its broken thoughts sought permission to attack its champion.

    It was granted, judging by its sudden focus thoughts and it lifted its hand toward Caeden. The prince lifted his shield, bracing for impact. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she moved desperately along the ledge and grabbed into his shoulders. She felt them stiffen at her touch.

    ¡°Go back to cover, damn you!¡± he gritted out at her.

    She clung to him tightly. She knew she was allowing her fear to overrule her common sense, but she could not seem to let him go and find safety.

    Caeden grumbled with annoyance but backed up towards her, sharing the cover of his shield.

    The ash fiend moaned, torn between twin minds. She felt it tug at her soul.

    ¡®Break¡­ the bond. Please¡­ release me,¡¯ it pleaded.

    ¡°What is wrong with it?¡± Caeden whispered, more to himself than her.

    ¡°It is in pain. We need to ¨C break the bond it has with this ash body,¡± her voice broke.

    ¡°How?¡± she heard Elise ask within her room.

    She covered Caeden''s sword arm with her hand and pointed the sword toward the creature¡¯s glowing rune. Would this work the way Oswin¡¯s magic did with her diamond-crust arrows?

    She tried focusing the frost she was stifling into the sword, her arm trembling from the exertion. The blade frosted over and steamed like hot ice. In the blink of an eye, the blade extended forward, slicing through the ash fiend¡¯s sigil.

    The rune on the creature¡¯s chest turned pale blue and shattered along with the sword¡¯s icy extension. She felt instant relief pour from the soul before dissipating into nothingness.

    Caeden groaned and dropped the hybrid sword, his hand red from the ice she had poured through it. He held his wrist as it shook uncontrollably.

    The world spun and she felt herself falling. Caeden grabbed at her, pulling her over the railing. His grip was punishing.

    ¡°Ah! Do not do this to me now,¡± she heard him mutter. ¡°Stay with me!¡±

    She tried to fight through the dizziness. She was still conscious, she thought. She could still hear the people milling about her in panic and could still smell burnt wood and flesh but could not feel anything. She was floating through her half-darkened room. Time had stopped.

    ¡°I cannot see! Kael...¡± She heard Bethany croak, afeared. And then¡­ silence.

    ¡°Accursed woman, why could you not stay in your room like I told you to?¡± Kael lamented a moment later.

    ¡°Caeden, what happened? Is everyone well?¡±

    She must have lost consciousness because she started awake to the sound of Lady Ella¡¯s voice drifting to her in the grand staircase.

    ¡°No, mother. I warned you. You were to send that woman home,¡± Caeden responded, his jaw stiff with frustration.

    She heard the clip-clap of Lady Ella¡¯s footsteps moving swiftly down the hall.

    ¡°That girl is not safe here,¡± Queen Aileen stated. Her voice was even, matter-of-fact and lacked the fervour she had heard in it before. ¡°We are not safe with her here.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Caeden agreed.

 Chapter 10: Part 2 - A Lonesome Soul

    [Note from the Haelionthyne, the Original Author of The Hybrid: Chasing Destiny: This novel is only published and freely available to read on My Patreon</a>, Royal Road</a> and Tapas</a>. Support me directly with your readership there. No other websites or reading platforms have my permission, express or blanket, to publish my novel or distribute it further.]

    ¡°She summons magic from the heart, Oswin!¡± Elise hissed incredulously at the placid mage.

    ¡°Truly?¡± he replied, indicating with his hands for the sorceress to calm.

    ¡°Why are you not surprised?¡± she asked frowning, partially annoyed by his non-reaction to her discovery.

    ¡°I have had my suspicions and theories, but nothing I could prove,¡± he pondered out loud.

    ¡°Explain,¡± Caeden asked, placing Ava¡¯s delirious body on his bed and leaving her to Adept Graeyson''s ministrations.

    ¡°Well, wielders manifest elemental magic from the arms, while Psionic magic is manifested from the head. Arcane magic is summoned from both, depending on the spell,¡± Oswin began.

    ¡°Summoning magic from the heart is not just unusual, it should be improbable! Should it not?¡± Elise interrupted. She was teetering on a precipice of disbelief and denial.

    ¡°Normally, I would agree. But Ava has indicated a few times that she sees spirits inhabiting the heart. It would not be outside the realm of possibility that she is using a different form of magic, though she does not seem to be immune to its effects as a typical wielder would be,¡± Oswin declared, staring at Ava curiously.

    Caeden frowned in confusion, unable to comprehend what Oswin was trying to say. Curse these magic wielders and their complicated explanations.

    ¡°What¡­?¡± he began.

    ¡°Creation Magic! He is suggesting that Ava is manifesting the ice magic from her soul. Impossible!¡± she blurted, then stilled and pondered, lifting a slim hand to her chin. ¡°Though it would explain so much. Perhaps Eliza can determine the truth of it, she has a better sense for these types of things.¡±

    ¡°I prefer her to focus on understanding that ash creature first. Ava''s magic can come later,¡± Caeden pressed.

    ¡°Perhaps, a discussion left for another place¡­ Your Grace,¡± Graeyson gritted between his teeth, before catching himself and correcting his irritation. ¡°This topic is disturbing my patient.¡±

    Ava moved restlessly on the bed and there was panic in her eyes.

    ¡°No,¡± she mumbled and reached out to no one in particular. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me alone!¡±

    Caeden moved to her and took her hand. She squeezed his with what little strength she had left. Her eyes slowly found him in her haze, and she calmed enough for Graeyson to continue re-stitching her wound.

    This will not do. He had seen similar behaviour among knights who lost their charges. Ava was not coping well with her losses and was becoming clingy and over-protective to the point of endangering herself. It would be difficult to account for someone who acted so irrationally in battle.

    Would she recover enough to attend Ser Derric¡¯s funeral? Perhaps that would give her the closure she needs.

    ¡°Before I leave, Your Grace,¡± Oswin whispered next to him. ¡°I did some digging while Grand Master Gildaen was out on assignment. It seems both rumours are true regarding Shaennen, his former apprentice. He died before his execution and the corpse was burned in a pyre. What Gildaen kept of his remains disappeared a few days after. Witnesses stated that he was distraught upon discovering their disappearance. It was concluded to be theft. Nothing was found to indicate there was anything more to it.¡±

    Caeden moved Oswin further away from Ava and the group. The mage¡¯s revelations were disquieting to say the least. There were few aberrations powerful enough to survive both death and the pyre. Such beings were veritable plagues from myths dating back to Ancient Times. If there was indeed more to it than theft, Shaennen would not simply be a lost and restless soul; he would be a walking curse.

    ¡°Find me everything you can about him, Oswin. Everything! No matter how trivial.¡±

    <hr>

    The scorching heat from Ser Derric¡¯s funeral pyre was punishing, worsening the drier air. Caeden stifled his discomfort as he threw frankincense into the flames. As the knight''s commanding officer in life, it fell to him to officiate the funeral. He had had so many of these lately; each one never seemed to get any easier. It was hard to continue through the funeral rites while the family members mourned. But such was his duty; his knights and their surviving loved ones deserved their honour.

    Ser Derric¡¯s funeral had been highly attended. He had heard the knight had been considered a hero in the common quarter ¨C a local boy with no connections who managed to impress a prince and become his royal guard.

    Anger swirled in his chest. An avoidable death. A good man ¨C an honourable knight taken from his retinue due to blind ambition. He had wished Morley had kept some of the revelations of his investigation to himself until after Ser Derric¡¯s funeral.

    Caeden watched the flames until a movement in the doorway of the nearest tower caught his eye. A figure in a hooded purple cloak appeared momentarily before disappearing from view.

    Beast did not share his master¡¯s need to remain hidden though, he sat half-visible in the doorway, pulling tufts of shedding fur from his side.

    He was afraid she would not have had the strength to attend, but he should have known nothing would keep her from attending if she set her mind. Though not confident enough to attend in full view.

    As the mourners filed out from the rooftop courtyard, he stepped down from the dais and made a beeline for Ser Derric¡¯s parents. The knight¡¯s mother reached for his hands, and he took them into his own.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°I thank you, Your Grace,¡± she mumbled tearily. ¡°You honour our son. He was so proud to fight by your side.¡±

    ¡°The honour was mine, Milady Tandre,¡± giving her hands a comforting squeeze.

    ¡°A shame the girl, Ava, couldn¡¯t make it,¡± she whispered, her brown eyes growing dark with despair.

    Caeden looked at the entrance to the tower, Ava was still there, hiding. Is she close enough to overhear?

    Ser Derric¡¯s mother followed his gaze.

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s good,¡± she heaved a sigh of relief. Her demeanour changed, becoming lighter and throwing off the misery that threatened to overwhelm her. ¡°Would it be possible to meet her, Your Grace?¡±

    ¡°She is still very weak. Perhaps, when she recovers and things calm down,¡± Caeden explained awkwardly.

    ¡°Yes, yes. I understand. Please let her know we don¡¯t blame her. Our Derric trusted her and said she had a good heart. He believed she was touched by the Divine - that Holden and Fern sent her to us to help fight against the evil growing ever-present. I wished to share his faith in her. We hear such terrible tales.¡±

    Caeden wanted to know more about these tales, but Milady Tandre doubled over as a fit of sorrow racked her body. Overwhelmed with such grief, she could no longer speak comprehensively through the wails if she tried. Her husband took her into his arms and directed her to the exit, tilting his head in greeting as they left.

    Perhaps, it would be wise to visit the city guard to better understand what was happening in the Common Quarter. He was missing something. He was sure of it.

    He moved to the entryway of the tower. Beast halted his grooming to watch his approach, a tuft of loose fur dangling from his maw. Ava sat on the floor next to the entryway, holding an open canteen. She was shivering slightly but seemed more lucid than she had been these past few days, though saddened and morose.

    She sealed the canteen, moved to stand and struggled. Caeden bent down to assist her up. At his touch, she stiffened against him ¨C rejecting his help. This again! But she softened against his arms a moment later, leaning onto him to haul herself up.

    He could not say why, but her compliance alarmed him more than her rejection. He shoved the feeling away, imagining things in her irrational behaviour.

    ¡°I will escort you to your room,¡± he muttered. It was in fact still his room, but he had found elsewhere to bunk down when he needed the rest.

