《Valorforge: Trials of the Nameless》


 0: The Captive

    The Captive awoke gasping. His eyes shot open and darted across a cold, brassy laboratory. Incisions, some fresh and some having begun to heal, dotted the gray skin of his torso and arms with stitches that itched to the bone. He¡¯d worn his wrists and ankles raw struggling against the restraints clasped over them. He was uncertain of how long he had been here. Only flashes and blurred spots served as his memories.


    The door clicked shut. A woman emerged from the shadows, tall and silver-skinned with eyes as black as the void. Her thin linen dress hugged her lithe and comely figure, leaving nothing to mystery. Dust fell from her moth-like wings which fluttered as a mischievous smile curled her lips.


    Graceful and unhurried, she made her way to a wooden table which creaked and wobbled as she set down the items she carried: two flasks of murky liquid, a luminescent blue crystal, and an arrow which skewered a spherical object the Captive could not identify. Beside the table stood a lever which, if pulled, would free him from his restraints. The woman let her thin fingers graze its handle.


    Her intent, however, resided not in freeing him; she had done so once before, convinced he would stay of his own volition, but he betrayed her trust by trying to escape. Now, instead, she was teasing him as she often did, reminding him of that day so he¡¯d know it would never happen again ¨C though this would be her last playful gesture.


    Once she decided she had taunted him enough, she approached the side of the stone bed and looked down into his crimson eyes. Strands of smooth, straight platinum hair fell over her freckled shoulders as she positioned herself astride him. She emanated the sweet scent of lilies, accompanied by a sickly metallic tang. A tattered pair of trousers was the only separation between them, a merciful comfort afforded to him among the prodding and cutting he often endured.


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    Hands supple and delicate rested upon his cheeks. She lowered her face until her soft lips brushed against his own. A joyous, near-silent whisper poured from her tongue.


    ¡°Today is the final day,¡± she said, tears falling from the bridge of her nose. ¡°You will ascend. You will suffer here no more.¡±


    Though her words shook him with uncertainty, he relented to her kiss. She leaned forward and pressed their chests together, melting him with the warmth of her body. As their breaths quickened, she slowly moved her hips against his.


    Familiar and comforting, her touch and her swaying captivated him as though they had done this before ¨C but he trusted neither his senses nor his memory. He did not care in spite of this; she had already enveloped him in a state of decadence. Unable to lay his hands upon her, he felt his mind overflowing with regret, with longing.


    A contented sigh escaped her as her tongue slipped past her lips, in search of his. Gentle caresses traced the firm muscle of his arms and traveled up his neck. She followed the stubble along his jawline and found the pointed tips of his ears, then his temples.


    She pulled away, lingering close to his face, and spoke once more.


    ¡°All will know that I am the one who loved you,¡± she said. A sudden, sharp pressure pierced his eyelid.


    Two long nails on her thumb and forefinger burrowed deep into either side of his right eye. Shouting in agony, he broke out in tremors as her fingers scooped inside the socket. He tossed and writhed, but he could not shake her off. Whether or not he were to succeed, half of his sight remained in her grasp.


    Hushing him gently, she tightened the grip of her legs around him, placing a firm hand over his throat as she severed the eye and plucked it out. One last outcry forced all the air from his lungs, leaving him gasping and choking to find more.


    The vision in his remaining eye blurred and faded, and in its moments of clarity he gazed upon the woman¡¯s face. Blood oozed between her fingers and dripped onto her white dress. She rolled the small ruby orb in her palm, a serene smile accompanying the tears that rolled down her face and neck. Leaning forward, she planted a kiss on his cheek, letting the warm, red liquid stream past her lips as it poured, uninhibited, from the empty cavity.


    Struggling with all his strength against the encumbering weight of unconsciousness, the Captive¡¯s movements slowed and weakened. No hope remained of fighting her off, and moreover, she had taken what she needed.


    ¡°Tem Talur will awaken, but you must go to sleep,¡± she said, her voice wavering. As she clutched her chest with bloodied hands, her voidlike gaze penetrated his core. The words she spoke echoed and dilated, less recognizable each time they repeated in his ears. A lightness in his head and body welcomed him to oblivion.


    The echoes, though they faded, still repeated in a steady rhythm. Reduced to whispers, they soon gave way to the ticking of a clock.

 1-1: The Interview

    <hr>


    Jessa approached the guildmaster¡¯s door, her spine hunched with apprehension. Nervous, compulsive fingers combed and strained a lock of chestnut hair. Neither the din and liveliness of the Brass Tusk tavern upstairs nor any other sound in all of Esyrene could compete with the pulse echoing in her ears. Although she¡¯d visited the guild numerous times before to seek out their dues for the tavern basement her father had rented out to them, she couldn¡¯t shake the anxiety that eclipsed her entire body. This visit was different, with the potential for a drastic change in direction she had never imagined nor ventured.


    Courage seeped forth in dribbles, and she held on fast to each drop she gathered. A heavy exhale banished her trembling as she straightened her posture. After smoothing down her hair, she reached out a thin, delicate hand to the door. Her pale cheeks flushed as hesitance overcame her, but she finally managed to knock.


    ¡°Excus¡ª¡± she croaked, but she cleared her throat and tried again. ¡°Excuse me, Deventh? Are you there? It¡¯s Jessa.¡± In response, she heard the faint rustling of papers from the other side. Footsteps soon approached.


    The latch clicked open, and the guildmaster¡¯s face which greeted her appeared as that of a stranger, though familiar all the same. A tall and imposing dark elf ¨C Dronvar, by their vernacular ¨C Deventh had a way of provoking turbulence in Jessa¡¯s mind with his mere existence even on a typical day. At that moment, however, it felt as though he towered over her, and his crimson gaze burned like lava pouring into the azure sea that was her own.


    ¡°Miss Bisset,¡± Deventh addressed her, his voice somewhat deeper than usual and gravelly with fatigue. ¡°Come in.¡± He stepped to the side, allowing the dreary hall to receive a stream of warm light emitting from two capsule-shaped lamps fitted within ornate brass stands. Even after multiple visits, Jessa still found the means by which they were powered to be frustratingly nondescript, devoid of any sort of magic she could recognize.


    Deventh gestured to invite her in. She crossed over the threshold while he returned to his desk. Already feeling dwarfed, she caught herself staring up at three towering mahogany bookcases, each one taking up the entire space of a wall. A pair of dark blue banners hung from the furthest bookcase, with rigid square borders embroidered in golden thread, and a single cog in the center. A keen inventor with a limitless hunger for knowledge, Deventh kept his books close, as well as an enigmatic collection of gadgets.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡± the Dronvar asked as he sat down, despite his full expectation that she had come to collect the guild¡¯s rent.


    Jessa sat on the chair opposite Deventh¡¯s desk, smoothing the wrinkles out of her pale blue skirt. She eyed the stacks of books, papers, and trinkets before closing her eyes, settling into the refuge from the bitter chill of Grimros. Nestled away within a near-perfect circle of Nelthemar¡¯s highest mountain peaks, the Orcish region seemed impossibly cold compared to its more temperate neighbor, Oakenhaven, from where she hailed.


    Unsure of where to begin, she centered herself by concentrating on the spongy plush of the carpet underfoot. This afforded her a modicum of focus to clear her head and speak.


    ¡°I was, um, wondering how your guild has been doing. How you¡¯re faring with jobs and all...¡± she started, awkward long pauses filling in the space between statements. Her eyes wandered as she took in the countless books and curios lining the shelves within the study. They avoided nothing but Deventh as he placed his elbows on the arms of his chair and interlaced his fingers.


    ¡°Well enough, I suppose,¡± He said after a pause to see if she would continue. ¡°We¡¯ve been somewhat inconsistent with retaining members, but a few have stayed, which is reassuring. We¡¯re managing to get by on the jobs that have been coming in.¡±


    He eyed Jessa dubiously, now second-guessing his assumption of her intent. When she didn¡¯t respond, but instead shifted around in her seat with her eyes shut, he asked, ¡°Is that all you¨C¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to join Valorforge!¡± Jessa blurted out. Her eyes still closed, fists clenched on her lap, she sighed with relief at having gotten past so much as saying what she wanted to say. After her tension settled, she looked at his face, noticing now, in the light, that he may have been more out of sorts than she was.


    Though his skin was usually a warm gray, at that moment he looked rather pallid, as if all the color had retreated to the dark pair of bags under his eyes. The dullness of his complexion gave way to the glint of silver piercings dotting his visage: A stud beneath his lower lip, a loop through his septum, and a few other rings on the upper edges of his pointed ears. His jet hair, which flowed down to his shoulders, took on a straggly appearance as well. Jessa drew ever closer to the conclusion that she may have very well disturbed his sleep.


    Nonetheless, through the haze of his grogginess, Deventh still exuded an eerie handsomeness as he managed a small chuckle, quirking a brow.


    ¡°Now, why would the daughter of Lord Pierron Bisset want to do that?¡± He asked with genuine curiosity.


    Having mistaken his reaction for a mocking gesture, Jessa felt her pulse quicken.


    ¡°I-I noticed that Valorforge isn¡¯t doing so well, in finances or otherwise...¡± She thumbed the final rent notification in her pocket, three weeks past its due date, realizing the indiscretion of asking her father¡¯s tenant to hire her. ¡°I figured, well, maybe you¡¯d like the help. I¡¯ve also always wanted to do something other than work for my father for the rest of my life, though I¡¯d still be running this place.¡±


    Deventh nodded, maintaining his calm demeanor, and folded his hands atop his desk. His odd pair of gloves caught Jessa¡¯s eye; mostly leather and dyed pitch black to match his attire, they sported a fitting of articulated brass that circled the wrist and covered the topsides of his hands. Thin stems of the metal extended over each finger with rings like hinges at the knuckles. Although it wasn¡¯t often she¡¯d seen him for more than a few minutes at a time, it seemed he never took them off.


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    ¡°I¡¯m not going to deny the obvious, we aren¡¯t doing well,¡± he said. ¡°Forgive me, however, if this sounds rude, but that arrangement strikes me as somewhat... Backwards. If you¡¯re to work for us, that would put us in more debt to you, as opposed to less, would it not?¡±


    ¡°N-n-no, of course not!¡± Jessa found herself unsure whether she was more embarrassed by her offer or stunned by Deventh¡¯s perspective of it. She fiddled with the lap of her skirt while shifting in her seat, a nervous habit she developed in her early youth. A deep breath helped to settle her nerves. ¡°I¡¯ve already given some thought to this. I don¡¯t want you to pay me or give me any compensation. I want to do this for your benefit. And, well, there¡¯s one more thing.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Father says if I have to evict one more tenant, he¡¯s going to take me out of the University of Oakenhaven.¡± Apprehension broke her voice, betraying her reluctance to answer.


    ¡°I see,¡± Deventh said, nodding as he leaned back in his chair in a display of receptiveness Jessa had never seen from him up to that point. The Nelthrin of Oakenhaven prided themselves on their magical expertise, more so than humans of other regions, and anyone ejected from a mages¡¯ university wore a permanent mark of shame. Deventh¡¯s sympathy for this gave him pause, but not quite as much as the mention of eviction.


    Pushing aside a new batch of questions her last statement had evoked, he attempted in vain to meet her averted gaze. His reservations loomed over him, but he proceeded in a professional manner, treating her as he would any other applicant. ¡°What do you suppose you can offer that would help us?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware I can handle various types of administrative work, so I could assist Anna with her duties,¡± Jessa said, mentioning the guild¡¯s co-founder with strategic intent. ¡°I can also organize, alphabetize, or otherwise sort and order projects. Can¡¯t say how my adventuring skills would measure up, however...¡± she trailed off, her confidence waning with the realization that she lacked most in the skills pertinent to an adventurers¡¯ guild. ¡°I¡¯m more than happy to learn anything and do what I can to help out!¡±


    The seed of awkwardness flourished into a net of overgrown weeds. Deventh let out a low hum and leaned forward to grab a fresh sheet of paper.


    ¡°And your studies at the university ¨C You said Oakenhaven, correct? How much would you say that would affect the amount of time you¡¯re able to devote to contracts?¡± he asked. From his pocket, he pulled out an unusual writing utensil with a body composed of patchwork metal and a nib that emulated the tip of a quill. He jotted down a few notes and continued. ¡°We¡¯re accommodating to personal endeavors, so studying wouldn¡¯t be a concern for us under most conditions. Given your commitment to helping your father with his work as well, though, you might want to consider that you¡¯d be stretched thin.¡±


    ¡°I believe if anyone is stretched thin here, it would be you,¡± Jessa said, compelled by a twinge of annoyance at his suggestion. ¡°At least from the perspective of Anna¡¯s complaints of walking in on you asleep at your desk multiple times a day.¡±


    ¡°And I wouldn¡¯t recommend for anyone to emulate such behaviors,¡± said Deventh, impassive and unfazed by her snappy response. ¡°If not for your sake, then, could you answer the question for our reference?¡±


    ¡°O-oh...¡± Jessa said, her attitude shifting as she realized how rude she must have appeared. Her nose reddened with embarrassment. ¡°Well, the university encourages its students to do a large portion of our studying outside the school grounds. Understanding the practical applications of magic is far more valuable than sitting in cramped rooms with dusty books. As long as I¡¯m in regular contact with my professors, I don¡¯t need to be present in the building to remain a student. I¡¯ll only require an hour or so per day to practice and work on projects.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± said Deventh, scribbling down a few more notes. ¡°Are there any particular schools of magic in which you¡¯ve excelled during your studies thus far? Any specific skills you¡¯d be interested in pursuing aside from office work? And by that, I don¡¯t mean to ask you if you¡¯d be willing to learn whatever will help us. I¡¯m asking if there¡¯s anything you are interested in for yourself.¡±


    Jessa had prepared for this type of interview question more than any other. She smiled as she answered, a hint of pride in her voice.


    ¡°I just so happen to specialize in the schools of elemental affliction and conjuring! Specifically, the lightning aspect of the former, and summoning for the latter, which my father suggested. I took great interest in it.¡±


    ¡°What sort of summoning?¡± Deventh asked as he paused to glance up from his notes, an expectant stare gnawing at Jessa¡¯s nerves.


    ¡°Lus¡¯rakian,¡± she said, her voice losing some of its strength. ¡°But only the small ones. Harmless, like imps and such. I have some experience with animal and spirit companions as well, which I can stick to if anyone has any reservations toward Lus¡¯rak.¡±


    ¡°All right,¡± said Deventh, nodding while continuing to write for a moment more. Once finished, he folded the paper in half. ¡°I think that¡¯s all I¡¯ve got for now. I know most of the basic information about our operation is on the papers for the property, but aside from that, do you have any questions, any concerns?¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Jessa hummed, tapping a finger against her chin. ¡°Will I be working under Anna?¡± Deventh shrugged, sliding the paper towards her.


    ¡°Depends on what needs to be done,¡± he replied, giving a quick nod, ¡°There isn¡¯t a lot of paperwork for the guild itself. Most of what you see here is for other jobs I¡¯ve taken on, which you wouldn¡¯t have to worry about. She is in charge of recruitment, though, so it¡¯s not unlikely you¡¯d be helping with that.¡±


    After a short pause, he decided to conclude the conversation. ¡°Anyway, if you can drop that paper on her desk on your way out, you¡¯re free to go, Miss Bisset.¡±


    Jessa blinked a few times, surprised by the shortness of the interview.


    ¡°Oh. Does that mean I¡¯m in? I¡¯ll be honest, I was expecting something more rigorous, but I promise I won¡¯t disappoint!¡± She stood up as she thanked Deventh, grabbing the letter at the same time. ¡°Where is Anna right now?¡±


    ¡°Frankly, in our current state, we don¡¯t have the time or resources to implement a more rigorous process,¡± said Deventh. So as not to instill any hope or otherwise, he avoided answering the former question. He pointed a thumb to his left to indicate the general direction of Anna¡¯s office, having assumed her absence based on how long he¡¯d managed to sleep without interruption. ¡°Anna¡¯s office is right next to mine. If you didn¡¯t see her on your way in, she might not be here. Like I said, you can leave the note on her desk.¡±


    He offered a cordial nod while sliding a small stack of papers beneath a book. ¡°Either way, good to see you again. Until next time, Miss Bisset.¡±


    ¡°Of course, until next time.¡± Jessa gave a bow and added, ¡°And please ¨C call me Jessa.¡± She slipped out of the room and closed the door behind her. Resting her back against the door, she closed her eyes and basked in the relief of making it through her interaction with Deventh.


    A nagging doubt, however, crept to the back of her mind and prevented her from truly relaxing. She knew she was forgetting something, and as she pulled the item she had been thumbing out of her pocket, a sudden realization left her paralyzed with embarrassment. Warm blood rushed to her face, and she held a frigid hand against her forehead to cool down.


    She forgot to give Deventh the final rent notice.

 1-2: A Faithful Friend

    A few minutes had passed, and an Apo''nari man in thieving leathers approached Deventh''s office door. He was summoned by notice of a job opportunity, and the anticipation caused his orange-striped tail and feline ears to twitch in unison. He rapped the door as he stepped in front of it and called out,


    "Deventh, it is Tatsidi. I have come as requested."


    Deventh answered the door a few moments later. Having caught a second wind, he''d found some time to readjust his unkempt hair, and he was refreshed enough to discuss work.


    "Tatsidi, glad you could make it," he said, motioning to the seat in front of the desk. "Given the current circumstances, I greatly appreciate it. Your travels weren¡¯t troubled, I hope?"


    "No, the warning in your letter proved sufficient to keep me alert to danger. I am happy to say that I ran into none," Tatsidi answered, taking the seat occupied by Jessa moments prior. ¡°Regardless, I would much rather suffer such dangers than stay in Greah beyond obligation; pirates are not as fun as they used to be." His tail wrapped around the chair, and he placed one leg over the other as he made himself comfortable. "So, what are these disappearances you wrote of? Are those perhaps related to the job opportunity?"


    Deventh nodded. From atop a stack of books, he retrieved an open envelope. Its seal flaunted the garish image of a cockatoo encircled by a thrice-blooming hibiscus branch. As he passed the letter over to Tatsidi, he said, "The problem seems localized to the road between the city and the Raven Gate. People are disappearing in groups, indiscriminate of any identifying factors. Most of the Oath¡¯s local chapter is out on other jobs for the time being, but it sounds like it''s becoming urgent, so they were looking to enlist help with the investigation."


    "Investigation?" Tatsidi asked, his eyes narrowing with concern at his mention of the warriors'' guild. As he skimmed the page, his face scrunched into a slight grimace. "I realize I am the most experienced when it comes to these types of missions, but if I am to be truthful, I would much prefer something simpler. Something along the lines of killing a troll, or stealing a gem from the orc king." Shrugging his shoulders, Tatsidi crossed his arms over his chest. "What is my role in this, then?"


    "Sounds like you''re not terribly keen on the idea," Deventh deviated from the conversation to address a glaring point of concern, sharpening his eye contact. "I know you mentioned it''s been a while since you''ve done this sort of work. In any case, it''s not a requirement if you don''t feel like taking it on. Has something in particular got you apprehensive?


    "The thought of working with the Oath, in particular. Is this truly the best contract we could find? I have grown weary of working with those who do not have brains, and now you present to me the prospect of working with the least endowed of all." Tatsidi shook his head, not wanting to appear unwilling to help. "I will do this, but I will reserve the right to complain, as always."


    "Fair enough," Deventh said, unable to fault Tatsidi for his annoyance with the warriors'' guild''s incompetence. "At least it''s a job for now. I''ve a heavy suspicion they won''t be ''helping'' too much anyway, given the complicated nature of the task. They''ll be out of our way for the most part. They''ll need to spend some extra time bashing their skulls together before they can do the job."


    "The Oath''s work is never done, it would seem," Tatsidi said with a chuckle. "In that case, do you have a plan? Will any of our other members be coming back from their endeavors to assist us?"


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    ¡°We¡¯re to meet our contact in the next couple of days," Deventh began, "The useful information we have as of now is limited, but we should find out more from him. As for the others, I haven¡¯t asked anyone else. If I''m being forthright, I''m not inclined to count on any of them turning up on time. Anna will be more than enough help, and I believe they were also seeking out some volunteers outside of their usual reserve.¡±


    Tension hung in the air. Whiskers twitching, Tatsidi coiled his tail.


    ¡°This is¡­ Unusual.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°I have always known the two of you to have every excruciating detail planned before calling upon me. But now that is not so.¡±


    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s right. I wanted to do things a bit differently this time.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, Anna and I discussed including you from the beginning. Figured it''s time for you to work as our equal from now on, if you''re up for it," said Deventh. The Apo¡¯na¡¯s eyes widened at his offer.


    "You would trust Tatsidi with such a position?" he asked as he chuckled and gave a small bow in his seat. "I am humbled, kind guildmaster. I would be delighted to help in such endeavors."


    "Aye, should I not trust our most consistent and capable member?" Deventh asked lightheartedly. A half-smile tugged at the corner of his lips; as humbled as Tatsidi felt to be included, Deventh held the same sentiment toward having a loyal guild member. This momentary reflection left a mutual silence to linger until Tatsidi took the initiative.


    "So, where should we begin?"


    "We''ll need all the information we can get. First, we¡¯ll meet with our contact, see if there are any developments, and try to get at least a few names of people who have gone missing. Then we''ll go from there."


    "Simple enough. If the Oath enlists help from other sources, I and perhaps a few others could snoop around Kho''Gul while the rest patrol the roads. It would be most efficient to split up and cover more ground," Tatsidi mused, the gears in his head turning. "You and I could lead the former of course, with Anna leading the latter. What do you think?"


    "I think the city watch could stand to be more attentive," Deventh quipped, "But that may be a decent start. We can discuss more details whenever Anna gets back, though. That''s all I had for now."


    "Very well. If that is all, I would like to get some shut-eye. I''ve only just gotten back to Grimros, after all." As if confirming his statement, a yawn escaped him, his jaw extending much further than that of a man or elf.


    "Aye, that''s a good idea," Deventh said, catching Tatsidi''s yawn which stole away his wakefulness in an instant. "Have a good rest, Tatsidi."


    "Indeed, I will be sure to do so." With one more bow, less sarcastic than the last, Tatsidi stood and made his way to the door. Before his hand gripped the doorknob, however, he recalled an incident with Jessa and took pause. "Oh, I have one more question. Did you make Miss Bisset cry earlier?" he asked, turning around with a quizzical glint in his eye.


    Deventh looked up at Tatsidi and returned his quizzical stare, slowly raising a brow as if anticipating his reassurance that it was merely a jest. "Did I ¨C what?"


    "Yes. I heard her crying in Anna''s office. She claimed that the cold in Grimros has her feeling sick, but I am not so sure." A growling hum resembling a purr rumbled from Tatsidi''s chest, and a smirk played across his feline lips. "Interesting."


    "More than interesting, I''d say... Odd. We spoke briefly and she wanted to join us," explained Deventh. "Though I''m not sure why. Regardless, I interviewed her, but I haven''t even given her an answer yet, so unless something happened between here and Anna''s office, I''m at a loss."


    "Quite the odd one indeed," Tatsidi nodded, perplexed by the girl''s behavior. "Either way, I''d like to find sleep before it escapes over the mountains. Good night."


    As soon as he left, Deventh slumped back in his chair and gazed at the rugged stone ceiling, tracing its jagged lines with his eyes. Wondering what could have discomposed Jessa to the point of crying, he let his eyes wander down to his desk. The corner of a particular piece of paper caught his attention.


    From beneath an open book of hand-drawn schematics, the previous month¡¯s overdue rent note taunted him once more. Deventh sunk back further into his chair, shaking his head as he relented to the heaviness of his eyelids. His exhaustion and uncertainty called forth an expletive in his mother tongue.


    "Vrok," he muttered.

 1-3: Begrudging Decisions

    "Another mead, please," a gruff yet feminine voice yelled out from its place at the bar. The early morning Grimrosi sun had started to peek its way through the windows of the tavern, and a stray beam found its mark on the voice''s owner. Stocky and fair of skin, she held an unmistakable resemblance to most Helbrund men and women. At over six-and-a-half feet tall, however, her impressive height was unusual for the supposed half-dwarven race.


    "And close the shutters, for the love of Ardren. I would like to be able to see what I''m eating, thank you." The woman hunched over a small bowl of eggs, ham, and porridge as she inhaled her food, only coming up for air to swipe away an auburn lock that had strayed from the tight bun atop her head.


    Each year of service as a former mountain guard folded itself into a different crease on her tired face. Protecting the whole of Nelthemar from the endless threat of demonic invasion was an occupation that took in many inexhaustible young adults and spat them out creaky-jointed and disillusioned. But rough and weathered as her war-hardened visage was, it still retained some feminine charm. Many of the tavern¡¯s patrons looked to her in awe of her stature and found themselves captivated by the notion that she would have been a figure of beauty in her prime.


    "Anna. Good morning," said a familiar voice, brimming with an unfamiliar energy. She turned to find Deventh taking a seat beside her, looking well-rested for a change. He chuckled as he watched the bartender, a slight and sprightly Nelthrin girl with a head of voluminous blond curls, scrambling toward the windows to draw back the curtains. "They''re still afraid of you up here, huh?" He asked her as he waved down the frantic young barmaid.


    With a curious glint in her eye, Anna asked, "I''m surprised to see you awake at this hour and well rested. Did you finally meet a girl?"


    "Not in the way you''re imagining," Deventh said, offering a slight smile to the barmaid as she approached. After ordering himself a cup of coffee, he asked Anna, "Have you gotten to your office yet, by any chance?"


    "No. I''ve only just woken up myself." The Helbrund yawned as she spoke. The stretch that followed caused her to encroach on Deventh''s space, though he''d anticipated such and leaned out of the way. "Did you speak to Tatsidi?"


    "I did," Deventh replied with a yawn of his own. "He seemed apprehensive at first, but when I offered to let him in on the planning, he warmed up to it. We''re lucky to have had his loyalty, given our record."


    "As long as he keeps working, I have no complaints," Anna said. "We need all the coin we can get, and we can''t keep missing payments."


    "Speaking of which," Deventh began, "Lord Bisset''s daughter stopped by yesterday. Didn''t even say a word about wanting to collect our rent, which was strange. She had... A request which took me by surprise, though."


    "Oh?" Anna hummed through a mouthful of food.


    "She asked to join the guild." The bartender returned with his coffee, and he gathered his thoughts through the first sip before moving on. "I couldn''t help getting the impression it may have been her timid version of an ultimatum. The interview notes are on your desk." Towards the end of his last statement, he hesitated, almost able to hear the wrinkles in Anna¡¯s forehead deepening with stress.


    "I can already tell you I won''t be impressed," she grumbled. "She''s an adept worker, at least in respect to taking care of mundane tasks. If she''s thinking of going out and fighting, though, we might just have to assign her to weevil duty." Deventh met her suggestion with a smirk as he set down his mug carefully.


    "Now that I think about it, I''m struggling to see how this would cause us to owe her less money, seeing as we would be paying her. I suppose we''ll find out when you meet with her about the rent," Anna said pointedly as she flagged down the bartender. "And in the meantime, I''ll go read that note you left and gather Tatsidi. We need to be on our way to Kho''gul soon."


    "Aye, the rent," Deventh said, his voice dropping. ¡°I doubt she''s still hanging around here, but she couldn''t have gone too far if she''s waiting for our answer. Either way¡­ We''re still a little short, after the last of our charter fees."


    "We''re wha¡ª?" Anna caught herself before her frustration boiled over, rubbing her temples to calm down. "I suppose we should be thankful she hasn''t said anything about a final notice. Please tell me this business with the Oath will cover what we have left."


    "And then some," Deventh assured before finishing up his coffee. He stood from his seat, stretching his arms to dispel the final traces of morning grogginess. With one last yawn, a burst of wakeful energy found its way to him. "Perhaps once we''re done, I''ll even be able to get something decent to eat," he added lightheartedly, eyeing his empty mug. Anna noticed at that moment he had indeed become slighter in recent months; his square jawline had grown gaunter, his sharp elven features more pronounced.


    Offering a simple nod in return, Anna stayed behind to finish her meal. After leaving her payment, she stood up and stretched, causing several joints over the breadth of her body to pop. Moving past the bar to an unmarked door, she started toward her office.


    A sudden burst of cold, damp air twisted Anna''s face into a displeased grimace as she opened the door. In the dreary stairwell, with only a small window to light the entranceway, her eyes widened to adjust themselves. Once she''d reached the bottom of the stairs, she made her way down the first stretch of the hallway.


    At the end loomed a corner, as sharp as it was dark, where any unwitting individual might collide with the wall. Guided only by habit, she turned left around the corner and continued to her office. In the adjacent lounge, she spotted Tatsidi snoring away on a couch. Figuring he''d eventually wake up from his nap, she slipped into her office to gather herself for the long trek ahead.


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    A few minutes later, the door of Deventh''s office clicked open and shut. A shadowy head appeared in Anna¡¯s doorway. The silhouette of a hand appeared as well, offering a friendly wave before the figure presented itself in full.


    "Ready to head out when you are," Deventh said, eyes wandering to the letter she held. His peculiar mask slightly muffled his voice; it was composed of three tiers of lightweight brass plating, each of which squarely covered and mimicked the outline of a portion of his face until it formed a full mask. Lined with a flexible black fabric, it also protected him from the harsh winters of Grimros. "Unless you''d rather talk about that before we go."


    A moment passed as Anna stood in place staring at the closed letter. A spark of inspiration lit up her eyes.


    "What do you think about taking her with us and seeing how she does? Nothing beats first-hand experience, after all."


    "Sure," Deventh agreed, his nonchalance entirely disproportional to the hours of apprehensiveness and contemplation preceding it. "As long as you don''t mind that one small detail."


    "Detail?" Anna asked. "What detail?" She opened the letter and, skimming through it while waiting for Deventh to answer, her eyes landed on one word in particular. "Lus''rak¡ªdemons!" she whispered, her fist clenched and crumpling the paper. "And you thought I would be happy with this?"


    "No, I didn''t," Deventh said, "I''d guessed by your optimism that you hadn''t actually read it yet. She claims to have only summoned what she referred to as ''the small ones'' before, but I thought you should know either way." He shook his head, acknowledging that even with all the information at the surface, their options were few.


    With aggressive, clumsy movements, she packed her papers and necessities for her travels. Squeezing a set of three gold and blue banded rings over the fingers of her left hand, she declared,


    "I didn''t retire with the intent to have further run-ins with those filthy creatures." After she finished packing her belongings into the various compartments of her backpack, she tucked in the flaps and pulled the leather cords with an air of finality. "But I will give Jessa a chance. Anything bigger than an imp and I''m caving its skull in. She''ll be out, and we can search elsewhere for a new headquarters."


    "I can accede to that. I don''t know what she''s planning to do, but if her joining us means we''ll still have a guild to kick her out of later on, I''m inclined to give her a chance." Concluding with a nod, he turned to the door and stepped out to give Anna the space she needed to finish gathering her thoughts.


    On the way out, he reached down to pick up the small, black backpack he''d dropped at the door. He slung it over his shoulder while scanning the room for any sign of Tatsidi still being there. The cat remained in the same spot as before, but with his rucksack supporting his head in place of a pillow.


    "Ah, Deventh. I was wondering, have you thought more about letting Miss Jessa join the guild?" His tail twitched back and forth as he draped it over the arm of the couch. "Respectfully, I think this may be a bad idea."


    "Maybe so, but I spoke with Anna, and we decided to give it a try," said Deventh. His voice took on an unwavering, authoritative tone, but his restless fingers tapped on the hilt of the dagger at his hip. The moment he set his sight on a chair across from Tatsidi with the intent to relax before leaving, a rosy-cheeked face peeked around the corner, redirecting his attention.


    "I''m sorry if I''m interrupting anything," Jessa said, a shy smile revealing her pearly white teeth. She stepped out from behind the separating wall and into the room, then asked Deventh, "Did Anna tell you about the final notice for your rent? I meant to give it to you yesterday, but I forgot until after the interview and left it on her desk instead. Since I made that mistake, you''ll have a one-day extension."


    Moving in closer, Jessa noticed Deventh was now sporting a light covering of leather armor, including a chestplate and bandolier with numerous pouches and loops fitted with small alchemy vials. She looked over to Tatsidi and noted his gear as well. "Are you going somewhere?"


    "We are," Deventh confirmed. As soon as he''d answered her question, Anna stepped out of her office, her bag more bloated than before. The two guild leaders exchanged glances, and although Deventh''s mask hid his expression, Anna sensed the confusion on his face. Returning his attention to Jessa, Deventh asked, "If you don''t have any more work to do today, would you like to come with us?"


    "What?" Jessa exclaimed, caught off-guard by the sudden invitation. "I-I mean, the only duty I have for the rest of the week is studying, so I''m more than happy to come with you!" As her demeanor shifted from nervousness to excitement, it was as if she had become a different person. "Uh, where is it we''re going?"


    "To the city," said Deventh. "We''re just starting on a job with the local Ardren''s Oath chapter, so we''re heading out shortly. We figured the best way to welcome you would be to jump into some hands-on work right away ¨C if that interests you."


    "The warriors'' guild? Does that mean we''re going to be, um, fighting?" As fast as it had disappeared, Jessa''s anxiety crept back into her smile. She adjusted the lining of her blue woolen tunic, which was cinched tight by a leather belt with an embellished silver buckle. "I suppose I should change and gather my things as well. I won''t be long; I''ve been staying in a private suite upstairs."


    "I don''t think we''ll be doing much fighting right away. That is, unless our contact ends up being particularly disagreeable," Deventh joked, grabbing the black hood of his cloak at either side and flicking it over his head in a fluid motion. "I wouldn''t worry too much about being dressed for the occasion, either, as long as you can keep warm. A few ward spells should suffice for the road in case we run into trouble."


    "I only know one ward spell. And, well... I''ve never actually been in a fight before," Jessa said, inciting a chuckle from Anna.


    "The three of you should be able to hide behind my shield if anything is to happen," the Helbrund said, puffing out her chest, though it was unclear where she might have been storing the item of which she spoke. This piqued Jessa''s curiosity, but she only scantly expressed it with a slight tilt of her head.


    Jessa''s attention was diverted by a sudden sneeze from behind her. She gasped as she found Tatsidi tumbling off the couch. In a remarkable display of catlike grace, the Apo''na managed to roll over and catch himself, springing from his hand up onto his feet.


    After brushing the dust off his leather pants and jacket, built with dozens of pockets and straps, Tatsidi grabbed his rucksack. He addressed the other three as he swung the bag over his shoulder. "So, after Miss Jessa grabs her things, we should be ready, yes? I will wait at the tavern. All this napping has worked up a mighty hunger."


    "Sounds like a plan," said Deventh. He kept his eyes fixed and steady on tinkering with one of many hinges on his glove, using a small, indistinct pick-like tool. "Let''s all meet upstairs when we''re ready," he concluded before returning to his office to finish his preparations.

 1-4: Faint of Heart

    A blustering, frigid wind blew over the taiga landscape. Trees rustled and snow whipped about the faces of the intrepid travelers who ¨C all but for one ¨C found the cold harsh, unrelenting, and chilling to the bone. They had made the necessary preparations, but the Grimrosi wilderness was pitiless to their grief; Tatsidi and Deventh walked closer to each other, hoping for some semblance of warmth far away from their respective homelands.


    "We''re almost there," Anna shouted over the wind, unfazed and smiling as if it were a sunny, pleasant day. "Only a mile or two left before we reach the fork. Hopefully we''ll see the road marker through all this snow!"


    In the moments following her declaration, the veil in front of them picked up a pinkish hue. Through the brass plating over his mask, Deventh found himself uncertain of the source of the sudden and distinct metallic tang which permeated his nose. He glanced at Tatsidi, who had pulled his own cloth mask over his maw.


    Squinting as he created a shield with his hand over his forehead, the Apo''na growled in a soft rumble under his breath. He bemoaned his lack of preparation for tainted snow to enter his eyes. Inch by inch, as the group trudged forward, the pinkish tint intensified, the wind taunting them with its morbidly playful hint of what was to come.


    Jessa, her forbearance up to that point as unrelenting as the storm, stopped in her tracks as the gust whipped splatters of reddened snow onto her blue cloak. Eyes squinted while staring downwind, she spotted a large object in the size and shape of a covered passenger wagon. It was only a few seconds before the others stopped as well, gazing out in the same direction.


    "Looks like we''ll be getting a head start on the job after all," said Deventh, just loud enough to carry his voice through the wind. "Should we have a look?"


    "Is that what I think it is?" Jessa asked. Her eyes narrowed as she picked out person-sized heaps scattered around the presumed wagon. "And is that blood? What happened here?"


    "Bandits, from the looks of it," said Anna as she trudged toward the shape, following the bare hint of wagon tracks. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look.¡±


    "Might as well. Perhaps we shall find more gear with which to protect ourselves better from this cursed snow," Tatsidi said as he followed along. As the two went ahead, Jessa turned to Deventh, the apprehension in her eyes the only hint of emotion visible behind her own mask and hood.


    "There''s going to be no one left alive, isn''t there?" Her voice shook, and she shuffled closer to him.


    "I''d say it''s unlikely that anyone who may have survived would have stuck around," said Deventh, confirming Jessa''s fear with his unsettling equivocation. To avoid indulging her worrying any further, he shifted the topic to the immediate issue. "You said you have wards, right? Summons, as well? Be ready to use them. Stay behind Anna if it puts you at ease." His hand ready at his dagger, he awaited no response before stepping forward.


    "Oh..." Jessa answered under her breath, though the wind prohibited it from reaching Deventh''s ears. "All right.¡± I suppose this is reality, she thought as she followed Deventh, staying as close as she could.


    An overturned cart came into focus as they approached, and the tinge of blood tickled their noses. Beyond that, a group of bodies lay, mangled and torn with daggers in hand and mouths agape, frozen in their final moments. Scattered around them were wooden crates and barrels, some intact while others appeared to have been cracked open during the bloodbath.


    Jessa grew paler than her complexion would otherwise suggest was possible, and brought a hand to her mouth in shock.


    "Oh, by the gods, this is terrible," she said, her voice cracking with distress. The initiative to investigate soon snapped her back to reality. Such encounters were exactly what she had signed up for, of course, but knowing that didn''t alleviate the nausea that welled up within her.


    ¡°If it was bandits, they were unusually tidy,¡± Deventh said as he lifted the tops of crates, the contents of which were left entirely untouched. ¡°Whoever was here, they weren¡¯t interested in material possessions. At least not mundane ones.¡± He moved on to inspect the bodies. Anna followed suit, rummaging through her backpack.


    Dizzy and struggling with the reality that people were capable of such cruel acts, Jessa trudged up to Deventh using every ounce of her willpower. She caught a glimpse of Tatsidi disappearing into the blizzard, his tail vanishing after him.


    "Where is Tatsidi going?" she asked Deventh. He was crouched over the twisted, sprawled-out corpse of a male orc, examining the gushing hole in his abdomen and searching pockets and pouches. Jessa dared not look at the face. Once he completed his inspection, Deventh stood up, glancing in the direction of where he¡¯d last seen Tatsidi.


    "He''s probably found something," he said, brushing his hands together to remove the bloodied snow from his gloves. "Stay here with Anna."


    After watching him disappear the same as Tatsidi did, Jessa hurried to Anna, who had begun searching inside the cart. Her stomach turned, and she grew ever paler. Knowing it was still possible for each subsequent discovery to be worse than the last, she kept a safe distance where she couldn''t see inside.


    Turning over a blanket ¨C one that appeared to have been a light green before being saturated with blood ¨C Anna gasped. She retracted the top half of her body from the cart, and her head narrowly missed hitting the frame of the canopy. Her movements hurried, she threw the blanket to the ground, inciting Jessa to scurry over and see for herself what she''d found. Peering inside while Anna prepared herself to go back in, Jessa waited a moment for her eyes to adjust before realizing what prompted her to react with such exigency.


    "He''s breathing!" she cried, springing out of the way to let Anna tend to the lone survivor. A young man of perhaps twenty-five or so years, he bore the chiseled facial features and the thick, swarthy skin¨Calbeit paled by blood loss¨Cof an Esdathrin. Shallow and labored, his breath held him fast to what little life he had left to cling to in the throes of deep wounds and raw burns.


    Life remained in spite of its fragility, though, and that alone was enough for Jessa. A rush of adrenaline surged through her veins, a wave of relief carrying her away from the precarious edge of consciousness. Anticipation overwhelmed her as she watched Anna work with urgency, the Helbrund''s focus immovable from her effort to save the man from the brink of death.


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    "Find me some blankets and water. We need to warm him up," Anna ordered, sparing no time for explanations as she removed her gloves. Her hands glowed with a lustrous brilliance that shone through the snowy wind, infused with restorative magic which she used to begin healing a large gash in the man''s chest. Though her magic was not quite powerful enough to heal such fatal wounds completely, she was able to lessen its depth to prevent further blood loss.


    "A-all right!" Jessa said. Imbued with hope and uncertainty alike, she found a new determination not to fail on her first foray. She tore her eyes from the grisly sight and produced her canteen, which she handed to Anna. A moment¡¯s inspiration led her to the idea of summoning help for her search. Palms held upward and fingers slightly curled, she whispered a short incantation.


    A shimmering circle of magenta swirled up from the ground in front of her, growing as she closed her eyes to concentrate. Her hands trembled and her focus wavered, however, slowing the process and sending her into a spiral of worry that she was taking much too long. A series of crackles resounded. When she opened her eyes, the brilliant pink had darkened to a murky purple, emanating sparks that left smoke as they popped.


    ¡°Oh, no.¡±


    By the time she had ceased channeling her energy, it was too late. The haze dissipated, falling to the feet of a rather unsightly little creature. An imp, just under two feet tall and humbled by no more than a loincloth, scratched at its snub nose with a set of jagged claws. A stubby pair of horns appeared to be sprouting from its forehead ¨C as many times as she¡¯d summoned the creature before, intentional or not, she had never seen it with such an attribute.


    She looked back at Anna, who was too busy tending to her patient to pay any mind to the spectacle. In a panic, she tried to unsummon the imp before it could prance away to make trouble, but she found no success. To her surprise, however, it stood there, awaiting her command ¨C something that often took at least twenty minutes of chasing to accomplish.


    ¡°You¡¯ll do, then,¡± she said, pointing to the bags, crates, and barrels scattered around. ¡°Blankets. You know that word, right? Look for blankets.¡±


    The creature grunted its understanding and hopped away to begin its search. Jessa, too, set about looking for anything to use as an improvised blanket, be it leather, cloth, or otherwise. They checked every box and bag that had scattered and spilled around the cart until the imp happened upon one particular chest filled with fine goose down comforters.


    "I found something!" Jessa announced, a dusty mist swelling from the fabric as she hauled as many of the comforters as her small frame could handle. Her summon reached the Helbrund first, however, clever enough to have figured out the situation. It passed to her a ragged linen sheet full of holes and riddled with questionable stains.


    ¡°Was this really all you could find?¡± Anna asked, turning around to look at the creature, which she had presumed was Jessa. Her body tensed and she instinctively reached for her ring. ¡°Ardren¡¯s holy pledge, what in every hell imaginable am I seeing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡± Overwhelmed with the awkward size and weight of the blankets she held, Jessa stumbled in a deep spot of snow, dropping the entire stack as she fell to the ground. Anna rushed over to help her up.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Jessa repeated as the Helbrund lifted her upright. ¡°I meant to summon a sprite.¡±


    ¡°It is fine,¡± Anna said, helping her brush the snow off of her clothes. ¡°Just put the damned thing away.¡±


    The Helbrund took the blankets with haste and hurried back to her patient. The creature obliged Jessa¡¯s next effort to unsummon it, and it vanished in the same murky haze from which it appeared. Relieved to have settled her embarrassing mishap, she returned to Anna to be ready should she need anything else.


    Now sporting a bandage wrapped across his chest, the victim appeared to be as stabilized as Anna could manage, though his cleanly shaven face still shone stark white compared to the black of his hair. As the Helbrund adjusted him, lifting him up to check for more injuries, his hair moved aside to reveal a birthmark on the back of his neck. The shape resembled the footprint of a bird. Once certain she hadn¡¯t missed anything, Anna used the blankets to swaddle him.


    "With any luck he''ll make it to Kho''Gul. I know a wonderful healer who can take care of him," Anna said with an appreciative nod. She tucked a blanket around the patient, ensuring he was settled, comfortable, and out of the path of the blistering wind. "Now, where did the other two go?"


    "Oh, Tatsidi wandered off." Jessa snapped her attention to Anna. "Deventh went after him. Should we go after them, or should we wait here?" Anna''s brow furrowed. A sigh escaped her as she considered Jessa''s question. Despite decades of training, as well as firsthand experience with death and tending to the wounded, it never became easy for Anna to handle such situations with a level head; It was simply her duty. She took a step back and pointed around to the crates through which Jessa had just spent some time rummaging.


    "Did you happen to see any rope?" She asked. Jessa''s eyes sparked with initiative as she gave a series of short but firm nods. Matching Anna''s urgency, she spun around and whisked over to one of the smaller crates. After reaching her arm inside, she snaked out a considerable length of unraveled rope.


    With the rope coiled over one arm, Jessa made her way to Anna while eyeing two approaching silhouettes. The cat and elf had returned empty-handed from their jaunt away.


    "So, where did the tracks lead? Were they rushed, slow, how many people were there?" Anna rolled through her list of usual questions as soon as Jessa had reached earshot, revealing that perhaps the two were not fruitless in their labors.


    "The tracks split off into three different paths for a short distance," said Deventh. "Then they converged, ended with no trace; no blood, no bodies, nothing. Not sure if the storm might have covered the tracks, but I''m more inclined to believe it might have been teleportation." He shrugged, ruminating on the possibilities. "Did you two manage to find anything here?"


    "No, other than this survivor we just finished patching up," Anna answered as she patted the blanket under which lay the victim of the attack. "We should get him to the city first. We''ll worry later about coming back and seeing if there''s anything we missed. At the very least we''ll have a witness to whatever happened here."


    Jessa stepped forward and, as she placed her rope in Anna''s hand, she chimed in. "What happens if it turns out he''s one of the people who attacked the wagon?" Although she asked, she didn''t want to believe the thought that had sprung into her head.


    "Well, he''s in no shape to try anything in any way we can''t handle. If that turns out to be the case, perhaps we can get some answers from him later," Deventh said.


    Anna set the rope on the ground and twisted the ring on her left middle finger. An aura of golden brilliance manifested over her forearm like a halo. Motes of light coalesced into shape until her shield materialized. Adorned with floral embossing, the large golden circle shone with the radiance of the sun. Its steel trim slowly darkened to a cobalt blue. Jessa was speechless; she''d heard of enchantments that could recall arms and equipment and knew others who could summon magical versions of them, but she had never seen it in person. A sudden chilling wind left her moment of wonder bleak and fleeting.


    Having placed the shield face-down on the ground to create a curved sled, Anna stooped back into the cart. She reached out and took hold of the swaddled young man, only struggling minutely against her strength due to the awkward positioning. Still, she managed to carry him out draped across her arms. Though Anna was in extraordinary shape, it took her a moment to correct herself upright. Years of stress from heavy armor on her joints had caught up to her at the age of forty-two.


    Placing the man on the back of her shield, Anna nodded in acknowledgment of Deventh''s answer. "Maybe he''ll be kind enough to tell us what happened here. Now, let''s head out before he succumbs to the weather." The Helbrund lashed and knotted the rope to her shield''s handle with a loop, creating a lead. With a quick smile, she acknowledged Jessa as she threw the rope over her shoulder.


