ã€ŠFenrin&#x27;s Tale - a third chronicle of the Children of the Bearã€‹


 1. Defeated

    Fenrin grinned as he and his men crept through the forest. The thrill of stalking his prey was exhilarating¡ªeven if it would be a meager victory. Nik, his scout, reported the village that was their mark was only large enough for maybe two hundred people.

    It didn''t matter. It wasn''t the size of the village that made Fenrin the Wolf attack, it was that they were in his expanding territory. He and his men had been pushing north for weeks, burning and pillaging everything in their path.

    Let Lyra and her petty princling play politics in the south, the wilds of the north were his.

    "Fenrin," Tyrik, his second, sidled up to his leader and whispered, "Nik reports a large hunting party was just sent out. Any fighters they have are now split up."

    The wolfish smile that earned Ferin his epitaph grew. "Too easy."

    His raiding party split as well, preparing a surprise pincer attack. As they crept around their prey Fenrin frowned. Why were there so many women in the group? If it weren''t for the traps, bags, and bows the group carried, he would have doubted it was a hunting party.

    It didn''t matter, they''d all die soon anyway.

    Fenrin scanned the trees, spotting his carefully hidden men. The archers had their bows drawn, waiting for his order. His mouth opened but he was beat by a gurgling scream. One of his bowmen fell from his perch, an arrow lodged in his throat. All eyes turned to the supposedly hapless hunters. A woman with auburn hair was nocking her second arrow, her fellow villagers revealing their readied weapon as well and firing into the trees. Fenrin roared as he and his five swordsmen leapt at the group.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    The ''hunting party'' dropped their sacks and removed swords from them. Three were cut down in the act, felled by Fenrin and his men''s ferocity. But rather than the swift and bloody victory Fenrin expected, the battle raged on.

    The villagers danced though the assault. They moved quickly, striking with their weapons and their fists with surprising grace. Fenrin was locked in combat with a large man who just would not die. The many glancing blows he managed to land on his opponent did nothing and bloodstained the man fought on. Fenrin parried swiftly, lunging for the man''s heart. The villager tried to sidestep and the blade slithered through his ribs, puncturing a lung.

    With his last gurgling breath, the man grabbed Fenrin''s sword arm with grim determination. Fenrin shouted in pain as his shoulder dislocated forcing him to drop his sword as pain shot through his chest. His opponent fell forward and Fenrin had to dodge the body, barely making it out of the way in time. An arrow suddenly pierced his thigh and Fenrin fell to one knee, his grey eyes flashing around the battlefield as he hissed in pain.

    The auburn haired woman was shouting, quickly moving her bow from his direction to Tyrik who was fighting to get to his leader, face grim as he tried to cut a path through the villagers. The woman¡¯s arrow grazed Tyrik¡¯s arm as he noticed her in the nick of time and jerked back. His timely dodge was wasted when another villager behind him spun with a kick that connected hard to the back of Tyrik¡¯s skull with a crack. Fenrin watched his second''s eyes roll up in the sockets before he fell to the floor.

    Fenrin the Wolf roared and tried to stand but a pair of hands grappled him from behind. Before he could get to the dagger in his boot and cause more bloodshed, a blunt force hit him and the world grew dark.

 2. The Wolf

    "Are you sure, Jayln? It''ll cost us resources and it might not be worth¡ª"

    "I appreciate your concern, but if my father''s suspicions are right, killing them won''t end anything."

    Fenrin''s head hurt as he tried to register the voices speaking. The ringing stopped just in time for his stomach to backflip and he rolled over and vomited, coughing through the sick.

    "Ah...he''s up." It was the second voice, a woman''s.

    Fenrin looked around. He was in a small room, iron bars separating him from the other two people. The man who''d kicked Tyrik and the auburn haired woman¡ªJayln.

    Wiping his mouth, Fenrin sat up to face her. His leg was bandaged but the sharp pain there told him he hadn''t been out long. His shoulder didn''t hurt much, they must''ve popped it back into place. That should have woken him up, he mused, they must''ve drugged him.

    The other man nodded at Jayln and left through the only door, roughly seven feet from the cell wall. When he opened it, the last rays of sunlight trickled in.

    So, it had only been around six hours¡­

    Fenrin licked his lips and turned his gaze to Jayln. She met his eyes and they stared at each other, sizing each other up. Fenrin took this pause to examine his own strength.

    He was tired, groggy, and wasn''t sure his injured leg would hold him, but given any opportunity he would gut every person in this village. No one caged Fenrin Brynson. His bloodlust must''ve shown on his face because the woman grimaced.

    "Am I right in believing you are Fenrin the Wolf?"

    Fenrin chuckled. "So you know who I am? Then you''re either brave or stupid to have kept me alive."

    Jaylin didn''t blink. "Six men. We have six of your men and you. Seven lives we could have taken but didn''t. I am Jayln and I will be handling negotiations."

    A deep throated, wild laugh rebounded through the cell before Fenrin grit his teeth, stood, and moved the cell wall, gripping the bars. He grinned dangerously at Jayln. "A rabbit does not negotiate with a wolf. Kill me now or I swear I''ll slaughter every soul in this village and skin you alive."

    Jayln took another deep breath then shook her head. "I will not talk with a wolf. When you''ve decided to start being a man, I''ll come back."

    She turned to walk towards the door, Fenrin screamed obscenities at her, describing the brutal ways he would eviscerate her and her loved ones. The door closed silently to cut off his threats.

    No one came back in for two days. Or at least what Fenrin guessed was two days from the small crack in the door that sunlight occasionally showed through. His mouth was glued shut with thirst and his body heavy with pain and hunger, objecting to not recieving the energy it needed to heal his wound. His mind grew tired, its whirling of violent thoughts no longer having energy to sustain itself. So Fenrin started to think.

    He would die here if he was not careful. It would be anti-climatic and embarrassing¡ªLyra would love it. He growled at that thought.

    If he spoke to Jayln, he could wait for the right time to break free. If he took too long, Lyra would send someone looking for him and if she rescued him...well he would rather die than owe his sister his life. Then again, she might not come after him at all. The future queen of Valhym might prefer her brother to fade from existence, disappearing into the northern wilds.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Sighing, Fenrin knew that wouldn''t work, Lyra was too careful. She wouldn''t write him off until she saw his body with her own eyes and despite their differences, she''d kill the villagers in his name before burning his body and forgetting him. The idea of his sister slaughtering the auburn haired bitch and her peasants was a satisfying thought, but it would still be embarrassing.

    No, the best option would be to escape before his sister came looking for him. It was time to talk to Jayln. So he waited, sure she would return before he starved.

    He smelled the food before he heard the door open. His stomach letting out a weak moan. Cracking one eye open, he watched Jayln walk in, a bowl of soup in one hand and a waterskin in her other. She tossed the waterskin into the cell and sat down on the single wooden chair to watch him. He didn''t move.

    "It drugged?"

    Jayln snorted at the question. "Don''t insult me. You already know it isn''t."

    Fenrin reached for the water and quickly drank half of it. It was true, he knew she wouldn''t drug him if she wanted to talk but he¡¯d started assuming every offered drink was poisoned a long time ago. He wiped his mouth and guestured. "That soup for me too?"

    "Depends on whether we can come to an agreement or not."

    "Alright, give me the soup and I''ll kill you quickly."

    Jayln lifted a spoonful of the aromatic soup and popped it in her mouth, raising an eyebrow. "Tell me, what are you and your people doing this far north of Valhym?"

    "Expanding our territory."

    "Really?" Jayln seemed surprised. "Have you already taken all of Valhym? I thought we would have heard if the High King had fallen to brigands. Or did the king scare you off?"

    Fenrin growled, thinking of the pathetic king. "The king is no threat to me. He''s not even worth gutting."

    "Then why here?"

    "The weather''s nicer."

    He gave her a wicked grin and she frowned, taking another bite of soup almost absently, although Fenrin noted every drop.

    "You said our territory. Is that you and your men, or were you referring to the Bear."

    Jayln watched as a strange range of emotion played on Fenrin''s face at that question. His eyes flashed dangerously and his lip curled back as her smile faltered. "We really are far from Valhym. The Bear is dead. He has been for over a year."

    "Oh? I guess the rumors of his unparalleled strength were false then."

    Fenrin took another swallow of water, unhappy with where this conversation was going. His family was the last thing he wanted to talk about. "The rumors don''t do him justice, but everyone gets old." He leaned forward, looking at the soup pointedly. "This conversation is boring me."

    Jayln looked down at the bowl. "Ah, yes, now that I know you are capable of having a conversation with, I''ll be back to chat."

    She placed the bowl on the floor just out of his reach before taking a stick he hadn''t seen from behind the chair and using it to push the bowl up to his cell.

    He rolled his eyes and took it, but was actually disappointed. He''d hoped she would have been careless enough to get close enough to grab. One more step and he would have had her. He smiled as he ate the warm soup, imaging how satisfying breaking her neck would have been. Jayln left without another word.

    Fenrin eventually grew tired of imagining her death and began to mull over their conversation. What had Jayln been after? Why keep him alive?

    As he licked the bowl clean, it came to him. They were worried if they killed him, someone would have vengeance. He''d told them his father was dead and wouldn''t be coming. Stupid. He tossed the bowl out of the cell.

    He stretched out on the floor. Lyra would have known what to say; she was good at these mind games. The soup was uncomfortable in his empty stomach and he frowned. Even if Byrn had been alive, Fenrin wouldn''t have wanted his rescue. He''d lived in the big man''s shadow for too long and would  rather the world know he was on his own.

    ¡°And look how well you''ve done without Daddy''s help.¡± He could picture Lyra''s mocking voice perfectly. ¡°Beaten and caged like a dog. You might as well put yourself out of your misery. Admit it, Fen, you never were at our level.¡±

    Fenrin stood and began limping around his cell, using the motion to drown out his sister''s voice. Trying to focus instead on escape and the murders that would follow it. But after hours of thinking, he was no closer than before. The cell was solidly built, a sign this town had been around for a long time. In truth, he knew almost nothing about this area and its people.

    Lyra would have done more research before attacking. Bryn wouldn''t have had to. The night was sleepless as Fenrin was unable to escape his demons or his cell.

 3. Fairhaven

    "Good afternoon, Fenrin."

    He grunted, not bothering to move or even open his eyes to watch Jayln walk in. However, the slithering sound of plate sliding on dirt floor made him look. A dish of bread and meat was at the bars.

    "So, tell me, if the Bear is dead, who''s in charge of his army?"

    Fenrin quickly pulled the food in so she couldn''t take it away when he refused to answer. He munched the bread, completely ignoring Jayln.

    "What do you think is going to happen if you don''t answer my questions?" Jayln''s voice was curious but Fenrin smugly noted a note of frustration. He looked up at her.

    "I''m not sure yet," he said, grinning as her eyes narrowed.

    Honestly, Fenrin was curious. If their roles had been reversed, he would have tortured her by now. Or at least tortured her companions. For a moment, Fenrin mulled over if he cared if they killed or tortured his men.

    It depended on which six survived. Tyrik was really the only one he hadn''t inherited from his father. He''d miss the man, but Tyrik had almost a higher pain tolerance than Fenrin and hated pity. He''d kill Fenrin if he did anything to help his situation. It was what Fenrin liked about him.

    "We''re not going to stick you with hot pokers or anything."

    Fenrin grinned wider but it faltered when he saw Jayln¡¯s face. It wasn''t weakness or hesitation there, it was determination and intelligence.

    "It''s not our way, besides I doubt it''d work on men like you in the first place. No, way I see it, the worst thing for you would be to be left alone. You didn''t boast about others coming to avenge you so either they aren''t coming or you don''t want them to. If it''s the first, then we''ve got all the time in the world, if the second...well that''s up to you.¡± She stood up. "If you don''t talk to me then I''ll just leave you alone to rot. A pathetic death for a pathetic man, alone with his useless pride."

    Pausing at the door, Jayln unhooked a waterskin from her belt and tossed it into the cell. "I almost forgot. I''d ration that water if I were you. I have no problem starving you to death if that''s your choice." She shut the door unaffected by Fenrin''s murderous gaze.

    The next day, Jayln came with food and Fenrin tossed the plate from the day before at her. She easily dodged, crinkled her nose, and left with the food and without a word. Fenrin paced the whole night.

    The second day, Jayln came in and sat in her seat. They stared at each other and Fenrin almost talked, the idea of Lyra finding his starved body haunting him.

    Jayln sighed and left. Fenrin cursed.

    The third day she came in, she spoke right away. "One of your men is dead. His wound was infected and we couldn''t stop it."

    Fenrin raised an eyebrow, uncertain why she was mentioning it. "Which one?"

    "Nik."

    Fenrin tilted his head. "And?" Nik had been a competent scout but wasn''t a fan of Fenrin himself.

    A flash of anger in Jayln''s eyes piqued Fenrin''s curiosity, but calmly she said, "How should he be sent off?"

    "Just burn the bastard."

    Jayln pushed the food she¡¯d brought over. Fenrin ate it wondering what she was up to.

    "You don''t care for your own soldiers?"

    "They had one job and they failed. The penalty for that is death."

    Jayln smiled. "Did you not fail as well? Would you fall on your own sword?"

    "You only have to take the punishment if you let it be given.," he answered with a grin.

    "Interesting coming from a man letting himself starve to death."

    Grimacing, Fenrin finished the food and backed up to lean against the wall near the bars. "Been thinking about that one and I¡¯ve decided to stick around. But you''re not the only one with questions. Here''s one: how does a small group of villagers beat me and my top men?"

    "Skill and planning. Who''s in charge of the Bear''s army now that he''s dead?"

    Fenrin growled again. "Why are you so interested in that?"

    Jayln gave a light laugh. "Maybe because a band of men under his symbol attacked my town?"

    Stupid. Half his men had bears tattooed on them somewhere. Fenrin himself had a rather fierce rendition on his chest.

    "You really don''t know much up here do you? Since my father offed it, Lyra and I inherited the estate."

    Jayln sat back surprised. Fenrin looked insulted. "What? You didn''t know? Fenrin Brynson?"

    "I''d only ever heard you called the Wolf."

    "Aye, I''m the Wolf, she''s the Tigress."

    "She?"

    "Gods, how far north am I? Lyra Bryndotter? Lyra the Tigress? The milksop prince¡¯s betrothed?"Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Now Jayln really looked shocked. "Your king is betrothed to a brigand''s daughter? I mean I knew Valhym was a rough place but..."

    "Not like the poor lad had any choice in the matter." Fenrin laughed and raised his hand in a mock toast. "Like our father before us, we take what we want."

    His voice and face grew dark. "And Lyra wanted the prince. She got her claws in and that''s that."

    "Unbelievable. The High King and the Bear''s daughter, to think..." Jayln trailed off and her eyes locked on Fenrin and a sly smile grew on her face. "Ah, that''s why you''re so far north. Getting away from the capital, away from Lyra''s ambitions. My, my, no wonder you don''t want a rescue."

    Fenrin''s eyes were narrow slits and he felt his bloodlust return. Jayln stood. "I apologize for being so blunt, it was a rather shocking revelation. But, I think, one that will benefit us both in the end. I must go attend to the dead man waiting outside. Tomorrow we can talk deals."

    When the door shut, Fenrin bolted up, slamming his fist into the wall. Stupid. Can''t keep my stupid mouth shut. He was just calming down when he realized he hadn''t really gotten a single question answered. Stupid.

    The next day, Jayln came with the man from before. He gave Fenrin his food and Jayln sat in her chair. Fenrin was ready and leaned casually against the wall by the bars, opposite of the corner Jayln was in. Before the woman could speak, Fenrin held up a finger. "Uh-uh, you owe me some answers."

    "Really?" Jayln asked, amused.

    "Yes, sweetheart, you never really answered my question about who the hell you are."

    "I suspected you''d ask, so how about this deal¡ªI''ll answer your question and let you out of that cell for a bit if you promise to talk business after."

    Fenrin''s wolfish grin returned. Was the girl really fool enough to let him out?

    "I''m listening."

    "Good. Jakob, if you please." The man stepped out and came back with some heavy metal objects. Jayln stood and turned to Fenrin. "Alright, turn around, back up to the bars, and stick out your hands through the gap."

    Fenrin eyed the manacles. He didn''t need hands to kill someone so he obeyed and Jakob clamped the heavy metal around his wrists. They were connected by a four inch straight pole, making the position a bit awkward.

    "Now walk backwards towards the door."

    Fenrin did, trying not to let his muscles tense in anticipation. He heard the lock click and he waited for the sound of the door sliding open. Instead, he heard the sound of a bow being drawn.

    "Fenrin, I have an arrow ready to kill you if you move so much as in inch. So stay right there for a moment please."

    The door slid open and Fenrin didn''t move. He couldn''t see what they were doing behind him so he bit back a yelp as something grabbed his foot. He tried to kick with his other, but that was grabbed too and he fell undignified on his face. There was another sound of metal and Fenrin rolled over to see Jakob standing up, brushing his hands off.

    Clamped around his ankles were two rings, each connected to its own two-foot chain which led to a pair of iron balls six inches in diameter. He looked at them disgusted.

    "Oh, don''t pull a face, you''d be insulted if we''d done less. Now get up, we''re going outside," Jayln said, turning to go.

    Jakob kept a close eye as Fenrin awkwardly got to his feet and followed, grunting when he had to pull the chains. They weren''t so heavy he couldn''t move, but he wouldn''t be throwing any kicks or running very far. Clever.

    He blinked, blinded by the sunlight as they stepped outside. The warm rays soaked into his starved skin and he breathed the fresh air gratefully. To his surprise, his cell was not far from the center of town . Some houses were even on the same bit of cobbled road.

    Jayln spread her arms. "This is Fairhaven."

    The town was bustling about. The people who passed Fenrin and his guard glanced at them, but hurried along uneffected. The town center was marked by a large statue of a man and woman. The man had a tall staff and a bag over his shoulder. The woman held a child in her arms and a long bow slung over her back.

    Jayln gave him a moment to look around and then gestured to him. "Come on, you wanted to know who we were. Let me show you."

    Fenrin shuffled after Jayln, trying to mark every building in his mind. Where were his men? Where would he find weapons?

    He noted the blacksmith where a young lad waved merrily at Jakob. He noted the long building with barred windows¡ªthe jailhouse, seperate from his special little cell. It had to be where his five remaining men were. He also noticed that there were many more structures than there were people. The buildings were old and well built but weeds grew around most of the houses, many grimy glass or boarded up windows.

    His attention left the architecture as they rounded a corner and came to a place that truly caught his interest. A group ranging from a small child no more than seven to a man with a long grey beard were lined up in front of wooden dummies. A man walked up and down the rows shouting and the people moved in unison, kicking, punching, or switching stances. It was training like Fenrin had seen before but the movements were strange and foreign. Like the movements in the battle.

    "This is our dojo. The fighting style is called jitsu. It''s our secret weapon and nearly all villagers are trained in its art. This is how we beat you."

    Fenrin watched, fascinated. His warrior eye easily piecing together the purpose of each move, even though he''d never tried it. That one would take out a man''s knee, that one throw the opponent off balance with a blow to the chest, that stance was steady and planted.

    "Serne, Leos, come here for a moment," Jayln called out and two teens, a girl and a boy broke from the formation and strode over. Jayln put out a hand to stop them from coming too close to Fenrin. "Easy, stay out of his reach."

    Fenrin flashed them a hungry smile and the boy flinched. The girl, older than her peer, just stared at Fenrin defiantly.

    "Alright you two, why don''t you show Fenrin here how we beat his mangy band."

    The two grinned and turned to each other. After a respectful nod, they flew into action. Fenrin didn''t let his surprise show but he was thoroughly impressed. The two moved like lightning, the blows fast and focused.

    The boy shot an impressive kick high towards the girl''s jaw but she ducked it, grabbing the limb and flipping him to the floor before her fist flew down and stopped inches from smashing his face. She helped him up.

    "Thank you, you two. Nice work."

    The two lingered for a moment, sending curious glances at Fenrin but a look from Jakob sent them scurrying back to the group.

    "As you can see, we are quite capable of defending ourselves from attackers. But..." Jayln glanced over the town, "as I''m sure you noticed, our numbers are few."

    She walked towards the statue and Fenrin had no choice but to shuffle after her. Stopping at its base, she stared up at the stone faces. Fenrin spoke first, "Next question: are you in charge here? You the Jarl?"

    Jayln chuckled. "Jarl? There''s a Valhym word if I ever heard one. No, my parents are our leaders. They''ve assigned me to dealing with you and your men though."

    Fenrin frowned. "What''s your plan?"

    "It''s simple really, I let you and your men go, sparing your lives and saving your reputation. In return, you promise to leave our village alone. But of course there''s one problem I''ve yet to solve."

    "Oh?"

    She turned back to Fenrin, staring him down. "I don''t trust you as far as I could throw your chained hide, so a promise from you means nothing."

    "A problem indeed.¡± Fenrin laughed. ¡°I also propose a second problem with your not-so-brilliant plan. As for my reputation, it''s shot unless I slaughter each and every person in this town."

    "That," Jayln took a step closer, "is never going to happen."

    The Wolf''s grin grew wider.

 4. Philosophies

    Once they reached the cell and Fenrin was locked inside, he stuck his hands out and Jakob removed the manacles. When Fenrin moved his ankles through the bars, Jakob shook his head.

    "Those are yours to keep," The man growled. It was the first time Fenrin had heard him talk all day.

    "Oh good, I''ll be sure to use them to smash in your skull."

    Jakob just turned and left. Jayln had a smug look on her face as she glanced at the ball and chains which Fenrin kicked at unhappily. "Your town has a strange set of priorities. I''ve been to castles with less security. You give all your guests these baubles?" he asked.

    "No, you''re special that way. Jakob was being funny when he said they were yours. You killed his brother. He made those weights out of the metal of you and your men''s weapons. Good night, Fenrin."

    She left Fenrin in the dark and he sat down, chains rattling. "Hilarious."

    The next day when Jayln came in, Fenrin was waiting. "Mornin'' jailer!"

    "Should I be nervous?" She pushed the food over but Fenrin ignored it for now.

    "Always, but I''ve got a counter offer for you."

    Jayln sat down, unable to completely hide her amusement at his mood change as he continued, "After seeing your town and your crazy band of fist fighters, I got thinking. I happen to be in need of some men after my last batch got tragically knocked off. How about you join the estate, I take some fighters with me, and you never need to fear harm from the south because you''ll be our northern line."

    "You really don''t get it.¡± Jayln pinched her nose bridge. ¡°We want to be left alone. Getting wrapped up with brigands is worse than being attacked by them."

    Fenrin was honestly surprised. He''d expected some harsh haggling, maybe even a blunt refusal. That they''d rather be killed he had a hard time believing.

    His voice grew grave and serious. "Whether it''s me or someone else, eventually somebody is going to find your little haven and they will kill everyone here. Your resources are too good, your buildings well fortified. I''m actually surprised you haven''t been raided already."

    Jayln shot up, her voice escalating. "We have! Why do you think there are so few of us? Why do you think we are so bent on avoiding conflict? All we want is to live in peace."

    "What you want you have to take," Fenrin whispered, the phrase flowing from his lips like a prayer.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    "What?"

    "That''s the way the world is. If you want something, you have to take it. If you want peace you have to secure it. You need enough force no one will mess with you. And you don''t have that¡ªI do."

    Jayln looked at him strangely, like she was trying to understand some foreign creature. She calmed herself. "The founders of this town fled a war. They wanted nothing to do with the conflict. We stayed hidden for nearly a century until finally being stumbled upon by the Imperial army. When we did not answer the emperor''s call, they condemned my people as traitors."

    She gestured to the door and the village beyond. "We fended off the initial attack with heavy losses. It would have been the end of us, but my grandfather gave himself up to the enemy for a chance to speak with their leader. He told him that we meant the emperor no ill will and we asked for nothing that was his. The leader of the forces relented, declaring that we had the right to live in peace. It''s been three decades since that battle and the Soli have not bothered us since."

    Fenrin snorted at her tale. "He must''ve died before returning his report or your people would have been killed by the emperor long ago."

    "Is it so hard to believe that someone would just let us be?"

    "Yes. It''s not how people think. You are na?ve."

    She studied his face. "You really believe there is no one that wishes for peace?"

    "They may wish for it. But if given the choice between peace or any increase of their own happiness...well,¡± Fenrin chuckled, ¡°peace goes out the window."

    Jayln sat thoughtfully for a moment before giving Fenrin a curious glance."And what makes you happy, Fenrin?"

    The question blindsided him and for a moment he struggled to come up with an answer. "Winning," he said simply, satisfied.

    Jayln paused as if expecting more but Fenrin had no more to say.

    "That''s...not a lot," she said lamely before smiling into a space beyond Fenrin. "What about a cool breeze on a hot day? The perfect slice of bread. Watching someone you''ve trained grew and become better. The smile of someone you care about. The embrace of a friend. The creation of something new."

    Her focus returned and her eyes grew clear. "Those things don''t require someone else to lose. Your happiness shouldn''t depend on someone else''s unhappiness. Peace brings more joy than war, that is why it can be achieved."

    Fenrin''s lips curled back. His mother had come unbidden to mind. Her soft touch, her selfless love, and his childhood happiness¡ªbut then his mind turned to her betrayal, her standing aside as his father forged him into a soldier and abandoned his twin sister, and finally to her death, cut down in cold blood just to send a message. Any peace in his life had been an illusion, there was always a war. A war of interests, who wanted what and who was able to take it.

    "Na?ve."

    Jayln''s eyes flashed. "I''m not an idealistic fool, Fenrin. I know there are people who forget themselves, who let jealousies and envies lead them to act cruelly. Even out here people do wrong." She gestured ironically. "Why do you think we have so many jails? The difference is we don''t kill unless forced to. Violence comes from a problem, whether real or constructed, and problems can be fixed with time. We don''t punish with death."

    She turned away, waving and leaving him. "I''ll see you tomorrow, Fenrin."

    Fenrin cursed. Too many thoughts whirled in his head, too many resurrected demons he had long since buried. He knew he should laugh at Jayln''s philosophy, he knew Lyra or his father would. But all he could hear was Jayln''s curious voice.

    "What makes you happy, Fenrin?"

 5. Family Issues

    "Good afternoon, Fenrin. Any new ideas?" Jayln slid over a bowl of hot oatmeal with honey.

    "My offer still stands."

    "As does my offer and my refusal."

    "Ah, but you still don''t trust me."

    "Not a mite."

    "What if I swear by my father''s grave?"

    "You hate your father."

    Fenrin sighed, taking the food. "Too true. Too true."

    They sat in silence, Fenrin eating and Jayln watching, deep in thought. As he finished the last bite she asked, "Tell me about your sister?"

    He grimaced. "I just ate."

    She chuckled but waited expectantly. Fenrin knew he shouldn''t tell Jayln anything more, especially now they were ''in negotiations'', but he found he was in the mood to bad mouth Lyra.

    "She''s a bitch."

    "Seems to run in the family."

    He raised an eyebrow and grinned at her comeback. "Maybe. Lyra takes the cake though. She takes whatever she wants and I mean that literally. She wants your sword, it''ll be gone the next day. She wants your house, you''ll wake up in the streets. She wants your loyalty, she''ll find what matters most to you. Heck, Valhym''s screwed now she''s decided she wants the throne."

    "Yes, that is concerning. Why does she want the throne?"

    "Either for the power or the prince, well, king now. Personally, I don''t understand what she sees in him. Bryn broke him years ago. Maybe that''s the appeal, he''s easy to control but his "moral" upbringing makes manipulating him enjoyable. All I know is she was interested in him before she even considered the throne."

    "Maybe they''re in love?"

    Fenrin''s jaw dropped and he looked at Jayln like she''d suggested fire was cold. He laughed, tears streaming. Lyra and the prince in love! It was the funniest thing he''d ever heard. Jayln frowned and after Fenrin''s laughing didn''t subside after a few minutes she got defensive. "So that''s really not a possibility?"

    Wiping his eyes, Fenrin stopped laughing and leaned forward, face an inch from the cell bars. "Considering we killed his mother in front of him, bloodied him, and laughed as our father demanned the king, I doubt he cares much for Lyra. That''s probably why she sticks around, she''s not one to let a wound close."This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    Jayln looked concerned as she tried to process this new narrative. "What do you mean? Your family attacked the royal family and walked away?"

    "Yup, the crown crossed the Bear and he made sure to pay back the compliment. Honestly, they were lucky, Bryn held back. I thought we''d skin ¡®em alive. Probably didn''t want to bother with the politics of an empty throne. Me and daddy dearest never cared for politics like Lyra does."

    Jayln sat back, her face blurring in the shadows. Fenrin heard her whisper, "No remorse..."

    He bared his teeth. "Of course not, it was more than they deserved."

    A tendril of real emotion flashed through his words and Jayln caught it and pulled. "For what?"

    The hook slipped and Fenrin stepped back, evading her question. "For getting in our way. Story times over. Unless you''ve got a plan that involves me leaving this cell, we''re done here."

    Jayln knew there was more, but she stood up and nodded, leaving Fenrin once more in the dark. He backed up until he reached the wall and slid down. Talking shit about Lyra had felt good, like imagining driving his sword through her smug face. But Jayln''s questions had led to a hidden wound, still too fresh to prod. It stirred up old uncertainties.

    Why was he here? It was true that he went down north where Lyra wouldn''t get in his way, but Fenrin realized there on his cell floor that it had been more than that.

    There wasn''t anything left for Fenrin in Valhym. His father was gone leaving him no orders, no direction, just a giant crime network Fenrin discovered he had no interest in running. He was made for the wilds, to stake out and claim the uncivilized and untamed.

    He wanted the life his father had led in his younger days, when he was a bandit, not a warlord. Leave the large scale scheming to Lyra. Fenrin wanted to live by the strength of his arm and no one else''s. By going north, he sought a place he could make his own. A place he could be happy and not haunted by the sins and regrets of the past.

    He chuckled in the darkness. Maybe it was more than winning, maybe it was the challenge of getting there by his own efforts. Fenrin felt fire fill the empty hole that had been uncovered.

    Screw Lyra and Valhym, Fenrin the Wolf would carve his own section of the world by his own hand! His chuckles grew to laughs and he howled like a wolf, feeling energized with new purpose. He hadn''t felt like this since¡ª

    He stopped, the black box in his chest creaking back open and sucking his enthusiasm into its void. Fenrin knew when things had started to go wrong, when the balance had shifted and weights began to topple. His mother''s death had been the catalyst that had thrown Fenrin''s world out of orbit.

    Without Dyla''s steadying influence, her unquestionable loyalty, Bryn had lost the little control he had. Her death led the family to the castle where Lyra had met her ambitions. Dyla''s death started the countdown on Bryn''s own and left Fenrin with no place in the hierarchy. Fenrin found himself thinking about his mother''s influence more carefully.

    Fenrin had been around his mother enough to know how important a tool she had been in creating his father''s small empire as well. Her calming words, sharp mind, and self-sacrifice were the only influences to ever sway the unswayable Bryn. She had been the heart of everything, the oil and grindstone that kept Bryn and his heirs sharp.

    She had been imperfect¡ªFenrin knew both Dyla and Lyra would never forgive her for abandoning her daughter. Fenrin had also been left at times, but that first time she had picked him and that action could never be undone, could never be forgotten.

    Fenrin closed his eyes, it was strange how different his family looked from a more calculated perspective. He''d never thought of this before, but then again, he''d never had this much time to do nothing but think.

 6. Proposal

    "Good morning, Fenrin."

    "If you say so."

    "Sleep well?"

    "I''d sleep better if I wasn''t on the floor in chains."

    "Hmmm, but that wouldn''t be good for my peace of mind. A woman needs her beauty sleep you know," Jayln teased pushing in his daily meal.

    Fenrin didn''t pick it up, instead moving up and leaning against the bars. Casually, Jayln took a step back.

    "I may not sleep well, but being in here is real good for thinking."

    "Oh?"

    He starred her right in the eyes and gave her his wolfish grin. "Yeah, I''ve got a solution."

    The corner of her lips twitched up, no doubt expecting a smart remark or joke. "I''m listening."

    "Marry me."

    Jayln''s eyes grew wide and she sputtered, "What?!"

    Fernin stretched his arms out. "Marry me! Make an alliance between your village and my new crew, separate from Bryn and Lyra''s men. They won''t mess with us, we use your village''s jitsu to make a small elite team to protect ourselves, and you can keep a close eye on me, trust or no trust."

    Jayln had been about to force an awkward laugh but, seeing he was serious, she just gaped. She fumbled back, finding the chair and sitting down. She rubbed her nose bridge and Fenrin watched, awaiting her positive answer.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    "I can''t marry you."

    Fenrin blinked, suddenly wondering if he''d been beat to the ticket. "You''re already...?"

    "No, no, I''m not married. I just can''t marry you."

    "My chains and prison cell not good enough for you?" he joked, still trying to find the flaw in his plan. From what he''d seen of Jayln, she was clever. Surely she realized the benefit.

    If he saw enough value in her and her people to marry her, than it wasn''t likely he would murder her outright. In which case, she would have all the room in the world to influence him and share resources. She and, through her, the village would be protected by the Brynson name.

    "Fenrin." She looked at him, face serious, mouth a thin line. "I don''t think your idea and my idea of marriage are the same. To my people, it''s not something taken lightly. Your spouse become your partner, your right arm and your theirs. You work together towards the same goal, sharing equal responsibility. If you were my husband, what could I share with you? We would be using each other to further our own goals, not working towards the same one."

    ¡°Ah¡±, Fenrin thought, trying to reconcile this definition with his own experiences, ¡°she''s worried I''d work against her.|¡±

    Every marriage had a hierarchy. Dyla never disobeyed Bryn, never disobeyed an order. Her goal was Bryn''s happiness. Even Lyra''s relationship didn''t have opposing sides¡ªnot that her man slave had much of a choice about it. Jayln didn''t trust Fenrin to let her run her village.

    "Jayln, I have my own plans outside of your village. Things would continue here just as they are but safer. I have no desire to stay here, you can trust that."

    "What? No, Fenrin..." She waved her hands vaguely. "It''s not about trust¡ªthough I don''t trust you¡ªit''s about love and shared purpose."

    Fenrin resisted snorting at her idealistic definition. He hadn''t pegged her as a daydreaming girl waiting for her prince charming. He''d thought she was practical. "Well then I hope you find the perfect man to share your shared purpose of getting destroyed by forces stronger than your little village."

    His voice was rising. "You''d better go fetch this men you love and hurry to come up with a plan." Jayln bit her lip as Fenryn''s voice grew low and cutting. "For someone so interested in peace, you sure do refuse a lot of olive branches."

    For a moment they stood there, the air between them thick and heavy until Jayln left Fenrin alone with his unproductive thoughts.

 7. Eulogies

    The next two days, Jayln didn''t even stay long enough to talk to. In, food, and out. Fenrin''s pride wouldn''t allow him to repeat his offer, so instead he let the bitterness, anger, and frustration pent up, becoming almost palpable in the small room.

    He cursed every god he could think of. If the damned girl wouldn''t listen to reason, he would either die here or be handed to Lyra. His mind reverted back to violent thoughts, looping daydream after daydream of breaking free and murdering his way back to his beloved wilds.

    He was so engrossed in a particularly vivid dream where he caught Lyra wandering in his lands and held her in a small cell to mock, when the door opened to darkness and a figure slipped in. It had been hours since his daytime meal and Fenrin''s senses went full alert at the off-schedule visit. The chair scraped against the floor as it was shifted then...a sniffle.

    It was Jayln and she was crying.

    "Hey, I''m trying to sleep here," Fenrin barked unsympathetically.

    "I apologize for disturbing you. Just ignore me." Her voice was professional and calm but cracked at the end and she resumed her muffled sobs.

    Fenrin waited, puzzled that she would show weakness in front of him. "If this is your version of torture, I''ll let you know now it''s not particularly effective. Neither disturbing my sleep or trying to gain sympathy will do anything for you."

    "I''m not here because you are, I''m in here because no one else would come in," Jayln snapped. "Like I said, just ignore me."

    "And what would the daughter of the village leaders need to hide for?" he asked, a tad intrigued.

    Jayln sighed and Fenrin heard her soft boots shift on the floor. "You''re not going to leave me alone are you?"

    "Call it payback. Also you came to me."

    "Like I said, I didn''t come because¡ªforget it. I''m here to escape my friends¡¯ unwanted sympathies."

    "Sympathies?"If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "My mother passed on a few hours ago."

    Smelling a wounded animal, Fenrin¡¯s his cruel side jumped at the chance to deal some damage to the person who put him in his foul mood.

    "So a few mourners is all it takes to send Jayln crying to the corner. Would you like some sympathy from the big bad wolf? I suppose I could mourn her loss, one more tragic death I will never have a part in. So sad."

    Jayln sucked in a breath and Fenrin could feel her losing her temper. He grinned. "How''d she die? Murdered brutally I hope?"

    "She died peacefully in her sleep."

    "Shame. There''s nothing quite like coming home to find your mother hacked into pieces. It really stirs the blood."

    "Is that what happened?"

    Fenrin flinched. Dammit.

    Jayln asked again, "To your mother? Is that why you never mention her?"

    At a loss for a snappy comeback, Fenrin didn''t answer though his silence did it for him.

    "What was she like?" Jayln asked softly.

    Fenrin¡¯s bloodlust missed its mark and without thinking he answered, "She was beautiful."

    His mouth moved, the words flowing out unbidden. His mind too exhausted from fighting itself to intervene. What did it matter anyway?

    "Her hair was palest gold and her eyes emeralds. She was clever and calm. She loved one man with all of her being, with a devotion indescribable. But she was also selfish in her selflessness, loyal to a fault. She died happy, murdered protecting her lord. She was alone when she died, cut down by petty men scared of their own ambitions." He felt his own tears land on his hands in the dark. He''d never given his mother''s eulogy. It had been buried in the black box Jayln had pried open.

    Jayln''s voice spoke clearly, "Genevieve Harperdotter was a bold woman. She spoke what she thought and had an unshakable dream. She inspired others and made them see what they could do. She lived to her seventy seventh year."

    The second eulogy disappeared into the darkness and Jayln''s breathing calmed. They both sat quietly as the minutes ticked by, strangely comfortable in the darkness that seemed to promise to keep its secrets. Fenrin felt the last dregs of rage slip free of the black box, leaving just his mother''s face and a collection of memories.

    His mind returned to the matters at hand and he whispered, "You''re going to have to kill me you know?"

    "Wha¡ª"

    "You''re never going to trust me enough to let me go and I''ll go mad kept in here forever. Whether you know it or not, you never intended to make a deal with me. You''ve known you''ll have to kill me, you''re just too scared of the consequences to do the job. Well, I''m sick of waiting for you to make up your damn mind."

    There was a pause and Jayln stood up. She started to open the door, Fenrin''s light starved eyes picking up her outline even in the thin starlight.

    "You''re right.¡±

 8. Imbalance

    Fenrin spent the night planning how he would escape an execution, so he wasn''t prepared when Jayln walked in alone, moved her chair so she faced the center of his cell, and sat down with a look of pure determination.

    "If I were to marry you, what would that imply to you exactly?" she asked.

    "What are you on about?"

    "You were right about me not considering making a deal. So now I''m considering. I''ve thought about everything you''ve said and, objectively, your marriage proposal has been the best idea."

    "You thought quite the opposite before."

    He stood in the center of his cell watching her interestedly.

    "Yes, and I apologize for that. After considering our problem, I realized it¡¯s a power imbalance. As we are now, I have all the power," Fenrin snorted but Jayln continued without missing a beat, "and if I let you go, you''ve got the power. There can''t be any trust or relationship until we''ve reached an equilibrium."

    "Which we can''t do because we don''t trust each other."

    "Exactly. It''s a paradox that can only end, as you said, with one of our deaths."

    "Your point?"

    "Your marriage idea was the best at attempting to rebalance the power, so I''m wondering if I misunderstood your concept of marriage."If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "No, I think you thought correctly." Jayln frowned and Fenrin shrugged. "What I had in mind was essentially a business arrangement where you ran your little end and I oversaw the larger picture."

    Jayln pondered this and Fenrin watched her. She did seem ready to make a decision. His brain sparked with the idea of getting free one way or another.

    "So we are back to the paradox. One of us must be in danger of losing our lives to break out," Jayln tapped her chin.

    ¡°Go ahead and try to execute me,¡± Fenrin mused, ¡°short of a volley of arrows into my cell, there will be a chance I''ll escape and it''s a chance I''m ready to take.¡±

    "Give me one more day to come up with a plan. After that I will make a decision." She paused, then asked, "Can you answer one question for me?"

    "Maybe."

    "It''s important. Tell me, what is your goal? What is it you want to do?"

    Fenrin gave a half smile and met her eyes. "I happen to have a lot of time recently to think about that one. I want to carve out my own patch of the world using my own strength, away from Bryn''s legacy and Lyra''s scheming claws."

    Jayln nodded. "Thank you. I''ll be back tomorrow."

    After she left, Fenrin began to wonder if she was really going to accept his marriage proposal. If she did, he''d planned on staying for a while to get a team of her jitsu fighters before leaving on his journey.

    He hadn''t really thought about whether Jayln would stay or come. It would make more sense for her to stay¡ªhe doubted she''d be able to stomach Fenrin''s plans¡ªbut after hearing her today, he also doubted she would let him leave alone.

    "We''ll see how this plays out," he muttered to himself before turning to begin some exercises. After all, one way or another, he''d be out tomorrow.

 9. Deal

    Jakob was with Jayln when she returned. His huge arms were crossed but Fenrin''s eyes immediately flew to the ring of keys in his meaty fist.

    "Give me a moment alone with him, please," Jayln asked and Jakob obliged, giving Fenrin a wary, if not straight up dirty, look.

    Jayln seemed tired. She hesitated with every movement, questioning if she was making the right choice. "I''ve decided...to trust you."

    Fenrin didn''t hide his surprise and Jayln held up a hand to fend off any smart remark. "At least to try to trust you. I want to make a deal. If I let you go, you send your remaining men south to keep Lyra away from my village. Meanwhile, you and I head elsewhere on a journey of sorts. We can go somewhere wild for you to find your new estate or whatever it is you want. After two months, we come back and decide whether we can be allies."

    Fenrin let her continue, "I believe you see the value our village has to offer and this would give you a chance to use what we have towards furthering your goal. So either we make an alliance or you lose that chance."

    He pondered this idea. "Love or War huh?"

    "Essentially," Jayln responded dryly. "Of course, there''d be a few more particulars if you agreed."

    "Such as I not kill you as soon as I''m free."

    Jayln didn''t even blink. "Even if you could, you wouldn''t make it out of our village alive. I didn''t think you''d been in here so long you''d forget how effective our jitsu is."

    "So you''re bargaining your life on this deal?"

    "My life was in danger the moment you entered our land. If I can minimize the risk to just myself, I will have done my job."

    Fenrin found he respected Jayln for that answer. It was brutal and realistic but with that selfless optimistic strain Fenrin still found hard to understand.

    Of course, Jayln was missing a very obvious flaw in her plan, but he wasn''t going to mention it. If he agreed, he could just leave and come back with a bigger army and torture her people into giving up their secrets. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Luckily for her, he mused, the idea of trying out her negotiations was intriguing enough to make it worth the effort. "Alright, what about those ''few particulars''?"

    Jayln straightened slightly, meeting Fenrin''s eyes. "We need to come to a agreement of certain rules for each other to follow. I have one I want and therefore in movement towards equal power, you need to present your own."

    "And what''s your one rule?" Fenrin asked with playful curiosity.

    "For those two month we travel together you cannot murder anyone."

    Fenrin laughed, his hands on his sides. He gave Jayln his hungry grin. "You''re asking a wolf to give up hunting?"

    Her eyes narrowed slightly. "No I''m asking a man to avoid unnecessary bloodshed for two months in order to solidify an alliance. And, as I said, you would place a rule on me as well."

    Still amused by her audacity, Fenrin thought over what he could ask for. What would be as restrictive towards her nature as her rule was to him? Ah...

    He held up a finger. "Alright, my one rule is you have to obey my every order for those two months."

    Jayln didn''t laugh, she just stiffened and pressed her lips together. "That defeats the balance of power."

    "So does restricting my ability to do my job, let alone my very nature."

    "It''s in no one''s nature to murder."

    "On that we disagree."

    Jayln took a deep breath and bit her lip thoughtfully. "Your rule is too broad. Mine was limited to murder, not defending oneself, etcetra. I won''t obey orders that ask me to take anyone''s life and I reserve the right to refuse orders that would endanger my people."

    Fenrin''s eyes widened, she was actually going to agree? They narrowed again¡ªit was always possible she never intended to follow any rule.

    Then again maybe he wouldn''t either.

    She saw the look in his eyes and held up two palms. "It''s a rabbit hole I know. Everything depends on us trusting each other, which is the point of the whole arrangement. If it falls apart, it falls apart, no talk here will change that."

    Jayln stuck her hand out and stepped forward. "Do we have a deal?"

    Fenrin could see the fear in her eyes, the hesitation. He could smell it on her, his instincts telling him to turn that fear into reality. But mind had been ruling over instinct since being in the cell, so his curiosity won out.

    He took her hand, but couldn''t resist yanking her up to the bars, whispering into her ear as she flinched, surprised by his strength.

    "Now let me out of this cage."

 10. Destination

    Fenrin gave a threatening grin as Jakob, clearly reluctantly, gave Jayln the keys. She opened the cell and then leaned over to unlock Fenrin''s ball and chains. He looked down at her, vulnerable to attack, he could so easily crush her right there.

    But he could feel Jakob''s eyes on him. He knew Jayln was right and if she died, there was a good chance he wouldn''t make it out in his condition¡ªbut the temptation was still there.

    Fenrin stretched and rubbed his sore ankle, scratching at the scabs that had formed from his pacing with the manacles on¡ªand his occasional angry and futile assaults on the metal piece. Jayln watched his every move and he enjoyed the attention, occasionally moving faster than necessary to see if he could get her to flinch. She stayed steady and led him out of the cell and across to the jail his men were no doubt in. He stopped walking.

    "Keep going," Jakob growled.

    Fenrin waved a finger at him. "Uh-uh, that''s no way to talk to your potential ally. Before I speak to my men, I need to be presentable." He turned to Jayln. "Get me a bath, some new clothes, and a sword."

    Jakob stepped forward menacingly, but Jayln grit her teeth and reached forward to stop him. "Jakob, get what he asked for. We need his men to listen to him and he''ll be less convincing in dirty clothes and his current stench."

    As soon as the large man was out of earshot, Fenrin stepped closer to Jayln, who to her credit still did not flinch. "And I want a real meal."

    "You''ve had real meals."Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    "With utensils."

    While the food he''d been given had been of good quality, Jayln had been smart enough not to give him anything he could use as a weapon. She could dodge bowls and plates easily enough. She nodded. "Follow me."

    To Fenrin''s surprise they went to what he assumed must be her home, judging from the familiarity with which she entered and prepared a meal. He looked around, curious. It was a fairly simple home. There were a few woven rugs, a painting of a grove of golden and red trees, an assortment of hunting and fishing gear, and the basic household necessities.

    Jayln laid out two bowls of some sort of porridge and topped it with berries and a slice of bread. She also poured out two cups of what Fenrin was delighted to find was mead.

    "I propose we leave tomorrow at dawn for Redbay,¡± Jayln said as they started to eat, ¡°from there we can catch a ship to almost anywhere. Except for this region, most of the continent north of Valhym has been thoroughly settled by the Empire. For land not under direct sovereign control, I suggest the islands."

    Fenrin waved his spoon. "No good, the Duskar have the islands thoroughly watched. Do you have a map?"

    Jayln fetched one from a cabinet. She rolled it out on the table, carefully smoothing the edges, as Fenrin scanned it expertly. After a moment, with Jayln watching him curiously, he stabbed the spot with his finger.

    "There."

    "But that''s in the middle of the empire!" Jayln frowned at the valley Ferin had indicated.