    ¡°No! I ¨C I¡¯m tired of rooms and beds,¡± she said, her eyes drifting away from his.

    She was lying. Yet he could not determine the reason for it. Nor did he want to fight her over it. When she recovered and was stronger, then they could bicker. Perhaps I should take her to one of the garden courtyards for fresh air instead?

    ¡°I would like to go to the Fountain if you don¡¯t mind,¡± she suggested weakly.

    Caeden hesitated. Something was off. He wanted to say no, but that place was possibly the most secure room that Castle Caedence had. Nothing untoward could happen there unless they invited it in.

    ¡°Is ¨C it still singing to you?¡± he asked uncertainly.

    ¡°No, not for a while. But being close to it comforts me,¡± she whispered, her eyes were heavy.

    Perhaps they could sit there until she drifted off to sleep.

    He led her through the castle to the room and they sat at the base of the stairs, staring at the still waters of the fountain.

    This place was still so oddly peaceful and despite it losing its healing properties, the room still felt magical. Perhaps it was why he and Kael had chosen it as their secret place. That and only a few people could get past the door¡¯s charm. The room was like a space all its own, separate from the world and its problems just beyond the door.

    Ava rested her head on his shoulders and sighed forlornly. She unsealed the canteen again.

    ¡°You want some?¡± she asked.

    Caeden shifted, slightly discomforted. He did not want to disturb or change her position at his side, but he was hyper-alert to her closeness. Something that did not make him squirm this much before.

    ¡°Uh ¨C no thank you,¡± he grunted. ¡°I think I need something stronger than water.¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± she replied.

    She lifted the canteen under his nose, and he caught a whiff of an Everard Red. He lifted a querying eyebrow.

    ¡°Have you been raiding the kitchens again?¡± he smirked.

    Embarrassment coloured her pale cheeks as she averted her eyes. Kael¡¯s guards reported she had been taking food from there but did nothing more suspicious than pilfer an extra bite to eat.

    ¡°If you want something, just ask,¡± he said. He took the canteen and swallowed a big gulp.

    He looked the canteen over, grimacing. The wine was familiar but held a slightly unusual aftertaste. Everard must have pushed out a bad batch, or Ava must not have chosen a good bottle. He did not take her as knowledgeable about such things. Either way, it was having the desired effect. He felt his body ease as the alcohol slid down his throat.

    She took the canteen from him, took a small sip, and then placed it back in his hands. She snuggled deeper into him. He sipped steadily from Ava¡¯s canteen and relaxed.

    ¡°Tell me about your vision for your Empire. The fountain sang about it and Kael said something similar, but I would like to hear it from you,¡± she mumbled.

    Caeden laughed, mortified.

    ¡°Kael mentioned it?¡± he asked, surprised that his brother remembered it all.

    ¡°Not much, he said you are an idealist.¡±

    It seems time and experience had made Kael as much a pessimist as it had made me. They shared that dream as children. Both of them built on and expanded each idea. It was disappointing to learn that Kael was now distancing himself from it. But was I not doing so myself as well?

    ¡°It is a childish and na?ve dream,¡± he started, gazing in her expectant eyes and continued. ¡°It was a lot easier to imagine the Empire being a land of plenty for everyone back then ¨C human, dwarf, elf, beastkin and orc. If they made this place their new home, they could have what they needed if they worked towards its prosperity. A nation for all.¡±

    ¡°And it is not so easy to imagine now?¡± she asked. There was a hint of sad disappointment in her question.

    ¡°I learned quickly that the Empire will cleave very tightly to tradition, even when it hinders great progress in the long run. And I have pushed back so many orc raids at the coast that I have become cynical of their race. They do not pillage out of necessity, they do it out of malice. A show of strength over those they consider weak, taking gold and riches they could not hope to use. The Guild does not trade in stolen goods and bringing such business to The Marketplace damned them all the more in my eyes.

    ¡°It would take lifetimes to undo such strict traditions and overcome the bad blood between the races to come just a little close to having a unified nation together,¡± he said, closing his eyes and resting his head against the stairway.

    ¡°Then why not start with yours?¡± she asked.

    She made it sound so easy. Doing so would start a war with the nobility, who wanted things to stay as they were, with themselves and their families remaining in power. Bringing in outsiders would be a threat to them and all they hold, diminishing their reach and influence. She was right though, the Empire had stagnated since the Great War, if he wanted change he could not balk at the first signs of resistance and leave the problem for others to fix.

    His head fell heavily onto his chest, and he stiffened with unconcealed alarm. He shook the fog from his mind. Odd. He did not feel this tired before. He tried shifting Ava gently off his shoulder and found she would not move.

    ¡°I need to stand. I think I need some air,¡± he mumbled groggily.

    ¡°That probably would not be wise. You might hit your head when you pass out,¡± she said as she moved to her feet.

    Caeden¡¯s heart hammered in his chest as his eyes dropped to the canteen. Disbelief curled through his mind.

    ¡°What have you done?¡± he pressed, pulling on her arm.

    ¡°I am leaving. This mission is mine and mine alone. I no longer need you or your people¡¯s assistance. You will all just end up dying anyway,¡± she said, her voice broke but held her conviction.

    She shrugged off his hold and walked to a pattern in the wall. It gave way when she touched it, revealing a door into the darkness.

    Caeden had never seen anyone not of the same blood instruct the charm like that. It was not the same request to open that had been passed down through the generations of his family, it was a command.

    She retrieved her bow and quiver from a hiding spot and walked through it.

    Panicked, he tried to shake the effects of the drug away and push himself to a stand, only to flop back to the ground. Frustrated, he gritted his jaw and growled, forcing his body to comply.

    ¡°Ser Derric¡¯s death was not your fault!¡± he groaned out.

    He lurched forward, but it was useless. His limbs could no longer hold up his weight.

    ¡°No, but I was still the reason he died. You will be safe without me here. Stay and build the empire of your dreams. That is your destiny.¡± Her voice echoed back as she and Beast disappeared into the darkened tunnel.

    His anger raged uncontrollably as he lost consciousness. Accursed woman! My destiny is not yours to decide!

 Chapter 10: Part 3 - The King and His Knight

    [Note from the Haelionthyne, the Original Author of The Hybrid: Chasing Destiny: This novel is only published and freely available to read on My Patreon</a>, Royal Road</a> and Tapas</a>. Support me directly with your readership there. No other websites or reading platforms have my permission, express or blanket, to publish my novel or distribute it further.]

    A discomforting sting on his left cheek brought Caeden back to consciousness. His head snapped up and he frowned as his brother¡¯s worried face warped into focus. Kael tried shaking him awake before planting another hard slap on his cheek, finally chasing the last dregs of Caeden¡¯s drugged stupor away.

    Angry, he pushed Kael¡¯s hands away from his face and tried to orient himself while the stinging sensation abated. His brother heaved him up and placed him in a sitting position against the stairs.

    Oswin and his study group were here. As were Ser Morley and Datura, both regarding the other as if they were not present. Yet another the Knight Commander seemed to not get along well with. Not that the assassin¡¯s opinion of Morley mattered.

    All of them watched him expectantly. Accursed woman! It was enough that she slipped out from under his watch once again, but to leave him face down for others to find infuriated him. Once she and the Fire Spirit were safe and secure, that woman would know my wrath!

    ¡°How long has it been?¡± he croaked. He hesitantly accepted a canteen of water from Adept Graeyson, sniffing the contents before downing it. His mouth felt as thick and dry as cotton.

    ¡°Since Ser Derric¡¯s funeral? Six hours,¡± Kael answered, watching him curiously. ¡°My guards grew suspicious when you did not emerge after some time and came to find me. The door would not respond to my request until a few minutes ago and we found you as you were.¡±

    ¡°That was probably due to Ava, or the fountain¡¯s magics. She commands the door charms like no other I have seen.¡±

    With his faculties returning, Caeden struggled to a stand with his brother¡¯s assistance.

    ¡°Then it was she who drugged you,¡± Kael smirked. ¡°I think I like her more every day.¡±

    Irritated, Caeden pulled his arm from Kael¡¯s grip. He rested his hands on his knees and shook the fog clear from his mind. What sedative did she use? Its effects were a struggle to shrug off. The gods know she had had ample opportunity to squirrel away a bottle or two recently.

    He straightened, the faculties of his mind slowly returning to him.

    ¡°How did she escape? My guards did not see her leave,¡± Kael asked.

    Caeden lifted his hand to the concealed door, requesting it to open.

    ¡°A long-forgotten emergency exit,¡± he answered.

    The pattern in the wall parted, revealing the exit tunnel. Did Ava time lock it like the entrance door? Was she expecting him to follow? Or was this the Fountain¡¯s doing? So many unknowns, yet she willingly runs straight to them with some half-baked, brain-dead plan in that stubborn head.

    ¡°I need my light armour. Ava might think she is capable of doing this alone, but she is still weak. If she makes it to the Wyvern, she will be at the Emperor¡¯s mercy afterwards. I must follow and minimize the potential consequences. Oswin, Ser Morley, prepare yourselves. We need to slip out without drawing notice,¡± he ordered.

    This will have repercussions. Severe ones. He was disobeying direct Imperial orders with this action. A problem he would have to navigate through after securing Ava and the Spirit.

    ¡°No, Knight-Commander Morley stays with me,¡± Kael stated, waving his order away.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Caeden¡¯s brows furrowed. This was not the time to indulge in resentments.

    ¡°I need him to rally the Royal Guard. We march to join you and Ava in the Ashen Fields as soon as they are ready,¡± Kael explained.

    ¡°You realise what you are saying, Kael?¡± he asked, panicked.

    He might get away with it with a small party, the benefit to the Empire outweighing the risk. But what Kael was suggesting was large-scale treason. No King, no emperor would stand for it.

    ¡°I am not sure what you mean,¡± Kael responded, a smirk playing on his lips. ¡°I have been called to act on Father¡¯s behalf through this crisis. This is an Imperial order.

    ¡°Though, I would suggest sending your mother to father to keep him¡­ at ease. At least until we have a handle on the situation.¡±

    Kael paced the floor, his irritation clear in his stilted movements. Current events were wearing on his brother. As much as he tried to hide it behind a blithe comment or a sly smile, his brother¡¯s composure was slipping.