    Anna moved out, dragging her shield behind her. Deventh caught up with a brisk walk to travel beside her, which signaled Tatsidi to follow, Frozen in a daze, Jessa hung back, exhausted in mind and body with no time to recover from what she had witnessed. But she was soon left with no choice but to keep up. As a sharp inhale stung her nose with crisp, wintry air, she dashed toward the group.

 2-1: The Doctor

    The harsh and bitter storm had all but subsided to a delicate flurry in time for the party''s arrival at Kho''Gul, and much to their spite, not a moment earlier. A towering stone wall surrounded the city and its inhabitants, crude in appearance yet steadfast in purpose. Above its lofty height loomed a gradient of grays. A mere few hours had passed since the four adventurers found the lone survivor they kept in tow, but his closeness to death in the midst of an unrelenting blizzard made the journey seem long and arduous.


    As they entered through the gate, the snow-covered silence welcomed them. Though it was only late afternoon, the stone-paved streets were clear and quiet, save for the din of music from local inns, and the pounding of hammers as blacksmiths toiled away by the warmth of their forges. The stillness gave the group a sense of calm, despite the urgency of helping their new constituent.


    They continued down an alleyway until they reached a door with moss growing around the frame. Above it, a decrepit wooden sign hung from a rusted chain, creaking and swaying in the gentle breeze. Chipped white paint spelled out Healer with long-faded floral depictions beneath. Deventh shot Anna a questioning glance.


    "Yes, this is the place," she said, urging him forward. After a brief hesitation, he turned the door handle and gave a push that was met with an unexpected amount of resistance. The heavy wooden door coughed up dust as it scraped open, carrying with it the pungent odor of herbs and mildew.


    They stepped in, their snow-blinded eyes guided by the light of nothing more than a few small candles. Were it not for the sound of a strenuous cough drawing nearer by the second, they''d have presumed the building unoccupied. Clumsy, muffled footsteps rumbled beyond the wall, where a door opened to reveal a brighter room. In the threshold appeared a hunched and bony robed figure with a full head of white coils. The old man, Mezthrin by his broad facial features and dark olive skin, greeted them in a voice hushed from likely a century of strain.


    "Greetings, young travelers," he said, squinting in an earnest effort to identify each of them, "What brings you to my infirmary?"


    Anna moved with purpose to a nearby bed and set her ward down on it before turning to the man to explain their presence.


    "We found a cart that was attacked on the side of the road. No one else survived, and I''m surprised he''s managed to hang on," she said as she pointed out the red stains on the victim''s clothing. "He''s been badly injured on his chest and arms."


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    As she spoke to the doctor, Tatsidi sat himself upon an ottoman, legs crossed, and surveyed the room with his eyes. Jessa and Deventh wandered, inspecting their surroundings with fascination. Bookshelves lined the entirety of one wall, filled with volumes of medical knowledge, healing spell tomes, and alchemy books regarding both potions and poisons. Along another wall lay an assortment of tools spread across a long table covered in rags and cloths, all stained and well-used.


    By the time Anna concluded her precis with the doctor and they were ready to move on, Tatsidi had already dozed off where he sat. The other two had sated their curiosities with the objects around the room and settled into their own seats.


    "I would take great joy in meeting your friends, but introductions aren¡¯t in the best interest of time,¡± the old man said. ¡°Let''s get him to the back." With a firm nod, he turned around and beckoned the Helbrund to follow him. The rolling motion of his shoulder left him winded, but he managed to find the strength to continue hobbling along to the door.


    Enough time passed to rouse concern over meeting their contact before the day¡¯s end, and so Deventh and Tatsidi moved on to the Oath¡¯s guild hall. Jessa remained to descend into a light sleep. After some time, Anna and the doctor emerged from the back room. Anna¡¯s hands were covered in blood and what appeared to be alchemical ingredients, and as she spoke to Jessa, she wiped them with a cloth from the table nearby.


    "It was a fight, but we believe he''s set to make a recovery," she declared, her eyes sweeping the room for the two who had left. ¡°Where are Deventh and Tatsidi?¡±


    "They went ahead of us to meet with our contact. Deventh didn''t want to keep them waiting, and Tatsidi was tired of sitting around."


    "Right. I¡¯d almost forgotten the original purpose of our entire trip.¡± Anna wiped the sweat from her brow and tossed the cloth back onto the table. ¡°This young man is quite lucky. He took an axe or a hammer straight to the chest ¨C somehow only his ribs broke."


    "Oh," Jessa said with a slight gasp.


    "Oh, indeed. Had it gone any further, his lungs would have been punctured. He had some deep, feathering burns as well, most likely from lightning magic. Some healing spells helped to fix the bones in place, and some of the doctor''s wonderful alchemy helped with the pain and fever. All he needs now is to rest as much as he can."


    "And he can stay here as long as needed. It''s always a relief to save such a young life," The old man said, slumping his shoulders forward-.


    "Hopefully he stays stable. I would like to wait here a bit longer to see if our patient comes to. Jessa, would you go and find the others in the meantime? Report to Deventh on our patient, perhaps?"


    "Are you sure? I can stay here and help if needed."


    ¡°Thank you, but all we need is time,¡± Anna said. ¡°I¡¯m sure it will pass all the same with or without help."


    Jessa puffed her cheeks, the thought of her first task alone causing her to freeze. Still, she stepped up to it, wanting nothing more than to prove herself trustworthy on her own. Steeped in the warm reassurance of Anna¡¯s smile, she set out to give her first report.

 2-2: Blood Dice

    Deventh and Tatsidi climbed up the stone-paved hill to the Oath''s guild hall, slowing down as they passed beneath the arches along the way. Their attentive eyes scanned the massive stone building in all its rugged glory as it cast its shadow upon them. Above a pair of wooden doors loomed a heroic scene carved into the pediment ¨C a depiction of the mighty warrior god Ardren severing the head of a dragon with his sword. The irony was lost on neither Deventh nor Tatsidi.


    Inside, the hall¡¯s lively and congenial interior welcomed them, streams of cool sunlight reflecting against the snow outside and beaming through the windows. A few tables were scattered about the floor in no particular arrangement, with chairs laid beside them. Of those, the only ones upright were those occupied by people chatting, laughing, and drinking. Kegs of various meads, ales, and liquors lined the back wall.


    ¡°Let us meet up when the others return,¡± said Tatsidi. ¡°I would like to get a feel for the place.¡±


    As the Apo¡¯na scurried off, Deventh scanned the room but saw no sign of the contact he intended to meet. A rowdy group in the corner, however, piqued his curiosity. He approached them, figuring it the best chance at finding information on his contact¡¯s whereabouts among the other, much more reserved, parties.


    Sat around a rickety, liquor-soaked table were three orcs and a remarkably short Fenvar, all huddled over drinks and dice. Preoccupied with their games and laughter, they didn''t notice Deventh right away, but as a momentary lull washed over them, the wood elf''s sharp ear twitched in his direction.


    "Oi," he said, his golden blond ponytail thwacking the face of the orc next to him as he turned his otherwise shaved head up to Deventh. The orc let out a yelp as some loose strands managed to whip into his eye. "Ya here for a game?"


    "Not by intent, but¡ªis that blood dice?"


    "Aye." The Fenvar motioned to the vacant space at the end of the table, seeming pleased with his response. "Learned it in Dhul Noria. Brought it back here and it turns out orcs love it, too."


    "Dhul Noria," Deventh said as he took a seat. "Best place to learn, worst place to play. Plenty of people killed over games every day there."


    "Don''t I know it!"


    "Don''t you?" A curious smirk spread across Deventh''s face as an orc slid a chipped stone bowl over to him. Inside lay three dice, polished to a pristine shine and marbled with various browns. The wood elf watched with curiosity as Deventh scooped them of the bowl and cradled them in his palm before rolling them in a gentle, fluid motion.


    As the dice danced at the tips of his fingers, he felt an odd twinge in the joints of his glove. Nonetheless, he tumbled them back into the bowl in a notable display of dexterity, at least enough so to earn the hushed attention of a few tipsy orcs. Giving a small bounce before they settled, the pieces landed one by one; three, three, four.


    His opponent frowned. "Unremarkable. Not the worst you could''ve done, but I was sort of hoping you''d live up to that jackpot-luck, lone wolf sort of air you exude." With a shrug, he took the dice, making his own roll in one swift movement; four, five, six.


    The group of orcs had turned their attention elsewhere in the anticlimax of the exchange. Deventh gave a shrug as he stared down at the perfect combination the small elf had rolled.


    "Now that we''ve warmed up, I was hoping I could ask you a few questions," he said, flicking his gaze up from the table to meet his opponent''s. "And perhaps play a few rounds for some gold, if you¡¯re up for it."


    "Aye, let''s start low then.¡± A slight smirk tightened the wood elf¡¯s lips. "Five gold sound good?"


    "Works for me." The two placed their bets, and the first official round of the game began.


    "So, what''s it ya wanted to ask?"


    "There''s someone I''m looking for," Deventh said as he rolled first, in a much more modest fashion than the previous round; two, two, three. "Thought I might ask if you know of his whereabouts."


    "If you''re looking for one of the poor sods who disappeared, I don''t think you''ll be findin'' ''em anytime soon.¡± He beat Deventh''s point with a five and grabbed his winnings greedily. "Ten gold."


    They placed their new bets on the table as Deventh answered.


    "I''m actually looking for the man who''s recruiting for that investigation. Rauleth Pollinar. You''d know if you''ve seen him." He rolled a pair of twos and a three.


    "Aye, I reckon even people without eyes have seen him. Ask the poor blind fucker over there." he pointed a thumb behind himself as he rolled three fives with his other hand, again claiming his winnings hastily.


    Deventh spared a chortle at his jest. As he rolled again, he asked, "Any idea where he is now?" They landed on two threes and a five.


    "Probably sat in front of a mirror in the sleepin'' quarters. Brassy bastard spends at least two hours slatherin'' on makeup every day, then he¡¯s gotta keep goin¡¯ back to fix it. You''re probably better off waitin'' for him to come down if ya value your eardrums." A pair of ones and a four.


    "I''ll keep that in mind," Deventh said with a chuckle, taking his own winnings this time. His eyes wandered as he felt the twinge in his glove again. His eyes locked onto a carved wooden bead in the shape of a skull, hanging¡ªor perhaps gently swinging¡ªfrom the leather cord of his opponent¡¯s coin pouch. Returning his focus to the game, he asked, "What do you know about the disappearances, then?"


    "I know nobody in their right mind wants to help with the shite sum Rauleth is offering. Ain''t worth goin'' out on the road to risk gettin'' kidnapped. Even less havin¡¯ to work with a squawking parrot.¡± The Fenvar took a swig from his mug and, setting it down with a hefty thunk, let out a refreshed exhale. "You desperate for gold or somethin''? I can think of a good few ways to make more for less."


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    "The pay works fine for me,¡± Deventh assured.


    They continued for five more rounds, the bet increasing with each one. Deventh had lost all but two rounds, and with that, to rather conspicuous combinations each time.


    "Seems today just isn''t my day," he said nonchalantly. "One more question, if you don''t mind."


    "If that''s what ya want as a consolation prize."


    "Your opinion of Rauleth seems less than favorable, to say the least. Have you had any incidents with him?"


    "No, just that I¡¯ve been stuck with him for three days. I don''t usually spend a lot of time here between jobs. Only haven¡¯t left ''cause I missed my wagon out of town this morning."


    "Fair enough," Deventh concluded following a contemplative pause. "How about one more round?" He plucked the dice from the bowl one by one.


    "Sure," his opponent agreed with a smirk. "One last round. Two hundred?"


    "Two hundred." After handing the dice over, Deventh reached into the pouch at his hip to retrieve the remainder of his coin and patted it down on the table. While rolling, the Fenvar reached into his own pouch to produce his bet, setting it down as he made his roll; five, five, six.


    Deventh nodded, looking his opponent in the eyes. Once again, he picked up the dice and turned them in his hand. Much like with the first roll, each die lingered at his fingertips until they tumbled down.


    Clink; Six. Clink; Six. Clink, clink, clink; Six.


    The Fenvar and his band of orcs reacted in perfect unison, befallen by a sudden silence. They looked to the dice, then to Deventh, then back.


    "Someone''s finally beaten ol'' Thadagar!" one of the orcs declared. The others erupted into laughter. The Fenvar stared into the bowl with disbelief. While he lingered in his trance, Deventh took the opportunity to claim his winnings. With a bow of his head, he stood up and pushed in his chair.


    "Good game, Thadagar." Guffaws and cheers swelled around him as he turned away, stuffing a now bulging sack of coins into his pocket. But the rush of victory came to an abrupt end, and it was only then that the day¡¯s events began to weigh on him, that the noise and chatter became grating. The thought crossed his mind to step outside ¨C even a second¡¯s worth of peace enticed him more than the cold deterred him. He followed his whim, hoping for a moment to himself.


    Beneath the shady overhang, Deventh leaned against the exterior wall. He closed his drooping eyes, letting the snowy silence fill his ears. Thumbing the timekeeping device in his pocket, he felt the tick of each second, let his thoughts fade into the passage of time. This trance lasted for a while ¨C how long exactly, he wasn¡¯t counting ¨C and broke only when a lone presence neared.


    ¡°Sorry if I¡¯m interrupting,¡± Jessa said, her voice small and strained. She stepped up to him with her head low and hands clasped together. ¡°Anna is staying back at the healer¡¯s house. She sent me to report on the survivor.¡±


    ¡°Good news, I hope,¡± said Deventh.


    ¡°Sort of. They were able to stabilize him, and now we just need to let him rest. She wanted to stay a bit longer in case he wakes up.¡±


    "In case," Deventh repeated. He pushed down on the top plate of his mask with one finger, causing it to collapse downward over the front of the others so only the bottom of his face was covered. The black fabric which lined the inside rested over his nose and outlined his cheekbones, creating a roguish look. "So we''re still waiting on that possibility. If we''re lucky, he''ll pull through."


    ¡°Hopefully,¡± Jessa murmured, leaning beside him. The freezing stone wall sent a shiver through her body, tempting her to reconsider the spot she chose to rest. ¡°Um, it¡¯s cold out here. Should we go inside?¡±


    Deventh shrugged. "Go on if you¡¯d like. I was enjoying the quiet out here."


    ¡°Oh. In that case, do you mind company?¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡±


    A sigh escaped Deventh, creating a puff of condensation which stayed close to his face as it dissipated. He looked down at Jessa, whose gaze was situated on the gray horizon, her red nose poking out past the hood of her cloak. As he turned his head to look out in the same direction, Jessa darted her eyes up to him, noticing in her periphery that he was focused on her for that ephemeral moment.


    Few instances had ever arisen in which the two spent time alone without any real agenda other than to wait. Jessa took the time to study the details in what was now visible of his face; she admired his red, weary eyes, burning with a fierce intelligence, and the way his relaxed yet stern eyebrows framed them.


    "I can''t say any of our other members have had a first day quite like this," Deventh remarked. "Recruits have quit over far less before. The fact that you''re standing here right now means I clearly underestimated your resolve."


    "Oh, well¡­ Thank you," Jessa said, surprised by the sudden compliment, heart still pounding in her chest. A range of emotions flooded through her that day, and the little time she had to process it all left her still dazed and nauseated. She closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment''s rest.


    "Do you drink?" Deventh asked as he watched the clouds darken the sun.


    "What?" Jessa squeaked, stunned out of her trance. "Yes, I suppose. I like the occasional glass of wine with dinner. Why do you ask?"


    "Just curious. It''s been a long day, and we''ve not given you a proper welcome yet. A few drinks might serve all of us well." Although his recent struggle with money nagged at him, he spoke plainly and with intent; more than drink, he longed for a decent meal, and there was little that could fend off his appetite for much longer.


    ¡°I wouldn''t have expected a celebration,¡± Jessa said, caught off guard by the idea. ¡°But that would be lovely." She gave an enthusiastic nod, smitten by the idea of spending some time with her new guildmates.


    After a few minutes of silence between them, a tall, stocky silhouette approached from the distance. Jessa pushed her weight against the wall to start herself forward and stepped onto the path. Deventh followed, and as Anna drew nearer, Jessa gave her an energetic wave with her arm well above her head.


    The Helbrund approached, sporting a tired yet neutral appearance as she returned a halfhearted wave. The guild leaders exchanged nods, and after a moment to catch her breath, Anna began her review of what they''d missed since the group split ways.


    "He didn¡¯t wake up. The doctor, however, assured us that if we''re to be staying in Kho''Gul, he can contact us with this stone at any time if he does." She held up a jade stone in the shape of a set of lips. They were quite realistic, and appeared as though they might speak at any moment. "I''m not sure if I want to witness it speaking, though." She put it back in her bag, glad to remove it from her sight, and asked, "How did things go with the Oath?"


    "Uneventfully," Deventh replied, a brow still raised at the unusual trinket. ¡°Our contact is in the building, but I was advised to wait for him.¡±


    "Well, I can''t say I blame you for standing out here," Anna said as she relaxed her stance. "Though I would have expected you to at least be doing something productive."


    "You caught me," Deventh said with a chuckle. "It''s been a long day."


    "Yes, that it has. I cannot wait to have a meal and some rest. But for now, shall we go in and wait for our friend? And on that note, where¡¯s Tatsidi?¡±


    ¡°On the prowl. Can¡¯t say for what, but he¡¯s having a look around.¡±


    ¡°Right ¨C hardly a question to ask. Shall we go inside, then?¡±


    Two expectant gazes eased Deventh into accepting the end of his reprieve. They returned inside. Deventh glanced to the balcony above the common area, where torches flickered along the stone balustrades. Various unknown rooms lined the hallway, hidden behind crude pine doors. His eyes traced the length of the wooden rails, and he spotted a shadowy figure flicking its orange striped tail about. A subtle twitch played at one corner of his lips as the figure scurried off into hiding.

 2-3: On the Prowl

    Tatsidi slipped into the shadows. Two guards rounded the corner of a dark intersection, both headed his way. A recess in the wall behind a suit of armor afforded him a place to hide as he waited for them to pass.


    ¡°Right fucked in the head, isn''t he?¡± one of the guards, his voice deep and gruff, asked the other. His armor clanked as he walked, and Tatsidi noticed as he came closer that it was ill-fitting and loose against his stocky frame.


    ¡°Well, of course he seems strange,¡± said the other, much lighter in tone, almost melodic. His leather gear appeared to be in better condition and of a better fit than his partner¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s just hard to believe he¡¯d do the things you claim, especially over some jewelry.¡±


    ¡°I claim it because it¡¯s true!¡± The guard, whom Tatsidi made out to be an orc, hesitated in his steps as he recounted what he saw. ¡°Man, woman, child ¨C doesn¡¯t make a difference to him, as long as he can take what he wants.¡±


    ¡°Remind me not to get on his bad side." Silence followed the guards as they moved around a corner at the other end of the hallway.


    Tatsidi stepped out, listening to a voice in the direction from which he came. Following the sound led him to a door flanked by two impressive suits of armor. As he neared the door, he could faintly make out the words being spoken from within.


    "The chairman is away on business. That¡¯s all we need to tell them. We can¡¯t start panicking now ¨C you know he¡¯s always late. Just wait for orders from the boss." Another voice, much older and more monotonous, replied.


    "Very well. Let¡¯s go and have a drink.¡±


    Footsteps approached the door, closer than Tatsidi would have liked. Within seconds, the latch clicked open and an old, shriveled man poked his head out before stepping past the threshold. A shorter, huskier figure followed, his face obscured by the darkness. The latter individual grabbed a key out of his pocket and locked the door behind them. As they walked by, Tatsidi held his breath and kept as still as the suit of armor which concealed him.


    As they disappeared down the stairs, Tatsidi peeked out from his hiding spot to ensure no one else was coming and slunk his way to the door. Pitted against his trusty pick, the lock clicked open with ease.


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    He entered in search of whatever items might have been of interest, especially following such an intriguing conversation. What he found was an unsuspecting¡ªor rather, suspiciously empty¡ªbedroom. The hardwood floor was covered with a tattered yet clean white rug, and aside from that, the setup was quite sparse with three simple pieces of pine furniture. Against the wall was a bed with white linens, opposite a short dresser with a vanity mirror. A dark corner at the far side of the room was fitted with a small chair which had a single crooked leg.


    Tatsidi swished his tail, sensing an air of good fortune as he pattered over to the dresser. He reached out to slide open the first drawer.


    It was empty. He shrugged, figuring the next one might bring him more luck. The second drawer, however, was also empty, and the third bore no dissimilar result.


    Tatsidi whipped his tail in disappointment, latently doubting his presumption that he''d find anything of substance. Still, he was unconvinced that the sparse furniture along with a plain white rug were all the room had to offer, and he dropped to all fours to prowl along the floor.


    Aside from a few cobwebs and a thin layer of dust, nothing of interest waited beneath the bed nor dresser. As Tatsidi inspected the crooked chair leg, however, he noticed it pressing the rug into a depression in the floor.


    "Oh-ho," the Apo''na mused to himself, lifting the chair and placing it to the side. As he lifted the corner of the rug, he found a cutout in the floor. A small hole was adjacent to one edge, so Tatsidi poked his finger in and used it to lift the lid out. It was stuck at first, requiring him to tug so that it came out with a pop and startled him.


    A royal blue jewelry box sat in the compartment beneath the floor, inviting him with its intricate flourishes. The details grew in clarity as Tatsidi lifted it into the light. A trail of glittering golden leaves traced every edge, and in the center were three shimmering white roses.


    Tatsidi was never one to turn away such a unique opportunity for what could be an easy source of gold; Similar to jewelry boxes he''d seen in the market, he knew it to be well made and quite valuable, even if he were to discover it was empty, though it was far too weighty to be so. He wasted nary another moment opening it, and what was inside left him astonished.


    Never had Tatsidi seen such an incredible concentration of wealth and vanity. Several rings presented themselves in a variety of silver and gold. Each one was inlaid with large and brilliant gemstones ranging from rubies and emeralds to sapphires and diamonds, and had a necklace to match.


    One lone necklace stood out more than the others, alone without a mate ¨C a thick silver chain studded with diamonds, bearing a large sapphire pendant. A smirk crept across the cat''s face as he closed the box. To keep it safe, he stuffed it away among his gear. Endless possibilities for riches flooded his mind, but for the time being, he refocused his efforts on finding the best course to leave without being spotted.

 2-4: The Elegant Elf

    Downstairs, the three others had settled at a table. A brief venture to acquire ale ended with the disappointment of slimy tankards and a questionable smell emanating from the contents of the keg, and so they chose to forgo drinks while they waited. They talked business instead, ignoring their gnawing hunger and thirst.


    ¡°Have you found anything of interest?" asked Anna.


    "Only that very few people aside from us have been interested in taking on this job. Seems a bit out of tune for the Oath, even if the pay is somewhat lacking." Deventh paused as he caught sight of Tatsidi tapping his claws on his bag in the distance. "He also said something about missing his cart out of¡ª"


    "HellOOOooo everyone!" A shrill voice tore through the crowd, demanding the attention of everyone present. Like a bolt of lightning, it struck the ears of its victims without mercy, bouncing around the walls. The lively murmur of conversations ceased, and all heads turned to the source of the squall.


    At the bottom of the stairs, a high elf leaned on one elbow against the banister, looking down his nose at his bright red, well-manicured nails with his arm curled in an exaggerated pose. In an astonishing contrast to his piercing voice, he was a beautiful and extravagant sight to behold.


    Despite the stale, frigid air that hung still over the room, the Gildvar flaunted a luxurious getup that beckoned the beholder half a continent away to the warmth and splendor of Esdarium; A flowing silk tunic, a blinding pure white, was accented by gold lipstick and crimson eyeshadow. His trousers matched the tunic, flaring with frills just below the knees where he sported a pair of golden sandals with straps that crossed up his calves. A voluminous cascade of strawberry blond locks flowed over his shoulders and down to his back.


    The silence that his shrills had commanded slipped away in an instant when an orc from Thadagar''s table shouted, "Shut the fuck up, Rauleth!" inciting laughter that erupted through the entire hall and returned everyone to their own matters.


    "That must be our man," Anna said, raising her voice over the raucous laughter. Motioning to Deventh to join her, Anna pushed herself away from the table, causing her chair to scratch against the floor. Before she stood, she addressed Jessa. "You stay here for now. We''ll get the formalities out of the way." The two set off to speak with the Gildvar.


    "Good evening, Rauleth,¡± Deventh greeted him as they approached. ¡°Good to see you again."


    A dazzling grin spread across Rauleth''s face, revealing two perfectly pearlescent rows of teeth to contrast his golden sun-kissed skin. "Oh, darling, it''s you again! You''re looking much less scruffy than last we spoke. I just knew you were handsome under all that grease and stubble." He spoke with a smile and energy bubbling in his tone as he lingered on his vowels. Rising and falling in waves, his pitch occasionally ascended into sharp, piercing peaks. ¡°You¡¯ve come rather late for my liking, however.¡±


    "Aye, well, we wanted to meet with you earlier, but we ran into an emergency," said Deventh. "For that, I apologize."


    ¡°Now, now, you heard me say I¡¯m an early bird.¡± He wagged his finger as he scolded them. "Unlike you lot, I can''t adjust my schedule willy-nilly. I''m quite the busy bee!" With his last remark, Anna''s upper lip twitched in annoyance. Still unbothered, Deventh proceeded.


    "Well, we''ve caught up either way. Has anyone else offered to help?"


    "Oh, yes! One fiery little lady, Sheannoran for certain, by the way she speaks." Rauleth said. "Not exactly the brightest candle in the attic, but she does have quite a repertoire of, let''s say, street smarts. I agreed to let her help because, well, it seemed as though you and everyone else who signed up had forgotten about poor old Rauleth."


    A smug smile appeared as he stood himself upright. At full height, he was close to as tall as Anna, but his lankiness became much more apparent. "But I''m glad I was mistaken! From the looks of you, you couldn''t afford to miss out. You don''t mind bringing her along, do you?"


    "Not at all," Anna said after an extended silence. She found the Gildvar''s rudeness to be somehow both flagrant and backhanded at the same time, and paired with his pitchy intonation, he became more grating the more he spoke. While normally calm and collected, Anna found herself clenching her fists. "When will we have the chance to meet this individual?"


    "Why, any minute now!" Rauleth said. "Oh, there she is now. HellOOoo, Lydie my sweet fiery imp! We''re over here!"


    "Call me a fiery imp one more time ya wee cocksucker, and I''ll shove me dagger so far up your arse, YOU''LL BE CHOPPIN'' VEGETABLES IN YOUR GUTS FOR WEEKS!" The redheaded Nelthrin slammed the front door behind her.


    "Now, now, dear, no need to shout," Rauleth chided as Lydie stomped over. "Come now, say hello to your new friends. It turns out they showed up after all! Now you''ll have some help on the job."


    "Wha¡ª" the young Nelthrin''s boisterous shouting was reduced to an embarrassed squeak in an instant; through her rage, she failed to notice Deventh and Anna. Freckled cheeks flushed with embarrassment, she looked to Rauleth after regarding each of them with a nod. "Shite, mate, wish ya''d have told me earlier that we was havin'' company. Would''ve spared ya at least a little embarrassment."


    Rauleth broke into a fit of giggles.


    "Spared me the embarrassment, yes. Deventh, Anna, this is Lydie, as you might have guessed. Lydie, meet Anna and Deventh!"


    "Nice to meet ya," Lydie said, flashing a charming smile with a slight gap between her front teeth. Her warm expression slowly faded as the truth clicked in her head. "Look forward to workin'' with¡ªwait a bloody second."


    "What is it, dear?" asked Rauleth, concern growing on his face.


    "Does this mean we''re gonna be sharin'' the reward?" the fiery Nelthrin raised a brow and locked her smaragdine gaze on him.


    "Well, I mean... Yes," Rauleth said, wincing preemptively. "The contract description specifically states that we were recruiting a team! A single person could never do this all on their own!"


    Lydie opened her mouth and clenched her fists, inhaling sharply so as to commence her cries of protest. Before she could unleash her temper, Deventh interjected, hoping to ease the situation.


    "I hope it''s not too much trouble. It does seem a rather dangerous task for one person alone. Perhaps the arrangement isn''t ideal, but I can promise you''ll get your fair share."


    The fiery young woman slowly unclenched her fists.


    "Ugh, quit being so diplo-romantic, ya handsome prick. You''re lucky I''ve got a soft spot for Dronvari men, else I''d be shoutin'' and what have ya." She shook her head, sneering at Rauleth. "Fine, I''ll do the stupid job even if we''ve gotta share.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± said Anna. ¡°Now that that¡¯s settled, shall we sit and discuss our task?¡±


    ¡°Of course, dear ¨C I thought you¡¯d never ask!¡± Rauleth¡¯s smile beamed in contrast to Lydie¡¯s deepening sneer. He flicked a stray lock of hair over his shoulder while gesturing for Anna to lead the way, and they returned to the table where they¡¯d left Jessa.


    "Have you seen Tatsidi come out of hiding yet?" Deventh asked, and Jessa shook her head. Lydie perked her head up at his question, but she remained silent.


    "I suppose we can fill him in later," Anna huffed with slight annoyance. Turning to Rauleth and Lydie, Anna introduced them to Jessa. "Rauleth, Lydie, this is Jessa, our newest member of Valorforge. Our fourth, Tatsidi, is apparently on other business, otherwise I''d introduce him as well."


    "Oh, a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my darling!" Rauleth said as he bowed at the waist with a flourish.


    After settling into her own seat, Anna took a piece of vellum and some charcoal from her pack and set it on the table in front of her.


    "Well, now that we''re gathered, let''s start. What do you know as of now, Rauleth?"


    "WE-eeellllllll..." The Gildvar tapped his chin. "Where to begin... Now that I think about it, I did give a bit of information to Deventh prior to this meeting." He turned his head to Deventh, carrying a cordial smile that looked somewhat strained.


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    "Aye, I mentioned everything we discussed, which wasn''t much so far," said the Dronvar. "Disappearances of small traveling groups along the road from the Merchant''s Gate into the city, started a couple of weeks ago, no targeted race, age, or sex... That''s about it. Are there any new developments from your end? Have you found any names?"


    "No new developments since we last spoke," said Rauleth. "I''m not sure whether that means things have been quiet, or whether that''s a sign of more discoveries to come. As for the names of the victims, yes! I spent some time gathering posters of missing individuals throughout the city." He reached into the spacious pocket of his pants and placed a stack of folded posters.


    "Interesting," Deventh said, observing the posters as Rauleth spread them out on the table. He examined them in silent contemplation until Anna''s curiosity took over.


    "What are you thinking?" She could see the gears turning in his head as his analytical gaze hovered over the text and pictures.


    "These victims," Deventh muttered, speaking up as he continued, "Rosalie Vaux, Julien Montrose, Cherise DeGrande¡ªthere¡¯s a disproportion favoring Nelthrin names, but perhaps not enough to rule out coincidence." He regarded Rauleth with an approving nod while arranging the posters back into a neat stack. "We should talk to their families at some point. For now, there is perhaps a more significant event we encountered on the way to the city."


    "Oh?" Rauleth placed his elbows on the table and rested his chin upon his interlaced fingers. "You should have told me that you got a head start on the job! If I knew, I wouldn''t have been so rude!" He punctuated his thought with a wink.


    "I did mention it was an emergency, but I suppose the details were insufficient. My apologies,¡± said Deventh. ¡°We happened upon a cart along the road, tipped over, ransacked. Found some corpses, trails of blood. We''d have stuck around to investigate more, but we found an Esdathrin survivor in pretty rough shape. He¡¯s at the healer in town and his condition has improved, but we¡¯ve yet to report the incident to the guard."


    Quieted for once, Rauleth responded with little flair. "O-oh." The Gildvar''s face grew pallid. "Well, oh dear."


    "Yes, the man was lucky we found him when he did," Anna said, her voice grim. "Any longer and I''m sure he would have joined the others in death. We plan on going back to the spot in order to check what might have been hidden by the snow. You''re welcome to join us."


    "I would love to, dear, but... I¡¯m hardly equipped for investigating in the field. Besides, I''m bogged down with enough paperwork to cramp up my hands twice over," the Gildvar groaned, clutching his wrist and wriggling his fingers.


    "Paperwork? What bloody paperwork''s an overgrown cockatoo like yourself got to do?" Lydie squawked.


    "Of course you wouldn''t understand," Rauleth scoffed. "Can''t a man be beautiful and clerical?"


    Anna was struck with a fit of coughing as if in response to the haughty elf''s retort. Rauleth was unfazed by her reaction and returned to the subject at hand.


    ¡°I will take the task of reporting the incident to the guard for you, since it sounds as though you¡¯ve had nary a moment to catch your precious little breath,¡± he said. ¡°As for going back, I¡¯m not sure why you would want to revisit such a sight, if what you say is true. What would happen if whoever attacked those poor individuals went back to the scene of the crime?"


    "Then we¡¯ll take it one step at a time," Deventh said, unbothered by the thought. "Your concern is appreciated, though, as is your taking the burden of reporting. Was there anything else we needed to discuss here, or shall we go ahead and start with Anna''s suggestion?"


    "AC-tually," Rauleth sang, "I almost forgot a small detail. There''s a place not too far off the road that might be worth investigating. It''s only a little cave, but it might be housing some unsavory individuals¡ª"


    "Oi," Lydie interjected. "There''s heaps of caves around, I ain''t about to go spelunkin'' through all of ''em on some wee hunch of yours. Did ya actually see anyone scurryin'' in and out of there?"


    "Well," Rauleth pursed his lips. "No. But there has been a strange noise coming from the area. The cave is to the southeast, overlooking some cliffs above the main road. The exact distance is unknown to me, but it''s less than a quarter of the way between here and Raven Gate. Those are all the details I have."


    "It should be enough to get us started, at least,¡± said Deventh. ¡°We''re familiar with the area, seeing as our headquarters is located by the Raven Gate. If we find any such cave, we''ll take a look." After concluding that he had no more questions about the location, he moved on to discuss payment. "Now, before we begin anything else, we agreed that our payment would be half now and half on completion."


    "Of course I do, dear," Rauleth said, grabbing a leather bag on his waist and pulling from it three shiny metal coins. "Platinum is okay with you, right? Gold is much too heavy. Far too easy to chip a nail while holding it."


    "Coin is coin," Deventh said. Rauleth wasted no time responding with a mischievous chortle.


    "I''d be careful which parts of town you say that in," he said, winking again. "Unless you would like for me to show them to you."


    "Quite the generous offer, but I''m afraid I''ll have to decline," Deventh said, acknowledging Rauleth''s banter with a grin. The clinking of the platinum coins was softened by the pat of leather as they landed in the palm of Deventh''s glove.


    "Suit yourself," Rauleth teased. ¡°I believe this concludes business, then?¡±


    ¡°I believe so,¡± Anna said, placing her hands flat on the table. ¡°We¡¯ll set out in the morning.¡± Everyone stood, and Rauleth gave a small curtsey.


    "Well, then, it¡¯s settled,¡± said the Gildvar. ¡°Please enjoy the rest of your evening ¨C I must go and get started on some of that paperwork. Ta-taaaa!"


    As he sauntered away, the others fell silent, taking a moment to gather their thoughts.


    ¡°I, for one, am starving,¡± said Anna after a long silence. ¡°Can we grant ourselves the mercy to fill our stomachs now?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± said Deventh. ¡°Now that there¡¯s no more left to do. Did you have anywhere in mind?¡±


    ¡°Yes, actually. Do you remember the hostel where we met? Cheap beds, good food, and not a speck of mold in the ale?¡±


    "Hostel?¡± asked Deventh. ¡°The one where you nearly murdered a man by throwing a barstool at his head? No, doesn¡¯t ring a bell, but we can pay a visit.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t the faintest idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Anna said, her lips pursed with a partial smirk. ¡°Will you be joining us, Lydie?¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± Lydie answered, twiddling her thumbs.


    ¡°Are you sure? It would probably be best for us all to stick together so we can coordinate more easily.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Lydie¡¯s eyes darted around the edges of the room. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Nervous around new people and all that.¡±


    ¡°After that display earlier?¡± Anna chortled. ¡°Oh, we have a jester in our midst. Come, we should eat and drink together if we¡¯re going to work together.¡±


    Lydie sucked her lips thin. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°What about Tatsidi?¡± asked Jessa, causing Lydie to tense up.


    ¡°He¡¯ll catch up,¡± said Deventh, a striped tail swaying in the corner of his eye from behind a group of barrels. He motioned for everyone to move out, and they started on the path to the hostel.


    Lydie struggled to keep up along the way, both lost in her thoughts and drawn in by distractions at every turn ¨C everything from bits and baubles in shop windows to sap oozing from various trees. She did, however, rejoin the others following each incident, thus they moved on at their own pace, trusting that she wasn''t too far behind.


    Five minutes after they decided to proceed in this fashion, Lydie found herself falling a bit too far behind. After perusing the items in the window at Urak''s Liquors, she set her eyes on the alleyway beside it with the intent to cut through. She inspected the alleyway carefully before stepping forward.


    From where she stood, it appeared clear, but she still found herself gripping the hilt of her dagger. Her first step found her no trouble, but a faint shadow caught her eye as it fled across the stone bricks, provoking a startled gasp.


    ¡°It¡¯s a proper shortcut, you¡¯ve done this heaps of times,¡± Lydie whispered to herself, convincing no one. ¡°Nothin'' to be afraid of, ol'' gal.¡± Shaking off the last of her fear, she pushed forward. At the last step, something stopped her abruptly. A sudden weight on her chest knocked her flat onto her back. Screaming and swearing, she flailed about.


    "BASTARD SON OF A BATTERED BLOODY WHORE WHAT THE F¡ª"


    "Lydie," a voice growled. Lydie fell still as she locked eyes with her assailant. Though most of his face was hidden by a mask, the way he whipped his striped orange tail behind him was unmistakable.


    "Tatsidi."


    "You can''t be alive," they said in unison.


    The two stared at each other in the middle of the darkened alley, both breath and speech evading them. Tatsidi moved from his position on all fours above her and sat on his knees, placing his hands on his lap. Brows furrowed, he caught his breath with a sigh.


    "Ya damned oaf!" Lydie shouted as she pushed herself up onto her bottom. "Years I''ve been lookin'' for your stupid arse!" Tears welled in her eyes as a deep red flushed her cheeks and nose. "I thought you were dead! That stupid furry mug of yours¡ªI thought I''d never see it again!"


    "And you?!" Tatsidi cried. "After the House''s hall was destroyed, I thought you would have headed home! I waited for days for you to show up! I thought you were captured, or killed, or..." He opened his mouth to continue his rant, but he was cut off when Lydie pulled him into a hug, clasping her fingers behind him. The warmth of her embrace was a fleeting refuge from the cold.


    "I missed ya, ya stupid idiot," she said, resting her chin on the cat''s shoulder. She closed her eyes, basking in the moment a bit more before withdrawing. "Ugh, ya caught me at the worst possible time. I''m fifty arses and a rotten egg behind the others and I really need to find them."


    "Yes, I saw you at the Oath hall." Tatsidi stood and offered Lydie a hand. Weakness surged through her legs, causing an awkward wobble as she accepted his hand and pulled herself up. "How did you find yourself in Grimros?"


    ¡°Dunno,¡± Lydie said. ¡°Been tryin¡¯ to survive after everything, been place to place and just ended up here. What about you? You¡¯re a long ways from Uminora too.¡±


    ¡°It is a story longer than I have time to tell on this short walk ¨C but it seems that many who wander end up here in this valley.¡±


    ¡°There ya go with your fancy talk again,¡± said Lydie, rolling her eyes. ¡°Those idiots we¡¯re workin¡¯ with, ya know them?¡±


    ¡°Yes," Tatsidi answered. ¡°Though they are not idiots. The guild of Valorforge has treated me well.¡±


    "Valorforge? That''s what they call themselves? Sounds a wee bit fancy for some fools scraping up public Oath contracts. Hope they at least let you keep your fair share."


    "They do," Tatsidi said, "I am fed, and I have a place to sleep. They make sure of that, even if they have little else to boast about."


    "More than I can say for myself," Lydie admitted, her all-black ensemble faded, tattered, and sagging from her meager frame. "Gotta admit, I kinda miss bein'' able to go home to familiar faces.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Tatsidi. "It has been nice to do so again.¡± For the remainder of the walk, the Apo¡¯na fell into a contemplative silence, content to stand beside his friend once more.

 2-5: An Heirloom

    A limbless torso lay upon a stone platform, splayed open and riddled with hooks. At the mercy of the bleary man who sliced and prodded at it, engrossed in his work with no foreseeable end, its flesh softened, oozed, and tore away from bone as his research once again fell fruitless to decay. From many such experiments prior, an amalgam of fluids both bodily and alchemical stained the raised structure and the surrounding floor, their trickle forever frozen in time, soaked into the porous stone. Scattered all around were surgical tools, stained from their current use, but otherwise in exceptional condition.


    A presence perturbed the air, but he kept to his work. The cellar¡¯s hatch slammed shut, and a familiar, feeble gait echoed from the cavernous walls.


    ¡°Jovar,¡± he addressed the newcomer, sparing neither a glance nor a twitch in his direction, ¡°Just who I needed to speak with.¡±


    ¡°Greetings, Lord Maestus,¡± Jovar said, shuffling further into the room, ¡°Your shipment is well on its way. It¡¯s just made it through Oakenvale pass, I believe.¡±


    ¡°Excellent,¡± said Maestus, his voice deep and melodic. ¡°But my concern lies elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°Wherein, my lord?¡±


    ¡°Your family name. You¡¯ve neglected to mention it before.¡±


    ¡°My lord¡­¡± The Dronvar¡¯s voice strained as he ran his fingers over his slicked-back hair, which fell forward in clumps formed by the sweat of his palm. Maestus¡¯ scalpel gave an unnerving clink on the hard stone, despite how gently he had set it down.


    ¡°Jo-var Salan-val,¡± Maestus intoned. A smirk tugged at his parched, pale lips as he turned to face his subordinate. The Nelthrin¡¯s white, sagging face appeared sickly against his dark robes and tired, purple eyebags. He kept himself well groomed on a regular basis, thus it became clear to Jovar that he had been working without rest for quite some time. ¡°Rumor says your family has right to an heirloom. Descendants of Girin, they say.¡±


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


    ¡°Well¨C¡± Jovar choked, clearing his throat before he continued, "Not quite. It''s never been proven that the Salanval family shares any blood with Girin.¡±


    "It is safer to say it''s never been disproven. The evidence aligns, does it not? Not to mention how befitting it is that the paragon of your people would be afflicted with the same thoughtless, self-serving recklessness as your creational father. After all, why wouldn''t someone of his status produce a bastard son? But that is aside from the point. Gossip is for the lowly ¨C and despite my presumptions, it seems you may not be in that category after all. This is an opportunity to find out."


    ¡°Maybe so, my lord, but in any case, I¡¯ve been excommunicated. I¡¯ve no right to any position, nor any piece of Charox-Val, whether or not it is recoverable.¡± Goosebumps formed on Jovar¡¯s spindly arms, and his robes clung to his skin in the thick, heavy dampness.


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Maestus said, scratching at his unmanaged stubble. ¡°Exiled or not, it is your birthright ¨C all the more reason you should be the one to find out whether it is recoverable. Should you lay your hands upon it first, who could oppose you?¡±


    Jovar lowered his head, ruminating on the possibilities. Perhaps Maestus was right ¨C after all, he¡¯d never led him astray.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t even know where to start looking,¡± he said, his eyelids fluttering as he spoke. Most Dronvar were graced with a sharp, calculating gaze, but his eyes proved no more captivating than unpolished rubies.


    ¡°And I would not expect that you do.¡± Maestus grabbed a rag to wipe the blood and sweat from his hands and forehead. ¡°But I¡¯m sure I can help you.¡±


    ¡°If that is the case, then I suppose there is no harm in trying. Is there anything I should do to begin?¡±


    ¡°Not for the time being. As it happens, I¡¯m to meet with an old friend in a few weeks¡¯ time. He may have some insight. All I ask is that you see to the progress of my shipment.¡±


    Jovar nodded, his gaze wandering to the hapless pile of flesh upon the platform.


    ¡°Very well, my lord.¡±

 3-1: An Evening at Graystone

    The buzz of conversations and bumping of tankards filled the air as the group entered the Graystone Hostel. Patrons all around enjoyed their evenings with friends, neighbors, and strangers. They chose a table recessed into the far corner with room for five, and it wasn¡¯t long before a sprightly young Helbrund waitress, short and blonde, hurried over to greet them.


    ¡°Welcome to Graystone!¡± she chirped. ¡°I¡¯m Brunhylda. A round of drinks for everyone?¡±


    From his belt, Deventh placed a bloated sack onto the table, clinking with the sound of metal coins.


    "A bottle of whiskey, please, and ale for my friends," he said as he placed a handful of coins in her palm.


    "Right away, si¡ª" the girl smiled before gasping at the sizable sum of coins placed in her hand. "Uh, sir, I¡¯ll only need three silver for this round."


    "The rest is for you," Deventh said, offering her a sincere smile as he ignored the leveled gaze of Anna boring a hole in the side of his head. Even after the waitress left with a spring in her step, Deventh refused to look Anna in the eye.


    "Deventh?" Anna growled.


    "Hm?"


    "Where did all that money come from?"


    "A Fenvar at the Oath hall. One that got a little bit too cocky."


    "And you¡ªWait, you didn''t gamble, did you?" Anna fumed. Deventh cleared his throat and nodded, maintaining his composure so as not to escalate the situation.


    "Yes, I did, but I won."


    Anna''s fist landed on the table with a light thud.


    "And what would your story have been if you lost?"


    "You know me better than that. I don''t mind cheating against a cheater." He wriggled his fingers as he examined the articulations in his gloves. Anna shook her head, glaring at him knowingly.


    "Regardless of those¡ªwhatever in all the hundred afterworlds those gloves are." Her words piqued Jessa''s interest. She knew better, though, and figured it an inopportune time to comment. "Gambling when we''re struggling is idiotic at best."


    "He was willing to cheat me for all I brought back and then some. If I can keep him from trying it on someone else, I might as well do so."


    Anna loosened her fist, inspecting it for traces of whatever sticky substance was on the table.


    "I''m just reminding you of your responsibility not only to your guild, but to yourself as well. We''re here to do honest work."


    Following their short quarrel, Brunhylda returned with their drinks, and after their orders were taken, chatter arose among the others. Deventh leaned back in his chair and parted his lips so as to contribute to the conversation, but found himself distracted by the familiar burn of a pair of eyes staring at him.


    Across from the group, alone at an empty table sat a Dronvari woman, her skin a fair, cool gray. Brilliant pink eyes, like two rose diamonds, shone through the candle and torch light as they fixed themselves upon the group ¨C or perhaps Deventh himself. He recognized her from previous visits as the manager of the establishment, though he¡¯d never spoken to her.


    The moment the two locked eyes, she turned her attention elsewhere, as if hoping not to be caught. Deventh, likewise, returned his attention to his companions. He nodded along while listening to their idle chatter, wherein they carefully avoided the subject of the day''s events.


    The young waitress soon emerged from the kitchen. "Here you are," she sang as she set each plate down. Jessa was given a plate of duck breast, lemon, and asparagus, with a glass of dry white wine; Deventh, a bowl of soup, with a single egg cracked and dropped in during the cooking process, and a cup of coffee; last of the group, Anna received a leg of some cloven-hoofed animal. It was doused in butter and herbs, with a loaf of bread, a wheel of cheese, and an entire pitcher of ale. Everyone stared at their plates in delight.