    He slid his finger over the range of mountains separating the valley from the rest of the Solis Empire. "Ah, but nothing stops large armies like a mountain range where we can pick them off from above and disappear in an instant. The trick is to become more of a pain to deal with than to leave alone. We''ll take a ship from Taka to here and travel up through the mountains."

    "How long?"

    Fenrin grinned and scraped the last of the porridge into his gullet before answering, "I''d say about two months."

 11. Freedom

    Straightening his sword one more time, Fenrin grimaced. It was not nearly as nice as the one he''d had, but alas that one was now a chain in the manacle he''d escaped. Fenrin shouted out of the bath house for a mirror and razor. They were delivered by a tight lipped woman with large arms that Fenrin guessed had seen a forge. He trimmed his beard down to his usual goatee and emerged.

    "Let''s talk to the troops then."

    The prison cells were smaller than his. The men inside mostly dozing off or playing cards through the bars. As Fenrin walked in, Tyrik jumped to his feet.

    "What idiot let a wolf out in the open?" he shouted grinning. The men leapt to attention and Fenrin grasped Tyrik''s hand, happy to see the man alive.

    "Who can keep one caged is the question? This lovely lady and I have come to a business arrangement." He gestured to Jayln and Tyrik looked at her with recognition.

    "Oh?"

    "Yes, we''ve got a job scoped out but I need you and the rest of the pack to head back south."

    Tyrik''s eyes narrowed. "Nearly a month behind bars and you want us to up and leave this village standing."

    "Yes." This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    It was an order. Non-negotiable. However, he gestured Tyrik to the side of the cell, the other occupants respectfully moving away from the boss and his second.

    "I''ve got a nice spot of land and a plan forming, but I need you to keep kitten out of the north until I''ve got things scouted."

    "Alright, shouldn''t be difficult considering how occupied her time was last time we checked. But why not keep some of us with you?"

    "After our last performance? I''ve had a lot of time to think and I think it''s time we leave Bryn''s men with Bryn." Tyrik nodded understandingly, flashing the other men a look before turning his attention back to his boss. Fenrin clasped his shoulder. "After you drop off the goods and make sure we''re clear, come back and find me."

    Tyrik nodded, appreciating the trust Fenrin was putting in him. Jayln listened to everything intently. "Where will you be?"

    "Not sure quite yet and the usual method  for finding me won''t work this time. I''ll leave markers."

    Tyrik nodded. "Ok, so when do we get out?"

    "Now." Fenrin nodded at Jayln.

    There was a bit of chaos as the men were freed, confused when Fenrin didn''t order them to attack but instead leave. But leave they did, under Tyrik''s watchful eye. As soon as the last bandit was out of sight, Jayln asked, "What''s the usual method?"

    "Hm?"

    "For finding you. You told Tyrik the usual method wouldn''t work. Why not?"

    Fenrin was not surprised she''d paid close attention. He turned and winked at her. "Following the bodies of course."

    He walked off grinning at finally having gotten a flinch from her.

    However, after he turned his back, Jayln smiled for a moment as the full implication hit her. The usual method wouldn''t work because Fenrin planned to keep his word.

 12. Betrayal

    Fenrin watched Jalyn out of the corner of his eye as she said her goodbyes. She hugged her aging father who held her firmly and said something in her ear. The entire town was out to see her off, most ignoring Fenrin or giving him suspicious, if not hostile, glances.

    His men had left the night before and Fenrin had seen the patrols circling the town making sure they didn''t sneak back. Judging from the fact that no one stood less than fifteen feet from him, he guessed Jalyn had ordered that no one interact with the Wolf.

    A wise move, Fenrin thought, trimming his nails with a knife while waiting for Jalyn to finish. He may have decided to try out the little alliance, but there was a lot of pent up bloodlust just looking for a reason to put a knife between someone''s eyes.

    As the good-byes, well wishes, and advice begin to repeat, Fenrin began walking out of the town. "We''re leaving," he called out and listened with a smug smile to the grumbles of the village as Jalyn tore herself away to follow.

    She walked beside him, a pace or so behind and her usual cool was fragile. He could smell her nervous fear and it made him twitchy. As they walked farther and farther from protection, the temptation to take revenge and throw out his promise grew. When the silent tension was almost unbearable Jayln spoke up, her voice showing some of the strain.

    "Have you been to Taka?"

    "Yeah."

    "Oh." She seemed surprised.

    "I had a pirating phase."

    "That...makes sense," she said lamely before continuing more confidently. Her normal steadiness returning. "Taka is the farthest coastal city from the capitol so it makes sense that it''d be a stop for pirates. I''ve only been to the port a few times, but it was enough to know we should be able to find a boat without paperwork."

    "Paperwork?" Fenrin had never bothered with any such thing. His or his father''s reputation usually was enough to keep any idiots from messing with their affairs.

    "All passengers have to have identification and all ships have to give a copy of their manifests for the ship to leave port. I have my papers, even out as far as we are, it helps to have a few registered as Imperial citizens. Should work well enough even at a Valhym port."

    Fenrin stopped and turned around. "Give me those papers."

    Jalyn stopped and looked at him confused. He crossed his arms and added mockingly, "That''s an order."

    She rolled her eyes but slipped off her bag and rummaged through it before pulling out a roll of leather and parchment. She handed it to Fenrin and he unrolled it. It listed Jalyn''s name, gave her an identification number and declared her a citizen of the Imperial Empire. Fenrin snorted and then ripped the paper into shreds.

    "Wha--stop that!"

    Fenrin shot Jalyn a dangerous look and she stopped, her arm still outstretched for the paper. He ground the paper shreds into the dirt. "That''s a real bright idea, leave a nice record of where you''ve been. We''re not working with the Imperials, I do things my way."

    She tore her eyes from the shredded scraps. "And what way¡¯s that?"

    "Well usually the bloody way, but we''ll see how it goes." He turned around and continued walking, whistling idily. Tearing up the paper had diffused some of his rage and now Jalyn was too engrossed in thought to be nervous. They reached a steady rhythm until Fenrin declared it time for lunch.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Leaning on a tree, Fenrin watched Jalyn as she slid off her pack. She carried too much. He was interested to see she had a small sword at her side. After they ate, he stretched and drew his own sword. "Can you use that sword?" he asked her.

    "Yes. And my bow."

    "Hm, saw the bow in action before. Draw your sword, I want to see what you can do."

    Jalyn brushed a few crumbs off her lap and then readied her weapon. Fenrin moved in with some basic thrusts which she easily blocked before giving him a ''Are you serious?'' look.

    He grinned and moved faster, weaving in more and more complex patterns until she struggled to keep up. Fast as a snake, Fenrin disarmed her and when she turned around to pick up her sword, he slapped the flat end of his on her behind. She gave a small yelp and spun around, eyes narrowed. He gave her his signature grin and moved forward.

    Her green eyes flashed angrily and she dropped into that strange stance he had seen in the jitsu training grounds. Sword abandoned, she charged Fenrin. He held his ground and thrust his sword, she dodged, knocking it aside with a careful wrist. She quickly closed the distance, getting inside his range.

    Fenrin kicked out, catching her in the hip and she slid back before bolting forward again. Her hand jabbed his gut, he gasped but moved right up to her, moving his sword and placing the flat of the blade on his opposite forearm, trapping her next to him.

    She kneed him in the groin and he grunted, before whipping his sword aside and tossing it, letting his body fall forward. He had her pinned under him. Her hands moved fast, expertly knocking him in the neck and ear, making his head ring, but he let his superior weight hold her as his hands found her wrists and forced them down. She struggled but finally stopped and they both laid there panting.

    Fenrin''s sight cleared of stars and he looked down into her dark green eyes. He hadn''t noticed before but her skin was speckled with light freckles, barely darker than her tanned skin. A different hunger grew and he kissed her.

    She bit him and he pulled back laughing. He licked the blood that dribbled off his lip. She pulled at his grip. "Get off of me."

    "I don''t think so." Carefully, fully aware of her strength, he moved one of her arms, pinning it under her own body and his. Using his freed hand he slipped in under her jerkin and light undershirt, feeling her smooth skin, hot from the fight.

    She struggled again, "Get the hell off me!"

    A note of panic grew in her voice and it was sweet to Fenrin''s ears. His hand went down, finding her pantline and expertly working it down. Her eyes grew panicked and he grinned.

    "What if I order you to just lie there?" She froze and Fenrin used his legs and hand to shimmy her pants to her knees. He worked on his own belt.

    "If you do this, you''ll have to kill me after, or I''ll escape and my people will hunt you down."

    He laughed and lowered his face to whisper in her ear. "So I kill you, get more men and burn your village. Keeping a few alive to torture the secrets of jitsu from. You''re naive." He kissed the nape of her neck and she tried to flinch away.

    "If...if that was your plan all along, why even bother with the agreement? With sending your men away? Why not leave this morning?"

    "Without you?" he asked in mock love, his hand emerging to brush the hair from her face. He leered down as her, her face pale and eyes wide but full of desperate thoughts.

    "I don''t believe this was your plan. I think you intended to follow our alliance. I think you''re just not enough of a man and too much of a beast," she spat.

    He jerked the end of her shirt up, pulling it up to her breasts. He leaned down, running his tongue over her ribs. She twisted under him but what she''d said had taken some of the joy out of it for him.

    Had he really intended to follow the alliance? Maybe he had. But with the wild joy of freedom and her there under him, he''d just followed his instinct. A beast. Maybe he was.

    ¡°Run north, mangy dog. Too dumb to do more than bite and fuck.¡± Lyra mocked.

    Would he be able to form his own kingdom when he couldn''t even handle an alliance with one measly village?

    Bryn never needed alliances. He would do exactly what you''re doing. Take what you want, when you want it.

    There was the catch. Fenrin didn''t want to be his father. He didn''t want to be Lyra. He was sick of them both. He wanted...he wanted...something else.

    His mood plummeted and he jerked up, spitting in the dirt beside them both. In a second he was on his feet, he didn''t even look down at Jalyn sprawled half naked on the dirt with shock on her face. He just buckled his belt and stalked off into the trees.

 13. The Sticking Place

    Fenrin wandered through the trees until he found a small stream where he washed his face and took a long drink of the cool water. What was wrong with him? Why was he doing this?

    Because it''s ridiculous and something his family would never do.

    That''s what had appealed to him about the whole situation. Jayln''s innocence, her optimism, and na?vety about the cruelties of the world. For Fenrin, who had been born into a world that thrived on the worst humanity had to offer, it was a novelty. He''d played with it out of curiosity, but now he had to decide if he would follow through.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    There was no one here to judge his actions. None of Bryn''s men whispering he wasn''t as strong as his father, no sister pointing out his every flaw and dancing on his insecurities¡ªjust Fenrin.

    What harm could come from following through? If he did, he got the fighting edge he might need against whatever Lyra was planning. If he failed, well he was just back where we had been before, murdering his way to wealth and fame.

    Yes, he would do it. Let''s see what following the rules can get me.

 14. Na?ve

    Jayln threw up, her whole body shaking as she sobbed. She had waited until she was sure he was out of earshot before she moved to even lower her shirt.

    Oh gods, what had she done? She''d tried to make a deal with the devil was what she''d done¡ªand she''d had the audacity to be surprised when he betrayed her.

    She''d always prided herself in her cool head, her ability to read people and their intentions. Jayln had been so sure Fenrin had been serious. She''d been worried when they left, half expecting him to take his revenge, slaying her and going for more men. It would have made sense, after all she had kept him imprisoned for a month and killed his people. But when he hadn''t attacked immediately, she''d taken it as a sign she''d been right.

    Fenrin had taken her down so easily. Even after a month of imprisonment, he''d been stronger and faster. Her victory over his men before had made her cocky. She should have remembered the shock on his face when he''d realized he¡¯d been defeated. It had been surprise and good planning that had beaten Fenrin, brute force was his.

    Jayln fixed her clothing, hands shaking. She''d never felt so helpless before.

    Na?ve. Last time he''d called her that, she''d denied it adamantly. Now, she saw his point. There was darkness she had never seen. Fenrin had evaded all her planning with a simple sentence. He didn''t need this alliance, he didn''t need compliance or permission, he could take what he wanted.

    Then why did he stop?Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Jayln glanced over to his sword, still lying abandoned in the dirt. The strange fascination she felt when thinking about the man returned. She didn''t believe there was anyone who was born evil. Only people who chose wrong due to greed or circumstance. She had a feeling for Fenrin, it was mainly the latter. It was why she had decided to try to trust him. Na?ve.

    She''d survived and was unharmed. She could go back to her village, gather her people and hunt him down like a dog. But that wouldn''t solve the bigger problem.

    And...he''d stopped. Why?

    Did it matter? Was she willing to stand by his side, to try to make a man out the monster after what he''d just done?

    It did matter.

    It meant that there was more to him than a bloodstained past, a messed up family, and animal instincts. He''d claimed that taking what he wanted when he wanted it was his creed, but he''d just denied that.

    Plus she needed him. She realized that now more than ever. If she had underestimated his depravity and his sister was bad enough to make Fenrin disgusted, Jayln and her people didn''t stand a chance once the queen turned her eye to the north.

    "Dad was right," she whispered recalling her father''s parting words.

    "This will be the hardest thing you''ve ever done, Jay, don''t forget why you''re doing it."

    She''d seen the fear in his eyes when he''d let her go. He''d just lost his beloved wife and he suspected he was about to lose her too. The only thing that came close to her father¡¯s love for his family was his love for their village and their way of life. That''s what she was here to protect and not even Fenrin the Wolf would stop her.

    He didn''t deserve any of her efforts, but, for now, she needed him. She clenched her fists and stood up. With steady hands, she grabbed her pack, sheathed her sword, and shoved Fenrin''s through the bag''s front strap securing it there before slinging onto her back.

    She had a man to find.

 15. Bent Trust

    She was loud. Fenrin wondered for the fiftieth time how she''d managed to surprise his men. He watched from the treetops as Jayln made her way through the brush. She wasn''t going back to the village and he didn''t think she was dumb enough to get lost¡ªshe had to be looking for him.

    He knew he should be glad that she was dumb enough to trust him again, instead he was strangely unnerved.

    There you are, second chance to get what you want.

    He frowned, that inner voice was the feral one, eager to show its strength and follow through this time. Fenrin needed to talk to her, but he''d expected to have to beat her to the village. He was taken aback that she was looking for him.

    Finally, he made the decision and dropped to the forest floor behind her with a dull thud. She spun round, fists up. He didn''t get any closer, just asked, "Can I have my sword back?"Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    She reached behind her, slowly slipping the sword out of the straps, never taking her eyes off him. Those green eyes were deep in thought, but she didn''t hesitate to toss the sword at him. He lunged and caught it gracefully before it hit the ground. With a flourish, he spun it and sheathed it.

    "To Taka then." He turned and began to walk.

    "No."

    Fenrin didn''t stop, but he slowed. Jayln took a deep breath. "Not until you promise me it won''t happen again. Not to me or anyone else."

    He didn''t turn. "Promises are just words."

    "Say it anyway."

    Jayln watched his back as, finally, he stopped. She peered at the back of his head, trying to guess at what he was thinking. After a long enough pause that Jayln began to wonder if she should repeat herself, Fenrin rolled his shoulders and waved a hand nonchalantly. "I promise."

    He resumed walking and Jayln followed. Even if it was just words, she had to believe words could matter. Although, she did sleep with a dagger for the next two months.

 16. A Ship

    Taka was bustling and Jayln stayed close to Fenrin. This many people all together made her nervous, but the masses seemed to instinctively steer clear of Fenrin.

    "So, what''s the plan?" she asked.

    Fenrin shrugged. "Find a ship. Board it." He turned and headed down a hill. "Let''s see...dock should be coming into view. What are the options, hmm?"

    Sure enough, the tall masts of ships started poking up from the curve of the hill and suddenly the whole harbor was sprawled out below them. Twenty ships at least filled the docks. Fenrin scanned them and swore, nose wrinkled in disgust.

    "What?" Jayln asked.

    "Of all the damned luck." A thought struck Fenrin and he scratched his jaw. "Actually...I have an idea." His wolfish grin returned and Jayln raised an eyebrow. Fenrin moved forward, his long loping strides punctuated by merry whistling.

    As they reached the main docks, Fenrin made his way purposefully to the east end. The ship docked there was a large three masted vessel with a huge bear emerging claws outstretched from her helm. Jayln watched as Fenrin casually kept glancing at the boat while pretending to eye some fish for sale. Clearly it was a family vessel.

    She stepped closer and said softly, "So that''s our ship? Convenient."

    Fenrin snorted. "Maybe. Give me some money."

    "What?"

    "I''m hungry."

    Reluctantly, Jayln pulled out her wallet and handed Fenrin a few coins that he used to buy a fried fish which he tore at hungrily. Jayln went ahead and bought one as well. The two meandered around the docks for a while, Jayln following Fenrin closely, who for all the world seemed like a happy tourist, if not for the general dangerous aura around him. Even the sailors stayed clear, giving him the stink eye when he flashed them a grin.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    Fenrin turned suddenly, looking towards a large ship painted with the Imperial seal. A military vessel.

    "Found you," he muttered.

    "A navy ship?"

    He glanced over at her. "What, no, you idiot. Not the ship, that captain. To your left¡ªlean Duskar fellow with the feathers."

    Jayln feigned a yawn and took a peek to the side. Sure enough, there was a shady looking Duskar with colored feathers in his twisted braids. His appearance screamed pirate, but so did half the men on the dock. He was chatting with a scantily dressed woman.

    Clearly Fenrin didn''t want the man to notice them, so Jayln quickly looked away and joined Fenrin staring at the imperial boat for a while longer, feigning interest until Fenrin turned and sauntered back the way they came.

    "Well?" Jayln asked, getting tired of following blindly. "You clearly have a plan, care to let me in on it."

    "Sure, but first some shopping."

    "Shopping? I brought everything we could possible need, food, clothes, weapons, I even have medicine and¡ª"

    "Yeah, yeah. Real nice, but right now you stick out like the country bumpkin you are."

    Jayln looked down at herself. She was wearing her cream shirt with a green jerkin that split at her hips and went to her mid thighs. Her pants were brown and her leather boots reached her knees. Suitable travelling clothes.

    She glanced around. The women here were either in dresses¡ªmostly revealing ones¡ªor wearing clothes with flair and jewelry, showing off decorative tattoos or body piercings. Next to them, she did seem a bit plain and earthy.

    Fenrin clucked his tongue as he made his way back up the hill and down a side road until he stopped at a store. "Wait here, and give me what money you''ve got."

    "But don''t you think¡ª"

    "That''s an order."

    Her eyes narrowed, but since he clearly had a plan, she gave him what she had. He eyed the money, eyebrow raised. "This it?"

    She bristled. "We''re a small village. That''s quite a lot to us."

    Fenrin snorted again and tucked the wallet in his shirt before opening the door and disappearing down a narrow set of stairs. Jayln glanced up at the sign. Riley''s Used Goods. That was it. No window display or anything. Seedy, definitely seedy.

 17. Blending In

    "I need two pick kits, two bottles of grog, your best perfume, and some devil''s whiskey."

    The shopkeeper, a small unkempt man with thinning greasy hair, nodded until the last item. Hearing it, he stiffened. "We don''t sell that here."

    "Sure you don''t, mate. Not to regular folk." Fenrin winked and pulled off his coat, lying it on the counter. "I also need to see your wardrobe collection." He pulled off his shirt, revealing the intricate pattern of tattoos that wove up from his elbows transforming at the shoulders in a bear on the right and a wolf on the left. Riley''s eyes grew wide and then he shrugged.

    "Clothes are through there." He pointed to a curtained doorway before entering the backroom to collect the requested items.

    Fenrin rolled his shoulders. He may not want to be the Bear¡¯s son or live under his shadow, but he wasn''t above nepotism. He¡¯d contributed to the reputation after all.

    Although, this meant the already slim chance he''d make it through Taka without Lyra finding out was gone. He pushed that thought aside. What would she care anyway? With his plan, she''d assume it was about the ship.

    After he had browsed the selection and chosen some items, Riley returned with two small wooden boxes and three bottles. "Find what you needed?" he asked and Fenrin grabbed the pile of clothes and followed the man to the counter dropping them there for Riley to tally.

    "Fifteen and two for the lot."

    Fenrin slapped the rest of Jayln''s coin to the counter. The five gold and seven silver clinking pathetically. "This is what I got right now. You''ll take it and be glad." The man looked ready to argue but Fenrin leaned in, his eyes dangerous and wild. "Or you can turn me away and be dead."

    The man wavered, on the fence about standing his ground. He wasn''t new to dangerous customers afterall. Fenrin straightened. "Besides, think of it as an investment. I haven''t been to Taka in a long time, I need to pick some regular establishments."

    The man shook his head but gave in, reaching for the clothes to bag them. Fenrin grabbed them first. "Don''t bother, they''re for immediate use. Riley, correct?"

    "Yes, sir, Riley of Riley''s Used Goods."

    "Well, Riley, you have the thanks of Fenrin the Wolf. Feel free to advertise I was here, but I would warn you not to mention it for at least..." He did some quick calculations. "...six weeks."

    Fenrin piled the clothes over one arm, tucking the boxes between them and his chest. The smaller bottle he carefully tucked in his shirt, holding the other two with his free hand. As soon as he emerged from the shop, he dumped the clothes into the unexpecting Jayln''s arms.

    "What the¡ª"

    "Hold those." Fenrin unstopped one bottle of rum and took a long draft, shook his head, and grinned. "Alright, let''s find a room."

    Jayln juggled the clothes and they started slipping off her arms. She cursed as Fenrin took off, whistling again. He stopped at a tavern. The Pale Siren. It was near the end of the docks, men already stumbling around drunk although it was still barely afternoon. Fenrin strode in and Jayln followed after awkwardly with her pack and armful of clothes.

    Fenrin rapped the counter and a waifish girl floated over. "Yessir?"

    "A room, end of a hall if possible¡ªand check for bugs first." The girl nodded holding out a hand for payment.

    "Sorry, love, got to talk to the big man first."

    The girl''s large watery eyes quickly grew sharp and she turned on her heel. "No room until payment. I''ll get the boss."

    Fenrin sat on a stool, continuing his whistling and Jayln climbed awkwardly onto one herself.

    The girl returned with an older man, balding with leathery skin whose bare arms flexed with powerful muscle. He crossed those arms and walked up to Fenrin, the waifish girl poking her head out from behind his broad back.

    "You the one given¡¯ my Annabeth a hard time?"

    Fenrin grinned and leaned forward. "Wouldn''t dream of it. Just needed to see you and give my payment personally." He pulled out the small bottle and placed it gently on the counter. "This''ll cover the room and food for two days, I''m sure, then I was hoping you could help me with your neighbor."

    The man eyed the bottle. "We don''t¡ª"

    Fenrin''s grin vanished and his eyes narrowed. "Don''t insult me. The Pale Siren? The title doesn''t refer to the little ghostess there. Any addict knows what this place serves."

    The man reached out and took the bottle. He uncorked it and gave it a sniff before passing it to Annabeth who scurried off to the back.

    "Alright. One room. Two days."

    "And the lady?"

    Jayln looked up, what about her?Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    "I''ll talk to the Madame. Any preference?"

    "Very much. Dark hair, tattoo of peacock feathers on her arm."

    That rang a bell. The man they''d watched at the dock had been talking to a woman with that tattoo.

    "You''re very specific for a man I haven''t seen around here."

    Fenrin shrugged. "I saw and I wanted."

    The barkeep nodded, turned, and left. Fenrin stood up, motioning for Jayln to follow. She huffed and got up carefully a dangling shirt sleeve threatening to trip her. The two went up the stairs and down a narrow hall to the last room. It had a small window looked out to an alley and one bed with single chest at the end of it.

    "Alright, I''ll get our meal. You change into something a bit more...exciting then meet me downstairs." Fenrin turned but added before leaving, "And be careful not to talk to anyone. There are quite a few people here I''d like to avoid."

    Jayln dropped the clothes on the bed and started picking through it skeptically. She was more than a bit worried about Fenrin''s choices and his phrase ¡®exciting¡¯. If exciting meant like the peacock woman, she would have words.

    To her pleasant surprise, nothing was too risque. There was a black shir, embroidered with black waves with a hole cut in the front that dived much to deeply for Jayln''s liking, but besides that, the clothes she figured were intended for her included a few pairs of dark colored pants, a red sash, some chains and beaded strings, and a large black coat which fit her perfectly.

    She cinched the coat at her waist with a buckle and it flared out at the bottom. The polished brass buckle also was large and dramatic. As she looked down at herself she had to admit she liked the coat quite a bit. She kept her cream shirt, a bit more loose without her green jerkin, dangled a few chains and beads over her neck, and tied the sash around her waist below her coat belt. She bundled up the rest of the clothes and jewelry and stuffed them in the chest. Leaving the clothes much too large for her and clearly for her companion.

    Descending the rickety stairs, she found Fenrin in a corner tearing into some bread and soup. A bowl and plate sat opposite him and Jayln sat down to eat. He eyed her with his speckled grey eyes and nodded approvingly.

    "Not perfect, but it''ll do."

    "So what''s the plan?" she whispered and reached for her drink. It was ale, but not good ale, a bit sour and she made a face. Fenrin ignored it.

    "Hmmm, still calculating. But short term, we''re going to steal a ship."

    Jayln nearly choked on her food. She clenched the table. "What?"

    "Don''t worry, the authorities won''t get involved, it''s a bit of a personal matter. We''re short on resources and there''s one key piece we need. It''s going to be difficult and I need you to stay out of my way. As the sun starts to set I want you to walk around the city."

    He waved a chuck of bread at her. "I don''t care where you go, just don''t be here. Don''t go anywhere stupid, though, and if anyone tries to give you trouble, lead them to an alley and take them out there. I don''t want to alert any authorities because you ripped the arm of some drunk sailor. Also, stay away from the children, even without money, you make an easy target."

    Jayln frowned. She didn''t like it but Fenrin seemed calm and collected. Without a plan of her own she swallowed her objections but said, "Just remember our deal."

    Fenrin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, just do your part and follow my orders."

    After a moment of silence, Fenrin clanked his empty soup bowl down and leaned back. "By the way, have you ever been at sea?"

    "No, I haven''t."

    "Of course not." Fenrin sighed and waved his bowl in the air. "Hey, siren!"

    Annabeth floated over and took the dish, her eyes like daggers. Her dress was thin and pale and now she was out from behind the dark counter, Jayln saw that she was actually quite pretty. Also a lot older than she''d seemed at first. Probably eighteen or nineteen.

    "A paper and something to write with. Also you sing, right?"

    "Only for those who pay my fee, sir."

    "Ah well, then no siren song tonight but put the paper on my tab."

    The girl walked off but Fenrin''s words had been loud enough that when she came back, one of the men at the bar tossed her a coin and slurred out, "Sing meh a song, my beauty!"

    She dropped the paper and a stick of charcoal on Fenrin¡¯s table unceremoniously beforing walking to the cold fireplace. She stepped up to a small platform there and began to sing.

    Her voice was airy and light. Her notes long and wistful. It had no words and was almost more like chanting. In front of the dark fireplace, her paleness seemed to almost glow. It was all a trick of the ambience, but Jayln was impressed by the whole set up. The Pale Siren indeed.

    "Alright, here''s a rough layout. I hope you''re a quick learner."

    Jayln¡¯s attention shot back to Fenryn who had quickly sketched out a ship. Fast as a galloping horse, he started naming off the parts of the vessel, their function, what sail went where and soon Jayln was frantically trying to absorb it all. A few minutes in, she grabbed the pencil and started jotting down notes around the drawing, soon having to flip it and use the back.

    "You got it?"

    "I think so. I''ll go over it until I do."

    "Good, because seamen don''t much like useless people. You''ve got two days to know enough to at least fake your way around."

    Fenrin glanced out the window. The sun was dipping low and more people were starting to trickle into the bar. "You''d better go. Remember, don''t talk to anyone."

    "Right." Jayln stood and walked out. The streets were quickly getting dark, buildings casting long shadows that were banished only by the few streetlights.

    One building, however, was well lit and Jayln hadn''t much noticed it before. It was directly across the street from the tavern and had undergone a dramatic transformation. The lamplight made what had seemed like dull cloth in the sunlight stand out in the gray darkness. Colors splashed across the wooden and stone structure. Colored lanterns were placed eye-catchingly across the building front.

    It didn''t take a scholar to realize what kind of house it was. There were ladies leaning out the windows and standing outside the door. Swaying and smiling, their painted faces inviting the onlookers inside. As men came up, they would laugh and press themselves into their sides, pulling them in. A large shirtless man with a single gold earring stood by the door, eyeing each customer the ladies brought in.

    Jayln walked past quickly but glanced back when she got to the end of the street. She saw the dark haired lady in her purple dress, the silk flickering the candlelight, walk across to The Pale Siren. She wondered what Fenrin planned exactly.

    ¡°He better not be just another customer,¡± she thought darkly. There must be some secret code, like the thieves guilds rumored to lie under every city.

    Jayln put the thought of the peacock lady out of her mind and walked around. She found a curved street that ended with a nice overlook of the dock and in the sunset, tried to identify all the parts of the ships docked there. She had her own work to do.

 18. Maurya

    Fenrin knew when the lady had walked in without looking. The whole air of the tavern changed. The men''s attentions were drawn to her like a moth to a flame. He turned and grinned.

    She was even more beautiful up close. Her eyes were dark and painted with kohl. Her dark hair rippled in gentle curls down her bare back like a waterfall, and her silk dress draped perfectly at every curve and left much of her smooth skin open to admiration.

    The woman walked with graceful steps to the counter, ignoring the stares, the movement of her hips making the silk ripple. The barkeep showed her a few gold coins¡ªwhat he''d earned from the devil''s whisky he''d sold to some gentlemen who were in a daze at the fireplace as Annabeth worked her pale magic. Following the barkeep¡¯s gaze to Fenrin, who lounged in a chair pretending to watch the siren''s show, the woman frowned.

    Fenrin had changed, of course, now wearing a clean shirt loose in the sleeves and a tight leather vest the same dark brown as his hair which he¡¯d tied back with a matching leather cord. He met the woman''s eyes and gave her his signature grin, which made her raise an eyebrow curiously and give a smile back. She said something to the barkeep and he put the money away.

    With a graceful pivot, she walked up the stairs and Fenrin followed. When he got to the room, she was standing by the small window looking out it, hair pulled over one shoulder so he could see her whole back.

    The tattoo was impressive. The peacock feathers were colored and flared from beneath her dress, blooming from her right side and crossed the spine between her shoulder blades, the tallest three wrapping over her left shoulder. Their artistry invited a closer look and one couldn''t help but wonder how far down the feathers ended.

    "My fee is usually higher."

    "I''m sure, but you also have plenty of gold. You''re not here for the money."

    She turned and eyed Fenrin again, "Who are you?"

    He strode forward and stopped inches from her. She didn''t move. Staring down at her, he tucked a dark curl behind her ear. "I am the Wolf."

    "Wolf?"

    "It''s beautiful," he remarked, tracing the feather that folded over the shoulder. He pulled back his collar so the dark ink of his own skin decoration could be seen. "Shall we see if they compare?"

    She smiled and Fenrin removed his vest. He stepped closer to the woman and her hand deftly unbuttoned his shirt and threw it off to reveal the geometric patterns from bear and wolf, forever ready to tear each other apart. She ran her hand over them pausing at the bear.

    He leaned forward and kissed her, his hand buried in her hair. His other reached back and unclasped her dress and it slithered out from between them. Her warm breasts pressed against him and she curved, wrapping her arms around his neck.

    His tongue slipped into her mouth and she pressed herself harder against him. Smiling under his lips, she pulled back, spinning in the dying sunlight. Her feathers continued down, wrapping around her upper thigh and transforming into an iridescent peacock, whose graceful head ended on her calf. She laid on the bed, twisting so the main feather and peacock could be seen at once.

    As he admired the tattoo, he kicked off his boots and pants, kneeling on the bed. He started at her foot and slid his hands up to the peacock face, kissing it gently and following its neck with his lips. The women sighed. He went up her stomach to her breast and then raised his head to meet her eyes. Fenrin flashed his teeth and his gentle hands became rougher as he pulled her up to him. She stretched her neck up and bit his shoulder.

    With practiced method, she turned him until he was on his back. She situated herself above him, her long dark hair falling like a curtain over them as she moved herself. They both panted and soon Fenrin ripped her down, spinning again to press himself on top of her. Her hands clenched his arms and she kissed his hands.

    Once Fenrin was done, she took over, the knowledge of her profession elongating the experience as much as possible for both of them. Until at last, exhausted, they both lay on the bed, the women, curled against Fenrin¡¯s side.

    "A Wolf indeed. I have heard of you, Fenrin."If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "I would be disappointed if you hadn''t."

    "Why are you here?"

    "I''m looking for a ship and I think we both know which one I''m going to get."

    She sat up quickly, her eyes flashing dangerously. "That ship is not to be trifled with. Nor is its captain."

    Fenrin smiled and took her hands. He pulled her down and leaned over her, kissing her neck and whispering in her ear, "I''m counting on it. That''s why I picked you. I need your help."

    She went to move her hands, but he held them above her head. "Let go of me."

    "It is my ship by right and I''m going to take it. However, the captain needs to be out of the way. I want you to keep him occupied while I organize a mutiny."

    She laughed. "Jaired may be old, but he''s not weak."

    "His power may be great, but it''s foundation is borrowed."

    Her eyes drifted to the bear on his chest.

    Fenrin grinned. "Mine''s bigger." He released her hands but she didn''t move. "His men will follow me, or enough of them anyway. I just need time to talk to them without their captain."

    "And what''s in it for me?"

    He ran his hand down the inside of her thighs and smiled. She snorted. "Please, you think I would do something this dangerous for the sex?"

    "No, you''ll do it for the same reason you do anything for Jaired¡ªyou love power. To be able to make a powerful man melt beneath your touch, to be able to use that power on a whim, to have a protector whose mere name keeps enemies far from your door. I''m not underestimating you. You knew exactly who I was and what I wanted when you walked in. You noticed me back at the dock and yet said nothing to Jaired. It''s been a long time since you''ve taken commissions. If you weren''t curious you wouldn''t have come."

    The woman smiled and reached up, tangling her hands in Fenrin''s hair thoughtfully. "It''s not often I''m not underestimated."

    "I''m no stranger to dangerous women."

    Fenrin leaned back as she sat up, her face was inches from his, her arms slipping around his neck. She studied his face closely and grinned slyly. "I''m sure you''re not." Kissing him once more deeply, she then pulled her legs out from under him, dangling them off the bed. "I''ll have conditions."

    "As will I."

    She leaned down and grabbed her dress, stood, and clasped it back on. "Give me one more day to prepare and then tomorrow night I''ll keep Jaired from his ship. Condition one is you take me with you."

    "I can''t do that."

    Her red lips narrowed. "Then we are done."

    "I can''t take you with me this time. But I can send for you after." He lounged back on the bed.

    "So you''ll leave me with an angry and betrayed Jaired."

    "I have a safe place you can stay, but you won''t like it."

    "Why won''t you take me with you?"

    He closed his eyes and smiled. "You''re too dangerous. I like to minimize variables."

    She combed her fingers through her hair. "Alright, but how do you know Jaired won''t find this place...and why won''t I like it."

    "It''s a tiny village, hard to find. And even if he did find it, he wouldn''t be able to defeat the guards there, trust me. As for you not liking it, well, let''s just say they don''t much like our type. I would recommend that while there you just stay low. They''ll treat you well and be insufferably kind I''m sure but don''t poke your nose anywhere or try anything."

    "Are they monks?"

    He laughed. "Practically. Anyway, point is you''ll be safe. Now my condition is that you behave while there. What''s your next one?"

    "After you get me out of here, I want an in to Astrix."

    Fenrin sat up, his eyebrows furrowing. "The capital? You want to play with Imperials?"

    She grinned. "Very much. I''ve done what I can here but the fence around the Taka underworld is tight and I''ve been confined in it too long. I want to see how high I can go."

    Fenrin laughed and ran his hand through his own hair. "You are dangerous. Well, I can''t guarantee something right away but I promise to look and to at least get you there." He laughed again, "Damn, women and their ambitions. Then my second condition is that whatever level you get to, you promise to stay out of my way. I have no plans for empire toppling,but I don''t want to end up under the scrutiny of the empire¡¯s forces."

    The woman looked at him with thought, her face surprised. She had expected him to mock her goals. Instead, he had planned for the situation where she achieved them all. "I like you, Fenrin the Wolf. I think we''ll work nicely together. I accept your deal, may we both reach our goals."

    He cocked his head. "Well, before you leave, you should tell me your name."

    "Here I''m called Dana, but after this, I''ll need a new name. So you can call me Maurya."

    "Pleasure doing business with you, Maurya."

    She left and Fenrin laid back down.

    That went well, very well.

 19. Considerations

    Jayln yawned, it had been hours. Whatever Fenrin was doing¡ªshe tried not to dwell on that¡ªhe should be done by now. She wasn''t waiting out here all night, especially since she was sure somebody was watching her from the shadows. Whoever it was never approached and she made it back to The Pale Siren without incident.

    As she walked back into the tavern, she turned to talk to Annabeth who was wiping down the counter. "Excuse me, did the peacock lady leave?"

    Annabeth looked at her curiously. "Yes, she did." She opened her mouth to say something else, but thought better of it and just returned her attention to the dirty rag in her hand. Jayln went upstairs.

    When she opened the door, Fenrin was lounging on the bed eye¡¯s closed, his shirt and boots were on the floor but at least he had his pants on. She wrinkled her nose, the small damp room still had the lingering smell of sweat and sex. She opened the small window. The cold night air drifted in and Fenrin opened his eyes with a growl.

    She turned to him, arms crossed. "Now, tell me your plan."

    "I don''t suppose you''d just let me sleep and tell you tomorrow?"

    "No."

    He sighed but sat up. "It''s pretty simple. Maurya, the woman we saw with the captain, will keep him occupied tomorrow evening while we sneak onto the ship and talk to the crew. I convince them to mutiny and we sail off leaving the former Captain Jaired behind."

    "And her price?"

    "Hmm?"

    "Maurya. I doubt she''ll help us free of charge and we are out of money."

    Fenrin laid back down a sly smile on his lips. "Oh, we came to an agreement."

    Jayln''s fists balled up. "Did you threaten her?"

    "What? No, that wouldn''t work on her type. We just cut a deal, she helps us and we protect her and give her a lift in the future."

    "How are we going to protect her if we are sailing off tomorrow?"Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    "Oh, right. I need you to write a letter to your father."

    "What does my father have to do with this? Sit up and talk to me, Fenrin, I''m tired of not knowing what''s going on." Jayln said letting her exasperation escape in her voice.

    He sat up and grinned. "Well, that took less time than I''d thought, but you''re going to have to learn to handle not knowing everything. We aren''t in your little village anymore. And," he pointed an accusing finger at her, "I told you that you were na?ve. Don''t get mad at me because you can''t keep up."

    "I''m here so that we can learn to trust each other, but all you''ve done is ordered me around and made secret plans."

    Fenrin growled. "I told you what you needed to know. There was no point in laying out before I was sure Maurya would help."

    "I''m trying to be your ally here, not one of your men. Every part of the plan needs to be run by me if we are going to do this together."

    He stood up and stepped towards her. "Fine, then let me lay it out for you so your simple village head can understand! I saw the ship that my father and I used during our pirating days. I saw the captain talking to a woman I knew had to be his favorite prostitute. A woman like that has a few key clients. I knew she''d be intrigued by a new face and I needed someone Jaired trusted to keep him away while I used my father''s blasted name to get the ship."

    He slowed, acting as if he were explaining to a child. "So I paid her to come over, we had wild sex then cut a deal. She''ll use her charms to hold Jaired, then slip off to your village to hide out until we can come get her and bring her to the Solis capital as her fee. Meanwhile, we get on the boat, start our mutiny, crack a few heads that are stupid enough to disagree, and sail off to the far edge of the mountains. Try to keep up."

    She nodded and yawned. "Was that so bad? Alright, I''ll write the letter. Give me your cloak so I can lay out a bed. There''s no way I''m sleeping up there with you."

    Fenrin frowned, his condescending tirade not quite having the effect he''d intended, though what effect that was even he wasn''t sure. He finally just grumbled, picking up his shirt and tossing Jayln his and her cloaks.

    She laid down on them, folding her coat into a pillow and closed her eyes. Fenrin laid back on the bed, a strange mix of feelings in his stomach. He should be mad, wanting nothing more than to put Jayln in her place, but he almost felt a sort of pride. She had instantly approved of his plan and immediately did her part. It was so straightforward.

    He closed his eyes, considering the quiet cogs that were surely spinning underneath Taka''s surface. Lyra''s precious Thieves Guild was probably on full alert, not sure whether to approach him or leave him be. Either way, Lyra would know where he was by tomorrow. Another day for any messenger rat to make its way back and he''d be cutting it close if she decided to stop him. He glanced down at Jayln''s back. He would have no trouble with the guild unless Ly came herself, Jayln on the other hand...

    The woman in question shifted and he turned to look back at the ceiling. What did it matter? If she got swiped by the rats, it''d just go to prove she wasn''t worth it. He closed his eyes.

 20. The Plan

    Fenrin''s dream of dark-eyed dancing peacocks was interrupted when Jayln tossed his shirt on his face. "Wake up, we''ve got to get some more paper for the letter. Also, you should probably tell me more about the sailors we''ll be negotiating with."

    Over breakfast, he told Jayln what he knew of the men. "They''ll probably be about half and half. Half loyal to the Bear Jaired sails under, half to the man himself. But if Jaired still runs things like he used to, most his toadies only follow him because he''s the smartest and the strongest. They''ll all be tough¡ª the weak don''t survive on that ship."

    Jayln tapped her lips thoughtfully. "Rule of the strongest, huh?"

    "Yes, so the plan is I declare who I am, get the first half, then find the strongest of Jaired''s boys and call him out and take him down. The others will follow out of fear or attack and we beat them off the ship. We sail immediately before anyone has time to try to get backup or send word to Jaired."

    "How do you know they won''t all just attack you at once? Do they have some sort of code of honor?"The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Fenrin laughed. "Hells, no. They might attack all at once if the fight''s not interesting enough. If that happens, I just have to beat them all."

    "You said they were tough. You sure you could take half of them at once?"

    He grinned widely. "We''ll find out."

    Jayln answered with a frown. "Maybe. What if I challenge instead? Most likely they''ll laugh or at least be interested. I can quickly incapacitate the leader and in the moment after, you can turn your attention to whoever would next cause trouble."

    Fenrin opened his mouth, but then rubbed his chin. It was a sound plan. "You sure you can win?"

    She snorted. "I beat you, didn''t I?"

    "From afar, with a bow, and the element of surprise. Not to mention your own posse of jitsu fighters."

    "Yes, the element of surprise really stole your ambush''s thunder." She rolled her eyes. "Don''t be a sore loser. And yes, I''m sure I can win."

    "It''s a plan then. We head to the docks as the sun begins to set. Here''s how we get on the ship..."

 21. Mutiny

    Quietly, they watched as Jaired left the ship, his walk just slightly unsteady on his way to his lady love. Jayln whispered, "Is he the only one off the ship?"

    "Doubt it, but they would never leave too few men to sail in case a quick getaway was needed."

    They waited about half an hour before creeping closer. Jayln whispered again, "You sure this secret hatch is still there."

    "No. Shut up and follow closely."

    They moved until they were under the grizzly figurehead. The guard was on the landing plank and couldn''t see where they were. Jayln stepped out and pulled the grappling hook and rope from her bag. With careful aim, she tossed it at the almost invisible hook disguised in the wooden neck fur of the bear. It held.

    She nodded at Fenrin. Alright, here goes!

    Jayln jumped from the dock, swinging and landed with a thump against the ship. She waited, frozen, to see if the guard would investigate. After a moment of quiet, she began to climb.

    When she reached the top, she took a moment to pant. The figurehead was further up than she''d thought. Carefully, she hoisted herself onto the hook and looked for the handholds Fenrin had described. Sure enough, metal handles had been bolted to the bear, hidden by the carving.

    She swung her way up the handles to the bow of the ship, her fingers numb with effort and cold. Again as described, there was a plank of wood jutting out from the bow, with another handle she could cling to. Blindly she ran her hands over the side, searching for the hatch. She was just beginning to panic that the pirates had sealed up their secret door when her nails caught the edge. Reaching for her knife, slowly so she wouldn¡¯t lose her grip and plunge into the cold ocean, she jammed it in the crack, levering the well stuck hatch open.

    Victorious, Jayln waved to Fenrin who shouldered her abandoned pack and his own and slipped into the water to swim to the dangling rope. Jayln entered the ship.

    It was even darker in here than out in the night. She felt around, touching a number of barrels and crates whose dark shapes slowly appeared as her eyes adjusted. From the hatch she heard the puffs and grunts of Fenrin''s ascent. Sticking her head out, she took the packs from him as he dropped in from the opening. She stood silently impressed as he sat panting, recovering from the climb he¡¯d made weighed down by the packs and saltwater.

    "Al-alright, we''re in the far end of the upper hold." Fenrin coughed reaching to close the hatch. With a groan he stood up and stretched his arms. "We need to make our ways to the stairs and then we can emerge dramatically to announce the ship under new management."

    "This is never going to work," Jayln muttered nervously. It had sounded so logical at the tavern. But sneaking onto a ship and just declaring yourself captain? There was no way.

    Fenrin slapped her shoulder. "Get ready."

    She took a deep breath and followed the wet but grinning man through the darkness. Finally the yellow light of a lantern illuminated a set of stairs and a man carrying two mugs making his way up them.

    "I''m coming, don''t start the round yet," he shouted and some jovial voices responded unintelligibly.

    Fenrin and Jayln walked to the bottom of the stairs, abandoning the packs behind a barrel. The stars sparkled through the opening and Jayln tried to unfreeze her nervous heart. Fenrin rolled his shoulder and gave her his most wolfish grin.

    "Show time," he said and bounded up the steps. "Ahoy, mateys! I''m here to announce this ship under new management!"

    Jayln slunk up behind him, her face neutral. A group of six men were playing cards at a table, the man with the mugs hadn''t even sat down yet. A seventh man was coiling rope at the edge of the boat. Jayln knew from her studies there would be another man behind and above them at the helm¡ªand of course the guard on the plank.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    The men playing cards looked up surprised, the one with the drinks dropped them and drew a sword. Jayln''s eyes flicked over each threat trying to calculate who would take charge. She knew Fenrin was doing the same as he stepped forward, swaggering.

    One of the men slowly laid down his cards and stood up. He was a big man with a large crooked nose and scars criss-crossing his face. Steadily, he stared at Fenrin and Jayln before lifting a heavy knife off the table and running his finger up the edge thoughtfully.

    "Is that so? I might be having something to say about that."

    Fenrin kept walking towards the man, seemingly not paying attention to the pirate with his sword drawn. The other crewmen let out a chuckle. Fenrin the Wolf turned to the swordsman at the last minute and, in a burst of movement, grabbed the man''s wrist, twisted the blade free, slammed his elbow against the man''s face, and caught the sword as it fell. He twirled it and after a quick examination, threw it to the side with a look of haughty disgust.

    He unbuttoned his shirt and opened it enough to reveal the rearing bear. "There''s really nothing to say. This ship is mine by right and we sail out immediately."

    The mood instantly changed, the men all shooting each other side glances. Before they had been laid back, eager to watch some bloody showdown, now a few were twitchy. The scarred man''s eyes narrowed and he made his way around the table.

    "You the Wolf?"

    Fenrin rolled his eyes and gave a mock bow. "My reputation precedes me. Although..." his voice grew sharp, "apparently not my authority."

    He pointed at the man who had been coiling rope near the edge of the ship. "You there, raise the boarding plank and the anchor, we''re leaving."

    The man jumped up and started to obey but the scarred man flung the dagger into his back. He crumpled to the ground with a gasp.

    "Wolf or no, this is our ship and I''m not about to turn it over to some swaggering fool without a fight."