    Caeden rubbed his jaw in contemplation. He was certain the emperor did not sanction this directly. He had already allowed the situation with the Wyvern to spiral, despite numerous warnings and calls for action by the Empire itself. The emperor, he assumed, would not make the Empire seem weak by being the first and only power to willingly give up its Great Spirit. Nor could he afford to lose the leverage he had on Caeden for the dwarven firearms. As if the Empire would lord the feat while they stood upon the ashen ruins of their land.

    But, in that fear and short-sightedness lay an opportunity. If the Wyvern is to be claimed, then the Empire needs to be the one who claims it. If both his sons were seen to be acting on Imperial order in doing so, it would be hard for the emperor to gainsay them without him looking like a weak fool who had lost control of both the Empire and his sons. He would have no choice but to go along with the deception to save face.

    Kael risked much with this plot. But if it succeeded, his brother would build on the goodwill he had gained with his management of the evacuation, earning the trust of both the people and the nobility. While Caeden would be free to pursue his mission with Ava as his brother prepared the Empire for the inevitable battle against Azael. Yes, this could work, but he needed the right people in the know.

    ¡°No, not my mother. Keep him comforted however you wish, but leave her out of this,¡± Caeden muttered.

    ¡°But why?¡± Kael whined before he caught himself and smirked. ¡°Interesting, you do not trust your mother.¡± He looked to Ser Morley and the Knight-Commander averted his gaze. ¡°I wonder what brought this on. Datura, your intelligence is lacking.

    ¡°Fine, loathe as she would be to do it, mother still holds some influence over father. I am sure she could find something of great importance to talk to him about if I asked for this favour.¡±

    Kael frowned as if he did not find the thought of asking her appealing. But he shrugged it off and continued, ¡°There is something more. King Raeburn is riding to Castle Caedence with the purpose of receiving restitution for his daughter¡¯s death. Whatever upper hand we had with him from her transgressions, we lost by failing to protect her adequately.

    ¡°Reports state he is lucid. Recovered. Mostly back to his old self, barring a few strange ticks. All thanks to our Grand Master Gildaen, who rides at his side.¡±

    ¡°Gods dammit!¡± Caeden exclaimed, irate.

    ¡°Then you understand the gravity of the situation,¡± Kael responded. ¡°Gildaen¡¯s true aims are still unclear, but he has become far too power hungry, far too arrogant and far too bold in his disdain for the Imperial family. We must assume he could be using Raeburn¡¯s madness to turn him against us, sowing instability within the Empire.¡±

    ¡°Surely High Master Earland would not stand for such treachery. I may not like the man, but he has always been fiercely loyal to the Empire and his king!¡± Adept Graeyson interjected.

    ¡°I would normally agree, but Earland has always had a reverence toward Gildaen and his magical hierarchy,¡± Oswin added. ¡°He will defer to the Grand Master and follow his instruction, despite his better judgement.¡±

    ¡°Earland does not trust blindly, he would turn on Gildaen if provided with evidence,¡± Elise responded.

    ¡°A notion we will revisit later. For now, success in securing the Fire Spirit is imperative and might ease the growing tensions between Daaria and Everard. At the very least it would rob King Raeburn and Gildaen of using the Wyvern crisis as an anchor to rally support for a rebellion. If not, the Empire could fracture into the civil war we have been trying to avoid,¡± Kael responded, looking to Caeden.

    ¡°Then we plan our next moves with purpose,¡± Caeden responded.

    Moments passed as the group plotted the way forward and Caeden and Oswin changed into their light armour. It was not what he preferred but far better suited for fast travel, small scuffles and the heat he knew awaited them at the Ashen Fields. Oswin entered the tunnel first, bedecked in all manner of runed curios this study group deemed necessary and lit the way.

    His brother stopped him as he entered with a firm hand on his shoulder and Caeden stared at him curiously.

    ¡°Caeden¡­ About Bethany and I¡­¡± Kael started, uncertain on how to continue. Guilt danced in his eyes.

    ¡°If you are about to apologize. Do not,¡± Caeden grumbled. ¡°I cannot say I relish the thought of becoming a wittol or leashed in my marriage to my own brother had events played out differently. But Lady Bethany and I were not close. Nor am I innocent in this game. You outmaneuvered me in the Grand Dance, Kael. Let us leave it at that.¡±

    Kael nodded with a half-smile that did not reach his eyes as Caeden entered the tunnel. He stopped and turned back.

    ¡°Though it does not excuse Lady Bethany¡¯s actions, I regret how her life came to an end.¡±

    ¡°As do I,¡± his brother whispered into the darkness.

 Chapter 10: Part 4 - A Wrathful Spirit

    A sharp mix of pain and dread forced Ava back to consciousness. The light grey walls surrounding her blurred into semi-focus. What was this place? An Adept¡¯s practice? How did I get here? She groaned and tentatively touched her abdomen.

    Her stitches had ripped again when they had run blindly into the invisible horde, and her reopened wound bled onto the ash-covered floor. Something on her shirt collar felt rough. Her neck itched as it rubbed against it. She absent-mindedly scratched at her throat and the skin burned under the scraping of her nails. Beast!

    She shifted painfully, heart hammering, turned and found him in a haphazard bundle at her side. He had not placed himself there. It almost seemed like he had been thrown down that way.

    ¡°Beast!¡± she croaked weakly.

    She shook him with a blood-covered hand. His shedding fur clung to it. He did not respond but she could still see his torso rise and fall steadily. The moment of relief did not last long. Her heart froze and beat painfully in her chest. There was another presence here with them. She could feel its malicious intent curling tightly around her throat.

    ¡°The creature is fine. Though why it would take such a loathsome form is beyond my understanding,¡± a baritone voice cooed from a room beyond.

    Its purpose was to calm, but all the melodious sound did was make the hairs on her neck raise in alarm.

    ¡°But an advantage I will not begrudge. My control over it would not have worked otherwise. No need to fret, it is only a paralysis spell to keep its better nature from doing something¡­ foolish while you and I talk.¡±

    A demonkin appeared in the room¡¯s doorway, carrying a healer¡¯s satchel dangling from darkly clawed fingers. He bent as he moved through the door frame. The long, black, curling horns bowed his head slightly from their weight.

    He flexed his body-length wings, shaking ash from the dark feathers while his jagged tail scattered the piles on the floor. He had the strong and heavy set of an orc but had an elf¡¯s unnatural beauty and starry eyes. Neither helped ease Ava¡¯s dread at being in his presence.

    He stalked across the floor and dropped the satchel carelessly onto a nearby table, far out of reach.

    The demonkin watched her for a moment. His lips pursed tightly with a great measure of disappointment.

    ¡°I did not think the poison would weaken you so, Narez¡¯nya,¡± he sneered.

    Ava¡¯s mind unwittingly tried to interpret the ancient words. So similar they were to orcish, but their meaning danced beyond her comprehension. Her stomach lurched at the attempt, but it paled in comparison to the piercing pain growing in her head. It felt like a nail slowly being twisted into her skull. She got the distinct intrusive feeling that her thoughts were being monitored.

    She tried to empty it, but the devil only laughed at her feeble resistance.

    ¡°You can no more stop yourself from thinking than you can from breathing. Eventually, something will give. It will be easier if you do not struggle. I do not intend to harm you, but you are beginning to wear on my patience.¡±

    He squatted before her, glaring down with the alertness of a predator poised to strike at the first movement. Her image was reflected in the glossy black scales that arrowed down his forehead. Apart from the wings, horns, and tail, she could almost understand why people mistook her for one of them. There were only minor differences in the aspects they shared.

    ¡°Bah, like comparing a Sea Serpent to a Mudfish,¡± he muttered, disdainfully.

    Was I the serpent or the fish? She could not tell. His eyes held wonder, but also disgust. His thoughts were both elated and revolted by her presence. It was hard to tell which side he leaned toward more.

    ¡°Tell me what you want and be gone,¡± she grumbled, trying to shift away from his unsettling closeness, both in her mind and in the physical world. This interaction felt like she was trying to navigate across a pit of spikes in the dark.

    ¡°Perhaps I wanted you to remember, but it was a vain hope. Your father does not play fair. He has not even left you with the memory of your name.¡±

    The demonkin¡¯s tone changed. It was softer and wistful.

    Ava squinted suspiciously at the strange change in demeanour. Did they know each other? There was a shift in the heavy malice wafting darkly around the demonkin¡¯s frame. She could almost detect another presence in its chaotic movement.

    The demonkin smiled, his fangs sharper and thicker than hers.

    ¡°Clever girl, you have finally noticed me. Your soul magic is developing favourably. Now you will hear my deal.

    ¡°You seek the Spirits, yes? I will take you to each one. You will no longer need to tiptoe around these useless mortals to collect them, nor squander the advantages they give you by saving their pitiful lives. No more death, no more struggle. Your trials will be easy and safe with me working beside you.¡±

    Ava felt a similar heat creep back to the forefront of her mind.

    ¡°In exchange for what?¡± she asked, trying to fight off the wave of dizziness.

    There were kernels of truth in his words, feelings and half thoughts given sense and voice. Having the Frost Spirit active would have made her journey through the fields easier. Her struggles now were the price she had to pay for saving Prince Caeden from that cave-in. But would I have gotten this far without him? It was clear that the demonkin was trying to twist things, but to decipher the truths from the lies and manipulations through this pain was going to be exhaustive.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°You are overthinking. I want nothing but to ensure your and the Greater Spirits safety. Once you have them all, you are to retire to your wizard¡¯s pocket realm and leave the mortal world behind,¡± it sang. ¡°It is as simple as that.¡±

    ¡®Deny it! It offers you a life free of strife while using you to cause it elsewhere. Do not trust the forked tongues of these scions. They will tell you nothing but lies and use illusions to blind you from the truth.¡¯

    ¡°Be gone, Inferno! This conversation is between your keeper and me,¡± the demonkin bellowed, angrily.

    Ava¡¯s head felt like it was splitting apart, her mind playing host to too many consciousnesses. She held onto her temples, hoping to relieve the pain. The Fire Spirit was right. This¡­ this felt like a trap. She could not trust this demonkin.

    ¡°You are the one behind my poisoning.¡±

    He seemed taken aback by her sudden accusation at first, but his predatory smile confirmed that she had understood his statement earlier.