    Anna and Jessa wasted no time digging into their meals, ravenous after a long journey and an unexpected detour. Deventh sipped slowly from his mug before starting to eat, content to enjoy some food reminiscent of home, however simple a dish.


    It seemed that the moment his focus became fixed on his own meal, he was nettled once more by the feeling of being watched. He met the woman¡¯s eyes again, but only for a moment to acknowledge her before withdrawing his gaze. Figuring such an acknowledgment to have been sufficient for the time being, he continued eating. The other two remained oblivious to the spectacle, engrossed in savoring the perfection Brunhylda had placed before them.


    Time passed as the group ate, and Tatsidi and Lydie eventually joined them.


    ¡°Nice of you both to join us,¡± said Anna as they seated themselves. ¡°Together, no less.¡±


    ¡°Aye, we hit it off all nice and cozy,¡± said Lydie, nudging Tatsidi under the table with her knee. ¡°Figured we¡¯d discuss the job on the way here.¡±


    ¡°Fascinating.¡± Anna¡¯s tone dripped with sarcasm. She had seen Lydie flinch earlier at the mention of his name. ¡°How do you two know each other?¡±


    Lydie¡¯s lips soured. She blinked twice over widened eyes.


    ¡°What do ya mean, hen? Swear he was lurkin¡¯ in the Oath hall, and then¡ª¡±


    ¡°We worked together at our previous occupation,¡± Tatsidi interjected.


    Anna lowered her voice. ¡°The House?¡±


    ¡°You told them?¡± asked Lydie, her knees catching the table as she shot to her feet. She planted a fist on her hip, and with her other hand leaned in and flicked Tatsidi¡¯s ear. ¡°Are there wee little idiot bugs munching on your stupid brain?¡±


    ¡°They are trustworthy, Lydie. I have been safe with them for a fair number of moons now. Please sit down.¡±


    ¡°I apologize for striking a sore topic,¡± said Anna. ¡°We have heard of the tragedy that befell your lady and her home. You are safe with us, just as Tatsidi has been.¡±


    Lydie¡¯s fist shook the plates and tankards across the entire table as she slammed it down, throwing her body onto the chair. She extended her index finger and held it within an inch of Tatsidi¡¯s nose.


    ¡°You¡¯d better be right,¡± she said, leaving it at that. In hopes for a stiff drink, she waved down Brunhylda.


    Conversation drifted from one topic to the next as drinks were brought and filled, and in celebration of their new member, she became the focus. Despite her protests, the drink had caught up to her and she relented, answering questions and comments about herself.


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    "So, Jessa, what¡¯s your father like?" Anna asked, her cheeks red with alcohol. "Awfully interesting that he would leave his young daughter in charge of his properties."


    "Well, I depend on him to pay for my schooling, so I¡¯m working for him until I graduate,¡± Jessa explained, a sigh escaping her lips as she sifted through her thoughts. ¡°Managing the properties was the only job he could give me where I¡¯d have some freedom to travel. He has ways of finding out if I¡¯m doing anything he disapproves of." She fidgeted with an amethyst ring on her right middle finger.


    Not inclined to comment where it wasn¡¯t her place, Anna gave an understanding nod, and Deventh responded the same. Jessa sensed their unease and opted to change the subject. ¡°Enough about me, though. How long have you two been married?¡±


    Unsure whether she¡¯d heard correctly, Anna coughed and spat up her drink.


    "I''m sorry, could you say that again? It sounded as if you asked how long we''ve been married."


    "I¡­ did?" Jessa replied, now second guessing her long-held assumption. She opened her mouth to ask if she¡¯d made a mistake, but before she could speak, Anna erupted into laughter. Unable to contain herself, the Helbrund pounded her knee with her fist, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. A sudden chortle from the opposite side of the table stole her attention from Anna¡¯s boisterous display. Tatsidi was snickering to himself beside a dumbfounded Lydie, and Deventh sipped his whiskey through a devilish smirk. The Dronvar, however, gave her the mercy of a genuine explanation.


    ¡°Unless something¡¯s gone horribly wrong, I¡¯ve never been married,¡± he said. Anna¡¯s fit of cackles had quelled itself to a point where she could breathe again, and she picked up a napkin to dab away the tears of laughter.


    "Please, please excuse me! I haven''t had a laugh like that in quite a spell. No, we''re not married ¨C I could lift him off the floor with just my pinky! How could he satisfy me?" Anna¡¯s ribald proclamation, though at his expense, was just enough to shatter Deventh¡¯s composure with a sudden wave of laughter. Tatsidi, too, continued snickering to himself.


    ¡°These hostel drinks may be a bit stronger than we remember,¡± Deventh joked, hoping to relieve some of Jessa¡¯s embarrassment as her face grew redder. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, we¡¯re not laughing at you. Just the idea of the thing.¡±


    Hiding her face behind the palms of her hands, Jessa shook her head. Tears welled up in the corner of one eye.


    "No, it''s all right. I shouldn''t be making such outlandish assumptions,¡± she said, wiping away her tears. "It was quite silly of me, but¡­ No harm done, I suppose."


    ¡°No harm done,¡± Deventh affirmed, gulping back the last of his drink. From that point on, lighter conversation drifted along, with Jessa exercising caution not to provoke any further unwanted discussions. An hour came and went, and while the atmosphere around them still buzzed with merriment, their table grew dozier by the minute.


    "I think we''re close to turning in for the night," remarked Jessa. Deventh let out a low hum to acknowledge her, but showed no intent to move from his spot.


    His gaze wandered to the Dronvari woman who eyed him earlier. Now resting her elbow atop the table with her head perched upon the palm of her hand, she stared down at her drink with heavy eyelids, idly stirring it with a finger. The smooth, long waves of her black hair glinted in the light as she tossed them away from her face. As if to keep a distressed sigh contained, she puffed out one cheek, furrowing her brow. Eyes full of longing, she stared at the door.


    Turning his attention back to Anna, Deventh found her dozing off in a similar position. Her head soon slid off its perch and fell onto the table. The thump jolted Tatsidi, who was moments from passing out himself. Anna hoisted her body upright, giving little more than a grunt to the others as a parting courtesy before she plodded away with her head hanging. Tatsidi and Lydie followed.


    Quiet settled around the two who remained. Jessa struggled to work up the courage to say something, but for each gaze she made upon Deventh''s face, shyness and embarrassment swept over her. Before she had a chance to speak, the Dronvari woman appeared next to her, voice shaking and tears welling up in her eyes.


    "I''m sorry for interrupting, but would you two mind keeping me company?" She kept herself small, hunched over her arms which were folded at her chest.


    "Not at all," Deventh said, gesturing to the empty seat to his left. His eyes remained sharp and wary of the woman against the otherwise relaxed backdrop of his face. The woman nodded and a half-hearted smile of gratitude appeared as she pulled up the chair. Brunhylda appeared, bringing her a full shot glass in one hand and a just-opened bottle of Orcish whiskey in the other. The woman smiled up at her before proceeding with her story.


    ¡°I''ve been waiting the past few hours for a... former lover of mine," she said. "He said he wanted to meet me to try to work things out. Silly me ¨C I was stupid enough to believe him."


    Regret and frustration saturated her words. She downed the whiskey shot before filling it back up, a slight flush accentuating the dark gray freckles across her nose and cheeks. Deventh''s silent, concerned stare brought her attention back to him. "I''m sorry, here I am airing my dirty laundry and you two don''t even know my name. I''m Velaiah. I must admit, it is refreshing to see another Dronvar in Grimros. Ghol knows when the last time was."


    "Likewise. That accent ¨C Girin-Val?" Deventh asked, inciting her smile to grow as she gave a slight nod. Velaiah''s familiar accent coaxed out his own. "I''m Deventh. And this is Jessa, a colleague of mine." In response, Jessa shrunk back, offering a weak wave of her fingers.


    ¡°Nice to meet you both. Do you have a family name, Deventh?¡±


    ¡°Not if you don¡¯t.¡± Deventh¡¯s response elicited a smirk from Velaiah. He shifted the topic. "Can''t say I''ve ever known anyone to have a particular reason to leave Girin-Val, but I won''t pry for now." He gave her a cordial smile, irked by a much more suspicious curiosity than he let on.


    "Yes, well, let''s just say, aside from tending to animals, the farming life didn''t suit me. Now, here I am, working at a hostel and looking to random strangers for a distraction from my poor choices." She chuckled as she realized she was bringing the topic back to her misfortune. "I''m sorry, talking about it doesn''t really distract you from it, does it?"


    "No," said Deventh. "Nor does drinking in excess, but it seems we''re both in too deep to do anything about that." Velaiah''s eyes glistened with the tears she held back as the two exchanged smirks. The more the two spoke, the more Jessa melted back in her chair, entertaining the thought of slipping away without invoking their attention and find a vacant bed.


    "I believe I more or less told you what happened a few moments ago," Velaiah said. Resting her chin on her hand again, she stared down into her drink. "If you mean the details, we''d be here all night." Her lips curled into a slight grin at the thought.


    "I''ve got time," Deventh said, leaving her with the choice of whether to unleash her woes on a perfect stranger. Velaiah accepted his invitation without hesitating.


    ¡°Well, he was a bit of a scoundrel. But he liked to spoil me with lavish gifts, and he treated me well most of the time until he took up frequent drinking. Unfortunately, it turned out he never made any of his money through legitimate means, so I felt an inevitable danger closing in on me. But now he''s saying he''s turned over a new leaf, left whatever bandit gang or outlaws he was working with."


    After several minutes of recollecting the details of her relationship with plenty of deviations along the way, Velaiah noticed Jessa''s seat was empty. Concern crept into her voice as a sense of guilt sparked within her.


    "Oh, your friend must have turned in. I hope I didn''t interrupt your date. I guess I did steal all the attention."


    "Date? No ¨C I don''t mix business with pleasure," Deventh assured. The two sipped from their drinks in perfect unison, a comfortable, evanescent silence filling the air between them. "But do go on, since it¡¯s well after hours."


    "Oh," Velaiah said as a glimmer of interest lit up her eyes. With a sly smile she leaned forward and recalled the point of discussion. "I will spare you the rest of the excruciating details, but he was meant to arrive in Kho''gul today. Should have been here midday ¨C something about catching a cart ¨C but as you might have gathered, he has yet to arrive."


    "A cart," Deventh pondered aloud as he found himself hoping for a mere coincidence. "Pardon my curiosity, but is there any chance he was headed up here from Ravengarde?" Velaiah immediately stopped swirling her finger through her drink.


    "Why do you ask? Did you see something?"


    "Well, there have been attacks as of late along the Raven Gate road. Hopefully the worst hasn''t happened, but it¡¯s possible he didn''t intend to abandon you here."


    "Are you saying he''s been attacked?" Velaiah asked as her voice grew worried. "Did you see him? By Ghol, I planned on rejecting him when he showed up, but if he''s hurt, I''m not sure I could even face him."


    "Well ¨C perhaps. On our way to the city, we found a cart that had been attacked. With only one survivor." He paused to gauge Velaiah''s reaction in hopes of being gentle in delivering the news. "We took him to the infirmary nearby, and his chances of recovery look favorable. He''s Esdathrin; black hair, clean shaven, and a bird''s foot birthmark on the back of his neck."


    "That is him." Velaiah frowned, sagging in her seat. "Though he had been trying for a beard the last time I saw him. I¡¯m not sure how I feel ¨C he did a lot of bad things, but nothing quite so evil that it would call for this."


    ¡°Morality rarely dictates circumstance,¡± Deventh said. ¡°I''m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, in any case. If you do decide you want to see him, the others probably wouldn''t mind bringing you along tomorrow."


    "I''m not sure I''m ready." Velaiah shook her head. Looking outside, she realized how late it had gotten. The puffed sleeves of her aubergine tunic drooped as she yawned and stretched her arms. Her chair barely made a sound as she stood up with catlike grace and thanked Deventh before heading to bed.


    "Thank you for letting me know he''s being taken care of. Should you need anything, you can visit my quarters. Far end of the hall," she said, pointing in the direction the others had gone. "Otherwise, we have free porridge and coffee in the morning. Maybe I''ll see you at breakfast," she winked, adding emphasis on her last sentence.


    "Maybe," Deventh concurred. "Goodnight. Perhaps tomorrow will bring better news." As Velaiah walked away, he kicked back to enjoy watching the antics of the other patrons from his isolated corner.

 3-2: The Stone Speaks

    "Hello? H-hello? Gods be damned, does this thing even work?"


    The sudden yet familiar voice jolted Anna awake. With her tall frame, however, this resulted in a dull thud as she bolted upright and her head collided with the bunk above.


    Following a series of insults and curses only a Helbrund could hurl, she looked about for the source of what had awakened her. Before long, though, the voice started again, startling Anna as she looked down over the side of her bed to her bag, which jostled as its contents shifted within.


    "Hello, eh, well, I hope someone''s listening," a voice rang out with a muffled echo. Anna raced to pick up her bag and followed the sound as she dug through it and retrieved the mouth-shaped stone the doctor gave her the day prior. The carved lips shone red and mimicked the movement of the doctor¡¯s own as he continued.


    "This message is for Anna Brunsvold, and if you are not the intended recipient, I request that you kindly relay it to her. Aurelio ¨C the patient you brought to me yesterday ¨C has woken up and is doing well. He''s, eh, quite talkative, and he won''t stop asking for peach brandy and some woman named Vel¨COh, now he''s rummaging through my alchemy¨CExcuse me! None of those will make you inebriated, sir!"


    A sudden crash ended the message, and the stone faded to jade and silence. She stared at the trinket for a while, eyes widened with awe, disgust, and latent amusement. Blue morning light from the window hinted at sunrise, and she tossed the covers away.


    As Anna made herself ready, beams of light found their way to the face of a sleeping Jessa. To avoid being disturbed, she rolled over and shut her eyes, pulling her blanket up over her face as well as she could. Anna yanked off the covers, thinking it best to instill in her a familiarity with early mornings.


    "Good morning, Jessa," the motherly cleric chirped with a cheery disposition as she tied up her hair in a bun. "Our patient is awake, and we have work to do today. The sooner we start, the sooner we can come back and enjoy ourselves."


    "Five more minutes," Jessa grumbled as she turned over and buried her face in a pillow. Anna sighed and tossed the blankets onto the floor, preparing herself to drag the young woman out of bed. Just as she planted her feet in a stable stance, a striped orange tail waved in her face from the top bunk.


    "Ah-CHOO!" Anna sneezed as Tatsidi''s tail tickled her nose. The Apo''na woke from his sleep with a start and leapt from his bunk. He landed feet first on the floor in a crouched stance. "Where is the enemy?! Tatsidi will slit their throats when they turn their backs!" Swishing his head side-to-side, he realized that there was no threat present and cleared his throat, brushing himself off.


    Jessa groaned, relinquishing herself to wakefulness. She sat herself upright and scratched her head through a tangled nest of hair, figuring it best to jump straight into the day without dragging herself out of bed. Anna gave her an approving nod as she stood up soon after, and an almost simultaneous yawn overcame the three of them.


    "Where''s Deventh?" Jessa asked groggily, expelling the film from her eyes with a tight blink. Tatsidi slipped past the two and let out a chortle in response to Jessa''s first question upon waking up, a grin spreading across his maw.


    ¡°Perhaps he found the bed of the pretty woman he was bantering with. The two seemed quite interested in each other.¡± he smirked as he proceeded to the door leading to the stairs. ¡°I will be at the gate. We should find a private place to discuss amongst ourselves ¨C there is something I wish to show you all.¡±


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    Anna nodded as Tatsidi disappeared through the doorway. She began making her bed as well as the one he¡¯d left unmade. Jessa did the same, and by the time they were finished and ready for breakfast, a door creaked open at the end of the hallway. Two figures exited the room, obscured in shadow until they entered the light.


    ¡°Morning,¡± Deventh said as he approached. Behind him was Velaiah, who stepped out to the side as the room opened wider from the hallway.


    "Good morning," she said. Curious stares acknowledged her, followed by a singular greeting in response from Anna.


    "This is Velaiah," Deventh said while gesturing to her, then moved on to his two companions. "Velaiah, this is Anna. And you met Jessa briefly last night."


    "Pleasure to meet you," Velaiah said, and Anna delved into her series of inquiries that typically accompanied the presence of a newcomer.


    "Likewise," she said with a pleasant smile, "So, looking to join the guild? Had a fun night, perhaps?"


    "Guild?" Velaiah asked, genuine puzzlement spreading across her face. She took Anna''s latter question in good humor, giving a slight chuckle. "I don''t believe Deventh mentioned any such thing, but I hear the man you rescued yesterday is someone who is¡ªwas? Quite close to me. Here I thought he stood me up; I didn''t imagine something bad would actually happen to him. Lucky for me, Deventh is very sweet and thoughtful. We only talked for a bit last night, but he still came back to check on me this morning.¡±


    Jessa puffed out her cheeks as she let a stifled exhale trickle from her lips. Beside her, an abrupt guffaw burst from Anna¡¯s stomach.


    "Sweet and thoughtful? Are you sure you''re talking about the same dumrak that runs this guild alongside me?" She asked, using the Dwarven word for "rock golem" to describe him. "Hoh! What a morning this is already! Well, the doctor checked in. You''ll be happy to know your lover boy ¨C Aurelio, I believe ¨C is just fine. Sounds like he''s trying his damnedest to get drunk already."


    "Is he," Velaiah asked with a slightly nervous smile. "I''m glad to hear he''s doing better."


    "Would you like to visit him with us?" Anna invited her, "He''ll be our first stop today."


    "Not particularly," Velaiah said. Realizing she''d blurted out her words without thought, she slowed down as she continued. "I mean, I work here, so I can''t just leave."


    "Ah, so it''s like that," A smirk, which glimmered with all of the Helbrund¡¯s motherly wisdom, left Velaiah stricken with doubt. "Well, you have until after breakfast to change your mind." Turning her attention to Deventh once more, Anna took note of his remoteness and furrowed her brow while shaking her head at him.


    "You didn''t sleep, did you?¡±


    "Not a fucking wink."


    "Of course," Anna groaned. "When are you going to listen to me and get some decent rest? This is probably why you forget everything. Like rent." She pressed her lips tightly together, frustrated with his self-inflicted insomnia.


    "Suddenly it makes sense why people would think we''re married," Deventh joked, "I''ll be fine once we''re out on the road."


    ¡°You¡¯d better hope so. At the very least you¡¯re going to eat breakfast when we get downstairs, or we¡¯re going to have a problem,¡± Anna concluded. Velaiah stifled a giggle as the two bickered.


    "I''m sorry," she said with her hand in front of her mouth. "It''s just a rare occurrence that I get to see such lively conversation up close here.¡±


    "Yes, well, I apologize that you had to bear witness to one of our squabbles. This is why we''re a team, otherwise Deventh might not remember he''s a person rather than an animated construct. Are you sure you don''t want to visit Aurelio, though?" A nudging gravity weighed on her voice. "Surely it''s better not to deal with these things alone."


    Velaiah sighed. "Truly, I would, but you''ve caught me at the worst possible time. There''s no one to fill my spot here at the moment since my dear Cylla is away. Until she comes back tomorrow, I''m taking care of the books on my own. I can join you for breakfast, though, if you¡¯ll have me."


    "Very well," Anna conceded. "Work is work. You¡¯re more than welcome to eat with us.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± A genuine smile spread across Velaiah¡¯s face. She glanced up at Deventh, who nodded his approval as well. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat, then.¡±


    ¡°Breakfast,¡± groaned a voice from across the room. A rather zombie-like Lydie arose from her bed, a tangle of red hair burying half of her face. Rubbing her eyes, she hobbled and stumbled to catch up with the others.

 3-3: Aurelio

    After breakfast, Deventh, Anna, and Jessa moved on to the infirmary while Lydie went ahead to meet up with Tatsidi. In stark contrast to the previous day, the infirmary welcomed them with light and liveliness. Despite being claimed by cobwebs the day before, the fireplace now crackled with a welcoming warmth. From the back room resounded the clinking and patting of alchemy vessels. The laughter and indistinct prattle stopped only when the footsteps of the three guests caused the old wooden floor to creak.


    A pair of hobbling footsteps thundered their way to the threshold to greet them. The old man''s smile beamed and forced his eyes into slits.


    "Good morning! Aurelio and I were just starting to get along after a bit of a rough start. Do come in and see him, he''s eager to thank his rescuers." The three followed his beckon to the back room.


    The young man sat upright on his bed, his entire torso and both arms wrapped in bandages. In his hand he held an empty potion bottle with the last few drops of a wine-red liquid circling the bottom. Dark circles still drooped beneath his hazel eyes, but he was undeniably alert. His face, which had been almost bluish with pallor, reclaimed its light tan color. Among all these improvements, however, he seemed quite dazed. This prompted Anna to give the potion bottle, and the doctor, a curious glance.


    "It''s not alcohol." The doctor leaned in to whisper his assurance as if reading her mind. "Calming potion. But don¡¯t tell him that."


    Relieved, Anna clasped her hands together and greeted the patient.


    "We''re glad to see you survived the night, Aurelio. My name is Anna, and I''m part of the adventuring guild known as Valorforge." After introducing the others, she said, "We found you and others attacked and left on the side of the road. Would you be able to tell us what happened?"


    "Well, I can barely remember a damned thing of it, but¡ª" Aurelio paused his thought with a drawn-out belch, ¡°Thank you for saving me. You''re adventurers, right?" The three nodded in response. Aurelio swirled the ring of liquid in his bottle as he spoke, his words slurred and slow.


    "This is... Awkward, since I know you''ve already saved my life, but... Could I ask you to do something else for me?" The end of his sentence was little more than a squeak as he shrunk back. The guild leaders quickly exchanged glances. Of the two, Deventh spoke first.


    "What is it?"


    "There''s someone I was coming to visit in Kho''Gul. A lovely little Dronvar woman who works at Graystone. Her name is Velaiah. Perhaps you might be able to help me?" An uncomfortable silence tailed his question before Anna pressed on.


    "I believe we asked what happened. Before you ask us any more favors, you owe us at least that information."


    "Right. ''Who attacked you?'' ''What did you see?'' ''Were they wearing dark, woolen robes and matching pewter amulets with unidentifiable Lus''rakian engravings?''" Aurelio paused. "Well, they weren''t. And I''ve no idea who they were. All I know is that there were at least a dozen of them, faces covered, dressed like rogues in fitted leathers. They were dragging people off, but where to, I''m not sure. The storm was too harsh to tell. Those who tried to fight them were toasted with lightning magic or bashed with axes. Not sure how I was taken down, but I might''ve gotten both."


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    "We suspected much the same," said Anna.


    "How many others were on board with you?" Deventh asked. "And what brought you on the path through Grimros?"


    "There might have been about ten of us, but I didn''t bother to count. Never crossed my mind that we''d need to be accounted for. As for the others, I can''t speak for them, but I was headed here to visit some family in Brinas and make amends with my lady friend on my way through." Aurelio grinned, his brows slightly elevated. Deventh kept his stern, piercing gaze on his glossy eyes.


    "What is it you do for a living?" A more casual inflection crept into Deventh''s tone, inciting a momentary look of bewilderment from Aurelio.


    "Much the same as your guild, most likely." A relaxed familiarity took over him. "I travel Esyrene seeking adventure and fortune."


    "Sounds like quite the life," said Deventh. "Having a home to return to after a long journey is a fortune in itself. You must know the area well, then?"


    "Of course. Hard not to be familiar with one''s surroundings when getting home means wedging yourself into a corner at the furthest edge of the continent."


    "Aye, that''s true. Where were you headed back from, then? Anywhere particularly thrilling? Exotic? Any interesting jobs you took on?"


    Jessa watched their mundane conversation unfold and found herself lost in confusion as she looked up at a stone-faced Anna. With her arms crossed and her head facing forward, the stern cleric looked down with only her eyes to acknowledge her. Her gaze suggested not to interfere. Once they had reached a mutual understanding, Jessa''s curiosity grew as the conversation continued.


    "I was visiting Drondaris," Aurelio said, letting another belch escape from the pit of his stomach. "As much as they dislike foreigners, they also dislike having to do any sort of work for themselves, so there''s a lot of it to be had. The women, though..." He smirked and nodded, rubbing his hands together as he gave Deventh a knowing look.


    "Indeed," Deventh humored him, the corners of his lips twitching ever so slightly. "You''ve come a long way, then. Is it safe to assume you stopped over in Ravengarde?"


    "Yes. Didn''t stay long though, I caught the first public cart out as soon as I got there. It was well past midnight, but I was more than eager to get the last leg of the trip over with. Nothing terribly interesting to see there anyway." He let out a good-humored chuckle as he tipped his bottle back and tilted his head to catch the last drop on his tongue.


    Deventh allowed a pause to linger in the air for a moment before responding, ready to conclude the conversation.


    "Right, well, the very same, we shouldn''t tarry here much longer. It is good to see you''re in high spirits."


    "It has been a pleasure," Aurelio said as he incautiously tossed his bottle onto the floor. A sly grin crept onto his face. "Thank you again for saving my life. Perhaps now that we''re friends, you can talk to Velaiah for me. Just tell her to come and visit me."


    ¡°Perhaps if we happen to find ourselves at¡­ Graystone, was it?¡± asked Deventh, figuring it safest to feign ignorance. Aurelio nodded, and after a round of farewells, the doctor saw them to the exit. Before they set out on the road, Deventh''s contemplative expression caught Anna''s attention.


    ¡°Public carts don¡¯t run through Ravengarde at night, do they?" the Helbrund asked.


    "No," said Deventh, sliding his mask up over his face. "They don''t."

 3-4: Set it Aside

    They continued on through the city and out the gate, Deventh and Anna both preoccupied with silently pondering the implications of Aurelio¡¯s story. After walking a short stretch along the road to the west, the group held a short meeting in a secluded area under the shade of pine trees. A flat rock, the snow brushed off its surface, served as a seat for Lydie while the rest stood.


    ¡°Tatsidi,¡± Anna said, ¡°You mentioned you had something to discuss.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± said Tatsidi, reaching into his bag. The decorated jewelry box he¡¯d pilfered the day before gleamed as he brought it out into the open. "I found this after hearing some interesting dialogue between two men acting as Oath members. It seems not everyone there is who they say they are."


    He held out the box, opening it to reveal the contents. "It also would appear that this box contains something important to whom I can only assume is their leader.¡±


    ¡°What¡ªhave ya been haulin¡¯ around that box this whole time?¡± asked Lydie. ¡°Didn¡¯t wanna share with ol¡¯ Lydie?¡±


    Intrigued by the contents, Deventh stepped forward to take a closer look.


    ¡°There¡¯s definitely something strange emanating from that necklace,¡± he said.


    "Magic," Jessa chimed in. "It feels like magic, similar to the enchanted items people use at the University. It''s hard to walk even ten paces without bumping into someone who has an enchanted piece, whether it be a ward to protect against Lus''rakian influence or an illusion to remove a wart or pimple.¡± She touched her ring as she mentioned the latter. "Though, I can''t place what kind of spell this would be."


    "Well, magic was implied by ''something strange.''" Deventh chuckled. ¡°Though it is concerning that we¡¯ve been in the vicinity of this thing since yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Yes, aside from stealing,¡± said Anna, ¡°Have you thought about what trouble you might have brought us carrying around a piece of jewelry infused with magic we can¡¯t identify?¡±


    ¡°Here, let me see,¡± said Jessa. ¡°I can¡¯t disenchant it, but I can suppress it for now.¡± She reached out and laid three fingers on the pendant. A small spark flashed from her fingertips, and although nothing appeared any different, those keen with magic could detect that the enchantment¡¯s aura had disappeared, locked away by the spell.


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    ¡°At least it¡¯s not cursed,¡± said Anna as Tatsidi tucked the box back into his bag. ¡°That¡¯s one problem solved. Good work, Jessa.¡±


    ¡°Oi,¡± said Lydie, ¡°Is it time to head out yet? I¡¯m still tryin¡¯ to get paid here.¡±


    ¡°I believe so,¡± said Anna. ¡°We do need to hurry so we can be back in the city walls before dusk.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to the caves first, right?¡± asked Jessa.


    ¡°No,¡± said Deventh, ¡°We¡¯re sticking to Anna¡¯s original idea of going back to where the cart crashed. It seemed as though Rauleth was trying to deter us ¨C I¡¯ve a feeling we¡¯ll find more answers this way.¡±


    ¡°It did seem strange that he suddenly remembered a cave,¡± said Jessa, nearing a whisper.


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°And since we now have this interesting piece of jewelry,¡± Anna said, ¡°That suspicion ought to be doubled. If there¡¯s nothing else, let¡¯s move on.¡±


    Without any further delay, everyone moved out, but Deventh stayed back, his wandering eyes having landed on a creeping plant which hugged the trunk of a spruce tree. From his pocket, he produced a palm-sized, leather-bound notebook and his patchwork metal writing utensil.


    By the time Anna turned around, having felt a missing presence nagging at her, he was already scribbling away, pausing between short intervals. It had been a while since he wasn''t too busy to stop and collect an alchemy sample, but he dabbled when he could; she recognized this and approached him with a gentle disposition.


    ¡°Are you joining us?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deventh said, placing a few dots on the paper before he concluded his notetaking. He slid the notebook and pen back into his pocket. ¡°I¡¯ll catch up.¡±


    ¡°That seems unwise out here. We should stick together,¡± Anna insisted, watching with interest as the Dronvar reached for a small vial and a knife at his belt. ¡°You have a strange presence today. Unfocused.¡±


    "Perhaps you were right about the lack of sleep.¡± Hairy plant fibers dropped into the vial as Deventh scraped them from the vine.


    ¡°No, I know well enough what ¡®just tired¡¯ looks like on you. Wouldn¡¯t care to stop you if that were the case. Something is worrying you.¡±


    "I think," Deventh said, pressing in a cork with his thumb, "That there are better opportunities to discuss our personal worries. But I do appreciate your concern."


    "Such opportunities as lying in bed with women you''ve just met?" Anna quipped. Caught off-guard, Deventh almost dropped his vial and knife while trying to place them back in his belt. He made a quick recovery, however, and quipped back.


    ¡°Were that truly what happened, you¡¯d more likely be suspicious of an unusual spring in my step. Perhaps I should look into that in the near future.¡±


    "I''m serious, Deventh. I can''t tell you how many times I''ve seen men get hurt or worse because they were thinking of something other than the task at hand." She placed a hand on his shoulder and met his gaze with a reassuring smile. "In case I haven¡¯t reminded you recently, I''m your friend. I¡¯m not just here to nag you, I¡¯m here to help. Now let¡¯s go. We have work to do."


    Hollow thumps echoed out as she patted him on the back of his shoulder, leading him out of the small copse. The two rejoined the others, and they all set out on the road.

 3-5: Silly Little Vest

    After some time spent traveling amidst the waxing and waning of idle conversations, they found themselves in a long lull. Lydie took this as an opportunity to groan and complain.


    ¡°Where¡¯s this cart, then?¡± she asked.


    Her query brought only silence. The group continued to walk on as her voice echoed through the valley. Her aggravated sigh carried over the crunch of boots against snow, and the corner of Anna¡¯s nose twitched upwards as her patience was worn thin.


    ¡°Well? You all said it wasn¡¯t that far, so where the fook is it?¡±


    ¡°Not that much further,¡± Anna''s frustration matched Lydie''s. ¡°We had to walk through a blizzard coming in, so distance isn¡¯t easily measured, nor time. Fortunately, this area looks familiar.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean we¡¯re almost there, or no?¡±


    ¡°Do the words ¡®not much further¡¯ mean something different to you?¡±


    ¡°Means you¡¯re trying to get me to shut up, is what it usually means. I¡¯m bloody stupid and even I know that one.¡±


    ¡°That is the implied meaning, yes, but we¡¯re truly not much further.¡± Anna perked up as a voice rang out in the distance. At first a simple echo, it grew in volume until it turned into shouting.


    ¡°Do you all hear that?¡± Jessa asked from behind the others, unaware they were all already staring in the direction of the noise. Halos of light circled around both of Anna¡¯s forearms as her mace and shield materialized. Lydie already had her dagger in hand, but her rogue companion had disappeared. Deventh proceeded without drawing his weapon, his acute eyes instead scanning every inch within the limits of their sight.


    Moments later, Tatsidi returned, kicking up snow and dirt as he ran to rejoin the others. After catching his breath, he reported his findings.


    ¡°There is a Fenvar standing in front of a cave. He is mostly bald, with a ponytail. He is crying for help.¡±


    ¡°Bald, with a ponytail?¡± Deventh hummed. The corner of his lips turned up in a smirk.


    ¡°Do you know him?¡± asked Jessa.


    ¡°Possibly.¡±


    Anna was more relaxed after receiving the news, but she didn¡¯t return her weapon and shield. Prompted by Deventh¡¯s recognition of the individual, Tatsidi added to his description.


    ¡°He is blond, perhaps four-and-a-half feet tall, and he is wearing a silly little vest.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Thadagar. The Fenvar I gambled with,¡± Deventh confirmed. ¡°I wonder what trouble he¡¯s gotten himself into.¡±


    ¡°We should go and find out,¡± said Anna.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, no?¡± Their steady walk forward slowed to a halt.


    ¡°Not without more details.¡± Deventh turned to Tatsidi. ¡°Was he hurt? Was there anyone with him?¡±


    ¡°No, he did not appear injured. Only worried. I saw no one else with him.¡± Suspicion whipped and curled in Tatsidi¡¯s tail.


    ¡°We should make sure no one¡¯s hurt,¡± Anna reiterated. ¡°We can worry about details later.¡±


    ¡°And if he¡¯s trying to pull another scam, or worse?¡± asked Deventh.


    ¡°Like you say, we¡¯ll take it one step at a time. I¡¯d rather be wrong than find out later we could have saved a life.¡±


    ¡°Yet you care not to preserve your own.¡± Deventh shook his head. ¡°Still a mountain guard through and through.¡± He relented to her reasoning and turned around to lead the group onward.


    ¡°Until my dying breath,¡± Anna said with a proud smile on her lips. She could hear the faintest lilt of admiration in Deventh¡¯s words. They continued toward the shouting, and it did not take long for them to find the distressed wood elf. Just off the side of the road, recessed into a small clearing, a steep cliff protruded from the foot of the mountain. Carved into its face was a cave entrance, and at its threshold stood Thadagar. His shouting ceased as they drew near.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± asked Anna, eyeing the short elf. A look of worry scrunched his face, but he showed no signs of physical harm. Deventh¡¯s eyes scanned through the trees, whose needled boughs revealed no further company. He set his sight on the cave''s entrance, beyond which loomed a thick darkness. Thadagar moved in to meet them, wringing his hands together with unease.


    ¡°Damn my luck for running into you of all people, but I¡¯ll take what I can get,¡± he said, regarding Deventh with disbelief. ¡°Lenkirn¡¯s taint, I thought you were tall. Didn¡¯t realize your lady was an actual giant.¡± Compelled by her sense of urgency, Anna ignored his remark and began questioning him before he could continue.


    ¡°What was all that shouting? Is someone hurt?¡±


    ¡°My friend is in there,¡± said Thadagar, pointing to the opening. ¡°Trapped by a cave-in. I tried to help him out, but his leg is pinned under a boulder, the poor bastard!¡± He stomped his foot. Wet slush and saturated earth splashed beneath it, dampening the sound.


    ¡°Why were you out here to begin with?¡± Deventh asked, training his gaze on the Fenvar. ¡°What with the current inquest.¡±


    ¡°I got talked into helping. Rauleth said to come and check out the caves here. Something about rumors of people being seen dragged into them, and shouts and whatnot coming from within. Told him it was a crock of shite, now look!¡±


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Deventh hummed. ¡°Mustn¡¯t be too ¡®shite¡¯ of a sum he¡¯s offering after all.¡±


    ¡°Oi.¡± Thadagar rolled his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll explain everything later. My buddy¡¯s in there about to lose his fuckin¡¯ leg. Are you gonna help me?¡± Uncertainty passed between the gazes of the two guild leaders, but before they had a chance to speak, a voice called out from the depths. Although its words were indistinct, its cry was one of spine-chilling desperation.


    ¡°Was that your friend?¡± Anna asked without removing her eyes from the entrance.


    ¡°Yes, and if you aren¡¯t going to help, kindly fuck off. Rather not be around the likes of someone who steals my money and leaves people to die.¡± Thadagar turned around and entered the cave. His short, hurried strides sharpened his brusque words. The first to follow him was Anna.


    The others followed, and Thadagar picked up a torch that he¡¯d wedged between two rocks. With a strike of flint and steel the torch was lit, casting long shadows into the depths of the earth. Footsteps echoed as the six made their way deeper. Water dripped from stalactites into stagnant pools, and after a few twists and turns followed by a short descent, the only remaining light was that of the torch.


    ¡°How much further?¡± Lydie asked, trailing behind the others. ¡°It¡¯s darker than a Dronvar¡¯s arse in here.¡± She kicked a pebble out of her path and listened as it tumbled down the slight decline in the floor, landing with a splash.


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    ¡°Not much,¡± Thadagar said. In front of him appeared a split in the tunnel, and he led them down the path to their left. ¡°He¡¯s down here. Tunnel opens up to a cavern. He¡¯ll be on the far end.¡±


    After a few hundred feet, the walls began to widen. Frigid moisture hung thick in the air as shadows grew longer and deeper. A vast cavern came into view, illuminated by a ray of sunlight streaming through a crack in the ceiling. Deventh looked at Tatsidi, exchanging a wordless message with him before stepping inside with the others.


    ¡°Allow me to watch the exit,¡± said Tatsidi, reaching out for Thadagar¡¯s torch. ¡°You must show them where your friend is.¡±


    ¡°Nay, I¡¯ve got it,¡± the Fenvar insisted. ¡°You go on, I won¡¯t be able to help them move the rocks.¡±


    ¡°I insist.¡± Tatsidi gave him a twisted grin, baring as many of his sharp teeth as possible. He grabbed hold of the torch and yanked it out of the elf¡¯s hand. ¡°I am most skilled at guarding for trouble.¡±


    Thadagar threw his hands up and took a step back into the room.


    ¡°Fine, suit yourself.¡±


    The group spread out into the open space while Tatsidi stood to watch the passage back. From the other end of the expanse sounded the same cry as before.


    ¡°Are you there?¡± shouted Anna, stepping forward with a slow, cautious gait. ¡°We¡¯re here to help!¡±


    No one answered. Anna eyed their Fenvar compatriot with concern and uncertainty.


    ¡°He¡¯s been in and out of consciousness,¡± Thadagar said. ¡°Let¡¯s be quick.¡±


    The others looked between themselves and exchanged silent misdoubt. The scratching trudge of boots was the only sound that accompanied their walk. As they moved further in, the cold, damp air grew thicker and mustier. They soon happened upon a pile of rubble against a wall where a tunnel entrance had collapsed. Only the remains of an old, dried skeleton lay where the victim was supposed to be.


    ¡°What is¡ª¡± A sudden crashing of rocks and debris interrupted Anna¡¯s question. The pile of rubble smashed into pieces and burst across the cavern. Anna summoned her shield to protect Jessa and herself. Shards drummed on the metal like hail upon a roof. Deventh and Lydie both received a few small fragments to the back of their leather armor as they bolted out of range for cover. Thadagar ran back the way they came, and Tatsidi widened his stance to block him from escaping.


    A thundering, guttural roar shook the room. Where the eruption cleared the entrance to a tunnel, a massive troll stood with its mouth agape, strands of drool spilling out. It let out another ear-splitting roar, and without warning, it charged.


    Caught in its path, Jessa gasped and tried to leap to safety, but a rock snagged her clothes and dragged her to the ground. Wet, jagged stone and coarse dirt scraped and skinned her palms, tearing the fabric at the knee of her robes. She winced in pain, hunched over the floor. As she tried to catch her breath, a sudden sensation sent tingles down her neck¡ªdamp, heavy puffs of hot air. With a shaken gasp, she turned her head to look over her shoulder.


    The creature had stopped its charge. Soulless, black eyes stared down at Jessa. Tusks lined the inside of its gaping maw, each one thicker than her thumb. White fur framed its face and covered its body, matted with grime and saliva which flew onto Jessa¡¯s face when it let loose a bloody roar.


    The troll lifted its arm to strike, but a golden-headed mace smashed into its ribs with a series of crackling pops. The creature let out a sharp, pained grunt and tumbled to its side. Despite its injury, it leveraged itself on its elbow in a struggle to stand upright again.


    ¡°Run, all of you! I¡¯ll hold him off!¡± Anna shouted, bringing her weapon back up above her head to swing once more, but her maneuver was too slow. The troll had already rolled back to dodge the blow. Her mace slammed into the stony floor, causing her teeth to clack. The soft leather handle cushioned the impact, but a mighty sting swelled through her hand.


    Jessa rolled away as the monster made one last vicious swipe at her legs, its blunt nails missing her thigh by inches. Anna grabbed her by the arm and pulled her upright, placing herself and her shield between the girl and the troll.


    Having expected to make quick work of apprehending Thadagar, Tatsidi struggled to fend him off. The Apo¡¯na used only muscle and claw, intending to keep him alive for answers. Despite the Fenvar¡¯s size, however, he knew how to use it to his advantage ¨C and he fought dirty. Tatsidi narrowly dodged a blow to the groin, after which Thadagar drew a dagger. The Apo¡¯na gripped the elf¡¯s wrist, claws digging deeper until his hold on the weapon loosened. He grappled the elf, using his tail to slide the dagger out of reach. Thadagar squirmed and flailed, not yet giving up his struggle.


    Out of desire to be helpful, Jessa attempted a summon. Recalling the previous incident, however, she kept in mind to be careful. She closed her eyes and fixated on images of an ethereal fox ¨C pearlescent white fur, blue eyes, accents of silver on its paws, tail, and muzzle ¨C all appearing in flashes.


    Yet still she fumbled. Again came the smoky, sparking haze, and the imp appeared ¨C somewhat larger than before, with its stubby horns having lengthened to form points. It was faster, too, as it sprung into action without prompt, swatting and scratching at the troll.


    As Jessa tried to unsummon the Lus¡¯rak to no avail, a shadowy figure plunged into the scene. A tail swirled and twitched behind the first as he pounced on the creature¡¯s head, raising a blade in his hand. The other wrapped both arms around the troll¡¯s neck, a scraggly tangle of red hair flying out in every direction.


    ¡°Damn you all, I said RUN!¡± Anna bellowed. Her voice jolted with the impact of the troll¡¯s swipe against her shield. Lydie¡¯s dagger pierced through the creature¡¯s skin, to no other effect than irritating it further. Blood splattered onto its fur, but the small punctures proved no more significant than scratches. Anna swung her mace between swipes and shouts, her breath fast and heavy, forehead dripping with sweat.


    ¡°He¡¯s still on me!¡± Spit flew as her voice croaked. ¡°Get out while you can!¡±


    Her warnings were futile; the troll reached the end of its patience. It leaned forward and twisted its body like a dog shaking water from its fur, flinging her onto the ground. She landed on her back a couple of yards away, stunned by the impact. The creature let out another monstrous roar and turned away to close in on her, somewhat slowed by the injury to its ribs. Anna hurried to keep up with it, but her shield was beginning to weigh on her.


    ¡°Lydie!¡± Tatsidi cried out. Taking his distraction as an opportunity, Thadagar butted his head into Tatsidi¡¯s nose, causing him to loosen his hold, then swept his leg out from behind. Tatsidi crashed to the ground while Thadagar retreated back through the tunnel from which they came.


    ¡°Supposed to land on your feet, arsehole,¡± his voice echoed as Tatsidi picked himself up. The Apo¡¯na rushed after him on all fours, his keen vision in the dark keeping him fixed on his target. The elf kicked back rocks behind him, sending them tumbling to slow down his pursuer. Tatsidi stumbled but caught his footing.


    As the light appeared at the cave¡¯s exit, Thadagar raised his arm, clutching something in his palm. He slowly disappeared in spots and blotches of invisibility until he vanished completely. Tatsidi kept running and passed through the cave¡¯s exit, swiveling his head for signs of the wood elf. When he found none, he stopped, hands on knees, to catch his breath ¨C and to prepare to face the others with news of his failure.


    Anna¡¯s shield clattered as it absorbed the strike aimed at Lydie. The Helbrund kept her focus on holding back the troll, following Deventh in her periphery as he emerged from behind the rock where he¡¯d taken cover. The troll took one last slow and heavy swing at Anna, and Deventh rushed to the vulnerable front of its body and thrust the blade into its lower abdomen.


    The monster froze in its tracks. Paralysis trickled in, stiffening its legs first before rippling up its torso. The creature toppled forward under the weight of its own arms and chest like a top-heavy statue, and Deventh swept in to drag the unconscious Lydie to safety. Anna grabbed Jessa¡¯s arm and backed away with her shield raised. The troll crashed down onto the floor, an overpowering thunder echoing against the vast walls of the cavern.


    When the echoes stopped, the silence was far more deafening. Jessa held her eyes squeezed shut. Anna sighed, breathless, and gazed down first at the troll, then at the two rogues, and finally at Deventh. He was knelt beside Lydie, ensuring above all that she was alive. Tatsidi returned, ears low and tail dragging on the ground.


    ¡°The small elf got away,¡± the Apo¡¯na said, his voice strained and somber. ¡°For this failure, I am sorry.¡±


    ¡°It is no matter,¡± said Anna, ¡°So long as we¡¯re all alive.¡±


    ¡°I saw Lydie strike her head against the ground.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s breathing,¡± assured Deventh. ¡°Seems that she braced as well as she could for the impact.¡± Tatsidi stared down at her, unconvinced by his conclusion.


    ¡°Perhaps she breathes for now, but what if¡ª¡±


    ¡°What if what, ya bastard,¡± a weak voice coughed as a gentle grip tugged on Tatsidi¡¯s tail. ¡°Ugh. My head kills.¡±


    Anna stepped forth to examine the fallen troll. Jessa stood back, taking in the scene, and a lump of uncertainty grew in her throat. She said nothing, churning another lesson in her mind of cruelty and trickery.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out before this thing recovers,¡± Deventh said, devoid of emotion. ¡°I had to make the poison in a pinch, so it won¡¯t last long.¡± He and Tatsidi hurried to stand Lydie upright and handed her off to Anna, who unsummoned her shield and hoisted the woman over her shoulder.


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go now,¡± the Helbrund concurred, her breath still heavy with exhaustion. After wiping the sweat from her brow, eyeing Jessa¡¯s Lus¡¯rakian companion with disgust, she took the lead toward the exit. ¡°And next time, when I say run, you should all fucking run.¡±

 4-1: Bar Brawl

    ¡°Hold still, please," Anna said. Lydie squirmed and swatted at her hands more each time she asked her to cooperate. While the Helbrund examined the bump on her head, Deventh and Tatsidi kept watch of the cave entrance for any re-emergence of the troll. The group had escaped safely and stopped to rest in the clearing outside.


    "I''m holdin'' still, it''s the world that''s spinnin''." Lydie said as Anna finished her inspection. "I already told ya I''m fine."


    "Aside from the concussion, I would agree. As soon as we get back to Kho''Gul I suggest you take it easy for a few days. No drinking or fighting, unless you want to make it worse."


    "Oi, don¡¯t go bossin¡¯ me around!" Lydie shrunk back, offended as if she''d been asked to give up everything that made life enjoyable. "I''ll do what I want."