    He reached out his hand and one of his card buddies quickly placed a sword in it. Fenrin buttoned his shirt back up slowly. "Before, you do whatever it is you''re planning to do. May I ask if you are the first mate?"

    "Indeed I am. Jordin''s me name. Though generally I''m known as the Carver." Jordin grinned wickedly, revealing a number of gold teeth

    "I''m not impressed." Fenrin crossed his arms and glanced around. "This ship used to have standards. You''re not worth my time¡ªI think my lady friend here can take you by herself." He glanced around and gave the rest of the present crew a wolfish grin. "Boys, the betting is open."

    There were some laughs and the Carver''s jaw tightened. Jayln sighed and took off her coat before stepping up to the huge man. He looked her over and growled. "You insult¡ª"

    His words were cut off when Laylyn moved up and roundhouse kicked him in the jaw. Bottles crashed to the deck, shattering as he staggered back into the table. There was a laugh from the one of the other men and Jordin glared.

    "I''ve carve out your liver for that, bitch!" he shouted, spittle and blood flicking from his mouth as he charged her. Nimbly she stepped aside and slid her leg between his, grabbing his arm and using his momentum to send him crashing to the floor. He swiped at her leg with his blade but she lunged and placed her hands on his back, using him as a springboard and cartwheeling out of the way.

    Jordin heaved himself up and approached more cautiously. Wisely he used the length of the blade to his advantage, pushing her backwards towards the edge of the ship. Jayln suddenly stopped backing up and moved forward, pushing his sword arm wide.

    The Carver tried to reach for her throat with his free hand, but she knocked it aside. Jordin''s eyes widened at the pain her small jab to his pressure point gave and he was caught by surprise as she spun her elbow into his jaw. There was a crack and the Carver spat more blood onto the deck as he staggered backwards into the railing.

    Jayln gave no time to recover, she kicked his knee sideways sending him to the floor howling over the crack of bone. Bending down, she dug her fingers into the soft flesh of his underarm with one hand and slapping the sword out of his arm with the other so it clattered to the floor.

    He tried to twist around, but Jayln planted a foot on his back, grabbed his sword arm with both hands and pulled, popping the shoulder out of place. His howl of pain was abruptly cut off as Jayln extended a knuckle and drove it into his temple before dropping the unconscious man.

    The ship was quiet for a moment. Fenrin walked towards Jordin''s body and gestured to the boarding plank. "Don''t make me ask again. Raise anchor, we''re leaving."

    The men eyed each other and then one shrugged, drank the rest of his rum and went to raise the plank. He shouted down to the guard who ran up and helped him pull it up. Fenrin looked down at Jordin. Under his breath he muttered, "Do I have permission to throw him overboard?"

    Jayln thought about it. He''d be conscious again in a moment but throwing him over in his condition would be a death sentence. If he was still alive he would only hurt others. His death was on her hands as she whispered, "Do it."

    Fenrin lifted the heavy body and rolled it off the boat without hesitation.

    He put his hands on his waist and surveyed the crew as they jumped into action. "Alright, let''s go find my cabin."

 22. Precious Cargo

    Jayln was still amazed they actually left the port. A crewmen had stuck his head in and informed Fenrin they were out of the bay a few moments ago. Now, she was sitting on the plush captain''s bed as Fenrin went through the papers on the desk.

    "They''re really just going to take your orders now?"

    "Well, there will be a few more assassination attempts before they get used to it. I wouldn''t eat or drink anything I haven''t checked first and I''d rather you stay in here for the first few days. At least until I get a better feel for the crew. My guess is they''ll either try for hostage or just want to test themselves fighting you.¡±

    He held up a finger. "If it''s the first case, I can''t afford to have any more of our limited crew incapacitated. If the second, I''d rather keep your skills a mystery for now. Let the crew retell the story until it''s twisted beyond recognition and you''ll be an ace card again."

    "Right, and how long do you estimate we''ll be at sea?"

    "Well..." Fenrin pulled out a map and rolled it along the table. Jayln got up and stood behind him as he grabbed some tools and started measuring, explaining as he went.

    "We''re sailing along the coast, but far enough out to avoid Imperial patrols. There''s no good landing point along there though, The mountains go straight to the sea, so it''s all cliffside. Ideally, we should land somewhere between here and here. I''ll have to ask the crewmen what they know about that area. I''ve only been this far north once. To answer your question, I''d estimate...nine or ten days if we¡¯re being careful."

    Jayln whistled. "That''s a long time. Do we even have supplies for a trip that long?"

    Fenrin frowned. "That''s a good point. I''d better inspect the cargo hold."

    "I''m coming too. Let me get an inventory and I can plan the trip. It''ll give me something to do while I''m cooped up in here."

    Jayln put her coat back on as he opened the door for her. There was a crewman right outside, leaning against the wall by the door. He stood up and gave a cheeky salute. "Captain."

    "You need something to do, sailor?" Fenrin growled menacingly.

    The man gave a crooked smile and held up his hands innocently. "Here to help, sir."

    As Fenrin waited expectantly, the man introduced himself, "Name''s Tryst. Seeing you''re short a First Mate, figured I''d apply for the position, sir. Make myself helpful and such. Unless the wildcat''s your choice." Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    He winked and Jayln resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Fenrin was about to respond but Tryst quickly pulled a piece of paper from his vest and handed it to Fenrin.

    "Here''s a list of the remaining crew, sir. Judging for the chatter, I''d guess you know a few personally. I never had the honor, I was picked up only a few years ago but my auntie always said, when winds are changing'' you should too. If you need anything at all, I''d be happy to assist."

    Fenrin raised an eyebrow and gave Tryst a second glance over. Jayln did as well. He was a younger crew member, about Fenrin''s age, with a scoundrel''s charm, dark hair cut short on one side with a few ivory beads woven into the longer side. His ears were pierced with golden rings but the rest of his attire was practical. The only flair was a belt of blue silk that fell long behind him like a tail. He was also missing his right pinky.

    Tucking the crew list into his shirt, Fenrin nodded at Tryst. "Actually, I would like you to show me the cargo. I want to know what I''m carrying."

    "Right-o Captain, I''m guessing you know the way. I''ll grab the inventory from Ol'' Carver''s bunk and meet you below." He gave Fenrin another salute and Jayln another wink and walked off.

    "Well, he''s certainly bold," Jayln muttered.

    "Bold and ambitious. If he doesn''t try too hard to kill me, he could be just what I need."

    Fenrin led Jayln down the stairs to the cargo hold, handing her a lantern from the wall. As they reached the bottom, Fenrin suddenly jumped forward. A hand with a dagger shot out from the dark. There was a crash and Fenrin emerged, the assailant hands up as Fenrin held his own knife to his throat. Running the blade down the man''s cheek, drawing blood, Fenrin growled, "We''re not going to have a problem now are we?"

    The man muttered defiantly and Fenrin grabbed his ear and sliced it off. The pirate screamed and fell to his knees, clutching the side of his head, hot blood gushing between his fingers. Jayln flinched and Fenrin knelt to hiss, "Normally that would have cost you a limb, but seeing how shorthanded we are, I guess it''s your lucky day. However, let your buddies know how this went. I don''t have a lot of self-restraint so the next guy might not be as lucky."

    With a nod from Fenrin, the pirate obediently got up and moved past Jayln up the stairs, blood dripping on the worn wooden steps. As he passed her, the man shot her a look of pure hatred and her stomach went cold as ice.

    Fenrin stabbed the bloody knife into the handrail nonchalantly before gesturing for Jayln to come down. She brought the light and it illuminated a room of crates. It had clearly been mostly emptied and Fenrin clucked disappointedly.

    "Ah well, the good stuff was usually held in the back anyway. Come on, there are three more rooms."

    They made their way to the back where there were two doors. Fenrin pondered for a moment and then reached for the right one. "Left should be the food, so let''s see what other merchandise we''ve got."

    The door pulled open and as Jayln leaned forward, the smell of the room hit her. The lantern light gleamed off of iron chains and a dozen faces turned in their direction. Jayln gasped and Fenrin held up an arm to keep her from rushing in.

    Twelve people were chained to the wall. Tears sprung to Jayln¡¯s eyes as her light reached the back where a woman was standing protectively the best she could in front of three children.

 23. Inheritance

    "Poor sods thought they''d be getting off yesterday. Guess they got another unexpected trip, eh?" Jayln whirled around and Tryst stood behind here, a book under his arm.

    Jayln was shaking. She knew slavery was running rampant through the empire despite the laws. Ever since Valhym had legalized it, the empire had been pressured into allowing it as well. While it was still illegal to buy or sell slaves in the empire, any slave brought in was legal to own¡ªbut she had never seen it herself. It was mainly nobles and high ranking officers who owned slaves, neither of which ever came near her backwater village.

    How could anyone do this to another human being? She clenched her fists.

    Fenrin casually shut the door. "They had buyers then?"

    Tryst shrugged. "Must''ve. I know Jaired was real excited when we raided the slaver on its way to Taka." He opened the book and took out a bundle of papers. "Had the forged sales documents ready and everything."

    Fenrin flipping through them and then eyed Tryst. "What was your position before, Tryst?"

    "Boatswain. Lowest one to be honest, sir."

    "But I''m guessing you''ve had eyes on Jordin''s position for a while."

    "Aye, but I was new to the ship and these aren''t trusting folk. Thought I''d have to wait years before I had my chance. So thankee for giving me one early."

    "And how many other Boatswain are on this ship currently?"

    "Two. Though I do think you met one already."

    Fenrin handed the book to Jayln who took it numbly. He removed the crew list and scanned it. "And he was?"

    "Leinad. Other Boatswain is Kalder Firebrand. I believe you know each other."

    "Yes, I''m a bit surprised you''re willing to cross him. He''s not one for letting people get in his way. Though judging from Leinad, you aren''t either."

    Tryst''s smile faltered for just a moment and he shrugged. "Leinad''s an idiot, I knew he wouldn''t succeed."

    "Fair enough. Alright, let''s look at what food we''ve got."

    "Fenrin," Jayln spoke harshly grabbing Fenrin''s shoulder, her eyes steely. She was not going to just leave those people in chains. Tryst eyed her, eyebrow raised.

    She felt Fenrin tense under her grip, but she was ready to stand her ground.

    "Drop it for now. That''s an order."

    For a moment they stood there until slowly she peeled her hand off him. Fenrin continued to the other door like nothing had happened while Tryst watched the exchange carefully.

    The other door opened to reveal another room full of barrels and crates. Fenrin examined them. "Check the inventory, make sure it''s up to date."

    Jayln handed the book back to Tyrst. Fenrin probably meant for her to do it, but she wasn''t in the mood. Tyst shrugged and started listing off items as Fenrin checked them personally. Jayln watched, her anger churning in her stomach. The image of the kids, eyes wide with fear huddled in the dark, was seared in her mind. They were right there on the other side of the wall.

    Two girls, one around nine with light hair and an older girl¡ªthirteen maybe¡ªwith dark hair. They¡¯d been with a little boy, no older than six with a beautiful round face and golden curls. The woman protecting them had been pretty as well, with almond shaped eyes and straight black hair.

    "Jayln, open the back room."

    She snapped back and went to the iron door Fenrin gestured to. She pulled the handle but it didn''t budge. "Locked."

    "Tryst?" Fenrin asked.

    "Imagine the Cap¡ªer Jaired, has the key."

    Fenrin gently pushed Jayln aside and examined the lock. "Anything in the book about what''s inside?"

    "No, sir."

    "I swear if it''s another woman..." Fenrin muttered before pulling out a lock pick and starting to fiddle. After a few moments, it clicked open.

    Inside was one large chest and Jayln breathed a sigh of relief. Fenrin opened it to reveal a small velvet bag, a metal cylinder, and a stack of papers. Fenrin tipped the bag and a sparkling waterfall of diamonds fell into his palm. Gently he poured them back in and Tryst whistled.

    Fenrin handed him the cylinder and Tryst examined it eagerly, but Fenrin warned, "Don''t open it, it''s liquid fire. Here so Jaired could burn these quickly in case of capture." Tryst held the dangerous container out from him as Fenrin rifled through the papers. "This is quite the record. A paper trail of Jaired''s crimes. Interesting."

    He took the cylinder and replaced it, handing the diamonds to Jayln who put them in her coat''s inside pocket. Fenrin shut the chest and ordered Tryst to carry it back to his cabin. After he''d left, Fenrin turned and leaned against the wall, facing Jayln.

    "Alright, what do you want?"

    "I want you to let those people go."

    "Right now? On a boat of pirates in the middle of the ocean. I''m sure they''d appreciate that," he said sarcastically.

    "Of course not, I want you to dock this ship as soon as possible and let them free. I want them unchained now."

    Fenrin spoke sharply, "I can''t dock now. In case you''d forgotten this is a pirate ship. A stolen pirate ship. Docking at any legal port takes time and preparation. Neither of which we have. We barely have enough supplies to get us to our destination. Unless of course you want to to throw half overboard so we can save the other half. Gods know I don''t need the extra mouths to feed."

    Without thinking, Jayln moved to punch him, he dodged and pinned her to the wall. "Don''t ever defy me in front of the crew again. We''re in a precarious position here, ship politics are fast and deadly. Everything we do has to be carefully considered."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    "They are innocent people,¡± she hissed between clenched teeth.

    He let her go. "They might not be. Could be captured pirates."

    "Children, Fenrin."

    He sighed, running his hand through his hair. He lowered his voice, speaking more softly, "Look, even if we did let them off. They were slaves. They wouldn''t last a week on their own. They''d just be recaptured, killed, or used. It''s not like releasing a caged bird."

    "You...you have experience with slaves?"

    "My family has a few. My sister has one in particular who''s been a slave his whole life. He''d die for her and probably wouldn''t take freedom if she even offered it. Slavery''s more than the laws, brands, and chains. It''s about breaking the person, stripping them of individual identity, and making them believe they are just a tool to be used. You don''t know the people in there."

    "But they are people and I won''t just leave it alone, Fenrin."

    "I know. But I won''t let you risk my plan over it. Let me think it over, find the smart way. I have a few ideas but you need to trust me and be patient."

    She looked at him closely. He seemed honest, like he really did intend to meet her demands. This whole trip was about seeing if they could trust each other and work together.

    "Fine, but let me help."

    Fenrin flipped through the list of slaves. "Looks like most of them are for labor. Six strong healthy men. Let me see the state of my crew and maybe I can hire them as crewmen."

    Jayln nodded, as long as he paid them¡ªand she would make sure he would¡ªthat would work. Plus she could tell he was worried by how small the crew currently was.

    "Next an older woman. Looks like likelong slave, probably housekeeper, cook, and the like. Can probably hire her too. Then the difficult part.¡± He flipped through the papers again. ¡°One very expensive pleasure slave and the three kids. Looks like one of the girls is her daughter, probably intended for the same work. The other I''d have to get a closer look at to guess. The boy too."

    Fenirn shut the book muttering about complications. Jayln felt sick. "They''re just children..."

    "Not everyone is lucky enough to be born in an isolated village of pacifists," Fenrin said lightly but there was a hard edge to it that reminded Jayln of the days she spent by his cell, dredging up his past in her attempts to understand him. He turned to leave and Jayln followed, casting one last look at the door on the left.

    Tryst was waiting outside the captain¡¯s cabin.

    "Don''t you have work to do?" Fenrin growled and Tryst picked up the mood and stepped back.

    "Just awaiting orders, sir."

    "Get Firebrand and bring him to my cabin."

    Tryst''s smile froze but he saluted and walked off. Inside the cabin, Fenrin slammed the book on the desk and looked over the crew list again. Jayln said nothing, just watched him think.

    There was a knock on the door and Fenrin handed Jayln the inventory. He opened the door for a broad man with a bald head and a pale red beard.

    "Kalder, long time no see. Sit down. Tryst, you too."

    Surprised, Tryst stepped in, looking very small next to the other man. They took the offered seats and Jayln slipped onto the bed and buried herself with the inventory, feeling very cramped and in the way.

    "Kalder, your thoughts?"

    "You''ve certainly got a pair, Fenrin. You''re just like your old man, walking in like that. I just hope you''re ready for the fallout. But I''ll stand by you, I''ve always been loyal to the Bear." His eyes flicked to Jayln. "That ain''t your sister, is it?"

    Fenrin laughed. "Gods, no. If it was, everyone on this ship''d be dead for not immediately turning it over. Me, I''m a bit more reasonable."

    "So what''re up too? Gathering the Bear''s assets against your sister if I were to wager. If that''s the case, I''d side with you."

    "Actually, I have no care for my father''s legacy. I''m leaving it behind. I just needed a ship and happened to know this was a nice one."

    "What you saying, pup?"

    Fenrin growled. "Don''t call me that. It''s been a long time since we''ve seen each other Kalder. A lot''s changed. I''m hungrier. I want more than the scraps of my father¡¯s kills. I want my own fresh meat, a place carved in the world by my own hand."

    "And let your sister take what your father gave you? You''d be a fool."

    "I''d be free. But you''re right, I can''t let Lyra amass that much power quickly. So here''s my question¡ªhow ambitious are you?"

    Kalder''s eyes narrowed nervously. "What do you mean?"

    "I''m aware Jaired was incredibly successful, enough so that he got away with slipping under orders even in my father''s time. If I had large ambitions, that''s who I''d want to be with. You''ve been around long enough to know how my father''s power is spread, but young enough to have time to benefit from it. Jaired''s problem was my father lived too long.¡±

    Fenrin leaned in conspiratorially. "Right now the Bear''s northern region is up for grabs. Interested parties are just waiting to see if I return or if Lyra moves up. Well I can tell you that I think Lyra''s ambitions are larger than my inheritance. So what I''m offering you is a way in. I''ll send you home as my representative, but I really don''t give a damn what you do as long as you promise to give my sister hell as much as possible. You''ll have authority where others will just have ambition."

    "And what do you want in exchange?"

    "Not much honestly. Help getting where I want to go, I know how ship politics work and I''d rather not fight my crew for the next ten days. I also want to be left alone. I don''t want my father''s dogs coming after me looking for scraps."

    "You''re really throwing it all away." Kalder shook his head in amazement.

    "Hoping to make something better. Last thing is I want you to support me making Tryst First Mate."

    Tryst, who up to now, had been following the conversation carefully if not nervously, sat straight up, struggling to keep expression from his face. Kalder eyed him warily. "You know he''s a snake, right?"

    "I''m aware, but he''s shown guts and he''s not wrapped in my father''s legacy. I need men like him since I can''t have men like you."

    Kalder crossed his arms and eyed Fenrin seriously. "So I''d get your inheritance. Everything? The men, the land, the power."

    "And the problems," Fenrin pointed out, "but that''s my offer." He stuck out his hand.

    "Hells, you''ve already shaken things up, I might as well try to take advantage. I wanted to test myself with the powerful and now''s my chance. You have a deal, Fenrin." He took Fenrin''s hands and shook it.

    Firebrand turned to eye Tryst. "I''ll be watching you though. Fenrin may have given up his birthright but I owe it to his old man to make sure you don''t stab him in the back."

    Tryst, with a face like a kid given candy, feigned offense. "I would never harm my captain." He turned to Fenrin, stood, and gave a deep bow, "I won''t let you down, sir."

    Fenrin waved a hand. "Well if you do, I''ll kill you. Kalder, talk to the crew please. Set the stage for the announcement. Tryst, I still have some words for you."

    Firebrand left and Tryst did his best not to look nervous. Jayln had long since stopped reading the inventory. She still couldn''t believe Fenrin had really given up his inheritance. He had said that was his goal, but to see him actually do it was...impressive.

    "Alright, couple of ground rules. You follow orders, don''t ask questions, and if you let your tongue wag, I remove it."

    Tryst nodded, still smiling.

    "Second," he stuck a thumb behind him at Jayln, "this is Jayln. No, she''s not my wife or lover, nor will she be for anyone on this boat. She and I have a business arrangement that I value above this whole ship. If you deem it easier to dissuade the crew''s curiosity to tell them she''s mine then you may do so. Any objection to that, Jayln?"

    Jayln thought about it. She''d seen enough of his men and their type at town to know why the precaution would be necessary. "As long as it doesn''t get out of hand, I agree."

    "Third, we''re not carting slaves so I plan on hiring on the ones we have. Do you think the crew would object to that?"

    Pausing to think, Tryst shook his head. "I think if you wait until after Firebrand has worked through them and you''ve addressed them as I predict you will, I don''t think it will be a problem. Except," he shot a glance at Jayln, "not all the slaves are labor men."

    "I am aware. Jayln has taken charge of the others. After we speak with them we''ll see what arrangement we can make. You''re dismissed."

    Tryst saluted again and left. Fenrin sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Gods, I hate politics."

 24. Echa

    In a few hours Kalder returned and announced that the crew had agreed to an on-deck dinner where their new captain would address them. As they gathered, Jayln was surprised by how few men there were. Twenty-one  seemed like a lot on a list, but gathered on a huge ship deck, it was not impressive.

    As Fenrin announced Tryst as the first mate, Jayln watched for dissatisfaction. There was quite a bit, but most turned to Firebrand and backed off when he nodded in agreement. Leinad, a bandage around his ear, kept his eyes on his plate. Kalder spoke to one of the men who moved over to him and soon had him laughing with the rest of the group when the rum came out and songs were sung.

    Eventually the crew trickled away, teetering drunkenly to their cots or taking a bottle to their stations. Fenrin left Tryst in charge as Jayln and him went back to the cabin. Before things got awkward, Jayln took off her coat, boots, and belts and rolled onto the bed, setting up a small wall of cushions but leaving room for Fenrin. She felt him lay down and soon fell asleep to the rocking of the ship.

    When she woke up Fenrin was gone. She ran her fingers through her bed head and pulled on her boots. Finishing getting ready she opened the door and found Tryst sitting against the wall, a large brimmed hat pulled down low. At the sound of the door, he bounced up and gave a little bow.

    "Good morning."

    "Were you..."

    "Guarding the door until you woke up. Captain''s orders."

    "Right. Where is he?"

    He looked at her confused. "He''s the captain, he''s at the helm. He did have a message for you, though. Wanted me to take you to the cargo hold to talk to the...eh, passengers?"

    She rolled her eyes. "Don''t you have other things to do? I''ll go by myself."

    "I have my orders." She shot him a sharp glance and he held up his hands peaceably. "I''ve got the cargo key. Let me let you in and I''ll be on my way."

    Nodding, she followed Tryst back down into the hold. He unlocked the main door and then the door on the left. He hesitated for a moment. "There is a chance they could get violent."

    "I can handle it. Or would you like a demonstration?"

    Tryst gave his impish smile and turned to leave but Jayln stopped him and held out her hand. "The key to the chains please."

    "The captain didn''t..."

    Jayln''s eyes narrowed and she did her best to imitate Fenrin''s dangerous glare. "Don''t make me ask again."

    Tryst shrugged and put a heavy iron key in her hand and left whistling. Jayln clutched the key tightly, grabbed a lantern, and went in.

    The door shut heavily behind her. She placed the lantern on the ground and scanned the faces. Scared. Angry. Hostile.

    "I''m sure you''re wondering what''s going on. The ship is under a new captain now. My name is Jayln."

    A large Duskar man stood up, towering over Jayln but chained too tightly to move towards her. "Examining the wares then?" he said in a deep voice, anger and hatred boiling through it.

    Jayln shook her head. "No, you''re not slaves anymore."

    There was a moment of silence broken when the dark haired girl whispered, "Is it true, mama?"

    Her mother hushed her. "I don''t know, Anwen."

    Jayln spoke up, "It is true." She walked towards the children and the woman stood between her and them. Jayln held up the key. "Please, let me help them."

    Cautiously, the woman let Jayln move closer, the boy was clinging to the younger girl hiding behind her snow curls. She unlocked the manacle on his ankle and pulled him close, looking him over for injuries. He was unharmed but skinny. She didn''t realize she was crying, until a tear dropped onto her arm and rolled down to the floor. The boy wiggled out of her grasp and back to the girl. Jayln wiped her eyes and unlocked the other children and then the woman.

    She was turning to the older woman chained to the side, when someone grabbed her hair and yanked her back. The dark haired woman wrapped her arm around Jayln and put a knife to her neck. "Don''t move or I''ll kill you."

    Jayln could feel the woman was weak, probably from malnutrition. Calmly she asked, "What are you doing? I''m here to help. I don''t want to hurt you."

    "Maybe that''s true, maybe it isn''t. But I swore I''d get my daughter off this ship and my guess is your captain will help us do that in exchange for your life."

    Jayln sighed, twisted her assailant¡¯s wrist, and elbowed her in the stomach knocking the wind out of her. Picking up the knife, Jayln slipped it in her coat pocket. The woman rose gasping.

    "I''m not here to hurt you but I can defend myself. Getting you out of here is going to be tricky. The crew is the same, so not exactly upstanding citizens. What''s your name?"

    "Echa."

    Jayln unlocked the older woman. "And you are?"

    "Nita."

    "Right. You cook?"

    "Yes."

    "Great, would you agree to be paid as the ship''s cook until we land?"

    "What do you mean?" the woman croaked.

    She turned to the men. "And you, since we took the ship by surprise, we are short on crewmen. The captain wants to hire you as sailors. With pay as free men until we dock at which point you''ll be welcome to leave and do whatever you wish."

    Approaching to unlock the Duskar¡¯s chains, she hesitated, "You''re not going to attack me too are you? Because I''ll tell you right now, I would win. Ask yourself how two people take a whole ship on their own then consider your next move."You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    The man stared at her with his dark eyes and relaxed. "I won''t harm you."

    "Great, but I need more than that. I need you to promise not to harm anyone. I am well aware the crew are bloodthirsty pirates who have done you great wrong, but like I said, we are short on crewmen. You take any out and no one makes it back to shore."

    He gave her a tight lipped smile. "You''re a smart woman. Alright, I promise not to harm anyone except in self-defense."

    "I''ll take it." She unlocked the chains and the man stretched, rubbing his wrists. She turned to the others. "Can I get the same from you?"

    They each agreed and once everyone was free they began eyeing the door. Jayln stepped in front of it. "Now we have some planning to do. We have to wait until the captain gives the go ahead, but I promise I''m not leaving here until you are."

    "What kind of man is this captain of yours?" asked Nita.

    Jayln hesitated. That was a loaded question.

    "I''m not going to lie, he''s not a good man. But he and I have an agreement that I trust and he won¡¯t harm anyone without actual provocation. He also has agreed to free you and hire you as I said. Look," she sighed, "I''m from a land where there is no slavery so this is all new to me. I just want to help. I''m not going to promise everything will work out perfectly, but I can promise that I''m on your side."

    She glanced around at the nervous faces and sat on the floor. "We have some time to kill, can you tell me about yourselves?" There was hesitant silence and then the Duskar spoke.

    "I am Zalif. I was on a passenger ship with my family when we were attacked by slavers. I was captured and my children slain in front of my eyes. Shortly after, I was sold again, separated from my wife. At last, my buyer''s ship was captured by this one and my hell continues."

    Jayln grew pale. The darked haired woman laughed. "You don''t know what hell is. I have been a slave since I was five years old. A pleasure slave passed from one master to another. I wasn''t supposed to be able to have children but the gods blessed me with Anwen. I would not see her share the same fate, so I killed my master and tried to escape. Obviously, it didn''t work."

    "Were you from the same ship as Zalif?" Jayln asked.

    "No, I have been on this ship for six months. Jaired stopped us from being returned to our mistress for judgement. In exchange for my daughter¡¯s ''protection''," she spat the word, "I''ve been his. Until a few weeks ago when he told me he''d found a buyer for us both. I will see him dead."

    "My brother and I were survivors from a pirate attack. Ended up on the same ship as Zalif," one man spoke up, nodding to another younger man. They both had the pale hair and skin of Valhym. "You were on that ship too right?" He gestured to two other men, one with olive skin and short hair and one pale with scars on his arms. They nodded but said nothing.

    The brother answered for them, "I think they''ve been slaves their whole lives, neither ever speak. I believe they have no tongue."

    The last man leaned against the wall. "I came on with the boy child and the Dyve child. I''ve been a slave since my home was raided as a boy. I was the guard for a noble''s steward, he bought the children for the noble''s pleasure house. I am glad they never made it." This man had gold hair as well, but it was brighter than the brothers¡¯. His skin was a dusky gold color.

    Jayln blinked tears from her eyes again.

    "Now stop that, it''s not your fault the world has rotten people in it," Nita spoke up, her voice clearing. "I came on with the men, though gods know why they took me too. I''m just a housekeeper whose master died of old age with no heirs. I for one will take your captain''s offer. Even if I come off this ship as a free woman, it won''t do much good if I''m penniless and alone. I''d advise you men to do the same."

    After Nita''s speech the door opened and Fenrin walked in. He had a bundle of papers in his hands. "Alright, I presume Jayln''s told you my proposition. Let''s see...Dorin and Derek?" The brothers stood. "Your papers."

    Fenrin handed them their forged sales papers. "And your contract." They took the contracts and glanced it over. Without a pause Fenrin moved on, "Zalif, Jedof, Gerold, and Naveem."

    The mute men took the papers and looked at them confused. Fenrin rolled his eyes. "Someone read them their contracts and get some sort of signature." The brothers moved over and soon all the men returned signed contracts.

    "Men, you answer to Boatswain Kalder Firebrand, he is up the stairs ready to get you started." A glance at Fenrin''s slightly irritated face and the men hurried off. Zaliff paused to eye Fenrin up and down. After he left, Fenrin glanced at Jayln. "He''s not going to be a problem, is he?"

    "No."

    "Alright then, Nita, you answer to First Mate Tryst, he will show you to your kitchen." The woman took her papers, signed quickly, and left with a quick smile at Jayln.

    Fenrin rolled the rest of the papers up and tucked them into his shirt.

    "What about us?" Echa asked.

    "That''s up to you. I can hire you for your usual role if you''d like. Otherwise you will remain here as a passenger until landing. The children I have no use for. The girl may be old enough to help out but this ship is too dangerous for her to be out and about."

    Jayln was about to object but Echa stepped up. "I will not for the crew. But I''d enter paid contract with you. As long as you allow me to turn this hell hole into a comfortable place for the children."

    Fenrin eyed the woman and smiled. "I appreciate the offer but with current arrangements, I don''t think that will work." Jayln flushed as Echa''s eyes flicked at her.

    "I''ll hire her." Tryst stepped into the room. He gave a bow. "If she''ll have me."

    Jayln started to object but Fenrin silenced her with a glance. "It''ll come from your wages."

    Tryst smiled. "Yes, sir."

    Echa glanced at Tryst, looking him over. "I''ve seen you on the ship. Who are you?"

    "Tryst, recently promoted to First Mate."

    "I agree. Captain, our papers."

    Fenrin handed them over and drafted up a contract for her and Tryst to sign.

    "Now that''s done. I will keep the children''s papers safe until landing at which point I expect someone to have figured out what to do with them. Until then, they are not to leave this room without dedicated supervision. Jayln, they are your responsibility. I will send down supplies to clean up this mess."

    Without another glance he left and Jayln sighed.

    "I will be spending my day helping the children, but I will join you this evening," Echa informed Tryst.

    "I''m looking forward to it.¡± He tipped his hat in farewell before leaving.

    Turning to her daughter, Echa said firmly, "Anwen, you are in charge of Mira and Matti when I''m out, ok?"

    Anwen took Mira''s hand. "Yes, mama. I''ll take care of them."

    Echa kissed her. "I know you will." She turned to Jayln. "I owe you an apology for earlier. I''m sorry, I see I have you to thank for all this."

    "No, it''s really no problem. I''ll help out down here."

    "Won''t the captain be wanting you?"

    Jayln rubbed her temples. "The captain can wait. We''re not together. We''re business partners but due to circumstances we''re letting the crew believe we''re lovers."

    "I understand. Well then, I appreciate the help. Let''s get those damned chains out."

    They spent the rest of the day scrubbing the filthy room and making it a livable space. They found blankets and a few furs for beds and Jayln stole some pillows from the captain''s room. Soon Matti was happily laying down, stroking the soft fur. Mira was jumping and skipping, enjoying being able to move and Anwen watched them, her dark eyes mature and protective.

    As night fell, Echa kissed her daughter goodnight and Jayln gave her a wedge of wood. "I''m going to lock the door when I leave to keep you safe. Put this wedge under just in case. In the morning me or your mother will knock and let you know it''s us and you can let us in with breakfast, alright?"

    Anwen nodded while Mira and Matti gave both gave Echa hugs.

    Tryst was waiting at the top of the stairs. He took Echa''s arm, tipped his hat goodnight to Jayln, and escorted Echa to his cabin. Jayln, exhausted from the day''s work slipped into the captain''s cabin, walked past Fenrin working at his desk, and collapsed onto the bed. Before drifting off to sleep she said, "Fenrin, thank you."

    The scratch of his pen paused for a moment and then continued with no word.

 25. Prey

    For the next few days there was some tension between the crew and the freed slaves, but over time and with Firebrand help the crew fell into place. The brothers were key to getting the other new recruits trained on a sailor''s job. Tryst also proved quite adept at keeping things running smoothly. His uncanny ability to be at the right spot at the right time defused many situations and it didn''t take long for Jayln to understand why Fenrin had wanted him as first mate.

    Meanwhile, Jayln spent most of her time in the hold with the children. She started training them in jitsu. It was a secret only Echa knew about. The room had no windows and was thick enough that no one could tell what was going on inside. It also gave the children something to use their energy on. Anwen had taken to it with a vengeance, her sharp mind realizing exactly what it would mean for her to be able to defend herself.

    Matti and Mira were not as diligent, but they liked being able to move and they idolized Anwen. Jayln had made up her mind that somehow she would get Matti and Mira back to her village.

    The routine continued for a week, although as the end of the journey approached, food got more scarce. Nita did her best to stretch the limited store of food, assuring they''d make it to shore. The daily meal was enough to keep them alive but everyone was hungry.

    A two days from their destination, a storm hit. Fenrin watched the sky with apprehension and barked orders out for the men to prepare the ship. Jayln spent the two hour long fight against the weather in the cabin sick to her stomach. The walls rolled up and over and she lay limp on the floor until at last the storm ended and Fenrin burst in.

    He swore when he saw the mess but ignored Jayln and began pulling out maps and muttering over the desk. Slowly, Jaylin stood up and cleaned herself off. Gingerly, she tiptoed behind Fenrin and glanced over his shoulder. He was marking various points on a map and when he stood up suddenly, Jayln fell back on the bed, hands flying to her mouth and stomach. She heard him shouting and he came back in with Tryst.

    "You''re sure you read it right?"

    "Yes, Captain. Check it three times."

    Fenrin slammed his fist on the table and Tryst casually took a step back. Fenrin waved him out and Tryst gave Jayln a sympathetic glance before fleeing the cabin. With a groan, Jayln sat up and tried to focus. "What''s wrong?"

    "Damn storm blew us nearly three days off course."

    Jayln processed this slowly, the obvious problem dawning on her. "Will we make it?"

    He stared at the map, his mouth a grim line. "Not all of us. Tryst!"

    The first mate reappeared. "Yes, Captain?"

    "Fetch Nita."

    With a salute, Tryst left again and Fenrin spun around in his chair. His eyes dark with matching circles. "Jayln. We can''t keep the children."

    She stood up quickly, ignoring the pain in her stomach. "No!"

    "We can''t feed everyone and we can''t afford to lose anyone else. We''re short manned as it is. Echa and the kids will have to be sacrificed."

    "They can have my food." The thought of food made her feel sick anyway.

    Fenrin snapped at her. "You are my primary asset right now. This whole trip is because of you and I''ll force feed you if I have to."

    Her lip trembled and although she knew it made logical sense, she couldn''t accept it. "I won''t let you touch them. We''ll find a way."

    He stood and shouted at her, "There is no other way! We were barely going to make it in the first place. This is the harsh reality even if you can''t accept it." He turned to the door. "They go overboard tonight."

    She lunged at him but he easily knocked her aside and she fell to the floor, too weak from seasickness. He slammed the door and tears formed in her eyes, hot and heavy. There had to be a way. There had to.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Fenrin was talking to Nita at the edge of the ship when Jayln came up to him, finally managing to get on her feet and walk. The old cook¡¯s face was grim. Before Jayln could reach Fenrin, he stalked off. He was avoiding her and her wobbly legs couldn''t keep up with his angry strides. She was about ready to call him out when a voice from the crow¡¯s nest shouted, "Ship to the starboard side!"

    All eyes turned east and many ran to the edge peering into the horizon. Fenrin whipped out a spyglass, his scowl turned into that wolfish grin as he gazed hungrily at the faint black smudge. His pause let Jayln catch up to him.

    "Who is it?"

    "Someone else tossed by the storm. Their sails are in tatters. What luck! Looks like we won''t be throwing anyone overboard after all." He snapped the spyglass shut and Tryst appeared at his elbow.

    "Captain?"

    "I want all hands below decks to the oars. Our prey is in sight and doubtfully equipped with oars of her own."

    Tryst ran off and bellowed at the men who all dropped what they were doing and filed below decks. Certain the ruckus would distract from herself, Jayln stood between Fenrin and the portal below. "What''s the plan?"

    He blinked at her like she was joking then his eyebrows furrowed angrily. "Ship." He pointed out to the horizon. "Pirate." He gestured to the retreating crew and pushed her aside.

    "Wait! We don''t have to attack. We could just trade with them."

    Fenrin stopped and Jayln shivered as his shoulders tensed. He spun around, grabbed her arm and marched her back to the cabin. Safely out of view of the crew he pushed her into the chair.

    "I am going to take that ship and its cargo. We need it to survive and they are no doubt as desperate as we are. Even if they aren''t, we are pirates. One look at this ship and their mage will be throwing fire onto our sails."

    "Mage?"

    He waved a hand. "There''s not a puff of wind out there and they still are moving, albeit slowly. They must have a mage conjuring wind. All the more reason to end things quickly. If the guild or Aziron catch our trail you can kiss any chance of peace goodbye. They''re nosy and hard to get rid of."

    "Why don''t we just raise a white flag or something?"

    Fenrin snorted. "Sure, our crew would love to do that. This is not a peaceful situation. You should be grateful this means the brats will live."

    That made the fire rise in Jayln''s eyes. Seeing her ready to argue, Fenrin strode out the door again. "Speaking of the kids, we''re going to need all hands below decks."

    Worried, Jayln ran after him as he made his way down to the cell where the children and Echa were for the second time since they''d found them. He threw open the door and the occupants jumped. He scanned the children and pointed at Anwen. "You seem competent enough. Come with me. Your mother too."

    Anwen glanced at her mother who took her arm protectively and looked at Jayln for reassurance. Fenrin followed her gaze and scowled. "I''m not going to eat her. Not anymore anyway."

    He strode forward and grabbed Anwen''s other arm, pulling her and her mother out of the room.

    "Fenrin!" Jayln threw herself in front of him.

    He grit his teeth. "Move. You need to be at the oars too. That''s an order."

    Jayln hesitated but stepped aside, following Fenrin down to the galley where the two dozen men were grunting as they pulled long oars back and forth. Fenrin pointed to an empty spot and looked at Echa. "You sit there and get to work."

    Echa stood her ground. "Not without my daughter."

    Surprisingly, Fenrin didn''t shout, he let go of Anwen and walked to the small platform at the front of the galley. "I''ve got a different job for her." He picked up a round object and dumped it into Anwen''s arms. It was a drum.

    Anwen stared at it and her mother allowed Fenrin to drag her to the platform, situating her in the middle. He knelt and looked her in the eye. The girl''s somber face was attentive. "Alright, it''s pretty simple. One. Two. Like that."

    He demonstrated and ordered Anwen to repeat. She did and he stood back up. "Good enough. Now keep that up like your life depends on it. It does, in fact. Don''t miss a beat and don''t stop until your arms fall off."

    Anwen went paler but her rhythm didn''t falter. Fenrin rolled up his sleeves.

    "Jayln, you''re useless right now as muscle, so go top deck and keep an eye on our distance. Report back every five minutes."

    Without another glance at her, Fenrin sat down at an oar and began rowing with the entirety of his crew. Jayln stumbled back up the ramp.

    It was painfully slow going, but the conjured wind couldn''t propel the tattered sails fast enough to outrun the steady pace of the oars. They were winning the snail''s race.

    Jayln walked up and down the ramp reporting their progress, her strength slowly returning along with her steadiness. When they got close enough to make out the figures on the deck, Fenrin came up too.

    "Excellent. The mage is probably too exhausted to do much damage at this point. Follow me."

    He strode to the cabin and opened the door for her. She walked in, but instead of following he shut it and she heard the click of the lock.

    "Fenrin!"

    He knocked. "You''re a liability Jayln. I can''t trust you right now."

    She tried to unlock the door from the inside but he''d left the key in, jamming it. She pounded on the door yelling although she knew he''d already left.

 26. Hard Decisions

    Jayln could hear the sound of the fighting. A ballista went off near the cabin with a loud twang and she jumped, futilely trying the door again. Eventually she gave up, spending the time cleaning the soiled floor and angrily flipping through the papers on his desk. Most of it was repeated calculations how long they could last on the food they''d had and maps shaving the planned docking point as close as possible.

    She knew he was being reasonable in his own way but she couldn''t stand by while he killed innocents. She felt so useless. If she hadn''t been seasick she could''ve stopped this. Fought back and convinced him to approach peaceably.

    Na?ve. Weak. Inexperienced.

    Jayln could hear his sneer and she shook the voice out of her head. She''d slipped for a moment and he''d walked all over her. Could she keep doing this?

    Finally, after hours of waiting, the door opened and an exhausted Fenrin slipped inside. He glanced at her for a moment and then took two steps and fell onto the cot.

    "I''m only here for the bed," he muttered through the pillow.

    "Get up," she hissed, her voice shaking with rage.

    He didn''t move though his amused voice drifted up. "Or what?"

    She took a deep breath. "Or this is over right now."

    After a long second, he rolled on his side, his eyes dark and dangerous. "Do you really want to do this now? After you got what you wanted?"

    "What I wanted?" Her voice rose and her fists clenched. "I didn''t want this. I didn''t want you to break your promise."

    He shot up much faster than she thought his tired frame was capable and stepped forwards, towering over her. "I didn''t break my promise," he hissed, "I''ve followed every stupid rule, listened to every request."The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    She fumbled for a moment then shot back. "So the other ship is sailing beside us then? The passengers safe?"

    "No." he said simply. "I gave the orders but I didn''t touch anyone. They''re dead and we have enough food to make it to shore with fat happy children in tow."

    She held her clenched hands between them in frustration. "Don''t you see how wrong that is?"

    The back of his hand came flying at her face. She raised her arms and blocked it but the force knocked her onto the desk, one of the sharp instruments cutting her elbow and flecking blood onto the papers.

    "Don''t you see how there was no other choice!" he shouted at her, his eyes wild. "Don''t you think I''ve seen this before? When I was six I was pounding the drum myself, my stomach more empty than anyone else''s. Imagine how I dreamed we''d catch a ship so I wouldn''t starve to death on my first time away from home."

    She stared at him, his face twisted with emotion. Fenrin took a step back. "I know how these things go. If you can''t learn to trust that, then this was all a waste of time."

    He left, slamming the door behind him and leaving Jayln stunned and pinching her bleeding elbow. Anger still simmered in her stomach, but slowly her breathing slowed and her face turned thoughtful.

    She turned their conversation over in her mind again and again. Her father had always said you couldn''t make peace without understanding the other party''s view. So, she tried to understand Fenrin.

    As captain he knew that they could only afford to feed those who could make it to shore. It was a basic rule for survival. They could have made it without three more mouths to feed.

    There was no absolute need to waste precious energy chasing a ship that they might not catch but he''d done it. Maybe it was greed or instinct, but maybe, just maybe, it was because it was the third option she''d asked him to find.

    e''d pulled the oars alongside his men and when they reached the ship, he''d kept his promise¡ªalbeit she didn''t see much of a difference between killing someone and ordering someone else too. But he did. He could have fought as well, but he hadn''t purely because he wanted to keep his promise to her. Twice he had mentioned the trust, or lack thereof, between them. He''d said he couldn''t trust her to trust him. That she was a liability.

    Lastly, Jayln couldn''t get the picture of a small boy trembling where Anwen had stood stoically. Pounding the drum thinking he was going to die. With guilt she thought of her own childhood, her loving parents and generally peaceful village. Everyone in the village would die before letting a child starve. To not do so was so foreign to her...and so personal to him.

    Her pride was still too damaged to conclude her thoughts so instead she lay down and let herself sleep.

 27. Frustrated

    Fenrin stormed out, slamming the door behind him. His emotions cut sharply through his clouded and tired mind. All he''d wanted was to sleep but she wouldn''t let him even do that. He strode across the deck, sailors clearing his way quickly, and ripped open the door of the first mate''s cabin. Tryst was sitting at his little table, Echa on his lap and a bottle of their ''acquired'' wine in his hand.

    "I''m commandeering your cabin tonight."

    One look at his captain¡¯s stormy eyes and Tryst stood up, sliding Echa off and taking her arm, leaving the room with a slight nod. Hardly waiting for the door to close, Fenrin collapsed on the bed, asleep instantly.

    He woke up as the door creaked open and there was a soft ¡®Oh!¡¯ from Nita as she realized who it was sprawled on the bunk. He rolled over. "Stop."

    Nita stopped closing the door and came in at his wave. He devoured the meal she''d been carrying, the largest they''d had in weeks. After wolfing it down, he shoved the plates back and Nita carried them out, her eyebrows nearly touching her snowy hairline.

    Rested and full, Fenrin''s mind turned back to the night before. The frustration he''d felt at Jayln bobbed back and he grimaced. She''d been so unreasonable. He tried to keep everyone alive as she always wanted, but instead she''d snapped at him. He''d known she''d give him an earful for locking her in the cabin, but he''d handled it much less gracefully than he would have liked.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    And why''d he bring up such a stupid memory! It was true, watching Anwen pound the drums had brought that lovely outing with his father to his mind, but why''d he share it?

    Because she doesn''t understand.

    It frustrated him to no end. Communicating with anything other than a sword had never been his strong suit and now he''d even half-broken their arrangement, called it a waste of time.

    Maybe it was.

    He mused over the idea of leaving Jayln behind. Freeing himself from her demands and promises but frowned, he''d already set things in motion. He''d given up his inheritance for this deal and, burden that it was, it was the only thing he had. Nevertheless, he felt his wild side pulling on its chains, it hadn''t answered to anyone since the Bear''s death and it didn''t like starting again now.

    Fenrin rubbed his face, he was still a bit tired but it was an exhaustion that would take many nights of rest to fix. ¡°Gods, I hate sea voyages,¡± he thought bitterly. The hunger and the days at sea had worn on him and he resolved to fix his partnership with Jayln when they landed in three days.

    He glanced around at Tryst''s gaudily decorated cabin and smirked. He was the captain though and that was his cabin. Fenrin would continue as normal for now but she wanted to pout about it, she could do it in below decks with the other children.

    Satisfied with his decision, Fenrin stepped out of the cabin and strode to the helm, barking orders like nothing was wrong at all. The curious eyes noting his emergence from his first mate''s cabins were soon just shrugs as the men carried on their work.

 28. Hard Truths

    Jayln woke up feeling better than she had in awhile. The seasickness was gone and Nita arrived with food. Glancing around the cabin she asked, "Where''s the captain?"

    Jayln stiffened, "I''m not sure. Out and about probably."

    Nita shrugged and gave her breakfast, this one substantially larger than any of the meals of late. Despite knowing it''s origin, Jayln gobbled it down. Satisfied as her stomach let it stay there. She thanked Nita.

    As the old woman left, she nearly tripped on a piece of blue fabric by the door. Curious, Jayln stood up and went over the threshold. The fabric was Tyrst''s sash, the first mate was leaning by the door, an empty wine bottle in one hand.

    As if sensing her stare, his eyes blinked open. He winced and rubbed his neck, turning to look up at her. "You''re not dead then?"

    She blinked. "No. You thought I was?"

    Tryst used the wall to push himself up and then leaned against the door frame.