    ¡°Your poison, not poisoning. The fault for that lies with the mortals you so desperately wish to protect. Just a gentle whisper of a promise and they would sell anything and everything. You know this. The Inferno knows this.

    ¡°That boy will not welcome you to his Empire. You already know what he thinks of you. He said as much. He showed you what truly lurks in the dark recesses of his mind while you gently cared for him.

    ¡°He will use you and discard you when you are no longer useful. It is their nature. These¡­ parasites! They hate you. Despise you. Simply for being created as what you are,¡± he growled, shifting into various humans as he spoke. She recognized only one. Gretchen. ¡°I do not understand your unfounded affection for them.¡±

    How long has this demonkin been following them around and watching?

    ¡°You put this all into motion! Are you working with Azael?¡±

    He laughed, loudly, incredulous that she would ask such a thing¡­ or think it. In his dark and chaotic mind, she could sense the demonkin¡¯s feelings toward The Shadow King. Azael was still mortal despite bending the boundaries of what that meant. There was no allegiance owed to him, save ones that could help him reach his own goal.

    His consciousness split and she was shoved out of it. Her headache grew worse. Trying to sieve through his thoughts using the connection he drilled into her mind was akin to smashing her head against a brick wall.

    ¡°Would you have given him the Frost Spirit had I died?¡± she gritted out. Her vision swam from the pain.

    She knew without his confirmation that it would have been a possibility, if not a certainty.

    ¡°Eh, I am undecided,¡± he shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°A dominated and unliving world is still a living world in a different form. But the end would be within reach. If we are to be truly free and witness infinite bliss, this accursed world and its mortal chain must break,¡± he growled, indicating with a clawed hand to her and him.

    ¡°I wished to burn the rot away and start anew. But I see that will not be possible while the Darkest One still holds sway in both planes. It will continue to influence and corrupt until all existence is unmade. My sister was right. Remove yourself from this scion, we have no choice but to save what is left!¡±

    ¡°Be gone! I...¡± Ava demanded angrily. She flinched in pain.

    The demonkin had read the Fire Spirit¡¯s thoughts before she could speak the words. His hand squeezed down on her shoulders, the claws digging into her flesh, while his wrath rammed painfully against her mind.

    ¡°Ungrateful fool, do you know the trouble I went through to keep the fiends and pestilent away from you? I got her here while these humans kept her away,¡± he yelled irate. ¡°And still, you would choose them over me!¡±

    She felt the Fire Spirit¡¯s response rather than heard it. Unwavering doubt. Whether or not the demonkin truly believed it was being helpful, it had not just tricked the fiends and undead. It tricked the Spirit, disrupting its senses with its illusions as well. And it raged because of it.

    ¡°And the ash fiend. Was it yours?¡± Ava burst out, fighting through the mental anguish.

    ¡°Heh, you have many enemies, Narez¡¯nya. Not all reside on the mortal plane,¡± he grinned viciously. ¡°I can change into whoever I want. Position myself wherever I wish. I do not need to shove hapless souls into bestial forms to get the job done.¡±

    Ava struggled to make sense of any of this. The demonkin¡¯s poison could have killed me, not to mention the attack itself. Numerous factors led me here. The Ash Fiend, Ser Derric¡¯s and Bethany¡¯s deaths. Prince Caeden¡­ How could he account for them all? How did he expect me to end up here despite it all?

    She looked at the demonkin as he sifted through her myriads of rapid thoughts. There was nothing but a hateful and dark void in his red eyes. There was no plan, just a wanton need to sow chaos. It could just as easily kill her here than help her if the action caused more strife, despite his affectionate pretence. His deal aimed at removing her and the Spirits from the battlefield, leaving the conflicting six lands to battle an invincible Azael and his dead army alone. No, I must even the battlefield whether the Spirits will it or not!

    Instinct ran through her body, and she unsheathed her dagger, thrusting it in his shoulder.

    He blocked it before it tore in too deep, but the sharp tip was enough to disrupt his connection with her mind and the aura of malice sputtered.

    A different awareness entered his eyes, confused and then fearful.

    ¡°What have you done? We must not be separated!¡± he hissed. His voice quivered with panic as he quickly averted his gaze. ¡°Do not look at me!¡±

    He grabbed her head, and she reeled back, pushing his hand away from her face. His claws snagged on her skin, leaving angry, burning lines down her face.

    Beast growled beside her, shifting to his feet, no longer under the effect of the demonkin¡¯s spell. He pounced on him a moment later.

    They tumbled through the surgical tables in a mess of fur and feathers, before the demonkin fluttered into the air and threw the saber cat from him with ungodly strength.

    Beast twisted midair and landed heavily on his feet, stalking toward him without hesitation.

    The demonkin growled in annoyance, testing the texture of his dark red blood between his fingers as if confused by its presence there. The clarity of consciousness was replaced by roiling chaos once more.

    ¡°Very well! Learn your lesson the hard way, just as your father will,¡± he grunted.

    He lifted his arm and blasted a concentration of force through the ceiling, flying through the broken hole.

    Banging rattled against the building, followed by a chorus of baleful moans. Ava staggered to her feet and pushed one of the overturned tables against the door before her legs gave out and she leaned against it weakly. She did not realise how tense she had been during the encounter with the demonkin and now her strength seemed to sap completely from her body.

    Prince Caeden would be able to catch up with me now. She knew he would follow, despite her wishes for him to stay alive and away from harm. She saw his stubborn resolve written in his eyes before he passed out. I need to warn him! Before he falls under the same illusion I did!

    [Note from the Haelionthyne, the Original Author of The Hybrid: Chasing Destiny: This novel is only published and freely available to read on My Patreon</a>, Royal Road</a> and Tapas</a>. Support me directly with your readership there. No other websites or reading platforms have my permission, express or blanket, to publish my novel or distribute it further.]

 Chapter 10: Part 5 - A Trick of the Eye

    Caeden stood under the burned remnants of an abandoned watch post left behind by the knight and mages when they quarantined the Ashen Fields. The post and its surroundings were half buried in ash and soot. He stood a fair distance from the encroaching wall of fire. Despite Oswin''s magic barrier, he could still feel the heat blasting from it. Without the mage¡¯s protection absorbing and redistributing much of its effect, he was sure he would be cinders by now.

    His eyes darted between the missive he was writing to his brother and Oswin at the wall of fire. The mage was trying to attune his magic to it to adjust his barriers accordingly, allowing them to pass through it safely. The grey-white fields beyond were quiet. Eerily so. The only disturbance was the low rumbling beneath his feet and the Red Mountain spitting dark smoke and fire. He could not see the Wyvern. It must have disappeared back into the belly of the volcano. Or Ava had already collected it, but he doubted that. Something was not right here.

    He could not shake the uneasy feeling that made his hair stand on end. He felt like he would unknowingly walk off a precipice and he could not determine where the sense of danger was coming from.

    They would need to be alert once they pass through the wall. His missive was to warn his brother to do the same. If they do pin down the threat beyond the wall, it would be hard to pass missives back through it since the enchanted paper¡¯s edges were already blackening and curling just being this close to it.

    His attention was drawn to their horses, they whinnied and screamed, eyes wide with panic. They bucked and strained against their reins. Caeden fingered Ava¡¯s sword and walked to calm them, scanning the area warily. He wanted to call a warning to Oswin, but three, muffled blasts echoed against the inside of the flame wall.

    ¡°What in Holden¡¯s name?¡± Oswin exclaimed. His brows furrowed in perplexity.

    The wall flashed blue as waves of fire rippled out from the areas of impact. He and Oswin watched the changes in confusion. Oswin backed away from the barrier and Caeden reached out, indicating to the mage to get behind him. He slipped his shield on his arm.

    Three blasts hit the barrier again. The first blast occurred too fast for his eyes to catch, but he caught the latter two. Fireballs. Ones that appeared out of thin air. Such a thing was not possible, unless¡­

    Clawed fingers appeared amid the wall, ripping it apart. The flames seemed to flare and recoil from the dark aura surrounding them, creating a gap for a fully grown demonkin to fly through. Once it was clear of the wall, its hand went to the injury on his upper left arm.

    Caeden¡¯s heart stalled, then beat like a maul against his chest. He found himself frozen in place, incapacitated by the sheer terror of the demonkin¡¯s maleficence. He felt helpless, vulnerable and small. The weight of all the world¡¯s hate and malice that emanated from this single, dread figure felt like it would crush him. It took all his willpower to stifle his panic and form rational thought.

    The demonkin¡¯s wound was not a gash made by Ava¡¯s dagger or an arrow but was a round puncture that could have resulted from one of Beast¡¯s protruding fangs. Coming face to face with a creature such as this did not bode well for Ava or Beast.

    The demonkin turned to them when he drew Ava¡¯s sword. Its pained scowl turned into the cruel expression of a child glaring down at a snail it was about to crush beneath its boot.

    ¡°Ah, it seems the boy prince has come to save his damsel in distress. Would she not be pleased,¡± it mocked melodiously.

    ¡°What have you done to Ava?¡± he ground out.

    ¡°Is that not a question reserved for your mother?¡± he responded with a knowing smirk.

    Caeden reeled from the unexpected response. He had had suspicions, but very little proof and the sudden implication had taken him aback. No, to trust the word of a demonkin would be folly. It was trying to distract him, divert his attention toward its chaotic purposes.

    ¡°If you have harmed her¡­¡± Caeden threatened.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    ¡°The parasite dares to walk in the footsteps of gods and now has the gall to threaten me,¡± it spat, its patience snapping.

    The amusement was gone and the demonkin¡¯s aura darkened. Caeden¡¯s knees buckled from the onslaught of maleficent force blasting from the creature. Its clawed fingers twitched as it tussled with the last remnant of its willpower, and then it paused, listening.

    ¡°Silence!¡± it roared.

    Caeden flinched at the sudden outburst and shot a querying look at Oswin, who gave him an imperceptible shrug and continued to watch the demonkin with terrified curiosity.

    ¡°I should cut you down where you stand!¡± it growled and calmed. ¡°But then they will never see the truth.