    "Until you pass out from headaches and nausea." Unsurprised by her obstinance, Anna avoided arguing further. "Do as you wish.¡± The Helbrund stepped away, and Lydie sprung upright from the rock where she sat.


    ¡°So, we gonna go find the little bastard?¡± the Nelthrin asked, blinking hard to dispel a wave of dizziness. Deventh shook his head.


    ¡°Not unless he turns up. We¡¯re wasting sunlight. The cart isn¡¯t far from here ¨C we should still have a look before we head back.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go already. Sooner I can get sloshed the better.¡±


    The sun favored the west by the time the group arrived at the ransacked cart. Movements subdued and breath bated, they kept close watch of their surroundings for any unwelcome individuals. When no immediate ambush descended upon them, their tension diminished, but Tatsidi and Lydie split up to stand guard, one facing the road, the other the forest.


    The three others delved into investigating. It didn¡¯t take long for them to find that, beyond the corpses which had warmed enough to bloat, everything at the scene had been disturbed. Some crates and chests still remained scattered across the ground, but Jessa and Anna found them all empty.


    Deventh entered the cart to inspect it more thoroughly. He spotted an envelope stuck between the canopy and supporting wooden rib, which he pulled out and inspected the seal stuck to its flap. A smirk hid beneath his mask as he shook his head. He made his way to Anna, who had busied herself inspecting the bodies for any identification or clues.


    ¡°Does this look familiar to you?¡± he asked. Wax seal facing up, he handed her the envelope.


    Anna stood up from her position hunched over the corpse of an orc. At first glance, she was uncertain of what to expect, but the image depicted on the seal caught her eye. A crested parrot sat perched atop a hibiscus branch which traced a circle around its body. Three flowers bloomed counter-clockwise along the right side.


    ¡°A bird?¡± Her brows furrowed as she tried to recall where she¡¯d seen the image previously.


    ¡°A cockatoo,¡± corrected Deventh, ¡°Do you recall the correspondence that led us to this supposed contract in the first place? Perhaps someone resembling such a bird?¡±


    Anna took a step back and folded her arms across her chest. ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Jessa asked, poking her head up from behind a wooden crate. Tatsidi returned to them from where he stood watch and grinned, a soft, knowing purr in his throat as his tail curled and coiled. Lydie also rejoined them, holding her head.


    "Feelin'' a wee bit dizzy," she said, and collapsed immediately. Anna caught her before she hit the ground.


    ¡°Seems like a good time to head back,¡± the Helbrund said. As more of a courtesy than an optional invitation, she asked, ¡°Shall we?¡±


    The others nodded and followed her as she started on the path. All were silent as they began their trek back, another exhausting day having drained their vigor.


    Upon their return to Kho¡¯Gul, the group wanted for nothing but rest. Few words had passed between them on their journey back, and Lydie was beginning to weigh heavy on Anna¡¯s shoulders. The city, too, had grown weary, and descended into its nightly lull. Swaths of people drifted through the streets, seeking home and hospitality. Vacant merchant stalls lined the way, tidied up and ready to be stocked again the next day. Song and merriment resonated from every tavern, welcoming guests with a warm embrace.


    Outside the Graystone Hostel, however, something was astir. A crowd amassed outside the building, a murmur spreading as they pushed and shoved for a spot to peer through the windows. The wall of bodies barricaded the door, and it was clear no one wanted to go inside; the noise that erupted from within proved enough of a reason on its own. As the group approached the scene, they stopped at what appeared to be a safe distance to observe and plan their next steps.


    A blob of orcs and men nearly knocked Jessa off her feet as they stumbled back to dodge a barstool flying out the window, which carried with it a flurry of glass shards. She hopped out of the way and managed to avoid them and looked at Anna with unease.


    Having been preoccupied with making sure that Jessa was okay, the Helbrund did not anticipate the sudden disappearance of Deventh. Her height gave her a clear view over the crowd, and she found him shoving his way through, intent on reaching the door. He¡¯d gotten enough of a head start to be well out of reach.


    ¡°Stay put,¡± Anna said as she handed her belongings to Jessa, as well as the unconscious Lydie to Tatsidi. Holding her arms at shoulder height, she moved through throngs of people as one would wade through a chest-high stream.


    As soon as she reached the door, a short, young man stumbled out, mouth covered in blood which poured from his nose. Shouts and sounds of fighting roared from within. Without hesitation, Anna twisted the ring on her left pinky finger. A pair of golden plate gauntlets materialized over her hands.


    Anna entered the hostel¡¯s tavern hall and beheld the sight of more than a dozen men thrashing about in a state of rage. Before she had time to assess any further, a balding, middle-aged man flew at her from her left with a wild haymaker. She redirected the blow with her hand. As he stumbled, she met his gut with her fist, its momentum strengthened by a twist of her hip. He slumped over and fell to the ground in a heap.


    She stepped over him and was greeted by two orcs. One was unarmed, and the other brandished the broken leg of a chair with a nail sticking out. The latter orc swung down at her face, and she shielded herself with her arm. The chair leg splintered against her gauntlet, and he staggered back while his friend swung his fist at Anna¡¯s jaw.


    ¡°Deventh, WHERE IN THE HELLS ARE YOU?¡± Anna shouted as she leapt backwards. The orc¡¯s fist passed in front of her face and he tumbled forward. She stomped on his foot, holding it down with the full weight of her body. Unable to lift his leg, he fell face-first and smashed his forehead on the edge of an overturned table. His ankle snapped, leaving her satisfied with the certainty that a ligament was torn.


    ¡°DEVENTH!¡± She shouted once more, catching her breath during the brief lull.


    ¡°Velaiah.¡± Deventh pounded at the bedroom door. Noise from the tavern hall funneled in through the stairwell and filled the bunk room, barely muffled by the floor in between. ¡°Are you¨C¡±


    Before he could finish his thought, the lock clicked, and the door creaked open. A slender gray hand grabbed his wrist and led him into the room with urgency.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Velaiah asked, her voice hushed and snappy. She closed the door behind them. ¡°How did you even get up here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d intended to turn in, but it seems the place is a bit indisposed,¡± Deventh said, adding a shrug. ¡°I thought I would check to see if you were all right.¡±


    Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°That¡¯s very¡­ Lighthearted. You sounded frantic a minute ago, but I guess I was mistaken.¡± Light and wispy, her words matched his aloofness, and she sealed them with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Deventh. Inconvenienced, but fine.¡±


    ¡°What happened here? How did this start?¡±


    ¡°Oh, this is just a regular Shenndor evening,¡± Velaiah said. Her air of confident sarcasm wavered as she recalled the evening¡¯s events. A sigh escaped her trembling lips, revealing a genuine disquietude. ¡°It was Aurelio, the rotten prick. Barged in here making a fuss and riled up all the patrons.¡±


    Deventh raised a brow. ¡°Interesting, how quickly he recovered from his wounds. Is he still here?¡±


    ¡°He could be reduced to shredded rags of skin hanging from a skeleton and still wreak havoc. He wouldn¡¯t stop shouting for me before, but I haven¡¯t heard him for a bit, so he may be gone. I¡¯m just waiting until it¡¯s quiet again.¡±


    ¡°How long have you been up here?¡±


    Velaiah paused, then shrugged.


    ¡°Only about twenty minutes. It¡¯s gotten significantly quieter in that time, if you can believe it.¡±


    Deventh shook his head. ¡°Right, well¨C¡± A loud crash cut off his thought, and Anna¡¯s shouts finally reached his ears. ¡°I think that¡¯s my cue. Stay here for now, I¡¯ll be back soon if I¡¯m still in one piece.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try not to wander off. Good luck, and don¡¯t get torn in half.¡± Her lips curled into a smile which disappeared as quickly as it came. As Deventh opened the door, intent on returning to the fray, she compelled his attention one more time. ¡°Deventh?¡±


    ¡°Aye?¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Although she hesitated, struggling to express her gratitude, she spoke with a soft sincerity. ¡°For checking on me.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Deventh said. ¡°Of course.¡± He extended his mask over his face, pulling up from the plate at his chin. With a smile concealed beneath, he paused to give Velaiah one last glance before taking his leave.


    Anna ducked as a stray wooden mug flew towards her head. She looked in the direction from which it came and spotted three men across the room. Two of them were attempting to take on an orc who rivaled her in size, but found right away that he was more than a match for them. She turned her back and started walking to the stairs, avoiding his attention in hope that being the last two standing would be enough for him.


    It was not.


    ¡°Oi,¡± the orc said as he turned to face her. The two men sunk to the floor as he let go of their jerkins. ¡°You¡¯s gotta fight me.¡±


    With a sudden wave of fatigue, Anna¡¯s shoulders slumped forward with her head. Looking around at the several unconscious bodies, she felt every punch, kick, and jab that had landed on her during the brawl. Despite making it a point to keep her body in peak physical condition, her age took its toll no less, and she recognized her limits. She shook her head, still refusing to engage.


    The orc slurred unintelligibly as he advanced towards her with raised fists, and at a closer glance his eyes appeared glazed over, his jaw slack. She hadn¡¯t noticed before while fighting the other patrons, but they all shared a similar appearance.


    ¡°Very well,¡± she said with a grunt. She rolled her stiff shoulders and moved into a practiced stance, her feet shoulder-width apart and splayed. She raised her fists in front of her face. Her opponent mimicked her, and the two shuffled towards each other. As soon as the two made it within arm¡¯s reach, the orc struck first.


    He took a quick step forward and jabbed at Anna¡¯s face. Holding up her gauntlets to block the attack, she felt his off-hand sink into her gut. She grunted and stepped back. A wide swing came in for her head, but she delivered her own blow to the orc¡¯s diaphragm. He wheezed, but continued his assault by bringing his clasped hands bearing down upon her shoulder.


    With a half-turn followed by a few steps backward, she avoided his attack. The small of her back found the lip of the bar, however, and pain shot down her spine as she folded over it. Unable to right herself, she watched the orc as he approached her. He raised his fist, preparing to deliver. Anna reached for the ring on her middle finger to summon her shield. Before she could, the orc suddenly buckled at the knees as if someone had kicked them from behind.


    Not one to question or waste an opportunity, she heaved herself upright and stood over him. She twisted her hips and shoulders and propelled her gauntlet into his slack jaw, and he fell unconscious before he hit the floor. Silence filled the room, aside from Anna¡¯s heavy breathing and the sound of footsteps without an owner.


    ¡°A little late, Deventh,¡± she said to the distortion in the air hanging over the limp body of the orc. She sat herself on a bar stool and grabbed a mug of beer from the only keg still intact.


    Deventh shrugged, his figure slowly becoming more opaque as he surveyed Anna¡¯s handiwork. Thirty incapacitated bodies by his count, a fair portion assumed to have been knocked out by her, and others having fought among each other. The rest had taken the quiet as a sign that it was safe. Clutching their wounds, they emerged from the kitchen as well as behind the bar. They limped to the door, ignoring the two unscathed companions.


    ¡°You handled it.¡± He crouched down to inspect the orc and was taken by surprise when he recognized him as one of the city guard¡¯s captains.


    Anna found herself preoccupied with inspecting the damage. Amongst the debris and shattered glass, nary a single piece of furniture was left recognizable. Holes in the walls and floorboards would spell trouble for safety and warmth. Two pillars were damaged, likely compromising some of the building¡¯s structure. She worried for the fate of such a humble establishment, wondering if the cost of repairs would overwhelm the owners.


    ¡°In all my life, even back home in Chilgrave, I can say with confidence I have never seen a bar fight like this,¡± she said, sipping her beer. ¡°No, wait, there was this one time with a Lus¡¯rak fiend I was hunting¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve told that one before,¡± Deventh said. ¡°I can see why you¡¯d be reminded of it. It certainly looks like demons were set loose in here.¡±


    ¡°Significantly less fire, though. Deventh, what were you thinking when you charged in here like that?¡± Anna asked as she turned her head to him. Her face crumpled up with annoyance.


    ¡°Aurelio started this.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to change the¡ªAurelio?¡± Anna gawked at him in bewilderment. She drew in a long breath, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. ¡°Something is not right here. We need to get our facts straight about the situation with Rauleth before you end up getting yourself killed over a pretty face that may very well be one of his decoys. At least let me know your plan next time.¡± Deventh stared her directly in the eyes as he slid the plates of his mask down, raising a brow.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look,¡± Anna said. ¡°Helping Thadagar was¡ªI guess, just as reckless.¡± Though her lips went sour, she accepted her mistake.


    From the stairs leading up, Velaiah approached, cautiously peeking her head around the corner. Her shining pink eyes widened as she took in the sheer breadth of damage the hostel had sustained.


    ¡°So, who won?¡± she asked as she stepped out from behind the wall.


    ¡°There are never any winners in a fight like that.¡± Anna downed the last of her commandeered drink. ¡°Sorry about the room. Most of it was already damaged when we arrived.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no problem.¡± Velaiah waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Luckily the owners have insured the place, and I was already planning to leave for a time. Now I don¡¯t have to look for an excuse to do so. Mol varondis doesn¡¯t suffice in that regard around here.¡±


    She turned a mischievous gaze to Deventh. He stayed his tongue at her hazy implication. The Dronvari practice of familial duty kept most of their people close to home, with the exception of those willing to return often to fulfill it. It also, however, discouraged romantic relations with other races, leaving no exception for Aurelio.


    ¡°When do you plan on leaving?¡± he asked instead.


    ¡°Soon, maybe in a day or two. I¡¯ll have to help Cylla with the insurance papers first.¡± Velaiah took a deep breath as she continued to take in the room. As her eyes wandered to the door, it creaked open, letting in a burst of frigid wind. Led by Jessa¡¯s small figure was Tatsidi, carrying a snoozing Lydie on his back. The two treaded carefully over the cracked floors and unconscious bodies in a confounded silence as they crossed the room.


    ¡°It looks¡­ bigger in here,¡± Jessa said as she approached. ¡°Are you all okay?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re fine,¡± Anna said with weariness in her voice. ¡°Just catching our breath before we go and have a nice little chat with Aurelio.¡±


    ¡°Aurelio? Did he do all of this?¡± Jessa looked around once more, holding her breath in shock.


    ¡°That¡¯s what we were told,¡± Anna said, glancing at Velaiah.


    ¡°That¡¯s strange,¡± Jessa said. Her soft, contemplative tone piqued the interest of Deventh.


    ¡°What are your thoughts?¡± he asked. Jessa froze for a moment, but quickly set aside her reserve.


    ¡°W-well¡­ There¡¯s a lot of damage here,¡± she said. ¡°I mean, that¡¯s obvious. I don¡¯t know much about partaking in bar fights, but none of my father¡¯s properties have been this bad after one.¡±


    ¡°What do you suppose might have caused things to go this far?¡± Deventh coaxed further.


    Jessa hesitated, starting to feel the pressure of being tested.


    ¡°Maybe a frenzy spell?¡±


    ¡°That would make sense,¡± Deventh said as he slowly paced with his chin between his index finger and thumb. ¡°This is by far not the first time someone has purposely stirred up destruction over a romantic dispute. It¡¯s easy enough to use a frenzy spell to fold an entire building without lifting a finger and slip away amidst the chaos.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a commonly used strategy among thieves with magical talent,¡± Tatsidi said as he sidled down the stairs, his voice announcing both his unnoticed departure and return. ¡°I have found a bed for Lydie, so she will rest well here while we chase down this Aurelio. Where should our group begin to look for him?¡±


    ¡°I have an idea on where to start,¡± Deventh said. ¡°We ought to go and pay Rauleth a visit.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± said Anna. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll know more than a few things.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ve all got a plan, then,¡± Velaiah said, figuring it a reasonable opportunity to break her own silence. ¡°Your friend upstairs, is she hurt or just tired?¡±


    ¡°Concussed,¡± Anna said. ¡°I¡¯m surprised she has a brain to injure, but she needs to rest as much as she can.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll tend to her while you¡¯re away. Consider it my thanks for keeping this place from crumbling to the ground completely.¡±


    In spite of her doubts, Anna gave her an appreciative nod, knowing Lydie was in the safest place she could be.


    ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s head out while we hopefully still have the opportunity to catch him,¡± she concluded. The others followed as she started for the door, with Velaiah staying close to see them off.


    ¡°Good luck out there,¡± she said. The door opened to the cold night which grew bitterer as time passed. She gave one last parting bow of gratitude. ¡°Thank you again.¡±

 4-2: Naughty, Naughty

    When they arrived at the guild hall, the curtains were all drawn and the doors locked tight. A clamor stirred from within, and they planned to spare no such courtesies as leaving when asked. As Deventh knocked, the firm rattle of metal against wood cut through the uproarious noise.


    ¡°We¡¯re renovating, fuck o¡ªI mean, come back later,¡± a voice called out.


    ¡°Thadagar,¡± Deventh said with mock cordiality. ¡°Good to hear from you.¡± His words were met with no response as the lock clicked. The door groaned open, enough for the small Fenvar to peek out with his ghostly white face. Wide, bright yellow eyes stared up at them. He managed to croak out a single word.


    ¡°You¡¯re¡ª¡±


    ¡°Alive, yes,¡± Deventh said. Beside him, Anna clenched her fists until her knuckles were blanched. Anger scrunched her entire face.


    ¡°You slimy, conniving little runt,¡± she spat, her cheeks hot and red. She stepped forward and jerked the door, dragging with it the Fenvar who was still holding on. Thadagar lost his grip, falling off-balance and landing on his hands and knees.


    Although he struggled to lift himself up, Anna spared him no pity. She anchored herself, drawing her arm back with her fist still balled. A knowing tension strained Thadagar¡¯s brow as he flinched, anticipating a crushing blow. Before she could swing, Deventh held out his arm between the two, and both their bodies slackened as they stared at him with confusion.


    ¡°We¡¯re even,¡± he said. ¡°Is Rauleth here?¡±


    ¡°A-aye, that he is,¡± Thadagar said. He stepped aside to hold the door open for them, revealing the hall in shambles. Scattered in groups, at least a dozen individuals busied themselves with clangorous activities as if frantically searching for something. Some trailed around the room tipping tables and tossing chairs, drinkware clattering against the floor. Wood creaked and snapped as others pried up floorboards, peering down beneath them. The rest rummaged through the bar, taking advantage of the distraction to partake in free drinks. Bottles clinked, liquid sloshed, and belches bellowed.


    ¡°This is what you call renovations?¡± Tatsidi mused, smirking at the scene before him.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Rauleth?¡± the Fenvar growled back.


    The group entered the building. No one paid them any heed other than to steal a curious glance. Their eyes wandered, not resting on any individual¨Conly searching for the ginger-blond Gildvar.


    To their right, behind a closed door, a loud bang stole the attention of those nearby. A second rattled the door against its frame, and a third knocked it off its hinges.


    Those watching took a step back, eyes widened and mouths agape with anticipation. Rauleth shrieked as he stumbled into the open, his foot catching the leg of an overturned table.


    ¡°HeeELP me!¡± His arms cartwheeled as he fell. He landed onto the worn hardwood floor with a dull thud. He rolled to the left as a sudden gust of air flipped the table into the space he¡¯d just occupied, a moment too late to land on him.


    Heart racing, he hastily conjured a cobalt blue ball which glowed with a soft white light and hurled it at the opening in the wall. It instead crashed into the beam above the door frame, splintering wood as its momentum crushed everything in its path.


    It soon became clear, however, that this was not the intended target as a figure stepped through the cloud of splinters and dust. Rauleth cursed as he struggled to lift himself, his limbs weak and wobbly from the intense expulsion of magic. From the doorway where he loomed, Aurelio shouted as debris settled around him.


    ¡°Stay still, you piece of shit, so I can properly knock off that head of yours!¡± A gust of wind burst forth from his outstretched palm. The ball of air missed the Gildvar as he rolled aside, and it blasted a gawking Thadagar off his feet.Chants arose from dumbfounded silence and circled around Rauleth. His eyes widened as he realized they were cheering for Aurelio.


    As the uproar swallowed the room, the face of the frizzle-haired man twisted with an unusual expression. More of a grimace than it was a grin, it grew and deepened the more Rauleth¡¯s fear glazed his drying eyes. In a circle around Aurelio stirred the pile of splinters and rubble, whipped up in a swirl of wind. The speed picked up as Rauleth managed to rise to his feet. As Aurelio readied himself to strike, however, the stomp of a leather boot shook the ground.


    ¡°What in Ardren¡¯s name is going on here!?¡± Anna shouted, her booming voice sweeping away all other noise as it filled the entire room. After a moment to discern her face and stature, Aurelio¡¯s expression turned to one of bemusement, his stiffened brows and twisted lips all the more menacing with his now curious eyes between them.


    ¡°Good evening, my saviors,¡± he said. A sinister tranquility resonated in his voice. ¡°I need to kill this squawking parrot, after which I will gladly explain everything. Give me just a moment.¡±


    Rauleth chimed in. ¡°You all¨CThadagar, you said you took care of them.¡±


    ¡°Fuck off, Rauleth,¡± said Thadagar, ¡°I wasn¡¯t about to risk my life stickin¡¯ around to make sure they were dead.¡±


    ¡°Aurelio, please quell your magic,¡± Anna said. She twisted her ring to summon her shield. ¡°Before you destroy the entire guild hall.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Before Anna¡¯s shield finished materializing, Aurelio stretched out his arm and hurled a deafening, whistling gale at Rauleth, powerful enough to upheave him. The gust sent him flailing across the room, pelting him with splintered wood and crumbled stone. Anna sprung on her right foot and ran to catch him, but the winds around him were too strong and too fast. He slammed into the stone wall, and the wooden boards rumbled as he crashed to the floor. Gasps overcame all who watched.


    The only sound thereafter was the soft tap of Anna¡¯s boots as she approached the fallen Gildvar. He still breathed, though he¡¯d fallen unconscious. On his once pristine face, streams of red flowed from deep holes implanted with scraps from the wreckage. One larger fragment of stone had taken a dripping chunk of flesh from his cheek, exposing the top row of his teeth and gums, and embedded itself into the wall behind him. Deeper, gaping wounds riddled his body, and the question of internal injuries lay yet unanswered. Anna dropped to her knees and rushed to begin healing him.


    ¡°You can heal him if you want, but I¡¯m going to kill him sooner or later,¡± Aurelio said while observing Anna¡¯s efforts. His magic was spent, and he huffed with fatigue.


    ¡°Quite the display, Aurelio,¡± Deventh spoke up. ¡°Seems rather personal.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Aurelio said. ¡°He¡¯s the reason you found me the way you did.¡±


    ¡°We had a hunch.¡±


    ¡°You brought me to one hell of a doctor, though. For that, I am willing to admit I am in your debt.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s your sentiment, you can start by telling us what¡¯s happened here.¡±


    ¡°Of course. But first, now that he¡¯s no longer in charge...¡± Aurelio spoke louder, addressing the crowd. ¡°Everyone get out, we don¡¯t need the stupid necklace.¡±


    All who had fallen to silence raised murmurs once again. Without question beyond shrugs amongst each other, they all dispersed to their rooms to gather their things.


    ¡°Necklace?¡± Deventh asked once the others had left.


    ¡°Aye.¡± Aurelio moved to a table and flipped it upright. He pulled up two chairs for himself and Deventh. ¡°This was one of Rauleth¡¯s stupid little heists. The Oath brought back some enchanted piece of jewelry as a reward for a recent contract. I was his getaway cart, but he failed to mention the dangers along the road. Wouldn¡¯t have agreed to it otherwise.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t imagine so.¡± Deventh sat down across from him. Figuring it best to avoid revealing they were in possession of the mentioned item, he moved on. ¡°With the way things turned out, I wouldn¡¯t imagine either of you have anything to do with the disappearances, either.¡±


    ¡°We know nothing of them. That much was true.¡±


    ¡°And the hostel?¡±


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    ¡°A personal stop along the way.¡± Aurelio smirked. ¡°Velaiah is uninvolved.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± An edge of annoyance found its way into Deventh¡¯s tone. ¡°What sort of enchantment did this necklace have which made Rauleth so eager to steal it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, and frankly, I don¡¯t care. He may have just thought it was pretty and valuable. If we can¡¯t find the damned thing, I¡¯d rather get out of here while I can.¡±


    ¡°We ought to report you to the guard,¡± Anna remarked from across the room, ¡°But I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve caused enough trouble that they¡¯ll catch on naturally.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve got a point.¡± As he stood and pushed in his chair, Aurelio sighed. ¡°They may already be looking for me. Velaiah would likely see to it.¡±


    ¡°Before you go,¡± Deventh said, catching him just as he turned away, ¡°Where are the real guild members?¡±


    ¡°Oh, they¡¯re locked in the basement.¡±


    ¡°How long have they been in there?¡±


    ¡°Five days, if I¡¯m counting correctly.¡±


    ¡°Five¨C¡± The glow of Anna¡¯s hands fizzled away in the midst of a healing spell. ¡°Have they been tended to?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t say,¡± Aurelio said. ¡°But if you¡¯re worried, I¡¯d get to them as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Aurelio,¡± said Deventh as he also stood up. ¡°We won¡¯t keep you any longer.¡±


    ¡°Aye, well¡­ I suppose if we ever see each other again, I owe you another favor for letting me go.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll hold you to it.¡±


    ¡°And I wouldn¡¯t expect any less. Farewell.¡± Aurelio gave a halfhearted wave, scratching at the stubble on his chin as he walked away with a swaying, leisurely gait. Thadagar followed him, stopping to give Deventh an approving nod before he proceeded. As the two left the building, the others began to emerge from their rooms to make their exit as well.


    ¡°Jessa, Tatsidi, let¡¯s go to the basement while Anna tends to Rauleth,¡± said Deventh, and they followed him to the far corner of the room.


    Around the corner stood a lone door with hinges that creaked as it opened to the inky darkness below. Deventh grabbed a torch from a nearby sconce and led them down, the flickering light guiding them as the dinge of dust filled their noses. They proceeded past open storerooms full of equipment, provisions, and cobwebs, until they reached the end of the hallway. There, they happened upon the final door¨Cthe only one barred shut. Deventh set down his torch.


    ¡°How much would any of you be willing to bet this door is trapped?¡±


    Tatsidi stepped forward and peered at the door, inspecting its hinges, knob, bar, and deadbolt with a piercing gaze. After a few moments of study, he nodded to himself.


    ¡°Tatsidi is certain there are no tr¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wow, there are a lot of wards on this door,¡± Jessa interrupted as she, too, stepped forward. ¡°There¡¯s one that will catch your clothes on fire, a soundproofing one¡­ And, oh, my, that¡¯s not one I¡¯m familiar with, but I definitely wouldn¡¯t mess with it.¡± As she continued to rattle off the list of potential dangers, a dejected Tatsidi slunk back into the darkness outside the border of the torchlight. Deventh spoke up, interrupting her maundering.


    ¡°Can you dispel them?¡±


    ¡°The last one might be tricky, but I could try.¡±


    ¡°Then get to it. They¡¯re probably eager to leave.¡±


    Jessa moved closer to the door. Her hand glowed with a faint blue aura as she raised it to the wooden planks. Runes revealed themselves and began to glow in a variety of colors and patterns. Each one faded away as she focused on dispelling them, and soon only one remained. It shone with a deep purplish red, and magic symbols moved and swirled about its surface.


    Sweat beaded on her forehead as she focused her magic. Seconds turned into minutes before she finally broke her silence.


    ¡°Oh, no!¡± she said as she took several steps back. The others did as well, unsure what had happened to cause her to take fright until the rune burst in a colorful display of light. Once broken, it spoke with the familiar intonation a certain high elf.


    ¡°Ah-ah-ah, naughty naughty!¡± It called out. Tatsidi¡¯s ears and whiskers twitched as he blinked in disbelief, and he exchanged glances with Deventh. The two snickered, but Jessa herself was still recovering from the sudden fright.


    ¡°Oh, Deventh, my friend, we mustn¡¯t laugh,¡± Tatsidi said as he caught his breath. ¡°There are people in there.¡±


    ¡°Aye, let¡¯s get them out,¡± Deventh said, stifling more laughter. He stepped forward to lift the bar from its hook, then swung the door open. Before he could enter the room, however, he froze in place, and his hand shot to his nose. It didn¡¯t take long for the others to figure out why. Tatsidi doubled over with his hand covering his maw as the stench of waste wafted out of the room, and Jessa drew her lips in, holding her breath. Suppressing any further reaction, Deventh stepped in first.


    The first face revealed by the light was that of a Mezthrin man, hunched over and weak. As the feeble man coughed and stumbled forward into the torchlight, Deventh extended his arm to steady him.


    ¡°Th¡ªcough¡ªthank the gods you¡¯re not one of that damn elf¡¯s thugs!¡± The man said through smiling, parched lips. ¡°You aren¡¯t, right?¡±


    ¡°If I were, I¡¯d have some life decisions to evaluate,¡± said Deventh, taking small and careful steps to lead the man out of the room. He guided him over to Jessa and lowered him into a sitting position propped against the wall. Jessa took note of his parched lips and produced a waterskin. While they tended to the first captive, Tatsidi moved in to find the rest, pulling his cloth mask up over the bridge of his nose.


    Inside, shelves were lined with scraps of rotten food and opened sacks of grain slowly trickling their contents onto the floor. A dozen more people waited, all looking dehydrated and weak as did the first. Deventh joined Tatsidi in helping each of the victims to their feet, and the two eventually led everyone out of the cramped pantry.


    The others began to file out, but Tatsidi stayed behind to make sure no one was forgotten. Behind the shelving at the far back corner of the room, he happened upon one more victim leaning limp against the wall, his hair bedraggled and stuck in clumps. Although light was scarce, it was clear he was in worse shape than the others.


    As Tatsidi stepped closer to help the orc, he heard a soft, sickening squelch, and a firm substance squished beneath his foot. A fresh odor assaulted his nose and caused him to tear up, and he looked down upon the pile of excrement beneath his foot.


    Swearing and suppressing a fit of dry heaves, he reached down to grab the orc¡¯s outstretched hand and pulled up. Once he was standing on both feet, Tatsidi supported him, struggling under his hefty weight as they hobbled out of the pantry. He stumbled in the dwindling light to catch up with the others, and they climbed up the stairs.


    Once upstairs, everyone took to seats at the tables which had been set upright. Prayers of gratitude and joyful mutterings took favor over conversation. Anna looked over each individual, ensuring that emergency care wasn¡¯t necessary, until she happened upon the orc whom Tatsidi had found last.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± She asked as she pulled up a chair beside the sickly orc.


    ¡°I¡¯ve survived worse,¡± he replied. ¡°It¡¯s probably a good thing you lot showed up when you did, though.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I heard you were in there for the past five days.¡±


    ¡°Five days, huh? Feels much different when you haven¡¯t seen the light of day,¡± the orc said, a pause giving way to a grimace as it found his face. ¡°Especially with only stagnant water and stale beer to drink and nowhere else but a corner to piss in.¡±


    ¡°That is awful,¡± Anna responded, taking a moment to set aside her anger and disbelief as she gathered what to say next. ¡°I¡¯m glad you all managed to get out safely. Five days would have been plenty of time to succumb to dehydration.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to remind me,¡± the orc shuddered. ¡°I feel foolish for almost losing lives here over some jewelry. We should have just handed it off to the Mages¡¯ Association to study it.¡±


    ¡°We felt foolish as well.¡± Anna gave an understanding nod. ¡°Wandering so far down the road just to find what was right here.¡±


    ¡°Aye, no use lamenting now,¡± the orc said. ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time a legitimate job of ours has been preempted by scoundrels. All this talk of nearing death and we haven¡¯t even introduced ourselves ¡ª I¡¯m Thulreg Lungorn, chairman of Kho¡¯Gul chapter of Ardren¡¯s Oath.¡±


    ¡°Anna Brunsvold.¡± Anna offered her own name and motioned to Deventh, who was engaged in conversation elsewhere. ¡°And my colleague is Deventh.¡±


    ¡°Who are you lot, anyway?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re a small guild, Valorforge. Some of our other members take contracts here from time to time.¡±


    ¡°Ah, an ¡®adventuring¡¯ guild, then? Best of luck to you. It¡¯s not easy out there¨Cthat¡¯s why I ended up here.¡±


    ¡°The safest choice is sometimes the best,¡± Anna said as a yawn snuck up on her. ¡°Ah, after all that, there¡¯s still the matter of the disappearances.¡±


    ¡°That is so, but we can discuss more tomorrow. I think I¡¯d like to turn in now.¡± As Thulreg wobbled to his feet, Anna helped him to stabilize himself.


    ¡°The rest of us should do so as well. It¡¯s been a long day.¡±


    Thulreg gave a genuine smile, his lips spread thin over his tusks. ¡°Aye, that it has. Thank you, again¨CI can¡¯t do so enough.¡± With a smile of equal spirit, Anna waved to him as he walked away. Soon after, Deventh caught her eye as he made his way up the stairs.


    Once he reached the balcony, he took a left turn into the bedroom where Anna had left Rauleth to take rest.


    The only light was that of a brazier crackling in the hallway. As Deventh stepped in, the floorboards squeaked and startled the bedridden Gildvar, whose face hid obscured in shadow.


    ¡°You¨C¡± a weak voice said. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you have let me die?¡±


    ¡°Why would we?¡±


    ¡°I tried to have you killed.¡±


    ¡°That may be so,¡± Deventh said, ¡°But the dead can¡¯t be held accountable.¡±


    ¡°My face.¡± Rauleth sobbed into his cupped hands. ¡°She said it would never be the same.¡± His shoulders shook with each swell, his words hushed and fragmented. Forcing back tears, he trembled, every broken bone in his body aching with his suppression.


    ¡°Not even with magic?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Rauleth¡¯s voice was reduced to a whisper. ¡°The doctor can fix my broken body, but¡­¡± He sat upright, bringing his mutilated visage into the dim light. Only fresh, bloody lacerations remained where the forceful winds had embedded the debris. Where the flesh had been torn from his cheek, it appeared Anna was only able to manage a crude reattachment.


    ¡°That is a shame,¡± Deventh said after a brief silence. ¡°You¡¯ll see the doctor, then?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Anna will¨C¡± Rauleth continued to choke on his words, ¡°Anna will escort me there in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Very well. I won¡¯t ask you about anything else ¨C seems you¡¯ve got some new troubles to reflect on.¡± With a slight bow of his head, Deventh imparted what sympathy he found within himself. He proceeded to the doorway, where Rauleth¡¯s utterance of his name held him back.


    ¡°Deventh.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Death may be freedom from accountability, but perhaps the world in my absence would have been a sliver brighter.¡± For the first time, Rauleth made eye contact. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t let people get away with things like I¡¯ve done. All in the name of vanity and riches¡­ None of it was worth this. But others may not be so quick to repent. Others may become vengeful, embittered. No one¡¯s to say that when I come to my senses, I won¡¯t be the same.¡±


    ¡°I would say this suits you,¡± Deventh insisted, unconvinced. ¡°There is worse than what you¡¯ve done.¡±


    ¡°No. There is worse than what I¡¯ve done to you.¡± A moment of mutual understanding effervesced in the silence between them.


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Good. All I ask is that you do. Goodnight, Deventh.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, Rauleth.¡±

 4-3: Departure

    The next morning, everyone agreed to meet at the gate after making their final stops within the city. Deventh was the first to arrive, soon followed by Anna and Jessa, who were talking amongst each other as they approached.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect my first two days to be so eventful,¡± Jessa said. ¡°It¡¯s strange to think that we¡¯re leaving with more questions than answers.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes that¡¯s the way it is,¡± Anna said. ¡°We still have much more to do, but for now I¡¯m ready to get out of the city. The Brass Tusk is practically a cottage in the woods compared to all the noise here.¡±


    ¡°Have you seen Tatsidi?¡± Jessa asked Deventh. He shook his head, his pensive eyes following a crowd as it proceeded down the road that lay crosswise, a closely packed herd dotted with frolicsome children.


    ¡°Not since he went ahead of us, but I can guess where he went instead.¡± One particular hooded child stood out from the rest, followed by a taller hooded figure. The child approached and placed her hands on her hips before speaking out to the three guild members.


    ¡°I¡¯m joining your club, ya fools,¡± the child said as she removed her hood, revealing the fiery red locks and angular face of a grown woman. ¡°You should all be thankful, I don¡¯t offer my skills to just any ol¡¯ guild!¡± Anna rolled her eyes at the impertinent Lydie.


    ¡°Only the guilds that are willing to pay the fiery haired girl,¡± the other hooded figure, who turned out to be Tatsidi, chuckled as he approached and stood behind Lydie. ¡°As long as there are no problems with this?¡±


    ¡°You are welcome to undergo our application process,¡± said Anna, her piercing gaze fixed on Lydie. ¡°After that incident with the troll, you¡¯ll need to prove you can follow orders, at least when I¡¯m screaming them hard enough for my head to pop.¡± Although her demeanor was stern, Deventh and Tatsidi could tell she was impressed with the young woman. Even Anna would think twice about pouncing on the back of a raging troll, but Lydie had done so without hesitation.


    ¡°Aye, aye, I¡¯ll play by your rules. It would be a smart move for both of ya¡¯s if ya let me in, though. ¡¯Specially if you¡¯ve got Tatsidi with ya. We¡¯re only half as good without each other.¡± She nodded approvingly at her own assessment.


    Tatsidi rested his eyes upon the royal blue jewelry box which Deventh held in full view. Upon seeing its full glory as it glistened in the morning sun, he whipped his tail about in delight.


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    ¡°Is that our reward?¡±


    ¡°Not quite,¡± Deventh said, ¡°They¡¯re letting us keep it while we continue investigating. Turns out most of the jewels aside from that one particular necklace might have been fakes.¡±


    The Apo¡¯na¡¯s ears drooped slightly as Deventh delivered the disappointing news. ¡°A reward fit for a king. I shall never go hungry again.¡±


    Anna chuckled, drawing his attention with a jingling sound.


    ¡°We may not be rich yet, but they were kind enough to spare a little something for all of our trouble so far.¡± She tossed a small bag of coins to the Apo¡¯na and received a toothy grin of gratitude as he caught it.


    After watching the exchange, Lydie raised her eyebrows in confusion and looked behind herself as if something were missing.


    ¡°Oi, could fookin¡¯ swear she was right behind us.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± asked Anna, raising a brow. She shielded her eyes as she looked out to the street, just in time to witness a buxom figure in a short black cloak breaking away from the crowd.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you were all going to leave without saying goodbye,¡± Velaiah said with a dramatized flair as she approached the group. ¡°I almost thought you were trying to ditch your lovely friend here. She¡¯s great company.¡± It took Lydie a moment to realize Velaiah was referring to her, but as soon as she did, she crossed her arms in front of her chest and gave a firm nod, grinning smugly.


    ¡°Are you joining us as well?¡± Anna asked Velaiah, who shook her head.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m waiting at the gate for Cylla so she doesn¡¯t faint when she sees the state of the hostel. It¡¯s a bit early. but I figured it was worth waiting around if it means I have the opportunity to express my gratitude to the lot of you.¡± Her lips twisted as she tried to suppress a smile. Deventh, silent and withdrawn, drew her attention, evoking her gaze for a moment before she continued. ¡°Tatsidi told me everything. Ashamed as I am to have ever been involved with Aurelio, I¡¯m glad it wasn¡¯t my fate to follow whatever trouble he decides to stir up forever.¡±


    ¡°Never met the bloody bastard, but if he comes back to pester ya we¡¯ll rough him up,¡± Lydie reassured her. ¡°Now, we gettin¡¯ outta this town or what?¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s move on. I¡¯m hoping to at least have some time to relax before we get back to business,¡± Anna said. She gave a nod to Velaiah and said, ¡°It¡¯s been a pleasure, Velaiah. I hope you find some time to rest as well.¡± Velaiah nodded and replied in kind before Anna turned and began walking away. Jessa and Tatsidi both gave their farewells and joined Anna, following close behind.


    ¡°Thanks for keeping an eye on me,¡± Lydie said to Velaiah. ¡°If you need anything, love, just give me a whistle, aye?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind. Take care, Lydie.¡± Velaiah answered.


    Lydie gave her a vigorous wave and ran to catch up with the others.


    ¡°Oi, wait for me, ya bastards! My legs ain¡¯t as long as yours!¡± She yelled as she stumbled over her own feet. Before long, the four were on their way back, but Deventh had yet to move from his spot. He turned to face Velaiah and stared into her brilliant pink eyes.


    They were silent for a moment. Words unspoken were passed between their gaze, filling the space between them.


    ¡°It was a pleasure meeting you, Velaiah.¡±


    ¡°You as well, Deventh. Please, do take care.¡±


    ¡°You as well.¡±

 5-1: Heart-to-Heart

    A single snowflake kissed the tip of Jessa¡¯s nose, the sudden cold shock dissipating as it melted. She turned her gaze ahead, where a path between the mountains and hills was laid out with a light covering of white. Clouds hid the sky which peeked down into the valley, letting down a feathery flurry unperturbed by the still, windless air.


    ¡°Thank you again for coming along with me,¡± she said, breaking a long silence.


    ¡°Of course, we¡¯d be fools to have you travel this road alone after all that¡¯s transpired,¡± Deventh said. ¡°Likewise, it was quite generous of you offering to go all the way to the University. I was hoping we wouldn¡¯t have to pay a visit to the mages at the local Association.¡± Jessa smiled knowingly at his remark.


    ¡°Yes, the one in Kho¡¯gul is especially¡­¡± She cleared her throat, opting not to finish her thought. ¡°The University sometimes sends students to deliver them tools and alchemy apparati¡ªthey keep breaking them.¡± Her story incited a chuckle from him.


    ¡°Were you ever one of those students?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Unfortunately.¡± She nodded, rolling her eyes as she recalled the event. ¡°Luckily I wasn¡¯t alone though, my ¡ª study partner, Elyza, was there to keep things at least somewhat manageable.¡± Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered her friend. There had been a time when even hours apart were unthinkable. Yet now, weeks had passed since they last saw each other, and even with a few days to catch her breath after the rush of events in Kho¡¯Gul, she hadn¡¯t once stopped to spare a thought for her. A shiver traveled through her body, compelling her to change the subject.


    ¡°Um, anyway, if my tools don¡¯t reveal anything, I can probably talk to my father as well. He¡¯s a very skilled mage, so if anyone were to know what this necklace is, it would be him.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a good plan,¡± said Deventh. ¡°But let¡¯s pick up the pace. There are some thick clouds moving in.¡± He quickened his step, and Jessa followed suit. She looked in the direction from which the gentle wind was blowing, and a portion of the already cloud-covered sky was much darker than the rest.


    ¡°How far do we have left?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Another six miles or so. If we move quickly, we can still make it.¡±


    The blizzard fell upon them faster than either could have expected. Less than a half hour later, a storm similar to the one they had encountered on their way to Kho¡¯Gul forced them off the road. As a white blanket buried the path ahead, the two sought shelter in a thick grove. Within, they found a series of boulders with an outcropping hanging over the remains of an abandoned campsite.


    ¡°We can camp here until the storm passes,¡± Deventh said as he placed his bag in the makeshift shelter. ¡°This may not blow over for a while.¡±


    Jessa followed him and set her bag down next to his. From it, she produced three separate cloths with food wrapped inside.


    ¡°I thought to bring some snacks, figuring we might get hungry along the way,¡± she said. ¡°If we can get a fire going, we can bake some apples and warm up some dried meat. There¡¯s cheese too, from Sheannore.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll go look for kindling and wood. There was a dead bush near the road not too far back. I¡¯ll visit it and be back soon. Stay put.¡± He disappeared into the fog that obscured everything beyond the sheltered area. Enough time passed for her mind to wander to the cusp of where waiting enkindled concern, but it was soon stomped out as a dark silhouette appeared.


    ¡°This should be enough. Let¡¯s warm ourselves up,¡± said Deventh. Scrambling to her feet, Jessa brushed a light dusting of snow off a nearby rock to make room for the firewood. He thanked her as he set it down. His praise encouraging her to help more, she knelt down on the ground and began to reconstruct the remnants of a fire pit. In search of a tinderbox, Deventh rummaged through his belongings, watching as she rearranged the small rocks in a circle.


    ¡°Sorry that took a bit longer than expected,¡± he said. ¡°The hellebores are in bloom, and I thought there¡¯d be at least some leeway for me to get a few samples. I came back as soon as I noticed the wind picking up.¡±


    ¡°Oh, um, that¡¯s okay.¡± Satisfied with the sturdiness of her rock stacking, Jessa reached behind and picked up the cloths containing the food. Setting them on her lap, she waited patiently for Deventh to stack the wood in the firepit.


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    With a strike of his flint and steel, he lit the tinder, and with a bit of nurture, the fire matured to a modest and steady burn. They sat in a withdrawn silence for some time, preoccupied with keeping warm as they roasted skewered apples and meat. While Deventh seemed content with enjoying the tranquility, Jessa found her anxiety accumulating faster than the snow, and she seized the first topic her racing mind could discern.


    ¡°My university actually held a field study in Quarryside to observe the townsfolk,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s fascinating that the Mezthrin and the Orcs live so harmoniously together, given the differences in their cultures. I always thought it was a cozy, rustic little place.¡±


    ¡°A field study? So you¡¯ve spent quite a lot of time there?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Jessa pursed her lips. ¡°No. I¡¯ve only read the notes.¡±


    ¡°I can tell,¡± Deventh said, chuckling. ¡°The orcs there hate Nelthrin, and are unfriendly to them at best¨Cyou know of the old land bridge incident. That grudge hasn¡¯t completely died off. Luckily the Mezthrin don¡¯t want to be bothered with the quarrels between the two.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Jessa said. ¡°I wonder why that¡¯s not in the books.¡±


    ¡°Many things aren¡¯t.¡± The elf reached for a stick to stoke the fire. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry too much. So long as you don¡¯t use any magic they shouldn¡¯t cause you any trouble. Just be careful and stick close.¡±


    Jessa gave a slow nod and let the conversation fade, whereafter the two focused on cooking their food. Distant and undemonstrative, Deventh seemed miles away despite his physical presence. Flames danced in Jessa¡¯s eyes as her mind began to wander again, igniting another spark of anxiety which screamed at her to keep talking. After steeping in discomfort for some time, she spoke again.


    ¡°What¡¯s your family like?¡±


    ¡°Not sure, I haven¡¯t been home in five years,¡± Deventh said. ¡°Though I¡¯d imagine not much has changed.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Jessa said, her voice reduced to a half-whisper. ¡°I wish I could run away from home sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Most everyone tends to feel that way when they¡¯re young.¡±


    ¡°Wait, how young do you think I am?¡±


    ¡°Twenty-four, generously. Though I¡¯m not great with human age.¡±


    ¡°Close enough, I guess.¡± Jessa turned her skewer to the right, careful not to drop it with its heavy contents. She pinched the apple, checking it for doneness. ¡°I¡¯m nineteen. How old are you, then?¡±


    ¡°Sixty-three,¡± Deventh said. He watched as she took a hearty bite from her apple. The idea of living more than thrice the amount of time she¡¯d already lived without showing any signs of aging was difficult for her to fathom, but her musing was interrupted by the scalding heat of the well-cooked apple. She huffed with regret at taking such a huge bite, releasing some of the steam to avoid burning her tongue.


    ¡°Is there anything you miss about home?¡± Jessa returned to the subject after her brief spectacle. She was unsure whether she was surprised or not when he nodded in response.