    "Well, I had to figure out why the captain slept in my lovely cot instead of his own. Depriving me, I might add, of a rather pleasurable and victorious night."

    He shook the wine bottle sadly, a single drop rolling along the bottom. "I figured either you got in a spat and he killed you, or you''d died of consumption and he couldn''t bear to dispose of the body. I couldn''t imagine you drove him out but I guess I underestimated you."

    She pursed her lips. "I did nothing of the sort. He left of his own accord and I don''t appreciate you conjuring up rumors and neither would he."

    Holding his hands up peaceably, Tryst smiled. "Alright, alright. Can''t blame a man for being curious after being ousted suchly." He gave her a dramatic bow. "Well I''ll be off to fetch breakfast since mine''s sure to be thrown to the wolf." He winked and sauntered off.

    Jayln glanced about for Fenrin and not seeing him, stalked across the ship and down to the children''s room. She found Echa there, gently stroking Anwen''s hair as the girl lay asleep, curled up beside her mother. Jayln shut the door quietly and placed the lantern she''d taken from the hook outside in the corner where it wouldn¡¯t disturb the three sleeping children. She sat beside Echa who still watched her daughter adoringly.

    "Poor thing''s arms are so sore but she didn''t falter, not once." Echa had a smile on her face, her words singing with pride. Slowly she let Anwen¡¯s dark locks fall from her fingers and turned over, readjusting to look at Jayln''s troubled face.

    "I ought to thank your captain for letting me spend a night with her, you know," Echa teased, trying to draw answers out of her friend.

    Jayln tucked her knees up and laid her head atop them. "I''m so confused, Echa. I was so mad at him but I don''t know if he deserved all of it."

    Echa chuckled. "What did he do to incur such wrath?"

    Unsure whether she should say, Jayln bit her lip and hesitated. Finally, she could keep it pent up no longer and it poured out. "Before we spotted the ship, he was going to throw you and the children overboard."

    Jayln had expected rage from the protective mother but instead she merely nodded. "I guessed as much. Honestly I was surprised he held out so long."If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    At Jayln''s shocked expression, Echa sighed. "It''s not unusual for cuts to be made for survival and I''ve been at the bottom of the food chain long enough to know what to expect. You''ve never been in this sort of situation, you have to understand that the possibility of death always looms around the corner. Life isn''t a fair or safe game. When it comes to the wire, you have to be strong enough to protect what you love or you die."

    "Fenrin said something like that once," Jayln breathed.

    Echa nodded. "We may not be the same sort of people, but we''re from the same world, our lives bound by the same rules. Can you say the same?"

    Jayln frowned, her spirits sinking lower. "So you''re saying I''m wrong to judge him."

    The ferocity she''d expected flared in Echa''s eyes. "No, Jayln. If men like him, men who would murder children are not judged, then the world burns. You just have to understand him. You cannot continue through life ignoring its ugliness." The woman sighed, her eyes drifting back to the sleeping children. "And don''t set aside what did happen, focusing only on what could have."

    Jayln¡¯s thoughts from the night before rolled through her mind once more. The whole journey, her deal with Fenrin, leaving her village¡ªit had all been to find a way her people''s way of life could survive the harsh and unforgiving future. If she couldn''t find a way to work with Fenrin, if she was really as hopelessly na?ve as he said, then her village was doomed.

    Still, the thought of swallowing her pride and making the first step towards amends with a man who had just ordered the death of a ship of innocent people made her still delicate stomach turn. She groaned. "Still, he makes it so difficult."

    Echa laughed, patting Jayln''s arm sympathetically. "He''s a man, Jayln. He''ll always be difficult."

    As if on cue, the door opened again to reveal Tryst holding a platter of food.

    "I expect there''s some empty stomachs in need of filling down here," he announced and then, spotting Jayln, his smile faltered for a half-second before he nodded. "Ah we meet again, fair maiden."

    Jayln stood up, brushing dust from her pants. The children were blinking awake at the loud entrance and the tempting smell of food. "I was just leaving."

    She left the happy sounds of children at breakfast behind, a bit annoyed Tryst had driven her from her hiding place. ¡°Still,¡± she thought, ¡°I can''t hide forever.¡±

    Fenrin was by the helm, giving orders to Zalif and steering the ship. Jayln only now noticed the state of the vessel. Parts of the rail were broken, scattered barrels and rope were being picked up and stowed, and she noticed three unfamiliar men stacking crates under Firebrand''s watchful eye. She turned back to Fenrin as he called her name.

    "Jayln, good. I need you to go update the inventory list. I want it by the time the sun goes down."

    Not ready for the direct order, she dumbly nodded and Fenrin turned away taking the helm and shouting orders for the sails to be lowered. Now set on a task, a daunting one from the number of barrels and crates, Jayln sighed and went back to the cabin for the inventory.

    ¡°Two barrels of apples - mostly fresh¡± Jayln penned, munching on one as she finished her list. She rolled her neck, working out the kinks from bending over and peering into countless crates...well not countless, thirty-two to be precise. Most were non-edibles, clothes, chatskis, and the like. However, from what she''d studied of Fenrin''s calculations, they probably had enough food now to comfortably make it to the original landing point.

    As she walked back up to the main deck, the sun was just starting to set. She knocked once then opened the cabin door. Fenrin was hunched over his desk again, scratching at the maps.

    "The inventory," she said, handing it to him.

    He took it without looking at her. She frowned but took advantage of his distraction to take off her coat and slip into some loose linen pants she''d found during her inventory. She sat on her side of the bed, swaying for a moment, trying to decide what to say, or if to say anything at all.

    Before she could make up her mind, Fenrin stretched and snuffed the lamp. She stiffened in the dark, fear trickling up her spine. Then she heard him kick off his boots and his weight hit the bed.

    "We land in three days," was all he said before turning over and falling asleep. When his breaths grew slow and her heart stopped pounding, she lay down too, her hand slipping under her pillow to grip her dagger.

 29. A New Deal

    When Jayln woke up, Fenrin was already gone. As she emerged on deck, his voice shouted angrily, "Who was on watch?! Who''s responsible?"

    Fenrin clutched a frayed rope, his eyes flashing across his crew who froze glancing from one another. After a moment, Jaylin realized the small dinghy was gone.

    "Tell me who it was or I start guessing." Fenrin threw the rope down and drew his sword.

    Leinad piped up, "It was Tryst''s watch, Captain."

    There was a low murmuring from the pirates and every eye turned to the first mate''s cabin. Fenrin nodded and Kalder opened the door, went inside, and emerged dragging Tryst out. He was only wearing a nightshirt and everyone got a brief glance at Echa''s pale face before the door closed.

    "Mornin'' Captain," Tryst said in a strained voice. A frightened smile on his face as Kalder held him by the scruff.

    Fenrin leaned down and Jayln couldn''t help but move closer with the rest of the crew. "If we weren''t three men down, I would gut you like a fish right here. Why weren''t you at your post?"

    "Didn''t get much sleep night before last," Tryst said, before he bit his tongue and his thin smile shattered as he realized his own words.

    Fenrin punched him in the stomach and Tryst crumpled to the deck, coughing. Sheathing his sword, Fenrin nodded at Kalder. "Twenty with the cat but I need him to work today."

    The crew jeered as Kalder dragged Tryst to the mast and tied him to it, face pressed against the wood. Jayln got a glimpse of his face which had the look of a man who''d lost a bet and accepted his losses.

    Kalder took a knife and cut open the nightshirt, leaving Tryst bare. Jayln sucked in a breath at the state of Tyrst''s back. From neck to tailbone, it was a crisscrossing of white scars, layered with various ages. She was so engrossed, she missed Kalder grabbing the cat-o-nine-tails before it came ripping onto Tyrst''s skin.

    Blood dripped down the gashes, but Tryst managed not to scream until the third lash. Jayln had to look away, unable to stomach the sight. When the twentieth blow had fallen, Tryst was cut free and Kalder helped him stumble to his cabin. He turned him over to Echa who shut the door.

    Guessing she''d be occupied for a while, Jayln took Echa''s place in bringing food down to the children. She ate with them and at Anwen''s request continued their training until her mother returned.

    "How is he?" Jayln asked when Echa stepped into the room, lips pressed together tightly.

    "He''ll live. I''m no nurse but he knew exactly what to do. Captain put him right back to work and to his credit he threw himself into it hard as he could."

    Jayln carried on with her lesson until the kids were tired, then she went above deck. Despite Echa''s remarks, she was surprised to see Tryst alone on the starboard side, coiling heavy rope, his shirt pink on the back.

    After a quick return to the cargo hold to grab a bundle of shirts, Jayln walked over to Tryst who was now raising buckets of sea water to dump into a barrel. She sat on the large pile of rope and looked at him sympathetically.

    "I''d rather you not be here. Captain''s mad enough at me already without you giving me any attention," he said a bit snappish.

    Jayln snorted. "He won''t care. Anyway I wanted to give you these in case you needed them." She handed him the bundle of shirts and after eyeing her for a moment he took them.

    "Thanks. They aren''t the captain''s are they?"

    Jayln baulked. "Of course not, I don''t want you dead. No, they''re from the loot." The piratical word felt funny coming from her mouth and she chuckled. "Don''t worry I''ll erase them from the inventory." She winked conspiratorially.

    "Just don''t do anything to get me in more hot water. I''ve got enough trying to do the work of three now to try to keep my head."

    "Who were they anyway?"

    Tryst paused for a moment to glance at her to see if she was serious then he quickly continued his work. "Pressganged. We took them from the other ship. We lost Gerold in the fight so the captain figured we''d need extra hands. I screwed that one up though."

    Regret was mixed with bitterness as he hissed in pain, lifting the heavy water bucket over the edge and letting it pour into the barrel. As one of the pink stains got darker, Jayln winced. "Do you want me to look at that?" she found herself asking.

    "Nope. I''ve got enough pride to take what I''ve been given. Besides, as you probably saw, this isn''t my first time."

    The crisscross of scars flashed clearly in Jayln''s mind. "Not much for following orders?" she asked.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Tryst grunted again as he poured another bucket in. "No, if that were the case I''d be dead. My back just shows I have enough sense to know my place but not enough to be happy about it." Some of his usual humor crept in.

    When Jayln smiled, he frowned. "Oi, forget I said that. My mouth''s the real reason I get in trouble."

    Jayln jumped off the rope. "Don''t worry, Fenrin doesn''t need anymore reason to lose his temper and I''m certainly not going to egg him on. Well, good luck with your water."

    He smiled dryly and she walked off to find Fenrin. It was annoying that by alienating himself from her, he''d made her place on the ship awkward and unclear. She hadn''t realized quite how much he''d guided her, telling her what to do and where to go to make herself useful. It was irksome and she wasn''t going to let it continue.

    She found him alone at the helm, quietly steering the ship and watching the horizon. She walked up and stood beside him. "So...three days."

    He grunted. Irritated she continued, "Listen, I know this hasn''t been the smoothest trip but I don''t remember ending our partnership so I don''t appreciate being ignored."

    Fenrin turned to her, the noon sun picking out the speckles of gold and green in his grey eyes. He looked her over and she wondered what was going on in his head. Finally he spoke, "You should go home."

    "What?"

    He clenched his jaw. "This isn''t going to work and we both know it. I''m..." He paused something unsaid dying on his tongue. "I''m no politician. I almost hate being in charge, an alliance wouldn''t last. I''ll carve a place on my own. I don''t need you."

    Jayln stepped in front of the wheel forcing him to look at her. "Yes, you''re terrible at working with people. I''m almost as bad when it comes to understanding the world and how harsh it can be and in case you hadn''t noticed, I don''t need you either. You gave up your inheritance, remember? Threw away the name that I bargained for to protect my village."

    Fenrin blinked, this dawning on him for the first time. She pointed an accusatory finger at him. "Despite that, I still think we should carry on. Because we do need each other. I''m not ready to bring my village into the world and whether you like it or not, you can''t live and be happy on your own. Your little secluded valley idea is a perfect compromise and I''m not ready to give it up, are you?"

    Fenrin stared at her and then his lips drew back into his wolfish grin, "A shared purpose, huh?" He eyed her meaningfully and when she realized what he was referring to, the color rose to her cheeks, unable to hide her embarrassment. "My proposal still stands you know," he teased.

    "You''re not much more appealing." She snorted, turning away.

    "I''ve got a month."

    She couldn''t resist looking back to see if he was serious. His face was unreadable and he carried on, "By the way, we need to decide what to do when we land. The original plan''s going to require some...modification."

    Thinking about the unexpected turns of their voyage, Jayln nodded. Before she could give any ideas, Fenrin shouted. "Tryst!"

    The man appeared a bit slower than normal. "Yes, captain." He eyed Fenrin warily.

    "Take the helm."

    Tryst could hardly believe his ears, he glanced quickly at Jayln but then stepped happily over to take the wheel. "Aye, aye Captain!"

    Fenrin and Jayln left the happy first mate and went to the cabin where Fenrin rolled out a map and pointed to a marked spot. "That''s our landing point," he traced his finger up, "and this is where we should enter the mountains. This..." he slid to the left, "is the nearest Imperial settlement. At least that''s mapped."

    Jayln followed his lines. "Should be easy enough to avoid."

    "For us sure, not for anyone we''re bringing."

    Jayln stared at him. He meant the children. He was not only willing to bring the children, he''d planned on it. Fenrin the Wolf had thought of the children. A mix of pride and guilt arose as she realized Fenrin was trying, really trying. She wasn''t sure she could say the same over the last few weeks.

    "Actually I have a different plan for that. I''d rather we go through the mountains alone. I think Zalif, Naveem, and Jerof will want off when we reach shore. With a little convincing, I think they''ll be willing to take the children and a message back to my village. We can pay them with a few of the diamonds."

    Fenrin thought for a moment. "Aside from the obvious problem, that could work. I have a few messages of my own I''d like delivered."

    "Obvious problem?" Fenrin gave her an impatient glance and she thought it through. "Ah, the diamonds. Gems like that on two men with ex-slave papers, no jeweler would take them."

    Fenrin nodded. "Luckily, I can take care of that. I set up a nice fence when we were in Taka. I also left a few loose ends they can tie up for me."

    "When did you do that?"

    "While you were taking in the scenery." He took out a fresh leaf of paper and started to scrawl out instructions.

    "They''ll want to keep the diamonds hidden until they get to Riley''s. He''ll give them good enough money for them, skimming the top off for my tab. They can use that money to get a lift most of the way to your village."

    He pulled another paper out and addressed it to Maurya. "I owe her a ride, so I''ll arrange for Firebrand to pick her up and deliver on that promise."

    "You think he''ll keep to your order?"

    Fenirn grinned. "He may be an ambitious hardhead, but I''m giving him the boat and more in exchange, so he''d better. Even if he doesn''t, Maurya will figure out a way on herself or she''ll get back to me eventually to hold me to my word."

    He finished the letter, tucking in an envelope. Jayln reached over for the pen and wrote a letter to her father. "I just keep sending people out of the blue." She laughed as she signed her name. "At least these should be better received than the last."

    After a moment she added a post script. Fenrin watched, reading over her shoulder.

    P.S. Won''t be back as scheduled. Plan to return by summer solstice.

    He whistled. "You willing to tack on another two months?"

    She tried to shrug it off. "Even if we left now, we wouldn''t make the deadline. Besides I want to see this valley myself."

    In that moment the pieces jarred out of place by the sea voyage clicked back together. They looked at each other for a moment, before Jayln turned away to stuff the letter in the last envelope. "That just leaves how the kids''ll get to Redport, how we''ll get to the mountains, and how the ship will get anywhere with less manpower."

    Fenrin leaned back, grinning. "We''ve got three days."

 30. Addendums

    Jayln checked the packs for the thirtieth time as Fenrin ran through his instructions with Jerof and Zalif.

    "Riley will most likely screw you over for two, so I''m giving you five diamonds along with actual coin for your pay. That''s one for each of you and one to cover travel expenses. If you don''t deliver the children safely I don''t really care but Jayln will hunt you down and I''ll watch and laugh."

    Jayln snorted and Matti laughed as she adjusted the straps on his shoulders. His golden curls bobbed and she patted his cheek affectionately. Mira had already said her goodbyes and was teary eyed, clinging to Naveem''s leg. Fenrin peered at her then glanced around. "Where''s the taller one?"

    Jayln stood up and turned towards the ship. "About that..."

    Echa planted herself and her daughter in front of Fenrin. "We''re coming with you."

    "The hell you are," Fenrin said, shooting an accusatory glance at Jayln. "What''s the point of planning if you spring things on me? They''re not coming."

    Echa stood her ground. "Jayln said the same thing and I''ll say what I told her. I''m not risking going anywhere near a town again¡ªtried that once and it didn''t work out well. We''re coming and short of tying us up or killing us, you can''t stop us."

    "Don''t tempt me," Fenrin muttered.

    "Er, I''d like to join as well, Captain." Tryst appeared, a pack on his back and a mischievous smile on his face. "I''ve had enough sailing and I like your plan."Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    Fenrin''s eyes narrowed. "And what would you know about my plans?"

    Tryst grinned wider and he blinked innocently. "Why only that whatever it could be must be truly brilliant."

    "Well that changes a few things, eh Wolf?" Kalder said, eyebrow raised meaningfully.

    "Damn you all." Fenrin pulled out the bag of diamonds and dumped four more sparkling gems out and shoved them in Zalif''s hands. "When you reach town, find six disreputable and greedy rats and send them here to replenish the crew. And Kalder," he turned to the fiery bearded man, "give Lyra hell for me."

    "Aye, aye."

    Fenrin looked over his now party of four and stalked off, growling, "I''m not waiting for any of you."

    The Wolf was true to his word and even Jayln struggled to keep up with his pace. She was impressed that Anwen didn''t fall early on. The girl trudged forward, holding her mother''s hand with a determined look on her face. Tryst practically skipped, occasionally helping Echa or grinning at Fenrin''s back.

    When Fenrin at last stopped, declaring it time to eat. Echa and Anwen gasped for breath but didn''t complain. Fenrin pulled Jayln aside.

    "I don''t want them here," he growled.

    "Don''t pretend you didn''t see this coming. Tryst''s been dropping hints for the last two days." Jayln frowned. If he hadn''t wanted them here, he would have been more threatening earlier.

    "I don''t want them here now," He muttered with a tone Jayln was starting to recognize. She tried to pick out what he was trying to say but gave up.

    "Look, they''re here because they believe in us. They trust that we are working towards something worthwhile. Try to reciprocate."

    Fenrin glanced back at the three and snorted. "I''m going to go think."

    He stalked off into the trees and Jayln sighed, still unsure what he was going on about.

 31. Brimstones

    Fenrin stalked through the trees, his mood black. He''d thought he''d be happy now he was off the suffocating boat but he wasn''t. It was like he was out of the jail but still in chains. He muttered curses and remembering Jayln''s exasperated look just irritated him more.

    "Reciprocate. What''s she going on about?"

    He started to run, bounding through the trees, enjoying the feeling of stretching his legs. Exhilaration and adrenaline pumped through him and for the first time since disembarked he smiled. Finally he stopped, panting. He should probably head back.

    The urge to just leave was almost overwhelming. He hadn''t felt it since before Taka. He could keep running into the trees, lose everyone in the mountains. He smiled at the prospect.

    ¡°What makes you happy, Fenrin?¡±

    Jayln''s question popped into his head and his smile faltered. She''d claimed he wouldn''t be happy alone. Was that true? Should he try it?

    Fenrin the Wolf stood at a proverbial crossroad. At the moment he was torn between the two equally. To keep running or to go back. He glanced back, his heart thumping in his chest and then turned to the seemingly unending span of trees.

    His decision was halted by a pale shape in between those dark branches. Cautiously, Fenrin moved for a closer look.

    It was a human skull, balanced on a black rod with a symbol carved into the bone. He cursed, his indecision brushed aside as he ran back towards Jayln.

    She turned around, startled, as he burst through the underbrush. "Jayln, come here. You two don''t leave this spot."

    Tryst and Echa glanced at each other and Anwen took her mother''s hand. Fenrin grabbed Jayln and pulled her back the way he¡¯d come. When they were out of earshot he hissed, "Good news is we are definitely beyond Imperial reach. Bad news is we aren''t alone."

    "What? Did you see someone? Is there a village?"

    Fenrin shook her head at her hopeful question. "No, you idiot. Brimstones."

    Jayln blinked and then laughed. "Very funny, Fenrin."

    She turned away and he grabbed her and yanked her close, growling in her face, "What part of me makes you think I''m joking."

    Pulling away, she looked at him seriously. "Alright, I''m sorry. It''s just Brimstones are just stories you scare children with."

    "Gods, to live in your world..." He shook his head. "Yeah, Brimstones are real, like the Bear, and the big bad wolf."

    "I get it," she said dryly. "Now what are we up against."

    "Mages, bad ones. They affect your mind and fight with living corpses. If you''re unlucky enough to survive an attack, they''ll offer your soul up to a demon."

    "But they''re human, right? They can be killed."

    Fenrin finally smiled again. "Oh yes. It''s been a while since I killed a brim. The Bear cleared them out of Valhym pretty early on and they didn''t pop up much."

    "He protected Valhym from demonic cultists? That''s pretty noble."

    Rolling his eyes Fenrin explained, "My father may have been cruel and vicious but he wasn''t psychotic. He''s not a fan of mages in the first place and always had a special hatred for Brimstones. Probably because..."

    Fenrin trailed off, his eyes scanning the trees. Jayln tensed and whispered, "What is it?"

    "Shh."

    After an anxious minute Fenrin cursed. "Tryst should have been eavesdropping by now." He ran back to the small clearing and cursed again. It was empty.

    Jayln watched as Fenrin scanned the floor and bent to pick up a small object. It was a finger bone. He threw it back down in frustration and ran his hand through his hair and eyed Jayln. "I don''t suppose I could convince you to just leave with me?"

    She gave him a look and he sighed, drawing his sword.

    "If I die, I hope they bring me back to kill you," he said before turning his attention back to the ground to pick up the trail.

    The two crept along through the thick trees and rocky uneven terrain until Fenrin signalled to stop. Jayln glanced around, muscles tensed in expectation, and she spotted a black figure moving around a boulder in their direction. Fenrin pointed up and she followed him up a large tree to get a better look at the cultists below.

    "Excellent work, brother." The man who spoke stood at the edge of a large black hole. It seemed to emanate darkness unnaturally, like a god had punched a hole in the earth. "Quite a catch."

    The other man he was speaking to signalled his two companions to continue to the hole. One was dragging a gagged and struggling Echa while a dull eyed Anwen stood swaying in front of him. The other had a bleeding Tryst flung over his broad shoulder.

    "Two for the master and one for the pit?" the first man asked, glancing at Tryst.

    The second man shook his hooded head. "No, he''s still living. I wanted Brother Jyu to find out who they are first. There''s another as well. A red haired girl. The man put up a fight so we left quickly, but I planted a trail a child could follow. She''ll come here on her own."

    "Red hair," the man mused. "perfect for the blood moon tonight."

    "Indeed."

    The men with the prisoners walked into the hole which, despite its darkness, seemed to actually be a fairly gentle incline into the ground. The two remaining men turned and Fenrin readied his sword.

    "What a pain in the ass."

    He leapt down, rolling forward, and lopping off the second man¡¯s head. The first uttered a guttural word and the headless corpse straightened and took a step forward. Jayln drew her bow and shot the corpse in the chest.

    "The caster, you idiot!" Fenrin called out and swung his sword again. Before it hit, the man hissed another phrase and a black eye glowed on Fenrin''s forehead. The mage crumpled, as did his animated companion, but Fenrin screamed, dropping his sword and clawing at his face. Jayln jumped down, bow ready and moved towards him.

    "Damn it. Damn it. Stay back."

    Jayln stopped suddenly as Fenrin turned to her. His eyes looked like they had a black film on them.

    "Fenrin?"

    He flinched. Staring at something over her shoulder. He closed his eyes. "Jayln. It''s a curse. These bastards are more powerful than I thought. I''ll keep going, but focus on the living and ignore the dead. Get Echa, then Tryst. Once we get inside you have to ignore anything I say."

    "What?"

    "That''s an order!" he shouted and then plunged into the dark hole in the ground.

    Terrified, Jayln followed. As the inky blackness enveloped her like a curtain, she could suddenly see. It was like being in a room lit by one candle but everything was in black and white. Fenrin was parrying blows with a half decomposed corpse. Jayln scanned the room for her friends and shot the man dragging Echa in the back.

    As the Brimstone she¡¯d shot stopped moving, Anwen fell to her knees. The broad shouldered man flung Tryst off his shoulder with a dull thump, and  pointed a finger at Jayln. A bolt of light, blindingly purple in the black and white world shot out and towards her. She rolled to the side, firing her arrow. It disintegrated harmlessly inches from target¡¯s face.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Jayln fired again but missed as she was distracted by insane laughter. She glanced to the side to see Fenrin hacking the fallen corpse to pieces. He looked up into empty space.

    "Are you next? Would you die for that scum?" He began swinging in the dark at nothing. "Die! You can''t protect him from us!"

    Jayln tore her eyes away trying to drown him out and reached for another arrow. Her fingers were just brushing the feathers when a bolt of light hit her thigh and she convulsed in pain. She looked up just in time to see a skeleton, decaying skin hanging like lichen from it''s bones, raising an axe over her head.

    Before it could strike, Echa launched herself at it, knocking it over. Jayln rolled to her knees, cocked her arrow and fired at a cultist standing over a stone altar. He took the shot to the arm, but didn''t move, only chanted louder. The air above the altar began to haze.

    "Grab him, Lyra. I''ll start with the fingers."

    Ignoring Fenrin, although he appeared to be addressing her, Jayln ran forward. She surprised the warded Brimstone with her speed and she grabbed his throat, crushing it with her grip. His hands glowed and grabbed her arm, fingers burning her like hot iron.

    "This is what you get for running away, Lyra. You should have known better." Fenrin''s words echoed through the cave, his voice dripping with scorn. Through her pain, Jayln felt her grip move and the man¡¯s eyes bulged as a sword poked through his chest. She let him go, his burning fingers falling from her arm as Tryst stepped out from behind him, blood covering half his face.

    "What. The. Hell?" Tryst asked.

    Jayln cradled her arms. "Grab Echa and get out of here."

    He nodded and headed for the woman, who was still grappling with the bones. Tryst smashed the skull with a rock and pulled Echa out and to the exit. The chamber rumbled and an unearthly scream cut through the dark. Jayln fell to her knees, her skull feeling like it was splitting. She had to get out. Death was coming.

    "Fenrin!" She ran towards him. "We have to go!"

    He turned to her wide eyed. "What about Lyra?" He asked, his voice strange and childlike. She grabbed his arm and guided him out. As her head broke through the darkness, the feeling of doom faded.

    She fell and lay panting on the floor, Fenrin beside her. There was more screaming.

    Echa screamed, "Anwen! Let me go! My daughter is in there!"

    Fenrin screamed, "No, stop! I''m sorry!" clutching his sides in pain.

    The echoing screams of hundreds of voices faded from her head.

    Jayln sat up, her thoughts swimming. She made out Tryst leaping back into the dark. "Wait don''t!"

    It was too late, he was gone. The hole convulsed and he reappeared, Anwen in his arms. He ran, face white as a sheet, into the woods. Jayln pulled Fenrin up.

    They made it through the first line of trees and then Fenrin stopped, digging his heels in to look at her with hate and shock.

    "What did you do to me?" he asked holding his forearm. Then his eyes rolled up and he fell to the floor, convulsing.

    There was another ear-rending screech from where they''d come, then silence, save Fenrin''s chokes and their heavy breathing.

    After a moment, Jayln knelt trying to help Fenrin. His eyes shot open, still filmed with darkness and he grabbed her arm, twisting her beneath him.

    "Na?ve," he breathed.

    She kicked him off and backed up. He rolled to his knees and turned towards her and she raised her fists warily but his eyes dropped to her feet. His mouth opened in a silent ¡®No¡¯ and he fell onto his hands.

    "Mother..." he whispered, tears streaming down his face. He gave a soul-wrenching cry and then stood, looking about with murder in his eyes.

    Echa sobbed with relief as Anwen woke up dazedly. ¡°Mama?¡±

    Tryst limped over to Jayln, also staring at the madhouse that was Fenrin. He repeated, "What. The. Bloody. Hell?"

    "I don''t know. He said he got cursed and to not listen to him."

    Whatever Fenrin was seeing changed again, he stood up and sauntered up to Tyrst. "And you, princling, should we kill you too?" he asked menace dripping from his voice.

    "No?" Tryst said, backing up.

    Fenrin grabbed him by the neck. "I should kill you for what you did to her!"

    Tryst was starting to turn blue and Jayln desperately tried to pry Fenrin off. He dropped Tryst suddenly, answering someone to his left. "Whatever you say."

    Angrily he stalked to a tree and leaned against it watching an invisible scene play out, a sick grin on his face that made Jayln shudder.

    She helped the coughing Tryst up. "How long does it last?" he wheezed.

    "I don''t even know what it is!" Jayln''s voice was strained and laced with hysteria. Echa turned to the two, still holding a sobbing Anwen in her lap.

    "I''ve heard of curses. They can only be cast by the dying. It''s potency would depend on the caster."

    They turned back to Fenrin and to everyone''s relief, the eye on his forehead began to fade. His demeanor changed and for a moment Jayln thought it was over, but he drew his dagger, and stalked over to something unseen. He held the dagger in the air and Jayln could picture someone sitting in a chair in the empty space.

    "It''s almost a shame to hurt that pretty face." The dagger trailed up. "Just ask and I''ll stop," he said, his voice toying and dangerous.

    "Fenrin!" Jayln stepped in front of him and for a moment he glanced up confused.

    "Toys break when you take them apart," he said then his eyes rolled up and the black mark on his forehead completely disappeared. He fell to the ground with a thump.

    The four watched as he lay still on the dirt. After a few minutes of no movement, Jayln carefully pried the dagger out of his hand.

    "What now?" Tryst asked.

    Jayln turned and sized up her shocked companions. "Well, let me see those wounds. We''ll stay here until he wakes up."

    Tryst was hurt pretty bad. The cut on his head had clotted up, but he was pale, clearly having lost a lot of blood. A large gash on his left side needed stitching and he couldn''t stop shivering. Echa and Anwen broke some branches and Lyra made a fire. Tryst curled closely around it, and Fenrin lay still.

    The sun was beginning to set when Fenrin groaned. Jayln straddled him and pinned his hands down. He blinked, his eyes barely focused. She held the dagger in his face.

    "The hell..." he slurred, squinting.

    "Fenrin, who am I?"

    His eyes cleared and he winced. "You''re a pain in my ass."

    Jayln didn''t budge and Fenrin growled, "Get off me, Jayln."

    She rolled off. "Welcome back."

    He sat up, wincing and holding his head. Realization hit him and he moaned. "Damned curses. How long?"

    "I don''t know, about ten minutes," Jayln said softly.

    "Ten horrible minutes," Echa added coolly.

    "W-what''d it d-do to you?" Tryst stuttered out

    Fenrin scowled. "Nothing to concern you."

    Jayln frowned and Tryst, not in the best mood, snapped. "H-h-hell it doesn''t. You tried to k-k-kill me!"

    "It makes you relive your worst moments. I saw it happen to a man once. Nearly chopped my head off thinking I was the brother that''d slept with his wife." Fenrin quickly changed the subject. "What''s wrong with you? Got a cold."

    "Very f-funny. I-I''m apparently n-not great with heroic rescues." Tryst smiled through chattering teeth.

    Echa pried herself from her daughter to stroke his forehead. "I would disagree."

    At her touch, his shivering lessened. Jayln stood up. "I should get our supplies."

    "I''m coming with you."

    Jayln nodded at Fenrin and the two picked their way back to their original clearing. The air was tense between them and finally Fenrin said, "Ok, out with it. What''d I do?"

    Sighing, Jayln picked up her and Echa''s packs. "Honestly, I don''t even know half of what it was. You did a lot of screaming and stabbing. And a little crying."

    Fenrin scowled, sitting on a log. "Give me your best guess. I can''t stand not knowing what happened." Jayln watched him as his knee bounced rapidly and his fingers clenched and unclenched. She''d never seen him like this so sat down on the pine needles and thought.

    "I missed a lot of the beginning. You said something about starting with fingers and called me Lyra a few times."

    Fenrin grimaced. "Alright, I know what that was."

    "Want to share?"

    "No."

    With another sigh, Jayln continued, "You asked once if Lyra was coming and that time you sounded like a kid."

    He flinched before answering in a low voice. "That was the first time my father took me on one of his trips. Gods, that was a lifetime ago."

    Sensing an opportunity, Jayln quickly continued, "I''m pretty sure you saw your mother''s body."

    He nodded, accepting that with no explanation. Jayln scratched at her forearm and winced, the skin was still raw. Fenrin raised an eyebrow and she obligingly showed her burnt forearms. "You said something when this happened too. Something about Lyra running away."

    Gently he reached out and turned her arm over, eyeing the burn. "We need to get something cold on that." He let her go and leaned back. "That was when Lyra got her Bear. He had her tied down and then made the mark." He tapped on his own chest where she knew his bear tattoo was. She now realized he must have added the wolf later.

    Impatiently he waved his hand. "What else?"

    She skipped over the part where he''d called her na?ve. "Well you choked Tryst thinking he was the prince of Valhym, I assume."

    "Ah, there was a lot of that month then." Jayln waited for further explanation but he didn''t give any.

    "The last thing was, I think, you torturing someone? You had a knife and they were sitting, you said something about toys before the curse ended."

    "Hmm. Interesting that one happened. It was more embarrassing than anything." At her confused frown, he added, "Don''t give me that look. It wasn''t as bad as all that. I was playing with Lyra''s slave to get her riled up."

    Her face got more horrified and he realized he''d made it worse. "I didn''t really hurt him, not much anyway. She''d told him not to talk to me and I wanted to see if I could scare him into disobeying."

    She struggled to find an expression that would make him stop talking and he awkwardly turned the attention to her. "I''m pretty sure you''re leaving something out."

    She stood up. "Yeah you were bent over and screaming a lot."

    Successful in moving the topic along, he stood too, his movements more steady. "Aye, that''d be the beatings. That makes more sense." He grabbed his, Tryst, and Anwen''s packs and led the way back.

 32. The Valley

    Echa took the pack and immediately pulled out her blanket, laying it over the still shivering Tryst. She crawled under with him, wrapping her arms around his chest from behind to still his shaking. Anwen lay down back to back with her mother.

    Jayln set out her bedroll and turned to a ripping sound. Fenrin had torn the sleeves off his shirt. He rummaged behind a log and then crouched in front of Jayln. "Let me see your arms."

    She warily held them out. Gently, he slid his sleeves over them. He had lined them with cool moss and she gasped as the heat of her burn lessened.

    "If they swell up overnight, we''ll have to cut them off. Goodnight."

    Fenrin turned and sat on the log, back to her, scanning the surrounding area in the light of the setting sun. She watched him for a moment, once more desperately curious to know what he was thinking. Eventually, sleep caught up with her and she dozed off.

    He was still keeping watch when she awoke to a burning sensation. She sucked her breath in as pain radiated up her arms forcing her to sit up. Fenrin turned.

    "Good, you''re up. Watch things while I find some water." He took a pot from Echa''s bag and walked out of sight between the trees.

    Jayln peeled off the makeshift bandages on her arm, wincing as it irritated her burns. Tryst still lay close to the fire, but Echa had rolled away during the night, now cradling Anwen.  The former pirate was still very pale and his lips were blue.

    Concerned, Jayln scooched over and checked his pulse. It was slow but present. His skin was cold, strangely so considering how close he was to the fire which Fenrin had kept blazing through the night. Jayln wondered if Fenrin had slept at all. Probably not.

    Without noticing she was doing it, Jayln rotated her arm, laying her burn on Tryst''s cool forehead. His eyes opened. "Can''t keep your hands o-o-off me, eh?" he muttered through clenched teeth.

    Jayln removed her arm, rolling her eyes as Tryst sat up, pulling the blanket closer around him. He stuck his face as close to the fire as he could without catching. "Gods, I''m so c-c-cold."

    "I wonder why," Jayln mused absently, poking at the logs with a half charred stick.

    "It was the demon, I''m sure."

    Jayln looked back to Tryst, startled. He was staring into the flames. "I could feel it coming and I swear I felt something touch my back before I got out. I wonder if I''m cursed worse than the captain."

    Jayln shuddered. "I just want to get out of here."

    "Good, because we''re leaving." Fenrin reappeared, setting down a pot of water. "Get everyone moving. Jayln, come here."

    She walked over and Fenrin retrieved the abandoned sleeves. After dumping the dried moss, he poured the fetched water over them, squeezing the excess before tossing them back to Jayln who gratefully put the sodden sleeves on. The cool morning air chilled the moist cloth.

    Fenrin filled the waterskins and put the fire out. He glanced around to make sure everyone was ready to go. Echa was putting Anwen''s pack on her, the girl still blinking sleep out of her eyes. Tryst had two shirts on and glanced at the doused fire wistfully.

    "Let''s move," Fenrin ordered, "I want to get over the mountain by the end of the day."

    It was a grueling hike and Fenrin charged ahead with a fierce passion, irritated when he had to slow to let his companions catch up. As they marched on, color began to return to Tyrst''s face.

    Jayln found herself in the middle of the pack, awkwardly trying to hold together the line between Fenrin and the others. She found herself constantly glancing from them to Fenrin''s back.

    And the mountain! The mountain just kept rising. She''d never been on a mountain before and she couldn''t help but fear there were more Brimstones behind the dense trees or cold stone. As they rose farther and farther, Jayln felt lost and very far from home. She watched Fenrin angrily hack at some bushes blocking a craggy pass and asked herself why she was there.

    Did she really think this man could help her village?

    Fenrin had changed. Not in a "seen the light" kind of way, more subtle, like the smallest press of a rudder changes a ship''s path. The ferocious wolf of a man she had first captured had been driven by want of entertainment, challenge, and blood lust. The man in front of her now...he was more focused, more driven. Although he hadn''t said the words, he was searching for a home, a place to be happy¡ªwhich was a motive Jayln respected.

    The world was wider than she had imagined and infinitely more dangerous. Expanding kingdoms, bandit coups, and even demons. Her village had lost so many people over the years, fighting intruders she now realized were no doubt ousted by the Bear''s expanding empire. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    They had been first, but how long until the Solis Empire or even Valhym reached them? Her village was near the border and should the decades old but thinning treaty between the two largest countries fail...Jayln frowned. Her people were strong but so few. They would not survive a large invasion force. They would be conscripted by the empire. She shuddered.

    Her dark thoughts broke into a smile as Fenrin grunted triumphantly after he managed to hack through the scraggy underbrush to a wider path. She suddenly felt as Fenrin did, a desperate ache to escape those who would try to control her.

    Maybe that was why she was still following him. He was cruel and short tempered, eager to hurt others and had a horde of childhood issues, but he was not one to back down. She could see Fenrin challenging the empire and winning, could see him prowling this mountain clearing it of cultists and other dangers.

    Fenrin bounded up the path and disappeared for a moment before calling out, "Jayln, come look!"

    She huffed her way up the rocky path and around a boulder and gasped. Fenrin grinned at her as she gazed over the pass and down into the valley.

    The ring of mountains was visible all around and a small thin river snaked from the other end to a small lake. Dark green trees filled most of the valley like a carpet, rolling in the wind like the sea. There was only one sign of civilization, a huge fort. Tiny from their height, but wide and grey, clearly carved from the same stone that surrounded it.

    Fenrin pointed at it. "Looks imperial, but I don''t see a flag. Might just be too far out to see, though. If it is imperials then we''ll give them the boot."

    His grumpy attitude was gone and he stared at the valley hungrily like a kid on his birthday ready to open presents. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down a bit further where he examined a tree, rubbing its leaves in between his fingers. "Trees here are pretty dry, but they¡¯re not pine and that river on the far side has promise. You and I will leave Tryst and the girls here and go investigate the fort."

    "I''m not sure they''ll be fine here by themselves," Jayln said, glancing back at the narrow pass.

    Fenrin shrugged. "They chose to come. Not my problem."

    Jayln rolled her eyes but he had a point. He had made it pretty clear they were expected to handle themselves. She sighed and scrambled back up through the pass and down to Tryst. The man looked much better, his shaking had stopped and although he was still pale, his cheeks had touches of color and he was walking without Echa''s support.

    "The pass to the valley is right up there. There''s a big imperial fort Fenrin and I are going to investigate. Will you three be alright to wait at the pass without us?"

    Tryst gave her a sideways smile. "I''m feeling ship-shape with this exercise and a bit of distance between the hole and meself. I think me and Echa''ll manage."

    Echa held her daughter¡¯s shoulders protectively. "I don''t like the idea of staying in one place for too long with those...monsters about."

    Tryst stared up at the pass. "Hmmm, I''m sure the captain won''t be too long and Jayln isn''t one for abandoning us." The woman nodded gravely and looked to Jayln for reassurance.

    "I promise I''ll be back as soon as we know what the situation is. If we don¡¯t return in three or four days, make your way to the lake. Where there''s water, there''s people," Jayln said and the three nodded and Jayln led them through the pass.

    Tryst whistled at the valley. "Quite the sight, Captain."

    "Aye." Fenrin turned. "Jayln, let''s go." He started down the side of the mountain and Jayln followed but not before waving good-bye.

    They wove their way through the trees, Jayln a bit disoriented as the elevation dropped and leveled but Fenrin seemed to know exactly where he was going.

    "Fenrin, how many Soli do you think would be stationed in a fort that size?"

    He thought for a moment. "Hm. Depends on the season and how many wars are going on. At least five hundred, up to maybe four thousand."

    "Four thousand?!"

    Fenrin grinned. "I don''t think we''ll be that unlucky. I doubt this valley is that important but in times of war, soldiers can really fill a space. Once me and Lyra made the mistake of trying to raid a fort about a quarter that size. A few battalions had met up and it turned out every room was a barrack and they poured out like ants whose hill we''d kicked. If it weren''t for a conveniently placed giant camp, we''d have been dead."

    "How long ago was that? Was it in Valhym?"

    "Southern. The soldiers were on their way to the coast to join the fight against the Duskar. About...hmm...four year ago." He grimaced. "Lyra wouldn''t let me hear the end of it for weeks. Kept going on about attention to military movements and spies. Gods, she always had to have her thievin'' fingers on the pulse of Valhym. Course her spies did their jobs well."

    Jayln was surprised he was talking so openly about his sister. He seemed much more relaxed than he''d been in weeks...even happy. She stared at him seriously and he caught her, grinning when she glanced down embarrassed. She quickly asked, "You said there was no flag. Who else might be there?"

    Fenrin cracked his neck. "Could be abandoned. That''d be a sure sign."

    "Sign of what?"

    His grin dropped to an odd smile. "Sign that this is the right place. Like a gift from the gods."

    "And what gods are lining up to give you a free castle, pray tell?" Jayln laughed.

    "Fair point. Though perhaps some goddess has fallen for me and awaits in mortal form for me to rest on her ample bosom."

    He laughed and his pace quickened forcing Jayln to speed up her own stride. His laugh stopped suddenly and she nearly ran into him. "Fenrin? What¡ª"

    Spinning around in a flash of motion, Fenrin reached out and covered her mouth, his eyes darting around the trees. She stiffened and he slowly removed his hand and she too watched her surroundings carefully. Fenrin bent and picked up something from among the leaves. It was a piece of black cloth. He sniffed it and grimaced.

    ¡°Brimstones,¡± He mouthed and Jayln flexed her fingers nervously. She¡¯s hoped the cultists outside the valley had been the only ones.

    They continued forward but silent and on edge. The sun was going down and Fenrin scrambled up to the lower branch of a large tree, reaching down to help Jayln up. They rose up through the thick green leaves a bit higher and when Fenrin reached a wide branch he stopped and leaned back against it. He pointed at himself and then from his eyes to the view of the forest their height allowed. I''ll take first watch.

 33. Into The Fire

    Jayln lay down in the nook of the branch, uncertain she could sleep in an odd position with the threat of demons. However, after an hour of staring into the dark, the gentle chirp of crickets lolled her to sleep until Fenrin prodded her awake for her watch.

    Dawn broke uneventfully and Fenrin helped her slide out of the tree noiselessly and they continued their advance to the fort.

    As they approached, it became eerily quiet. The birds had flown away and even the bugs seemed to have stopped moving. The walls of the fortress broke into view and sure enough, the front gate was painted with coppery runes and black robed figures strolled atop its walls.

    Fenrin pulled Jayln back into the trees and whispered, "No wonder the imperials left. Easier to leave this valley to them. Not to mention it''s on the opposite side of the mountains from the Arch Mage. Should have figured it was a perfect place for Brimstones."

    "What do we do? We can''t fight them, there''s bound to be loads of them inside," Jayln asked, her voice strained.

    "We''ve got to find out what exactly we are dealing with. Maybe it''s a small cult in a big fortress. I''m not about to let a bunch of filthy demon worshippers stop me now."

    Jayln blinked at Fenrin. His eyes were calculating and she had to admit she admired that he was still determined after the curse he''d gone through their last run in with Brimstones. "So...?"

    He licked his lips. "So, we wait until two of them leave and then jump them, steal their robes, and infiltrate the fort. We find out roughly how many there are and how powerful they are. Then we either get out and regroup or do as much damage as possible."

    "Are you crazy?"

    "Come on, it''ll be fine. Can''t imagine they''re a social bunch, not a tight little family like your cult." She glared at his jab and he grew serious. "Jaylin, this is also a good sign. If they can hold this valley with the Solis Empire AND the Arch Mage actively out to destroy them, it means it''s a perfect place for us to do the same."

    Jayln opened her mouth then closed it. It was a good point. "I can''t believe I''m saying this, but fine." He started to stand but she pulled him down again. "But I need you to tell me everything you know about fighting these guys."

    "You''ve done it once already."

    "Sure, right. So wait until you get cursed and useless and then drag your sorry ass out while the place explodes behind me. That about right?"

    He scowled. "Don''t let them speak if you can help it. Remember their spells focus on messing with your head or controlling you in some way. Most importantly, if you take down the mage, its puppets go down with it. Don''t get distracted by aggressive corpses. Focus on the caster."

    "And if one of us dies?"

    Fenrin shrugged. "If I die, leave or stay, I won''t care. Hate to have you killed by my corpse though."

    She groaned and then whispered, "Well if I die, make it out and tell my dad I''m sorry."

    "Nah, too much effort. If you die, I''ll just keep going and either die too or win and carry on taking this valley."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    She took his offered hand and stood up to saying again, "You''re crazy."

    He winked and they crept down the path from the fort. It took most the morning for their victims to arrive and Jayln was worried her stomach would give them away. Finally, Fenrin gave the signal and Jayln fired her bow. Her shot flew true and her arrow buried itself in the back of the first mage''s head. Fenrin charged the second and slit his throat. Before the man had even hit the ground, Fenrin was stripping him of his clothes.

    Jayln reluctantly did the same with the second mage. She gagged when she saw the body. It was a woman, her skin ripped and torn in many places, scarred in rippling stitches like patterns. Her body was nearly skeletal, just pale skin stretched over bone. Fenrin''s man had only one eye, the other an empty socket and a large blood red tattoo over his face.

    Fenrin studied it for a moment. "Wish I knew enough to recognize that mark. Oh well, demon''s a demon. Although I admit I''ve never seen them occupy anything larger than a cave before."

    They donned the robes, the fresh bloodstains disturbingly unobtrusive on the garments. Pulling up the hoods, the two and picking their way back to the fort. Jayln was sure they''d be stopped but they were able to walk right in the broken gate. In the courtyard were corpses, animated and engaged in various menial tasks, Jayln followed Fenrin closely as he entered the main building.

    It was dark inside and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. Three more cultists were coming down the hall in the opposite direction towards them, as they passed each other, Jayln was able to make out their conversation.

    "It''s about time I got an assignment. I''ve been managing corpses for weeks."

    "Well that''s what happens where you get on Lord Vinis''s bad side."

    "You accidently kill one sacrifice and..."