    ¡°I bid you hurry. She is waiting.¡± It flicked its wrist toward the wall of flame in a semi-clockwise motion then reversed the motion before yelling, ¡°I look forward to the day we meet again, and you greet me as A¡¯za¡¯el. But I doubt you will live long enough to fulfil your destiny.¡±

    The demonkin lifted higher in the sky but took a sudden sharp turn, irritation etched on his face. The creature dove into the panicked horses, slashing one through the neck and then took off, flying toward Castle Caedence. The creature¡¯s manic laughter drifted back to them.

    Oswin was at his side, conjuring a fireball to fling at the demonkin¡¯s retreating form. Caeden stopped him with a hand on his forearm.

    ¡°Save your magic. Our priority is Ava and the Wyvern, more so now. We cannot let that creature waylay us now. A hunt for it will begin once both are safe.¡±

    Curses. Ava¡¯s mission had drawn the Reaper¡¯s dark gaze. Or the interest of one of its devils at least. Its involvement in this battle with Azael was understandable, given the Reaper''s motives for chaos, but not its methods nor its perceived allegiances. Who was this ¡®they¡¯ that it spoke of?

    ¡°Finish my missive to Kael, warn them of the demonkin. Ask him to have a party track it if he has one to spare and send it off as Elise instructed. I will put the beast down.¡±

    Caeden walked to the suffering horse and gave it peace. He watched the dark figure as it flew into the distance. There was something irregular about the way it moved. The flaps of his wings were unsynchronised. The wing on the right was slightly slower than the left by a hair. A result of the injury, perhaps. But judging by the way it spoke with itself, it could be due to the creature having two minds, ones that no longer coexisted in concert. Could it be that demonkin were possessed beings, rather than cursed agents of the Reaper? A question to ponder at a calmer time.

    The folded missive zoomed past him as he walked from the horse, its enchantment taking it back to its owner.

    ¡°Prince Caeden!¡± Oswin exclaimed. His voice raised with alarm.

    Caeden moved into action before he could fully comprehend what was happening. He rushed to Oswin, pulling the retreating mage back by the collar as a horde of afflicted pushed through the flame barrier.

    They landed in a heap just before reaching them, darkened husks crawling toward them. The sight and smell of their burning, rotting, diseased flesh falling from the bones was enough to curl his toes and turn his stomach. One managed to push through the barrier still standing and alight. It wobbled toward them.

    Oswin twisted his forearms around each other building a fireball between them and flung it into the afflicted, pushing it back through the barrier. It fell on the other side, fully engulfed in flame.

    Caeden walked to the shuffling mass before him, silencing them with Ava¡¯s sword through their temples. But their movement disrupted the barrier, and its renewed heat picked up a dry wind around it, disturbing the ash piles and exposing the burnt bodies beneath them.

    His brows creased in confusion as he looked with growing disbelief at the fields. Hordes upon hordes of diseased dead shuffled among the ash and flame. The demonkin had left the entire Empire blind to the threat growing at its centre.

    The hordes further in were shuffling with purpose now, moving toward the Red Mountain. The Wyvern was now visible at its red tip, spewing flaming brimstone haphazardly into the hordes that walked the fields below.

    ¡°How in Holden¡¯s name would Ava have gotten through all that chaos?¡± Oswin asked in disbelief.

    ¡°Not without great difficulty, or assistance. If I were to trust the words of that demonkin, she and Beast could still be alive. She has the instincts of a hunter. She would probably find a place to hole up and reassess her path forward,¡± he guessed. Wandering through that battlefield aimlessly would be folly.

    ¡°My guess would be the mine or the mining town?¡± Oswin suggested.

    ¡°The Mining Town. The mine itself would leave her cornered. Continue your work with the barrier Oswin. We need to get through.¡±

    [Note from the Haelionthyne, the Original Author of The Hybrid: Chasing Destiny: This novel is only published and freely available to read on My Patreon</a>, Royal Road</a> and Tapas</a>. Support me directly with your readership there. No other websites or reading platforms have my permission, express or blanket, to publish my novel or distribute it further.]

 Chapter 10: Part 6 - Fields of Flame

    Caeden rushed through the wall of fire and quickly took cover behind some igneous rock, Oswin following suit. Tendrils of cold relief curled through his body as it relaxed. He had faith that the mage would see them through their first obstacle. His pyromancy had no equal in the Empire, even among sorcerers who could wield the magic flame. But how it would hold up against the Spirit of Fire itself, Caeden admitted that a sliver of doubt had entered his mind.

    Oswin¡¯s barrier flickered with instability before his eyes for a time, then stopped. He had assumed the heat from within the fields would be unbearable, far more intense than the heat without, but he was pleasantly surprised that the opposite was the case. Caeden could scarcely feel any discomfort, even the weight of it, a burden he had not noticed he was carrying before, was gone.

    ¡°Huh,¡± Oswin exclaimed softly as he studied the barrier around his arms with great interest.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Caeden whispered.

    ¡°The wall changed some of the properties of my barrier. It feels lighter but tougher and it drains on my magical reserves more efficiently. Most frustrating to know that I have manifested my barriers wastefully all this time,¡± he replied, with a chastened expression, which quickly changed into quiet contemplation.

    ¡°I wonder¡­ Perhaps I can now manage to summon a replacement for our dear Ser Morley.¡±

    The mage encircled his forearms, then pulled his hands apart as if tearing at an invisible cloth before ending the motion with a flourish toward the area they were facing. Caeden recognized the motion immediately. Oswin was summoning his fire elemental.

    They had initially planned the spell as a last resort should events go sideways here, since summoning the construct was a huge magical drain and often winded Oswin in the best of times. But he was not going to question him, he trusted the mage to know his own capabilities better than anyone. Besides, they needed the extra firepower now that they had a clearer picture of the horde that lay ahead.

    A swirl of embers circled, quickening and increasing as the elemental took shape. But instead of the voluptuous woman bathed in red and orange flame that Oswin preferred to summon, an orange salamander the size of his forearm plopped to the ashen floor. Yellow licks of pressurised flame flickered out periodically from various dark spots along its back. Along the sides of its head, three blue flames licked out from hollow spouts. Its eyes were whorls of the same shifting blue fire. They held an uncanny intelligence behind them as the creature stared at them curiously. A curiosity that made Caeden uneasy. This creature did not seem a mere construct following Oswin¡¯s directive.

    It took off in the opposite direction and away from where they hoped to skirt past the marching horde, leaving footprints of fire in its wake. It stopped, looked back and waited.

    Puzzled, he raised a querying brow at his magical advisor. ¡°What in Holden¡¯s name is going on with your elemental, Oswin?¡±

    Oswin huffed a frazzled laugh, utterly dumbfounded by what he had summoned.

    ¡°That, Your Grace, is not an elemental. Not¡­ in the manner you think. That might just be an actual Fire Salamander.¡±

    Oswin swallowed nervously. He was so confused by what had occurred that he was at a complete loss for words, shrinking further against the rock to avoid the creature¡¯s fiery gaze.

    If Caeden recalled correctly, Fire Salamanders were extraplanar beings. Deceptively powerful ones. An elemental familiar favoured among Pyromancers before the Magic Spirit disappeared from the mortal realm. Afterwards they, along with the other elemental familiars, became a rarity and eventually retreated from Archaicron altogether when the leaching occurred. Even with his limited magical knowledge, their summoning was thought to be impossible among any wielders now and they were well on their way to becoming myths in the Knight¡¯s Guild¡¯s teachings. For Oswin to summon one, by mistake no less, beggared belief.

    ¡°You¡­ summoned a fey creature? How?¡± Caeden asked with a little more incredulity than he intended.

    ¡°I thought it was just the connection with a wall that disrupted my barriers. But as I was summoning¡­ I felt the disruption again and the spell changed my request for a construct to a familiar. I cannot quite pin it down, but I think I feel the Fire Spirit¡¯s influence in my spells. At the very least, being in its domain is affecting my magic, making it more efficient. Focused. Intense,¡± the mage smirked as he stared keenly at his hand.

    He had seen that expression before but not on Oswin¡¯s face. He learned to recognise it very quickly as a royal. The expression of a man gaining unmatched power after being starved of it his whole life. Caeden knew if Oswin did not gain a hold of himself, he would become the very man he despised.

    Caeden placed a firm hold on his man¡¯s shoulder and shook him gently.

    ¡°Oswin, keep your head. While I am glad for this advantage, we do not yet know how it will affect you at the tail end of this mission. Use it with care,¡± Caeden prodded calmly.

    ¡°Yes...¡± Oswin affirmed, shaking his head as if to shake the fog that had clouded it. ¡°Yes, your Grace, I must not get ahead of myself.

    ¡°It wants us to follow,¡± he said, pointing to the waiting Salamander.

    Caeden dithered and looked at the path they planned out. The infected dead shambled along the roads to the red mountain in mass. Roads they needed to cross to get to the mining town at the mountain¡¯s base. Even if they skirted along the outer edges of the horde, there was no way they could avoid some of the stragglers. Skirmishes were inevitable, enough of them could tire them out quickly or draw the bulk of the horde.

    He tracked the movement of the horde into the distance and wondered if the Fire Spirit would keep against its number. It seemed to be holding its own by flinging balls of flaming rock at its base. But nothing it had done so far had matched the intense violet stream it had used against the Guild¡¯s binding barrier when they had first entered Daaria. The Wyvern was indeed growing weaker, and its conquest had become a possibility.

    There was another way, a less risky way, but looking for an entrance amidst this chaos would waste precious time. But if the salamander knew the way perhaps humouring it was the best way forward.

    ¡°Do you trust that creature?¡± he asked Oswin.

    ¡°I am not party to its full motivations yet, but at the moment, it seems to share the same directive as us ¨C or the directive of the Fire Spirit to be more exact. Yes, I¡­ trust it,¡± Oswin responded, he averted his eyes at the last two words.

    Oswin doubted it but was willing to take the risk. In the end, who better knows the lay of the land than the Fire Spirit itself?

    ¡°Then follow we shall,¡± Caeden moved to his feet and followed the salamander.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    It skittered across the ash plains and travelled in a northeasterly direction for about an hour. Any infected stragglers the Salamander stumbled across, it simply sidestepped and ignored, leaving the afflicted for Caeden and Oswin to take down.

    They had yet to spy a single Ash Fiend though. Rumours of their sightings placed them higher up on the Red Mountain. Perhaps they were too far from its base. But Caeden could not fully ignore their potential threat. Not here, where the very air was ash and ember.