    ¡°The warmth, mostly.¡± A strange somberness found its way into his answer. ¡°Drondaris itself is pleasant¨Cthe gray forests, the colorful wildlife, the fertile peninsula. Not so much the people. Though maybe there¡¯s one or two I¡¯d like to see again.¡±


    ¡°Like who?¡± Jessa asked as she took another bite of the apple. Deventh paused for a moment as he thought about how to respond.


    ¡°A cousin I used to get along with quite well. She¡¯s a couple of years younger than me.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s she like?¡±


    ¡°Kind. Intelligent. Rebellious. We played a lot as children. Went about some mischief in our adolescent years.¡±


    ¡°You two were close, then?¡±


    Another pause. ¡°Aye, we were.¡±


    Jessa reflected in silence on Deventh¡¯s answers, wondering why he may have left such a fond kinship behind as she considered what to say next.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any cousins. Neither of my parents had siblings. I¡¯m also an only child, so I don¡¯t have any relations like that,¡± she said. ¡°It sounds nice, though. Those memories are worth hanging onto.¡±


    Deventh shrugged, unsure of how to respond. Quite some time had passed since he last thought of his family, and Jessa¡¯s innocent curiosity left him conflicted, faced with a surge of memories he didn¡¯t realize he had, in fact, held onto. The two continued to eat their fare in silence. Time marched on, and as they threw their apple cores into the fire, the storm still raged.


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll be overnighting, then,¡± Deventh concluded as he added a new log to the fire. ¡°Normally I wouldn¡¯t advise it given the obvious, but with the current conditions it¡¯s doubtful anyone would be trying anything tonight.¡±


    ¡°But what if that storm was what they were planning on?¡± Jessa asked. A pang of worry squeezed her chest.


    ¡°Just in case,¡± Deventh said, reaching for his bag. From it, he removed a sleeping pad and blankets, followed by a thin, coiled length of rope and a small leather pouch. He poured the contents out into his hand and revealed a collection of white bells, which made no sound as they moved.


    ¡°What is all that?¡± Jessa asked, cocking her head to one side.


    ¡°An alarm of sorts,¡± Deventh answered as he uncoiled the rope. Onto it, he threaded bells at evenly spaced intervals. ¡°Tie the rope along the ground and turn it invisible. The bells are imbued with a utility spell that keeps them silent unless it¡¯s tripped, so the wind should be no problem.¡±


    ¡°Oh. That¡¯s kind of clever.¡±


    Once more, Deventh vanished into the snow to set up his unusual alarm. A boulder offered its warmth, absorbing and radiating the heat of the fire. Jessa decided to set up her sleeping gear beside it. As the bone-chilling cold melted away from her body, she found herself growing more and more relaxed.


    By the time Deventh returned, she had already closed her eyes and fallen asleep, thus he decided to clean up the rest of the food on his own. He then sat down on his bed roll and wrapped himself with blankets to keep warm.


    Left to a peaceful solitude with no obligation to converse, he breathed a sigh of relief. His crimson eyes reflected the fire, which beckoned him home as old memories continued flooding in. Although the night progressed, and although he was unsure of the last time he¡¯d slept, he felt no heaviness in his eyelids, no pull toward the realm of sleep. As was his usual inclination, he would simply wait for sunrise.

 5-2: Rage Ablaze

    After a satisfying dinner in a contented solitude, Anna returned downstairs to the guild hall. To her surprise, it was much livelier than usual. All braziers were lit, producing a comfortable warmth to which she was quite unaccustomed in the dank basement. Laughter echoed from the cavernous walls, and the couches had been rearranged around a short table in a square with one face open.


    Lounging about on the couches and armchairs, to Anna¡¯s unexpected delight, were five or six of their members, a few of whom were previously assumed to have been long gone. One in particular, however, caught her attention first.


    ¡°Al¡¯mar, is that you?¡± she asked in disbelief as she laid her eyes on a Mezthrin man whose smile rounded his cheeks. He lay slackly on the couch to the right, a tipsy heaviness sinking him into the cushions. His arm hung limp to the side, a bottle of rum dangling by the handle from his hooked finger.


    ¡°Anna, it¡¯s been a while,¡± he said, greeting her with a lethargic wave. ¡°Thought I¡¯d never make it back to old Valorforge, but I¡¯m glad I get to see your lovely face again.¡± Others around the room waved to her as well, which she acknowledged with a smile and wave of her own.


    ¡°Yes, I must admit, we assumed after a month that you¡¯d quit on us. What sort of trouble did you get yourself into?¡± Fresh scars ornamented his arms, causing Anna¡¯s concern to grow. The Helbrund sat down on the center couch, giving a disapproving stare to the overly affectionate wood elf couple adjacent to her before turning her attention back to the man.


    ¡°I ran into some old friends,¡± Al¡¯mar said. His expression fell somewhat flat as he reflected on his journey, but he retained his lighthearted disposition. ¡°My previous life has its ways of finding me. I¡¯m lucky to have recovered, and that it only took three weeks at that. It¡¯s good to relax and have a drink again after almost dying.¡±


    ¡°Three weeks is quite some time,¡± Anna said. ¡°Were no healers around?¡±


    ¡°Not in those islands to the south.¡± Al¡¯mar scratched his salt and pepper beard. ¡°Too many Esdathrin zealots. Traditional doctors aren¡¯t hard to find, but magic healers¡­ You¡¯ll die looking for one. I needed to rest anyway.¡±


    ¡°Well, in any case, I¡¯m glad to hear you¡¯re alive."


    ¡°As am I!¡± Al''mar reached into in his pocket and dug through it for a moment. He pulled out a small sack of coins and offered them to Anna. ¡°My dues, as promised. The job itself was a pleasant change of pace, and I¡¯d like to stay here.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re happy to have you,¡± Anna said. She accepted the money and turned to the Fenvar couple on the adjacent couch. Clearly preoccupied in their embrace by whispers and playful touches, they were oblivious to any outside happenings.


    ¡°And how have you two been?¡± Anna asked, clearing her throat. ¡°Did you have any luck with your contracts as well?¡± The two barely pulled apart to look at her. The Fenvar girl responded, nibbling at her partner¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Yesh. Sheven giant weevilsh was livin¡¯ in that poor bashtard¡¯sh houshe. Took care of ¡®em, but then Dirien here...¡± She freed his ear from the grasp of her teeth. ¡°Dirien had to go all the way home to Fenglade to get somethin¡¯ sentimental he left there and insisted we go straight there without stoppin¡¯. He¡¯s sensitive like that. But, eh, we sorta spent all our moneys gettin¡¯ back.¡±


    "All right,¡± Anna said. ¡°Let''s speak in my office later, Helaneth. For now, has anyone seen a redheaded Nelthrin girl around?"


    "Might have passed through with Tatsidi earlier," Al''mar chimed in. "Lanky, freckled, talks like a wood elf?"


    "Talks like a¡ªoi, what''s that supposed to bloody mean?" the girl asked, her voice shrill.


    "With Tatsidi? Sounds like her," said Anna. "Did you see which way she went?"


    ¡°Toward the bunks, last I saw,¡± Al¡¯mar said. ¡°Seemed like they wanted to be alone.¡± A hiccup rolled over his gut as he took a swig of rum from his bottle. He sniffed the air and said, ¡°Does anyone smell that?¡±


    ¡°FIRE!¡± A cry rang out from the bunk room. Tatsidi emerged, every inch of his fur standing on end as he bolted through the hall. A crash sounded from the same place, followed by the rumble of objects falling to the floor. Another voice called out.


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    "Ya can¡¯t even bloody help me put it out!? Fine then, go and shove ya barbed prick up your fluffy arsehole, you STEAMING PILE OF WET CAT SHITE!"


    Through all the racket, Anna had already leapt into action and rushed in to help Lydie. When she arrived at the scene, a cloud of smoke carrying the smell of burning leather and cloth pervaded her nose and lungs.


    Choking, she strained through watery eyes and found Lydie screaming and cursing at the far corner of the room. The Nelthrin swatted at a blazing heap with what appeared to be a leather vest. Embers flew as Anna held out a shaking hand. Drops of water sputtered from it. Between shielding her eyes and coughs jolting through her body, she could not focus enough to conjure a stream.


    A flaming chunk of cloth flung into the air and landed on Lydie¡¯s shoulder. Without a moment¡¯s thought, she threw the vest down on top of the pile. A small flame latched onto her hair as she tried to brush the object away. Choking and shouting, she patted at the fire which curled and scorched the ends of each strand as it climbed its way up. Anna gasped and held her breath as singed hair joined the smoke cloud''s suffocating odor.


    The Helbrund steadied herself through a fit of coughs and managed to hold her hand still. Water flowed out first in a trickle, then strengthened to a torrential surge, erupting across the room. The flames roared in their death throes, but they still declared their victory over what they had already reduced to ash.


    Lydie stood frozen, brows furrowed and eyes squeezed shut. Fists balled in front of her face, she whimpered as drops of water fell from her soaked hair and clothes.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± she said. ¡°How bad is it?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m surprised you still have your eyebrows, but¡­ You will definitely need to cut your hair,¡± Anna said as she approached the young Nelthrin. ¡°I believe I can do something about those burns, though.¡±


    Lydie lifted a hand to her face and winced as her fingers touched a red mark on her jaw. Anna brought up her hand, which began to glow a faint golden light, and placed it on the mild burn. In seconds, it disappeared, and the pain was gone.


    ¡°You can fix a burn but can¡¯t fix me fookin¡¯ hair? Is your magic not good enough?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s just not how healing spells work.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Lydie fell silent as she looked down and noticed that an item of hers, a stuffed toy of a beetle, had been slightly damaged by the fire. She picked up the toy and inspected a burnt section of fabric, feeling it over with her fingers. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.


    "May I ask what all that was?" Anna asked, stepping over Lydie''s belongings as she moved further into the room.


    ¡°Piss off.¡± Lydie stifled a sniff. After a few moments, she started gathering the surviving items that were near. Anna stared in pity at her. With a stroke of compassion, she bent over to help gather the rest of her belongings. Once her hands were full, she reached down to pick up a rucksack, which had only lost its leather drawstrings to the fire.


    ¡°I said piss off.¡± Clothes and trinkets tumbled to the floor as Lydie ripped the bag from her reach. Silence filled the air for an uncomfortable duration wherein she doggedly avoided the Helbrund¡¯s piercing glare. Anna shook her head in disbelief and disappointment.


    ¡°I just want to help.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your fookin¡¯ help,¡± Lydie choked through tears. She clutched the small plush toy to her chest.


    ¡°Then you can at least tell me what caused the fire,¡± Anna said. Hands on her hips, she tapped her foot. From the moment they met, the young woman had tested her patience, and it was wearing thin.


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± Lydie said. Her voice softened. Shaking her head, she sighed with a grunt of frustration. ¡°Last thing I remembers is I was havin¡¯ a tiff with Tatsidi, and then everythin¡¯ went blank. Next thing I know, everythin¡¯s on fire an¡¯ the bastard¡¯s scampering the fook away.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Anna pursed her lips. ¡°Perhaps you lost control of your magic? That can happen with extreme emotions and head trauma.¡±


    ¡°I ain¡¯t got any magic.¡± Narrowing her eyes, Lydie looked up at her and found a puzzled expression.


    ¡°But aren¡¯t you¡ª¡±


    ¡°A Nelthrin? A stupid idiot Nelthrin who¡¯s got no magic? A freak of fookin¡¯ nature? Listen, ya might have better luck talkin¡¯ to Tatsidi if you wanna know what happened.¡± She averted her gaze from the Helbrund and once more examined the stuffed beetle. Tattered and limp, it was clear that the thing was well loved. Anna gave her attention to it, hoping to distract her from her troubles.


    ¡°Does it have a name?¡± the Helbrund asked. A motherly tenderness fell over her demeanor. Relaxing her shoulders, she clasped her hands together and offered a listening ear.


    ¡°Oh, uh¡­¡± Lydie trailed off. She stared down at the stuffed toy. Its black carapace was dotted with multicolored spots. ¡°Rikkee.¡±


    ¡°Quite unique. Why Rikkee?¡±


    ¡°Just sounded cute, ay.¡±


    ¡°He''s lovely," Anna said. "I''d love to chat about him more, but I¡¯m going to go and have a word with Tatsidi. If you need anything, you can come to me.¡±


    "Yeh, that''s all bloody well and good.¡± Fatigue trickled into Lydie¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯m gonna get some sleep.¡±


    ¡°Very well." Anna stretched her arms as she stood up to leave, taking care not to hit the ceiling. ¡°You need your rest to heal your head anyway. It¡¯s only been a few days.¡±


    ¡°Sure, whatever,¡± Lydie said. Metal clattered on the floor as she threw her bag down. At a loss for what to do, she began wringing out her wet clothing.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get you some dry clothes,¡± said Anna. ¡°We should have some extra pieces somewhere that will fit you.¡±


    Lydie grumbled, wanting no such favors from others. More tears spilled ¡ª her chest swelling with a feeling she didn''t recognize ¡ª as she watched her walk away. The Helbrund still in earshot, she gulped down the lump in her throat.


    ¡°Th-thank you.¡±

 5-3: Quarryside

    Whether by a stroke of luck or a divine blessing, Jessa and Deventh followed a peaceful night with a final stretch of their journey that was uneventful. The storm had long passed, and the light of a sunny clear sky reflected off the vast, white landscape. Bound westward along the path off the Raven Gate road, they had made their way to a hamlet just beyond a stone quarry thrice its size.


    By contrast, most homes in the small village were constructed of pine logs rather than stone, their old roofs blanketed with smooth moss. People liked to live simple lives within this hidden gem, choosing the betterment of their own population over aesthetics. They left the latter to the cities, which provided them with enormous profits for their toils. While mostly inhabited by orcs, the village was also rich with the culture and spirit of the Mezthrin, which resonated in the music from the tavern and glimmered in the luxurious patterned clothing they''d adapted to the cold.


    Jessa stuck close to Deventh as they traveled down the road. She kept her eyes on an orc walking along the path in front of them as he stopped to pat his pockets. A loud crunch¨Cone of neither ice nor snow¨Csounded from beneath her boot. She stopped dead in her tracks, and the orc turned around and locked his eyes on her. His face scrunched with ire, and as he furrowed his brow he moved his gaze to the object she''d crushed with her foot.


    "Oi! Nelthrin bitch!" he called out as he started in her direction. Deventh watched him with caution, moving a hand to the hilt of his dagger. Jessa flinched as the towering orc hovered over her.


    "Couldn''t be bothered to watch where you''re steppin'', huh?" Droplets of spit flew at her face. "Stompin'' around and wreckin'' other people''s things with no bloody remorse, just like the rest of your kind, huh?"


    Jessa bit her lip and shut her eyes tighter, holding back tears.


    ¡°What, ya going to cry, Nelthrin girl?¡± he asked with a laugh. "Sniveling Nelthrins have no place in Grimros. Now," He outstretched his hand and looked down the bridge of his nose. "Pay up for the damaged goods or I''ll take it out of your hide. I ain¡¯t above hittin¡¯ a lady, ¡®specially not one of yous."


    Deventh sighed and stepped forward, gently guiding off to the side with one hand on her shoulder. He reached down and scooped up the object that had caused such a bluster: a red and blue marbled glass ring cracked into tiny, sharp pieces. He felt a twinge in his glove where he cupped the fragments, but any enchanted energy that had been stored in them was quickly evanescing.


    ¡°Aye, get a good look at it,¡± said the orc. "Maybe you can teach your little pet some respect."


    Deventh nodded to himself as he studied the ring. "That¡¯s quite a powerful enchantment. Easy to see why you wouldn¡¯t want to lose this. ¡±


    "No," the orc growled. "Ain''t nothin'' I wear got any enchantments on it, elf. I won''t ask again. Pay up, or you can both enjoy paintin'' the snow red."


    ¡°Very well,¡± Deventh said. ¡°Lucky for you, I¡¯d have no proof left if I were to bring this to any authorities.¡± He returned the broken ring, then reached into his pocket and withdrew a small handful of coins¡ªenough, he assumed, to compensate for the loss. Jessa attempted to raise her hand to stop him, but found herself frozen in place under the orc¡¯s gaze as he counted his payment.


    ¡°Learn from your friend, girl, because next time you¡¯ll be spitting your teeth out.¡± With a nod to Deventh, he sauntered down the road before disappearing behind the corner of a nearby building.


    ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Jessa asked. Preoccupied by her frustration, she didn¡¯t notice Deventh already beginning to walk away. She quickened her pace to catch up with him. ¡°You should have let me pay him.¡±


    ¡°You can pay me back later,¡± Deventh said. ¡°How much do you suppose a handful of pebbles is worth?¡±


    ¡°I¨CWhat?¡± Jessa asked, perplexed by the question.


    ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s get you out of here.¡± The Dronvar led the way, starting at a slow pace to ensure that she kept up. Jessa nodded, wrapping herself in her own embrace to keep from shivering as she struggled to focus. Adrenaline still coursed through her body, the tension still wringing her chest, but she found the willpower to walk alongside him.


    Despite keeping her head low and the hood of her cloak over it, whispers and curses and spit flung from every direction as they moved on. Instinct led her to reach out a trembling hand and cling to Deventh¡¯s cloak, and in an instant, she felt safer.


    The byways they traveled led into a bustling market circle. Along the circumference and around each of the intersections, merchants peddled their goods from stalls and tents. The two weaved through throngs of people, sticking together well while maintaining a comfortable pace. Soon, however, Jessa¡¯s arm was torn away from Deventh as a line of merchants hauling carts barreled through the space between them.


    Deventh turned around, the tug on his cloak having raised his concern. He locked his gaze on Jessa, and as he was about to step forward to close the gap between them, a sudden shout burst through the monotonous hum. A raucous group of orcs approached, howling and plowing through everything in their way. The height and breadth of the mob separated the two further, and as Deventh tried his best to push through and reach Jessa, the rough voice of a female orc bellowed from the middle.


    ¡°Get outta¡¯ Quarryside, ya Nelthrin slag!¡±


    Before Jessa could pick her face out from the crowd, a round object hurtled towards her. With a frightened gasp, she hopped to the side to dodge it, squeezing her eyes shut as it grazed her shoulder. Laughter erupted among the crowd when it landed with a moist, airy splatter. When she looked behind her, her eyes fell upon a partially flattened ball of snow, tinged with yellow.


    She stood frozen, her mind blank and her thoughts drowning in the laughter around her. Long, excruciating seconds passed, yet she still couldn¡¯t think to do anything else but run.


    After a firm first step, she let her legs carry her to wherever she could hide.


    A row of hedges offered its cover, shaded under the needled branches of conifers. She sat down and hugged her knees, burying her head between them. A short while later, the crunching of footsteps startled her, but she was relieved to see a familiar face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I ran off.¡± Staring straight forward, her eyes traced the lines of a knot in the trunk of a tree. Deventh followed her gaze and nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    ¡°This is terrible, Deventh.¡± Her throat tightened around her words. Silence lingered in the air as Deventh gave thought to his response, and he sat down beside her.


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    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I can promise I wouldn¡¯t have brought you here to suffer through any of this had I known how much I¡¯d understated their prejudice.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Still hugging her knees. Jessa nodded. His words quieted her inner turmoil, but she found herself at a loss for how to respond; A few seconds passed before she decided. ¡°Thank you ¡ª I mean, is that what people say when they receive an apology?¡±


    ¡°It works all the same.¡± Deventh smiled as a more lighthearted air fell upon them. ¡°So, first time being somewhere no one likes your kind?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes.¡± Jessa¡¯s face drooped. ¡°Is this ¡®part of the job¡¯ too?¡±


    ¡°Depends on where you go. A little more often for some of us, but we all get our fair share.¡± Deventh gave a slight shrug as he spoke, and Jessa found herself eager to change the subject.


    ¡°Is it okay if I pay you back for the ring now?¡± she asked.


    Deventh shook his head, and without any explanation, he reached out to find a pebble on the ground. Holding it out in his hand, he asked,


    ¡°How much do you think this is worth?¡±


    ¡°This again?¡± Jessa examined the small rock in vain. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m not very good at appraising¡ªOh.¡±


    As she spoke, the pebble transformed, taking the shape and appearance of a gold coin. He handed it to her to let her observe every aspect of it. To her surprise, it had the same rigidity, shine, and¨Cwhen she removed her glove to check¨Cthe same cold, metallic smoothness as an ordinary coin. She cupped it in her palm, and its frigid sting dulled as it absorbed her body heat.


    ¡°Wow,¡± she half-whispered, watching the coin turn back into a pebble before her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve seen some pretty decent illusions before, but¡­ I have a lot of questions.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be happy to indulge them,¡± Deventh said, ¡°When we have more time. The cart¡¯s arrived. Conveniently, you ran yourself all the way to the stables.¡±


    "I did?¡± In her flight, Jessa didn¡¯t realize where her legs had taken her. She poked her head over the hedges, and surely enough, the canopied cart stood not far from her temporary refuge. ¡°Let¡¯s go then. I think I¡¯m okay.¡±


    Deventh stood first and offered a hand to help her up. The two soon approached the cart, which had already unloaded all of its inbound passengers. Few were waiting in line to leave Quarryside, and Jessa found herself glad for what she hoped would be a quiet trip from here on.


    ¡°I suppose it¡¯s time to go." She turned to Deventh. A long hesitation followed, weighing on her next words. ¡°Thank you for bringing me out here and keeping me safe. I¡¯ll try to be back as quickly as I can.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll handle things as appropriate,¡± Deventh said as he reached into his coin pouch and took out a heaping handful of coins, offering them to her. ¡°This should be enough to reconcile any delinquency in our rent payments, as well as the month ahead of us. I promise these are not pebbles.¡±


    Jessa gawked in disbelief at first, but she shook the fog from her head and accepted his payment. Opening a pouch on her hip, which appeared too small to hold such an amount, she placed the coins inside before tying it shut.


    ¡°You¡¯ve just been carrying that with you this whole time?¡± she asked Deventh in a hushed tone as a small group of people passed close by.


    Deventh shrugged.


    ¡°I was waiting for the right moment.¡±


    Before Jessa could comment, a Mezthrin man dressed in colorful merchant¡¯s clothing called out that the last checks were being made for departure. As an affirmation to herself, she closed her eyes and nodded.


    ¡°Right, looks like I really have to go now.¡±


    ¡°Safe travels. Enjoy your time at home.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll see you and Anna and everyone else soon.¡± She turned around and scampered away, stopping one last time before boarding to wave to Deventh. Though unsurprised to find him already starting on his way back, she let her smile grow no less, and welcomed a contented fluttering in her stomach.


    Deventh continued through the market circle. At the intersection to one of the branching roads, he spotted a high elf with red, wavy hair and a well-kept goatee tending to a small wagon beneath a tent. The cloth covering trapped and wafted the mingling scents of herbs and flowers as the wind blew by. He slowed down as he approached, and when the Gildvar turned around, their gazes met.


    ¡°Deventh? I thought that was you, you old devil!¡±


    ¡°Ardmy,¡± Deventh said. ¡°Good to see you.¡±


    Ardmy set down his mortar and pestle, a smile beaming at the sight of an old familiar friend. He brushed a dried flower petal off the shoulder of his powder blue tunic.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    ¡°I should ask you the same. This is the last place I¡¯d have expected to see you."


    ¡°Yes, well, I was on my way back to the city when I heard some rather frightening rumors." He waved his arms in front of his face, mimicking the cries of warning. "¡®Don¡¯t travel on the Raven Gate road! People are being kidnapped!¡¯ and such as that. You wouldn¡¯t happen to know anything about that, would you?¡±


    ¡°For as much as we¡¯ve been through trying to investigate it, not particularly,¡± Deventh said. ¡°I¡¯d be here for hours explaining everything.¡±


    "I thought you might have your nose in that sort of business. Do let me know if you figure anything out. If I''m lucky I might get to head out in that direction before the hellebores wither away."


    "About that¡­" Deventh reached for the alchemy pouch at his belt. Vials clinked together as he searched for the right one. With a smile, he pulled out the container once found and offered it to Ardmy. The Gildvar held it up to the light to examine the petals. Admiring the deep purple and white borders of the flower, a grin broke from ear to ear.


    ¡°Lovely coloration, this should prove quite potent. Thank you, Deventh, I have great need of these,¡± Ardmy said to his compatriot with a chipper and lively tone. He bounced back and forth on his feet as he tucked the glass vial into a chest inside his covered wagon. From the same chest he pulled out a trio of vials and presented them to Deventh.


    ¡°Nightshade, russula, and wolfsbane. I know how much you like your poisons, so I made sure to have these in stock next time I stopped by the area.¡±


    Deventh took the vials and studied them, noting the vibrant purple petals of the beautiful yet deadly flowers, and feeling satisfied with the size of the russula¡¯s caps.


    ¡°Exceptional quality.¡± His liveliness matched Ardmy¡¯s, though only in his voice. He pocketed the vials in his alchemy belt before reaching into his coin pouch and withdrawing a handful of gold.


    ¡°How much?¡± He asked Ardmy.


    The Gildvar shook his head and extended his hand to halt Deventh¡¯s, closing his fingers around the coins.


    ¡°You don¡¯t owe anything. Those hellebore petals will fetch me a fair sum of gold, so consider it a fair trade.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll still be out quite a bit. As always, you¡¯re too generous.¡±


    ¡°For you, no generosity is great enough,¡± Ardmy said as Deventh returned the gold to his pouch. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get to more important matters. Did I see you with a girl earlier?¡±


    ¡°Likely. I was seeing off a new guild member who¡¯s returning home for a time.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s awfully nice of you.¡± A smirk tucked itself in Ardmy¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t send her to her death where I can help it, especially when her father owns our property.¡± Deventh paused as he earned a curious glance. ¡°I have other business in town as well.¡±


    ¡°Z¨¦ah?¡±


    Deventh nodded, and Ardmy¡¯s expression brimmed with interest as he exhaled with a puff of his cheeks.


    ¡°Well. I¡¯d love to sate my curiosity, but I should probably get back to tending the merchandise,¡± Ardmy said, though he was reluctant to return to his work. ¡°As you might imagine, it¡¯s rather difficult to sell alchemy components in a village that¡¯s banned magic. I¡¯ve tried sticking to traditional medicine ingredients, but they seem just as clueless about those. I¡¯ve had one customer today, and I overheard him gushing about how much his wife is going to love the beautiful flowers I sold him. They were dandelions.¡± Deventh chuckled as Ardmy shook his head.


    ¡°Well, then, best of luck. We should catch up again soon. Perhaps before I leave, if you have time.¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± Ardmy said, ¡°I¡¯ve a favor to ask of you, if you¡¯re willing to hear it.¡±


    ¡°Ask away.¡±


    ¡°I was planning on spending some time in Ravengarde to see if my business might fare better there as opposed to Kho¡¯gul. Had you not come by, I would have waited things out until the road was safe, but since you¡¯re here, I might ask you to escort me to the gate. I understand if you need to get back to your guild, so by all means you don¡¯t have to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Done,¡± said Deventh, cutting him off before his speech became so fast he¡¯d forget how to breathe. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t mind making a stop at our hall.¡±


    ¡°Not at all!¡± Ardmy assured. ¡°I¡¯ve been hoping for an opportunity to see the place.¡±


    ¡°Not that there''s much to see. But sure, let¡¯s discuss our plans over some drinks this evening.¡±


    ¡°I knew I could count on you.¡± Ardmy eased into a relieved sigh. Never had Deventh seen such unabashed gratitude reflected in a smile. ¡°Perhaps we can discuss your recent endeavors after all.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. As well as yours.¡±

 5-4: The Mentor

    Thick moss dulled the metallic rapping of Deventh¡¯s glove against the wooden door. The hollow taps of boots on old boards drew nearer until the door scratched ajar, and a pair of beguiling amethysts blinked at him from the dim space within. A smooth, feminine voice accompanied them.


    ¡°Deventh.¡±


    ¡°Z¨¦ah.¡±


    ¡°You found it?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± He took the vial from his belt and offered it to the woman. She inspected the contents and closed it in her grasp.


    ¡°Come in. He¡¯s still holding on.¡± The door swung open, and Deventh stepped in, closing it behind himself. The woman beckoned him to follow her as she glided down the hallway, floral damask ruffles swirling and blooming at the ankles of her flared dress with every step.


    She led him to a room where two beds were occupied with patients, neither conscious; one Fenvar woman, and a young Mezthrin boy who appeared no older than ten. A bubbling cauldron hovered in the crackling fireplace, and racks of dried herbs lined the walls. Bottles and vials¨Cwhether empty, full, or spilled over¨Csat upon a table centered with a mortar and pestle, as well as a tiered counter behind it.


    The two approached the bed on the far side of the room, where the young boy lay restless and drenched in sweat, his eyes closed yet flickering, convulsions dulled by medicine to spasms. With tired, sorrowful eyes, Z¨¦ah gazed up at Deventh. The warm light of the candelabras honeyed her umber skin.


    ¡°Paradise ivy,¡± she said, her thumb rolling the vial from her palm to her fingertips. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if I¡¯d ever get my hands on this again. Where did you find it?¡±


    ¡°In the valley to the east, hugging a spruce trunk. Exactly where you said it would be.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well, I wasn¡¯t expecting it to be quite so available. It¡¯s usually a rare find.¡± A bitter grimace spoiled her smile, and she spoke softly. ¡°I appreciate this more than anything you¡¯ve done for me thus far, Deventh. I know you said you wouldn¡¯t accept payment, but please let me teach you how to distill this into something useful.¡±


    ¡°Very well. I¡¯ve set aside a few hours.¡±


    ¡°That is all we will need.¡± Z¨¦ah nodded and studied his face, noting his drained complexion and the dark circles below his eyes. ¡°You still look unwell. Your ailment, has it worsened?"


    "No," said Deventh. "The memory lapses seem less frequent, but I suppose those can be difficult to observe on one''s own. I have found myself able to get a bit more sleep, though."


    "Perhaps my treatment is working, if slowly. I would still advise you to stay here under observation."


    "Out of the question."


    ¡°Understood." Z¨¦ah shook her head in disappointment. She motioned to the door, dark curls bouncing at her shoulders with her swift, aggrieved movements. "Follow me, and take those stupid gloves off before we enter the distillery.¡± Deventh paused, but he obliged and left his gloves on the table, just shy of a puddle of spilled liquid. In silence, they walked a short distance down the hallway and entered another room.


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    ¡°Hurry now, close the door,¡± Z¨¦ah said. Bangles clanking on her wrists, she ushered him into the room with urgency. ¡°Can¡¯t have even a speck of dust from outside agitating the product.¡± Again, Deventh obliged, leaving them with only the light from bubbling glass alembics filled with bioluminescent ingredients, as well as the soft flames beneath them.


    Various apparati were set upon a row of tables much cleaner and more organized than in the infirmary, with shelves behind them to hold stock of reagents and bottled products. Their eyes adjusted well enough to navigate among the blues, yellows, and pinks which illuminated the space. The two approached a table with an empty still and a sealed jug on top of it. Z¨¦ah thumbed the vial of paradise ivy.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been saving this space. Here¡¯s hoping the water is still pure enough.¡± From the vial, she removed the cork, and from the shelf she retrieved a mortar and pestle. After crushing the leaves and fibers, she removed the cork from the water jug. Deventh watched quietly as she completed the basics of the process¨Ccombining the ingredients in the still pot, flicking a small flame from her finger to set beneath it. Once finished, she asked, "Are you ready? This may take the next couple of hours.¡±


    ¡°Aye, still watching.¡± After moving a step closer to observe, Deventh was taken by surprise when Z¨¦ah reached for his hands. Knowing better than to question her methods, he let her take the lead. She guided his hands atop the vessel, keeping her own over them.


    ¡°The difficult part,¡± she said, ¡°is slowing your energy flow to a trickle. The sensation should never be stronger or weaker than what you¡¯re about to feel, thus doing is the only way for me to demonstrate to you. Now, don¡¯t move.¡± A subtle, consistent tingle, like that preceding pins and needles, flowed from her palms to the tops of Deventh¡¯s hands, and eventually to the tips of his fingers. The flame awakened tiny bubbles in the vessel, and the first small puffs of vapor rose to the top.


    ¡°Paradise ivy has two attributes: Toxic, and hallucinogenic. Any haste or cessation can intensify either of these effects. The idea is to imbue all of the vapor with this controlled magic before it condenses. Otherwise you¡¯ll get nasty things, like psychosis, convulsions ¨C Worsening ones, in his case. I don¡¯t want him to leave this world with that as the last thing he knows. If done right¡­¡± Realizing she¡¯d nearly let herself falter, she took a deep breath to focus. ¡°Nothing else in the world is gentler. This will lull him into a peaceful dream as he fades away.¡±


    ¡°Intricate,¡± Deventh said. His stolid tone revealed none of his enthusiasm for learning, though her teaching cultivated much of it. ¡°This is quite unlike anything you¡¯ve shown me before.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re ready for it.¡±


    ¡°Are we to stay like this for the duration?¡± Deventh asked, inciting a good-humored scoff from Z¨¦ah.


    ¡°Is that so bad?" she asked. "No, I would trust you to the rest, if you don¡¯t mind. My emotional state might hamper the results.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be honored,¡± said Deventh. ¡°Go and be with him.¡± With his acceptance, Z¨¦ah reserved some of her magic in his hands to maintain the flow after withdrawing. As he felt it beginning to wane, he eased into channeling his own energy, setting his mind aside to focus for however long it would take.


    Z¨¦ah stood back and watched him for a moment more to put her mind at ease, in surety that her trust was not misplaced; the progress of her mentee was, after all, a reflection of her teaching. Once she found the confidence to leave him to his task, she slipped away to tend to the dying boy, the door creaking before clicking shut behind her.


    Deventh¡¯s focus remained unshaken. He gave no acknowledgement to her departure, and instead descended into a solitudinous peace of mind, where he felt nothing but the steady flow of energy through his hands. Not a single thought dared to interrupt ¨C not even the latent threads of sorrow for his friend¡¯s imminent and inevitable loss.


    Free, too, of obligation to his guild, to his many odd jobs, and to everything else beyond the dim glow of the distillery, he savored each passing second, basking in the warmth of catharsis. Here, for a short few hours, nothing else dictated his purpose but for the task at hand.

 6-1: Home

    A wrought iron gate stood nestled among the hedges, behind which a stone wall protected a vine-covered chateau. Orioles flew overhead and perched on the willows which flanked the path leading up the steps and entrance of the villa¡¯s main estate. Trails broke off to either side as they meandered through gardens dotted with flowers, benches, bird baths and ponds.


    Early springtime in Oakenhaven was warmer and more forgiving than that in Grimros; Jessa had nearly forgotten as much after spending weeks away from home. The sweetness of lilacs welcomed her back as the dampness of the lake air crinkled her hair.


    She approached the grand wooden doors, where bronze knockers in the form of barn owls stared down at her with their wings spread proudly. The eyes seemed to follow her as the doors swung open and a portly, elderly man with thin, graying hair greeted her.


    ¡°Miss Bisset,¡± He droned as he gave a slow bow. On either side of him stood two young wood elf maids. They appeared to be identical twins, with eyes that were thick pools of honey. Silver and white robes hung loosely against their lithe bodies, complete with scalloped collars and aprons. The one to the left emanated a blithesome radiance. Her tender smile warmed Jessa¡¯s spirit.


    To the right, the other seemed dour in comparison at first glance, but a more attentive look revealed that her narrow lips rested without tension. Polished silver bells chimed from ribbons in their braided red hair as they curtsied in greeting, reflecting sunlight streaming in from the windows which flanked the open doorway.


    ¡°Hello, Gilles,¡± Jessa greeted the butler. She gave a curious look to the two maids as they and Gilles relieved her of her belongings. The three led her through the foyer, silent except for the echoing taps of footsteps and a gentle jingling. Curiosity yet unsated, she thought to ask more about the two. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Father was planning on hiring new maids. What are your names?¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to¡ª¡± An elbow to the ribs interrupted the stony Fenvar, forcing a sharp exhale.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t mind my sister, Miss Bisset,¡± said the cheerful one, her smile unwavering even as she invoked discipline. ¡°This is Mirelle. We¡¯ve never worked as house staff before, so she may not be so inclined to understand manners, but I do promise she cleans well. I¡¯m Aveline.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nice to meet you both. Are you from Sheannore?¡± Jessa asked, noting their Nelthrin names and presuming them to be from the only place the two races were known to mingle.


    ¡°No, silly,¡± Aveline said, following with laughter rather than elaboration. ¡°Let¡¯s get you to your room. You must be tired after traveling for so long.¡±


    Jessa¡¯s stomach turned with unease as they led her upstairs. The journey had indeed left her exhausted, and she had neither hoped nor expected to meet anyone new immediately upon her arrival.


    Loose specks of dust stirred in the air, revealed in the sunlight which streamed in through the bedroom window. Gilles placed her bag on the vanity dresser to await unpacking. The two Fenvar gave a polite bow in unison before Aveline announced their departure.


    ¡°It was lovely meeting you, Miss Bisset. Please do call for us should you need anything.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Jessa said, giving a halfhearted smile as they scurried away. Exhausted, she sat on her bed, which let out a small squeak in protest as she threw her entire weight down. Gilles intended to leave along with the twins, but as he reached the door, she called out to him.


    ¡°Excuse me, Gilles?¡± The old butler stopped mid-step and turned around to face her.


    ¡°What can I do for you, Miss Bisset?¡±


    ¡°Well, I know I never ask this, but when is dinner? If I have time for a nap, I would like to take one.¡± Gilles chuckled to himself, dropping the air of formality that had enveloped him.


    ¡°In a few hours. Was there anything you were looking for in particular?¡± Jessa shook her head.


    ¡°No, thank you, that sounds lovely. Don¡¯t trouble yourself over me, I¡¯m the one making unexpected visits.¡± She closed her eyes as she lay back onto her bed, and the thick eiderdown fluffed up around her. Thanks to the meticulous work of Gilles, not a single cobweb loomed in the corners despite the room being abandoned for over a month. She smiled, feeling content with being home after her long trip.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, Gilles,¡± she said as she turned her gaze to him. Before he left, he gave her a warm and friendly smile.


    ¡°It is good to see you too, Jessa.¡±


    After a nap, a bath, and some time in front of the mirror, Jessa was dressed up and ready for dinner. Rosemary and butter livened the air with their fragrance as she descended the stairs. A contented sigh escaped her rouged lips as she walked down the halls lined with famous works of art and collections of well-polished, ornate armor. A veritable bounty greeted her around the last corner.


    On the table, which provided enough space to seat ten individuals on each of the two long sides, a variety of dishes welcomed every palate. From baked apples which had been plucked from the villa¡¯s orchard earlier in the day, to honey glazed artichokes wrapped in pancetta, and a roasted quail stuffed with pears, carrots and celery, nothing was amiss.


    The chateau¡¯s staff stood at the edges of the room as they waited for Jessa to take her seat beside the head of the table. Once she had settled into the carved walnut chair, they took plates from the center and served her. Jessa gave them a quizzical glance and turned to Gilles.


    ¡°Is Father not eating with us?¡± she asked, the natural flush of her cheeks overtaking her makeup.


    ¡°Your father is away in Wyvern¡¯s Rest, I¡¯m afraid. The city has had a growing concern with vampirism, and he was asked to lend his hand in taking care of the issue,¡± he said with his usual formal overtone. Jessa frowned, disappointed.


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    ¡°Oh.¡± Her stomach sunk with the realization that she¡¯d gotten dressed up for nothing. ¡°Do you know when he¡¯ll be back? There were a few things I wanted to discuss with him.¡±


    ¡°He did not say how long he would be away, Miss Bisset. Apologies, I should have informed you earlier about your father¡¯s whereabouts, but I assumed you would have already known. Forgive me.¡± Gilles bowed deep as he wiped his reddened nose with a handkerchief from his breast pocket.


    Jessa sighed and slumped back in her seat, pursing her lips in thought as she stared at the mountainous plate of food in front of her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it was a simple mistake. Do you know where he¡¯s staying?¡± she asked Gilles before reaching out to pick up her fork.


    ¡°A new property in the city. A small cottage at the shore where he¡¯s been undertaking some development plans as of late.¡±


    Cutting into a quail breast, Jessa gave the thought some consideration.


    ¡°I should go see him tomorrow, then. The University can wait another day. Either way, I would appreciate written directions, when you have the time of course.¡± She lifted her fork to her mouth but then paused as another thought struck her.


    ¡°Oh, and um, Gilles, it¡¯s okay to drop the formalities when Father isn¡¯t around. I¡­¡± She thinned her lips as she gathered up the courage to finish her thought. ¡°Truly, I can¡¯t stand it. That goes for the rest of the staff as well, no one needs to stiffen their backs and shine their buttons just for me.¡±


    ¡°Miss Bisset, your father has rules¡ª¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± She sighed as she took a bite of quail. There was a pause as she washed the morsel of food down with some apple wine. ¡°But Father isn¡¯t here. So, since I¡¯m given authority in his absence...¡±


    She looked at Gilles, unsure if she was stepping over lines she shouldn¡¯t be crossing, but in a moment of bravery she cared not for anyone¡¯s approval. ¡°I rule that unless serving guests, all formalities should be dropped.¡± Gilles looked down at her with an approving nod, a glint of pride in his narrowing eyes.


    ¡°Very well. If that is your rule, then please allow me to join you at the table,¡± he bowed, but then caught himself with a chuckle. ¡°Excuse me, old habits will be hard to snuff out.¡±


    ¡°Please do!¡± Jessa said, holding back a delighted squeal. The remaining staff members, more than a dozen heads, stared wide-eyed at the old hand as he sat next to her with his own clean plate and served himself.


    ¡°In case none of you heard Miss Biss¨CJessa¡¯s orders, you all may have a seat and join us,¡± said Gilles. None did so. No one, that is, until a young Nelthrin boy tentatively took a few steps forward, his rosy cheeks contrasting against his glossy black hair as both shimmered in the light of the setting sun. He took a plate from a stack behind him, then sat beside Gilles and heaped food onto it.


    A murmur rippled among the others. They looked to one another seeking reassurance and nudging the braver of their numbers closer to the stack of dishes. This wave of uncertainty undulated until they all formed a single-file line to acquire plates and silverware. Quiet and confused, they seated themselves at the table one by one.


    ¡°You may speak amongst each other as well,¡± said Jessa. Stricken shy by her own boldness, she shrunk back and softened her tone. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have to, but please don¡¯t feel as though you can¡¯t.¡±


    Time passed, and with it the tension in the air evaporated. Whispers turned to murmurs, murmurs turned into idle questions, and those into conversations. One man broke through the polite buzz with a honk of laughter. With his mouth covered, he looked over at Jessa, but his embarrassment was soon assuaged by her calm, warm smile. He laughed once more, and the entire table joined in.


    Jessa sighed in contentment and sat back in her chair, chewing on another piece of quail breast. She stared out the ceiling-high windows which lined the wall and watched the sun vanish behind the pine-covered mountains in the west, taking with it its reflection on the lake. Long had it been since she last felt content under her father¡¯s roof, under his rules.


    Once she''d returned to her room, Jessa flopped backwards onto her bed with a sigh of relief. She had eaten enough that her dress grew snug, and she was glad to have finally changed into a sleeping gown after quite some time without any opportunity to indulge in such comforts. Just as she settled in, however, a knock echoed from the door.


    ¡°Come in,¡± She said, recognizing the pattern of the knocks. Gilles, with his jowls drooping, entered into the room carrying a thin cast iron pot filled with warm coals from a fire between two cloth-covered hands.


    ¡°For your bed. There¡¯s supposed to be a strong chill tonight according to the forecast from the university,¡± he said as he waited by the door, closing it behind him. Hopping up from her bed, Jessa nodded in approval.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Given her consent, Gilles approached her bed and, after setting the lid in its place, lifted the mattress and sandwiched the pot underneath. He smoothed the sheets and duvet, spreading the fabric taut and tucking it in.


    ¡°You have grown so much, Jessa. So much,¡± he said, facing her as he stood up. Face sagging with a sudden somberness, he averted his eyes. ¡°I remember when you had to have me speak for you, such a shy young girl. Now look at you, subverting your father¡¯s rules.¡± He took out his handkerchief and wiped his forehead, which had beaded with sweat.


    Jessa blushed slightly. The two had always spoken informally in private, but it was rare for the old butler to wear his heart on his sleeve.


    ¡°What¡¯s this about so suddenly?¡± She asked, puzzled as she offered him a seat beside her. ¡°This isn¡¯t like you.¡± Gilles sighed.


    ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m just getting old,¡± he said, his voice strained while he sat himself down. ¡°Things have changed quite a bit since you started at the university. When it truly dawned on me that it had been a month since you were last home, it reminded me how your life thus far has gone by in the blink of an eye. For me, of course. It probably feels like forever to you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it does,¡± Jessa affirmed. ¡°Like I¡¯ve already been alive for a century.¡± Gilles chuckled.


    ¡°Yes, getting to know the world is a grueling process. Believe me when I say those are the best years. Before you know it, you¡¯ll have all the time in the world slipping out of your grasp.¡±


    ¡°Gilles, is everything alright?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said with a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry. When you get to be my age, you¡¯ll spend a lot of time thinking as well.¡± His smile grew with a sigh which seemed to carry certitude. Jessa nodded; She understood but couldn¡¯t quite comprehend.


    ¡°That is concerning, considering most of my time is already spent thinking,¡± she said. The old man chuckled again.


    ¡°Not quite the message I meant to convey, Jessa,¡± he chided. ¡°I will leave you to get some rest.¡±


    Jessa yawned, affirming his statement with a nod. His eyebrows twitched upward as though he¡¯d just remembered something.


    ¡°Speaking of getting old, it keeps slipping my mind to mention¡ªI will be readying my things throughout the day tomorrow before I head out to visit with some family in Brinas for the next few weeks. It¡¯s about time I paid my Aunt Marguerite a visit, as I may not have another chance.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry Gilles. I wasn¡¯t aware of your aunt¡¯s condition.¡± Jessa frowned.


    ¡°It¡¯s been on the horizon for years now. I only pray that I make it there in time.¡± He sniffed and brought his handkerchief to his nose to wipe it.


    ¡°You¡¯ve never spoken much of your family before,¡± Jessa said after a short pause.


    ¡°There¡¯s not much to speak of, truth be told. Most are simple farmers, many are drunkards, and the others, well¡­ They¡¯re not quite as fun as the farmers and drunkards. They lead simple lives, but they enjoy them the best they can.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Jessa said once more. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re leaving while I¡¯m at Wyvern¡¯s Rest, then I might not see you again before I head back to Grimros. I¡¯ve enjoyed catching up with you at least this much, though.¡±


    ¡°Likewise.¡± Gilles¡¯ smile returned. He gave the bed a firm pat before standing up, slow and wobbly as age had gnawed away at his joints. ¡°I will let you get some rest now. If you¡¯re heading back to the University, please do give Elyza my regards.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Jessa said, her cheeks flushing. ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, Jessa."


    ¡°Goodnight, Gilles.¡±

 6-2: A Warning

    Night blossomed into darkness, sending silver moonlight down from a vast sky to cradle the chateau. A horse walked towards the gate, carrying a tall, blond Nelthrin man encased in polished steel armor. A torch in hand illuminated a crest depicting a wyvern on his carmine surcoat. His young squire accompanied him, a meek boy with slouched shoulders.


    ¡°Tell me, er¡­ What was your name again?¡± the armored man asked as he turned to the squire, who sported a thick jerkin depicting the same wyvern on the left breast.


    ¡°Corbin, sir,¡± the young man answered him as he ran a hand through his raven black hair.