    Fenrin pulled Jayln around a corner, his face grim. "I don''t like this. They''re too well organized. Let''s check the next chamber and then get out of here."

    "Don''t have to tell me twice," Jayln muttered.

    As they approached the large double doors, a voice shouted out from behind them, "You two, open the doors for Lord Viris."

    Jayln jumped but Fenrin grinned, reaching for the doors and opening them wide. Jaylin grabbed the other one, doing the same. A man approached, flanked by two cultists, their heads lowered. His robes were decorated with glittering flames. After he''d passed the door, Jayln saw Fenrin watching him with calculating eyes. He winked at her and slipped in the chamber leaving Jayln to reluctantly follow.

    What was inside changed everything.

    The room was mainly filled with a huge stone table, tilted and carved with grooves. Thirty or more black robed cultists stood around it, all facing the figure at its head. She was...unearthly.

    Her hair was black and flickered like flames along her blue skin which was riddled with black veins like marble. Her red eyes looked down as she dipped a goblet into the hollow at the base of the table, drinking from it. The smell hit Jayln¡ªblood.

    "Fenrin," she whispered, turning to her companion. He was staring at the woman fascinated, but took a step back, closer to Jayln and the exit.

    The woman spoke, her voice echoing through the room. It was strange and hissing, like two of three voices speaking at once.

    "Viris. Did you discover what is was that interrupted my brother''s meal?"

    The flame cloaked man approached the table and bowed deeply. "No, my queen, but I have two mages on their way to investigate as we speak. You will also be pleased to hear, half a dozen requests for our services are being fulfilled."

    The woman frowned and stared bored into her goblet. "Six souls is hardly anything to be pleased about. Especially when our border has been so disturbed. I wonder, Viris, why you did not see to my request personally."

    "I did not wish to leave your side, my queen."

    She pointed a nail at him, it was filed to a point. "Your pathetic attempts to lie to me are almost as amusing as your sense of self-preservation. You think correctly that should the rift still be open, the Master of Despair and Madness would satisfy his hunger with the next mortal to cross his path. I think you would have been wiser to send more than two, however. My brother¡ª"

    The demoness stopped and stood suddenly. The room rippled and her nostrils flared. She smiled slyly. "I smell his magic."

 34. Matius

    Viris turned, scanning the crowd. Fenrin grabbed Jayln¡¯s arm and started to back up but Viris shouted, "To your knees!"

    There was a tremendous rustle as every mage fell to the floor, leaning over. Fenrin cursed under his breath and pulled Jayln down. They bent over as well and Jayln curled her fingers into fists, ready for the inevitable battle.

    The room was silent and then the demoness¡¯s voice fell over the kneeling crowd. "Someone shouldn''t be here," she said, her voice playful. "Someone was at the rift."

    The voice grew closer and Jayln turned her head to look at Fenrin. His hand was in his robe, no doubt gripping his sword.

    "Someone wants to suffer."

    The voice was right in front of them and Fenrin screamed.

    Jayln jumped to the side. The woman had her hand outstretched and black flames licked over Fenrin who writhed in pain. Her hand lowered and Fenrin jumped up and charged her, his sword raised.

    A dozen bodies pushed Jayln away rushing to their queen''s side to grab Fenrin and hold him. He cut down two of three before they wrenched the sword from his hand and beat his strength with their numbers. Jayln shrank back to the wall. Should she run? Fight?

    The demoness watched as Fenrin was restrained and then approached to press her hand on his chest. She breathed deep and purred, "Oh what a treat. So much hatred in your heart. Your soul is so very tempting. What is your name?"

    Fenrin gave her his trademark wolfish grin. "My name is Fenrin Brynson or Fenrin the Wolf and here I thought I''d cut down some pathetic mages for fun, I''ve never killed a bitch of a demon before."

    Without a word from their mistress, the mages screamed various spells and Fenrin¡¯s face once more twisted in agony as his captor¡¯s magic ripped through him.

    "Now, now, my pets, don''t kill him. Fenrin the Wolf...a fascinating epitaph. I am Niv, Mistress of Hatred and Pain, two concepts you seem quite familiar with. Tell me, Wolf, what happened at my brother''s rift. I can smell his mark on you."

    Fenrin panted and his head was pulled up to look at Niv. He shrugged. "I killed some annoying mages and their cave exploded. Does it mean I''ve already slain a demon? I was hoping you''d be my first."

    Niv laughed. "Oh no, little one, my brother was not in that cave. It was merely a window he reached through for his meals. It is disappointing to hear you broke it. You claim to have come to attack us, but the hatred in your heart is not towards my people." She breathed in and hummed. "Ah, you are brimming with it and I cannot resist."

    She reached down and touched Fenrin''s forehead, he grimaced as she traced down, her nail leaving a red trail.

    "So much and for so long--and rage! Much different from the mortals who throw themselves at my feet. You fulfill your own revenge and so well." She removed her finger and then curled it, beckoning. "Bring him forward, I want to see his rage with my own eyes."

    Fenrin was dragged away, knocking two mages out on the trip although there were plenty more to replace them. Jayln stumbled through the crowd. She hated the thought of leaving Fenrin, but if she wanted to escape it had to be now while all eyes were on the scene.

    The double doors they''d come from would be too obvious so she stepped carefully through the crowd up some side stairs to where she hoped another door would be. She hid behind a pillar, peeking around to try to find a door and instead found a perfect view of Fenrin.

    The Brimstones had formed a ring and Niv snapped her fingers, a circle of black fire appearing that her servant tossed Fenrin in. He rolled, jumping into a crouch, eyeing around him for an opening. Niv waved a hand and an armored corpse, decaying with a longsword in one hand joined Fenirin in the ring of fire.

    "Let''s see who your heart wants to face."

    Fenrin turned to the corpse, fists raised in preparation for combat but then suddenly fell to one knee, clutching his forehead. A trail of black flame leaked from Fenrin and Niv pointed at the corpse which ignited. The fire simmered down but instead of a maggoty warrior, it was a woman. She was dressed in black leather, daggers strapped to her back and thigh. Her long blonde braid hung low and she gave Fenrin a cocky grin.

    He looked up and flinched. "Ly?"

    The woman spun a dagger. "Just like old times, brother mine?"

    Jayln watched Fenrin shake his head and take one step back from the form of his sister. Niv tutted, "This isn''t right, I want rage!"

    Lyra went up in flames again and Fenrin grunted as more fire was pulled from his skull. His sister was replaced by an older man, his posture perfectly straight. The new opponent stood in noble''s clothes but with a military bearing and examined his blade critically.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Fenirn looked up and when he saw the figure he screamed, "YOU!"

    The man looked at him with contempt and Niv laughed, Fenrin''s sword appearing in her hand. She tossed it and Fenrin rolled, catching his weapon and charging the man. They fought, the man unnaturally fast, pushing Fenrin back.

    Jayln glanced around again for a door and spotted one at the top of the stairs. She just needed the right moment to make a run for the next pillar. Fenrin yelled obscenities as he pushed forward, and then crowed with triumph. Jayln took the chance and ran to the next pillar.

    She skidded behind it and peeked out just in time to see the summoned man, Fenrin''s sword buried in his chest, lift his own weapon and cut into Fenrin''s arm. Fenrin leapt back.

    The man charged again, Fenrin''s sword sticking out of him and waving oddly. Fenrin pivoted and tripped his opponent, ripping the sword out. He swung it with a scream of rage and chopped off the man''s head. The headless corpse turned and pressed the attack on as Fenrin hacked at it. Jayln froze, unable to tear her eyes away as Fenrin chopped the corpse to pieces, stabbing at it, the old dark blood, splattering the stone floor and Fenrin''s black robes.

    Niv laughed delighted. "Wolf indeed, you are too fine a specimen to eat. I like you like this." Dark words rolled off her tongue and Fenrin whirled, a dark sigil appearing around him.

    Niv walked towards Fenrin and he clutched his head. The sigils rose from the floor and closed in on him. He lashed out against them and they flared but remained unchanged. Jayln looked away and ran farther up the stairs. She was almost at the door.

    A blast hit the floor at Jayln¡¯s feet and she flew against the wall, her head cracking against the stone. Niv hissed and looked up where one of her servants had spotted Jayln''s retreat. The crowd rushed towards the stairs and Jayln ran, her vision blurred from hitting the wall.

    She reached the door and pulled but it wouldn''t open. "Please, oh gods, please," she prayed trying to yank the door free.

    A hand grabbed her shoulder and she spun, kicking the mage over the banister. Fists and elbows flying with deadly accuracy, Jayln managed to hold off the next five Brimstones before she was dragged down the stairs. Niv was still chanting at a prone Fenrin. Viris approached Jayln looking down his nose at her.

    "She''s not one of ours my queen."

    Niv turned away from Fenrin, her chanting paused. She seemed to glide over and leaned to examine Jayln. She smelled like blood and fire.

    When Niv touched Jayln¡¯s chest, she frowned and removed it with disgust. "She is useless to me. There is no hatred in her heart and her soul would not satisfy my hunger." She waved a hand. "Do with her as you please, Viris. The Wolf will entertain me enough."

    Jayln struggled against the two cultists who held her in place and Viris smiled cruelly as he stepped towards her.

    A voice whispered in her ear, "Get ready to run for the main doors. Don''t look back."

    She turned to see who''d spoken but there was a bright flash. Viris shouted and fell backward. Someone helped Jayln up as she reoriented herself and turned to the main doors. They exploded open and the room shook as a huge gust of wind blew through it. She bolted, dodging the mages who grabbed at her and jumping over the ones that fell.

    "Catch him! Don''t let him escape!" Niv screamed and Jayln''s heart soared. They were going to make it!

    She raced through the door and down the hall into the courtyard. Leaping to plant a foot on the side of the gate, she launched off it into the air and used her momentum to knock out the two guards with well aimed blows. Her boots barely brushed the dirt before she sprinted away, laughing with euphoria as she broke the treeline. She ran until she couldn''t run anymore and leaned coughing against a tree.

    Jayln glanced back anxiously, waiting for Fenrin to appear. After about ten minutes, when her heart had stopped pounding a black robe emerged through the trees.

    "Wow, you can really run."

    "Fen¡ª" She took a step forward and then froze. The voice wasn''t his and neither was the face that appeared.

    It was a different man. His hair black and eyes blue. She took a step back and he held up his hands. "I''m not going to hurt you. My name is Matius. You''re lucky I was there, miss..."

    He smiled but she took another step back warily. "Who are you? Where''s Fenrin?"

    "I just told you, I''m Matius." Matius scrunched up the robe and pulled it over his head, revealing a blue tunic and brown traveling pants. "I''ve been spying on Niv for weeks. You''re lucky I was leaving today anyway and I was able to get you out too. We''re the first to escape Niv''s clutches and she won''t be happy about it. As for your companion, I''m sorry but there was nothing I could do for him."

    Jayln leaned against the tree taking this in. Fenrin was still back there. She covered her mouth, her eyes watering. Matius walked over and patted her shoulder but she pushed him away.

    "I''m sorry, were you close?" he asked sympathetically.

    Jayln straightened and wiped her eyes. She examined Matius, trying to focus on her situation and not Fenrin''s. Fenrin wouldn''t have trusted this man and she was hesitant as well. "He...we were traveling together."

    "Were you there when he found the rift? Do you think you could take me to it?"

    "Why?" she asked suspiciously.

    Matius scratched his chin and then seemed to come to a decision. "Look, I just want to make sure it''s sealed. That''s my job." He straightened and said proudly, "It was tasked to me by the Arch Mage himself as his Third Apprentice."

    Jayln blinked and he seemed a bit crestfallen that she gave no reaction. He tried again, "Really, I''ve come all the way from Aziron. We''ve been looking for Niv''s nest for months. After I seal the rift, I''ve got to get back to the Arch Mage so we can gather enough to assault Niv''s fortress."

    Jayln perked up, "You''ll attack the fort?"

    "Yes, exactly. But she''s too powerful without the Arch Mage. So can you take me to the rift?"

    Biting her lip, Jayln thought about it. She wasn''t sure she could retrace those steps but she knew Tryst could. "I don''t know about this Arch Mage or whatever but I have some other companions who could get us to the rift. However, after that, I want to come with you. I can''t just leave Fenrin in there."

    He looked at her puzzled. "I''m sorry, what do you mean you don''t know about the Arch Mage?"

    She shrugged, Fenrin had mentioned the name but it hadn''t meant anything to her. Matius sputtered, "The most powerful mage in En? Co-ruler of Aziron?"

    After a moment Jayln tried, "Isn''t Aziron the other country bordering the Solis Empire?"

    Matius''s mouth opened and then closed. "Yes it is," he said defeated. "Lead on to your companions...er..."

    "Jayln."

 35. Niv

    Fenrin''s blood was boiling. The seething moment when his blade slid into the man who killed his mother was frozen in his mind. His heart pounded in his ears and and a searing pain wrapped around his throat.

    The frozen moment stopped and he screamed, scrabbling at his neck. His fingers clawed at metal and he rolled his face off the ground. Purple smoke filled the air above him, he lashed out and his fingers found his sword. Grabbing it he jumped to his feet. His vision was blurred and slowly turning red, he swung at anything that moved.

    He wanted them dead. All of them. Wanted to feel their lungs puncture and see their looks of surprise as he cut them down. He lunged at a shadowy shape and then choked as he was pulled back by his neck, crashing back to the stone floor.

    He got up again but heat hit his back and pain rippled through his body, sending him twitching to the floor. Lights flashed and his hearing popped, going in and out. Sensing someone looming over him, he lashed out with his fists and growled in triumph they connected.

    The pain hit again and he twisted his back arching. He was pulled along the floor by his neck, hands once scrambling at his throat. His fingers wound around a chain and he held it, avoiding strangulation. Blurred figures grabbed  and tossed him quickly. He hit metal and the pull on his neck disappeared.

    Fenrin tried to focus and managed to make out dark vertical lines in his vision, he stuck his hands out and they connected with the bars. He screamed at the shadowy figures beyond, promising them death.

    Niv appeared, the only clear figure, her face amused. She waved her hand and the pain returned. Desperately, he tried to hold himself up on the bars but eventually his eyes rolled up and he lost consciousness.

    "Wake up, Wolf," Niv''s unearthly voice called and Fenrin groaned.

    His heart was pounding and he felt adrenaline coursing through him but his limbs were so heavy he couldn''t move. The cold iron around his neck began to burn and he twisted to roll on his hands and knees, clawing at the collar in disbelief.

    "There you are."

    The demoness was leaning in to smile at him through the bars. He glanced around and bared his teeth¡ªit was a cage not a cell. Niv held a chain in her hand that snaked through the bars and attached at his collarbone. He would kill her! He would...

    "Perhaps it is a bit much, so much rage will tear your mortal mind apart."

    She touched his forehead and his hands shot up to grab her arm but they recoiled, burned. His vision went dark and then he was home. Lyra leapt onto the table, daggers appearing in her hands. With a snarl she jumped at him and he rolled from his chair, knocking his goblet over and into his concerned mother''s lap.

    He blocked Lyra''s first strike easily and began to push ahead. He could feel his father staring at his back and hatred bubbled over inside him. How dare she try to take this away from him? How could his father force him into this? He kicked Lyra''s chest and she tumbled, rolling backward in time to block his downward strike.

    This will do.

    His vision cleared and he was back in the cage. His heart still raced and his fists clenched, every muscle poised to strike. Niv unlatched his leash and the door swung open. His gaze snapped to the opening, everything in a red haze. A man in a torn robe was surrounded by a ring of fire.

    "Kill him, Wolf," Niv said. Her eyes flashed and Fenrin realized that this man was trying to take his freedom, was challenging his strength, and he charged.

    His victim''s hands glowed red as he tried to cast a spell, but Fenrin leapt through the flames and barrelled into him. He punched him in the face, knee digging into his stomach. His hands snaked around the man''s neck and he squeezed. His victim¡¯s eyes bulged and Fenrin snarled, "Die you bastard!"

    The man went blue and then limp. Fenrin grinned in triumph, getting to his feet. He laughed, he''d done it! Who was next? He wanted more.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    He was yanked back, the chain magically relatched and he reached for it, pulling.

    "No!" he growled. The chain grew hot and he smelled his flesh burning. He leaned over, widening his stance to remain standing. Blood dripped from his face and eyes like tears.

    There were gasps of awe as he remained standing for a few more moments before collapsing once more into unconsciousness.

    Fenrim awoke this time unbidden. He couldn''t open his eyes and his fingers went to his face, rubbing the crusted blood from his lashes. Every breath hurt and he turned on his side trying to get his bearings.

    He was in the cage again but this time the room was empty save Niv who sat looking bored on her throne.

    Fenrin tried to sit up, but his arm failed and he fell back down, the sound making his chain clank and Niv looked up. He lay unable to move and watched her smile.

    "Ah, you really didn''t die. How amusing."

    Like a child seeing a toy shop, she approached with an excited eager expression. Fenrin only had to glance up a bit to her face, realizing the cage must be suspended a few feet off the ground. He opened his mouth to curse her but ended up coughing.

    Unfazed, Niv reached between the bars to touch the mark on his forehead. His vision went black and all senses stopped.

    So much pain to enjoy. I will savor you and your black heart for a while before claiming your soul. Where to start....

    Images flashed and Fenrin lost all sense of time. The next thing he knew, he was hitting a wood floor hard. He spat blood and looked up. Jaired loomed over him, stepping back from the kick.

    "Come on, pup! Do it right next time." A few pirates laughed and Fenrin''s fingers curled. He looked up and saw Bryn''s disapproving glance before his father turned away. With a scream, Fenrin launched himself at Jaired, pounding his head into the older man¡¯s stomach and hugging his knees to force him to the floor. The man tumbled and Fenrin scrambled to get to his face. He raised a small fist before Jaired literally beat him to the punch, sending him flying back to the deck floor.

    Fenrin sniffled hearing an appreciative whistle from a crew member. His face burned and he got up to run off.

    Don''t stop now, you''re just getting started. Here.

    Fenrin stopped his retreat and looked at the small black knife that had appeared in his hand. He grabbed it and spun around. Jaired was laughing with a crew member who tried to get him to turn in time but Fenrin was too fast. Jaired barely had time to react as Fenrin plunged the knife into his chest. The pirate placed his hands on the hilt a top Fenrin''s in disbelief and Fenrin snarled before ripping it free, dark blood arching out of the wound.

    Jaired¡¯s face was frozen in disbelief until he convulsed, red pouring with steady bursts from his chest until he fell in a heap.

    Fenrin stood over the body triumphant, euphoria filling his heart.

    That''s better.

    The scene replayed and Fenrin killed Jaired in various ways before his vision darkened and returned to the cage.

    "What is it, Viris?"

    "My queen, our scouts detected strong magic near the border but found nothing when they investigated."

    Niv hissed. "Useless. I will scry. Cover the cage."

    Fenrin opened his mouth to yell but the collar grew hot and it turned into a yelp. Viris looked at him with distaste and waved a hand until darkness covered the cage, all sound disappearing as well.

    Fenrin felt around, finding the edges and reached. As far as his fingers could tell, there was nothing beyond the bars but air. He tried to stand and after a few failed attempts managed to get to his feet, only to discover the cage short enough to force him to hunch. Growling he sat back down.

    He struggled to remember what had happened. Niv had picked him out, he''d tried to fight the crowd and...Jayln.

    He furrowed his brows in concentration. Had she been pulled over too? No, he remembered watching her back up into the crowd. Perhaps she''d escaped. If not...he tried to shout her name, but again the collar burned him cutting off his attempts to speak.

    With growing acceptance, Fenrin considered his options. He was being toyed with by a demon and had no back-up. Jayln would run back to her village, free of danger and of him. ¡°Good,¡± he thought with a sense of satisfaction. But he also felt regret.

    He''d been so close. To what exactly, he couldn''t quite place, but he sighed with a moment of self-pity. It seemed his number was finally up.

    Maybe he could bargain with the demoness, join her cult in exchange for freedom. He toyed with this idea, the thought of serving his captor filled him with revulsion but so did remaining caged on a leash like a dog. It was a lose-lose.

    He was too proud to try to find escape through death and so decided on the option that he was most familiar with¡ªto wait until he could strike and take his revenge.

    And so he waited.

    And waited.

 36. Dark Soul

    Fenrin had no idea how long it had been, the strange silent darkness of the cage gave no hint of time passing. His stomach had long twisted with hunger and he lay curled on the cold metal wishing for any sort of change. He tried to remember what he was doing in this dark place but the only memory he could summon was Jaired kicking him and his retaliation.

    The memory had only three stages: pain, his raging hatred, and then the euphoria of victory. He latched onto the third, gleaning what pleasure he could to avoid going mad from the darkness.

    The memory was stale, he knew it better than his surroundings. He ached for something new. Anything, especially something to bring back that feeling of triumph.

    When his chain rustled, he almost didn¡¯t believe it was real. When it went taunt and the darkness dissolved, the dim light was blinding to his squinting eyes. His mind, deprived of senses, now exploded with them and he had a hard time concentrating.

    "Steady, my pet. Douse him."

    He reeled back as cold water was thrown in his face. After the initial shock he licked his parched lips and sucked his hair trying to get more of the relieving liquid. Another bucketful drenched him and the fire in his throat finally ceased.

    Niv stood to the side, her blue and black skin the only thing not tinged with red. She spun her hand, coiling the chain and pulling him to the bars.

    "I have a job for you, Wolf, and I think you''ll enjoy it."

    He blinked. Wolf...that was his name, wasn''t it? Jaired had called him pup. He frowned, there was something he wasn''t remembering. Niv stroked his chin as he tried to think.

    "There is a group of men in my valley. I want you to kill them."

    The Wolf grinned. Niv laughed. "I see you''ve come to terms with your purpose. Here have a taste."

    She touched his forehead and he was racing through the trees. Figures ran from him, hunters, their bows and knives useless as they became the hunted. He laughed at their attempts to escape and reached out, his victory nearing. The image faded.

    Niv opened the cage and the two men outside it jumped back but the Wolf ignored them. He leapt out, heart pounding, his prey would not escape. Niv held out a sword and he took it, turning to the exit.

    He would catch them, he would win.

    Despite his tunnel vision, the men''s trail was easy enough to follow. The Wolf stalked through the trees, already imagining the thrill of watching the light die in their eyes. The thrill of victory.

    He found them by the lake, one refilling his waterskin while the other scanned the treeline hunting bow drawn. The Wolf waited. The one with the waterskin said something and for a moment the other looked away. The Wolf charged.

    The guard spun back, an arrow shooting from his bow.  The Wolf dodged it, skidding in the loose sand. The man cocked another arrow, but misjudged his opponent''s speed, and instead a sword cut into his chest. The other hunter jumped on the Wolf with a knife and he grunted as it cut through his skin, shredding the pathetic remains of the black robe he still wore and soaking his chest and arms with blood.

    Grabbing the extended hand, the hunter of hunters twisted it, enjoying the snap. The man screamed but his other hand tossed sand into the Wolf¡¯s eyes and, caught off guard, he let go and the man ran to the side.

    The hunter picked up the fallen man''s bow and aimed as the Wolf pursued. The arrow dug into his shoulder but he ignored it, his heart feeling like it would rip itself out of his chest if he didn''t see his prey''s blood.

    With a snarl, he threw his sword and it thudded into a tree right as the hunter looked up with a new arrow. It made the man start and the Wolf was able to tackle him, knocking the new arrow aside.

    The man put the thick wooden bow between them but the Wolf punched him and tore the bow away. Its thick bowstring slicing into his fingers which bled as he grabbed the broken arrow and held it like a knife. The hunter begged him for mercy, but his attacker plunged the sharp point into the man''s neck. He gurgled and fell limp. The Wolf howled in victory.

    Feeling alive again, he dropped the body with disinterest and turned to drink deeply from the lake. Despite the sting from his wounds, he dove into the water. Refreshed, he returned to the first dead man and ripped through the pack at his feet, devouring the food inside.

    The sun was hot and after a while he became very warm. Too late he realized it was the iron band on his throat and not the summer sun. Despite its heat, he ran his fingers over it, trying to find a way to remove it. He smelled his fingers burning but then the burn exploded into a different pain that rippled through him and sent him gasping to the sand. There was a tug and he crawled in that direction. The pain stopped and he grimaced.

    He didn''t want to go back to that place, to that dark cage, so he tried to turn back to the lake but predictably nearly passed out from pain. With a growl, he grabbed his sword and began the reluctant trudge back towards the fortress.

    Black robed figures waded away from him as he approached and he took satisfaction in their fear. A skeletal corpse didn''t move fast enough and he smashed it''s skull with a swipe of his blade. At the great hall¡¯s entrance, he tried to stop once more but the pull grew stronger and when the door opened, the chain materialized. Niv stroked the iron links.

    "Well done, Wolf. Come here."

    He glanced from her to the cage next to her and stood his ground. The collar began to burn but he just raised his sword.

    "Not going back in," he managed to growl and to his surprise was able to get the words out.

    Niv laughed and walked to her throne, sitting down, her shapely legs slipping out of her black dress that shimmered like shadow as she crossed her legs. "Sit here."

    She pointed at the base of her throne and Fenrin grimaced. Niv pulled the chain and his vision went white as if he''d been bludgeoned on the back of the head. He stumbled forward, falling to her feet.

    "There, Viris. All taken care of. No more scouts. And if anyone comes from Aziron, they will suffer the same fate. Though perhaps if we are lucky they will be foolish enough to send another vessel for my brother."

    The words meant nothing to the Wolf and he hung his head between his legs as exhaustion swept back over him. Niv''s next words blurred as his heart slowed and he nodded off.

    A pressure on his forehead woke him. Niv had her elbow on the arm of her throne, her other hand reaching over to touch him, its sharp finger point digging into his scalp.

    "Mmm Wolf, entertain me."

    He groaned, his stomach was not happy with how he had gorged and his muscles ached. Before he could think, the room disappeared and he was outside, a cold breeze blowing a flurry of snow sideways. Fenrin crouched as two wolves circled him. He licked his lips and tensed, waiting for them to strike.

    When they did he jumped to the side, pointing his sword up and impaling the one who¡¯d leapt at him. Its jaws snapped even as it died, digging it''s fangs into his arm. He ripped it free and heaved the large body off him.

    The first wolf bit his foot, pulling his legs out from under him and dragged him back. Fenrin reached for his sword but it was buried under the corpse. The wolf released him and stepped forward, eyeing his throat. Fenrin reached into his boot and pulled out a dagger, slashing the wolf''s muzzle as it bared its teeth to strike. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    It yelped and Fenrin fumbled to his feet before throwing himself on the beast. His arms locked around its neck as he tried to stay clear of its teeth and angle the knife into its throat.

    It threw back its head, clawing at his side with its front paw, ripping through his furs and leather and gashing him open. Fenrin reared back an arm and plunged the dagger into the wolf''s grey eye through to its brain. It whimpered and fell, it''s dark pink tongue lolling.

    Fenrin clutched his side. He''d won. The wolves held no more fear for him.

    He blinked, one hand on his side, the other on a bone jabbed into the eye socket of a maggoty wolf corpse lying on the stone floor. He jumped back disgusted. Niv applauded and a few cultists laughed amused.

    Fenrin fell back exhausted and flinched when something was thrown at his side. It was a piece of meat flopping wetly onto the stone. He took it, tearing it to pieces before wiping his mouth and searching for a way to get to the laughing mages. But the ring of black fire surrounded him and even as he approached, deciding to jump through to stop their laughter, he was yanked back.

    "How about this one?" Niv asked and he turned.

    A woman leapt at him, her daggers flashing. The fortress melted away into the dining hall and Lyra turned younger. Her blade nicked his cheek and his world spun and went black.

    No, no. That''s no fun. Try again.

    She lunged again and this time he knocked her blade aside and punched her in the face. She skidded back, holding a hand to her bloody nose in disbelief. He smirked at her.

    Finish her.

    Fenrin paused. That wasn''t right. It was until first blood.

    His heart began to pound in his chest and Lyra leered at him. Fenrin¡¯s breathing quickened and his muscles tensed as adrenaline suddenly surged through him. He wanted her to stop looking at him like that. Like she was better than him. Like she had any chance of winning.

    Stepping forward, he kicked her in the stomach. She coughed and turned to move away, but he planted a foot on her shoulder. Her sharp dagger stabbed him in the calf but he raised his sword and thrust down. It cut clean through her and embedded into the wood floor. Her face was shocked and blood bubbled up out of her mouth.

    He won.

    Fenrin was on his back on the stone. Water was dumped on him again and he gurgled and choked, turning on his bleeding side, his fingers slipping on the slick red floor.

    "Should we put him back in the cage, my queen?"

    He snarled in the direction of the speaker but once again his eyes could only see red blurs with the exception of Niv, who waved a hand and stood up, stepping down the steps. "No, bring him to my room."

    He tried to fight the arms that dragged him down the hall but he was too weak to move. He vaguely felt the pain in his side stop as he was dragged through the haze.

    The arms dropped him and a door shut. Again he tried to focus on his surroundings. The floor was soft, a plush carpet. Niv was sitting on a bed considering him. "You reacted so strongly to the cage. Why?"

    Her finger curled, beckoning him over and he moaned as the heat around his neck began. Fenrin dragged himself the few feet towards her and she placed a nail between his eyes.

    Fenrin paced the cell. How had he been so easily defeated? It was unthinkable. He kicked at the bars but they stubbornly remained unmoved. The door opened and the auburn haired bitch appeared holding a plate of food. He snarled at her, threatening her until she grimaced and left, shutting him the dark once more.

    He would kill her. Tear her to pieces and enjoy the sound of her screams. Her and her fake hunting party. Eventually she would make a mistake¡ªshe would slip and he would catch her.

    Ah, this is delicious.

    The memory continued to play, skipping to his most frustrated moments. Niv flipped back and forth over his life, forcing him to relive every battle, every pain and triumph in combat.

    He was boarding a ship, its sails ablaze. Men ran about, cutting down the enemy. Parrying a man''s sword easily, Fenrin slid the blade out of the lesser swordsman''s hand. He kicked him to the floor and moved forward to the next foe. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the itch to finish the job.

    Why?

    Fenrin paused and turned back to the man on the floor, scrambling to retrieve his sword. He kicked him down again and raised his own blade to neatly decapitate the man but once more his arm stayed. He frowned. There was a reason he didn''t strike but he couldn''t quite remember. He wanted to beat him, the urge powerful enough to distract him but it wasn''t enough to make him lower the sword. The man crawled away, escaping behind a few barrels.

    Fenrin stood there dumbfounded. Why? There was a determination behind this, he had decided not to kill when he''d boarded this ship. Why?

    Why indeed?

    He shouted at the woman. "I kept my promise! I followed every one of your damned rules."

    "So I suppose the other ship is sailing safely beside us?" she gestured at the cabin door.

    His annoyance turned to frustrated rage and he wanted to hit her, to make her apologize but instead he gritted his teeth.

    "No, the ship burned. Everyone on board is dead but I didn''t touch one of them."

    I don''t understand.

    He opened his eyes and Niv looked at him with disgust. "You disappoint me, Wolf. I thought you a soul of pure hatred but something holds you back from your potential."

    His brows furrowed. He had forgotten something. He''d made a promise.

    Without thinking he whispered, "Jayln."

    Niv''s face turned terrible and she slapped him, her nails cutting deep furrows in his cheek.

    "She ruined you! Crippled your potential!" Niv screeched and he backed away from her. Her flame-like hair danced lividly and he felt blood drip from his eyes once more staining his face.

    After a moment, Niv calmed and turned to him with a cruel smile. "Perhaps it is not too late. With the right push..."

    Fenrin crawled away, certain for one clear moment that she intended to take something precious from him but she tugged his leash and he fell back into her waiting lap.

    The right push...

    Jayln''s green eyes flashed angrily and she dropped into that strange stance of hers. Sword abandoned, she charged Fenrin. He held his ground and thrust his sword but she dodged, knocking it aside and closing the distance.

    They fought until he had her locked against him, falling forward so she was pinned beneath him. She struggled but finally stopped and they both laid there panting.

    Fenrin''s sight cleared of stars and he looked down into her dark green eyes. He hadn''t noticed before but her skin was speckled with light freckles, barely darker than her tanned skin. A different hunger grew and he kissed her.

    She bit him and he pulled back laughing. He licked the blood that dribbled off his lip as she pulled at his grip. "Get off of me."

    "I don''t think so."

    He held her down and she struggled again. "Get the hell off me!" A note of panic grew in her voice and it was sweet to Fenrin''s ears.

    "What if I order you to just lie there?" She froze and Fenrin used his legs and hand to shimmy her pants to her knees. He worked on his own belt.

    "If you do this, you''ll have to kill me after, or I''ll escape and my people will hunt you down."

    He laughed and lowered his face to whisper in her ear, "So I kill you, get more men and burn your village. You''re na?ve." He kissed the nape of her neck and she tried to flinch away.

    "If...if that was your plan all along, why even bother with the agreement? With sending your men away? Why not leave this morning?"

    "Without you?" he asked in mock love, his hand emerging to brush the hair from her face. He leered down at her face pale with wide eyes full of desperate thoughts.

    For a moment her face blurred, red eyes looked up fascinated against blue skin, but then it was once more Jayln''s deliciously terrified face.

    She tried to speak but he crushed the words with his mouth again. He jerked the end of her shirt up, pulling it up to her breasts. He leaned down, running his tongue over her ribs. She twisted under him and he grinned.

    She whimpered as he bit her side and his hand slipped beneath her and squeezed her ass. She flinched. "Please, no."

    He used his legs to spread hers wide and turned to lick her cheek and whisper, "Beg me."

    She stiffened and he laughed, then with no warning he thrust into her and she screamed. He bit at the crook of her neck.

    "Please."

    He smelled her tears and licked them up. He had her trapped more than she had ever held him. "Please stop, I-I''m begging you."

    For a moment he paused and began to lift his weight. She stopped trembling for a moment but he grinned and pushed into her again. He kissed her, pushing his tongue down her throat. She was shaking from both his actions and her horror.

    Her back arched and her hands slipped free of his grip, he pressed his fingers into the plush carpet and her sharp red nails dug into his back. He pulled away and enjoyed the look of her tearstained face, her auburn hair mixing with the red of his vision and the dim light.

    She headbutted him and he laughed as she tried to wriggle free and begin crawling away. He grabbed her shapely thigh and pulled her back. She screamed and as he tackled her, he pushed her blue knees up underneath her and shoved her face into the floor.

    When he was finished, she curled into a ball, her shaking hands trying to cover herself. He grinned and buckled his pants. "Na?ve, but no longer innocent." He laughed and turned to disappear into the trees.

    Niv replayed the rape over and over until Fenrin was exhausted but left with satisfaction that he had beaten the one who had imprisoned him. He lay at the foot of Niv''s bed, a smile on his sleeping face.

 37. Closing The Rift

    "No way am I going back there," Tryst said, his face pale.

    "Please, I have to seal it so it can¡¯t be rebuilt," Matius pleaded but Tryst shook his head.

    "No sir, I know better than to tempt fate twice."

    Matius scratched his hand anxiously before he seemed to come to a decision.

    "Look, this valley will soon be swarming with Brimstone scouts trying to find me and anyone associated with the rift''s explosion. If you get me to the rift, I can get you out of here quickly. I''ll bring you back to Aziron."

    Jayln frowned. "You were going to leave us before?"

    Matius winced guiltily. "It''s not¡ªlook the Arch Mage gave me this."

    He pulled a golden chain from underneath his robe. It had a blue glass sphere strung on it, the inside filled with swirls of purple light. "It''s what kept the demoness from knowing I was there. When I was done, I was to break the gem and it would open a portal back to the Arch Mage''s island. It''s not my magic and I''m not sure it can take all of us which is why I didn''t mention it earlier."

    Echa eyed the orb suspiciously and Tryst laughed. "We''re not daft. You can''t trick us into risking our lives over an imaginary bauble."

    Jayln looked at the orb. "I don''t know it looks pretty real to me."

    Tryst stopped laughing and squinted at her. "Jayln, be serious."

    "I am! It clearly isn''t a normal jewel."

    Tryst turned to Echa who said, "She¡¯s right, perhaps it proves some truth to his story."

    The ex-pirate held up a hand. "Wait a second. I don''t see any magic jewel."

    Matius turned to show it more clearly and Tryst waved at him as if proving a point. "See he''s holding nothing!"The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    The three stared at Tryst. Anwen mumbled, "Sir, there is really a necklace there."

    Tryst squinted again and leaned in. Matuis held the jewel protectively and when Tryst got closer Matius tucked it away and reached out to tap his forehead.

    "Hey whatchu¡ª"

    "Ah!" Matius exclaimed, examining his finger. "You''re demon touched."

    Tryst straightened. "What did you do to me?"

    Matius waved a hand still engrossed with his finger. "Nothing, nothing, just a quick test. Fascinating. The necklace''s enchantments seem to be affecting you." He looked up at Tryst and blinked. "I don''t suppose you''re possessed?"

    "Of all the...look here mister! I''ve never tampered with Brimstones in my life until today and I think I''d know if I were possessed."

    Echa dragged her daughter a step away from Tryst and he turned to her hurt. "Echa, really!"

    Matius held up a hand and murmured some words. A soft light began to shine from his eyes. He breathed a sigh of relief. "No, he''s not possessed, but I''m sorry to inform you some of your soul is missing."

    "Some of my¡ª" Tryst shivered. "Damn, I knew it."

    He gave Matius a wry grin, "So doc, how long have I got? I felt that monster tear me up on my way out. Guess he took a bite out of me after all."

    Matius prodded Tryst with a finger. "Hmmm. I''ve never met a demon touched before. Not often someone survives an encounter. Especially leaving with a torn soul. As far as I know you''ll live, though what happens after is up for debate. I''m sure the Arch Mage would like to examine you."

    "I''m not sure I like the sound of that.¡± Tryst grimaced. ¡°But if I''m not about to drop dead, I''ll take my chances...the afterlife and me have never been friends anyway."

    Matius coughed and then stuck out a hand. "Do we have a deal? You let me seal the rift and I''ll try to take you to Aziron."

    Tryst shivered again but stuck his hand in Matius''s. "Fine, but expect complaining."

    They moved carefully back through the trees, Tryst set his jaw as they exited the valley back towards the cave. His chattering teeth were audible and although he had a blanket wrapped around him, his shivering grew worse.

    He used it like a compass until, blue lipped he pointed a shaking finger through the trees. "T-t-there i-it is."

    Matius bounded forward and threw some dust from his pocket on the ground in front of the cave. He faced it, his hands palms out in front of him and began chanting. A wind picked up and flew around Matius. White and yellow flames licked his feet and then ribboned up to form a complete rune. He shut his fists and slammed them together. There was a snap Jayln felt more than heard and the wind stopped. Matius slumped a bit and he looked about dizzily.

    "That should do it."

    Tryst muttered something inaudible and then waved a hand. "Alright, then g-g-get us out of here."

 38. The Arch Mage

    Matius carefully removed the glass orb again. "Very well but I''m afraid I must go first. The Arch Mage expected me days ago and without my report, reinforcements will never come in time."

    "How can we be sure you won''t shut it behind you?" Jayln asked suspiciously.

    He winced. "I won''t, but I''m not sure it''ll stay open."

    "But¡ª" Echa snapped but Matius held out a hand.

    "But I promise if you don''t follow, I''ll send someone to rescue you. You have my word."

    "I don''t know if that means anything," Jayln said, her heart pounding her chest. Fenrin had taught her to keep her cards close and Matius was asking for blind faith.

    "Of course it does, it''s the promise of the Arch Mage''s Third Apprentice." Matius gave her a smile and then crushed the orb in his hand. There was a ripping sound and the air shimmered. Matius stepped into it quickly and disappeared.

    "Go, go!" Tryst pushed Echa and practically threw her daughter at the portal. They disappeared and Tryst nodded to Jayln. "Go on."

    She stepped through. Her eyes burned and her teeth hurt but after a moment she was on a cobblestone path. Tryst bumped into her and yelped as the portal closed with a snap, behind him, catching the blanket and pulling it off him back into the void.

    Matius walked up and patted them on the back. "Glad you could make it." He slung an arm over their shoulders. "Welcome to Aziron!"

    The area around them wasn''t so much different from other port cities, other than the fact that everything was brightly colored, the buildings practically a rainbow against the stony road. However, it was the people that Jayln gawked at.

    Their skin ranged from pale blue to a darker sapphire and almost all had jet black hair. A few stopped their walk to give the group that had just popped into the middle of the street a glance, but seeing Matius, continued about their day. A second look revealed some more oddities.

    Magic was everywhere. A woman levitating her groceries, a man waving to make the fire roasting his spear of meat bigger, or baubles that danced in the air behind store windows. Matius clapped to get their attention back.

    "Glad that worked and no one was lost in the interspace," he said cheerfully, "but we can''t stand around. Follow me."

    He spun about and started towards an ornate dock. No ships were tied to the stone slab that jutted out, instead there was a small obelisk. Matius held his hand on it and it glowed. The water shimmered and grew glassy, forming a path. Matius walked on it confidently and the others followed, trying not to look down.

    "Hold on to me, there''s a bit of a trick to not falling," Matius said and once he was sure they were all steady, he snapped and the water shot forward.

    They stumbled but Matius kept them standing as they glided quickly across the water towards a building that grew and grew. What had been a relatively small looking spire grew into a massive stone tower.

    A blue skinned woman with hair down to her ankles gave Matius a stern look. "What in the world, Matius?! Who are these people?"

    "Long story, Yi''za, but would you mind finding them a spot to sit down a moment. I need to talk to the Arch Mage right away."

    Jayln, despite feeling a bit sick from the odd travelling, managed to wave a hand. "Oh no you don''t. I''m not letting you out of my sight."

    Matius grabbed her hand from the air. "Fine, but be quick. Yi''za, be nice, they''ve been through a lot."

    Yanking Jayln forward, Matius sprinted up some stairs. Jayln''s head swam and she was sure the walls were spinning. In much less time than made sense, they were at the top. Matius anxiously rapped on the door.

    "Sir, sir! It''s Matius. I have news."

    The door opened to reveal an ancient man. He had a long grey beard and a bald head, tattooed with glyphs that seemed to glow. He looked towards them with opalescent blind eyes.

    "Who''s this?"

    Matius let go of Jayln. "Bystander. But sir, Niv is there. I don''t know how, but she has a host. She''s been opening rifts to try to free the others. I closed one that was dangerous close to releasing Enu. I''m sure a host was all they needed. She''s powerful and has gathered a good number of followers."

    The Arch Mage held up a hand and a golden sphere flew from one of the many tables littered with objects and papers. He turned it in his gnarled fingers and lights glimmered across its surface in shimmering bands. Black globs blossomed from some sections.

    "The balance has indeed shifted. Good work, my boy."

    Matius bowed. "Thank you, sir, but shouldn''t we move quickly. Jayln¡ªthat''s her¡ªand her companions were caught up in things and I had to blow my cover. Surely Niv will figure out who I was and know we''re coming. We mustn''t give her time to prepare."If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    "We can''t risk sending any viable hosts into the valley unless we are certain there are no other rifts. I sense there is still a great danger there, something stirring, a beastly being. Bak perhaps? Its stink is much like the Lord of Bloodlust and Rage. Are you certain there were no other rifts? Did you seal the valley?"

    Matius''s expression sank. "N...no, sir. I didn''t have time to seal the entire valley. I cleared the eastern edge and was almost finished with the north. Hak¡¯s rift was sealed to the south..."

    "And the west?"

    "There wasn''t time," Matius mumbled, but then he perked up, "But I was at their meetings and there was no mention of a second rift. I only heard of the one, Niv was set on her brother being the next through. Can we afford to let her continue to grow stronger?"

    The Arch Mage released the orb which floated away. His voice was stern but kind, "I understand your concern. It cannot have been easy to watch and do nothing but you know well that sending any viable host near that valley is a far greater risk. You have done well and deserve rest. I will send Fredrick and Loquin to investigate the western valley. Once they have finished what you started, we will act."

    Matius opened his mouth then closed it. He forced a smile and nodded. "As you wish. Please let me know if I can be of any other help." He snapped his fingers. "Oh yes, and I brought back three more of Jayln''s companions. One is demon touched¡ªsoul shredded¡ªif you want to take a look."

    The Arch Mage raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Fascinating. If he is well enough, send him to the Amethyst room and I''ll texamine him."

    With that the old man turned away and a number of books flew in front of him, dominating his attention. Jayln moved forward to object, but Matius held a finger to his lips and pulled her out of the room. They went down a dozen steps before Jayln dug in his heels, wrenching her hand from Matius''s.

    She glanced back but saw only curved stairwell. Letting out an exasperated sigh, she asked in strained voice, "Could you please explain what''s going on?"

    Matius leaned against the wall and sank down until he was sitting on one of the stone steps. "Yes. Sorry. You heard of the Accursed Ones?"

    Jayln sat down next to him. "Always thought they were a nightmare tale for children. Demons right?"

    "That''s one name for them. Evil gods, reflections of mankind''s mistakes, the Pantheon of Darkness, they have plenty of titles. Point is they''re powerful, immortal, and hate everything good in the world. While Brimstones is usually just the colloquial name for their followers, the Pantheon itself is the real threat. The Azir and the Pantheon have been at war since the world began."

    "Wait, the Azir? As in the entire nation?"

    Matius bobbed his head. "Well not the nation per se. More like the race. I''m sure you noticed the biological differences in town."

    "You mean the blue? Like Niv''s skin"

    "Yup.¡± Matius snapped his fingers. ¡°Niv''s body used to be some poor Azir girl. There are many theories, mainly theological, on why but the Pantheon can only inhabit Azir bodies. More specifically, pureblooded Azir bodies. Not that the pureblood part is much of a deterrent since Azir rarely choose to marry outside of Aziron, so you can see the danger."

    "Why not just...marry outside the gene pool?"

    "Well there''s complications there. The point is, it''s very dangerous for an Azir to go near any portal to the Pantheon''s realm. So when we caught wind that a portal may be open, I was sent in."

    "Since you''re not Azir."

    "Precisely. I could close any rift I found and provide the vital surveillance without the risk of becoming a host."

    Jayln shook her head and held out her hands. "Hold on. How come, I''ve never heard of any of this? You''d think dark gods emerging from portals would have been some big news."

    Matius snorted. "Well that depends on under which rock you came from." Jayln shot him a look and he held up his hands defensively. "I''m just saying, you had never even heard of the Arch Mage!"

    He held up a finger and added proudly, "Besides, it doesn''t often happen. We''re pretty good at keeping the Brimstones in check. It''s very rare they actually manage to open a rift, let alone get a host."

    "You keep saying we."

    Matius gestured around, "Yes, we. The mages of Aziron. I told you I was Third Apprentice to the Arch Mage. That''s a pretty big deal, especially for a yuji like me."

    "Yuji?"

    "Non-Azir. I was found as a baby by the Arch Mage. There aren''t a lot of us who can practice strong magic."

    Jayln''s brows furrowed as she tried to place everything together. "So you were sent because you were yuji and that''s why the Arch Mage won''t go to the valley until he''s sure there''s no other rifts."

    Another snap. "You got it. He''s sending the only other two competent yuji mages." Matius frowned. "I hope they''ll be okay. They aren''t very powerful and even though I''m pretty sure there is no second rift, the Arch Mage''s premonitions are rarely wrong."

    Jayln put her arms between her legs looking down at her hands. "A beast. What was the name he mentioned."

    "Bak, Lord of Bloodlust and Rage," Matius repeated, "Not a fun guy as I''m sure you can imagine. The rift we closed was for Niv''s brother, Enu, Lord of Despair and Madness. Thank you for that by the way."

    Jayln shook her head. "Thank you for saving us. I just..." She covered her face with her hands. "I don''t know what to do now. I''ve lost Fenrin. Everything happened so quickly. I don''t even know where I am."

    Matius gently placed a hand on her back. "Hey, don''t cry. You''re safe. There are not many safer places than the Arch Mage''s tower."