    In the time between these afflicted attacks, Caeden had time to think, to worry the nagging in his brain. Yes, the demonkin¡¯s illusion has fooled us all, but where had all these infected come from? Surely, this many missing people would have raised alarm enough for the kings and Crown to intervene. Why were they not informed?

    The salamander stopped and circled, its tail brushing away heavy ash until its footsteps echoed on wooden and hollowed earth. The surrounds were a blast area. The ground was blackened and scuffed with scorch marks in a near-perfect circle. A mix of charred flesh and rot carried on the hot wind.

    A mass of desiccated afflicted littered the area, caught by one of the Fire Spirit¡¯s fireballs. They remained in place as charred and haunting statues.

    Caeden dropped to the ground beside the salamander, and it immediately skittered away. He brushed away the remaining dirt and ash with Oswin''s assistance and unearthed a hatch in the ground. No obvious markings in its surrounds gave away its presence there. They would never have found this any other way.

    He huffed an excited laugh. Not only had they taken down the heads of The Marketplace, but they now had an entrance to their network of tunnels. The black market that had preyed on and plagued his people was well and truly finished here.

    The latch had melted into its clasp, but the wooden panels had burnt and warped in the heat. It was easy enough to break apart with his foot. The salamander skittered to the opening he made and fell through, landing down below with a plop. The light of its fire gave Caeden a clear view of the tunnel down and the steel ladder welded to its side.

    At the sight of its depth, Caeden¡¯s heart dropped and the skin on his back crawled. Cold shards of ice ran through his body, freezing it in place with fear. His palms grew clammy and shook with dread. His lungs burned as he struggled to take in air. He tried to convince himself that he was being ridiculous and willed his body to move but the thought of being trapped down there again gnawed against it with greater ferocity and kept him rooted in place.

    Oswin noticed his trepidation but said nothing, only moving to clamber down the ladder first. The mage''s valour emboldened him, and Caeden¡¯s courage returned, building slowly within him. Once Oswin reached the bottom, he scanned the area and listened.

    ¡°This section looks abandoned, Your Grace!¡± he reported. ¡°The structure is sturdy and well-maintained. It almost looks¡­ dwarven?¡±

    Caeden heaved a bracing breath and forced himself to climb down after Oswin, shoving the fear to the far reaches of his mind. It was still there clawing at his fragile resolve, but it was not crippling his movements anymore.

    The salamander started into motion again giving them little time to take in their surroundings and get their bearings. It rushed ahead, skittering through various tunnels, passing through what seemed to be an empty showroom, down one passageway and up another. Some looked scorched like fires had broken out. Deep and long, they travelled until Caeden could no longer fathom where they were within the tunnels or above it. No option left to them but to move forward, following the whims of a fey creature.

    It slowed down suddenly, and its bright fire dimmed. It stalked forward tentatively as if sensing a predator close by until its flame petered out entirely, leaving them in darkness. The only light source came from a room up ahead. Muffled voices were drifting to them from inside. Oswin whined with disquiet and his robes ruffled behind him.

    ¡°Oswin?¡± Caeden whispered, squinting to try and find the silhouette of the mage in the dark.

    ¡°I am fine, Your Grace, I will cover your back,¡± Oswin whispered with a slight tremor.

    Caeden inched toward the doorway, close enough to hear the conversation.

    ¡°Argh! Why can¡¯t we go topside just for a little bit?¡± a cracking voice whined in desperate frustration.

    ¡°If you want to go get turned around in that mind fog, go ahead,¡± a gruff voice grumbled irritably in response. ¡°No? Then stop whining! Just because I don¡¯t want to kill you don¡¯t mean I ain¡¯t partial to taking out your tongue. We¡¯ll leave once we get a new job order direct from that would-be noble!¡±

    ¡°Damn Greer, he said we¡¯d only be stealing people for the rebellion. Said the mind fog was only to blind folk on the outside. Nothing about it trapping us on the inside.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t think he knew, or him and his crew wouldn¡¯t have gone and joined ¡®the rebellion¡¯ topside. Now shut it, moan about it one more time and I¡¯ll cut you!¡±

    Caeden¡¯s jaw stiffened from anger. He hazarded a peek into the interior, committing its layout to memory. Just the two men were there. One short and stocky, peeling an apple with a well-maintained dagger and the other tall and lanky. Both sat opposite each other at a central table illuminated by candlelight and laden with food in what looked like a deserted tavern. Judging by the state of the area they have been staying here for quite some time, a stay that was starting to wear on their minds. Their frustration and irritation were visible in their every movement.

    It was clear that the stocky man was the greater threat and the first of the two he would need to take out. Caeden nodded to Oswin, indicating that he had seen all that he needed and was taken aback at first to find the salamander curled around the back of the mage¡¯s head. Its beady, black eyes shone in the dim light atop his crown and moist feet gripped his temples and jaw. Oswin looked discomforted but did not let it stop him from pressing forward.

    With a beckoning of his hand, Oswin snuffed out all sources of flame in the room and Caeden pushed past him into its interior. He made a beeline for the shorter man.

    ¡°Gods dammit! If it ain¡¯t the mind fog, then it¡¯s the fire acting strange. Get the lights, boy,¡± he heard him say before he grabbed the man¡¯s head and twisted it. The sounds of his neck cracking echoed in the darkness before the body fell to the ground.

    Caeden looked for the silhouette of the lanky man, sneaking around the table to where he had heard him move to stand and walk a few paces.

    ¡°Bekker?¡±

    It was enough to pin his location, Caeden zeroed in on the sound, finding his silhouette. He unsheathed Ava¡¯s sword and pushed into the man, pinning him against the wall with his forearm to his collarbone and the blade tip pointing to his chest. One thrust away from entering his heart.

    ¡°Get off, bastard!¡± he spat angrily, pushing fruitlessly against Caeden¡¯s arm.

    Oswin entered the room behind him and reignited the candles. Caeden watched the expression change from angry annoyance to suspicious curiosity. He could be no younger than 15 or 16 but still old enough to know better. And this one was wily. Caeden could see the wheels spinning as he took in their armour and garb. What game would he play, I wonder.

    ¡°Help me, please! Ser¡­¡± His blue eyes filled with innocence and tears as he waited for Caeden to give him his name.

    ¡°Your Grace,¡± Oswin offered in his stead.

    It was meant to be helpful, but Oswin¡¯s dry tone confused the boy more about their motives and intent. His eyes widened in shock as he realised who he was dealing with, replaced quickly by an uncertain frown. He swallowed nervously, thinking.

    ¡°Your Grace, Bekker¡¯s kept me here for months, said if I ever leave, he¡¯ll kill me. I only wanted a job. To earn my keep. I didn¡¯t know what they were doing until it was too late to escape!¡±

    His voice trembled, breaking from his frightful tears. Ah, the oblivious youth in over his head. Caeden wondered how many times he had used this particular ploy to talk his way out of trouble. Though he should realise by now that he was nearing an age where it would no longer be an effective tactic, especially in the face of the crimes he had been party to.

    ¡°Calm, boy. I have questions, answer true and I will consider mercy,¡± Caeden responded.

    He removed his forearm from the boy¡¯s neck and gave his shoulder a reassuring pat before placing a firm but less threatening grip on the curve between his shoulder and neck.

    Much to his delight, the boy nodded vigorously, ever eager to be of assistance. Where lies no longer work, the truth may inch you closer to freedom. We shall have to see just how far his ignorance extends.

    [Note from the Haelionthyne, the Original Author of The Hybrid: Chasing Destiny: This novel is only published and freely available to read on My Patreon</a>, Royal Road</a> and Tapas</a>. Support me directly with your readership there. No other websites or reading platforms have my permission, express or blanket, to publish my novel or distribute it further.]

 Chapter 10: Part 7 - Embers of Rebellion

    ¡°How many of your people are left?¡± Caeden asked.

    He heard Oswin¡¯s salamander knock crockery over on the table, plates and glasses rolling or shattering as they tipped over and fell. It pushed a basket over, and soft, fleshy thuds echoed across the room. He glanced down as an apple rolled against his boot, and the salamander skittered to it, gobbling it down in three bites.

    ¡°Just me and¡­ Bekker. Everyone else either escaped or fell when those ash things attacked,¡± he mumbled.

    ¡°Ash Fiends? Oswin,¡± he barked. The mage moved to secure the area at his unsaid order.

    ¡°No, no. This place is safe. Those Ash Fiends only attack the shamblers and any who get in their way. We moved all of them topside and barricaded ourselves off from the other sections, so the fiends and shamblers ain¡¯t problems here. You¡¯re lucky; had you chosen another section, you¡¯d have found yourself lost in tunnels riddled with them. How¡¯d you get past the mind fog, anyhow?¡±

    He heard Oswin continue to shuffle about the room, checking through everything.

    ¡°My mage provides protection against it,¡± Caeden lied, simultaneously squeezing the boy¡¯s trapezius muscle in a painful warning against any further probing questions.

    Whoever controls these Ash Fiends is a friend to neither Ava nor Azael, it seems. Was it the demonkin or another unknown party with a vested interest in the Spirits?

    ¡°Start from the beginning. Tell me about this rebellion. What is its purpose? How did you smuggle this many without anyone noticing?¡± Caeden prodded.

    ¡°They noticed, they just didn¡¯t care. The rebellion was the would-be noble¡¯s idea, but Greer suspected the command came from his client or someone higher up the chain than him. He said, ¡®the nobles live in the lap of luxury, enjoying privileges grown and reaped from the sweat off our backs, yet we are the ones who have to survive off of the scraps and crumbs they deign to throw our way,¡¯¡± the boy mimicked.

    Ingrates! The Empire was not perfect, but they ensured that every mouth was fed and every urchin had a home. There were guilds of every kind that took those without in, teaching them crafts and skills and making sure they could earn a keep with what capabilities they had. Those who suffered and starved were those unwilling to partake in civilized society. Criminals and layabouts who dealt in illicit goods and services, those of The Marketplace.

    This was not a rebellion formed by the divide between the haves and have-nots; it was a rebellion concocted by discontents seeking the power they envied. Or lost.

    ¡°Does this would-be noble have a name?¡± Caeden interrupted.