    ¡°Corbin, yes. Tell me, Corbin,¡± he said, his voice harsh and nasally, ¡°is it true that there are rumors of necromancy being practiced around here?¡± Eyes squinted, he continued to stare at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure, sir. There were many reports of missing persons many years ago, but none of them were attributed to necromancy. The reports even stopped once an official investigation started, according to the records, and nothing ever came of it. Perhaps this is related to that?¡± The knight paused to straighten his posture and contemplated the words the boy had spoken.


    ¡°For a squire you are quite knowledgeable,¡± he said. Corbin jumped, surprised by his double statement.


    ¡°My apologies, Sir Laurent! I grew up in these parts and heard lots of stories, and I like to read records in my free time whenever the scribes aren¡¯t busy with them¡ª¡±


    ¡°Now, Corbin, I wasn¡¯t chiding you,¡± Laurent said with a wave of his hand. A lively guffaw rumbled up from his stomach. ¡°In fact, I applaud your eagerness to learn. There should be more young men like you, as eager to learn as they are to serve. Strategy wins battles, as is well known.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, sir!¡± Corbin said with eager nods, again surprised by the knight in his shining armor. The horse snorted and stopped its walk, biting at its bit impatiently. They had reached the gate, whose wrought iron bars reflected in the torchlight. Without being asked, Corbin walked forward, dry leaves crunching underfoot, and checked that the gate was open.


    Upon hearing the squeak of rusted hinges, he swung the gate open far enough for the knight and his horse to make it through, and shut it behind them before following along the path to a chateau.


    ¡°Now listen, squire. While we are here, I will be the one who speaks. You are to hand me the reports when asked, and nothing more. The job may end up demanding otherwise, but I do not wish to be here any longer than needed.¡±


    ¡°A wise decision, sir. My ma would tell me stories about huldra that live in these parts. They¡¯re women, made of bark with a cow¡¯s tail, and can take on the appearance of a lady with heavenly beauty. When looking as such, they¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know the stories, Corbin. While I¡¯ve never seen one myself, I¡¯ve seen what they can do to a man who finds himself enthralled by their ethereal beauty. Better to die by your own dagger than to watch as your heart is removed from your body, still beating, to be used as a cool refreshment.¡±


    Corbin winced at Laurent¡¯s description of the huldra¡¯s preferred method of hunting. While he had heard the stories many times, something about the way the he spoke caused his spine to shiver. Soon they had approached the steps leading to the entrance of the chateau, and the squire helped the knight off his horse.


    ¡°Now, enough talk about monsters, Corbin. We don¡¯t want to frighten the good people here,¡± the knight said as he approached the door. The place already appeared impressive from afar, but as he looked up now, it left him feeling infinitesimal. The gargoyles lining the manor¡¯s stone eaves seemed to stare down in disdain as Sir Laurent lifted the bronze knocker. He let it clang twice before taking a step back.


    The ensuing silence was deafening. Corbin shifted his weight between feet as they waited, remembering the drawings of huldra he had seen in his books. A sudden movement in the reflection on the back of Sir Laurent¡¯s cuirass caused him to whirl about quickly in a panic.


    ¡°S-sir, I th-think there¡¯s something there!¡± Corbin said as he tapped him on the shoulder. Sir Laurent turned around and stared into the darkness, but he did not see anything.


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    ¡°Calm down, Corbin, your nerves are on edge. No huldra will be visiting us tonight.¡±


    A sudden creak caused the two men to jump and stare as a woman stepped into the doorway dressed in a loose, flowing gown. On top of her head, branches and vines twisted and curled. The light behind her cast a shadow which obscured her features, within the manor, but as it flickered one could catch a glimpse of her natural beauty.


    ¡°H-H-HULDRA!!!¡± Corbin shouted, but before he could flee, Laurent seized the young man by the collar.


    ¡°I said calm down, you learned buffoon! By all the gods in heaven... Terribly sorry, my lady, the lad is much smarter than he leads one to believe,¡± he said to the woman with the flowing dress. She seemed amused by the display, but she said nothing, thus Laurent continued.


    ¡°I am Sir Laurent Fut¨¦ of the Wyvern¡¯s Rest Guard, and this is my assigned squire, Corbin.¡± Corbin nodded, overcome with shakes, from behind the knight. The woman stepped forward. The light cast from Corbin¡¯s torch reached her face and revealed a Fenvar rather than the creature he so dreaded, and the branches and vines on her head were bow braids playing tricks with shadows.


    ¡°You are well met, sir knight. I am Aveline, a servant of the estate.¡± She curtsied and bowed her head low, and her dress billowed as she lifted the sides between pinched fingers. ¡°How may I be of service?¡± Sir Laurent bowed in kind, with his arm across his waist in formal fashion.


    ¡°I should begin by apologizing for troubling you at this late hour, but is the owner of the estate home?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No, I am afraid Lord Pierron Bisset is already in Wyvern¡¯s Rest on official business. If you are here for him, I am sorry to say you¡¯ve been sent the wrong way.¡±


    ¡°You said Lord Bisset, ma¡¯am?¡± Sir Laurent said with a gasp. ¡°I was unaware your master was of such renown and wealth. If he is not here, then who might be?¡±


    ¡°Only his staff, sir knight, of whom I am currently in charge,¡± said Aveline.


    ¡°Well, I suppose you will do just as well,¡± Laurent muttered to himself. ¡°If that is the case, then I have a few questions, should it be of no inconvenience for you.¡±


    ¡°It is of no inconvenience.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Sir Laurent declared, and reached his hand out toward Corbin. The boy, who continued to hear and see nonexistent movement just outside the circle of light cast by the torch, turned around as the knight coughed for his attention. As he was handed the necessary documents, he took them and unfurled one, taking a moment to read it once more before continuing.


    ¡°We have recently received reports that the area surrounding and including this villa have experienced murders and¡­¡± the noise of parchment unfurling interrupted him as he took note of the other report¡¯s findings. ¡°Has been subject to necromantic practices. Do you know or have you heard of any such goings on, my lady?¡± Aveline shook her head gracefully.


    ¡°I am happy to say no, sir knight. The country out here is quite peaceful, unlike the forests of Fenglade.¡±


    ¡°I thought I detected a hint of an accent,¡± Laurent stated. ¡°You are from Fenglade, then?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my sister and I. We were hired by Lord Bisset when he visited our homeland.¡±


    ¡°I see. Is there anyone else I may speak to? Perhaps they may have heard something about these reports.¡± Sir Laurent asked.


    ¡°No, Sir.¡± Aveline shook her head. ¡°Lord Bisset returns soon, and we must spend tomorrow preparing for his arrival. As such, the rest of the staff is asleep.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Laurent mused again. He stared into the eyes of the Fenvar woman, each a shimmering pearl sunken into the sockets of her face. In her amber irises, which pulled him in as he stared, he sensed something which tugged at the back of his mind. Something sinister, cunning. He couldn¡¯t understand why the young wood elf was instilling such a feeling within him, but it left him dubious.


    ¡°We¡¯d like to look around the property, in any case, and search for any signs. It is doubtful we¡¯ll find anything, but it always pays to be thor¨C¡±


    His words were cut short by the sudden and loud clanging of metal coins. Somehow, without either Laurent or his squire noticing, Aveline had procured a large pouch of golden coins, and was handing it over to Sir Laurent.


    ¡°M-ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°For your journey home, sir knight. If you follow the road south for another quarter mile, there will be an inn where you may rest. Traveling at night is very, very dangerous, after all.¡±


    Something about the way the wood elf spoke about danger further stirred the sinister atmosphere. Now, however, he felt pure dread beckoning to him, pulling him toward the sack of coins. Something told him that if he didn¡¯t take the gold and be on his way, then whatever Corbin swore was stalking them from within the nearby bushes would become a terrifying reality, and not a made-up fantasy.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Laurent took the sack from the hands of the Fenvar and handed it to Corbin, who placed it in his saddlebags with haste.


    ¡°Take care, sir knight,¡± Aveline said with one last drawn-out curtsy. She stepped back inside and closed the door behind her, and the two men were once again alone. Sir Laurent pulled on the reins of his horse and turned it around.


    ¡°We are heading out, Corbin.¡±


    ¡°Sir? Are we not searching the grounds? What about the necromancy and murders?¡± Corbin asked, although he was secretly relieved to be leaving.


    ¡°We will look elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°Well, why? Was that a bribe?¡±


    ¡°No, my young Corbin, that was no bribe. It was a warning. Oftentimes, there are questions that should be left unanswered by the likes of you and me. Now, let¡¯s get moving. I know the inn that the wood elf mentioned, and they should have a spare bed or two for us.¡±


    Sir Laurent Fut¨¦ then proceeded back to the gate, with his squire in tow, and they left the villa in the silver moonlight.

 6-3: Thulregs News

    ¡°Wait, so you¡¯re saying that doesn¡¯t happen to you?¡± Ardmy asked Deventh, flabbergasted. ¡°I thought it happened to everyone¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t say that¡¯s ever happened to me,¡± Deventh assured him. His inflection imparted a hint of concern. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re just getting yourself a bit nervous?¡±


    "Perhaps¡­ but what if I grow another one?¡±


    After traveling southward on Ardmy¡¯s horse-drawn cart for a fair portion of the day, the two arrived at the Brass Tusk at dusk. Tucked away behind a thicket of evergreens, the tavern waited at the end of a cobblestone path which split eastward from the quaggy dirt road. It rested in its cozy nest at the base of a mountain, boasting its dramatic and pointed ¨C decidedly Nelthrin ¨C architecture. White stone walls hoisted a cerulean roof, and swirled spires poked over the treetops to entice weary travelers with a lavishness quite uncharacteristic of any structure typical to Grimros.


    The two stood near the door as they conversed, earning curious and concerned stares from passersby. One such onlooker, a blond, brown-eyed Nelthrin man, took pity on Ardmy''s presumed condition, and approached with intent to resolve his woes.


    ¡°Excuse me, sir, I couldn''t help overhearing your¡­ Dilemma. I might be able to help," the man said. Ardmy''s eyes lit up with curiosity.


    "You know how to create a protection potion without growing a strange fungus on your toes?" the Gildvar asked, hope glimmering in his eyes. The Nelthrin pursed his lips, having realized his misunderstanding.


    "Oh, my apologies sir, I thought you were talking about erec¨C" He stopped as Deventh''s amused smirk caught his eye. "Wait, you''re the Dronvar from the group who rescued us, are you not? Thulreg was looking for you. I¡¯m Jac, from the Oath."


    ¡°Thulreg?¡± Deventh asked, pausing in thought for a moment. ¡°Ah, your chairman. What brings you two here? Quite a surprise you made it in one piece, given the obvious.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well, that is precisely why we¡¯re here. The disappearances have stopped.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s certainly a development. Where is Thulreg, then?¡±


    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s gone inside. Already settled in quite comfortably, what with how accommodating the place is. We weren¡¯t aware that you ran your business out of such a fanciful location.¡±


    ¡°Fanciful,¡± Deventh repeated, his tone rising with incredulity. ¡°If that''s what you''d like to call it. In any case, shall we get out of the cold?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± the Nelthrin said, and the trio proceeded inside. Spacious and grandiose as a castle hall, the Brass Tusk tavern was alive with mirth and movement. Shadows cast by patrons and workers danced across the walls as a grand fireplace warmed the room. Booze and simmering stew filled the space with their aroma while boisterous conversations echoed from the vaulted ceiling.


    As the three continued inside out of the cold of Grimros, a pair of inviting women greeted them with dazzling smiles and sweet-smelling perfume. Their bodies, draped in loose ivory dresses, seemed to move in rhythm with the gentle but lively music of a flute accompanied by a lute and a drum.


    A third woman swept in behind them, a tall and robust Esdathrin with a sun-kissed complexion. Golden clips adorned thick, mahogany waves atop her head, glistening in the light of the fire. She eyed the three men, her deep burgundy lips curling into a grin. Bangles jingled at her wrists as she rested her hands on each of the girls¡¯ shoulders.


    ¡°Do you three like my girls? Even the most stoic of men can¡¯t seem to resist a glance. That is by intent.¡± She nodded, noting the direction of Deventh¡¯s gaze. ¡°Welcome back, guildmaster. The only egg I¡¯ve not yet managed to crack.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good to be back,¡± Deventh said. ¡°How¡¯s business, Lucia?¡±


    ¡°A fount of endless demand,¡± Lucia said, throwing her hands up. ¡°How difficult it¡¯s become not to grow fat on dates, wine, and cheese.¡±


    ¡°That bad?¡±


    ¡°A rather jolting deviation from the luxuries I once enjoyed, due to these new ¡®polite house¡¯ regulations. We¡¯re forced to censor our art, as it were¡­ While other forms of debauchery are free to run rampant.¡± Lucia gave a dramatic sigh, her eyes rolling upward as she used a hand to fan herself. ¡°But I digress. If not you ¨C and that is fair, given our professional affiliation ¨C then are your friends interested in my lovely ladies?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re all well and good,¡± Jac chimed in, ¡°About ten years too young for my taste, however. How much for you, madam?¡±


    Lucia threw back her head with a hearty, uninhibited burst of laughter. Her chest jumped up and down with each bellow. The two girls in front of her covered their mouths with their hands as they giggled. Her laughter continued for perhaps somewhat too long before she caught her breath.


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    ¡°Oh, I do hate to judge by appearances, but I believe I might be out of your price range. I have a business to run, so my time has become too precious to spend with many clients of my own these days. Thankfully the last one only needed five minutes. I had a thought to enjoy some leisure for once if I can get these girls booked.¡±


    ¡°What a shame,¡± the Nelthrin said, nodding to Deventh and Ardmy. ¡°Let¡¯s move on then, shall we? Thulreg must be around here somewhere.¡± Before they had the opportunity to begin searching, an orc swung around a nearby column into view. He had a mug of ale and a sloppy demeanor about him, and he lost his balance as he let go of the pillar.


    ¡°Thulreg,¡± Jac called out to him. ¡°What did you do in the twenty minutes I was¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ah, hello, Jac,¡± the orc sang while stumbling over to his friend. An ear-to-ear grin adorned his face as looked up at Lucia. ¡°Pleasure doing business with you, madam.¡± Jac¡¯s eyes widened, and Ardmy and Deventh exchanged glances.


    ¡°Indeed. I hadn¡¯t realized you were all friends. Do come back anytime,¡± she replied, stepping aside. ¡°You four take care, and should you change your mind, my girls will be happy to entertain you. Ta-ta!¡± Scarlet silk dress trailing behind her, she walked away, and Thulreg bade her farewell with a sloppy wave. Whether from alcohol or infatuation, a dreamy stare sparkled in his eyes.


    ¡°Thulreg,¡± Deventh said. ¡°Good to see you again.¡± The orc¡¯s smile faded for a moment as he snapped out of his trance, but it reappeared as he recognized the Dronvar.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s you! Jac and I were worried you weren¡¯t here.¡±


    ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t. Only just returned from some other business. Looks like we all had fortunate timing.¡±


    ¡°Aye, looks like it!¡± said the orc. ¡°We thought we¡¯d save you the trip back to the city and pay you a visit. Heard this place was quite the spot, and I¡¯m certainly not disappointed!¡±


    ¡°You might be surprised, but this is a quiet night,¡± Deventh said with a nod, motioning to a nearby table which offered enough seats for all of them. ¡°It¡¯s usually much livelier here with merchants and others passing along the road.¡±


    ¡°Wow,¡± said Thulreg, looking around with his mouth agape. ¡°Your guild headquarters puts the Oath to miserable shame.¡±


    ¡°Not quite,¡± Deventh said as he pulled out a chair. ¡°The Brass Tusk is a business independent of us. Our space is in the basement, which is much less¡­ Agreeable, unless you have an affinity for spiders. We¡¯re simply fortunate enough to have a place like this above our heads.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see. And the third tenant? You seem well acquainted with her.¡± Thulreg smirked, his brows tugging upward on his heavy eyelids.


    ¡°Within reasonable boundaries. She¡¯s a member of our guild ¨C a pair of eyes and ears, a watcher in our absence, and somewhat of an ambassador ¨C not a bad asset at all.¡±


    ¡°Savvy,¡± said Thulreg. ¡°Were the Oath¡¯s code not such an encumbrance, perhaps I could learn a thing or two from you.¡± An opening door caught his attention from behind the bar. Anna emerged and pushed through a small group of people until Thulreg¡¯s waving arm guided her to their table.


    ¡°Good evening,¡± the Helbrund greeted everyone, tautening the leather strap which held her hair in a neat bun. ¡°What is this little gathering?¡±


    ¡°The disappearances have stopped, apparently,¡± said Deventh. ¡°Thulreg was going to fill us in on the details.¡±


    ¡°Interesting,¡± said Anna, her attention moving to the orc. ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Thulreg shrugged, ¡°We can¡¯t narrow down an exact timeframe, but the last report was of the cart that you lot found on your way to Kho¡¯gul. It¡¯s been silent for a week.¡±


    ¡°You mean I didn¡¯t need to be stuck in Quarryside this whole time?¡± Ardmy chimed in, exasperated.


    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not from the Oath yourself?¡± asked Anna. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Right, I¡¯ve forgotten my manners,¡± said Deventh. As he spoke, he gestured to the Nelthrin first, then to the Gildvar. ¡°Jac is here with Thulreg, and this is my friend Ardmy. He¡¯s asked me to escort him to the Raven Gate amidst the recent troubles.¡±


    ¡°Pleasure to meet you both. I¡¯m Anna. It is a pleasure to see you again, Thulreg. You¡¯re looking much better than when we found you.¡±


    ¡°Feeling much better as well,¡± said Thulreg. ¡°Hopefully we won¡¯t have to deal with that sort of madness again any time in the near future.¡±


    ¡°If you do, it certainly won¡¯t be from Rauleth,¡± said Anna. ¡°Thank you both, by the way, for coming here to deliver the message. We¡¯ve sent Jessa on her way home on the safe route through Quarryside to have the enchantment appraised on that necklace, but we¡¯ll be sure to keep investigating other leads. There¡¯s still the matter of actually finding the victims.¡±


    ¡°Quarryside!¡± Thulreg bellowed. ¡°That little Nelthrin girl? Are you sure she¡¯s alright?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Anna. Ardmy shook his head, and Jac joined him.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± Deventh said, letting out a knowing sigh. ¡°There were a couple of¡­ Occurrences, but I made sure to stay with her the whole time.¡± Soon enough, they found themselves wrapped up in Deventh¡¯s retelling of the events which transpired at Quarryside, which left Anna perplexed.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware of their open hostility toward Nelthrin. Curious why that is."


    Ardmy coughed and brought a fist to his mouth.


    ¡°Might have something to do with destroying a certain land bridge and driving the orcs back south¡­¡± he said, before adding more quietly, ¡°And subsequently shoving the remaining orcs into these mountains. Perhaps.¡± Thulreg nodded with a grim, far-off stare.


    ¡°Aye. Most have forgiven and forgotten, given how old that conflict is, but there are some groups that still have that seed of hatred rooted inside them.¡±


    ¡°Whatever the case, I hadn¡¯t realized the extent of it,¡± Deventh said. A yawn slipped past him before he could suppress it. ¡°But I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll make it home without any trouble.¡± A long silence passed between everyone, casting a sudden drowsiness over them. The first to stand was Deventh, ready to turn in.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be having an early night. Just in case the three of you need to rest later on, we have plenty of extra beds downstairs,¡± he said, drowsily adjusting the hoop at his septum. A quick glance at Anna revealed her surprise at his outward display of fatigue. ¡°It can be expensive paying for lodging up here.¡±


    ¡°That is kind of you,¡± said Jac. Thulreg nodded in concurrence. ¡°After some drinks we¡¯ll likely take you up on that offer.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to get settled in early as well.¡± Ardmy let out a yawn of his own and jumped up from his chair. ¡°Show me the place.¡±


    ¡°Right, let¡¯s go then,¡± said Deventh, avoiding Anna¡¯s smug gaze as his eyelids fell in a heavy blink. ¡°I will see you all in the morning.¡± As the two elves took their leave, Anna sighed and shook her head.


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯ll finally get some sleep,¡± the Helbrund muttered under her breath, waving for the barmaid.

 6-4: Natures Betrayal

    The argent light of Pir was touched with a purple tinge as its twin, Zendine, revealed its first sliver. Together, the two moons illuminated the path alongside the chateau, offering their guidance to Gilles on his way to the villa¡¯s stable. Crickets chirped in uninterrupted unity, and their song enveloped the motionless air¡ªYet they were not quite loud enough to overpower the racing thoughts, the pangs of doubt, which plagued the mind of the old butler.


    Gilles had packed lightly for his journey, intent on taking only what would fit into a modest pair of saddlebags. As he prepared to tuck away the last item¡ªA small, wooden toy horse¡ªHe paused to take a closer look at it, which he hadn¡¯t done in quite some time. Fond memories flooded his mind, casting away his worries as he gazed into the poor creature¡¯s face, still stained with sloppy makeup from Jessa¡¯s childhood antics. He chuckled, recalling vividly the day that her mother had given her the toy for her fifth birthday, with a life-size pony to match.


    A sigh trickled through his pursed lips. This sudden flood of sentiment sparked a change of heart, and he chose to tuck the horse back into his pocket. With his belongings packed and his departure set for the next morning, Gilles concluded that he was ready to turn in for the evening.


    There remained one more thing he wished to do, however, one more person with whom he wished to speak. Although the two moons shed enough light to guide him along the path, he took a torch with him as he left the stable. The cover of leaves and flowers would leave him with very little light once he reached his destination.


    The sweet fragrance of flowers grew thicker as he neared the garden, which was situated behind the chateau. Torchlight illuminated the violet of the lilacs, the red of rose petals, and the subtle warm white of climbing hydrangeas, cascading along the trellises. Maples with red leaves and willows with lush branchlets offered their shade and protection while birches dotted the way with their striking white trunks.


    At the center of the garden stood a fountain, with a statue of a woman in loose, flowing robes standing in the basin. She held a jug of shimmering water which trickled through an endless cycle. At the edges of the basin, star jasmines bloomed across a web of vines.


    Gilles took a seat on a carved stone bench facing the display. Another sigh escaped him as he thumbed the toy horse in his pocket. He closed his eyes, revisiting countless days of joy and levity that had taken place in the very same garden.


    ¡°Jeanne.¡± He spoke softly, slowly. ¡°This is the last time we¡¯ll be able to meet here.¡±


    A gentle breeze blew past, as if in response.


    ¡°Your daughter is all grown up now. Though she stumbles, I believe that when she makes her final leap from the nest, she will soar. I hope you can understand that I did everything I could, and that upholding my promise to protect this family means I must leave.¡± He shut his eyes, damming up tears.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I must leave you as well. Though I never had a daughter of my own, you were by far the closest thing. I can only hold hope that you are still alive somewhere. But I know that you are listening here.¡±


    A breeze, stronger than the last, rustled leaves and hedges as it swept by. Gilles took comfort in pretending¡ªOr perhaps knowing¡ªthat the one he missed so dearly would command the wind to soothe his woes. The breeze stayed strong and, after a few seconds, began to carry with it a powdery cloud of white. Gilles stared in awe and puzzlement; The occasional snow flurry was not unheard of for early springtime in Oakenhaven, but it glimmered in a more dazzling way than he had ever seen before.


    Gilles smiled to himself as a sudden drowsiness overcame him. It was a familiar, soothing exhaustion, the first breath of fresh air after sudden release from anxiety. He took a moment to bask in the momentary respite from his worries, entertaining the thought to sleep among the comforts of the garden. More apt to seek the comfort of his bed amidst the frigid night, however, he tried to stand, but could not find the strength. He tried to shake the fog from his head, but it only grew thicker. He tried to keep his eyes open, but they fluttered in protest.


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    In the last moments of fighting his eyelids that desperately wanted to stay shut, Gilles thought he saw two slender female figures silhouetted among the rustling hedges. Having fallen still once again, the air carried hushed, indistinct whispers to his ears. Not long after did he find himself hanging onto his final thread of wakefulness. As he drifted off, his every thought was muffled by gentle metallic jingles in the distance, which sounded in rhythm with a chorus of soft, soothing giggles.


    Seconds, minutes, or hours later, Gilles awoke. A viscous, stinging film coated his vision. While focused on trying to blink it away, his instinct to rub his eyes sparked awareness of another, much more disquieting sensation: Vines wrapped around his wrists and calves, restraining him as he lay upon a thin web of leaves. Eyes darting in every direction, he oriented himself among the flowers and hedges¡ªstill in the garden, but far from its comforts.


    Two sets of footsteps rustled and snapped the dewy grass, one light, the other plodding. The metallic ring of a thin blade scraped through the dirt behind the first, and with the second a dull, repeated thump made the ground quiver. Slowly, they drew nearer to Gilles. He tried to pull his torso up to see who approached, but only found his restraints climbing further, tightening their grip until his limbs pulsed with aching pressure. He could not speak; all he could muster was a strained whistle from his vocal cords as adrenaline surged through his stomach.


    The web of vines twisted and coiled, lowering his body to eye level with the two figures who approached. Two identical faces of ethereal beauty loomed over him on either side, one with a warm smile and the other with a serene, impassive expression. Each wore a single braid to tame their fiery hair. Honey-colored eyes stared down at his face, an eagerness stirring within them.


    The smiling one held a scythe by a protruding grip. She twirled it upright, her dexterity impressive against its hefty weight, and caught it by its snath, which was painted black and decorated with carvings of necromantic idols. Moonlight gleamed against its polished blade. Gilles¡¯ bloodshot eyes widened, his mouth agape.


    The other twin wielded a crude Orcish battle axe nearly three-quarters her own height. Both continued staring down at the old man, their weapons now looming as well. Shallow, trembling breaths overcame him as he struggled against the tightening restraints. He tried to call out again, squeezing his eyes shut and straining until he thought blood vessels might pop in his head, but not even a whistle came forth. Cold aches swelled within his purpling, throbbing limbs. His fingers were stiff and numb.


    ¡°Go back to sleep,¡± said Aveline, still smiling as she unbuttoned his shirt. She reached out and dragged a fingernail lightly across his cheek. Her voice rang with a soothing reassurance; Gilles sighed as it resounded in his ears. His furrowed brow relaxed, his jaw slackened, and his writhing struggle diminished to a quaking shiver. Tingling numbness had crawled up from his fingers to his forearms. Vines continued to burgeon from their roots and take hold of his arms and legs, sprouting tendrils and wrapping tighter with each coil.


    The old man¡¯s eyelids fluttered as the pain sunk deeper into his flesh. With each blink he caught a glimpse of Aveline¡¯s smile growing, and the hunger burning in Mirelle¡¯s eyes against her inert facial expression. Muffled pops filled the air as his bones snapped under constriction. His jaw tightened and his face twisted. A weak, raspy cry strained through a sharp exhale, pushing forth tears and spit.


    Aveline pressed the sharpened point of her scythe against his bare stomach. Blood oozed down as it cut into skin. Warmth swelled in the Fenvar¡¯s chest as she pushed the blade deeper; lost in the gleaming red gush and the agonized convulsing, she took pause and savored the bliss. A nudge from her sister thrust her back to reality, and with a swift, graceful movement, she dragged the blade down the length of his torso, freeing a crimson spray that was eager to escape. Her face and clothes spattered, she closed her eyes and surrendered to a lip-biting grin.


    Mirelle pushed Aveline aside in the midst of her reverie, athirst for her share. Her hands kept a sure grip on her axe. She wasted no time before lifting it over her shoulder and swinging down with all her strength into the open cavity. Another spray burst forth, but heavier, like raindrops. With a second swing, ribs splayed out and organs spilled. The third, fourth, and fifth left the body an unrecognizable mass of flesh and fluids.


    Breathless and wiping bloody sweat from her brow, Mirelle turned to her sister.


    ¡°It''s been a while,¡± she said, using her apron to clean the dripping head of her axe. "Let''s go write Maestus a letter."


    Aveline shook the daze from her head, and the two departed from the garden together.


    The bed of vines reformed to cocoon the body and carried it away behind them. Deep red stains which had soaked into the grass and dirt faded as the moving plant absorbed every trace. Beams of purplish silver moonlight glistened on dew-kissed leaves and petals, revealing nary a hint of what had transpired.


    The woman in the fountain stood unshaken, her infinite vessel of shimmering water continuing to pour. A streak of red trickled down her cheek, and she wept.

 7-1: A Gift House

    A broad cobblestone road drew a path through Wyvern¡¯s Rest, the clacking of hooves a rhythmic tick among the rolling whir of cartwheels. A murmurous choir of voices poured from swaths of travelers on foot, their continuous roar loud enough to compete with the songs and cries of colorful street performers. Sturdy houses and towering buildings lined the sides of the road, casting shadows along the way.


    Riding along at a leisurely pace, Jessa basked in the gentle breeze which swept across her cheeks as it rustled the leaves of trees and hedges. Just as it stirred all life in its path, so too did it carry with it an array of fragrances from flowers and lavish cooking herbs¡ªas well as the stench of stable waste and bodies moving through the crowds.


    Hills rolled in the distance to the north. At the highest peak stood the castle which housed the royal family presiding over all of Nelthemar, imposing its inescapable splendor upon every corner of the city. Jessa had seen the castle countless times and, given her father¡¯s status, had even been welcomed as a guest within its halls, yet it never ceased to win her attention and admiration with each visit she paid to the Wyvern''s Rest.


    As her horse continued trotting along, she took a turn where the road split eastward to the more affluent districts. Market stalls and crowds began to thin, and buildings separated to more private distances with wrought iron fences sprouting between them.


    While less crowded than the market, the noble quarters of the city was still alive with movement. This way and that, servants of the many noble houses darted between horses. Adorned in the standard work attire indicative of those managed by the Servantry Union, they appeared as flashes of silver and white, similar to the ones worn by the twin Fenvar maids. As the road stretched further, houses grew bigger, more opulent, and spaced further apart.


    After taking a turn where the road split once more to the south, Jessa continued for quite some time until lush green grass faded into sand and cerulean waves glittered on the horizon as they rolled gently to shore. Gulls cried out overhead, circling fishermen and their catches in hopes of an easy meal, and Jessa breathed in the salty air and smiled.


    A short while later, the road came to its terminal point. There stood an imposing gate, almost identical to the one which guarded the entrance to her father¡¯s chateau. Tucked away within beyond the cover of trees was a manor of similar build and style, despite being a quarter the size. It was more stylistic, however, with statues and gargoyles dotting the fa?ade and intricate carvings depicting wyverns along the fasciae.


    The gate groaned open as an Apo¡¯nari man with a graying muzzle released the latch. Jessa dismounted her horse and handed the reins to the servant and made her way to the front door where she gave a loud knock. A pair of azure eyes, the same color as her own, peeked through a small crack before the door opened further.


    ¡°Father,¡± she said, her mouth hanging open. ¡°I can¡¯t remember the last time you answered the door on your own.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve only one servant here as of yet,¡± said Pierron. His calm, baritone voice echoed behind him as the sea breeze swept at his hair¡ªwaves resting just below his chin, the very same chestnut brown as Jessa¡¯s. ¡°Kasi, I believe his name is? The others are awaiting their papers from the Union.¡± Jessa nodded along as he spoke until he motioned for her to enter. The interior was open, spacious, and mostly unfurnished. Natural light which streamed in through a bay window absorbed into the dark walnut color of the floor and walls. Pierron continued as his daughter took in her surroundings.


    ¡°I would have liked to have the place a bit more polished before your first visit. It was meant to be a gift, a little vacation home. For you, that is.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Jessa asked. Her surprise had reduced her voice to nearly a whisper. She suddenly felt dwarfed by the tall ceilings, overwhelmed by the possibilities of having her own home. Her father smiled.


    ¡°Of course. You¡¯ve managed to juggle your studies and managing my other properties for months. I believe you can handle it. Consider it my thanks.¡±


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    ¡°Oh,¡± Jessa said, at a complete loss for words. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Does a father need a reason to reward his daughter for hard work? I gave you a task, you accomplished it, and now you are being compensated,¡± His pointed nose wrinkled with confusion and agitation. ¡°Is that not how the world works?¡±


    ¡°I-I suppose so. You''re right, I should know not to look a gift hou¡ªhorse in the mouth. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no matter." His stern, pursed lips ruffled a bushy mustache. An abrupt stomp anchored him as he turned away, deep teal robes flaring behind him. Jessa followed him beyond a short archway leading into the tearoom, and they took their seats at a small, round table.


    ¡°The kettle is already on for tea," Pierron said." Kasi should be inside any moment now. How was your trip, though? You spent quite some time in Kho¡¯gul, it appears. I try to avoid spying, but you were gone for much longer than I expected.¡± Jessa¡¯s face flushed as she brought her hand to her opal ring. The creaking of the front door echoed from the foyer, and padded paws patted on the hardwood floor as Kasi drew closer.


    ¡°It was fine,¡± Jessa said, omitting every excruciating detail of her first adventure with Valorforge. She figured it best to avoid mentioning the dangers on the road as well. ¡°I managed to collect those payments from the Brass Tusk and the guild that rents out the basement.¡±


    ¡°The delinquents?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, they paid everything they owed for the past few months, and¡­ Um, they also paid the next month in advance.¡± Jessa set down a sack of coins on the table after a few moments of rummaging through her bag.


    ¡°Perhaps not quite as delinquent as I thought.¡± Pierron raised a brow and twisted his mustache. ¡°They must have landed a decent contract.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. They seemed busy, but Anna can be quite secretive about the details of their contracts, so I let them be. I figured the money was more important than where it came from.¡±


    ¡°And the Dronvar?¡± Pierron asked. ¡°Has he had a change of heart? It¡¯s rather generous of someone with a distaste for landlords to pay a month in advance.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Jessa said, her pitch rising in thought. Pierron tapped his fingers on the table.


    ¡°Very well. I was almost looking forward to evicting them. But that wouldn¡¯t bode well for you, would it?¡±


    The kettle began to whistle. Cabinet doors opened and closed, and porcelain clinked as Kasi gathered the teapot and cups.


    ¡°As for my time spent in Kho¡¯gul,¡± Jessa said, having taken the sudden distraction as an opportunity to concoct a story. ¡°I met with someone from the Mages Association. They need help identifying an artifact, which I have here.¡± she searched her bag once again for the necklace. Before she could place it down on the table, however, Kasi brought over a silver tray with two cups and a fresh pot of tea. She gave a shy wave of her fingers to the Apo¡¯na, who responded with a heartwarming smile before scurrying off.


    ¡°One would believe a guild full of mages would be able to do what mages do best, and yet¡­¡± Pierron trailed off, his nose once more wrinkling in annoyance. His eyes were drawn to the necklace Jessa had placed beside the tray of tea. ¡°Interesting.¡±


    ¡°You know how they are,¡± said Jessa. ¡°I can bring it to the university if you don¡¯t have time to¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, no, I¡¯ll certainly take a look at it.¡± Pierron cupped his palm over it and slid it toward himself. ¡°That¡¯s quite an unusual enchantment under your lock. Powerful, yet subtle, almost undetectable. I¡¯m not surprised they need my help, yet I am surprised you do.¡±


    Jessa¡¯s face turned as white as linen. Her father did not handle disappointment well, and as he picked up the necklace, she found herself wondering why he¡¯d spared her his usual lectures.


    ¡°My apologies, Father,¡± she said as she stared at the ground, a finger threaded through the handle of her teacup. Pierron examined the piece of jewelry, holding the pendant in his palm and draping the chain over the back of his hand. Maintaining his concentration, he took a sip of tea.


    ¡°No need to apologize,¡± he insisted, his voice flat. He hummed in contemplation before continuing. ¡°Nothing to be done if such an enchantment is too advanced for you, aside from studying harder. Does the Association need this back by any particular date?¡±


    ¡°Not that I''m aware of."


    ¡°In that case,¡± Pierron said, glancing at Jessa. ¡°I would like to take this to one of my workshops in the city. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have any of my tools to identify this here.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Father.¡±


    ¡°Was there anything else you needed?¡± He asked, now staring at her intently. Despite having nothing else to address, she couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious while underneath his penetrating gaze. She touched an index finger to her throat as she cleared it. His generosity raised suspicion, but of what, she couldn''t begin to imagine.


    ¡°No, Father.¡±


    ¡°Good. Are you planning to head back to the university?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Though I was planning to stay in the city overnight beforehand.¡±


    ¡°You are welcome to stay here instead if you¡¯d like some peace and quiet away from the inns,¡± Pierron said. ¡°There is only one bed, however, so I will be leaving tonight to get an early start on my research.¡±


    ¡°Oh, are you sure? I don¡¯t mind staying in the city.¡±


    ¡°Of course. It is your house, after all.¡± Pierron sipped his tea once more. With a deep inhale, Jessa nodded in understanding.


    ¡°Very well. Thank you again, Father.¡±

 7-2: Beautiful Strangers

    Whiskey burned in Velaiah¡¯s throat. Stone-faced and fighting a grimace, she set down her glass and sighed. She sat at a worn, rickety wooden table wedged into a nook in the wall, enveloped in a murmur of indistinct voices behind her. After years away from her home of Drondaris, she found the Dronvari language almost foreign, with its round, airy vowels and sharp, flowing consonants which rolled smoothly off the tongue. Such unfamiliarity was exaggerated by the distinct, somewhat posh accents endemic to Girin Peninsula¡¯s southern tip. Torchlight illuminated the tavern with flickering flames. Her rose diamond eyes fixated on a weathered old poster atop the table, which depicted a missing individual with a large sum of gold being offered as a reward.


    ¡°Hideous, isn¡¯t he?¡± One woman¡¯s voice broke free of the others. Velaiah¡¯s pointed ears twitched, establishing the presence directly behind her. In spite of her curiosity, she resisted turning her head to acknowledge the stranger. The pages of her black leatherbound book, which she had open beside the poster, rustled against the wooden tabletop as she heeded an instinct to flip it over.


    Only when she heard chair legs scraping against the floor did Velaiah become tense. A quarter-full glass of whiskey, marked with a stain of crimson lipstick around the rim, made a dull clunk on the table as it was set down beside her own.


    As the stranger invited herself to sit down, Velaiah looked upon her face. She was beautiful, with sharp features and piercing, ruby eyes set upon a backdrop of warm gray skin. Her black hair flowed in soft waves and curled in a frame around her chin, which rested atop her hand propped up by her elbow on the table. Her smile was warm and familiar, as though she was gazing fondly at a longtime friend. Velaiah was sure she did not know this woman, and yet something in her face evoked quietude.


    ¡°It¡¯s rude to ignore people when they speak to you. But I suppose I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you didn¡¯t realize.¡± The woman''s smile grew with a playful snideness. Her eyes wandered to the poster and, snapping her gaze back to Velaiah, she introduced herself. ¡°I¡¯m Tabathys. What¡¯s your name?¡± Silence followed her introduction, lingering for an uncomfortable duration.


    ¡°Velaiah.¡± She picked up her drink as a means to avert her gaze. Tabathys pursed her lips and nodded, noting the shortness of her reply.


    ¡°Charin, Velaiah. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. Quite the lovely name you have.¡± She cleared her throat and downed the rest of her whiskey. Her face twisted with the burn of liquor, she continued, ¡°Now that we¡¯re past introductions, shall we talk about something a bit more meaningful?¡±


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    ¡°I can tell you I¡¯m not interested in buying anything,¡± Velaiah said. ¡°Nor playing a quick game of blood dice, nor performing favors for pay, sexual or otherwise. If there¡¯s a sound reason you¡¯ve approached me, I suggest you get to the point.¡±


    ¡°Ah, it''s a good thing I''m here for no such solicitations." Tabathys¡¯ smile shrunk to a subtle smirk. She leaned back in her chair and waved down a bartender passing by. After taking it upon herself to order another round of drinks for the both of them, she returned to the conversation. ¡°The man on that poster, have you seen him?¡±


    ¡°No. I was just thinking he looks like someone I know.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Tabathys said with a disappointed sigh. ¡°My apologies for bothering you, then. He¡¯s, well, actually my cousin. He is a bit odd, but he¡¯s like a brother to me. A couple of years have passed, but I still tend to jump out and grasp at every little thread of hope that I might find him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear he¡¯s missing,¡± Velaiah said, swirling her drink. The strange woman¡¯s words only heightened her wariness as the conversation went on.


    ¡°Oh, no, you don¡¯t need to say things like that. Just having a drunken lament,¡± Tabathys said. Nervous, or perhaps distraught, she broke into weak bursts of laughter. The bartender returned with two fresh glasses of whiskey, and she wasted no time taking her first sip. ¡°You¡¯re not from Dhul-Noria, are you?¡± Velaiah shook her head.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°I can tell.¡± Tabathys laughed at her own quip. ¡°You¡¯ve some Gray in your accent, and I don''t think anyone at this end of Girin Uthroz speaks quite so bluntly. What brings you to the south?¡±


    ¡°Business.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± The cordiality in Tabathys¡¯ voice waned ¡ª she''d taken the hint that the conversation wasn''t going anywhere. She gulped down a fair portion of her drink before continuing. ¡°I would ask you what sort of business, but I can tell you aren¡¯t particularly interested in warming up to company. Perhaps I should leave you be.¡±


    Velaiah nodded, sparing Tabathys nary a glance as she announced her departure.


    ¡°I suppose I may see you around. That last drink is on me, by the way.¡± Tabathys lingered for a moment, hoping for at least a thank-you, but received no such gratitude. With no more words to be said, she pushed in her chair and walked away.


    After a short wait, once she had a whit of confidence that she was no longer being watched, Velaiah turned around to make certain Tabathys had left. It appeared so, but before she could turn back around, a woman at the bar caught her eye. Sharp eyes and furrowed brows fixated on something to her right¡ªthe direction of the exit.


    Her side profile revealed similar features to Tabathys, but softer and more elegant. A metal comb adorned with a rose and two leaves pinned the waves of her raven hair away from her face, though some wisps brushed against her cheeks. Thin and delicate, her fingers twisted the stem of a wine glass as she was contemplating, or perhaps waiting, before finally setting it down on the bar.


    The woman then stepped down from her barstool, lissome and tall. A silken black dress flowed at her feet as she headed for the exit. Having disappeared beyond the corner inhibiting Velaiah¡¯s line of vision, the woman quickly faded from her curiosity as well. Left to the peace, solitude, and liquor she had come to seek from the beginning, Velaiah returned her undivided attention to it.

 7-3: Raven Gate

    ¡°Urak¡¯s Grove?¡± Ardmy asked with concern. He paused as he steered his horses away from a deep, muddy puddle in the center of the road. The wheels of the wagon narrowly missed it, and they kicked up small splashes of water. ¡°And you were planning on going there alone?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deventh said, sitting back and using a thumb to count the vials on his belt and bandolier. Grateful that he didn¡¯t have to walk the distance to the gate, he found himself daydreaming of the opportunity to one day afford a horse. ¡°I¡¯ve been there enough times to know what to expect.¡±


    ¡°Exactly what do you gain from doing all of Z¨¦ah¡¯s dirty work? It¡¯s not as though she even pays well.¡± Ardmy shook his head in disapproval.


    ¡°Perhaps she doesn¡¯t pay you well,¡± Deventh said, a smirk spreading across his lips with his suggestion. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ardmy said. ¡°Someone has to be.¡±


    ¡°Anna is the one who usually fills that role,¡± Deventh said in momentary contemplation. ¡°Unless you have another idea on how to find what Z¨¦ah¡¯s looking for without paying more than the job is worth, then I¡¯m going regardless.¡±


    ¡°Let me come with you,¡± Ardmy said, his voice demanding.


    ¡°No."


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because there¡¯s no reason for you to go.¡±


    ¡°Even if you do know what to expect, how can you think nothing will ever happen to you? I¡¯m going, and that''s final.¡±


    Deventh sighed. He¡¯d come to know his friend well enough to realize it was futile trying to assuage his concerns.


    ¡°After asking me to escort you to the gate because you weren¡¯t sure you could protect yourself?¡±


    ¡°I may not be able to protect either of us, but I can at least heal you if you get gored by a wild boar.¡±


    ¡°Not if you do first.¡± Deventh shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s safer if I do the job without having to worry about both of us.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ardmy relented. The lone word of his answer was tinctured with disappointment. He sighed and focused on the road ahead, as well as the chirps of a goldfinch singing from the trees. In wordless recognition of their impasse, the two friends carried on with mutual silence, destined for the Raven Gate.


    Two hours passed before the granite structure of the gate came into view. Its massive frame joined the pass between the Grimcrest and Razorback mountain ranges. In front of the heavy wooden doors were gathered numerous carts drawn by ox and horse. Bright colors adorned each canvased top, with emblems signifying the many merchant guilds of Grimros. From a distance, Deventh and Ardmy could see merchants squabbling with guards.


    As they drew closer to the gate, the crowd grew thicker, the bustle more unforgiving to those not apt to keep up. Ardmy reined in gently, both curious and waiting for an opening to proceed.


    Two voices stood out among the others¡ªOne deep and dull, the other bright and melodious. The latter was shouting at the former, and the two elves could overhear the conversation.


    ¡°This is a missive from Lord Gh¨¹nthor himself, you bloody tusk-brain!¡± The melodious voice cried out, cracking under the strain of yelling.


    ¡°Orders are orders,¡± the deeper voice said in an even, monotone expression. ¡°Don¡¯t care what you say, if the captain said no then that¡¯s no.¡± The crowd split in two to form a near perfect circle around the spectacle before funneling back into a single line.


    Deventh locked eyes for but a moment with the holder of the missive, a young Nelthrin man of unremarkable stature and appearance. His clothes, though ill fitting, had an eclectic manner only a merchant would be bold enough to display. Unfortunately, it seemed that the brief moment of eye contact was well enough to engage him.


    ¡°Y-you, there! With the mask!¡± said the man as he pointed one ring-laden finger at Deventh. The elf looked around to confirm he was the subject of the merchant¡¯s attention. He raised his hand up and pointed a single finger to himself with a questioning glance, and the merchant nodded with fervor. Noting Ardmy¡¯s smug grin, Deventh sighed and hopped out of the wagon, approaching the man.


    ¡°Is there something I can help with?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes, there most certainly is,¡± the merchant said, presenting a sealed envelope. ¡°Please sir, could you tell me what this appears to be to you?¡± He kept his eyes glaring at the guard. Deventh paused for a moment, regretting his choice to be involved.


    ¡°It appears to be an envelope."


    ¡°And what do you make of the seal on this envelope?¡±


    ¡°It would appear to be the earl¡¯s seal,¡± he said, gauging the guard''s reaction. The orc was looking elsewhere, picking at his teeth with a dagger he¡¯d pulled from his belt.


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    ¡°Very observant, thank you. One more question, if you¡¯d be so kind,¡± he asked before leading Deventh close to the guard so it would be impossible for him not to hear. ¡°To what person does the guard within Nelthemar report?¡±


    ¡°The aforementioned, in most cases. In some rarer cases, the king may command any guard without exception, regardless of who governs the area,¡± Deventh said with a sigh. He was annoyed, knowing whatever he said wouldn¡¯t matter to a guard who didn''t care.


    ¡°Thank you so much, dear sir. Now,¡± the man turned to the orc. ¡°Having heard all of this, would you kindly take this missive and do your fucking job?!¡± The guard continued to pick his teeth absentmindedly, and after some time appearing to be in thought, he pointed at the letter in the merchant¡¯s hand.


    ¡°You telling me the earl actually wrote that?¡± he asked. The merchant¡¯s face turned a bright red.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been telling you this whole blasted time!¡± he shouted. The guard leaned forward against the pike he had been resting on his shoulder.