    Jayln turned knocking off his hand, it was all a bit too much. She''d gambled on Fenrin¡ªstayed with him much longer than she really had reason to. She''d had a half-hope that when Fenrin found his answer, she''d find hers.

    It''d been months since she was home and now she was on the other side of En.

    "I''m not worried about me! I failed my village! Fenrin was supposed to be our answer, then I thought maybe it would be the valley, and now they''re both gone. On top of it, now I find out I need to add evil death gods to my list of threats?! I wish I''d never left home."

    She started to cry and Matius tentatively reached out his hand again. This time she didn''t stop him and he pulled her closer to him.

    "I''m sorry. It''s going to be okay," he murmured to her until she was able to take a deep breath and wipe her eyes.

    "Look, " Matius said, giving her a kind sincere smile, "If there''s anything I can do to help, just ask."

    Jayln gave him a small smile in return. "I don''t suppose you can turn back time?" Matius shook his head and she brushed her hair back. "Well then, how about some food. I''m famished."

    Matius brightened and helped her up. "That I can do."

 39. Targeted

    The pain wouldn''t stop but Fenrin didn''t care. It kept him awake and as long as he was awake, she wasn''t sifting through his head. In his more lucid moments he knew something wasn''t right, that his memories no longer made sense, but mostly he knew he wanted out. Out of his cage and out of the damned cold chain that wrapped around his red raw neck.

    Another black glob of magic splashed into the cage, it''s lightless droplets sizzling and burning his skin. He howled in pain and the people below laughed. Many were growing tired of the game, but a few were regular players. He knew their faces, marked them in his mind, and occasionally managed enough lucidity to picture their horrible deaths.

    A small pleasure but one of the only ones he had.

    The cage shook and started to lower. Fenrin twitched in anticipation. What now? Another hellhound? Niv had been quite impressed when he had managed to kill the one that had formed from black fire.

    He shouldn''t have survived. It had mauled his front, gutting him even as he choked the life out of it. But a touch of Niv''s inky blue finger and he was again on the knife''s edge between death and life. It was there he was stuck, covered in more wounds than untouched skin. Some had healed, quickly but poorly into gnarled scars. Again most likely due to Niv''s interference.

    The cage hit the floor and his shoulder crashed into the bars painfully. They were spiked and the barbs dug into his skin. He stared into the dark looking for a way out but there was only the distant crowd of hooded figures, Niv, and Bastard #1¡ª the pale man who most enjoyed tormenting Fenrin when he was caged.

    Niv gave her thin smile when she saw the calculating look in his eyes as he sized up the distance between him and the man. "Oh, Bordt, you''ve done so well to foster such delicious rage."

    Bastard #1 gave a proud sweeping bow and Niv clapped her hands. "Let''s try a new game."

    Fenrin stumbled as his vision blurred. Niv''s eyes seemed to glow splitting into four stars of light in his vision. He fell to one knee, his cursed forehead burning.

    As the Wolf regained focus, the door was open and Bastard #1 had his back turned. At that point instinct took over. He charged the man, taking him from behind. He tore at him, crushing his chest beneath one knee and pummeling his face.

    The man screamed and the Wolf grinned. He worked quickly, uncertain when someone might step in. After the face was a bloody mess, he reached behind the man''s head and twisted. He was just anticipating the crack and the limp body, when he was yanked back. He cracked his own skull against the stone and felt hot blood dribble down the back of his neck as he sat up much too quickly in an attempt to finish off his prey.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    Bastard #1 was being dragged away. "No! I''m not finished!" he roared and tried to move forward.

    His legs gave out and he only managed to stumble and fall on his face. The chains pulled him back towards the cage and he scrambled to stop himself. Niv had a hand raised and the pull didn''t stop until he was on the tips of his knees in the center of the cage, just short of being hung, the space not allowing him room to get his feet under him. The door closed and he was dropped down.

    Fenrin¡¯s head swam and to his horror he felt himself slip into unconsciousness.

    He was in the crowd. What a bunch of pathetic zealots. He and his father had killed enough Brimstones to know that individually they were all pathetic wastes of space. But the being that they worshiped...he looked at her and felt fear. He had to get out, if she found him it would be over. He turned and saw a man glancing at him. The man was not looking at Niv in worship, instead he was fingering an amulet and giving Fenrin a nervous look.

    This man didn''t belong either. The crowd''s energy changed as Niv scanned the crowd. She knew. Fenrin had to slip out now. The other man moved towards him.

    "Follow me," he whispered. The two crept back, making it to one of the narrow halls. Fenrin turned to the man who for a moment gave a distantly familiar thin smile. He seemed to flicker and then there was a flash of light.

    "He''s here!" said the man''s voice and, blinded, Fenrin stumbled. Black cloaked hands grabbed him and as his vision cleared, Fenrin saw the other man run away through the gap in the crowd caused by Fenrin''s capture. He''d been played. He roared as the zealots pinned him down with numbers. He''d remember that face. He''d kill him.

    A splash of water, which Fenrin''s body eagerly licked up without his consent, woke him. Niv''s fingers curled on his jaw, he was unable to move.

    "Sleep well, pet? I have a special treat for you today."

    Fenrin trembled, trying to command his limbs to do anything to get him away from Niv¡¯s touch. Her fingers traced down to his chest and Fenrin felt energy rush through him like adrenaline. His hunger disappeared and his exhaustion waned.

    "Bordt has betrayed us. He and his companion are trying to make their way out of this valley but you won''t let them leave alive, will you? Not when he has so much to answer for."

    Fenrin tried to recall the name. Ah yes, Bastard #1. But didn''t he...his mind grew fuzzy. Niv''s nails curled, piercing his skin like needles. Small driblets of blood bubbling beneath them.

    "How disappointing. You can''t reach there yourself yet. Well no worries, pet, I''ll help you."

    He howled as pain split his head. Released he curled into a ball as agony rushed through him, one face pulsing through the pain. He had to kill him. Had to see him beg for mercy. His hatred and rage pulled him out of his fetal position. The Wolf reached out, feeling not hard metal but soft earth. His eyes focused and he was in the forest.

    He only glanced around for a moment before a thought came to him. He''s out here. I''ll find him. The Wolf was out for the hunt.

 40. Answers

    "I don''t get it. If Fenrin gave up his title, why''d you stay with him. He basically broke your bargain," Matius asked, setting some books aside and laying out the tea set.

    Jayln plopped herself into her usual seat near the fire. "I don''t know. At the time I was a bit shocked at what he''d done. It was so contrary to what I expected, I was thrown. Also it was the bargaining chip between us and a ship full of angry pirates so I wasn''t going to say anything then."

    Matius poured two cups, handing her one. "Ok, fair. But when you got to sea, shouldn''t you have renegotiated?"

    Jayln sipped the tea. Chamomile. "Probably. I guess I was fascinated and a bit distracted. Between the drama with the slaves and then having the children there, I guess I went into protection mode. All I wanted was for Fenrin to stop and settle himself."

    She put the cup down, waving her hands in an attempt to articulate. "It''s like when you see something special, like a bird hatching or a child walking for the first time. You don''t want to move or breathe or do anything, just want to watch the little miracle unfold. Fenrin was on the cusp of something, defying everything I or anyone else ever expected. I just wanted to see his dream become reality."

    "So...you''re comparing Fenrin the Wolf to a baby bird?"

    Jayln laughed, rubbing her forehead. "Okay, strange analogy."

    She glanced at Matius who was giving her that look again. Those soft blue eyes had a way of cutting through any front, but not in an intrusive way. More like someone coming in for a hug before you can stop them. He never seemed to grow bored of hearing about her and those eyes seemed so curious to know what she herself couldn''t figure out.

    He leaned forward. "It still doesn''t make sense. You''re a very driven woman and you risked so much for this mission to save your village. Why abandon it for so long?" Jayln recoiled a bit and Matius held up a hand. "Sorry, abandon was the wrong word. It just doesn''t seem like you to set something so important aside."

    Jayln sighed. This had been bothering her as well for the two weeks she''d been tarrying in Aziron. If she''d taken one of Matius''s various options home, she could have been there by now. Instead she continued to spend her days here. Learning more about Aziron...and Matius.

    "Maybe it was because I was beginning to doubt this could be," she murmured.

    "I''m sorry?" He picked up his cup again, giving her a quizzical look and she blushed. She hadn''t meant to say that out loud.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "This. Aziron is a peaceful place with kind people. After what I saw with Fenrin, the more I learned about the threats and state of the world. I think I began to lose hope that a peaceful future was possible."

    "And seeing Fenrin changed your mind?"

    Jayln started. That was it.

    "Yes," she said surprised. "After being shown all the dishonestly, the horrible things he could do, he was the one who took the first step. He wanted to change, something I had come to think was impossible. And I suppose I thought, if he could do it. If Fenrin the Wolf could really find a place in the world I was becoming more and more scared of, maybe there was hope. And he wasn''t doing it through force or pride, he was doing it out of his own desire to have peace¡ªdespite what he might have said out loud."

    "And that''s what you taught him," Matius commented.

    "You think so?" Jayln wondered, that was indeed what she had told him her people strove for. Perhaps she really had gotten to him.

    "I know so." Matius smiled and she drank some tea to hide her face.

    The pleasant thoughts were broken by her last memory of Fenrin, writhing in pain. She put the cup down with trembling hands. "But then..."

    Matius moved and took her cup. "I know."

    They sat in silence for a moment. Jayln sighed, "I shouldn''t be here. I should go home, figure out another plan."

    "You''re probably right and I''m running out of ideas on how to convince you otherwise," Matius said and Jayln looked at him surprised. He gave a sheepish grin. "I admit it. I don''t want you to go. If I could fit your entire village in this room I would."

    Jayln smiled, amused. It was a tight fit. Matius had converted his study into a living quarters for Jayln. That meant his incredible collection of books and other academic equipment was piled through the remaining three rooms of his suite in the tower. But as he had said at the time, the study had been the only other room with a door and he wasn''t going to have her sent to some random inn on the mainland.

    She was beginning to realize that Matius''s pride at being Third Apprentice was well earned. Very few people were permitted on the island, fewer still lived there. Matius was well respected, even if he was a yuji. Others came to him for advice, both academic and personal.

    He was kind and intelligent but Jayln thought he also seemed a little sad. Although in most aspects he was the complete opposite of Fenrin, in one way they were similar. Both seemed unhappy with where they were, both incredibly conscious that they shouldn''t be given the positions they held.

    She reached over and held Matius''s hand. The words were in her throat but she didn''t have the courage to say them. She didn''t want to leave...she wanted...

    There was a sharp knock on the door. Matius turned, his eyes flashing with magic and the door swung open. It was one of the lower apprentices, assistants in white robes. "Matius, sir, the Arch Mage wants to see you at once. He sent this."

    The young boy held out a letter and it flew to Matius who opened it. His face grew ashen and Jayln stood up. "What is it?"

    Matius looked up. "Fredrick and Loquin are dead."

 41. The Hunt

    He was on their trail, he was certain. They were not very stealthy nor good at hiding their tracks, although some basic effort had been put in. It was just two.

    Both middle-sized men wearing robes. Mages were tricky. The Wolf had fought his fair share of magic users and he was now intimately familiar with the pain these men''s spells could bring and so he crept forward silently.

    It was only a few hours before he found them. They were pausing at a small stream so he grabbed a fist sized rock and grew closer. As one bent over to examine the ground, the rock whistled toward the man still standing. It hit the back of his skull with a crack.

    The Wolf leapt on the kneeling man, forcing his face into the sharp rocks beneath the clear stream. Red trails flowed with the current and the man struggled. But the Wolf knelt on his back and this time nothing stopped him from snapping his prey''s neck.

    He whirled around and snarled with delight. Despite the blood dripping onto his neck, the other man was alive. It was Bastard #1, his eyes glazed and confused. The Wolf bowled into him, easily knocking the lighter man down to the floor.

    Now it was one on one, he could take his time. He placed a knee on the mage''s windpipe, silencing any magic he might try to summon, and then turned his attention to the hands.

    Blue fire flickered at the fingertips, the pale blue light making the skin take the same hue. He started with the index, snapping each digit one by one. His prey gurgled and twitched beneath him, face growing paler and paler. The Wolf lifted his knee so he could hear the man¡¯s cries of pain.

    "I told you I would kill you," the Wolf growled and got off the man who rolled, clutching his broken hand to his chest. Golden light began to emanate and until the Wolf kicked him viciously in the side. The healing spell had stopped the bleeding and the mage¡¯s eyes grew more focused.

    The Wolf kicked him again but to his surprise the man managed to catch his foot with his unmangled hand. The contact did nothing to stop the blow but blue fire wove up his assailant¡¯s leg, burning hot. Grunting, the Wolf took a step back.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    His cold grey eyes narrowed and the mage desperately whispered a few words and vanished. The Wolf stood still and waited. The grass moved against the small breeze but he didn''t move, pretending he saw nothing.

    Taking a few steps parallel to the invisible man''s moments, the Wolf continued to feign confusion. The mage hesitated, holding still from fear. In that moment, the Wolf calculated his position, grabbing his shoulder and kicking his knee to the side. This time the man''s agonized yell echoed loud and untempered. He blinked back into view and the Wolf pulled him off the ground.

    The injured man desperately pushed against his attacker''s face with his hand, which glowed and the Wolf¡¯s thoughts scrambled. The confusion wasn''t enough to temper his bloodlust since his mind was already in shambles. Easily able to hold the man up with one hand, he wrapped the other around his throat.

    The mage choked and tried one more trick. His hand crackled with lightning and he dug his fingers into the choking arm. The lightning danced and the Wolf spasmed, his grip opening and the mage fell to the floor.

    The Wolf rode through the pain and when his twitching stopped, he was on his prey again before he could even stand. He crushed the offending sparking arm underfoot and knelt, pounding the mage''s face with quickly bloodied knuckles. The man lost consciousness quickly but the Wolf kept going.

    Skin split, an eye burst, and one of the Wolf''s own fingers broke but exhilaration coursed through him. The smell of blood, the feeling of both his and the mage¡¯s pain, it was intoxicating. When he realized the man''s chest still rose in rattled breaths he laughed.

    Dragging the near corpse over to the stream, the Wolf tossed him, letting the desperate organs struggle and fail as the four inches of red water filled his victim¡¯s lungs.

    The Wolf cleaned his knuckles upstream, the euphoria fading and the aches returning. He was about to stand and leave when a pulse of pain seared his forehead and he blacked out.

    Fenrin awoke in the cage. For a half-lucid moment he felt despair before his vision went red as Niv appeared.

    "Good hunt, my pet. You are impressive and I think I''ll keep you around a while longer yet. But a hunting dog is what you are, let''s make sure you know that."

    She placed a slender finger on his forehead and his mind went blank.

    "Hunt," she cooed and like a fire flickering to life, memories of tracking and killing the mages surged forward. The Wolf grinned with returning taste of the thrill. Who was next? Who would writhe under his hands?

    "Heel." The word extinguished the thought and Fenrin¡¯s world was silent and dark again.

 42. The Hunter

    "Sir, are you sure they''re dead?" Matius asked, his face still pale.

    The Arch Mage raised a wizen eyebrow at Jayln''s presence in the chamber but nodded. "It was a dangerous mission and I could not equip them as I did you. So I gave them inheritance bands with a special enchantment of my own."

    Matius sucked in his breath and Jayln looked back and forth wondering what that meant. Matius had taught her enough to know that enchanting items was the hardest form of magic and so were very rare and valuable.

    The Arch Mage guestured Matius over to a basin of water and Jayln stubbornly followed, despite the Arch Mage¡¯s increasingly obvious cold shoulder.

    "The bands themselves prove they have perished, the inheritors already informing me the transfer has taken place. However, I added an extra spell, one of questionable origin but I felt it necessary. Their last memory should have been preserved in these." The Arch Mage held up a small vial with a drop or two of liquid in it.

    ¡°In the event of their deaths, the inheritors each shed tears which should contain the last thing Fredrick and Loquin saw.¡± He turned the vial over and a drop fell into the pool which grew dark and swirled.

    A stream came into view along with a voice Jayln didn''t recognize.

    We need to finish this quadrant quickly. I don''t care if Fred believes me or not, I can tell we''re being watched. Maybe we can¡ª

    The voice stopped suddenly and the stream lurched closer, the rocks filling the view and growing red, then a shift and darkness. They stared as the scene returned to the golden bottom of the basin. Matius muttered, "A surprise attack."

    The Arch Mage nodded and quickly unstopped the second bottle.

    A man knelt down to fill his waterskin, his black, curly hair had reddish tones that stood out against his pale skin. The scene blurred and changed to grass and stone. A splash and a sickening crack. The scene refocused and a figure came into view. It was a man, bare chested and pale.

    Before a face could be made out, the man charged and the scene shifted as the viewer was pushed into the ground. An scarred arm covered the view and the scene jostled like the viewer had flinched. A leg, pants torn and dark could be made out and for a moment a pale blue hand struggled against it before disappearing from sight.

    At last, a clear view of the attacker as he leaned over, a horrifying familiar wolfish grin on his face.

    "Fenrin!" Jayln shouted, pushing forward to look closer.

    It was without a doubt Fenrin the Wolf. His grey eyes were hard and focused, he bore his teeth, and his expression...it was twisted in hate. A symbol, Niv''s symbol, looked carved into his forehead, a dark red mark. Half healed cuts and more gnarled scars than made sense for him to have also covered his face.

    "I told you I would kill you," he growled.

    The face disappeared.

    Who? What? Gods, my hand, it''s....I have to focus...have to clear my head.

    The scene rolled sideways and grew dark until a soft golden glow rimmed the edge.

    I''ve got to slow him down. Give myself a second. My hand...

    Fenrin reappeared, this time towering above. He kicked out and the blue hand caught the leg, azure fire racing up it. Fenrin howled. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    That''s it, that should make him pause. Now to give myself time. I''ll disappear and throw him off.

    Fenrin did pause and blink, looking confused but Jayln knew he was faking, his body still coiled. "No," she whispered, "don''t try it."

    The three onlookers watched helplessly as the assumedly invisible victim stood up and started to move. Fenrin walked too, not quite towards him. The scene hesitated and Fenrin''s eyes look right at them. He moved fast and grabbed the man.

    My leg! The thought was agonized and Fenrin lifted the view above his head. I can''t...breathe....have to....

    The hand pressed against Fenrin''s face.

    Confuse him...ah his mind...it''s...

    The bowl went red and sparked black until blue light cleared the fog. The hand was sending lightning towards Fenrin''s arm. The view fell to the floor.

    I did it. I need to run but my leg. Speed, heal, run...

    But Fenrin was on top of him again and his fists pounded with fury. Jayln had to look away but she could still hear.

    I can''t. He''s not human. I-I''m sorry. I don''t want to die. I don''t¡ª

    It went quiet and Jayln covered her mouth, breathing through her nose trying to keep the bile down. The Arch Mage''s voice was hard and cold. "You know that monster?"

    Matius put his arm around her and she leaned into him, rubbing tears from her eyes.

    "Answer me!" The Arch Mage raised his voice and the air crackled with energy.

    "Sir, please, a moment," Matius said softly but a look from his master and he stepped back, releasing Jayln who wrapped her arms around herself.

    "I-It was Fenrin. He was with us, but he didn''t get out. Niv got him. I thought he was dead." She turned her gaze at the Arch Mage, her eyes flashing. "What''s wrong with him? What was that?" she asked, gesturing to her forehead.

    The Arch Mage pulled at his beard. "If I didn''t know better, I''d think that was Bak''s avatar. However, he was no Azir and that mark was definitely Niv''s. I do not know what she has done to your friend but clearly he is possessed. No ordinary man could so quickly dispatch of Fredrick and Joquin. I''m sorry, but your friend is gone"

    "Fenrin could," Jayln said, thinking out loud. "He could, he''d killed mages before. He''s not a regular man. Maybe he thought they were Niv''s people. Maybe he''s trying to get out."

    Matius stepped in front of her. "Jayln, that wasn''t the face of a man trying to get out. He attacked them in cold blood. He could have just walked past them. Besides he said he''d met them before."

    Jayln shook her head. He was hurt and no doubt desperate. In such a situation, he must have let out the wild side he always warned her about. "He''s regressed. I told you, when I first met him, he was only interested in murder and power. Did you see those wounds? He''s trapped and angry but I think it''s still him."

    Matius turned to the Arch Mage for help but the old man paused. "His wounds...it has only been two weeks. Did he always have those scars?"

    Jayln shook her head, "He had a few but nothing like that."

    The Arch Mage nodded, "Those were healed by magic then, although not well. There was no way Joquin had seen Fenrin before. He would have sent a message. Even if he sent it just before he died, it would have arrived by now. Besides, Fredrick and Joquin were much too relaxed at first to have encountered anyone in the valley."

    "''I told you I would kill you'' that''s what he said. Joquin had no idea who he was. So did Fenrin know who he was killing?" Matius wondered out loud.

    Jayln looked at the Arch Mage for answers. The man''s brows furrowed and a few random objects begin to float around him. She looked at Matius alarmed but he whispered, "That happens when he''s thinking."

    The Arch Mage began to pace. "This Fenrin, he''s been tortured by Niv. But how then has he escaped or even lived this long? Why attack Joquin so viciously?"

    "Maybe he''s cursed again?" Jayln prompted, "When we first encountered the rift, Fenrin got hit by a curse. It made him relive his worst memories. He attacked us a few times, thinking we were his sister or other enemy."

    "That curse does show a mark but it glows faintly.¡± The Arch Mage tapped his forehead. ¡°The one we saw was part of him, engraved into his flesh, but it does seem probable that he thought Joquin was someone else. It would explain what he said and the pure brutality of the attack." He paused. "Who exactly is this Fenrin. I need to understand how deviant what we saw was from his normal behavior."

    Matius whistled and Jayln''s shoulders slumped. A chair made its way over to her by invisible means and she sat down. "Well, from what I know, it''s not too far off from his worst. Have you heard of Bryn the Bear?"

 43. Destiny

    The tale took some telling and the Arch Mage asked detailed questions, some leaving Jayln questioning if they related at all. Nevertheless, with Matius''s quiet encouragement she told all she knew. When she was done, the Arch Mage leaned back in the plush armchair he had summoned over for himself.

    "Hmmm. From what you''ve told me, I can understand why Niv would take an interest in your friend. The Pantheon feeds off their elements. His life of pain and hatred would be a feast she would be unwilling to finish quickly. Somehow she¡¯s even used him to destroy us, a horrifying notion on two fronts. As her new weapon, a strong and experienced fighter makes up for the usual weaknesses of mages and Pantheon zealots, the perfect bodyguard. Second it means she knew we were in the valley."

    The Arch Mage stood. "I should have listened to you, Matius, and acted weeks ago. We will prepare to assault the valley."

    "But what if she''s opened another rift?" Matius asked.

    The Arch Mage turned to Jayln. "I have a theory. Your friend, the demon-touched one. He has been resistant to my examinations and I have not pressed. However, I believe that he would be able to sense proximity to a rift¡ª at least one that led to Enu. If I''m right that Niv will stick to attempting to summon her brother first, he would be vital in ensuring we don''t deliver exactly what Niv needs."

    "So Tryst needs to come," Jayln said simply and the Arch Mage nodded. "He won''t want to," she added.

    "I predict so as well. With so many lives on the line, I am not above taking him with force but I would prefer if he could be convinced. Talk to him, if it is payment he would take, we can provide a sum."

    Jayln nodded. "I''m coming too. I''m yuji, so won''t be a liability."

    The Arch Mage agreed and Jayln nudged Matius. "Take me to Tryst. I can''t do that stairs thingy."

    Matius smiled and gave the Arch Mage a bow before whisking Jayln down the magic stairs. Tryst, Echa, and Anwen had been boarded in an inn on the mainland. Matius had generously paid for three weeks, but even now the ex-pirate had shown little sign of vacating.

    Jayln knocked on the door. "Tryst, it''s me. We need to talk. Now."

    Tryst opened the door, a bottle dangling from his hand and the smell of rum on his breath. "Hrm. Sounds urgent."

    He let her push through the doorway. Despite Tryst''s disheveled state, the room was neat and tidy. Jayln turned back to the man, who leaned against the door as it shut.

    "Tryst, Fenrin''s alive."

    His half-hooded, uninterested eyes widened and he stood up straight, revealing how much of his drunkenness was an act. "The captain''s alive?"

    "He''s being tortured by Niv. He''s gone berserk and killed two mages. The Arch Mage himself is going to assault the valley. We have to go with them and rescue him."

    Tryst glanced for a moment at Matius. The Third Apprentice shifted uncomfortably, knowing he was a terrible liar and Tryst instantly realized there was something they weren''t telling him.

    He took another long draft from his bottle and belched. "No offence, but we weren''t exactly holding our own last time, Jay. Sounds like a suicide mission for us normal types." Tryst nodded at Matius. "Good luck, man. Tell the captain I''ll have a drink ready."

    Jayln scowled. "We need you!"

    Matius nudged her but she shot him a sharp look and he backed off.

    "Oh?" A smile crept onto Tryst''s face as he smelled opportunity.

    Jayln had no patience for his games. "Yes, you and your...broken soul. The Arch Mage says he thinks you can sense if another rift¡¯s been opened. We have to know that because if there is one and an Azir go near it, Enu, Niv''s brother, will possess the Azir and we''ll have a bigger problem to deal with."

    Tryst grew pale and he shivered. "Not exactly a convincing speech, love. If anything, it had quite the opposite effect."

    Moving forward, Jayln grabbed Tryst and pinned him against the wall. "Listen, I know you''re not the heroic type but if you don''t help and another demon shows up and defeats the Arch Mage, do you really think you''ll be safe? He''s had a taste of your soul and I''d bet it''d be easy for him to find the rest. You''d be on the run."

    Tryst pushed her off. "You have no proof of that. The mages prodded me enough for me to know they don''t know squat about my soul."

    "What about Fenrin? Don''t you owe it to your captain to try to save him?"

    "Anything that can hurt that man, I''d not stand a chance against. It''d be a losing battle."

    "Like running into a cave full of Brimstones to snatch a girl off the altar?" Jayln prodded and Tryst flinched but then shrugged.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    "Did that. Lost part of my soul as you so poignantly pointed out. As you said, I''m not the heroic type."

    "Echa thinks you are," Jayln stated and Tryst threw the bottle, which shattered against the far wall.

    "Well maybe she''s wrong! Maybe I did one good thing in my life and that''s it. Quota fulfilled. I can''t change who I am!"

    Jayln stared at him and said softly, "Fenrin did. He changed more than anyone, even me, thought was possible. People can change and everytime they do, the world gets a little bit better and I for one I''m not going to let some bitch of hell and darkness undo all that with the snap of a finger.¡±

    She let go of Tryst. ¡°I''m going back to that valley. I can''t sense rifts or shoot fire from my fingers, but I''ll put an arrow or fist through anyone that believes the world needs any more darkness than it already has."

    Tryst glared at her. "Well good for you. Have fun dying."

    "Have fun finding a job," Matius said from the side and both turned to him.

    The mage shrugged. "I heard you''d started job hunting and it wasn''t going well. I know how hard it is to be a yuji in Aziron, but I can''t imagine what it''s like to be an ex-pirate yuji in Aziron. Not a lot of marketable skills without implicating yourself."

    Tryst stuck a thumb out and asked Jayln, "What''s he going on about?"

    Jayln looked at Matius wondering the same thing.

    Matius continued nonchalantly, "You''ve got this room for a week but after that..." He shrugged again. "I saw Echa shopping at the market so I guess she''s figured something out. From the look of you, I''d guess she even bought you that rum."

    Tryst grew steely eyed but Matius continued without pause, "Wouldn''t you like to be back on your feet? The Arch Mage is offering to pay you for your services. Just tell us if you get the shivers¡ªno heroics required."

    The Third Apprentice gave Tryst an innocent smile and the ex-pirate rubbed his neck. "Should''ve led with that. When do we leave?"

    Jayln''s jaw dropped but Matius took her arm and walked towards the door. "I''ll come get you in an hour or so. Try to freshen up a bit. Would two thousand work for you?"

    "That''ll do nicely." Tryst grinned and swept the door closed. "Pleasure doing business with you."

    Matius pulled Jayln down the road, hushing her whenever she tried to talk until they were skimming across the water back to the Arch Mage¡¯s island.

    "What the hell, Matius?" she said but couldn''t stop from smiling. Matius winked and she exclaimed, "I didn''t think he''d do it for the money. I honestly didn''t."

    "He didn''t." At her confused look, Matius gave her a nudge. "You got to him. He just needed a way out that didn''t make him feel like he''d lost to you. It''s easier to be a mercenary than a hero."

    She shook her head, realizing he was right. "Still, thank you."

    "Don''t thank me yet. I''m sure he''ll find out we would''ve taken him anyway eventually and I don''t think he''ll like that."

    Jayln grinned. "I''ll handle it."

    Arriving on the island, Matius walked along the coast and Jayln followed. He sat down on a bench, positioned to overlook the azure waves of the ocean. She sat next to him and they stared out towards the sea.

    "Jayln, can you promise me something?"

    She took his hand, "What?"

    "If Fenrin doesn''t make it...well, just promise me you''ll be ready for that possibility."

    Jayln turned to him. "I''m not an idiot. I understand the chances are slim."

    "No, no. It''s just¡ª" Matius waved a hand trying to find the right words.

    Finally he took Jayln''s other hand, holding them both tightly as he looked at her. "You have this idea in your head that Fenrin''s fate is the world''s fate. I just don''t want to see you lose hope if one man doesn''t make it. I get that Fenrin''s change was inspiring but if he can''t win, it doesn''t mean no one can. There are plenty of good people in this world, you don''t have to try to make them yourself."

    Jayln mulled over that, stopping herself from denying it outright. She was beginning to accept that Fenrin had become an obsession. What had started out as an experiment had turned into a fascination and now she was about to risk her life over a man she had once considered irredeemable. She looked at Matius''s kind concerned face, leaned forward, and kissed him.

    When she pulled away his face was a pleasant shade of pink. "I promise. I''ll let him go if that''s what it comes to."

    "Gods. Oh um, yes, good. Glad to hear," Matius stumbled nervously and she leaned against his shoulder.

    She wanted to enjoy this moment, but her mind was still considering the battle ahead. Jayln was willing to let Fenrin go, but something still told her that she should fight for him. That he was worth saving. "Have you ever felt like someone entered your life for a reason? Like there was some purpose they had to play?"

    Matius gave a small laugh. "I''m sorry. It''s just a funny thing to say, considering." She blushed at the implication but he shook his head. "I know that''s not what you meant but it''s also funny because that''s the reason I''m here."

    "What do you mean?"

    "I told you the Arch Mage found me and adopted me, despite me being yuji. It was a controversial decision for many reasons. When he then took me on as his apprentice, something Azir worked their whole lives for, there were many who straight up resented me. I used to ask him all the time¡ªwhy me? Every Azir had a specialty, a quirk or talent they excel at. The Arch Mage''s has always been divination, for years he''s been known as an eccentric who makes decisions off gut feeling but he''s also known for being right."

    Matius smiled, looking into the distance. "When I asked ¡®why me¡¯, he said something similar to what you said¡ªthat he had a feeling I had been there for a reason. That there was a purpose I had to play. Coming from him, that was both reassuring and a bit terrifying. Not to mention a lot of pressure for a kid."

    He shifted his hand, their fingers still intertwining.

    "After that, fewer people questioned my being here. Sure, people still resented me, especially younger Azir, but it soon became clear the value in having a capable yuji mage. I have closed over a dozen rifts since I was appointed, each one an unbelievable danger to an Azir, but just another job for me."

    Jayln sat up. "So that was the purpose then?"

    Matius smiled and shrugged. "Maybe? I told myself years ago that I wouldn''t wonder what the purpose was. It was starting to drive me crazy. Eventually I just decided to do the best I could. Do as much good for the world as I was in the position to. I couldn''t go wrong if I did that right?"

    Jayln really wanted to kiss him again but instead she said, "We should probably get ready."

    Matius nodded and hand in hand they walked back to the tower.

 44. Assault

    "Why can''t we just use that orb thing you used to get us all here?" Jayln whispered, watching the mages carefully prepare for the spell.

    "That was an enchanted item for emergencies. Not to mention it''s meant for one person, not two dozen. We have enough people here to open our own portal."

    Jayln frowned. She had expected a bit more of an army than this. Six mages, mostly old and feeble, were forming a circle and quietly bickering about rune placement and intonation. The Arch Mage directed them and slowly they began to get in sync. Jayln, Tryst, Matius and two dozen other mages stood ready to go through the portal once it formed.

    "So to be clear. Matius and I go first and if there''s no rift, we signal the charge?" Tryst asked dryly, eyeing the group with equal skepticism. Matius frowned at their doubt.

    "That''s the plan." He forced a smile and said brightly/ "Cheer up, I know they may not look it right now, but you''re in the presence of some of the most powerful people in En. Can''t you feel it?"

    Jayln and Tryst glanced at each other and frowned, Jayln shook her head. "Feel what?"

    Matius''s smile grew genuine and his fingers flexed, a breeze came from nowhere and ruffled his hair. "The energy. This courtyard is absolutely buzzing with magic."

    The unintelligible chanting from the mages grew into a harmonious hum. "Here we go, get ready." Tryst took Matius''s proffered hand, his nonchalant expression betrayed by his pale face.

    There was the smell of something burning and then the hair on Jayln''s arms rose as a crack of light appeared, growing into a portal. Matius ran forward with Tryst and the two disappeared with a flash. The remaining twenty-eight people held their breath.

    After an agonizing minute, Jayln heard Matius''s voice, soft like a breeze. "Clear. Enter now."

    She glanced around and although quiet, apparently all had heard the message. The Arch Mage pointed and his feeble body rose into the air and flew into the portal. Jayln charged and the other mages followed.

    The blinding portal threw her off and she almost fell as she stepped through. She blinked in the dark trying to take in her surroundings. Someone grabbed her and she clasped her hands around the arm, twisting and bending over until the person flipped over her and landed with a thud.

    "Ouch, hey! Jayln, it''s me!"

    Jayln blinked down at Tryst, who stumbled back to his feet, wincing. "Sorry."

    Tryst gestured for her to follow. "Quick, we need to get under some cover."

    She barely heard him as an explosion ripped through the air. Between intermittent flashes of lightning, she could make out the mages engaged with the Brimstones in the darkness. Elemental magic filled the air, a few summoned golems and living corpses mixed in. Jayln spun into a kick, taking a black cloaked mage down, his hands clenched over his pummeled gut. She jabbed him in the neck and he fell still.

    Tryst found a wide, stone column to hide behind and Jayln joined him to get her bearings. They were on the far side of the massive room with Niv''s throne. The demoness herself floated in the air. With a sweep of her arm, half a dozen Azir collapsed, writhing in pain. The Arch Mage shifted and a glittering shield wrapped around half the room. Niv''s face contorted in rage and she turned her attention to the Arch Mage.

    Jayln nocked an arrow, taking another Brimstone out through the eye. Her second target was more prepared and, despite not seeing the arrow coming, a black shield deflected the shot. He turned to her and pointed a finger which crackled with black lightning. Jayln ducked behind the pillar just in time. Tryst yelped.

    "You''re blowing my cover!" he hissed.

    Leaving him alone behind the pillar, she rolled on the ground and below the next blast. The instant she was vertical, she shot another arrow. It still deflected. The Brimstone grinned and was about to retaliate again when he was blown off his feet, crashing into one of the stone statues. His head cracked against the stone wetly and he crumpled to the ground.

    Jayln looked around and met Matius''s eyes. He gave her a smile, his robe was smoking and singed. He said something lost in the chaos and a sigil glowed in front of Jayln and Tryst. A fiery hound lept at Matius and he had to turn his attention back to the fight. Jayln shot the hellhound, killing it and scanned the crowd for more targets.

    The battle was fierce but seemed to be at a standstill. The Arch Mage focused on nullifying whatever Niv cast and the Azir mages barely holding against the sheer number of Brimstones. Jayln focused on the hellhounds, her arrows never having a problem piercing their smoldering flesh.

    There was a commotion on the right of the Arch Mage and the shields began to fall. Jayln turned her attention there just in time to see one of the Azir held high in the fist of Fenrin.

    She thought she''d be prepared from the pool memory, but still her heart caught in her throat. He was gaunt and bloodied but that didn''t seem to affect his strength or stem his ferocity. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    He tore through the mages like they were nothing. Their shields not doing much to stop his fists or the black sword that magically appeared in his hand thanks to a glance from Niv.

    The Arch Mage''s attention wavered and Niv''s oppressive aura fell heavy on the crowd. Jayln trembled but held firm. A nearby mage screamed, falling to the ground and clutching his head.

    The sigil Matius had cast, reappeared in front of Jayln, pulsing with warm light. A protection against whatever Niv was doing with her enemies'' minds.

    Jayln turned her bow towards Fenrin. She had to stop his onslaught. Her arrow embedded itself in his sword arm and he howled with pain, eyes scanning the crowd. Quickly pinpointing her and her bow, he pulled the arrow free, blood gushing from the wound as he stalked towards her.

    Running further away from the hiding Tryst, Jayln leapt onto the stone table in the center of the room. She nocked another arrow and turned.

    Fenrin had moved faster than she thought and he grabbed her bow, pulling it out of her hand and slashing it at her like a club. She barely managed to dance out of the way and he tossed the bow to the side.

    Jayln readied her stance but pleaded with him, "Fenrin, it''s me! It''s Jayln! Snap out of it!"

    Fenrin''s eyes flickered with recognition, but he laughed. "You won''t beat me this time."

    He stepped forward and she spun into a kick which he blocked with his arm, protecting his jaw, although the force made him step back. Her boot had cut into the skin and he licked the wound.

    Jayln moved forward quickly, taking the opening to jab her elbow into his ribs. He grunted, trying to trap her against his chest but she nimbly dodged and came up to his left, her leg shooting up and hitting the back of his head. He stumbled.

    She clasped her hands together, ready to bring them down as he caught himself, but it was a feint and he spun. His fists smashed into her chest and knocked her back. She winced, her rib throbbing. He moved closer and she danced away, knowing the danger of a close grapple with the large man. She couldn''t afford to take her eyes off him and prayed his focus on her bought the mages time to recover.

    Fenrin charged and she dodged, following with another kick. He caught her leg and tossed her to the ground. She rolled back up before he could get on top of her and kicked him square in the gut. He groaned, missing her leg this time.

    Backing her towards the edge of the altar, Fenrin¡¯s grey eyes looked for an opening. Jayln tried to dart left but he reached for her. She knocked his arm aside but he let it be deflected, his other hand catching her throat and slamming her into the stone.

    She tucked up her legs and grabbed his wrist, pushing and launching him over her head. As his grip released her throat, she gasped and rolled away as he got back on his feet.

    There was a blast of blue light and Jayln turned, distracted. The Arch Mage and an Azir she had never talked to but recognized as the First Apprentice were chanted in sync. The light of their spell was pulsating around Niv who''s eyes were red flames. Fenrin moved to take advantage of her distraction but the floor rumbled making both of them lose their balance.

    A crack split the table and Niv thrust out her hands, fingers in claws. The Azir recoiled for the attack, but it was the Brimstones who screamed.

    Every black robed mage and Fenrin fell to the ground writhing in pain. Niv grinned and the blue light pulsed and winked out. In the chorus of her follower¡¯s screams, Niv vanished, reappearing by the First Apprentice. Her long black nails dug into the girl''s face, clawing out Niv''s symbol.

    "No, Yu''jana!" Matius shouted, his voice somehow echoing over the screams as he tried to cast the same sigil he had for Jayln. Niv waved it away and glanced at Matius, who fell to one knee, sweating as he cast a shield which flickered against the demoness''s invisible attack.

    Yu''jana twitched, rising slowly in the air. Blood dripped from her eyes and the Arch Mage flew over, grabbing her shoulders as bits of rubble floated up to orbit the two and push Niv back. Niv''s neck arched and fire lined her form and Ju''yana''s.

    ¡°Ergit ''Ytory Aohir Zil!¡±

    Matius''s amplified voice rang through the hall and Jayln felt his shield around her crumble as he put all his power into the spell.

    Niv''s flames went out like a candle and Yu''jana fell limply into the Arch Mage''s arms. His hands darted over her, the blood dissolving into light as his fingers hovered over her forehead, Niv''s symbol pulsing and flickering.

    The demoness screamed, an inhuman sound, her flaming eyes locking on Matius who swayed unsteadily.

    Jayln fell forward as something knocked into her. She turned to see Fenrin, his cheeks also streaked with bloody tears. He pushed her aside stepping heavily towards Matius.

    "You..." he growled, "You left me. I''ll kill you!"

    Jayln moved to stop him, but her body flared with hot pain. She screamed, falling back to the ground. She could see two Brimstones at the foot of the table. Their eyes were red and blood coagulated on their cold cheeks. Dead.

    Forced herself to stand despite the pain, Jayln looked around and spotted her bow. Her arrows were littered on the floor but none were in reach. She grabbed the bow and leapt off the table.

    She hit Fenrin square in the back just as he kicked the feeble Matius to the ground. Slipping the bowstring over his neck, Jayln pushed her arms against the string, forcing it tight on Fenrin''s throat. Just above the iron collar around his neck. He tried to grab her but she locked her legs around his waist.

    His nails, long and broken, clawed into her and made her legs slippery with blood. Her head was pulled forward, pressed into the nook of his neck where she could hear his ragged breathing.

    Fenrin turned his head, the friction cutting his neck and blood spilling. He sank his teeth into her throat and she yelped. Finally, his legs gave out and he fell to the floor. Her left arm twisted and cracked as his body fell on it.

    Hissing with pain, Jayln dragged herself off Fenrin, cradling her broken arm. The man lay still and Jayln turned away, limping to Matius.

    The Third Apprentice was also unconscious, sprawled where Fenrin''s kick had sent him. Jayln glanced up to see Niv once more encaptured by blue light. Yu''jana was conscious, holding onto the Arch Mage¡¯s hand and chanting.

    ]Their eyes flashed and for a moment Jayln thought they seemed to grow taller, streams of light unfolding like wings behind them. Niv gave that unearthly scream and blue light gathered, imploding on her. A shearing pain shot through Jayln''s head and she blacked out.

 45. Victory

    "Jayln! Jayln!"

    Matius shook her and she winced. She had a splitting headache. Matius helped her sit up and she blinked in the dark, her memory returning. "Did...did we win?"

    Matius kissed her forehead. "Yes! We won!"

    "Yu''jana...Fenrin!" Jayln stumbled to her feet.

    Matius steadied her. "Easy. You''ve taken quite a beating. I''d treat you now but I''m afraid I''m fresh out of magic."

    Jayln winced as she jostled her broken arm. Matius untied his sash and made her a sling. "There, that''ll have to do for now."

    She glanced around. There were two piles of Brimstone corpses but many still littered the massive room. Of the two dozen mages, ten were laid out in a respectful line as others spoke rites over them. One Azir had two others attending her, glowing golden hands attempting to stem the gaping wound where a hellhound had ripped off an arm. The Arch Mage was leaning over Yu''jana, a light blue cocoon of light enveloping her.

    "What happened?" Jayln asked.

    "Niv killed her followers, using their pain to give herself power. She tried to possess Yu''jana, breaking her shields and her spell with the Arch Mage."

    "You stopped her," Jayln recalled.

    "Barely. I just gave the Arch Mage a chance to counter. He managed to not only keep his own shields up, but break Niv''s hold and maintain the sealing spell alone. Yu''jana regained herself just in time to finish and Niv was sent back to her plane."

    Jayln leaned into Matius. "Good. Is Yu¡¯jana alright?"

    Matius frowned, looking over to where his fellow apprentice lay still. "Niv did a number on her. We''re just waiting for the Arch Mage to say she''s well enough to travel back to the tower."

    "Wait, what about Fenrin? Is he alive?" She pulled away looking around.

    "Er, to be honest, I haven''t checked. When he came at me, I thought he was going to eat me. He''s still on the floor."

    Jayln moved to where the man''s body lay. Holding her breath, she reached down and touched his neck feeling for a pulse. Nothing and then a slow beat.

    "He''s alive," she gasped, "but his heartbeat is weak."

    She huffed, using her good shoulder to roll him over and pressed her ear against his chest. One of the surviving Azir walked over. "He''s dead right?" the mage asked nervously.

    "No, he¡¯s alive," Jayln said with relief but then glancing at his mangled body she added, "though gods know how."

    The mage backed up. "Well quickly, finish him off! He took down both my partners before I could get away."

    Jayln shot the mage an angry look. "He was possessed! He''s been tortured by Niv for weeks, get someone to help him!"

    The Azir recoiled and looked to Matius who nodded solemnly. With an undignified huff, the Azir stalked off. Jayln stared at Fenrin.

    The more she looked the worse it was. His ribs stuck out and just by looking she could tell a few were broken. She hadn''t done that, which meant he''d fought her in that pain. His arms were blotched with white and black burns, wounds festered and unhealed¡ªand there was that collar, a dark iron band with no apparent opening, just a loop for a chain.

    Matius knelt next to her. "Look I know you want to help, but we don''t know what she did to him. It wouldn''t hurt to be cautious. Let me see if anyone has enough power left for a binding spell. Just something to make sure he doesn''t hurt anyone if he wakes up violent.¡±

    Jayln bit back a retort, knowing he was right. Her voice shook as she said, "I-I''m going to go find Tryst."

    Matius let her walk off and called over another mage. Jayln wandered around, occasionally stepping over a body. She made her way back to the pillar she¡¯d last seen the ex-pirate hiding behind and ran forward as she saw a blue sash sticking out from under some rubble.

    "Tryst!"Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    The man was pinned under a statue that must have fallen when Niv split the room. His eyes cracked open and he coughed, his voice rattling, "Oh, good. Rescue. I guess we won then?"

    Jayln carefully picked her way over, examining the rubble. "Yes, we did."

    The stone pinning Tryst arm was holding a larger rock in place. If she moved it, the bigger piece would crush him. She carefully pulled the slab over his legs, grunting to do it with one arm.

    "Don''t move, we can''t risk that falling on you. I''m going to try to find something to help."

    Tryst nodded, too pained to manage a smart remark. Jayln jogged around. She needed a barrel, or a metal pole, or....

    A black cage came into view. Its bars spiked and stained with blood. Inside a large black chain lay abandoned. Jayln shivered, instinctively knowing this is where Fenrin had been imprisoned.

    With distaste but desperation, she shrugged the chain into a coil onto her shoulder, wincing as the effort hurt her arm and bloodied neck. An Azir with a cloth tied over his eye saw her and rushed over to help. Together they managed to get the chain back to Tryst, carefully wrapping it around the larger stone and then trailing it out and around a pillar.

    "When I say so, Tryst, you need to roll out from under the statue!" Jayln shouted, signalling the second Azir who joined the operation. Tryst nodded, gritting his teeth.

    The two mages held hands and closed their eyes. ¡°Njuy Fit!¡±

    The rock pinning Tryst melted into sludge and he rolled out. The larger stone fell, but held by the chains, it swayed and pivoted, crashing to the ground just to the left of where Tryst had been. Hiswatched it fall, wide-eyed .

    "Oi! I could have rolled that way!"

    Jayln sighed, sitting on the edge of some rubble. "Good thing you didn''t."

    Tryst tried to stand but winced and one of the mages had to catch him. "Yup," he hissed, "ankle''s busted."

    The mage with the eyepatch patted his arm. "We''ll get you patched up at the tower."

    He turned to her and gave a wink. "Looking forward to it."

    Another Azir ran over and waved a hand. "Hurry! Arch Mage says it''s time to go!"

    It took every bit of magic left in the survivors, but finally a portal was opened. From there the mages awaiting on the other end held it open as the living and the bodies of the dead were carried through. Fenrin was moved by mages who passed in from the tower side, shimmering silver bands binding his hands and legs. Once through the portal, most of the Azir collapsed, their friends rushing to their sides, golden light at the ready.

    Jayln stayed with Fenrin as they brought him down to the tower dungeons. She found the cleanest cell and gathered a bed for him.