    ¡°Master¡­ Evan, methinks, we called him The Lordling, though. I had only seen him once or twice; he dealt with Greer directly, and Greer dealt with us. He spoke proper sometimes but fit far too easily in with the rest of us scum, so Greer figured him for a poser.

    ¡°But the man knew how the nobles think and twisted their ¡®dance¡¯ against them. When the guards started to notice people going missing, them nobles told them to hush up about it or fudge the number of reports so they don¡¯t lose face with one another. Couldn¡¯t have folk thinking they were bumbling failures, incompetent protectors of those they¡¯re meant to keep. Probably thought it some slave trade with the orcs, not a rebellion forming below their feet. If we weren¡¯t keen on The Lording¡¯s cause before, the noble¡¯s reaction sold the notion to us.¡±

    Caeden¡¯s body heated with rage. Imbeciles and fools! The boy flinched from the locked grip on his neck. He eased it some, and his fingers felt as if it would snap from the effort. Commoners were kidnapped from their very homes while the nobles who swore to serve them turned a blind eye, outmanoeuvred in the dance by criminals. I would almost find the play admirable if the consequences were not so gods damn tragic. This will not stand.

    ¡°How did you turn them, those you kidnapped? More importantly, why did you turn them? Surely, you could rally support without resorting to such dire measures?¡± Caeden asked, trying to keep some measure of calm in his voice.

    ¡°The client¡¯s idea. I heard he was some wizard. No one¡¯s seen him or met him, but everyone was afraid of him. He was responsible for putting down the illusion around the fields. It wasn¡¯t meant to hide everything completely but just make our activities across the fields a little easier. Once the evacuation was complete, the fields were ours.

    ¡°Greer said the wizard could control the infected through the dark plague. Our orders were to ransack the ruins of the Arcane Towers to the northwest and collect these black obsidian shards stored there¡­¡±

    ¡°Good gods!¡± Oswin exclaimed in disbelief behind him. The implication of the horrors this boy and his cohorts had inflicted on innocent folk shocked him from his silence.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    ¡°Go on,¡± Caeden urged impatiently, shaking the boy slightly. His sword arm twitched.

    ¡°They turn into these thin crystal insects with long limbs that crawl inside you through your nose or mouth. Sometimes, even a wound if they can find one. However, the wizard needed the infected whole and alive. They stayed mindful that way and were able to pass as spies within the Kingdoms if we could get them past the quarantine. A more agreeable army. The dead ones, ¡®specially ones gathered in big groups, become ravenous, biting at everything and are prone to frenzy when they spot a meal. Handling them becomes¡­ difficult.

    ¡°So, we were supposed to keep the infected fed and alive until orders changed. But the orders never came. Nothing came, no deliveries, no goods. Those that left didn¡¯t return. The infected started dying, the Wyvern started flinging fire every which way and topside became unsafe. Then those fiend things attacked. Greer and most of the group tried to escape, but they got confused a few paces outside the tunnel¡¯s entryways. He couldn¡¯t seem to see the shamblers just a few steps away from him and couldn¡¯t find the way back even when he was looking directly at us.

    ¡°Bekker reckoned the Lordling and his wizard betrayed us and took out his competition before trying to make his play for power.¡±

    ¡°That Lordling was executed by his Queen on a treason charge, so that leaves the wizard. What more can you tell me about him?¡±

    ¡°Nothing, I told you. No one knows him. Orders came from the Lordling through Greer,¡± the boy whined. He seemed to be visibly shaken and desperate from hearing of Ivan¡¯s end.

    ¡°Was there no mention of a cure for the dark plague? A contingency plan in case you lost control?¡±

    ¡°The only cure I know of was severing the spine or bludgeoning in the brain. The only alternative is damaging the body enough where they can¡¯t move no more,¡± the boy offered.

    Caeden sighed. The Marketplace created a monster and lost control of it. Initially, he thought the wall was the wyvern¡¯s threat to humans, forcing them to bring Ava to him, but now he wondered if it was not meant to keep the afflicted inside and destroy them. But, why let the wall encroach outward? Would Ava be willing to bargain with it on his behalf? Bah, questions left for when I find her.

    ¡°Last question, and I will render my judgment. How far are we to the Mining Town?¡±

    ¡°W-we are directly below it. If you go further down the tunnel, the entryway to the surface puts you at its outskirts. If you would share your protections with me, I could guide you,¡± the boy offered tentatively.

    ¡°No need, I already have a guide ¨C¡±

    ¡°Then, you will show mercy. I swear I only did what I was told; denying them would have meant my death!¡± The boy interrupted in a rush.

    ¡°Mercy is granted,¡± Caeden said coldly. He shoved Ava¡¯s sword between the boy¡¯s ribs and severed the aorta in one swift motion. ¡°You will have a quick death. A far more gracious end than the one you offered to those you infected.¡±

    The boy¡¯s body fell to the floor, clutching his chest. He emitted one moan before it was cut short, and the body stilled, his life gone in seconds as his blood pooled around him.

    ¡°You should sever the spinal column, Your Grace. I do not sense any dark enchantments in this room, but it would not hurt to be sure,¡± Oswin suggested.

    ¡°True enough,¡± Caeden said, bending over the body and slipping the blade through its vertebrae.

    He moved away from it before the pool of blood reached his boots and repeated the grim action with Bekker¡¯s body. Then he leaned against the table and heaved a defeated sigh to the gods themselves.

    ¡°What need have we for enemies like Azael when the Empire is an enemy unto itself?¡± he asked Oswin. It was a question born of frustration, and Caeden did not expect an answer to it.

    ¡°The Casimir Empire has been at peace for over 100 years. We have not had to face many challenges since the 4<sup>th</sup> Era, so we pick petty fights with each other instead. Though this¡­ This should have been¨C¡± Oswin broke off, sealing his lips tightly together to prevent them from speaking further. He turned from him, avoiding his gaze and continuing his inspection.

    ¡°Should have been what? Speak freely, Oswin,¡± Caeden prodded.

    Oswin shuffled nervously, considering his words.

    ¡°It is the emperor¡¯s role to keep the nobles in line, to show them the way when they stray and can no longer see the wood for the trees. It should not have been so easy for Azael and the demonkin¡¯s plans to take root before our very eyes,¡± he huffed angrily.

    ¡°I see,¡± Caeden muttered pensively.

    Oswin was right. The years of peace had made the emperor complacent and weak, blind to all but the dance itself. He was not the imposing figure Caeden had once thought. Instead of dealing with the difficulties the Empire now faced decisively, his father had shoved their responsibility onto his brother, distancing himself from it entirely. Perhaps moving Kael into power would be the most prudent course of action going forward.

    ¡°Do you think the demonkin and our mysterious wizard are the same?¡± Caeden asked, leaving that particular train of thought for later and focusing on the matter at hand.

    ¡°It is only supposition. The illusion was the demonkin¡¯s spell. He dispelled it far too easily unless I am grossly underestimating his magical capabilities. It seems natural for a treacherous creature to turn on his allies. But some parts do not add up, therefore, I will not rule out the possibility that Gildaen or his apprentice are still in play,¡± Oswin theorised.

    ¡°Noted. Gather what supplies you need. We move as soon as you are ready.¡±

    [Note from the Haelionthyne, the Original Author of The Hybrid: Chasing Destiny: This novel is only published and freely available to read on My Patreon</a>, Royal Road</a> and Tapas</a>. Support me directly with your readership there. No other websites or reading platforms have my permission, express or blanket, to publish my novel or distribute it further.]

 Chapter 10: Part 8 - Heart of Fire

    Caeden lifted the hatch door slightly and peeked into the dim room. It looked like they exited into a storehouse, possibly a cover to hide the illicit trade passing in and out of the mining town. It was filled with barrels and standing shelves half covered in large, tattered cloths. If the supplies stored here were anything like the stores they had discovered in the tavern below, the Marketplace¡¯s ill-gotten gains might ease the food shortage the Empire will experience in the coming year. That is if they survive to see such tribulations.

    He could hear moans of the afflicted in the distance. They were close to the main road through town and very much at the heart of the horde. The place was silent and empty. The windows were boarded, judging by the linear light beams coming through between them. It smelled musty, likely to being shuddered off from the acrid and sulphuric air outside for a long time.

    There was little chance of the afflicted entering this place. But, according to a strongly worded note left at the base of the hatch, perception could be deceiving, and he needed to check regardless. He pushed the hatch higher, throwing out one of the granite stones that accompanied the note and pulled the hatch lower, enough for him to peer through.

    It skipped across the floor, ricocheted off a barrel, clinked against something metal and stopped.

    No grunts, no moans and no shuffling footsteps. Then, there was a rapid skittering across the stone floor.

    Caeden turned to the peculiar noise to find two massive rats bounding toward him. He flinched and backed away, covering his face with his arm. The rats shoved themselves through the hatch opening with panicked squeaks, and Caeden lifted it a little so they could fall through. Their bodies bounced against his arm and Oswin¡¯s shoulder as they fell into the tunnels below.

    We are well and truly walking on cursed ground now.

    After a few moments of silence, Caeden pushed the hatch door back and climbed up. His body almost tingled with relief at being back on the surface. He scanned the room, searching out any potential hiding spots. Along with the windows, the storehouse¡¯s doors were also boarded from the inside. A wise decision, but these smugglers must have had an alternative route to move through town.

    His suspicion was validated when they came upon a lone ladder leading up to a covered hole in the roof. He clambered up and pushed at the slate covering.

    ¡°Steady me, Oswin,¡± he requested when it would not budge with one hand.

    The mage planted his hands on the back of Caeden''s thighs, holding him firm as Caeden used what leverage he had to push the heavy slate up and shove it to the side. He hoisted himself onto the roof and gazed at the wasted ruins of the mining town.

    It was truly a vision of the end times. Heavy ashfall and smoke obscured the area while fire rained down from a sky that could no longer be seen. The town consisted of grey, flat-roofed, stone buildings to minimize runaway fires. But even so, much of the town was in ruin. Whatever could burn was either scorched, on fire or burnt to ash. The scene was only worsened by the loud, discordant chorus of the horde, and the collections of stenches that assailed this place were utterly vile.

    The Red Mountain loomed just ahead, and rivers of lava poured from its maw. He could see the wyvern shifting in and out of the fiery spout, its movements looked desperate as it breathed fire down the side of the mountain.