    ¡°How do I know it¡¯s not a fake?¡± he asked. Upon hearing this, the merchant threw the envelope on the ground and screamed. As his voice echoed throughout the valley, a flock of ravens took flight from the neighboring trees in a cacophony of caws and ruffling feathers. His face grew to a fiercer shade of red as spittle flew out of his mouth and he pointed a finger in the guard¡¯s face. Curses and expletives flowed like a roaring waterfall, and Deventh couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    The thunder of galloping horses soon broke up the shouting, and as Deventh and Ardmy both turned around, they saw a small patrol of armored men riding up to the gate. Trinkets and oddments flew from the bags and pockets of travelers as they scrambled aside to safety. A daring few dived back into the road while others watched in dismay as their belongings were trampled to the point of no return. Still standing frozen at the center were Deventh, Ardmy, and the two disputants, who all stared with bewilderment at the procession as it barreled toward them with no sign of slowing down.


    The leader of the procession raised his right hand and gave a signal. A line of five riders gathered at each flank and overtook him, all the while drawing closer to their onlookers. Once they were within a short distance, the two lines forked and passed alongside them to continue. The merchant let out a distressed yelp as the horses kicked up mud that splashed onto his garish attire.


    As the rumbling hooves fell behind them, the leader approached with an abrupt halt which caused his horse to rear and whinny. The others half expected him to be thrown from the saddle, but he was remarkably steadfast, albeit rattled.


    ¡°Hoi! What¡¯s all the ruckus?¡± the Nelthrin asked, his demeanor calm once he¡¯d regained his balance, though his breath was short. Flicking away a few stray hairs darkened with the sweat of his forehead, he regarded the orc. ¡°Khurek, I thought your post was moved to Kho¡¯gul. What a pleasure to see your shining face still here.¡±


    ¡°Captain Tiroirs,¡± Khurek¡¯s voice shrunk. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you¡¯d be back so soon.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well, lots of pleasant surprises all around!¡± The captain¡¯s sarcasm bolted through his arms as he threw them into the air. ¡°We¡¯d have been back even sooner, were we not asked to hunt down a supposed man-pig in the grove.¡±


    ¡°M-man-pig?¡± Khurek asked, unsure whether he heard correctly. The captain glanced at the three other bystanders and acknowledged them with a nod before addressing the orc¡¯s question.


    ¡°Yes, a man-pig. Walks on all fours, squeals and snorts at people passing through. He¡¯s befriended all the wild boars in the area as if they were his own. Even rolls in shit and mud with them.¡± He shook his head and let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°Allegedly, anyway. We didn¡¯t find the bastard. Imagine that, a rumor like that turning out to be an outright fabrication!¡±


    During a short pause, the merchant took the opportunity and cleared his throat.


    ¡°Excuse me, Captain!¡± he said. Tiroirs looked down and beheld the sight of him waving the now mud-splattered letter that had caused such a fuss earlier.


    ¡°What is this?¡± the captain snatched the letter from the merchant, who watched with anticipation as his eyes rolled over the paper. ¡°Ah. Finally.¡±


    ¡°C-captain?¡± Khurek¡¯s face drooped. His voice shrunk further.


    ¡°Khurek, do tell. Were you giving this good merchant a hard time?¡± Tiroirs asked. When the orc averted his gaze, the merchant chimed in.


    ¡°Yes! He was! After my guild has provided substantial evidence that the disappearances have ended. We went through each and every legal process to have our petition approved by the earl himself, running the courier absolutely ragged to expedite it!¡±


    ¡°I truly apologize for the trouble,¡± said Tiroirs. ¡°We¡¯ll have that gate opened for you right away. I¡¯m sure you''d all like to get back to business.¡± The merchant, vindicated, grinned ear-to-ear.


    ¡°Thank you, sir. Your help is very much appreciated,¡± he said with an elaborate bow, removing the hat off his head with a flourish as he did. ¡°Beaverton Traders will remember your kindness!¡±


    ¡°We hadn¡¯t realized there were travel restrictions in place,¡± said Deventh, breaking into the conversation. He looked at Ardmy and gave a nod. ¡°Seems our timing lined up well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± the merchant said as he placed the crook of his extended thumb and index finger on his chin in contemplation. ¡°It¡¯s been nearly a week. The gate was finally closed once bodies were found by an overturned passenger cart, which was, of course, the last incident they found. Too little too late, as always.¡± He shook his head. ¡°You must not be with the guilds, then? Everyone received a sealed copy of the letter along with their safe conduct papers.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m with no guild,¡± Ardmy said. ¡°Would that be a problem?¡± The merchant from Beaverton Traders turned as if to ask Captain Tiroirs for the answer, but the captain had already moved on and began to yell at his pavisers to begin work on opening the gate.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t believe so. The gates are opening now, so you should be let through,¡± the merchant said.


    Ardmy sighed in response. He stepped down from his wagon to face Deventh. A knot of unease formed in his gut.


    ¡°I suppose I should get going, then,¡± he said as the wooden gates creaked open. Ravens, which perched on the cliff face overlooking the passage, once more took flight as the noise echoed through the valley and into the canyon beyond. ¡°Still...¡± The corners of Ardmy¡¯s lips twitched in a halfhearted smile which waned as he trailed off. Deventh looked at him expectantly.


    ¡°Still?¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Ardmy shook his head, snapping out of his thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s just, now that I¡¯m here I have my doubts. There always lies a chance I won¡¯t be successful in Ravengarde.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll do well,¡± Deventh said. ¡°If you can sell dandelions to orcs, you¡¯re already well on your way to success.¡±


    ¡°I suppose I won¡¯t find out if I don¡¯t go,¡± he concluded. ¡°Thank you again for accompanying me, Deventh. Look for me next time you¡¯re in Ravengarde.¡± He extended his hand to the Dronvar with a warm smile, belaying his unease. Deventh met his gesture with a firm handshake. Though his mask concealed his face, Ardmy knew well that his friend was smiling back.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to do so,¡± Deventh promised. ¡°Good luck, Ardmy.¡±

 7-4: Lovers Quarrel

    ¡°Am I imagining it?¡± Jessa¡¯s voice echoed as her platform shoes clacked against the stone floor. A taller, thinner young woman accompanied her, and the two ambled through the university¡¯s halls catching up on their time apart. Jessa¡¯s summoned imp trailed behind them, and her companion looked back over her shoulder to examine it.


    ¡°No, it is most certainly bigger now,¡± she confirmed. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s ever had horns before, either.¡±


    They eventually reached the courtyard. Jessa shielded her eyes as the reflection of the midday sun glared off the fountain, and she took a seat on its marble ridge.


    ¡°It may be a coincidence, but¡­ Well, I joined a guild and had my first job with them, and since then I haven¡¯t been able to summon anything else except for this stupid imp. Now it''s growing as well, and what''s worse is one of their leaders seems to hate Lus''rak.¡±


    ¡°A guild? What sort of guild?¡± her companion asked, the revelation ripping her attention away from their talk of summoning troubles. She smoothed the skirt of her robe as she sat down beside her, a gentle breeze rippling her mousy hair.


    ¡°Oh¡ªwell, an adventuring guild,¡± Jessa said. ¡°They¡¯ve been running their business out of the basement of the Brass Tusk for a while now, although they¡¯ve not been terribly successful¡­¡± She trailed off, remembering that her friend knew well of her father¡¯s tenants.


    ¡°You mean the delinquents you¡¯ve been ranting about who¡¯ve jeopardized your enrollment here? Does your father know about this?¡± the young woman stared wide-eyed with disbelief at Jessa. ¡°I almost wish you¡¯d have told me you were joining the Association instead. Those ¡®adventuring¡¯ guilds are unstable at best and scams at the worst. Please tell me they didn¡¯t ask you for any money.¡±


    ¡°Gods, Elyza, I''m not that stupid!¡± Jessa¡¯s small voice was gentle but firm. She wrung her hands together in an attempt to soothe herself, but her gaze was burning, leaving her feeling pressed. ¡°It¡¯s nothing like that.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Elyza relented, letting out the last of her frustration in a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of the implications regarding your time to work and study, but aside from that¡­ Why?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± said Jessa, ¡°It could be that I''m just hoping for some independence. For the longest time I¡¯ve wanted to do more than read dusty tomes and listen to lectures from decrepit old professors. And my father keeps such close watch of me, I¡¯m sheltered no matter how far I might travel¡­¡± Her gaze shifted to the fountain. Ripples of water lapped against the side, and a bite of cold rose up through her arm as she stuck an idle finger in.


    ¡°Something more established might have been a better place to start,¡± Elyza gave one last push to her persuasion, though she understood Jessa¡¯s plight. She slid her hand toward hers and laced their fingers together. ¡°What¡¯s this guild called? What are they like?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re called Valorforge. They¡¯re¡­ Intriguing,¡± Jessa said. ¡°I¡¯ve never met a group quite like them. Administratively, they are a bit lacking, but when they¡¯re together and working, it¡¯s like they all know exactly what to do. And when the day is over, they go out to drink and have fun. They¡¯re kind of like a big family.¡±


    ¡°I suppose that sounds nice,¡± Elyza admitted, gently squeezing Jessa¡¯s hand with reassurance. ¡°Just¡­ Please, be careful. People like to use familiarity to manipulate others into doing stupid things.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jessa asked as she shrunk back, pulling her hand away from Elyza¡¯s. Her brow furrowed.


    ¡°I¡¯m just saying people can hurt you no matter how kind they may seem.¡±


    ¡°Elyza, they aren¡¯t only kind, they saved my life when a troll tried to kill me. They¡¯ve all been incredibly gracious. Why would they want to hurt me?¡±


    ¡°There are plenty of sick and twisted reasons a person would want to harm a beautiful young woman, or worse. Especially when they owe money to her father. Perhaps they saved you this time so you¡¯ll trust them when they lead you to your death next time.¡± Jessa said nothing as she reflected on her words. After a long silence, she said,


    ¡°You¡¯ve yet to even meet them¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. I haven¡¯t met them,¡± Elyza said, softening her tone. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m all the more worried about their intentions. What information I do have on them is troubling. The world is cruel and unforgiving as is, but for a sheltered young woman¡­ You¡¯re a mouse in the middle of a field, and there are always hawks circling overhead.¡±


    Moving in with caution, she reached over to wrap her arm around Jessa¡¯s waist. She wasn¡¯t quite sure whether she would be receptive to affection after being subjected to such ruthless scrutiny. To her surprise and relief, she was¡ªJessa leaned in, and she pulled her closer. Elyza led a finger beneath her chin and tilted her head upward to plant a kiss upon her lips.


    ¡°People might see us,¡± Jessa said as she opened her eyes.


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    ¡°Right, I forgot how uncouth it is for two people to be in love,¡± Elyza remarked. A sigh of finality flowed past her lips as she averted her gaze, relinquishing her embrace. ¡°Oh, well, I should get to my class early. Stop by my room later¡ªI¡¯m not done.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re never done,¡± Jessa said, giggling as heat rose off her blushed cheeks. As Elyza moved away, she held onto her hand, hesitant to let her go after such a short meeting. ¡°Do you still have my spare change of clothes?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do,¡± Elyza said. Then with a wink, she sauntered off, leaving Jessa to stare at the figure of her hips as they swayed back and forth. She sighed, remaining where she sat for a few seconds more before setting off to attend to her own tasks.


    After a few hours had passed, the two reconvened.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone use a wand like that before,¡± Elyza said, sighing with contentment as Jessa poked her head out from under the goose-down duvet. ¡°Where did you learn that?¡±


    Jessa giggled as she crawled up beside her panting partner and placed her head against her shoulder. She breathed a contented sigh before answering and looked into the deep forest of Elyza¡¯s eyes. A smug grin appeared on her face as she spoke.


    ¡°From a book I procured in Wyvern¡¯s Rest. The bookkeep I bought it from had no idea what it was about.¡±


    ¡°Always the books with you, isn¡¯t it?¡± Elyza asked with laughter in her voice. ¡°I¡¯ll remember that the next time I feel the urge to nag you for reading too much.¡± After giving her a quick peck on the top of her head, she closed her eyes, the warmth and softness of her partner''s hair soothing her as she ran her fingers through it. Comforted by her touch, Jessa let the weight of her body melt into her lover¡¯s arms.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll have to remind you,¡± Jessa said, playfully tapping her on the nose. ¡°I guess I could stand to give you more attention.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind that. We could stay here like this forever to be sure of it.¡±


    ¡°That would be amazing,¡± Jessa said, unable to conceal the sadness which seeped into her voice. ¡°I do wish I could stay longer.¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I have responsibilities back in Grimros,¡± Jessa said, quieted with nervousness. A wave of hesitance washed over her. ¡°I came home to show something to my father for a job. Deventh is expecting me¨C¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Elyza interrupted, quite noticeably irritated as she released Jessa from her arms. As she distanced herself from Jessa, she added, ¡°You just came to see me while you were passing through.¡±


    ¡°I-I did, but that doesn¡¯t mean I wanted to any less.¡±


    ¡°But you wouldn¡¯t have, were you not on an errand for your guild.¡±


    ¡°Elyza.¡± Jessa reached out to touch her shoulder, but she rolled onto her side to avoid it. Frustration welled up inside her and erupted into her words. ¡°Why does it matter? I didn¡¯t have to come back here at all, but I did just to see you! I''m starting to think I shouldn''t have.¡± Fighting back tears, she reached over the side of the bed to gather her clothes. Elyza kept her eyes on the view outside the window, hands balled into fists under the covers as she held them up to her face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go back,¡± she pleaded. ¡°We hardly see each other anymore as is. If you stay with them...¡±


    ¡°I want to stay with them. Even if I didn¡¯t, I¡¯d want to finish what I started. I can¡¯t just abandon them in the middle of an investigation.¡±


    ¡°So you choose to abandon me instead?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not abandoning you!¡± To her own surprise, Jessa raised her voice in frustration. ¡°I¡¯ll come back to visit you as often as I can. Maybe when you graduate here, you can join me as well.¡±


    ¡°You know that¡¯s out of the question,¡± Elyza reminded her. ¡°Being associated with an amateur guild would spoil any chance I¡¯d have of becoming a court wizard.¡±


    ¡°Where the king wouldn¡¯t approve of our relationship and we¡¯d be forced apart regardless, yes ¡ª but that¡¯s fine, as long as you get to do what you want to do. Not that that¡¯s a reasonable worry anyway, when you know my father can help you into any position you could ever dream of.¡±


    ¡°How long are you going to cling to that mentality?¡± Elyza sat upright and turned to her, holding the duvet over her chest to cover herself. ¡°Have you once considered that some people might prefer to earn their living? You are fully at the mercy of your father¡¯s reputation. And as much as you think this..." She scoffed before continuing, "Valorforge is going to be the thing to change that, you know you¡¯re going to fall back on it if it doesn¡¯t work out.¡±


    Thick, agonizing silence hung in the air. Jessa, having begun to dress herself, paused with one leg halfway into her stocking. The harder she tried to swallow the lump that rose up in her throat, the more she had to blink to hold back the tears. Slowly, she gathered every shred of her resolve and made her decision.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± she said. The silence grew thicker following her declaration. Jessa slid her stocking up to her thigh and grabbed the other from the floor. Elyza did nothing but watch as she felt her lover slipping further and further away with each passing second. Her heart ached at the thought that this was where they would drift apart.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she whispered, defeated. After tying her robe, Jessa stood up, reached down to pick up her shoes, and turned to face Elyza.


    ¡°Goodnight,¡± she said. Elyza did not respond. She watched, instead, as Jessa walked out of the room, the creaking hinges of the door proclaiming her leave. Every drop of her resolve exhausted, her eyes flooded with tears. She was alone. The room seemed to grow three times its size, leaving her small and shivering as the warmth of her lover faded away.


    Elyza wiped away makeup-swirled tears which streamed down her cheeks, leaving black smudges around her eyes and in the creases of her knuckles. It was futile, as her vision soon became obscured by another welling. Choking back a sob, she reached over and opened a small drawer at the apron of her nightstand, where a lone envelope awaited.


    In her bony, trembling hands she held the envelope with her fingers squared along its edges, staring down at the broken wax seal imprinted with the letter ¡°M.¡± Shivers rolled through her thin, naked body, goosebumps forming on pallid skin over protruding ribs and vertebrae. She lowered her feet to the floor and, though her legs were weak, she managed to stumble over to her wardrobe. After slipping into a warm sleeping robe, she moved to her desk and sat down. She gathered her quill, inkwell, and a piece of parchment, and steadied her hand to write.


    Dear Maestus, she began. Uncertainty swelled and retreated, testing her resolve. With the final reserves of her willpower, she continued her letter, fighting her hesitation as a single makeup-stained tear fell onto the page.

 8-1: Hidden Gems

    Wind carried a wisp of snow across the frozen meadow nestled in the center of Urak¡¯s Grove. Deventh¡¯s eyes traced the flurry as it traveled to the far end of the clearing and disturbed a group of snowshoe hares, who all snapped to attention.


    From his position atop a large boulder, the entirety of the meadow lay sprawled within view. Colorful, hardy winter flowers dotted the expanse, which was surrounded by a ring of mountains rising above the bordering trees. Deventh had decided to take a short break from his work at this vantage point on the off-chance he might spot a woolly pig.


    A deep, refreshing breath stung his nose as he savored the majesty in front of him. Precious few of his jobs and contracts took him to the far corners of Grimros, but the silence and the sights made the trip worth taking. Although he enjoyed the company of his guildmates, nothing quite compared to admiring the beauty of a hidden grove in solitude.


    While he did enjoy the tranquility, however, he had work to do as well. He peered out from behind a few branches which obscured his presence and surveyed the area once more.


    Since leaving Ardmy at the gate, he had spent the better part of the day tracing his path back to the grove and searching for the tracks of wild pigs, and the sun was now falling behind the mountains. He¡¯d begun to lose hope of finding any pigs ¡ª let alone the man-pig Captain Tiroirs described, which piqued his curiosity just enough that he decided to keep an eye out. Given the dwindling sunlight, he decided to return to his work and circle the meadow once more in an attempt to find any clues.


    Deventh jumped down from his position atop the boulder and walked the meadow¡¯s edge. His attentive eyes scanned the snow in front of him for hoof tracks. After continuing along the circumference for some time, he finally spotted a single set of tracks weaving in and out of the grove, which trailed in perfect correlation to the distance of rustling sounds in the bushes ahead. He depressed a button at the upper knuckle of his thumb, triggering a mechanism which expanded a small, compressed crossbow from the top of his glove.


    ¡°Oooh, what¡¯s that?¡± A voice asked from behind him. Deventh stopped short with a jump, dropping the bolt he¡¯d taken out to dip into a poison. He turned around and found his gaze upon the face of none other than Ardmy. The Gildvar brought a hand to his mouth and drew his lips. He didn¡¯t expect his presence to break the Dronvar¡¯s usually unwavering focus.


    ¡°Sorry, sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to startle you. Admittedly I didn¡¯t even know that was possible.¡± Ardmy cleared his throat and repeated in a half-whisper, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Deventh asked. ¡°What happened to Ravengarde?¡± In response to his question, Ardmy¡¯s face fell into a frown.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you, too,¡± he remarked, sighing with frustration. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t let me through the gate.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Apparently ¨C and I¡¯m not sure why the merchant from Beaverton Traders wouldn¡¯t have known this ¨C general travel is still prohibited. I, having no guild papers, fall under that category.¡±


    ¡°That puts quite a damper on your plans. What are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°Well, I have time while my horses are stabled at the gate, so my first idea was finding you...¡± Ardmy pursed his lips as he trailed off. ¡°And then, well, I haven¡¯t yet planned anything beyond that. Maybe I¡¯ll just... Go back to Kho¡¯Gul for some time.¡± He sighed despondently. Deventh regarded his friend with pity, and after a moment of contemplation, he nodded in understanding.


    ¡°Go back to the Brass Tusk,¡± he sighed. ¡°Anna should be able to help you figure something out when you get there. If not, I will when I return.¡± He bent down to pick up the bolt he¡¯d dropped before returning it to a small leather quiver attached to his belt.


    ¡°After coming all the way out here!?¡± Ardmy exclaimed, loud enough for a few nearby crows to startle away, cawing as they flew. ¡°But I can help.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡± Deventh sighed again. ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Well...¡± Ardmy tapped his chin. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of a species of truffle which grows near the roots of silver firs here. The ground should be somewhat thawed from the winter by now and have a good amount of moisture to nurture fungal growth. It might be a good idea to keep an eye out for any pigs looking for a snack.¡±


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Deventh said, conceding the usefulness of Ardmy¡¯s botanic knowledge. He scanned along the treetops for the taller, sparser conifers. ¡°Let¡¯s head back into the woods, then.¡±


    And so, Deventh led the way onto the natural path between the thick rows of trees. Their cover grew thicker as the two proceeded, until the sun barely managed to sneak a peek between the bristled branches. Splatters of snow spread across the ground from the boughs above having yielded to their weight. The moisture from their slow melt left the soil soft, yet not soppy¡ªan ideal condition to attract wild pigs, the two silently agreed.


    Yet, before they could begin their search among the trees for a suitable hiding spot, a peculiar set of tracks, starting in the dirt and running over the dollops of snow, caught Deventh¡¯s eye. Ten toes protruded from two plantigrade imprints, followed by ten fingers from a pair of palms, among which were two opposable thumbs. Without a word, he followed the tracks, his mind racing with the possibilities of what might lie ahead.


    Ardmy nearly lost Deventh behind a fir tree before he realized his friend had wandered away. With a few quick bounds, he caught up and followed the Dronvar¡¯s focused gaze to the ground.


    ¡°You found something?¡± Ardmy asked before noticing the prints, which Deventh pointed out.


    ¡°A trail.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see. Man-pig tracks?¡±


    ¡°Or just man. There doesn¡¯t appear to be anything piggish about these prints,¡± Deventh said as they continued to follow the prints to a small glade which drew a path to the entrance of a cave. Surrounding the entrance were flowers, in perfect bloom despite the frost. Each flower had two rows of three petals, with three vertical stripes on each one. The stripes varied in color and gave an iridescent shimmer as the sun touched the petals¡¯ surface.


    ¡°Well would you look at that,¡± Ardmy whistled as he came up from behind Deventh. ¡°Striped snow lilies.¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t seen those in a while,¡± Deventh remarked. He found himself in a moment¡¯s pause as he couldn¡¯t help admiring their unique beauty from afar. ¡°Fickle little things.¡±


    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re quite hardy, yet they only grow in these numbers in the coniferous swamps of Grimros,¡± Ardmy said. ¡°They love the peaty ground. Not much use for them other than looking pretty, however.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that,¡± said Deventh, astonished by Ardmy¡¯s conclusion given his knowledge. ¡°They have a high capacity for storing magic, so they¡¯re often used to practice regulation of energy flow. It¡¯s also a known practice to charge the dried petals with spells and throw them at things. Or people, for that matter.


    ¡°Is that so...¡± Ardmy hummed, squinting into the shadowy entrance as Deventh started along the path again. ¡°And where did you learn that bit of knowledge?¡±


    ¡°I was registered with the Association for a time,¡± Deventh hesitated to admit. ¡°Not here. In Drondaris, if you can believe one exists there. Ux-Noria started getting more contact with the outside world, and the novice mages found rather... Creative things to do with imported plants.¡±


    ¡°I remember when I was younger and used to find ¡®creative things¡¯ to do with plants.¡± Ardmy chuckled to himself, thinking back to his days studying alchemy. ¡°Although our professors weren¡¯t too keen on our version of ¡®creativity.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Such creativity varies quite little by province,¡± Deventh answered with his own chuckle, which met its abrupt end as they neared the cave entrance, in front of which stood an old sign. Orcish writing, warning of the abandoned mine within, was carved into the splintered wood, and above the writing were small, crude etchings of men and wild boars. Above the sign, impaled by its shaft, loomed the head of a woolly boar, its scooped tusks sticking out over its head.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s quite inviting,¡± Ardmy grimaced as he moved in closer to inspect the severed head.


    ¡°Charming, even,¡± Deventh added. Without a second thought beyond his comment, however, he entered the cave, crossing over into the blanket of shadows. Ardmy began to follow, but he stopped at the threshold just beyond the sign.


    ¡°So, the disembodied head and the sign don¡¯t worry you, then?¡± he asked.


    ¡°They do,¡± Deventh said matter-of-factly, turning around to wait for his friend. Ardmy huffed with indecision as he glanced back at the sign, then at the boar¡¯s head which loomed above. When he turned back to where Deventh stood, he had already disappeared inside.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s rude,¡± Ardmy muttered to himself, his quiet complaint contrary to his hurried pace as he ran to catch up. His eyes took little time to adjust to the shadows, revealing the silhouette of Deventh¡¯s back as he crossed the threshold. He continued walking, either oblivious or indifferent to Ardmy¡¯s slower gait. The walls narrowed to a funnel as they proceeded, leaving Deventh with no choice but to slow down and squeeze through. Ardmy caught up and squeezed through behind him, but he was left with no time to catch his breath before moving on.


    ¡°You¡¯re in a hurry. Are you sure that¡¯s so wise? We might run into traps, or... Something,¡± Ardmy questioned, eyeing the shadows of the darkening space. A faint roar of water sounded from ahead, but the source was nowhere in sight.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep a look out,¡± said Deventh, neither stopping nor looking back.


    Ardmy cocked his head, only surprised by Deventh¡¯s nonchalance when paired with such overt carelessness. Although he¡¯d never traveled with Deventh for a mission before, the Gildvar¡¯s suspicion rose beyond his apprehension toward questioning him.


    ¡°Are you certain that¡¯s wise?¡± He asked.


    Deventh didn¡¯t answer. He continued, instead, until darkness enveloped them. A faint pinkish glow in the distance served as the only guiding light, and only the sound of heavy footsteps indicated that Deventh was heading towards it.


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Ardmy huffed as he quickened his pace, struggling to keep up despite the Dronvar¡¯s even stride. Beads of sweat trickled down his face and neck as the cave warmed up, although sufficient time didn¡¯t seem to have passed to descend to such depths.


    ¡°You can¡¯t actually see in here, can you?¡± he asked, his furrowed brow invoking no concern from his friend through the inky darkness. Again, Deventh did not answer. Rather did the echoes of his footsteps, growing further and further away until his outline silhouetted against the far-off glow. Ardmy scratched his head, struggling to make sense of his surroundings.


    No longer useful nor trustworthy to him, he abandoned his fundamental understanding of time and distance. He parted his lips in hopes of finding answers, but when the time came to speak, he couldn¡¯t find the question. A sudden wave of nausea overcame him, and he reached out his arm and found a rocky wall to support him.


    Ardmy¡¯s eyes closed as the sound of the running water rose in volume, growing to a dull roar in the background of his confusion. A voice called out, drawing his focus away from the noise in his head. After he opened his eyes, he found himself standing, as if teleported, right between Deventh and the source of the pinkish glow: A wall of vines which obstructed the entrance to another room.


    ¡°What took you so long?¡± Deventh asked, his arms crossed over his chest. Equally unimpassioned as his tone was the metal which concealed his expression. Ardmy was surprised he hadn¡¯t taken off his mask in the stifling heat.


    ¡°I, uh...¡± Ardmy said as he inexplicably found himself out of breath. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He shook his head in confusion, his eyes shut tightly. When he opened them again, Deventh was gone. Rustling sounded from behind him, and as he turned around, he saw the glowing vines swinging left and right. Ardmy pulled back the curtain to peer inside, revealing a long tunnel. The vines which formed the curtain, accompanied by a network of tendrils, crept along the walls throughout to illuminate the path.


    Bioluminescent blue mushrooms popped up between them, the colors blending into a soft purple where they overlapped--were he not in a state of such confusion, Ardmy might have taken a pause to admire its beauty. Between the overgrown walls, the light revealed Deventh, who was nearing the end of the tunnel where a corner formed. Ardmy squinted in disbelief--Mere seconds had passed since the two were standing face-to-face.


    ¡°He was just...¡± Ardmy turned around again and found himself almost relieved to find his expectations unfulfilled. ¡°Well, he¡¯s definitely not here anymore.¡± The Gildvar sighed, expelling his reluctance as he peered into the tunnel once more. After a moment¡¯s hesitance, he took his first step inside and was grateful to discover no unpleasant surprises awaiting him beyond the threshold.


    A calming warmth spread throughout Ardmy¡¯s body as he basked in the vibrant light. His eyes widened in awe and wonder as he continued through the tunnel. Not until his cheeks stung with strain did he discover his ear-to-ear grin, having forgotten his worries¡ªhaving forgotten Deventh, and having forgotten why he came to wherever he was.


    A bout of giggles tickled his mind and bubbled up through him as he reached up and patted his face with a contented sigh. Moments later he found himself overcome with intense embarrassment, hoping no one witnessed his moment of uninhibited joy. He tried to shake the prickly sensation from his head, but could only ward off the laughter for a short duration.


    Soft laughter bubbled up again as Ardmy¡¯s legs carried him further and further, as if on their own. The moment he turned the corner, the colors began to swirl around him. Blue and pink mixed deeper together to create spirals of purple as turquoise spots flashed and faded. Despite an eerie sensation which loomed at the back of his skull, he couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from the beauty, and he couldn¡¯t stop himself from moving forward.


    ¡°Am I dreaming?¡± he murmured, looking down at his hands; they were remarkably normal. Shaking the thought from his head, he traced the path ahead to what appeared to be the exit to the tunnel, adorned with another curtain of vines. The intensifying sound of running water caused his ears to twitch with curiosity. After a few more steps, he continued through without hesitation, beyond the curtain and into a vast, open cavern. The sight which he beheld within left him speechless, motionless, for quite some time upon entering.


    Surrounding him on all sides were vast walls entirely covered by crystals of every color imaginable, as if he were standing in the core of a massive geode. Light streamed in from a crack in the ceiling, refracted in every direction through a giant crystal. Glimmering specks of colored light dotted the raised stone platform upon which he stood.


    The Gildvar found himself humbled by the opportunity to stumble upon such beauty that few were likely to ever witness. Feeling infinitesimal among his breathtaking surroundings, he moved in further to get a better view.


    The crystals shimmered with each step he took. Lost in a font of visual bliss, his ears had drowned out the roaring water that followed him through all the twists and turns of the cave system. Only at that moment did they find the source.


    To the right of the room, a small waterfall flowed out of a circular hole in the crystal wall and into a protrusion which formed a natural spring. The water overflowed into a stream overlooked by the platform. A jagged crevice cut the room in two, carrying the stream to an outlet on the other end.


    Beyond that opening, however, the continuing tunnel was much too dark for Ardmy to see. Once his eyes finished tracing the water¡¯s path, he looked forward and found his eyes set upon a simple wooden bridge which joined the platform to another identical one across the way.


    At the opposite end he found another opening in the wall, perhaps another exit. Despite wanting more than anything to stay and admire the crystalline room, he was in a hurry to leave; when he tried to remember why, he couldn¡¯t.


    Nevertheless, Ardmy proceeded to the bridge, all the while turning his head every which way to take in every last bit of the splendor all around him. Another contented sigh escaped him. At the very same moment, he set his foot down on the creaking wooden boards. In an instant, all the light and dancing colors that had surrounded him vanished, swallowed by a pitch-black void.


    ¡°H-hello?¡± Ardmy called out. The open air of the cavern seemed to have shrunk to a bubble, muting the sound of the running water and trapping his quaking voice close to him. A sudden chill tightened every muscle in body. The room grew colder until his quickened breaths billowed before him. Alone in the shroud of darkness, his mind became clear, and he remembered why he was there.


    ¡°Deventh?¡± He called as he broke out in violent shivers. His cries rippled and modulated as they reached his ears. Unrecognizable, the waves of sound trickled into his synapses and solidified into a disembodied hand which grabbed hold of his mind. The ringing in his ears perched itself at the highest threshold of frequency, soft yet piercing all the same as the hand ripped something away from him.


    A surge of colors rushed in, like reflections from the facets of a geode, feeding its own continuous acceleration and flooding every inch of space. A blinding light claimed the entire room, leaving everything blurred and indistinct. The only force that hoped and dared to contend with the overwhelming brightness was the deafening roar of the water, once more uninhibited. Time slipped from his grasp, no longer an object, immeasurable.


    The surge came to an abrupt end.


    Bright white light hung suspended in the air. It slowly descended in a distorted, geometric ooze. As it trickled away, so too did the sound of the waterfall fade. The light gathered in a jagged pool which evaporated in millions of tiny shapes of all different colors. When the last one faded, once more an impenetrable darkness wrapped the lone figure in its embrace.


    A pair of emerald eyes blinked behind two rows of ginger eyelashes. A pair of ears observed nothing but the sound of breath as a cold-stung nose filled a pair of lungs with life-giving oxygen. A heart pulsed, pumping blood to dozens of organs to fulfill their unprompted, intrinsic tasks. A tongue pressed against the roof of a dry mouth, locking away a voice that had nothing to say. Every piece of the collective hid beneath, or sat embedded within, a wrapping of golden skin that tightened to form bumps as the frigid breeze swept past.


    A hand emerged from within the skull, carrying something with it. The eyes blinked again, and when they opened once more, they were blind. The something observed the collective from the outside, alone in a sea of darkness. It gazed upon it, tracing the features of a face, locks of red hair, and a scruffy beard. After mere seconds of observation, it found itself overcome with despair and loneliness, despite being unsure why.


    A sudden pang rose from the pit of the stomach¨Cand the something felt it. The emerald eyes blinked in flutters. The golden hands clutched the red hair atop the head, strands flowing between fingers. It could feel the heart racing, the softness of the hair, the lump the throat couldn¡¯t swallow, try as it might. It could feel everything.


    At that moment, it realized its part in the collective, the very same as the heart, lungs, or eyes. Symbiotic as they were designed, the two would never amount to anything on their own. Despair and loneliness, too, only took form when they were together. What irony, it thought, as it knew it would never be free of such ills while the collective continued to exist, but that each would cease to exist if the other did as well.


    Deciding then that it wanted to see no more, the something implored the hand to return it to the skull. It nestled itself in the dark cage of bone and fluid, safe and warm where it was meant to be.


    The eyes blinked again, and once more, there was Ardmy. His body had stiffened, shivering uncontrollably, and the pitch blackness still surrounded him. His hands still clutched his head, gripping strands of disheveled hair that clung to the sweat of his palms. Heavy, shaken breaths billowed in front of him in a white cloud of condensation ¨C just as before.


    ¡°Gods...¡± he choked to himself, bringing his hands down in front of him to inspect them. They were remarkably normal.


    Ardmy collapsed to his knees. He pressed his palms to the cold stone floor, curling his fingers and squeezing his eyes shut. Slower and shallower breaths made smaller and lighter puffs which shrunk as the temperature began to rise. As the warmth set in, a speck of light burned through his eyelids, coaxing them open. Walls like the core of a geode once again glittered all around him, the reflections of their multicolored facets dotting the floor. He breathed a trembling sigh of relief.


    The sudden sensation of another presence left him stunned. A firm hand gripped his right shoulder, familiar and comforting like a friend offering reassurance. Before he thought to turn around and see who had approached, a strong arm wrapped itself around his left shoulder. Something cold, thin, and sharp pressed against his throat, with just enough force that should he make one wrong move, it could easily cut through. A hand that sported a rather unusual glove held the blade in place.


    ¡°Deventh?¡± his voice trembled, and the remainder of his breath trickled out quivering as he glanced down at the strange glove. Glints of seafoam green, purple, and bronze reflected from the iridescent blade onto its dark leather and brass accents. Ardmy found himself frozen, his chest tightening with dread. Try as he did not to move at all, he gulped, and in doing so forced the blade to dig into his skin. Tiny drops of warm blood trickled down his neck. The presumed Deventh said nothing.


    ¡°Please say something,¡± Ardmy reduced his voice to a whisper so as not to push the blade further into his throat. Following the trickling trails of blood was a peculiar warmth which flooded his entire body. A stiff numbness in each of his limbs soon replaced that warmth. ¡°Even if you¡¯re going to kill me, tell me why first.¡± Silence gave way to the water¡¯s roar as Ardmy awaited a response to his plea.


    ¡°Very well,¡± Deventh answered. Ardmy half-hoped for the resemblance to be pure coincidence, but his friend¡¯s voice ¨C deep, and always somewhat gravelly with fatigue ¨C was unmistakable. ¡°As your friend, I can oblige. Z¨¦ah needed something a bit harder to get, along with the pigs¡¯ tusks. It¡¯s not that I had you in mind in particular ¨C had you gone to Ravengarde, anyone else would have suited just fine. Wrong place at the wrong time again, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°And the ¨C Everything I just saw,¡± Ardmy said, ¡°Did you poison me?¡±


    ¡°Does it matter?¡±


    ¡°No. Just curious. You know how I am.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Deventh concluded. ¡°Yes. I nicked your elbow with a hallucinogenic concentrate. Was there anything else?¡±


    ¡°Only my regret for being so foolish.¡± Ardmy closed his eyes. ¡°I truly did believe I¡¯d found a friend for once.¡±


    Another pause filled the air with silence as Ardmy¡¯s ears tuned into the gentle flow of running water. After a moment, the Dronvar spoke his final words to Ardmy, his voice eerily comforting.


    ¡°That is quite a shame.¡± In one swift movement, Deventh swiped the blade across Ardmy¡¯s throat, cutting deep into the flesh. The poison, having rendered the fatal slash painless, left him with nothing more to do but gasp for air. Blood splashed against the floor with soft, rainlike pats. Footsteps traveled from behind him to in front, a distorted echo fluttering around the source. Widened, glassy eyes rolled up to behold a towering, impenitent Deventh, who crossed his arms in front of his chest as though he were simply waiting. Although his mask concealed his face, it hid nothing.


    Ardmy¡¯s vision flickered and faded from black to blur. He kept his eyes on Deventh, who slowly reduced to nothing more than a monstrous blob of shadow. After a merciful release from the paralysis of the poison, Ardmy fell to his side, watching the soft, blurred dots of color as they danced across the floor. A pool of blood had amassed all around him, and he had no more to give. Warm comfort swelled through him, numbing the stinging cold of blood loss as he relinquished himself.


    The hand emerged from the skull once more, carrying the something away.

 8-2: Yours Forever

    Unforgiving. Jessa awoke with a single word etched into her mind. The morning light extended its greetings ¨C welcome or not ¨C through stark white curtains which dared to hide little. The University liked to encourage early risers, and such installments were irritatingly effective. The light which trickled in drew shining streaks across the polished wood floor and revealed motes of dust hanging in the air.


    Jessa fought her eyes open and sat up, hanging her legs over the side of the bed. As she set her first foot down, the echo of the floor¡¯s creaking bounced across the vast walls and lofty ceiling of the dorm room. Faintly winning over the dusty scent of old books was that of butter and maple, prompting Jessa to make a mental note not to miss breakfast.


    She did, however, have much more pressing matters to attend to first. Hoping to speak with Elyza before carrying on with her day, she wasted no time dressing herself and brushing her hair. The hallway, abuzz with its first signs of life, greeted her as she stepped out. Echoing footsteps accompanied the murmurs of students ¨C those passing along the balcony as well as those within the library which it overlooked. Having found herself in pause as she took in the comfort of the University¡¯s liveliness, Jessa realized she¡¯d forgotten something.


    She gave a slight gasp and rushed back into her room. Mere seconds later, she emerged, hopping on one foot and holding up the other as she struggled into a shoe. A group of students eyed her with caution as she lost her balance, hopping forward in their direction to keep from stumbling and falling over. They stepped out of the way, and she narrowly missed plummeting into them.


    ¡°Sorry, sorry! Just in a hurry,¡± Jessa squeaked as she caught her balance. Noticing she¡¯d gotten rather close to the edge of the balcony as a result of her blunder, she peered down over the balustrade as she took a moment to catch her breath. Forearms resting on the handrail, she clasped her hands together and beheld the grand library below.


    Walls lined with towering oak bookshelves enclosed a spacious, yet intimate, rectangular room. A tasseled red rug with an intricate floral pattern covered the entirety of the hardwood floor. Gold accents were weaved into the fibers. Scattered throughout the room were numerous cushioned armchairs, some situated beside each other, and others with end tables. Students lounged around with their noses buried in open books. Jessa recalled countless nights studying there, at first alone, then with Elyza.


    After lingering a bit longer to clear her idle thoughts, Jessa wasted not another moment returning to her task. With a yawn and a quick stretch of her arms over her head, she took a step away from the balustrade to continue down the hall. Holding the handrail as she glided along, she took a left turn at the far end and found herself at Elyza¡¯s door.


    Jessa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Hesitation held her trembling hand back from knocking on the door. Her face flushed as an overwhelming anxiety eclipsed her body. Flashes of her memory returned from her interview with the guild; it had been quite some time since such intense nervousness befell her. Taking comfort in the result of her efforts last time, she reached out and knocked on the door. It clicked ajar behind the gentle tap of her hand.


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    ¡°Elyza?¡± Jessa called out, met with no response.


    She pushed the door open until it revealed the room in full. Her stomach dropped when she found no one there. Elyza wasn¡¯t the type to awaken early, aside from exams and special occasions, neither of which she¡¯d mentioned. Whatever the case, if she was already gone for the day, Jessa would need to wait until the end of classes to catch up with her again.


    As she continued to peer into the room, Jessa spotted something on the dresser. She couldn¡¯t quite make out what it was, but it served to weigh down a folded piece of paper. She entered the room and, turning her head in all directions, took slow and cautious steps toward the object of interest.


    Closer proximity revealed it to be a lump of dried clay, shaped in a crude attempt to make a doll. Jessa laughed to herself as the crooked face carved into it did indeed mark it as one of Elyza¡¯s own creations. This moment of delight faded in an instant when her eyes happened upon the paper beneath it, which read essa.


    Her stomach dropped again as the previous night¡¯s troubles came back to her. Hundreds of questions rushed forth to overshadow her thoughts, and she reminded herself that she might quell them if only she would read the note. Her cold, shaking hands set aside the doll, revealing the letter J preceding the other letters. Elyza¡¯s hurried handwriting awaited her as she unfolded the letter.


    My Beloved Jessa,


    I must leave urgently. It is doubtful that I will return. Since I am hopelessly inclined to soothe your questions, worries, and objections, I must write this letter rather than speaking face-to-face.


    First of all, I¡¯ve reconsidered¨Cif your guild makes you happy, then it will be a wonderful start to your journey outside the confines under which you¡¯ve lived for far too long. Please grow there and flourish into the glistening ray of sunshine I see in the genuine, unbridled you.


    My own plans, in contrast, have changed. I will not be graduating from the University. I will never become a court wizard. My fate has aligned with something far more important I must become. But in my doing this, we cannot be together. I understand you may be confused and hurt, and those ills may blind you of your faith that I will always do what is best for both of us. Though I cannot explain further, please trust in me as you always have.


    Above all, I ask you to never forget that I love you. Please do not wait for me, and know searching is futile. You will never find me should you look.


    I am sorry that a thousand promises may very well die here. But I will make a new promise to you and be sure to keep it: no matter what is to come, you will never suffer by my hand again.


    Yours forever,


    Elyza


    Jessa stood unmoving, unblinking as she finished reading the note. She proceeded to reread it multiple times, searching for any clues Elyza might have left behind ¡ª but her partner was far too vigilant to leave anything unchecked, unless she wanted to leave a hint. Jessa closed her eyes and, to her bewilderment, nothing else came to her. Neither the beckon of tears nor the pangs of anxiety dared to pester her. As far back as she could remember, it may have been the first time her mind was ever so clear.

 8-3: The Man-Pig

    Deventh sighed. He had completely lost sight of Ardmy, who had, perplexingly, gotten ahead of him.


    As he stood at the intersection of a myriad of branching tunnels, he checked in chalk the direction from which he came. He cursed to himself, however, as he came to the realization that the patterns in the rock looked familiar. He had been in this cavern before, but he could have sworn he had left a trailing mark. He then heard Ardmy¡¯s voice call out from behind him.


    ¡°Deventh, what are you doing? Hurry up, I think I found what we¡¯re looking for.¡± His voice seemed to come from three directions at once, and Deventh had trouble deciding which one to follow. Something was off, but he couldn¡¯t trust his senses.


    ¡°Perhaps Anna was right,¡± he said to himself as he stifled a yawn. ¡°My lack of sleep must be getting to me.¡±


    Despite not knowing whether he had taken it before, he started down the middle tunnel. He checked behind himself often, half expecting the room to shift and change. As he progressed, the space darkened until blue mushrooms provided the only source of light. Whereas only the dripping of water from stalactites had filled the silence before, a dull roar now increased in volume. This tunnel was different.


    ¡°Water?¡± Deventh wondered aloud as he tilted his head to one side. He couldn¡¯t help but smile as his anxiety faded. He had been wondering if he would ever find his way out of the tunnels, feeling as if he¡¯d been following his friend¡¯s voice in circles for hours. Yet, when he checked his timekeeping device, only thirty minutes had passed. The slight change in environment bestowed upon him a renewed sense of motivation.


    Not long after, however, a new uncertainty gave him pause. Beyond the roar of the water, something else clicked rhythmically like hooves on cobblestone. It echoed from the walls as it grew closer. Soon, his ears picked up another faint and gentle sound: short, snorting breaths.


    Deventh¡¯s pulse quickened. He was prepared to fight a woolly boar before when he had the advantage of range and height, but in the cramped confines of the tunnel, he doubted whether he possessed the strength, cleverness, and insanity required to take one on without the use of poison.


    Pulling a dagger out of its sheath, he resumed his trek forward until a third noise, in contrast to the others, filled the cave with its presence. A roar of sorts, it fell somewhere between the shout of a man and the squeal of a pig. Never had he heard such a disconcerting cry, but a sudden movement left him with no time ponder the thought further. He stepped to the side, pressing his body against the wall as a furry shape blurred past his position in a massive charge.


    Deventh hesitated as the creature stopped to turn itself about. Genuine awe struck him when he grasped the sight of the creature ¡ª the man-pig. Covered in thick, shaggy fur, he possessed the head, tail, and rear hooves of a boar, but the hands, arms, and torso of a man. Shirtless and spattered with dirt, he wore only trousers which hung loosely on his hips. The man-pig gave another eerie roar before he charged again, and Deventh sidestepped once more to avoid the impact. The creature grew wise and took a swipe at him, connecting with his face.


    Deventh winced and fell back against the wall. He brought his hand up to his eye as a finger jabbed at it through the opening in his mask. At that moment, a faint blue glow emanated from the prongs on his utility glove, and the grizzled face of a man appeared before him along with a furless hand in the shape of a fist. Unprepared for the sudden appearance of a second man, Deventh took the brunt of the hit straight to his cheek. Had he not already been pushed up against the wall, he would have stumbled back; instead, he allowed his knees to buckle, and his body dropped to avoid the second fist.


    The man howled as his knuckles split against the hard stone. Deventh looked up expecting to see a human face, but as the glow of his glove dissipated, he instead gazed upon the man-pig as it waved its pained hand about.


    Pieces of the puzzle were beginning to connect. With a careful step to his left followed by a short hop, Deventh managed to avoid more punches. It didn¡¯t attack like a feral beast. Its moves were planned, calculated. This only served to reinforce Deventh¡¯s suspicions, and as he continued to dodge blow after blow, he placed his hand to his face.


    The faint glow emanated once more, and the form of the man-pig blurred and dissolved. Fur disintegrated, tusks sloughed off, revealing the face of the man he had seen before. Blue, intelligent eyes stared back at him along with unkempt, long brown hair and a shaggy beard which, at one point, was obviously a well-trimmed goatee. Darkness and movement obscured the rest.