    Then she waited.

    As night fell, Matius fetched her. He brought food and Jayln leaned against his arm as he sat next to her.

    "He hasn''t woken up yet,¡± she said. ¡°A healer came in to help, saying that by all accounts he shouldn''t be alive. She spent a good hour mending all his breaks and bruises. Four ribs, three shattered knuckles, cracked skull, and a host of nasty burns and cuts. But even with that healed, he hasn''t moved."

    "That doesn''t surprise me." Matius frowned at the still body carefully covered in soft blankets. "What I don''t get is that mark on his forehead. Any spells Niv cast should have ended with her banishment. Like Yu''jana''s did."

    It was true, the mark had turned black but was still there, like it was burned into his skin.

    Jayln glanced up, "How is Yu¡¯jana?"

    "Not good. Niv tore her mind apart. The Arch Mage has been with her all day trying to put the pieces back together. Even if she wakes up, we''re not sure the permanent damage."

    Matius gave Jayln a gentle nudge as she closed her eyes. "As much as I want to see you resting, I''d feel even better if you ate something first." She hummed discontentedly but opened her eyes to take the offered bowl of warm soup.

    After eating it, she did feel a lot better. Matius shifted and she leaned against his shoulder again.

    "Let me see your arm," he murmured and she groaned sitting back up. Matius leaned over the broken appendage tuting here and there.

    "I''ve had worse," she said as he fretted. "I''ll be fine."

    "Yes, you will," he said flatly and his hand glowed.

    Jayln sucked in her breath as the odd sensation of bones knitting themselves back together tickled down her arm. Matius smiled at her, a bit pale and untied the sling. She flexed her arm in awe. She''d heard of healing magic, seen it after the battle, but she''d never had it done to her before.

    "Good as new," Matius said but he leaned back a bit heavily and she squinted at him.

    "Have you had any rest?"

    Matius sighed guiltily. "No, but I couldn''t sleep until I did that. We should both get some rest. I''ll have one of the whites watch him and get us if he wakes."

    Jayln frowned, uncertain leaving one of the youngest apprentices was a good idea but right now sleep was very appealing. Without the pain of her broken arm, her eyelids were already heavy.

    ¡°Fine," she murmured, "but they have to get me if he even so much as moves. And make sure they know to stay clear just in case."

    They left the cell, arm in arm, catching a white robed Azir on the stairs. Jayln explained and the teen, a girl with a long straight braid down to her ankles, assured them she''d take care of it. She gave Matius the star struck look he usually got from the youngest apprentices.

    The two stumbled into Matius''s room half asleep. Matius started to pull away but Jayln pushed him into his room, falling with him onto the bed.

    "Jayln?"

    She tucked herself under his arm, laying on his chest.

    "Shhhh. Just sleep," she managed before her breaths grew slow and calm. Matius tentatively reached out and stroked her auburn hair. He wanted to enjoy the moment, but his own exhaustion got the better of him and he too, nodded off.

 46. Wounds

    "Sir! Sir!"

    Jayln groaned as the knocking woke her. She shifted and the back of her head pushed Matius''s chin. He sat up. "What-huh?"

    "Sir!" Another rap. Jayln detangled her legs from Matius''s as he stumbled to the door. He opened it revealing the white robed apprentice. "Sir, he''s moved. I think he''s awake."

    Matius thanked the girl and shut the door, straightening his robes. Jayln ran a finger through her hair, her mouth was dry and she went to the small kitchen to down a cup of water quickly. Matius snapped his fingers and two apples popped into existence above him. He caught them, tossing her one. "Alright, let''s go."

    The apprentice was waiting by Fenrin''s cell, bouncing nervously. "He started making weird noises," she whispered and Jayln opened the door quickly.

    Fenrin was where they had left him, laid out on the bed. His eyes were open and he was breathing heavily. At the sound of the door he growled, "Finally here. Whatever you do to me, I''ll give back tenfold. These chains won''t hold me forever."

    Jayln looked to Matius. "I thought you removed the spell when we put him in here?"

    "I did," Matius said waving a hand before frowning. "There''s nothing binding him."

    Fenrin laughed. "Then why can''t I move?"

    Matius stepped closer to the bars peering at Fenrin, who hadn''t so much turned his head to look at them. "If I had to guess, I''d say your muscles have seized up. How do you feel?"

    "Like I''m on fire," Fenrin barked, "is this another sick experiment then?"

    Matius stepped back. "What? No of course not. No one here wants to hurt you, I don''t know what you remember but Niv''s been destroyed. It will just take time to heal whatever it was she did to you."

    Fenrin didn''t answer, just lay quietly until finally Jayln spoke up, "Fenrin. It''s me, Jayln. It''s really alright now."

    "Jayln!" The name came between the bars like a curse. "No wonder, you do love locking me up. We''re doing this again then? Well it won''t end any better than last time."

    "What are you talking about?" Jayln frowned.

    Matius waved a hand and the cell door opened, he walked through and stepped closer to Fenrin. His hands glowed golden and Fenrin flinched, his breathing quickening.

    "Easy," Matius said softly, "let me help."

    "I''ve had enough magic," Fenrin hissed but Matius continued his ministrations. His golden hand moving out from in front of Fenrin''s face.

    "See if you can move now."

    Fenrin blinked and flexed his hand. He groaned and sat up, looking himself over. His face was wary but when he finally got a good look at Matius, it changed into rage.

    "You!" He stood up menacingly and Matius took a step back. "You left me!" He reached out to grab Matius, but the mage floated back, toes skirting the floor. Matius whisked himself behind the door and it blew shut.

    "Easy," Matius said again, hands held up, "I told you I''m not here to hurt you, but you need to calm down."

    His words seemed to have the opposite effect. Fenrin''s face contorted, he grabbed the bars and roared, "You tricked me! It''s your fault! Your fault!"

    The bars rattled but held firm as he shook them. Snarling, he reached a hand through trying to get Matius. "Do you know what they did to me!? Do you? I''ll show you! I''ll repeat every damnable act on you. The burning, the pain, the knives!"

    "Fenrin!" Jayln stepped in front of Matius who was stunned by the ferocity directed at him. Fenrin didn''t take his eyes off Matius and Jayln tried again, "Fenrin! Matius is here to help. He didn''t abandon you, you saved us remember?"

    Fenrin stopped screaming, instead stepping back and crouching like an animal.

    "I remember," he said softly. "I remember the pain, the darkness, the never ending darkness."

    Hissing,  his hands clawed at his forehead. "This is a trick. Another trick. More pain. I won''t break. No. No matter what. I''ll get them back. I''ll make them bleed. Bleed and choke and die. Hunt them down like animals. Hunting and hunting..."

    His words grew more mangled and he gave a crazed laugh, his eyes staring at the ground. One hand still clawed his forehead drawing blood, the other white and gripping the bars.

    Jayln turned to Matius who shook his head, looking sadly at Fenrin. "Go get him something to eat, I''ll see if I can talk him out of this."

    Matius glanced back at Fenrin who was beginning to list the things he would do to ''them''. He set his jaw. "Promise me you won''t go in there."

    Jayln nodded. "It''s not my first time dealing with the caged wolf," she said dryly and Matius slipped out of the room. Jayln moved forward, crouching just out of what she knew Fenrin''s reach was.

    "Fenrin, talk to me. I want to help you."

    His grey eyes peered at her, sizing her up. "Help," he repeated with disdain.

    "Yes, don''t you remember me?"Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    He winced, his nail drawing blood again as he scraped his forehead. He gave a dark chuckle. "I remember. I remember why you know exactly how far away to stand. I remember you locking me in a dark room. Waiting to see if I''d break. Watching and waiting just like her."

    Jayln frowned. "Her? Niv?"

    He thrust his face between the bars and gave her a toothy grin. "Yes, Niv. Mistress of darkness. Of pain. Oh she knows pain. Knows where to put it." His expression grew blank again and he shuffled back his hands dancing on his chest. "How many? One? Two?" He chuckled.

    His fingers landed on white scars until he said triumphantly. "Eight! It was eight until she grew bored. Tearing, feeling, her hands wet with my insides. Dragging them out before her rats shoved them back in, keeping me awake, alive, screaming."

    Fenrin looked at Jayln who was pale faced and grinned. "So many ideas. So many things I can try now. Or maybe burning. That was a favorite. A hot metal cage. Or just a random poke to make sure you''re still breathing."

    Jayln flinched as a hand touched her shoulder. Matius''s face was stern. "That''s enough," he said softly. He slid the plate of food closer to the bars and Fenrin gave him a look of such hatred it made him flinch. "We''re leaving."

    Fenrin gave him a predatory grin. "So soon? I have so much to tell you. I want you to know what''s coming..."

    Matius grabbed Jayln''s arms and pulled her out of the room. He shut the door and threw his arms in the air. "Tell me that''s not normal! If that''s the man you risked your life for, I¡ªI¡ª" he stuttered and gestured frustrated at the cell door. Jayln rubbed an eye and took a shaky breath.

    "No, that''s not normal. Even at his worst, he wasn''t...well he was violent but now he''s..." She rubbed her eyes again, irritated. "She made him worse. She broke him¡ª"

    The tears trickled out and Matius took her into his arms. She hugged him tightly, her frustration and sadness flowing out. It felt like she''d been tricked, like someone had moved the finish line.

    "He said I was like her," she muttered into Matius''s robe and he pulled away, looking her in the eyes.

    "Well, then clearly he is mad."

    Jayln chuckled and then her eyes widened. "That''s it! His mind!" Matius raised an eyebrow and Jayln smiled. "That''s what they do right? Get inside the mind and tear it apart. But you can fix that¡ªjust like Yu''jana."

    Matius frowned, his voice cautious, "Maybe. It''s true that there are spells to help, but it''s not anything sure. Even the Arch Mage is uncertain how much he''ll be able to recover. He has to connect with her mind and help her sort out the damage and Yu¡¯jana was only hit once."

    "But can''t we try the same with Fenrin? Find out what she did to him and fix it? Help clear the darkness?"

    He looked at her earnest face and sighed. "You''re not going to give up are you?"

    Jayln took his hands. "I don''t want to leave him like this. I know he might not be able to recover, that...maybe it''s over. But," she glanced at the door, "no one deserves that."

    "I''ll talk to the Arch Mage." He turned to the young girl still standing by the door. "What''s your name?"

    The girl grinned to be addressed and gave a quick bow. "Fa''raz at your service, Third Apprentice."

    "Alright Fa''raz, if you don''t have any other obligations, would you be guard here? Whatever you do, do not let anyone but Jayln, the Arch Mage, or I through those doors. And whatever you hear, do not go inside. Do you understand?"

    Her dark eyes widened but she nodded solemnly. "You have my word."

    "Thank you." Matius turned back to Jayln. "Why don''t you get a real meal in you while I talk to the Arch Mage."

    Jayln wanted to object but she knew Matius was trying to find a nice way of getting rid of her since the Arch Mage didn''t much like her tagging along. So she agreed and Matius left to go upstairs while she returned to his apartment.

    She put on the kettle and cracked some eggs on a hot pan. While it cooked, she wandered over to the library-turned-bedroom and opened a drawer, pulling out a letter. Jayln tucked it in her pocket and returned to the kitchen where the smell of the egg made her stomach growl in anticipation. Matius''s apples were delicious, but a bit sour and sat poorly on an empty stomach. She gratefully plated the eggs and as she chewed she pulled out the letter, staring at it.

    Jayln had written it a week ago after Matius''s dozenth offer to send a message back to her village. It was addressed to her father and recounted everything that had happened but she couldn''t bring herself to send it. It felt too much like an apology. An admission of failure. I''m sorry but I''m coming home.

    She knew her father, her village, no one would blame her. They''d welcome her back with open arms, grateful she was okay. When she had set out, she had been so poised. The future leader of the village, going to tame the Wolf and use him to secure her people''s future.

    It had taken very little time before Jayln lost that sense of comfort. She''d had to struggle to keep up, to understand what was going on, she''d even had to stand up for what she believed at risk of her life. It had made her realize how much she could grow and be.

    When she''d entered that valley with Fenrin, she was a different person than the woman who had left her village. She was stronger, more confident, and more capable.

    Jayln didn''t feel like that woman anymore. She felt like less than what she had left as. Her confidence was shaken, she''d been able to do nothing to save Anwen, nothing to save herself, and nothing to save Fenrin. She''d failed to secure a safe future for her people and the only thing she''d learned was how much more dangerous the world was than she''d thought.

    Tossing the letter to the other side of the table, Jayln let herself wallow in self pity. She glanced around and her eyes fell on a stack of books, crooked from where one had been pulled out of the middle, now resting open on top of the stack. It was a book about transmutation from one of the many nights Matius had attempted to explain magic to her.

    She smiled at the memory. He''d been so frazzled by her disappointment that apples were the only thing he could make from thin air. He''d launched into an explanation of how air transmutation to living matter was thought to have been impossible and how that was his biggest breakthrough. She¡¯d smiled and watched him passionately explain the hardships he''d gone through to make that spell work.

    After he paused to catch his breath, she''d cocked her head and asked simply, "Why an apple?"

    He''d stopped and gotten that sheepish smile she loved so much and told her it was the only living matter he''d had at the moment to study and then prodded her asking her what she had against apples. "Nothing. It was a delicious apple, much better than any apple I''ve ever created from thin air."

    He''d laughed and she''d felt happy for the first time since the valley.

    Jayln glanced at the letter. She had to go back. She had a responsibility. She bit her lip, letting herself think the thought she''d been keeping at bay.

    Fenrin is just an excuse to stay.

    It was a horrible thought and she wanted so desperately to believe that she wanted to help Fenrin more than anything just because it was the right thing to do but it was a lie. She did want to help, he didn''t deserve what had happened, but he wasn''t her responsibility, her village was. Jayln couldn¡¯t run away from home forever.

 47. Magic

    The next few days, Matius and Jayln visited Fenrin every morning. To their surprise, each day seemed to be a repeat of the last. Fenrin''s shock and violence towards Matius, his threats at Jayln, and madness that descended when he tried to remember.

    He never could recall that they''d visited before, stuck in some sort of loop. Matius studied with the Arch Mage each evening, learning the way to enter the mind and helping him piece Yu''jana''s back together.

    The First Apprentice was recovering. She grew stronger and brighter every day. First remembering her name, then her friends and family, until finally even her magic returned, something every Azir took as a sign her true self was not lost.

    Jayln was beginning to understand magic a bit better herself. Spending each evening alone in Matius''s apartment, she''d taken to reading his collection. She learned how there was only a limited amount of magic in the world, that Azir pass their''s on to their children at birth and at death. That was why Azir married young and had children as early as possible, to remove the chance of their magic dying with them. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    The Arch Mage was somehow special and had no children to make sure he lost no power. Marrying yuji was also taboo. The child of an Azir and yuji only received magic from the Azir parent, essentially meaning each generation of mixed blood had less and less magic.

    This knowledge raised as many questions as answers. How did Matius have magic then? And what about the mage''s guilds in other countries? Letting the mysteries keep her mind off her other problems, Jayln eagerly dove deeper into the tomes.

    She was getting closer to a theory about Matius when the man himself burst through the door. The Arch Mage had given permission. It was time to fix Fenrin''s mind.

 48. Dangerous Mind

    "He warned me to be very careful not to delve too deep. If I lose myself, I need you to bring me back and if anything strange happens, ask me who I am and make sure I answer. Okay?"

    Jayln nodded and Matius opened the door to the cell. Fenrin was slumped against a wall and as he turned to look at them his eyes grew wide. "You!"

    Matius sighed ready for the scene to play out again. This time, however, Matius stepped forward as Fenrin raged against the bars. Jayln touched his arm, "Be careful."

    "I''ll kill you! I''ll¡ª" Matius swept forward, his hand raising until Fenrin''s eyes grew blank and his eyelids lowered half-way. The Third Apprentice¡¯s hand glowed, held rigidly in front of Fenrin''s face.

    Fenrin¡¯s mind was dark. Matius wandered through it trying to find somewhere to start. A flash of thought and Matius grabbed it, turning it over to examine.

    It showed his face. A face in a crowd.

    The thought whistled out from his grasp and he looked up, finding himself face to face with Fenrin. He looked different.

    The scars were gone, as was the mark on his forehead. He stood proud, his grey eyes flicked with gold and green, sharp and clear. Those eyes bored into Matius.

    "What are you doing here?" he growled.

    "I''m here to help," Matius said, "where is everything?"

    When he had been in Yu''jana''s mind the space was cluttered with fragments of thought and memory. Emotion swirling in the air, untethered, but Fenrin''s mind was dark and empty. Except for the man himself.

    "Gone," he said. "Taken away or hidden away."

    "Where?"

    Fenrin flickered, his calm proud demeanor vanishing for a moment to reveal another Fenrin, this one bleeding from countless wounds.

    "Safe. They hurt." His voice was raw and Matius stepped back. Fenrin turned to him, blood dripping from his eyes. "Why are you here?" he asked again, more angry.

    "To help," Matius repeated. A red emotion swirled past his head. It paused at Fenrin, circling him like a scarf.

    "You''re hers aren''t you," Fenrin accused. "I know you. I know..."

    The memory again. Matius''s face in a crowd. That Matius, walking forward, Jayln touching his arm with loving concern on her face. Fenrin watched the memories dance around.

    "I remember. You left me. You and her. She trapped me. You trapped me."

    Matius had to start somewhere so he grabbed the memory of Jayln touching his arm and held it. "Yes, I left you. You distracted Niv and I took her out of that place."

    Fenrin looked at the memory, the blood flickering away. "Jayln."

    Matius pushed, "Yes. She came back for you."

    "To trap me."

    "No to¡ª"

    Another memory crashed in, nearly knocking Matius over and making him lose his grip on the smaller one. Suddenly they were in a small cell, different than the one they were actually in. A dim candle lit the room and Jayln sat confidently on a chair by the door.

    "What do you think is going to happen if you don''t answer my questions?" she asked in a stony voice.

    Matius watched fascinated as Fenrin, looking a bit ragged but not bleeding, moved to the bars grinning. "I''m not sure yet."

    The scene blurred and Jayln was standing. "I''ll leave you alone to rot," she said very matter-of-fact. "A pathetic death for a pathetic man. I have no problem starving you to death."

    Matius frowned. It didn''t sound like Jayln...or rather it did, but he had a hard time believing the words despite coming from her mouth in her voice. He tried a spell, a difficult one that let him see through illusion. The scene stayed as it was, Fenrin gazing murderously at an unfazed Jayln who left, shutting the door and leaving Fenrin in the dark.

    The memory darted away, breaking Matius''s concentration. He managed a glance at Fenrin before his truth spell ended and recoiled at the sight.

    Fenrin had two faces. One was snarling, either in rage or in pain. The other was gaunt and tears streamed from his eyes. When the spell ended he was whole again, still flickering.

    That Fenrin cocked his head, eyes narrowing. "Why her? What did you summon her for?"Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Matius took another step back. "I didn''t. That was your memory."

    Fenrin chuckled darkly. "I don''t believe you. You want to cause me pain, but I think it will be the other way around."

    Before Matius could answer they were in the cell again. There was a soft sob and Fenrin turned to see Jayln crying behind the chair in the corner. Fenrin watched her, a cruel smile on his face.

    "So a few mourners is what it takes to send Jayln crying in a corner? Would you like some sympathy from the big bad wolf? I suppose I could mourn her loss, one more tragic death I''ll never have part in, so tragic."

    Jayln sucked in a breath, her face shocked. Fenrin snapped, "How''d she die? Murdered brutally, I hope?"

    Matius stepped closer instinctively, wanting to stop Jayln''s pain. Fenrin turned away from her and towards him. "Ahh...there it is."

    The memory shrank, a swirling ball in Fenrin''s hand. He grinned, his teeth sharp like an animal¡¯s. "I know how to cause you pain. How to make you suffer."

    Matius stood his ground. "Focus Fenrin, we need to find what has you trapped here."

    Fenrin''s face twisted. "Trapped? It''s you who are trapped. You want to see her? Here."

    The memory in his hand pulsed and changed. It grew and twisted, moving forward like a spider and Matius was powerless to stop it from enveloping him.

    A forest. Jayln fought with Fenrin. She managed to get his sword away, but he fell forward, crushing her beneath him. He pinned her arms which were battering his head until finally she stopped struggling, laying there panting.

    Fenrin kissed her and she bit him. "Get off me."

    "I don''t think so." Fenrin licked the blood from his lips. Moving both her hands in one grip, leaving his hand free to attack her clothing.

    Matius tried to move, to stop what was happening but he was stuck. Jayln''s panicked cries rang in his ears. He tried to turn away but the other Fenrin grabbed him, forcing him to watch Jayln''s rape. Matius shouted, his anger exploded in a red wave around him. The scene only grew louder, more real.

    Rage turned to despair and Matius fell down, frustrated tears stinging his face. Fenrin laughed down at where Matius lay at his feet. "So easy. Such a pleasant memory to torture you with."

    The Wolf¡¯s mocking laughter grew faint and Matius felt himself falling.

    "Matius! Matius!" It was Jayln.

    "W-what?"

    "Oh thank the gods. Quickly, who are you?"

    Matius frowned, his forehead wrinkling. "I''m....Matius. Third Apprentice."

    Jayln gave a sigh of relief. "Oh, good. You started shaking and crying and I wasn''t sure what to do..."

    It came back to Matius and he turned to the cell where Fenrin gave him a wicked grin. The Third Apprentice¡¯s hands crackled with energy and he lunged forward, lightning arcing from his fingers to the bars Fenrin leaned on. They jumped into Fenrin making him convulse and fall to the floor howling in pain.

    "Matius!" Jayln shouted and grabbed his arm. "What are you doing?"

    Matius turned to her, his face pained. "Why do you keep defending him?" he shouted, his eyes pricked with tears. "Why do you torture yourself over someone like him?"

    He stormed to the door leaving before he lost himself in anger more than he''d already done. Jayln followed quickly, finding him slumped against a wall, head hanging low. Slowly she sat beside him.

    "What happened?"

    He gave her a pained look. "He took control, showed me his memories. He''s not broken like Yu''jana. He wanted to hurt me so he showed me..." He trailed off.

    "Showed you what? Matius, you''re scaring me."

    Matius turned away, unable to look her in the eyes. "He showed me his memories of you. When you had him locked up."

    "Alright, but that doesn''t explain¡ª"

    Matius covered his ears and said in a hiss. "He made me watch as he raped you. Jayln, why would you defend him after that? He doesn''t deserve your pity or your help! I''m sorry, but I won''t help him anymore."

    Jayln sat stunned. Gently she put a hand on his shoulder. "Matius," she said slowly and sternly, "I don''t know what it was you saw, but it wasn''t real."

    From the corner of his eye, Matius glanced at her. "Stop defending him. The memories were real, I cast a spell so I could see if they were illusions or not."

    Jayln frowned. "And what you saw was real?"

    Matius opened his mouth and then closed it. He sat up. "The first ones were. The spell ended before..."

    Jayln took his hand. "I promise, it wasn''t real. It never happened."

    Matius searched her face, desperately hoping she was telling the truth. That she had never been hurt like that. She glanced down, chewing her lip.

    "I...I admit there was a time. Early on, when I first let him out. We were training and he had me pinned..." Matius sucked in a breath and Jayln quickly said, "But he didn''t do it. He stopped. He had every chance and he didn''t take it. After weeks of ranting that he''d hurt me if I ever let down my guard, he let me go."

    Matius leaned against the wall and Jayln tried to explain, "I know it sounds terrible. I know the bar was very low, but you have to understand, that was the first day I thought there might be a person in him after all. It''s not a pleasant memory and I never would want you to see it, let alone whatever twisted version Niv planted. But that''s what that was, I''m sure of it. If Niv poisoned Fenrin''s mind, somehow changed his memories that would explain why he is so set back. He shouldn''t have that memory¡ªhelp him destroy it. The Fenrin who saved me wouldn''t want that memory any more that I would."

    Matius shook his head. "I''m sorry. I can''t go back into his mind."

    Jayln''s heart sank. This was it. There was nothing left but to leave defeated. She bit her lip, turning away from Matius and staring at the ceiling. She''d tried. She couldn''t ask Matius again knowing how cruel Fenrin had been. She should have never let him hurt Matius.

    "Not without a way to fight back, anyways."

    Shocked, Jayln turned to Matius who had a tired smile on his face. "You really know how to pick them, Jayln. But if you believe somewhere in that mess is someone worth saving then I believe you."

    Jayln wanted to thank him, but she shook her head. "You don''t have to if you don''t want to. I don''t want you to get hurt."

    Matius slapped his knees with his hands determinedly. "Thus the need for counter measures. Come on. We''ve got work to do."

    Together they left Fenrin''s room behind. Together they pored over every reference to mind magic the tower library had to offer. Together they counseled with the Arch Mage and even interviewed Yu''jana when she was well enough to help.

    When they felt ready, they returned, this time they''d do it together.

 49. Breaking The Cycle

    "You remember what to do?" Matius asked nervously and Jayln rolled her eyes.

    "Of course. But cast it quickly, I don''t think I can stand another shocked recognition."

    "Right." Matius opened the door.

    Fenrin was curled on the floor. He glanced up but before he could talk, Matius chanted and waved his hand. Matius stretched his fingers out, connecting to Fenrin''s mind once more but this time his other hand was locked on Jayln¡¯s and they both found themselves in the black space of Fenrin''s mind.

    Jayln glanced around. "It really is dark," she muttered.

    "What are you doing here?"

    Jayln jumped as Fenrin leaned over her menacingly.

    Matius pulled her next to him. "We''re here to help. Niv has poisoned your mind. Help us mend the wound."

    Fenrin flickered, his face pained as he hissed, "Niv has already taken everything. There''s nothing left."

    Jayln stepped forward. "Yes there is. Show us what you''ve kept safe."

    "Nothing is safe." Fenrin frowned.

    Jayln squeezed Matius''s hand, signalling him and Matius reached forward, pulling at Fenrin. A sliver of light slithered out of him and Jayln caught it.

    The darkness took shape. A cave instead of an abyss. A large metal cage swaying on the air. Inside a man, chained and beaten. Matius and Jayln carefully stepped forward, listening to his muttering.

    "Have to stay awake. Have to stay awake," he repeated over and over, his eyes bloodshot.

    "But, pet, there''s so much you still have to show me." The voice was playful and Fenrin flinched. The chain rattled and rose, forcing him to his knees. Niv floated over, her fingers curling around his chin. "You have so much to give. I want to enjoy it before everything is gone."

    Fenrin gasped and the mark on his forehead pulsed and shone. The cavern faded and a young boy ran down a warmly lit hallway.

    "Careful, Master Fenrin," an old man, dressed formally chided and the boy slowed, sticking his tongue out when the man''s back was turned. He rounded the corner, running into a girl and falling down. The girl shot him a look and he reached to help her up.

    "Sorry, Ly."

    His twin sister ignored his hand, standing on her own. She gave him a nasty smile. "Careful Fen. You don''t pay attention tomorrow and I''ll win for sure."

    Young Fenrin stiffened. "That''s not going to happen," he said coldly.

    Jayln leaned over. "Do it now. His sister was always one of his demons." Matius cast the truth spell and they waited.

    Lyra grew angry and she turned to go but then flickered and Niv appeared. She circled Fenrin and Lyra turned back, speaking with Niv''s voice.

    "Yes it will. I''ll win and Father will take me with him. He''ll forget about you and you''ll rot here like I have for years. Happy birthday to me."

    With a last angry look, Lyra ran off and Fenrin clenched his fists. Niv faded.

    The scene crumbled and Fenrin hung in the cage, glazed eyed as Niv flickered from stolen Azir body to the lean, pale form of grown Lyra. A confident woman with dark leather armor and a long straight plait of pale hair. She circled the cage.

    "There he is. Fenrin the dog. Always in a cage. First Father''s, then mine. Tried to run, but oh no," she said with mock concern, "poor mutt¡¯s trapped again. You should have just accepted your fate. Why not be my dog, like you were Father''s? Everyone knows I''m the winner. I''m the one that got away, that succeeded. You never were smart enough to get out like I was. Now you''re back where you belong. In a cage."

    Fenrin struggled to get to his sister but was held back by the chains. His eyes full of rage and hatred. Niv smiled, breathing deep.

    "How do we fix this?" Matius asked and Jayln bit her lip.

    "She''s feeding off the hatred he has for his sister. We need to counter it."

    "Counter hatred? With what? Love?"

    Jayln squeezed his hand again. "That''s it. I can get us there, be ready."

    She took their clasped hands and put it to her own forehead. Matius concentrated and a memory flickered about in the corner. He blew it over, and Jayln grabbed it.

    "¡ª murdered in her sleep I hope?"

    The crying Jayln answered, "She died peacefully in her sleep."

    "Shame. There''s nothing quite like coming home to find your mother hacked to pieces. It really stirs the blood."

    Jayln cocked her head. "Is that what happened? To your mother?"

    Fenrin flinched and Matius lunged, catching the edge of a new memory.

    A night, a campfire crackling low in the still warm, fall air. A beautiful woman in a blue cloak hums as she stroked the hair of the boy half asleep on her lap.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    The boy shifted and stared up at the sky. "You should be sleeping," the woman murmured.

    "Stars are too bright. They keep me up," the boy said with a mischievous grin.

    The woman shifted, moving the little boy so he is resting on her shoulder. "Hush. We have a lot of walking to do tomorrow."

    The boy wiggled and the woman turned, pulling herself into a bedroll as the boy snuggled next to her. She kissed his messy hair. "I love you, little Fen."

    "I love you too." He closed his eyes, little fist full of his mother''s cloak.

    Jayln turned and saw the other Fenrin watching, expression confused. "Matius, look."

    Matius turned towards the other Fenrin and muttered a spell. Soft blue emotion gathered around and Matius blew gently so it gathered around older Fenrin.

    "What..." he muttered, reaching out to touch the soft blue cloud. He winced and Matius held Jayln up as she stumbled when the memory shifted suddenly.

    Fenrin, older and dressed for a fight crashes through the door. His eyes immediately falling to the body on the floor, hands folded over the stab wound on her chest.

    "Mother!" He fell to the ground stroking her hair.

    Niv flickers into view.

    ¡°You didn''t protect her. She died because you were weak.¡±

    "No wonder he''s in a loop," Matius said. "Everytime he finds a peaceful memory she has no problem twisting it away from him. Better to feel nothing, remember nothing."

    "So, do we keep deflecting back to better memories," Jayln asked.

    Matius shook his head. "No, from what you and Niv have said, Fenrin has more tragic memories than happy. Besides I can''t say I''m up to trying to out-maneuver Niv. We need to break the cycle. She''s not around anymore to instigate the shifts. This is his memory of her damage."

    Matius waved a hand and Niv vanished. "She''s not really here." The memory faded and they were back to the black void. "The cycle is over, Fenrin just doesn''t know it."

    The man in question was hugging his chest. Jayln whispered, "You said his true form was two faced? So how do we make it just one?"

    "Convince him this isn''t real?"

    Jayln snorted. "I had to convince you it wasn''t real. I don''t think he''ll believe it. I think the problem is that he''s given up hope. He''s a master survivalist, but he needs not to survive but to escape."

    She stepped towards Fenrin, Matius following, their hands still clasped. "Let me try something."

    As they approached, Fenrin crouched, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. "No more. No more. They shouldn''t be here. I got rid of them," he muttered.

    Jayln knelt down. "It''s okay. You did it. She can''t touch them anymore."

    He looked at her, scanning her face suspiciously. "Then why are you here?"

    "Because you brought us here."

    Matius squeezed her hand. What are you doing? Jayln ignored him, continuing, "It''s not enough is it? You''re still hurting."

    Fenrin lifted his hands from his chest, they were wet with blood. His eyes flickered with fear. "They won''t stop bleeding."

    Jayln reached out and Ferin sat down. Eight gaping stab wounds were on his chest, blood poured from them, intestines poking through. Jayln tried not to vomit. She touched his chest, resting her hand on above his heart.

    "You''ve got to fix this. What do you want me to do? Focus and tell me."

    Fenrin stared at her and the blood stopped. "I know you," he said slowly.

    "Why am I here?" Jayln asked, turning the question to Fenrin to answer.

    ¡°Tell me, what is your goal? What do you want to do?¡±

    Echoes of Jayln''s voice filled the void.

    ¡°I''ve decided to trust you. I''m not ready to give up, are you?¡±

    "Jayln..." Fenrin said and she nodded.

    ¡°And what makes you happy, Fenrin?¡±

    Fenrin looked up as Jayln appeared in the familiar chair from when they''d first met.

    "And what makes you happy?"

    Fenrin turned to the memory. "Winning," he mouthed with the memory.

    That Jayln frowned, "That''s...not a lot."

    "And..." Fenrin reached out, the memory of Jayln disappearing, leaving behind a golden glow. "And freedom."

    "And?" Jayln urged.

    Fenrin closed his eyes, "And a cool breeze on a hot day. The smell of the forest after it rains. And keeping a promise."

    He opened his eyes.

    The golden glow grew brighter and brighter. Fenrin looked at Jayln, scared. He reached out and grabbed her hand and she held it tight. "What do you want me to do, Fenrin?"

    "I want it to end, I want to get out," he said, his voice filled with pain and anguish.

    "Then let''s go." She pulled him up. "Where to?"

    Fenrin gave a sideways glance at the pulsing golden glow. "But what if I''m wrong? What if this is the safer place."

    Matius stepped toward the glow. "You can stay here in the dark, or you can take a chance. Whatever you do, we''re here with you. What do you want?"

    Fenrin set his jaw. "I want to get out."

    He stepped forward, and linked together the three stepped into the glow...and onto a battlefield.

    Fenrin released Jayln''s hand, drawing his sword. A faceless opponent raised a blade and soon the two were dueling. People screamed and there was a massive dark ocean. All around memories flitted and flickered. Jayln turned to Matius who nodded grimly.

    "This is more like it. This is more of what Yu''jana''s mind was like. You did it, you got him to break the loop. He can face his memories now and I can start purging Niv''s influence."

    Matius stumbled and Jayln grabbed his other arm. "Oh, sorry. I think we may have to leave now. I don''t know how much longer I can keep us both here."

    Jayln glanced at Fenrin who was traipsing across the battlefield. "Let''s go. We''ll come back when you''re rested."

    In a flash they were back in the tower, Matius stumbled back and Jayln let go of his hand. Fenrin used the bars to hold himself up.

    "What the..." His eyes narrowed, "What did you do to me? Who are you?"

    Matius gave him a tired smile. "Name''s Matius, you might have a nasty memory of me floating around in that head of yours but it¡¯s not real. Niv did a number on you and I''m going to help you sort it out. You''ve a tough mind there and you''ve worn me down but I''ll be back tomorrow, promise."

    Fenrin frowned and caught sight of Jayln.

    "Jayln?" He flinched.

    "Yes, it''s me. Look I know you''re hurt and it''s going to be hard to try to fix everything that''s happened but I know you''ll make it through this. Try to get some rest and eat something. We''ll be back soon."

    "But I..." Fenrin started but clutched his forehead, voice growing distressed.

    "Easy there," Matius warned. "Best you try not to think too hard. Maybe I ought to..."

    He turned to Jayln and she bit her lip. "Fenrin?" He looked up pained. "Matius can help you sleep, but I want to know that you''re okay with that. I promise nothing will happen to you, Niv is gone, there''s no one to hurt you."

    His eyes were panicked but he met Jayln''s. Recognition, confusion, fear, despite all of it, he nodded and Matius waved a hand. Fenrin slumped over, asleep.

 50. The Battle

    He was floating. Bobbing in a white sea like a little boat. Something was different, strange. Everytime Fenrin tried to grasp the thought it drifted away. He was tired so he let himself float.

    Tired. Relaxed.

    Oh. That was it. That was what was different. The pain was gone.

    The realization wrenched Fenrin from his dreamless sleep and back into the littered battlefield that was his mind. As soon as he focused on the realization, the pain returned. It was not as devastating as it had been, but it was there, like pieces of glass in his head.

    Each thought felt sharp and raw. He tried to avoid brushing against them, to find his way back to the white sea, but he was lost. He stood still trying to find his bearings, he had just been there...surely he could...

    Fenrin flinched. There was something watching him, stalking him. He tried to look around but everything was hazy and broken like a shattered mirror. A snarl, a flash of teeth. His blood ran cold. Then a laugh, a horribly familiar laugh.

    A woman, if you could call it that, drifted across, her form twisted from shadow and the screams of the damned. Her eyes fiery red as they flashed across Fenrin''s mind. He shrank back. Not that way. Where was that sea?

    He had to avoid the beast and the demoness but there was nowhere safe. Did he dare pick up one of the shattered pieces? Would it shield him from those that hunted him?

    Tentatively he reached out. The fragment sliced his fingers, blood dripping down. The beast howled and Fenrin knew it was coming. Despite the pain, he held the piece close. It was...a memory, a battle he''d fought in.

    The boat rocked in the storm. This was not the white sea, it was foaming and roaring. Men shouted from the decks of two ships, locked together by grappling lines. Fenrin drew his sword, cutting down the Duskar that was attempting to board. The man was much taller and heavier, Fenrin''s teenage arms trembled as he impaled the men, pushing him over the edge and into the thrashing waters.

    There was a roar and he turned to see his father, a Duskar in one hand, his massive great axe in the other. The Bear hurled the man into another sending both over the edge before cutting the next in half almost effortlessly. Admiration and fear, the common mix of emotion when Fenrin faced Bryn Greybear, filled his heart.

    Jaired, his dark dreads whipping in the wind shouted, "The ballista, pup! Take out their main sail!"

    The wind was ripping at the half closed sail and the lines strained. At this rate they''d lose their prey. Fenrin ran to one of the three huge ballista. He groaned as he cranked the heavy lever, tilting the massive weapon to the correct angle. He checked the wooden shaft, hooking the net to it with its metal spike ready to tear a sail to shreds.

    There was a crack and half the tether lines snapped, causing both boats to rock. Fenrin fumbled and slid to the latch that would release the massive projectile. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "Don''t let them escape!" Bryn shouted, his massive form making its way to the side of the deck to block those attempting to flee back to their ship.

    Fenrin knew he was running out of time. He leaned with all his weight against the trigger.

    CRACK!

    The ballista rolled back, smashing into one of the masts and splitting the wood. He''d forgotten to caulk it. He looked up, the net had missed the sail, falling short, its spiked edge catching the side of the Bear''s ship and scraping the hull instead.

    The Duskar screamed and hurried about. The lines snapped more until the ship was free. The Duskars cheered but at word from below, looked in horror. The ship was sinking, the ballista¡¯s main shaft had pulled free of the net and punched a hole in the side of the Dukar ship. They climbed the rigging, swinging back onto the Bear¡¯s vessel.

    "Take prisoners!" Jaired ordered, "It might be all we get from this!"

    The Duskar were rounded up and Fenrin shrank back. He''d messed up, lost the cargo they''d all risked their lives for. The storm swept the sinking vessel farther away and Fenrin tried to busy himself clearing debris but he was picked up by the back of his shirt.

    "What happened?"

    Fenrin turned to see his father''s eyes. More stormy than the weather itself.

    "I-I meant to hit the sail. I''m sorry."

    Bryn tossed him at the ballista and he cracked his head on the hard wooden edge. His eyes swam and warm blood trickled to his neck. Bryn stared down at him, his fingers flexing on his axe. Had Fenrin been any other crew member, that axe would have ended him there.

    "We were within spitting distance, only an idiot could miss that shot." His father reached down and picked up one of the heavy wooden chaulks. "The same kind of idiot who forgets these!" He threw it at Fenrin and who gasped as the log bruised his ribs. He curled, his hand pressed against his bleeding head.

    "Get up. You''ve got a mess to clean." Bryn turned away from his son, barking orders at the rest of the crew.

    Fenrin winced as he tried to stand, stumbling as his head spun. He finally managed it and was on his way to roll the ballista back in place when a crew member came from behind, smacking him on the back of the head.

    Fenrin cried out and fell over in pain. There was laughter and he gritted his teeth. Tenderly he felt the wound. It was only the skin, his skull was fine, but it stung like hell.

    He''d find out who hit him. He knew what happened to members of Bryn''s crew that let people push them around, and Brynson or not, if he didn''t earn respect back, he''d be finished. Bryn would be watching too, always watching, demanding perfection and strength. Fenrin wanted to feel sorry for himself, allow himself to miss home again, but that wasn''t allowed. Instead he bottled it up, got back on his feet, and moved the weapon back into place.

    The memory slipped from his slick red fingers.

    ¡°That''s not the one you want. That one is boring...show me something delicious.¡± He flinched at the demoness¡¯s whisper.

    He covered his ears. No, he didn''t want that. But as if drawn by her voice, the memories came, slamming into him, their sharp edges stabbing like spears.

    A dagger on a pole. Not very creative but it did the job, sliced into Fenrin''s side through the bars of the cage. He pulled back and groaned as he backed into a hot poker pressed in from the other side. The Brimstones laughed and more came over to join the fun.

    The guard¡¯s sword sliced into him painfully as he charged the stairs trying to keep up with the raging Bear. Hopefully Lyra would be able to stop reinforcements.

    His knuckles bled from where he¡¯d punched the wooden wall in frustration. He shouldn¡¯t be here, he should be out with his mother and father, not trapped back at the house. This was all Lyra¡¯s fault.

    The memories of pain continued with unending assault, continued to fly from the darkness and pierce him to his soul.

 51. Attacked

    Jayln dropped the tray, the meal spilling onto the floor. Matius stepped quickly into the room glancing at the cell. Fenrin was still as death, blood dripping slowly onto the floor.

    With a gust of wind, the door ripped open and Matius ran inside, hand glowing. He lowered it slowly. "It''s alright, it''s just a minor wound, he''s alive."

    Jayln''s heart flipped and she moved closer with relief. Fenrin''s forehead was a bloody mess, his fingers and nails crimson. He was breathing but it was ragged. His finger twitched. "Lost..." he moaned.

    Matius and Jayln looked at each other and then Matius took a deep breath. "Into the fray we go."

    It was loud, Fenrin''s battle. Jayln looked around, trying to find the man himself. Matius gripped her arm pointing. Fenrin was walking across the battlefield, pierced by dozens of dark shards. A black shape seemed to follow him, occasionally waving a hand which caused another memory to slice into Fenrin. With a grunt, Fenrin took another step forward, his sword dragging in his bloody hands.

    "Is that...?" Jayln looked at the black form which came more into focus, the very being seeming wrong in her mind.

    "Niv. Or at least his mind''s version. Let''s see if this works."

    Matius muttered some words and held his hands out, blue light emanating from them. The shadow being turned, its red eyes boring into Jayln like screams of agony. It recoiled from the light and Fenrin paused looking up at them.

    "Jayln?" He looked at her, a glimmer of recognition.

    Slowly, she moved up to Fenrin and reached to pull a shard from his shoulder as Matius pushed the Niv form back.

    ¡°Now this feels personal. I know for a fact you''re not her lover, so then who..."

    Fenrin wrenches the man up by his hair pounding his head against the wall. "I''m her brother, you bastard."

    The man grins, blood dribbling from his split gum. "Ah, she never mentioned a brother but I know she hated her family. Damned them whenever she could. We had a real nice thing going here until your little time limit sent her off."

    Fenrin''s rage simmers and the memory flashes red and skips, Fenrin has the man in front of him, hands tied behind his back.

    "You''re a dead man. The guild will track you down and when you die I''ll piss on ¡ª"

    Fenrin slices off the man''s right pinky, covering the man''s shout of pain with his hand. He tries to bite him but Fernin moved his hands back, forcing the man out of the alley.

    "Every word until we''re out of the city is another finger."

    Jayln winced as the memory cut her but she wrenched it out. Fenrin gasped. Gritting her teeth, she grabs another.

    Lyra opens the door and pushed her brother out before locking it behind her.

    "Well that was enlightening." She says as they walk down the hall. Fenrin slows, "Ly..."

    His sister freezes and sucks in her breath. "Don''t."

    "But¡ª"

    "Don''t pretend like we weren''t ready to tear each other apart. To fight for blood on our birthday. Just...don''t."

    She moves forward, practically running, without looking back at Fenrin who lowers his hand from where he''d reached out.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Jayln backed up, her mind hurting from sharing memories. There are dozens of them, there''s no way she could remove them all. She glanced at Matius who had pushed the Niv form back and with a screech it disappeared. A tinkling sound made Jayln turn to see Fenrin collapse, the shards dropping out of him to the floor.

    She knelt down beside him. "Fenrin, we''re here. What do you need us to do?"

    He blinked at her confused. "I lost the sea. Where did it go?"

    Jayln looked up at Matius who shrugged. Fenrin sat up, nearly knocking Jayln over. He cocked his head and fear flickered across his face. "It''s coming."

    "That doesn''t sound good," Matius said, licking his dry lips and glancing around.

    Fenrin turned, "Jayln."

    She nodded and his eyebrows pulled down in focus. He grabbed her hand and stood up, pulling her along. She glanced back at Matius who shrugged and ran to follow.

    They ducked through the battlefield, blurred faces screaming and falling around them. They reached a large oak door and Fenrin threw it open revealing a blackened interior. He flipped the charred table and pulled Jayln behind it, a finger on his lip.

    She crouched beside him following his gaze to the crack in the building wall. A figure flickered through the opening and Jayln fell recoiling at the second Fenrin.

    This Fenrin had open wounds across its body, its eyes wild and its mouth open to bare its fangs. Hungrily it eyed Jayln before pouncing at her. The Fenrin at her side pushed the table forward which crashed into his beastial copy.

    Matius skidded into the building and as the first Fenrin glanced over, the second seized its chance, pouncing and digging its fangs into the original''s shoulder, fully transforming into a grey wolf with blood red eyes.

    "Makers! What is that?" Matius asked his eyes wide.

    "The Wolf¡ªI mean it''s Fenrin, or at least a part of him," Jayln said, scrambling up and closer to Matius.

    The Wolf and Fenrin roll on the floor, biting and tearing at each other. Matius raised his hands again but this time the blue light had no effect. Jayln turned to him, "Why isn''t it working?"

    Matius glanced down at his hands. "It''s not part of Niv''s power. It''s something that''s supposed to be here."

    Jayln turned back to the battle. Fenrin cried out as the Wolf raked it''s claws down his chest, dark blood pooling out. He caught her eye and reached, shouting, "Give it to me, I need it!" He looked to her side and Jayln glanced down to see another glittering memory shard.

    "Now, Jayln!" Fenrin called again and Jayln grabbed the shard and tossed it.

    "It''s important. Tell me, what is your goal? What is it you want to do?"

    "And what makes you happy Fenrin?"

    "It''s in no one''s nature to murder." "On that we disagree."

    "But they are people, and I won''t just leave it alone Fenrin."

    "You''re really throwing it all away." "Hoping to make something better."

    "She and I have a business arrangement that I value above this whole ship."

    "I know how these things go. If you can''t learn to trust that, then this was all a waste of time."

    "I will not talk with a wolf. When you''ve decided to start being a man, I''ll come back."

    As the shard whistled through the air, fragments of memory and voices pouring out, it shimmered into a sword and Fenrin caught it. With a triumphant grin, he plunged the sword into the Wolf which whined and jumped back. Fenrin, bloodied, stood and swung the sword again. The Wolf growled but turned tail and ran disappearing into the battle.

    For a moment is was quiet save the huffing of Fenrin and then Matius whispered, "That was a good thing, right?"

    Jayln stepped closer to Fenrin who looked at her with sorrow in his eyes. "I couldn''t kill it." He looked at the sword in his hand which dissolved into smoke and seeped into him. "It wasn''t enough."

    He seemed to shrink into himself, metal curling up from the floor surrounding him. Jayln reached, trying to take his hand, but the barbed metal bars blocked her. Sharp shards moved like creeping things towards him and Jayln turned to Matius, "This isn''t working!"

    Matius nodded and waved his hand. With a lurch, they were back in the cell. He touched Fenrin''s forehead, his own wrinkling. "I''m going to try to put him to sleep again."