    It cawed. A sound so loud that Caeden had to block his ears. The salamander raised its head, turning it in several directions and made a soft clicking sound.

    Caeden bent low to the ground, not sure what it was doing, and scouted the area. Finding any signs of Ava¡¯s passage through this mess would not be easy. The smugglers managed to connect rooftop to rooftop with makeshift bridges. Not the safest way to pass through a town on fire, but a better option than running the afflicted-filled alleyways below.

    He tested the bridge by pressing down on it with his leg. Satisfied with its structural integrity, Caeden hopped onto it and shuffled slowly and carefully across. The salamander followed and repeated its clicking as Oswin crossed as well. They moved deeper through the interconnected bridges. With each new rooftop they landed on, the salamander clicked, and Caeden became convinced it was searching for a response signal. Perhaps Ava could hear and understand it. It was a hope that helped ease the worry.

    They stopped atop a shopkeep¡¯s roof at the center of town. The bulk of the horde moved in mass through here, many charred and burnt, squeezed together with barely much room between them. Those who could not keep up the pace fell, tripping the ones directly behind, their bodies lost among the many legs of the horde. Some along the edges were pushed out but followed along through parallel alleyways. Ever forward, eyes unseeing, with not an individual thought between them. A roving beast formed from a mass of infected bodies. A cursed existence, one his people did not deserve.

    It was through this that they now needed to move. No bridge connected the shop to the Adept¡¯s Practice across the road. Caeden scratched his jaw, unsure of how to proceed. Every strategy he could think of seemed unwise if they could not pin Ava¡¯s location first. He doubted that her hybrid ears could even hear the salamander over the cacophony of the horde now.

    Not that it seemed to bother the fey creature as it stood stock-still, its head rotating in every direction, clicking furiously.

    Caeden¡¯s gaze was drawn to a sudden frenzied movement of the horde. A few had broken off and banged their bodies against a boarded window of the Adept¡¯s practice. He saw movement beyond the boards of the opposite window before another group of frenzied bodies blocked it.

    Beast! But no sign of Ava. Regardless, that practice was their goal, he would re-evaluate once they made it there. The strategy he had been idly mulling over formed a workable plan in his mind, and he grimaced. He rubbed his fingers against his mouth as if to wipe the distaste of his plan from it.

    ¡°I take it that you have some ideas to get us across that horde, Your Grace,¡± Oswin whispered beside him.

    ¡°A plan, yes, a despicable one,¡± he responded. ¡°But it would create a window we could force our way through. A window you would need to keep open as long as we need it. Much of this plan relies on you and your capabilities, Oswin. You and that Salamander. However, creating a window would not matter if we cannot get off this roof to take advantage of it. Tell me you have something,¡± Caeden asked.

    ¡°A runecraft,¡± Oswin said, digging into his robes and fishing out a thin, palm-sized sigil. Its silver runes shone on its wooden surface.

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    ¡°Break it, and it will give you the ability to glide short distances. I had hoped to use it on the mountain to mitigate potential fall damage, but it could work just as well here. It is a low-potency spell, Your Grace, meaning it will wear off quickly. Once broken, get to the ground as fast as you can. Given our weight, I figured we would land in the middle of the road and would have to fight our way to the other side. Will this work with your plan?¡±

    ¡°It does. Come, we will work on the details along the way back,¡± Caeden answered gravely.

    ¡°The way back? What is this plan?¡± Oswin asked in alarm.

    Caeden sighed, ¡°To create the window, we must cause the horde to frenzy.¡±

    <hr>

    Caeden had lost track of time as they hauled Bekker¡¯s and the boy¡¯s bodies across the rooftops. Night or day, everything around them was black smoke, red firelight and grey ashfall. He wondered how far his brother and the royal guard were as he pulled Bekker¡¯s body carefully across with a rope while Oswin held the makeshift bridge steady on the far side.

    A needless thought. His brother would not come to his rescue. Once Kael had gotten the full measure of the horde, his order would change from attack to containment while he sent word to rally the full might of Casimir¡¯s Army. It was an only idle hope to spare him from committing a reprehensible act. One that would not sit well on his conscious. It was Morley who ingrained it in his mind from an early age that such hard decisions came with the territory of his position and birthright. He would not only need the strength to carry the sins of his commands but take on the sins of those he commanded as well.

    He dragged Bekker¡¯s lifeless body onto the shopkeep¡¯s roof and stared at it with distaste. He knew his twinge of consciousness did not stem from feelings toward the smuggler. This was a predator who preyed on the innocent, he deserved no better end. It came from a dissonance for a deeply held principle he was going against. Nevertheless, this was a blight on his honour that he would have to learn to live with.

    A crack from the bridge broke his melancholic thought and he watched Oswin breaking into a run across the bridge. The mage lurched for the end of the roof as the bridge collapsed beneath his feet. Caeden launched forward, grabbing the mage''s sleeves to prevent him from falling, then readjusting his grip to hoist Oswin up and onto the roof. The bridge fell into a few afflicted, but it was not enough to give them a moment¡¯s pause in their mindless shuffle.

    Oswin heaved a loud and relieved sigh and Caeden slapped him on the shoulder in comfort.

    ¡°There now, you will not die this day,¡± he told him. ¡°Take a moment while I drag them into position.¡±

    Caeden moved each body to the corners of the roof as far from the main road as possible. He looked down the alleyway they were supposed to herd some of the afflicted through and steeled his nerve. Now was the time to be decisive; any hesitation meant failure or a fate worse than death.

    Oswin summoned his second elemental, the female construct he knew, next to him. He readied the sigil in his shield arm and gave Oswin the signal to commence, and the Elemental floated down to the alleyway. It would be a distraction to lure a section of the horde through. Oswin would fling fireballs from the opposite end to attract another section down that alleyway.

    Caeden¡¯s brows creased with worry when, instead of flinging its first fireball, the Elemental changed from red and orange flame to a golden one so bright he had to cover his eyes. The light invoked the memory of how he had seen Ava through Azael¡¯s eyes. What in Holden¡¯s name is Oswin doing?

    Caeden glanced at the mage, the question plaguing his mind. Oswin stared, brows furrowed, at a similar light shining from his alleyway.

    The horde surged toward the Elemental without a single fire spell thrown. Their speed and aggressive nature alarmed him. Caeden heaved Bekker¡¯s body from the roof. It disappeared in the mass of frenzied corpses as they tumbled over themselves to get at it while Oswin¡¯s elemental shifted into embers. It reappeared next to him as he rushed across the rooftop, broke the sigil and jumped.

    His momentum carried him a short distance forward before he drifted to the ground. Their plan had worked for the most part and had successfully split much of the horde. But they had to deal with the afflicted within the gap and get inside the practice before they became overwhelmed by a resurgence. This fall was taking far too long for his liking.

    Oswin summoned walls of fire across the road on cue, and they landed on the ground between them. Caeden immediately engaged the closest afflicted that rushed them. He saw Oswin¡¯s fire engulf a few in flame. The salamander ran at his feet, a thin, pressured flame streaming from his maw, while the construct defended their rear.

    Yet, despite the effects of Ava''s sword and Oswin¡¯s firepower, their movement was stalled by the sheer number of the afflicted. Caeden slashed and shoved, but as soon as he had one down or unresponsive, another launched onto his back, nipping and biting far too close to his ear. He saw the creature''s hand blacken and peel from the contact with Oswin¡¯s barrier around him. Caeden threw it off, stepping on it to prevent it from getting up and thrusting the sword into its eye. He could see the horde turning beyond the flames.

    They surged through Oswin¡¯s walls, and while the flames set them alight, they continued like it was nothing. Caeden desperately pushed forward, throwing an afflicted that jumped at him to the ground with his shield. He glanced at Oswin. The mage was holding his own with his salamander, but he could see the erratic pattern in his spells and the stiff way Oswin used his arms when casting. He was reaching his limit fast, and the horde had already smothered the Elemental at their backs.

    There were just too many. Caeden¡¯s arms felt heavy, his breathing laboured, and his legs like lead. He knew what this was; they were not going to make it, and his body was telling him to give up, to lose heart in the face of such insurmountable odds.

    I refuse. Not again. Not ever. I will not die here this day, not until I take every one of these creatures down with me!

    He bellowed at the horde, resolute and rushed forward. He mowed each one down like a man possessed.

    A white ice wall obscured his vision of the horde beyond, replacing Oswin¡¯s fire. It immediately started to steam and bubble in the heat. Caeden peered ahead and saw Ava amidst the frenzied bodies, arms outstretched. She looked weak, her eyes dim with dark circles, and her lips and skin were pale and colourless, accentuating the angry, red lines running down her face. Her arms fell limply to her side as Beast rushed out with a growl and pounced on an afflicted, his fanged maw closing around its head.

    His relief was short-lived, replaced by renewed purpose. He pushed forward with all the strength he had.

    He blocked one from lunging at him with his shield, but another grabbed his sword arm, pulling it towards its mouth. Caeden bashed the afflicted a short distance away before he pulled the one on his arm forward and freed himself from its grip. He slashed its neck as it stumbled forward before turning back to the afflicted near his shield.

    It fell, carried forward by the momentum of the arrow that struck it in the head. He searched for Ava, finding her nocking and releasing arrows into the afflicted around them with great difficulty. They ignored her presence, running by her as if she were not there. Until one collided with her in its frenzy. They both fell over from the impact.

    Ava was slow to recover; her face creased in pain and her eyes distant while the afflicted grabbed at the air around her. Searching.

    So close. Caeden pushed the afflicted out of his way with desperate grunts and screams. Reaching her just as the creature curled its fingers through her hair. He chopped the arm off in one, vicious, downward motion and then pulled her up against him. Dragging her along in his shield arm.

    ¡°Beast! Oswin!¡± he yelled as he charged toward the practice.

    Both disengaged and bolted for the entrance, slipping in before him. He dropped Ava to the ground and joined Oswin at the door, bracing himself against the surge of the afflicted pushing against it.

    [Note from the Haelionthyne, the Original Author of The Hybrid: Chasing Destiny: This novel is only published and freely available to read on My Patreon</a> and Royal Road</a>. Support me directly with your readership there. No other websites or reading platforms have my permission, express or blanket, to publish my novel or distribute it further.]