    After a moment he pulled back. "It''s done but I don''t know for how long. Clearly it didn''t last time."

    Jayln used her sleeve to wipe the blood from Fenrin''s face. Despite the clawing, the mark was still there, black as night. "Was there anything like that in Yu''jana''s mind?" she asked.

    "No, it was a wreck, but nothing attacked. I think..." he hesitated and Jayln looked at him until he sighed, "I think that was all Fenrin. Aside from the Niv we saw at the beginning. I don''t know if my magic can help that."

    "But it worked at the beginning," Jayln pressed and Matius chewed his cheek thinking.

    "Yes, against Niv''s influence. I can keep doing that. Cleansing any lingering enchantment...but the rest is his own mind tormenting himself."

    Jayln took Matius''s hand staring down at the unconscious man, surely there was something she could do?

 52. The Body

    Fenrin groaned as Jayln tipped the water between his lips. "Come on, stay with me," she muttered watching satisfied as the man swallowed, his body shuddering.

    "If we can''t get him up tonight, I don''t think he''s going to make it." Jayln sighed turning to Matius who had his eyes closed, focusing on his magic. Fenrin¡¯s body was already weak, but now that he was trapped unconscious in his mind, the last of him was wasting away.

    "I''ll do as much as I can." Matius''s eyes flickered under his eyelids. He reached out and Jayln took his hand.

    They both coughed as smoke clouded their vision. The air was hot and heavy, Fenrin was fighting off a number of black robed figures, a silver sword gleaming in his hand.

    "Do you see her?" Matius asked peering through the smoke.

    Jayln also scanned the mindscape and then pointed. "There!"

    The Niv form watched Fenrin fighting, creeping closer with each swing of his sword.

    "Right, you stay with Fenrin." Matius flew off, his hands glowing blue to try to banish the demoness once and for all.

    Jayln ran to Fenrin, grabbing one of the robed figures and sending it crashing to the ground. "I''m here, what do you need?" she said, whirling to kick another cultist in the jaw.

    Fenrin turned to her, recognition crossing his scarred face. "I need them off," he said, glancing down with gritted teeth. Jayln followed his gaze and winced to see the ball and chains wrapped around his ankles. They were the ones Jakob made.

    Jayln flinched as Fenrin roared in pain, a number of black splashes of energy burning into his side. He tried to turn but the manacles slowed him down and one of the cultists slashed his arm. Jayln pulled the cultist back, the figure seeming to dissipate her hands.

    She moved to Fenrin, kneeling to try to take the manacles off but her hand went right through. "I can''t touch them," she said frustrated.

    "Then get the damned archer yourself," Fenrin roared and Jayln looked up to see an arrow pierce his leg. She followed its path to the shadowy figure who lowered the bow, nocking another arrow. She ran, tackling it and wrenching the bow out of its hands as it too disappeared. Jayln drew the bow back aiming as a cultist who raised a fiery hand towards Fenrin. Her arrow cut him down and she moved to the next target.

    Her and Fenrin fought for what seemed like eternity against the never ending wave of enemies until at last, an exhausted Matius stumbled to her side. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "I think I''ve done it," he said, panting. "The rest is his own torments. I can''t do anything against them here, but at least the false memories should be gone."

    Jayln caught Matius as his legs gave out and they both hit the stone floor of the cell. Fenrin was twitching and breathing heavily. Jayln watched as the torchlight played over his gaunt face. The man was starving to death. She looked determinedly at the food they''d brought for him and lifted Matius up.

    "Wake him up."

    "You sure?" Matius said his words a bit slurred. "He''s still a mess inside."

    "He''s going to die if he doesn''t eat something regardless of the state of his mind. If Niv¡¯s influence is gone, then his best bet is to wake up."

    Matius nodded and pressed a hand to Fenrin''s forehead. Fenrin froze and then fell limp for a moment before his eyelids flickered open weakly.

    Jayln gently touched his shoulder and he flinched. "It''s me, Jayln. Can you move?"

    Fenrin turned to look at her suspiciously but his muscles tensed and he hissed before falling limp again. "No," he said weakly through gritted teeth.

    "You need to eat something."

    Jayln went to the tray of food and brought back an apple, not one of Matius''s, but red and delicious nonetheless.  With a small knife, she cut a thin slice, reached, and pressed it against Fenrin''s lips. He accepted it, chewing slowly. One by one, he got each slice down as Matius rested against the wall, head between his knees exhausted from banishing Niv¡¯s shadow.

    As Jayln got more water down Fenrin, he coughed, "Where am I?" He tried to look around but again his body wouldn''t respond.

    "You''re in Aziron. Safe," Jayln said soothingly and Fenrin looked at the ceiling, a strange expression somewhere between confusion and distrust on his face.

    "I don''t feel...it doesn''t hurt."

    "You''re safe here. No one is going to hurt you. Eat more."

    She managed to get him to eat a few bites of eggs before he closed his eyes. "I''m tired, so tired."

    Jayln stood up and turned to Matius, who was asleep against the wall. She stepped out and called for Fa''raz. The girl peeked in and Jayln said, "Do you think you could get me some blankets and a cot if possible."

    Fa¡¯raz nodded and disappeared returning with an armful of blankets and word that a cot was on its way. Jayln thanked her and placed one of the wool blankets over Fenrin who had his eyes closed and was breathing slowly but a bit unsteadily.

    When she went to drape the other over Matius, he jolted. "Wha--Jayln? Makers, I fell asleep."

    Jayln leaned forward and kissed him. "Go get some sleep in an actual bed. I''ll stay here and watch Fenrin."

    Matius ran his hand down his face wearily. "You''ll be careful and get me if you need?"

    "Of course."

    With a nod to Fa''raz, the girl eagerly moved forward, helping Matius up and pulling him along to his apartment. Soon a cot whistled through the open door, Jayln shaking her head still not used to objects moving on their own. At first she put the cot next to Fenrin''s but then bit her lip and with a sigh shut the cell door and laid down safely on the other side.

 53. Waiting

    It had only been about an hour before Fenrin started moaning, the sounds escalating quickly into screams of pain. Jayln bolted up and rushed over. Fenrin was coated with sweat and his eyes moved madly beneath his eyelids. Gently she shook him.

    "Fenrin, wake up. It''s not real."

    His grey eyes opened and looked at her, clouded with exhaustion. She tentatively reached over and stroked his hair. "You''re safe. No one is going to hurt you."

    His eyes lost focus and Jayln hummed until he drifted back to sleep.

    The events repeated throughout the night, Fenrin unable to avoid his nightmare for more than a few hours at a time. After each episode, Jayln would come to his side, reassuring him and convincing him to drink more water or get some more sleep.

    Matius came down the next morning with breakfast for the three of them. As Jayln got some warm porridge into Fenrin, Matius held a finger to his lips, pouring some liquid from a blue bottle into Fenrin''s water.

    Jayln looked to Fenrin with concern. Hopefully a sleeping draught would help and not trap him with his nightmares. However, she was encouraged by the fact that his ached face seemed to have a bit more color. As Fenrin drank the water, his brows furrowed. He flinched, his arm reaching desperately out before his eyes rolled up and he lay still, breathing quietly.

    Sitting on her cot, Jayln rested her head on Matius''s lap as he talked absently about his theories on what the potion would do to Fenrin''s mindscape. Jayln''s eyes drifted close and she vaguely noted Matius murmuring a lullaby as she fell asleep.

    She woke up with a start, her head knocking the book out of Matius''s hand.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    "Oops! Are you alright?" he asked with concern as she winced from the hardcover. The clatter of the book on stone cleared her head and she turned to the cell.

    Fenrin was still resting peacefully.

    "Any change? How long was I asleep?"

    "He''s fine and has been for the last four hours."

    She glanced at Matius, reddening a bit to notice she left some drool on his robe. "Four hours," she repeated.

    Matius grinned and reached down to retrieve his book. "Not long to wait when you have Avicus''s Travels to keep you company." He held up the book and then smoothed one of the pages that had bent in the fall.

    Jayln slid until her back was on the wall. "I''m glad he''s sleeping, he didn''t get much rest last night."

    "Neither did you it seems." Matius reached and his fingers slipped between hers and he gave her a smile. "But I think we are past the worst of it. With Niv gone, the cards won''t be stacked against him."

    Jayln returned the smile but it faded. "The cards have always been stacked against him. What if after everything, it''s not enough?"

    "We''ve done everything we can. You have to promise you won''t blame yourself if he doesn''t pull through." Matius squeezed her hand, "Hey, I know it''s tough to hear, but the only demons he''s fighting now are those he made himself. If he can''t beat them, it''s a fate of his own making."

    The words were unusually harsh for Matius, but he had a point and Jayln sighed. "I know. I just want to give him a fighting chance. I don''t want him to die without anyone ever being truly on his side."

    Fighting through his memories, it''d become clear how Fenrin had ended up how he was. It didn''t excuse his actions, but the first walls he''d put up between him and his humanity had been done to survive. Not even his mother had stood up for him and after everything Niv had put him through, Fenrin deserved one last shot at happiness¡ªif he would let himself take it.

    Jayln reached out and took the book from Matius, settling against him and flipping to the first page. In the end, it was up to Fenrin.

 54. One Step At A Time

    When Fenrin finally woke up, he did so with a growl. "Where am I?"

    Jayln sighed, hoping this wasn''t going to be a new habit. She put down the second book Matius had brought her, giving her a soft look before being whisked away to do the tasks of the Third Apprentice.

    "You''re safe in Aziron. No one is going to hurt you."

    Fenrin slowly managed to turn his head. As his eyes focused on her and the bars between them his eyes narrowed. "Jayln? Haven''t we done this before?"

    "You have no idea," Jayln muttered under her breath but then stood up, unlocked the door, and stepped inside before saying more audibly, "I''m going to be straight with you, Fenrin. You''re a wreck."

    Fenrin chuckled and Jayln''s heart leapt at how normal it sounded. "Thanks, I noticed. How long have I been here?"

    "Ten days."

    "Wasn''t there someone else too?" His brows furrowed and Jayln answered quickly, not wanting him to delve too deeply into memories.

    "Yes, his name''s Matius, one of the Arch Mage''s apprentices. He got rid of any lingering curses of Niv."

    Fenrin''s face grew dark at the name and his hands closed into fists. "That''s why..." He grunted, his body clenching and Jayln pushed him down.

    "Whoa there. Easy, you''ve barely eaten anything in days."

    Fenrin growled again, "Help me up then."

    Realizing how much Fenrin needed this, Jayln reached down and he grabbed her arms as she pulled him to a sitting position, his mangled back against the wall.

    He went pale and closed his eyes for a moment as the world spun, then with a shaky voice asked, "Bring any food?"

    Jayln called out in the hall for someone. Fa''raz popped in and at Jayln''s request disappeared to wherever food was conjured up in the Arch Mage''s tower. For now, there was still some bread from the day before. The edges were hard, but Jayln pulled it apart, handing the soft center to Fenrin who took it with a shaky hand and pained face.

    After swallowing the bread and accepting some more water from Jayln, Fenrin licked his lips. "Aziron, huh? I never liked mages."

    Jayln gave a dry smile. "They aren''t so bad. They saved both our lives, you know."

    Fenrin grunted. "Probably don''t like having me around, mages are always the jumpy sort." He nodded to the bars and Jayln bit her lip.

    "It''s not that, well maybe it is a bit. You weren''t exactly...sane when we found you." A shadow crossed Fenrin''s face and Jayln touched his arm. "But don''t worry about that. Like I said, Matius helped fix things."

    Fenrin opened his mouth and then closed it. He reached up to touch his forehead and Jayln intercepted his hand, patting it. "Just focus on getting back to your feet."

    Matius appeared with a whoosh. "I heard someone was up and ready for lunch!" He gave Fenrin a smile who returned it with a suspicious glare.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    "I know you," he said slowly and Matius''s smile turned a bit nervous before he carefully set the plate of food next to Fenrin.

    "I wouldn''t think about it too much right now. Your head''s been through a lot. I''m Matius by the way."

    "Matius." The name was heavy as it rolled off Fenrin''s tongue but with an encouraging nod from Jayln, he took the offered bowl of soup and tried to eat it. His hands shook but when Jayln reached out to help, he growled at her.

    With determination, Fenrin kept eating, hot soup splashing occasionally onto his lap but he managed to get most of it down. He handed the empty bowl to Jayln and with a shuddering breath asked, "So, what now?"

    Matius quickly stepped up. "Now we get you back on your feet. I want to focus on your physical recovery. One step at a time, say...walking from here to there?" The mage pointed from one wall of the cell to the other.

    Fenrin began to move and Jayln considered stopping him. He slid off the cot, trying to standing. He was only about half way up when his legs collapsed and he crashed to the floor. Jayln yelped and Matius rushed over.

    Fenrin''s hand reached up and grabbed Matius''s arm like a vice. "Don''t move," he said behind clenched teeth.

    "Yeah, okay," Matius squeaked, wincing as Fenrin''s hand dug into his arm.

    Slowly, Fenrin pulled himself up, his breathing becoming ragged and face twisting in pain. Jayln moved to help but stopped when she saw his eyes. They were wavering between determination and fear. She held herself back as he managed to stand and lower himself again onto the cot, hand still clenching Matius''s arm.

    "Right, well one step at a time like I said." Matius moved his arm and Fenrin looked at him absently before letting go.

    "I feel..." Fenrin started quietly.

    "Yes?" Matius leaned in eagerly.

    "...like shit."

    Jayln snorted and Matius''s smile wavered, "Ah well, that''s understandable. We were able to heal your wounds but there¡¯s lingering damage from being untreated for so long. Your muscles especially were torn more then anyone had seen, A result of extended exhaustion and adrenaline. It''s going to take time to recover. But," he placed a hand gently on Fenrin''s shoulder, who flinched a bit at the contact, "recover you shall."

    Jayln watched Fenrin tense, but nevertheless he nodded. "How long...how long since we got to the valley?"

    Guilt twisted in Jayln¡¯s stomach, but she answered softly, "Almost three months."

    ¡°Three months,¡± Fenrin mouthed the words and then closed his eyes leaning against the wall. "Doesn''t feel like three months. Gods, I''m tired."

    Matius gave Jayln a side glance. "Sleep is a good idea. I can give you something to help you rest if you''d like."

    Fenrin peeked one eye open and gave Jayln a questioning look. "He''s not going to poison me, is he?"

    Jayln chuckled at Matius''s offended gape and shook her head. "No, you can trust Matius, I promise."

    Fenrin''s eyes glanced quickly at the cell bars before closing again. "Promise..."

    By all appearances he was asleep but Matius still fetched some tea with sleeping herbs and left it by his cot.

    "I should probably stay here just in case," Jayln said fretfully as the two glanced at the sleeping man. Matius pulled her arm and they slipped into the hall as he shut the door.

    "He seems to be recovering, but we have to consider that a relapse is possible. This isn''t exactly a hospital."

    Jayln frowned. "You don''t mean we should keep him locked in that cell?"

    Matius sighed and took her hand. "I just don''t want anyone getting hurt if something sets him off. What if he goes berserk and catches someone like Fa''raz before snapping out of it? You and I might be able to handle him, but we can''t just let him wonder about."

    "But being in the cell is probably what would trigger a relapse!¡± Jayln pulled her hand away. ¡°Didn''t you see the way he eyed those bars? You know how much of his memories were focused on being trapped, how is he supposed to recover in there?"

    Matius rubbed his chin. "Good point. Well that gives us really only one option. He''s got to be moved somewhere else, somewhere without a lot of people. Until we can come up with a plan, I can at least illusion away the bars. It''s not my speciality but I think I can manage."

    "But where will we take him?"

    They both glanced back at the door, neither having an answer.

 55. Talk

    Fenrin heard when they left the cell, but couldn''t make out the words as they talked on the other side of the door. He wasn''t lying when he''d said he was tired. He''d never been this tired in his life...or this scared.

    Something was definitely wrong with him. It felt like he was being stalked by something in his own head and every instinct told him sleep would mean death.

    But there was nothing here to hurt him.

    Matius seemed an alright sort, bit jumpy but he was a mage. Jayln trusted him, hells from the way she kept glancing at him, she more than trusted him.

    Three months. It was a long time and he struggled to make sense of it. It seemed so recent that he and Jayln had stepped into that valley, hope and purpose coursing through his veins. But it also felt like a lifetime ago when he considered the neverending pain he knew he''d endured.

    The mage had been smart to warn him not to think about it too much. It was a sticky place, touching it left red marks on him that he couldn''t remove. It bothered him that he couldn''t remember the three months clearly but he wasn''t so much of an idiot not to realize that was probably a good thing. If his body was an indication, there wasn''t anything pleasant to remember.

    Fenrin reached up, Jayln no longer here to stop him and ran his fingers over his forehead. He knew something was there but the skin was smooth, albeit grimy with sweat. A symbol flashed in his mind and made him gasp.

    Niv.

    A cruel smile, the painful touch, they ran like shivers down his spine. He didn''t want to remember. Fenrin reached out slowly and painfully and managed to down the cup Matius had left.

    Before he turned to try to lie back down on his back, his eyes fixated themselves on the cell bars. Locked in. Although the cell door was ajar, Fenrin''s hackles rose as he felt a jolt of adrenaline telling him to run¡ªto escape.

    ¡°I can''t even stand,¡± he told himself and wrenched his eyes away, lying down with a hiss of pain.

    The drugs worked quickly and he felt his head start to fog. One part of him watched the corners of his mind nervously, looking for the hunting beast but the fog was thick and soon there was nothing left.

    A crash startled him awake and he cried out as his muscles screamed at his sudden movement.

    "Damn it! Sorry, Fenrin."

    His mind whirled and then the pieces clicked into place. Jayln. The valley. The mage. The cell. His eyes focused, Jayln was holding her foot, face twisted in pain as a tray full of food lay scattered on the floor. It took Fenrin a second to realize what was different.

    "The bars..."

    Jayln let go of her foot and gave him a smile. "We couldn''t actually remove them, but Matius illusioned them away so they weren''t such an eyesore. But technically they are still there, as my foot just poignantly reminded me."

    She looked at the mess she''d made with frustration. "Shoot, now I''ll have to ask Fa''raz for more. Not to mention something to clean this up with. I''ll be right back." Jayln turned and left back into the hall and Fenrin attempted to sit up.

    He huffed and puffed, but when Jayln returned with a bucket and mop, he was still prone. "Help me up," he said with gritted teeth and Jayln put her tools down and half-help, half-pull him to a sitting position.

    "Thanks," he wheezed.

    "No problem. Take it easy."

    She returned to cleaning up the mess and Fenrin glanced around again. The room seemed much bigger without the bars. There was another cot on the other side along with a wooden table and set of chairs. The torch that illuminated the room was also on the far side by the door, even the long shadows of the bars were gone and if it wasn''t for Jayln''s careful stepping, he''d truly believe they''d been removed.

    When Jayln finished, a waif of a girl in white robes with blue skin came in with a new tray of food. "Oh thank you, Fa''raz, I''ll be more careful this time." Jayln took the plate and the girl gave Fenrin an inquisitive glance.

    The girl wasn''t scared, her dark eyes more calculating and curious. Fenrin stared her down and eventually she bit her lip and turned away. Such a strange little thing.

    Like a punch to the nose, the memory hit him hard. A blue skinned face screaming in agony as he pounded his fists into it, red spattering around them. His knuckles tearing through skin and flesh with sheer force. The body going limp beneath him. A howl of victory.

    "Fenrin?" Jayln''s voice snapped him back and he turned to her look of concern.

    He was breathing heavily and his fingers were curled into fists, knuckles white. He swallowed bile. "I''m fine."

    She looked at him suspiciously and plopped the tray of food on his lap. "I doubt that very much. Can you eat yourself?"

    Glaring at her, he slowly and painfully reached and grabbed the piece of toast, the butter running off the side as he lifted it. After a few bites, he sat back winded and Jayln seized her chance, reaching over to compare his pulse and temperature with her own.

    "Satisfied?" he asked sarcastically, not too happy with her taking advantage of his condition.

    "That you''re not dead? Sure. With how much you managed to eat, not so much."

    He grunted and attempted to finish his toast as she sat silently beside him.

    With forced neutrality she said, "Matius found a doctor for you. You going to be fine with him working on you?"

    Fenrin considered putting up a fuss, or at least pretending to so she¡¯d get riled up but decided he was too tired and just grunted, "I''ve had doctors before, this isn''t my first serious injury, you know."

    She flushed. "I just wanted to check. He''s an Azir doctor by the way."

    "Whatever."

    Nobody liked the down time after an injury, gods knows Lyra was an absolute nightmare the time she was bedridden, but Fenrin wanted to be back on his feet and if that meant letting a blueskin poke about, so be it.

    "Great, I''ll let him know." Jayln got up to leave and Fenrin felt a bit of annoyance, she almost seemed disappointed he didn''t put up a fight.

    After she left, Fenrin considered his position. Jayln had to be the reason he wasn''t dead, the reason he''d been healed and fed. Once he was back on his feet...then what?

    ¡°You go back to the valley like you planned.¡± That was his first thought but images of black robes people and the smell of blood and burning flesh made his heart skip with fear. Some part of his mind skidded back from the mere idea of going towards the valley and the dark fort inside¡ªher dark fort.

    "Come back home, Wolf. There''s so much more to hunt, so much more pain to give."

    He could picture her voice so clearly. His body shook and the glass of milk on his tray tipped, flooding the rest of his food.

    No, Niv was gone. She had to be or he wouldn''t be here. Pure fear, like ice clutched his heart. He would do anything to not be back with her, back in that cage. His stomach churned with repulsion, threatening to upend his breakfast. It was the feeling he''d seen in so many other people''s eyes. Lesser people. People who snivelled and followed his family''s orders.

    "You broke, Fen," Lyra''s voice, full of disgust and condescending, "Pathetic. And the worst of it is, I think you liked it..."

    "SHUT UP!" Fenrin flung the tray and it crashed against the stone. How would he continue? How would he face Lyra? She would smell his failure on him, her lips curling in disgust.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    Screw Lyra. But that wasn''t enough, he''d backed into that red cloud and like a stain, the memories stayed.

    The pain was familiar, but what lay underneath was pleasure. A sick pleasure at being the one to inflict the pain. The bloodlust, all of it to please her. To give pain and receive it, that was her court, her domain. How perfectly he had fit at her side, she was everything he''d believed in¡ªthe strength, the conquest, the victory. It was just an amplification of what he''d believed in his whole life. It was a stain he could not erase. How would he face Jayln?

    Screw Jayln. The survivalist sneered but that made Fenrin recoil.

    There was a reason Jayln was important. His beaten brain couldn''t pin it down but he clung to that feeling. There was something he''d needed to finish.

    "Do you care about her, Fenrin?" Lyra asked with disdain as Fenrin found his hands clutching the sides of his head.

    ¡°I do.¡± But why? ¡°She''s important. We¡­¡±

    New memories, these not from the red corner. Travelling with Jayln had made him see something, something he''d lost a long time ago.

    Something better. A shared purpose. A chance at a better happiness.

    "We both know that''s not for you, Fen. Why would she want to continue with you anyway? You''re a broken dog, feral and rabid. A danger and a failure," Lyra purred in his mind. "Why is she even here? Three months, she could be home with her family, instead she''s nursing after a lost cause."

    Unbidden Fenrin''s thoughts mulled over that question and Lyra laughed, "Oh? So it''s not you at all, is it? It''s Matius, the mage who saved her¡ªand you¡ªdid what you could not. I suppose you''re just a project, an excuse to stick around and..."

    "Fenrin, how are you?" Matius materialized on the other side of the room and Fenrin looked at him. The man started and Fenrin''s stomach flipped as he realized the animosity baying in his mind must have shown. "I, er, could come back later."

    The mage''s eyes fell on the thrown tray and he rubbed his chin. Coming to some sort of decision, Matius took a deep breath and then walked towards Fenrin. He snapped his fingers and the chair flew over for him to sit a few feet from Fenrin.

    "You seem like you have a lot on your mind. Want to talk about it? I find talking things through with someone helps things make more sense."

    Fenrin''s mouth felt glued shut but he managed to croak, "Why am I here?"

    Matius sat back considering the question. "An understandable inquiry and one I think you''d get different answers for. At least from my point of view, you are here because of two reasons. One," he held up a finger, "the Azir have a duty against the Accursed Ones and that includes repairing any damage they do. Second," his eyes grew softer, "Jayln believes in you and you saved her life so she wants to repay you."

    Fenrin sneered. "She doesn''t owe me anything and we both know it."

    Matius frowned and stared at Fenrin, studying him carefully. "I''m not so sure."

    "What is that supposed to mean?"

    Matius cocked his head. "Why don''t you tell me why you don''t think Jayln owes you anything?"

    Fenrin narrowed his eyes, trying to work out Matius''s game. He didn''t know much about the mage, other than that he had a hand in both Jayln''s escape and his rescue. Not to mention he supposedly removed a curse from his mind.

    However, the mage seemed honestly curious so Fenrin said slowly, "We had a deal, Jayln and I, and it was working out until I made the mistake of dragging her into that fortress."

    "You couldn''t have known what was in there."

    "I knew it was Brimstones. She didn''t want to go in but I was so¡ª" Fenrin stopped suddenly, his brows furrowing. There it was. He''d been so excited. Not for clearing cultists or conquering fortresses, it was the valley itself. He''d been so excited to have a place of his own, to show Jayln and himself that he''d been right and he could start over.

    "Yes?" Matius prompted and despite himself Fenrin answered.

    "I was...excited. We were so close, everything was working out and then...then it all fell apart. There were too many and we were caught, I gave her a chance to run and..." Fenrin''s mind turned back and the memories were too close to the red cloud. Matius shifted and Fenrin''s eyes snapped to him at the movement.

    "You made a distraction so Jayln could get out. No need to ruminate on that time anymore today."

    Something didn''t add up. At the time, he had tried to make a distraction so Jayln could slip out. But now, knowing the power Niv had, there was no way she''d have gotten away. Unless...

    "You got her out, didn''t you," Fenrin stated. "You were there, you''re the only one who could have. She owes you, not me."

    Matius fidgeted under his accusatory look. "Yes, I was there. We got out together while they were focused on you."

    "If that were true you wouldn''t have asked. Gods, no wonder she''s so enamored by you."

    Matius''s face flushed and then he took a deep breath. Fenrin felt a mix of satisfaction and shame, but that all got tangled in a ball of confusing emotion when Matius asked, "Do you love her, Fenrin?"

    He opened his mouth and then closed it. Did he what?

    Matius looked away, perhaps considering retracting the questions but the words slipped out of Fenrin into the space between them, "I don''t think I know what that means."

    That got Matius''s attention and Fenrin laughed. "I proposed to her once, twice actually." Matius blinked and then his eyes widened incredulously and Fenrin grinned. "She made that same face. Well, maybe with more disgust. The conversation after was...enlightening. I suppose I don''t understand the question because I''m not sure I understand what love is. What about you? Do you love her?"

    The mage smiled and there was something soft and warm in his eyes that made Fenrin feel a bit hollow. "I think I do. I also think you do, but perhaps not in the same way."

    He waved a hand. "But I should apologize, it probably wasn''t very fair of me to spring that on you." After a brief hesitation he asked, "Out of curiosity, what did she say after your...proposal?"

    "You mean after scoffing and saying no? Well she tried to explain what it meant to her. Something about trust, love, and shared purpose. I didn''t really get it at the time although I think I''m beginning to understand the shared purpose bit."

    "Really? And why''s that?"

    Fenrin gave Matius a look to which he just smiled back pleasantly. The man was pushing his luck and knew it, but for some reason, Fenrin didn''t mind. Matius''s questions, as awkward and poignant as they were, made better company than his thoughts and demons.

    "I suppose it''s because we reached that point. Jayln and me, I mean. I don''t know if she told you about our deal but originally we had a bit of a tit for tat thing going. I got a bit carried away and blew that and after she made me realize in a way we were searching for the same thing."

    "And what was that?"

    "A new life. For her it was one where her people could be safe and evolve their way of life, and for me it meant a future under my own terms, outside the influence of my family."

    "Ah, I see what you mean by a shared purpose."

    "Yeah, it was nice while it lasted." For a moment the memory touched him, so light and warm compared to the red cloud. That glimmer of happiness, staring down at the valley, Jayln next to him, her eyes filled with the hope he felt in his own heart.

    "While it lasted? Did you change your mind?"

    Fenrin snapped back to the present and growled, "It wasn''t me that messed with my mind."

    "You don''t believe as you did before, that you can have a ''new life'' as you put it?" Matius frowned with concern.

    "I tried running from that world, turns out the only place to run was to one worse." His voice raised and he felt anger bubble up and he lashed out. "It was a na?ve dream Jayln tricked me into before reality came back to beat the reminder into me."

    Frustratingly, Matius remained calm. "You think the world is worse then?"

    Fenrin gritted his teeth. "No, I think it''s exactly what it always was. A place where the strong take what they want and those who can''t stop them are trampled beneath. It''s the way of the world. Any thoughts otherwise are just attempts to ignore the ugly inevitability. My family beat Valhym to the bone, Jayln and her people beat me and my men, and then...and then she ripped apart the pieces. From what I hear, after that your Arch Mage beat the Brimstones. It''s just a food chain and I''ve fallen to the bottom."

    "An interesting view but one that Jayln''s mentioned she''s argued with you about before."

    "She''s wrong and it''s only a matter of time before the truth catches up with her," Fenrin said bitterly.

    "You mentioned her defeating you, do you consider her someone who tramples those beneath her."

    Fenrin paused before answering and for a moment Matius looked satisfied, but then he frowned at Fenrin''s eventual answer, "I used to think it was a fluke she beat me. Then I had to face the reality of it. Perhaps that''s what made me fool myself, made me believe that she knew something I didn''t. But now I realize it wasn''t that she had a leg up, it was that I was much weaker than I thought. That I was just ripe for a fall."

    "You think you were weak?"

    Fenrin tapped his head.  "Weak here. Always have been. Lyra knew it, Jayln knew it, and then..." he spat the name, "Niv proved it."

    "Lyra. That''s your twin sister, right?"

    Fenrin flinched. "Yeah, she was always the smart one." He laughed, "She knows how the world works, has known since she was a child. You can bet your robes she''ll have Valhym and anything else she wants. Gods, that''s the worst of it, knowing she was right all along."

    "Hmmm. She certainly is a character, but I wouldn''t consent to her philosophies just yet."

    Matius stood up and placed a hand on Fenrin''s shoulder. "As someone who''s been in that head of yours, I can tell you that there''s nothing weak about it. I think there''s still a lot for you and Jayln to learn from each other and I want to see that happen, for both of your sakes. Every night has a dawn as they say, so while we''re still kicking, let''s see what the next day brings."

    Fenrin snorted but Matius''s hand stayed and eventually he shrugged.

    Matius stepped back. "Thank you for talking with me, I''ve got to attend to my duties, but I''ll be by later."

    Fenrin''s long hair whipped his face as the air swirled into a strong breeze and Matius vanished. Alone again, Fenrin painfully lowered himself back down on the bed, thinking over everything.

 56. Recovered Plans

    "I had a rather long and informative talk with Fenrin," Matius said, cutting into the meat pie he''d acquired for Jayln and his dinner.

    Jayln had been agitated all day, wracking her brain for solutions and trying to decide whether to keep watch on Fenrin or give him space. She''d even tried to rewrite the letter to her father. Tried to put into words what it was she wanted. She''d tossed the tenth draft when Matius had appeared with dinner. Now she poked at it absently.

    "How is he?"

    "Pretty good all things considered. Honestly, I was very surprised at how coherent he was. It was nothing like talking to him before."

    Jayln perked up. "Really? What did you talk about? Did you explain the situation?"

    Matius chewed slowly and then answered, "Not exactly. We talked about a lot of things. It was very enlightening." He smiled at a private joke and Jayln suspected she was being teased.

    Before she could ask for more details, Matius continued, "He thinks his experience with Niv proves his sister''s philosophy. He''s surprisingly self-deprecating considering how much of an egoist you said he was. Perhaps that''s only natural considering what he went though."

    Jayln blinked. Self-deprecating? Fenrin?

    "I should go talk to him." She moved to stand but Matius waved his fork urgently.

    "Not right now, let him think things over. Besides I think you should finish eating."

    Jayln sat back down and looked at Matius with a raised eyebrow. He looked at her innocently but she crossed her arms, "What exactly did you two talk about?"

    Matius gave her a mischievous smile. "Did he really propose to you?"

    She flushed and Matius laughed, "I''m sorry, it''s just ever since he mentioned it I''ve been trying to picture it and I just can''t."Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    "It wasn''t exactly what you would consider a traditional proposal," she said exasperated, "he was just looking for a way to get me to let him out and thought it was a sort of more strict business arrangement. How did that even come up?"

    Matius shrugged and she noticed his ears going a bit pink. Quickly, he changed the topic. "Anyway, I think we need to make some sort of decision."

    "What do you think I''ve been doing all day?" She poked at her food moodily.

    "Trying to write a letter?"

    She scowled and Matius gave her a sympathetic look. She pointed her fork at him. "You can be very frustrating sometimes, you know."

    He rested his chin on his hand. "Oh?"

    "Yes! You disappeared all day leaving me to figure things out and then you tell me you talked everything over with Fenrin on your own."

    "Did you not want me to?"

    It was an honest question and the irritation left Jayln and she sighed. "No, I''m glad you did. I guess I''m just angry I didn''t do it myself."

    "No offense, but I don''t think it would have worked if it''d been you. He has a lot on his mind and most of it has to do with you. You two are sides of the same coin that way."

    "What do you mean?"

    Matius gave her a knowing look. "How many of those letters were about Fenrin?"

    Most of them. She wanted to be mad that he was right, but his eyes were so kind, his face watching for a chance to help and she let him. "You''re right. I''m torn between my responsibility to my people and to Fenrin."

    She waved a hand. "And I know what you''re thinking, I shouldn''t feel responsible for Fenrin, but I can''t help it. I can''t just leave him after what he went though, it just doesn''t feel right."

    Jayln had expected Matius to look worried or concerned, but instead the look he was giving her made her blush.

    "I know," he said with such fondness that for a moment the two just looked at each other regretting the table between them.

    Then Matius coughed and Jayln took a drink as he said, "From what Fenrin told me, your responsibility to your people and your journey with Fenrin used to be aligned. Is that not the case anymore?"

    ¡°Well, originally we were going to move my people to the valley, but..." she trailed off and then looked at Matius dumbfounded. "You really think?"

    Matius shrugged. "I don''t see why not. I''ve been busting my butt the last few days clearing it of any lingering Brimstone influence."

    That clinched it, she stood up, rounded the table, and grabbed the startled Matius and kissed him.

 57. Doctor Zivin

    Fenrin tried to ignore the anxious looks Matius and Jayln kept giving him as the doctor poked and prodded his damaged body. He wasn''t sure which was more annoying, when their eyes glanced over his scars with pity or flicked quickly with worry whenever he so much as twitched.

    He flinched a bit as the Azir, Dr. Zi''vin, gave him a quick rap on the knee, muttering about reflexes. At his sudden movement, Jayln and Matius jumped as well and when Fenrin''s eyes flicked towards them he saw fear pass like a shadow over their faces. Fear. Part of him drank it up with satisfaction, the other part shivered at said satisfaction.

    "It''s really quite astonishing. At a surface level the wounds are healed and even the tears on the muscles themselves have been woven back together, but there''s so much new tissue that it''s essentially sarcopenia."

    "What the hell does that mean?" Fenrin asked, gritting his teeth as Dr. Zi''vin pushed his ankle slowly until his knee lifted.

    "Essentially, so much of your tissue is new that your muscles are like that of a newborn or a bedridden elder. We''ll have to work the repairs until they are as fit as the remaining original."

    The idea of stuff inside him being ''not original'' was unsettling but it was nice to have an explanation for the way he felt.

    "But he will recover then?" Jayln asked and the doctor nodded firmly.

    "Of course. Now, unless there''s a reason against it, I''d like to start working with my patient now."

    Jayln nodded, but Dr. Zi''vin kept looking at her expectantly, waiting for her and Matius to leave. Matius opened his mouth, "Er, we thought it might be best if she hung around. For support."

    ¡°To make sure I don''t get violent you mean.¡± Fenrin wasn''t particularly offended, he''d accepted that his mental state was fragile. Unless Matius drugged him, he woke screaming each night, flailing his limbs which left him racked with pain once the adrenaline stopped.

    Dr. Zi''vin, on the other hand, sniffed with offense. "I don''t think that will be necessary. I assure you, your friend is in good hands."

    "It''s not me they''re worried about," Fenrin said with a wry smile and Jayln winced.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Again the doctor scoffed. "Please," he lifted one of Fenrin''s hands and then dropped it with a thud, "I think I''ll manage."

    While the abuse of his hand wasn''t appreciated, the look the doctor''s words put on Jayln''s face was priceless and after Matius managed to pull her out the door, he chuckled. "You''re a blunt one, doc."

    "Hmm." Dr. Zi''vin didn''t acknowledge his comment but went around the table to turn his attention back to Fenrin''s ankles. "Let''s start with the legs."

    Once more, he grabbed Fenrin''s ankle, the other hand sliding under his knee and carefully but fimly lifting up. Fenrin craned his head to watch as the doctor repeated the motion alternating legs like Ferin was running in the air. After about a dozen rotations, the doctor lifted his own foot and braced it against the edge of the cot and reached out his blue hands.

    "Right then, now hold onto me and sit up."

    A bit relieved to actually have to do something, Fenrin slowly and painfully reached to take the doctor''s hands. He tried to sit up, but only managed to grunt. Dr. Zi''vin pulled him, pushing with his braced foot to lift the much larger man. Slowly, Fenrin rose, his arms a bit hot with effort.

    "Now back down."

    Fenrin groaned but let himself fall back, grateful for the soft pillow.

    "Again," the doctor ordered.

    After what seemed like countless exercises, each pinpointing a different group of his damaged muscle, Fenrin lay truly exhausted. However, it was a comfortable tiredness, not the aching painful exhausted he''d been feeling.

    Dr. Zi''vin grabbed his bag, which in classic Azir fashion was a bright cherry red, and checked Fenrin''s pulse with his fingers before saying, "I''ll be back in the evening. You may try to move around but do not do anything that causes sharp pain, understand?"

    Fenrin chuckled again. "Yes, sir."

    The doctor turned to leave but Fenrin added, "How long do you think it''ll take?"

    With a tut, Dr. Zi''vin turned back. "That depends on quite a few things. I can''t give a number since there''s never been a case like yours. What''s wrong with your body shouldn''t be humanly possible."

    "It wasn''t done by humans."

    Again Zi''vin sniffed. "Obviously. Your body has endured trauma and as a doctor, I swear to heal it. As for the cause, well, that''s why I haven''t sent you a bill."

    Fenrin thought he spotted a flicker of a smile on the man''s thin lips before he got up and left without another word.

    Interesting man. The doctor''s matter-of-fact attitude and treatment had a calming effect on Fenrin. There was clarity in Zi''vin''s actions that was sweet relief compared to the murkiness of the future. He reminded Fenrin of his family steward, Ulris, back before he was killed alongside Fenrin''s mother.

    Those memories crept up like assassins and Fenrin sighed, turning his attention instead to wiggling his toes¡ªabout the only thing that didn''t cause ''sharp pain''.

 58. On Your Feet

    "Don''t keep us waiting," Dr. Zi''vin said sharply and Fenrin rolled his eyes both at the doctor and Jayln''s clasped hands. She and Matius were watching like happy parents as Fenrin took a slow but steady step. And then another. And another, until he was in front of Jayln and could place a heavy hand on her shoulder.

    "I swear if you cry I will strangle you," he growled as her eyes watered.

    "Nicely done, Fenrin," Matius interjected, giving him a friendly pat on the arm.

    Again Fenrin growled, "It was just a short walk for god''s sake. You two are ridiculous." Of course the first time he''d managed it, he''d fought off tears himself but that was when only Zi''vin was around.

    "Well I think it''s worth celebrating!" Jayln said, unaffected by Fenrin''s words. She turned around and flipped open the bag she''d brought in retrieving a bottle of wine and four glasses.

    Matius took two glasses and after Jayln filled them, offered one to Fenrin and one to Zi''vin. The doctor sniffed, "I don''t drink. It''s terrible for the body."

    Fenrin laughed, taking both drinks, straight up downing the first. "More for us."

    "Hmm," Dr. Zi''vin tutted and retrieved his red bag. "Well, I guess this means we are done for the day. I will see you tomorrow."

    "See you, doc."

    Zi''vin left and, after a few sips of wine, Jayln began glancing conspiratory looks at Matius until Fenrin raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it, you two?"

    "Well, now that your recovery is¡ª" Matius started but Jayln waved a hand.

    "No, wait, I want to tell him." Matius raised his glass in acknowledgement and Jayln continued, "So, now that you''re getting closer to recovery, I¡ªwell we¡ªwanted to tell you our plan."

    "Gods Jayln, spit it out." Fenrin rolled his eyes.

    "We''re going back to the valley!"

    Fenrin didn''t register the sound of the glass breaking, or the sharp pain in his hand, his mind was too busy reeling, a wave of unexpected emotion making his chest tighten. The valley.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    "Fenrin, are you alright?" Matius grabbed his hand and Jayln expertly picked out the glass shard embedded in his palm so Matius could heal it.

    "Fenrin!"

    He snapped back as Jayln called his name more urgently, her eyebrows furrowed. Fenrin looked down to where the gashes on his hand were sealing under the glow of Matius''s magic.

    "Maybe you should sit down," Jayln continued softer.

    "Hmm, what? Oh, oh yeah." He walked mechanically over to his chair and sat down, staring at the floor between his feet.

    The valley. That was where his happy moment was. That was where she was. Had been. It was a contradiction.

    The valley opening where he''d stood by Jayln with hope in his heart, the green trees he''d stalked through looking for his next kill, the fort where...

    "Fenrin, look at me." Matius''s voice was sharp and Fenrin looked up, still a bit dazed. "There is nothing in that valley but trees and animals. It''s entirely cleared of an Brimstone activity, I swear. Nothing can hurt you there."

    The laugh rose from his chest with a rumble. "Hurt me? Niv is gone, it''s not me I''m worried about."

    Jayln and Matius exchanged looks again. Gods, he hated when they did that.

    His frustration at their pity must''ve shown because Jayln put a hand on her hip, taking a more no-nonsense approach. "Listen, you can''t stay in the Arch Mage''s basement forever and I''ve got to find a place for my village. I''ve decided that place is the valley, now are you going to keep your promise and help me or not?"

    Fenrin''s lips curled back into a nasty grin. "Promise? I''m pretty sure we were done with promises a long time ago."

    Matius seemed a bit taken aback and Fenrin took some grim satisfaction in that. But Jayln, much more used to Fenrin''s attitude, didn''t even flinch. "Well then, let''s make a new one."

    "What?"

    "You heard me. You promise to help me get my village settled and I promise to make sure you recover and don''t hurt anyone." Jayln spoke business-like, like the daughter of a mayor...

    Fenrin opened his mouth and closed it. Jayln knew what he was thinking. "Not so different from our first promise, is it?"

    "No, it''s not." Fenrin''s voice cracked a bit, he swallowed and added, "I''ll be a pain in the ass you know."

    "I''m well aware," she said with a grin before stepping to the side and wrapping her arm around Matius''s. "Although this time I have you outnumbered." She stuck her tongue out and Fenrin sat back and laughed again.

    "You didn''t need any the first time. Sorry lover boy, you''ll just be dead weight to her."

    Matius blushed a bit but returned Fenrin''s smile. "I can live with that."

    "To the valley then."

 59. Return To The Valley

    "You ready to go, Fenrin?" Jayln asked as she tightened the straps on her pack.

    Fenrin ignored her, reaching his hand out to take Doctor Zi''vin''s. The Azir man gave him one of his thin smiles. "Don''t push yourself too hard. If you get yourself hurt again, I really will charge you next time."

    "I''m sure, doc." Fenrin shook the doctor''s hand firmly and, trying to keep the emotion out of his voice, he added, "And thank you, for everything."

    "Just doing my job." The doctor let go of Fenrin''s hand, giving Matius a nod and Fenrin one last smile, the pride and friendship in it contradicting his words.

    "Here." Jayln dumped a backpack into Fenrin''s arms.

    He slowly and carefully rolled in onto his shoulders. Despite his fondness for the man, Fenrin didn''t really want to be back under Zi''vin''s care especially over something stupid.

    Jayln turned and fretted over Matius. "Now you''re sure you can handle all three of us?"

    "I''ll be able to get us over the desert for sure."

    Stretching up to give him a peck on the cheek, Jayln said, "Alright, but don''t push yourself."

    "Wouldn''t dream of it." Matius gave Fenrin a wink before reaching and putting one hand on Jayln''s shoulder and another on Fenrin''s.

    The sensation was odd. Fenrin''s stomach dropped, but then didn''t because he didn''t have a stomach. He blew out the window and over the purple Aziron mountains. The scrubby desert stretched pale and cracked below them. The view loomed closer until Fenrin landed on freshly reformed feet.

    He wobbled a bit, but not as much as Matius who bent over like he was out of breath. "Give me a second," he panted, hand on his knees. After a few breaths he straightened, grin on his face and a breeze blowing back his hair. "All good, let''s get moving. We''ve got a long walk ahead."

    After a mile or so, Matius insisted he could carry his own pack which Jayln had been stubbornly shouldering. After a few more, Jayln began pestering Fenrin as well until with exasperation he warned, "If you ask me or Matius if we can keep going one more time, I swear I will punch you in the face."This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    "You''d miss," she pointed out.

    "I''ll punch Matius then."

    "Hey! Leave me out of it," Matius objected with an amused look. "Although we really will let you know when we''re ready to rest, Jayln. You don''t have to keep asking."

    "I wouldn''t have to keep asking if I didn''t know I was traveling with the stubbornest man in the world and a mage who likes to pretend he''s got more magic than he''s got. If either of you pass out, I can''t exactly carry you back to the Arch Mage."

    Fenrin snorted. "You could probably carry him. He''s like a feather."

    Matius chuckled. "Light as the wind you might say." He nudged Jayln with his arm. "I''d trust you to carry me to safety, love."

    Jayln flushed a bit before scowling. "Fine I''ll stop asking, but you promise to let me know if you want to stop?"

    "We promise!" The two men echoed and Jayln stomped off a few paces ahead.

    "What''s eating her?" Fenrin asked Matius who looked at Jayln''s back with concern.

    "Ah, well, she talked to her father yesterday."

    "What? How?"

    "Oh a bit of scrying magic. Point is she told him everything and he seemed less than enthusiastic that she was going on another journey. That and..." He trailed off for a moment and gave Fenrin a guilty smile. "Well, he told Jayln that Valhym soldiers were poking around the area."

    "Lyra," Fenrin growled as he digested this news. "Her village is pretty far from Valhym, has my sister really expanded her kingdom that quickly?"

    Matius shrugged. "Seems like it. From my understanding it''s not too unusual for new monarchs to test their borders. Isn''t this what you expected anyway?"

    "I guess."

    Fenrin knew Lyra was ambitious but it still boggled his mind that the High Throne of Valhym wasn''t enough for her. It''d been what, a few months since she married the king? Did she really have all the Jarls tied down already?

    Furrowing his brows, Fenrin looked forward. "Wait but then why is she trying to slow us down? Shouldn''t she be anxious for us to get her people to the valley?"

    Matius looked forward fondly. "Yes, well, she''s not going to demand a breakneck pace from the two of us. I''m more of a flier than a walker and you were immobile not that long ago. She can''t worry about her family right now since it''s out of her control so she''s worrying about us instead. Try not to let it get to you."

    He patted Fenrin on the back and then huffed forward to walk next to Jayln.

    After a bit, Jayln laughed at something Matius said and soon they were walking hand in hand. Fenrin felt a bit of jealousy but it was pushed down by a sort of gratitude. Seeing the two of them, well deserving of each other, made him happy. It was a new kind of happy and Fenrin carefully caught it and kept it close, letting it warm his tired heart.