    He came in for another swing, but Deventh caught the blow with his free hand. It was clear the man was weak and malnourished, thus, without too much effort, Deventh used the momentum to pull him forward and step behind him. He kept control of the man¡¯s arm, and once he had locked it behind his back, he pinned him to the wall.


    ¡°Easy!¡± Deventh shouted into his ear, fighting against his frantic writhing. The creature had begun to regrow its fur and pig¡¯s head, and Deventh realized there was something more than just a spell causing the illusions. Rather, a constant magical effect held them in place, one which needed concentration to maintain.


    The man threw his head back, knocking Deventh on the nose. He winced and cursed, but he managed to maintain the pin he held against his assailant.


    ¡°I said, easy! I¡¯m not going to hurt you unless you keep this up!¡±


    ¡°Liar!¡± the man yelled, trying to push against the wall with his free hand. ¡°You fucking gnomes are going to pay! I¡¯ll kill every last one of you!¡±


    ¡°Gnomes?¡± Deventh replied as his brow furrowed. In his momentary confusion, he wasn¡¯t prepared for the man to strike again. His vision went black as motes of bright light popped into and out of existence in front of him, and he cupped his hand over his nose.


    While he was distracted, the man managed to escape his grasp and leapt away with a stumble. Deventh sprung away from him and noticed him panting and brandishing a dagger.


    Deventh immediately reached for his belt. His hand found the empty spot where his own dagger should have been, and he realized why the iridescent sheen seemed so familiar. An overwhelming sense of unease gripped his chest, but he stared steely-eyed at the man-pig and held his hands up with palms facing out.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you, but you need to put the da¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, the creature took a lunge at him. He stepped back out of reach.


    ¡°Die, you filth!¡± the creature squealed with another failed lunge. Deventh shoved him aside.


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    The man-pig stumbled over a rock and fell to the ground. He yelped, and the dagger skittered across the floor out of reach. A slew of curses poured out as he grabbed his shin, and in his muddle he¡¯d left an opening for the Dronvar to pin him under the weight of his knee.


    With one hand, the Dronvar forced his head against the ground. With the other, the same hand that had paused the illusion, he placed his knuckles against his assailant¡¯s temple.


    ¡°Look at me,¡± Deventh said, but the creature didn¡¯t listen. Instead, he clawed at his arms and face, attempting to remove his mask. Annoyed and frustrated, Deventh drove his thumb into the soft spot between the man¡¯s collar bones, a pressure point that had proven useful to him many times. He coughed and choked as his airway was closed off abruptly. Hands clasped around his throat, his incapacity allowed Deventh to focus on breaking the illusion.


    "Look at me!¡± he commanded once more. As he regained his composure, the man looked at Deventh, the waxy gloss disappearing from his eyes. His eyebrows raised in shock, and his mouth hung open.


    ¡°What is this? You¡¯re not a gnome?¡± he asked with ragged breath.


    ¡°No,¡± Deventh said, keeping his hand on the confused creature¡¯s temple. ¡°I¡¯m not, nor have I seen one since I entered this cave. If I let you go, are you going to attack me?¡±


    The man shook his head as much as he could muster under Deventh¡¯s grip.


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Deventh stood up and backed away. The man rolled over onto his hands and knees and coughed, thankful to be able to take in a full breath. Shaking, he stood up and winced. He grabbed his shin once more and cringed as the dark red stains of blood reflected the dim light on his hand.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Deventh asked. He had collected his dagger and sheathed it as the man acknowledged his question.


    ¡°Julien. Julien Montrose,¡± he answered.


    ¡°Well met, Julien. I apologize for the cut; I wasn¡¯t trying to harm you.¡±


    ¡°No, the fault is no one¡¯s but those damn gnomes,¡± Julien said as he sat down on a nearby boulder. Bringing his knee up to his chest, he tore a loose scrap of cloth from the bottom of his trousers. He wrapped his bloodied shin and tied off the ends. ¡°I should be thanking you, anyway. If it weren¡¯t for you, I would have never realized I was under an illusion. That¡¯s a unique glove you have.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Deventh said, revealing a smile as he put away his mask. ¡°But we aren¡¯t out of here yet. If there are gnomes, then we need to take care of them, otherwise their magic will have us roaming around chasing geese.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in no state to fight. I could hardly defend myself from you.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean you. There¡¯s one other who came with me, but I lost him. Not sure when. I thought I was following him here, but it would seem that was an illusion as well.¡± Deventh brought his hand up to his chin, which he pinched between two fingers while resting his elbow in his other hand.


    ¡°Do you think you can find him?¡± Julien asked, now seated cross-legged. Steam rose from his snout and drool dripped from his lips.


    ¡°Yes.¡± He said as he lined up his thoughts, forming plans and ideas with branching paths until he found one to settle on. ¡°I hope. Do you know your way around?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t even know how long I¡¯ve been here. Feels like months, and every time I walk down a passage I¡¯ve never seen before I end up in the same place.¡±


    ¡°Then you and I will have to keep moving forward. If we run into a dead end, we¡¯ll backtrack to the entrance, and hopefully we will find my friend on the way.¡±


    ¡°And if we find the gnomes instead of your friend?¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m not bothered by the prospect of killing them.¡±


    The two had traveled in relative peace after they agreed to wander together. While the illusion placed on Julien had yet to wear off, it seemed to be affecting only his body for the time being. Still, Deventh couldn¡¯t help but feel on edge. He had yet to find Ardmy, and he worried that the longer he waited, the greater the likelihood was that he wouldn¡¯t find him.


    ¡°So,¡± Julien¡¯s voice echoed through the chamber from ahead. ¡°Your friend, what does he look like? You never mentioned his name or his looks.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got auburn hair and a goatee. Roughly the same height as me. He should be easy to hear, if not spot,¡± Deventh chuckled to himself. ¡°He¡¯s a Gildvar, named Ardmy. One of the few I know personally.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re close, then?¡± Julien asked. The dim light of glowing vines creeping along the wall illuminated his curious expression, or as curious an expression the face of a beast could create.


    ¡°Not quite. We enjoy each other¡¯s company, is all.¡±


    ¡°I see. Is he the one who dragged you in here?¡±


    Deventh paused. He hadn¡¯t thought about it until now, but he had been the one to enter first. He¡¯d assumed Ardmy¡¯s voice to indicate that he had followed him in, but he never looked back to check. The new revelation of illusions at play doubled his uncertainty, and a twinge of guilt settled like a rock in his stomach.


    ¡°No. He didn¡¯t even want to enter.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And you two are friends?¡± Julien wanted to chuckle, but thought better of it, instead letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°Well, far be it from me to comment on how others handle their relationships. How did you two meet?¡± He stepped over a hole in the floor, through which the soft, faint sounds of running water could be heard.


    ¡°He was being framed.¡±


    ¡°By you?¡± A snorting laugh slipped from Julien¡¯s snout.


    ¡°No, by a competitor. Ardmy is an alchemist, and someone decided to use that against him and try to frame him for poisoning some meat in a market.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Julien asked, his curiosity as piggish as his form. ¡± I don¡¯t see alchemy as being a cutthroat business.¡± Deventh chuckled, surprised by his naivety.


    ¡°You would be shocked at how remunerative the medicinal smuggling industry is. Most pay no mind to it, since they believe they do more good than ill. That doesn¡¯t stop cravens from peddling their snake oils and saltwater tonics.¡±


    Julien paused, the echo of his footsteps disappearing into the depths of the glowing tunnel. He turned his head back to Deventh and pierced him with a questioning gaze.


    ¡°So Ardmy wasn¡¯t involved in this industry?¡± he asked, resuming his trek forward as he turned to face ahead.


    ¡°No, in fact, the man who wanted to frame Ardmy had a bounty on his head. He was selling a cure-all, claiming it to be blessed by priests and popes. In reality, it had additives which ended up causing a rather colorful assortment of maladies in those who took it.¡±


    ¡°And you were involved, how, exactly?¡±


    ¡°I was after the bounty. Luckily, I managed to find the man as he was in the midst of trying to incriminate Ardmy. Someone had been poisoning the town¡¯s meat, and he tried to plant evidence that would have implicated Ardmy with the crime. He wasn¡¯t even aware he was being framed until I had told him, having found his name among the false evidence.¡±


    ¡°He must have had quite the series of emotions hearing all of that! So, you two hit it off, then?¡±


    ¡°He bought me an ale and said I could come to him for any alchemical needs whenever and wherever. He has a knack for finding rare ingredients within Nelthemar. Since then, we¡¯ve shared a lot together.¡± Retreating into his thoughts, Deventh fiddled with a loose hinge on his glove. He never thought much about their friendship, but as he recounted how they had met, he felt a pang of nostalgia, as well as comfort. These quickly turned to guilt, however, when he recalled the initial reason they were here. The deafening quiet was soon broken by the rush of running water.


    ¡°Well,¡± Julien said as he approached a curtain of vines glowing with a pink luminescence. ¡°I hope we find him, then. Before the gnomes do.¡±


    Deventh nodded. He took note of the tiny rainbow flecks reflecting onto Julien, muted by the glow of the vines. They appeared to be coming from the room on the other side.


    ¡°After you,¡± he said as he pulled back the vines, clearing the way forward.


    Deventh stepped through and froze in his tracks. His gaze didn¡¯t wander across the geodic walls. He didn¡¯t admire the shimmering light reflecting from them, refracted through a massive crystal beneath a small crack in the ceiling. He didn¡¯t gasp at the sight of water seeping from a patch of crystals into a spring which overflowed into a rocky stream.


    Rather, all of his focus had fallen upon the bloodied body of his friend Ardmy, lying face first on the cold floor.


    ¡°Deventh?¡± He heard his name called out, but the sound of his pulse thumping in his head muted the voice. He held his forehead in his hand, trying to drown out the noise and focus, but he found himself in the grasp of wispy memories. He remembered the room in all its glistening splendor; He had been there. He remembered his hand on the Gildvar¡¯s shoulder, and his arm around his neck. The rest appeared in flashes; the swipe of the blade, the pouring of blood, the life fading from his eyes ¨C Deventh remembered all but the words that were said.

 9-1: The Immortal Eccentric

    Gray clouds spread a misty drizzle through the thick evergreen forest. A blanket of fog draped over the ground, enshrouding the tree trunks and slowing the passage of the only individual venturous enough to stray a dozen miles north off the guiding bends of Oakenhaven¡¯s thoroughfare. Mud sloshed against hooves as the lone rider coaxed his mount forward at a cautious, yet steady pace. Exhausted nigh to the point of collapse, he rubbed his stinging eyes and squinted in a vain attempt to see more than a few feet in front of him. Not too much further now, he thought to himself, unaware that he was mouthing the words as well.


    Twenty more minutes passed as the weary rider pressed on to the crest of the grassy slope. From there, the massive stretch of Oakenhaven¡¯s northern border mountains spanned his entire view. A translucent mist drifted across their peaks; The fog had otherwise deflated into a swirling haze across the ground. The last determined ray of the setting sun penetrated the overcast sky, casting a beam upon a narrow opening in the mountainside. Gravel crunched underfoot as grass faded into rock and dirt the further he proceeded.


    He wasn¡¯t sure what he hated more ¨C the cold which ached his joints and pained his bones, or the perpetual dampness which lingered in the air and swelled his skin. Those detestations only grew in intensity as he traveled into the cave. For a few dozen yards he kept his slow pace, ensuring that setting his foot on a slicked rock wouldn¡¯t end his trek.


    After minutes of drudgery, the cave widened into a massive cavern. It stretched for hundreds of yards, forming a circle around a gaping hole in the ceiling. From the skylight, a waterfall flowed into a shallow pond, whose shores were lined with cave pearls immeasurable in size and quantity. Helictite formations grew away from the opening in spindly, wiry patterns.


    Around the pond, where the twilight¡¯s glow managed to reach, grew conifer and birch trees. The music of birds paired well with the waterfall¡¯s droning static. Discarded pinecones fell from a branch where a squirrel was busy eating its meal, and minnows darted away as the man passed by the pool of water. Despite being underneath the mountains of Oakenhaven, the cave was still teeming with life.


    This wondrous display of nature¡¯s persistence, fighting to survive in a remote sanctuary, was an interesting parallel to the cavern¡¯s true residents who lived beyond the gate. Far from the prying eyes of civilization, the entire refuge was wrapped in the warm embrace of safety, where the cavernous walls echoed promises of survival.


    A stone gate blocked the path forward. Situated on pedestals at either side were two gargoyles, each the size of a well-fed troll. As the man approached, their heads snapped to attention, and they centered their glowing eyes on him. He neither moved nor flinched. He was told what to expect before coming and was prepared for the unique reception. The first one¡¯s mouth moved, and from it came forth a gravely voice.


    ¡°You who seeketh entry, state your intent or turn back.¡± The eyes of both gargoyles turned red as the one finished speaking. From their positions kneeling on their pedestals, they stood and stepped forward, towering over the intruder to their home.


    ¡°I am Maestus, seeking audience with Lord Cedric. I was to be expected,¡± he said in a calm, deep voice. Upon receipt of the lord¡¯s name, the animated statues halted in place. Their eyes shifted from red to blue, and the light pulsed thrice. The opposing statue opened its mouth.


    ¡°Hail, Maestus. You are earlier than expected.¡± A curious twitch pulled at the corner of Maestus¡¯ brow. He had arrived on time, no more and no less, but thought better of correcting the stone-crafted servant.


    ¡°Take pity on him, Lanowyn,¡± said the other. ¡°He knows not the customs of our lord and his coven.¡± Moss green flickered and faded to red once more as the two statues fixed on him, unmoving once more. Sweat beaded along Maestus¡¯ forehead, his visage growing paler with each second of their scrutiny.


    ¡°You exude the fear of death, even as a necromancer,¡± Lanowyn said, stone crackling as he flitted his demonic wings. ¡°Such cowardice in the presence of Lord Cedric is unthinkable. What is your judgment, Franowyn?¡±


    ¡°I surmise his feeble spirit will only spell trouble. Surely we must dispose of such a craven necrophiliac,¡± Lanowyn¡¯s opposite concluded, raising a claw to his chin in mock contemplation. After suffering their volley long enough, Maestus broke in.


    ¡°Necromancer.¡± What traces remained of lively color in his face vanished. The red of Franowyn¡¯s eyes intensified to blinding beams as he stared down at the sullen man.


    ¡°You would dare to correct me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I would.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps the mortal has some fighting spirit after all,¡± Lanowyn chimed in. ¡°Do let him have this one, Franowyn, as there is a distinction between the two. I believe his apprentice is the one who is the... Necrophiliac.¡±


    ¡°And what, pray tell, is the difference?¡±


    ¡°Well, you see, a necromancer raises the dead.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°And the other... Gets raised by the dead, if you will.¡±


    ¡°I beg your pardon?¡±


    ¡°Aroused.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my.¡±


    Upon giving his response, Franowyn¡¯s eyes dulled. Piercing red beams faded to a deep, glowing amber. From the same mouth spoke a different voice, one much smoother, more affable.


    ¡°Thank you both for entertaining our guest while I made the final preparations for his visit. Maestus, I do apologize for the delay. I try my best to be punctual in my meetings with mortals, especially after the twenty-year nap incident. Please, let these two lead you through the gate. Emeric will take your horse.¡±


    The amber glow faded to moss green again. Both gargoyles regarded each other with their gaze and made a quarter-turn in perfect unison. They reached out toward the stone gate, which was much heavier than any human could hope to move. Four deep recessions, two on each side, housed inserts of colored marble at the front which were carved into intricate scenes of vampiric rituals. Behind them, panels of stained glass filled the background space.


    Lanowyn and Franowyn laid their palms flat against the stone doors. Light effloresced around their clawed hands, and soon the gate itself was imbued with it as well. Shafts of every color cast themselves upon the marble figures, breathing life into the stories of the undead. The moment fled when the light dissipated as quickly as it had appeared. A twinge of disappointment dropped in Maestus¡¯ stomach. Heavy, sluggish scrapes groaned from the begrudging doors as the two stone servants pushed the gate open.


    The sharp, towering points of a grand castle overlooked a lush courtyard in its shadow. Flying buttresses held fast to its walls, flaunting intricate carvings along every edge, point, and arc. Rose panels crowned the pointed arch windows, blackened to prohibit the entry of light; a striking opposite, Maestus noted, of the objective toward which similar structures aimed. Smaller, inanimate gargoyles sat perched beside each window.


    Paving stones of black slate traced the way from the gate lined with rose bushes. Although it was early in the season, the flowers revealed their deep burgundy petals in full bloom. Having been consumed by the breathtaking magnificence around him, Maestus did not immediately notice the young man who had approached him. His face was shadowed under the protection of a thick woolen hood.


    ¡°Greetings, sir,¡± said the presumed Emeric, strands of platinum blond hair falling over his shoulders as he gave a full bow. Holding out a slender, gloved hand, he met Maestus¡¯ tired gaze with a glint of expectancy in his blood red eyes. ¡°I will bring your horse to the stable.¡± Mesmerized by the haunting presence of this creature ¨C quite like any young man, yet far from human ¨C Maestus hesitated before handing over the lead. The young man bowed again, gesturing for him to continue.


    As Maestus followed the paving stones on foot, he took in the sights and colors of the garden. Trees and flowers flourished all around, scents both sweet and earthy wafting from them, and it was apparent that every leaf and petal was cared for with great diligence. At its center, the path split four ways around a massive tiered fountain more than twice his height. The dribbling of water delighted his ears, but he only stopped for a moment before moving forward.


    Minutes later, he approached a set of stairs leading up to the arched, overhanging doorway. Marble figures stood inlaid into thin recesses on each side, their gestures cast downward onto the onlooker. Maestus looked up at them ¨C stalwart men with commanding, confident expressions, beautiful women with welcoming, seductive presence, and to his curiosity, some grotesque, ghoulish creatures, bald and emaciated ¨C and their presence enraptured him. Before they could close in on him, the wooden door whined on its hinges as it opened. A fair, hooded woman welcomed him in the threshold, her skin smooth and white. Her lip rouge matched her eyes, the same scarlet as Emeric¡¯s, and her raven hair matched her silken maid¡¯s robes, which revealed nothing of her figure just as her face revealed no emotion.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± she said, a subdued sultriness in her voice, ¡°Lord Cedric will see you in his study. Please, follow me.¡± She held the door open for Maestus. An eerie silence accompanied their footsteps as the woman guided him through the foyer and into a narrow hallway with lofty, vaulted ceilings. Bright, warm torchlight drew Maestus¡¯ eyes to paintings of named figures unrecognizable in any well-known Nelthrin history. They continued down a spiral staircase until they reached a door, and the woman gave a polite knock. Maestus recognized the once-Nelthrin man who answered, just as young as he appeared when they first met twenty years ago.


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    ¡°You¡¯ve made it,¡± said Cedric, his smile revealing his fangs as he fiddled with the ruffled cuff of his black and blue brocade doublet. ¡°Do come in.¡± Maestus stepped forward, and Cedric closed the door behind them. Inside the vast, open library, stuffed bookcases climbed the impressive height of the walls and left none bare, save for one small section on the furthest one where three paintings were hung in a vertical arrangement. The ceiling began its arc above them, peaking at the center of the room from which a chandelier hung, boasting its floral wisps and abundant candlelight.


    Beneath the chandelier sat Cedric¡¯s desk, stacked high with books among figurines both upright and toppled over. A cushioned chair peeked over the mess. Marble statues, larger than life, watched with hollow eyes from the furthest corners at the back of the room.


    Beckoning his friend to follow him, Cedric wandered to the bookcase nearest his desk and selected a tome. Swirls of dust arose with a musty odor as he flipped through the pages.


    ¡°Maestus, my friend,¡± he began. Shadows danced across his face in the glow of a wrought iron brazier, drawing Maestus¡¯ eye to a small cut in his cheek. ¡°I do hope my servants have been accommodating thus far.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± answered Maestus.


    ¡°Excellent. I wanted to return the favor, with this being your first time visiting my home.¡± Cedric paused, flipping through a few pages before moving on to switch topics. ¡°I¡¯ve read your letters, and I must admit ¨C that you¡¯ve come to me for help after all these years is nothing short of alarming. Surely someone of your skill would have acquired resources less indicative of¡­ Desperation.¡± A tuft of black hair had strayed from his clean, slicked-back style. He puffed at it before tucking his book back onto the shelf.


    ¡°I have exhausted them,¡± said Maestus, his confidence unthreatened by the vampire¡¯s words. A sudden tautness in the golden-trimmed collar of his robe nagged him, and he hooked it away from his throat. ¡°In the past year, I have contacted hundreds of individuals and groups across Nelthemar and beyond who have offered me nothing of use. Falderal their words and rubbish their trinkets ¨C and those who possess anything of value have ways beyond my means to protect it.¡±


    ¡°I see. That is most unfortunate.¡± Cedric furrowed his brows, causing wrinkles to appear in waves across his pallid forehead. ¡°But I¡¯m not so certain you know what it is you seek.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Maestus ruffled his mustache with his upper lip, eyes wandering to a painting which depicted a woman in a translucent white drape spattered with crimson stains.


    ¡°Entertain my history lesson for a moment, if you will.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± said Maestus, snapping his gaze back to Cedric.


    ¡°Clearly you know of The Sinking, wherein ten families tried to harness the power of the Charox-Val monolith, but it instead shattered into pieces, resulting in their capital Ux-Kurux plunging into the lake and their land being purged with desolate gray.¡±


    ¡°I know of it, though not their reason for the ritual.¡±


    ¡°And that reason is a story for another day; a climax of impetuous Dronvari hubris that amassed over centuries. It is telling that even after destroying their own land, each of the ten families went on to claim a piece of Ghol¡¯s gift that they had desecrated.¡± The soles of his shoes echoed slowly and rhythmically as he paced the red oak floor, hands clasped behind his back. ¡°Do you know of Girin Salanval, who led the exodus from the Gray to the still-fertile peninsula?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I have also heard that he disappeared shortly after establishing three cities and flourishing farmlands.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡± Pleasantly surprised by his knowledge, Cedric pursed his lips and nodded. ¡°But he disappeared with the piece his family claimed, leaving his wife and children forgotten, their nobility defunct. What I believe you may not comprehend, Maestus, is where he was said to have gone.¡±


    ¡°Enlighten me.¡±


    ¡°Many accounts exist which suggest he had a fascination with the Caelvar. Some evidence also suggests that he set after their skies. It is said that a few paths still remain.¡±


    ¡°Caelinor?¡± Through a hearty laugh, all tension of anticipation fled from Maestus¡¯ body in an instant. ¡°I thought you of anyone might know better than to believe in fairies.¡±


    ¡°Is that where you draw the line of absurdity?¡± Cedric¡¯s deadpan objection quashed Maestus¡¯ laughter, his sharp amber eyes narrowing with scrutiny as he ceased his pacing. ¡°I would hardly call them fairies, but that is beside the point. Whether or not the Caelvar exist, Girin must have sought a way to find them that is at least partially traceable. Besides ¨C that time still flows on our terrestrial dwelling is a testament to their presence.¡±


    ¡°So you believe in them.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I find any debate on their existence to be foolish and rooted in mortal conceit. But I am not going to lecture you on what you should or should not believe in. I will only suggest that you may end up following Girin¡¯s lead beyond our plane if you are committed to finding what you¡¯re looking for. I believe the Charox-Val piece will serve your aims, if you thoroughly comprehend the magnitude of the task of retrieving it. Understand that it is not some lost jewelry in a shipwreck.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Maestus relented following a long pause. ¡°Where am I to begin?¡±


    ¡°That is the question.¡± Not inclined to return to pacing, Cedric moved to his desk at the room¡¯s center and toyed with a marble figurine of a raven while contemplating. ¡°Dronvari secrets are the most closely guarded of any, and that is only if it¡¯s a secret and not truly unknown. Do let me ask ¨C has your influence won you any favor among the Noth Dozrin here in Nelthemar?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve pursued many attempts to seek their favor, but I have only sustained begrudging neutrality,¡± admitted Maestus. ¡°I simply try not to step on their toes, with the goal of avoiding all unnecessary interaction.¡±


    ¡°What is neutrality but favor waiting to be won?¡± asked Cedric. ¡°Perhaps you can leverage your apprentice to ease any skepticism, seeing as they may be inclined towards him.¡±


    ¡°What of his exiled status?¡±


    ¡°Such trivialities are no matter to them. Their utmost duty is to serve their people. If you wish to tread carefully, seek Pendula, their Velt¨¹rina. Though high in rank, she is comparatively soft of heart.¡± The ever-fidgeting vampire perched himself atop his desk with one leg dangling over the edge as their conversation fell to an abrupt end. In its place stirred contemplation as his words turned in Maestus¡¯ head. Before letting him settle too deep into his thoughts, Cedric continued. ¡°There is another matter. One of yours came seeking to be changed, as you instructed me to anticipate.¡±


    ¡°You mean¡ª¡± Maestus said, his pitch heightened with surprise. ¡°She had declined shortly after I wrote you.¡±


    ¡°It seems she changed her mind. She mentioned she had sent you a letter explaining such.¡±


    ¡°I received no correspondence.¡±


    ¡°Well, she did only arrive a day ago ¨C perhaps you were already traveling when the courier came.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps. Where is she now?¡±


    ¡°Safe within these walls, for the time being,¡± Cedric answered, holding his eyes closed as he blinked. ¡°She is recovering and being fed.¡±


    ¡°May I pay her a visit?¡± Before he could finish his question, Cedric had already begun shaking his head.


    ¡°If you are looking to speak with her, then such a visit would be unavailing. She will not recognize you in her current stage.¡±


    ¡°I would still request to observe her condition.¡±


    ¡°If you insist.¡± A soft tap resounded as Cedric hopped down from his desk, catching himself on his dangling foot. He walked past Maestus and led him to the door. The same girl who had seen Maestus to their meeting waited in the hallway, carrying a torch and, still, an expressionless manner.


    ¡°To the nursery, if you will, Miss Sylvestra,¡± he ordered. ¡°My friend wishes to see the one you¡¯ve been raising.¡±


    ¡°Of course, my lord,¡± She obliged, a prideful lilt in her voice as she nodded to each of them. Her lips puckered, resisting a smile. ¡°Follow me, please.¡± With a spring in her step, she started forward, leading them further down the hall to another door with a staircase behind it. They descended into another corridor which narrowed and darkened as they progressed, offering a comfortable space for dust to settle and spiders to build their webs.


    ¡°Please excuse the unsightly surroundings,¡± said Sylvestra. ¡°This passage is not frequented by those who would care for its appearance.¡± These were the only words spoken as they continued, guided only by the refuge of her light in the ever-darkening space. Maestus¡¯ eyes darted this way and that, following whirls of agitated dust and tracing cracks in the mortar.


    Though he was no stranger to crypts and tombs, this place shook him with uncertainty. A curiosity which tugged at the back of his mind since his arrival now begged his full attention in the empty silence. The dead thrived here, convened here, raised young ¨C still wont to enjoy the blessings of the living. While this was common and well-known of their kind, never before had he walked through their halls to witness any piece of it firsthand.


    A reinforced wooden door came into view, and Sylvestra reached into the pouch on her sash to retrieve the key. Maestus focused in on a dried, rust-brown stain which oozed from beneath as the maid opened the lock and lifted the bar. The hinges grated as a dim flicker welcomed them to the castle¡¯s most candid chamber. Sylvestra stepped in first. Her torch¡¯s light outlined the arches of cells cut into the walls of the dungeon¡¯s narrow corridor, each one with its own door of iron bars.


    ¡°We¡¯ve a few others, do not mind them,¡± Cedric said as Sylvestra guided them past pairs of cells. Creatures, humanlike yet bony and pale, resided solitarily in each one, their curled spines too frail to hold them upright. Their eyes ¨C dull shades of red and yellow ¨C followed the three as they passed by. The floor of each cell was caked in blood from an unknown source. Soaked with similar stains were the rags which hung limp on their cadaverous bodies, as well as what meager and bedraggled strands of hair they had. These creatures spoke no words, made no sounds, and hardly moved, save for a slight hypnotic swaying.


    ¡°Our fledglings are quite feeble,¡± Cedric explained, a sonorous echo following him. ¡°Few survive the first night unless domesticated. In their natural state, they are afforded just enough energy to secure prey if they are clever. Here, we nurture them, and while they stay helpless for much longer, their capacity for power grows much more than it would without such care.¡± At the end of the hall, Sylvestra stopped and turned to face them.


    ¡°Here she is,¡± she said, gesturing to the cell beside her. As Maestus approached, he looked inside at the girl wedged in the corner. None of the others had presented in quite as lowly a state ¨C were it not for the blinking of her vacant eyes, he would have assumed the worst. Although she had always been quite slender, her ribs now protruded as if trying to emerge from her skin. Not a single hair remained on her head, and her face was left haggard with sunken-in cheeks that revealed far too much of the shape of her skull. The wall supported her head as it hung back, her mouth stretched agape and frothing with crimson foam. Her limbs dangled limp and atrophied.


    ¡°Is this¡­ Normal?¡± asked Maestus, his voice quieted with disbelief. Sylvestra leaned back on the wall and exchanged a glance with her master.


    ¡°No,¡± said Cedric. ¡°It is beyond me that she managed to pull through. I have never witnessed such a disastrous transformation, but she is stable for now, though it may appear otherwise.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± said Maestus. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Frivolous details. Do not concern yourself with them,¡± Cedric replied, touching the scratch on his cheek without thought. ¡°But you should know that I will need to keep her here well beyond my original estimate of time.¡±


    ¡°If her condition is unusual, I can very well understand that. How long do you expect?¡±


    ¡°I do not know,¡± Cedric answered. Something chafed his voice, annoyance or perhaps impatience. Maestus had never heard him express either one. ¡°But when the time comes for her to go with you, you must promise me one thing.¡±


    ¡°What do you ask?¡± Maestus¡¯ voice rang clear and purposeful. Cedric¡¯s glare sent a chill through his body, and he swallowed to keep from shivering.


    ¡°Do not let this be in vain.¡±

 9-2: The Dourling Boar

    ¡°Deventh.¡± Echoes of his name, scattered and fragmented, swelled and bounded throughout his skull. A firm hand gripped his shoulder, centering him in reality, and he shook the fog from his head. Looking behind him, he found the face of the man-pig, devoid of any human expression in contrast to his worry-laden voice.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± asked Julien.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deventh blinked, and his eyes wandered around the massive geodic cavern as he returned to himself. ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°Is that¡­ Is that your friend?¡± Julien asked, pointing a shaking finger to the blood-soaked body on the floor.


    ¡°It is,¡± said the Dronvar, before repeating in a lower tone, ¡°It is.¡± Without further explanation, he moved forward to examine the corpse. Julien trailed behind him, keeping his distance as Deventh knelt beside his friend. Another memory flashed before him, of standing over him, cold and remorseless as he gasped for air. Deventh¡¯s breaths shortened, his head shaking with what traces of denial he could still muster ¨C but he had done this. Perhaps it was by the influence of the same creatures responsible for Julien¡¯s condition, he reasoned with himself ¨C yet nonetheless, Ardmy lay still and lifeless by his hand.


    He reached for the wound on his neck, but just before his fingers made contact, a sudden shrieking penetrated the cavern and tore through his ears. When he covered them, the immobilizing noise ceased. The blue glow from his gloves emanated brighter than before as they leaked energy from a much stronger magic.


    Behind him, Julien still struggled, crying out in pained squeals. His face wavered in a soft, undulating blur between man and pig. Something teased the corner of Deventh¡¯s eye, which traced its glare to the far side of the room. There, he looked upon a crevice in the wall about three feet in width and an unknown depth, where no crystals had formed. Round, feathery motes of light tumbled out from the darkness, bouncing against each other and dispersing as they touched the floor. Curiosity rising, he removed his hands from his ears for just a moment; the shrieking continued, and the rolling motes vanished.


    With one hand over one ear, he found the noise to be a tolerable volume, albeit no less irritating. He drew in a deep breath as he reached again to touch Ardmy¡¯s throat, yet the wound remained present, unchanged, bearing no signs of illusion. Hope had spited his knowledge and reason, and he sighed with self-disappointment. As he withdrew his hand, the colored specks which reflected across the floor faded out one by one like stars dying in the night sky.


    A hungry shadow stretched over the crystal walls, growing as it swallowed the light. Faint spirals of purple and spots of turquoise drifted in the darkness, casting their dull luminance over the stone floor. The air buzzed with magic more potent than anything Deventh could ward off. Even the screams had grown louder in his open ear. Whatever force resided there, he assumed its intent was to overwhelm him.


    When he uncovered his other ear, the extent of illusionary flooding was far worse than he¡¯d imagined. Pitch blackness enveloped the entire room, and the swirls of light which interrupted the shadows were so lustrous and saturated that it was impossible to discern any details. The shrieking rended his ears, creating a tightness in his head as if coiling around his brain. Chasing the only idea he could hear over the noise, he fumbled through a pouch of his less-frequented poisons.


    He clenched his jaw and tried to hold his breath, half believing his willpower might leave with it. Still it trickled out between his teeth as his face scrunched with excruciation. It was not long, however, before he located the correct vial, and he took out his dagger, his arm tensed and shaking. He applied the poison to its edge. After a moment¡¯s hesitation steeped in doubt of whether his plan would be efficacious, he made a shallow cut in his forearm. Red droplets began to pool, and he released the last of the breath he still held.


    Everything fell silent. Deventh¡¯s jaw unclenched as all tension left his muscles. Relieved of the burden of piercing screeches, he heard only his own thoughts as he held one hand to his forehead. A tunnel of clarity bored itself through the center of his vision, revealing at its end the crevice in the wall.


    Below it, among the wispy haze of colors, his eyes moved across a shaggy blanket of coarse brown hairs until they lay upon the tusked face of a porcine creature. Though far beyond the bridge which joined the gap between platforms, the wooly boar appeared massive, reaching halfway to the ceiling in height. Its snout wriggled as it sniffed the air, and it turned its head to face him. A peculiar glint of intelligence swept across its ferine eyes. It lifted its hoof and, with its head bowed, it charged.


    Moving with beastly abandon, the boar headed straight for Deventh. As hooves pounded against the wooden bridge, he raced to an open area, hoping to lead the beast away from Julien and the body of Ardmy. With no hearing to rely on, he gauged its closing distance by vibrations in the ground. The button on his glove expanded his crossbow. Futile as his weapons alone would be against such an enormous creature, hoping to buy some time he groped through his quiver until a particular tip grazed his fingers. The beast neared as he grasped the bolt in his hand.


    The boar skidded to a stop. Deventh jumped to the side as it swiped with its tusks. It turned to him and swiped again, and he jumped back while removing his hand from his forehead. Illusory magic swelled in his head and took hold of his equilibrium, but through his stumbling he managed to draw his crossbow strings. Once he loaded the bolt, he returned his free hand to his forehead. The beast was preparing to swipe a third time. His balance not yet recovered, he staggered to the side, but he caught himself and rolled to safety.


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    Using his distance from the beast to his advantage, he took aim and, with his middle finger he pressed a button at the base of his thumb. The crossbow fired the dull-tipped bolt, which bounced off the swine¡¯s forehead and cast an ethereal net over its entire body. It solidified into tangible rope, and the creature thrashed and swung its head about trying to free itself. As Deventh sprung to his feet, the guise of the wooly boar shuddered and faded, revealing a truth beyond his imagination.


    Phasing in and out from the fog of illusion were pale, manlike creatures, each no more than a foot in height ¨C dourlings, territorial tricksters of gnomish origin, with generations of corrupt magic embedded in their essence. They joined together with hands clasped to form the beast¡¯s shape, red and yellow irises beaming against the black backdrop of their eyes. An aura of murky black and gold surrounded them, but it disappeared into dull brown fur as their magic prevailed over Deventh¡¯s resistance. Staring with bewilderment, he thumbed through the poison vials in his bandolier straps and hurried to uncork the right one. As he reached for his quiver again, a sudden jolt in his lower back knocked him to the ground.


    His teeth clacked together, a raw nervous pain shooting through them. A gust of wind rushed out of his lungs. As he struggled against the writhing body that tried to pin him down, his eyes overflowed with uninhibited illusion. He mustered up his strength, though, and tossed the weight off his back.


    Deventh touched his hand back to his forehead. Julien crashed to the ground, absorbed in his animalistic stupor once more. Arms shaking, the already injured man-pig struggled to lift himself up. Deventh glanced at the giant boar, which had nearly freed itself from his net. He stood, and once upright he found just enough time to dip a bolt tip into what was left of the poison which spilled in the impact.


    Deventh aimed for the eye and loosed a shot. A pair of paralyzed dourlings fell from the amalgam and split their skulls on the hard stone. The dour-boar did not change in appearance, but the tunnel in his vision widened. As he turned around, Julien charged again.


    ¡°Julien!¡± he called out, short of breath. His deafness was waning, and he thanked Ghol the screeching had subsided. ¡°Wake up!¡± His words did not reach the man-pig¡¯s conscious side, and Julien came in swinging wildly. Though Deventh found little difficulty in dodging his punches, his mind raced in pursuit of a plan to dispatch the much larger beast while holding him off.


    Now is not the time to falter, he reminded himself.


    Reluctant as he was to hurt him, he reached for his weapon. His hand patted his hip only to find the dagger was gone. In the moment he was caught off-guard, Julien tackled him down.


    The dour-boar tossed the net from its body and prepared to charge. Julien swung at Deventh¡¯s face, but Deventh drove his fist into the man-pig¡¯s gut and rolled them both out of the path of the beast.


    Hooves rushed past their heads, and Deventh flinched at their closeness to trampling them. Julien squirmed and flailed beneath the Dronvar¡¯s weight as he set himself upright and locked his arms behind his back. Frantic squeals resounded against the cave walls as the sound of water splashing up from the stream drew Deventh¡¯s attention.


    He looked over and spotted a figure lying on the ground, propped up on an elbow with its other arm outstretched, and the beast nowhere to be found. His vision no longer tunneled, he moved his fingers away from his forehead and used both hands to secure Julien¡¯s arms. When met with no struggle, he realized the he was no longer conscious ¨C and no longer piggish. As he let go of the man bruised and battered by his own frenzied unrestraint, he locked eyes with the figure across the room as it rose wobbling to its feet.


    ¡°Deventh!¡± Ardmy called out, falling into uninhibited laughter which burst with every emotion possible. Touching a hand to his throat only intensified this release. A smile twitched at Deventh¡¯s lips as he placed his forehead in his palm and laughed with his friend.


    ¡°Ardmy,¡± he said as their bout died down, glancing at the still-unconscious Julien before he stood and approached him.


    ¡°I believe you dropped this,¡± Ardmy said, handing Deventh his dagger. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t kill me, as much as you seem like the type.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps if it was necessary,¡± Deventh mused in jest, placing the blade back in its sheath. ¡°Where¡¯s the pig?¡±


    Ardmy smirked, pointing to the edge of the platform. He led him a short distance to the gap, where they overlooked the stream to see dozens of dourlings floating in the blood-tinged water. Most, if not all, were dead, with broken limbs, twisted necks, and bodies impaled by rocks.


    ¡°I found the right moment to neutralize their magic,¡± Ardmy explained. ¡°Fortunately, they happened to be running at full speed towards a rocky stream.¡±


    ¡°You can do that?¡± asked Deventh, nettled by the regret of doubting him previously. ¡°Even against gnomish magic?¡±


    ¡°Of course, when I¡¯m aware of it and not trapped under any horrible traumatic illusions,¡± Ardmy swept back his hair with his fingers, letting out a sigh with puffed cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can imagine that dourling tricks would test my limits, though. That said, I hope you¡¯re not hurt. I may not have enough reserve to heal you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, but I don¡¯t know if I can say the same for my friend,¡± said Deventh, pointing a thumb to Julien.


    ¡°Your friend?¡± Ardmy looked over Deventh¡¯s shoulder, squinting. ¡°Who is that?¡±


    ¡°The man-pig, as it happens. It¡¯s a long story.¡±


    ¡°Is that so¡­ All right. I may be able to help him.¡± Ardmy started towards Julien, intent on doing what he could. When he realized Deventh was not following him, he turned around to find him in the same spot. ¡°Are you coming?¡±


    Deventh stood still, frozen in time like a statue with his hand lingering over a pouch on his belt. His chest did not move with breath, nor did he rest the weight of his arm or respond to Ardmy¡¯s question. The Gildvar returned to him and, with increasing confusion, looked him over. A few small rips in his clothes revealed nothing of particular concern, save for the cut on his forearm. His face wore no expression, and his eyes did not blink. Only his timekeeping device still moved, ticking away in his pocket to the same slow beat as his heart.


    Ardmy examined him for a length of time, trying small bursts of various healing spells, and still nothing resulted from his efforts. He conceded that he was at a loss and moved on to Julien in hopes that something would change, given time. Pangs of nervousness bubbled up in his stomach as he swiveled his head in search of more dourlings.


    A sense of dread loomed over him. Whether or not any immediate danger lay present, he was alone with two companions to protect, and would be forced to stay long enough to find out.

 9-3: A Favor for a Favor

    A curious custom of the Dronvar, in all their inclination towards duty to family, is generational debts ¨C favors, more often than monetary negotiations. As one might expect, the longer unfulfilled, the higher the price on repayment. They attribute this to the ¡°monster of fate¡± which followed their creational father Ghol-Charox to his downfall after a century of evasion. It is not beyond them to employ underhanded strategies which force the dues of fathers down the family line, maximizing their gains through repayment from unwitting sons and daughters.


    -Markkus Thulvus, University of Oakenhaven


    ¡°She¡¯s waking up.¡± The voice of a woman flowed like silk as Velaiah fluttered her eyelids open. A blur shrouded her vision, revealing only a slender shape seated beside her in a dim space smelling of incense. She blinked, and as her vision cleared she took in a familiar face with soft, beautiful features framed by wisps of raven hair. A slight smile adorned her maroon lips. ¡°Good morning, Warden.¡±


    In search of any hint as to where she was, Velaiah¡¯s eyes darted around, but a folding screen painted with indigo lilies shielded their intimate space. Wax dripped from a long-burning candelabra atop a bedside table. A censer hung from the ceiling, spreading fragrant smoke which clung to her parched throat and sinuses with an unpleasant tingle. Dark, lacquered wood furniture and floorboards completed the trappings of a place somewhere still in Drondaris ¨C but how far from home remained a question.


    As Velaiah emerged further into consciousness, recollections of her last waking moments flashed through her mind; the conversation with the stranger named Tabathys, and the woman at the bar when the unwelcome encounter concluded. The latter was the very same who sat beside her now. Beyond this, she only recalled leaving the tavern, after which she¡¯d made it to a stretch of woods down the road, and after that ¨C nothing. She¡¯d had a few drinks, but none so potent as to erase her memory.


    ¡°Warden ¡ª what is this?¡± Velaiah asked as she tried in vain to sit herself upright. It was as though a massive weight held her down, but nothing was there. It seemed not to be her own weakness, but rather some force of magic. The back of her head swelled with pain, and she closed her eyes as a spell of dizziness washed over her.


    ¡°We¡¯ll explain everything, love,¡± her watcher said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. ¡°Please don¡¯t strain yourself.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Nyrra,¡± said a man from behind the separator, his voice clear and resonant, ¡°I appreciate you looking after her.¡±


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    ¡°Of course, Father,¡± the woman replied, springing up from her seat as the man appeared. ¡°Is there anything else I can do?¡±


    ¡°No, my dear,¡± he answered, smoothing his pointed beard as he glanced at Velaiah with sharp, red eyes. ¡°I believe you¡¯ve been diligent enough. You¡¯re dismissed.¡± The daughter gave him a beaming smile and a kiss on the cheek as she swept by without another word, leaving the two in privacy. Velaiah¡¯s heart raced, but she did not let her breath follow.


    ¡°Velaiah,¡± the man said once they were alone. ¡°That is your real name, Warden?¡±


    ¡°Is this how you always do introductions?¡± Velaiah asked, a dry cough scratching at her voice. ¡°Kavox, why the fuck can¡¯t I move? What is this?¡±


    ¡°A pleasure to meet you as well,¡± he said, ignoring her question. ¡°I am Adris. It is genuinely fortuitous that we¡¯ve found you.¡±


    Velaiah watched his most minuscule movements. His hands stayed clasped and hanging in front of him, and he maintained a tranquil expression with no tension in his shoulders nor elsewhere. His eyes, however, burned with menace.


    ¡°The Shroud is defunct. You''ve found no fortune in encountering me. Spare me your pleasantries and tell me what you want from me.¡±


    ¡°I want to make a deal.¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re out of luck. I don¡¯t make ¡®deals¡¯ anymore, especially not with rat-faced perverts.¡±


    ¡°Pugnacious. How charming,¡± he responded as he sat in the vacant chair. A smile spread his lips thin, just barely inhibiting the eerie voracity which oozed from his expression. It bordered on obscene and made Velaiah''s skin crawl. ¡°You remind me of my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Is that what gets you off?¡± Velaiah snapped, diverting a sob of frustration into laughter.


    ¡°I think we¡¯ve strayed a bit far from the subject.¡± An ice-cold hand rested on Velaiah¡¯s forearm. Goosebumps formed, standing tiny hairs on end ¨C until her shock wore off, and she tried to lash out at him. Her efforts were in vain, however, as the weight bore down on her arms and chest, repressing her movement. Adris drew back his hand and set it upon his lap.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me again,¡± Velaiah growled. ¡°If you want to speak of deals, release whatever spell you have on me. There is no need for this.¡±


    I would love to trust that you¡¯ll cooperate, but I¡¯m afraid your word isn¡¯t quite enough,¡± said Adris, brushing off his robe as he stood up. ¡°Forgive me for my haste ¨C it seems you¡¯re still shaken up. I will have Nyrra tend to you until you¡¯ve changed your mind.¡±


    From a pocket on his silk robe, dark blue with thin stripes embroidered in gold, he produced a tag made from the distinct gray clay of the Kurux riverbed. It hung from a plafond-knotted string, emanating the very essence of Dronvari origin. As he turned away, he set it down beside the candelabra.


    Velaiah¡¯s ears followed the sound of his footsteps as he disappeared behind the screen. As the door clicked shut, she closed her eyes, releasing a flood of tears and struggling against whatever force held her down. The more she tried to resist it, the more it crushed her, until it squeezed all the air from her lungs. Pain throbbed in her head, overwhelming her with weakness. She fell still and choked on frustration.


    As her vision began to fade, she turned her gaze to the tag which Adris had left behind. Its surface read vurim nelevurim. A favor for a favor. Beneath it was her father¡¯s name, and beneath that, two thumb-shaped grooves. One was marked with a fingerprint in dried blood. The other, empty.

 10-1: Troubles Dispelled

    White sage released its earthy fragrance with the tapping and swirling of a mortar and pestle. Its dry leaves gave a light, airy crunch against the green marble. Hours had passed. Ardmy¡¯s hands stiffened and ached, having spent the meager remnants of his healing magic on Julien ¨C though he¡¯d surprised himself with how much further he managed to extend his limits. The former man-pig lay fast asleep on a tattered blanket, and the peculiar condition of Deventh still remained a mystery.


    The Gildvar hummed a soothing tune to himself. He sat cross-legged on the floor, trying not to look at the crystalline walls around him. What awe and wonder the sight invoked earlier had been poisoned with revulsion. It made his stomach turn.


    A clump of ginger hair fell in front of his eyes, taunting him no matter how many times he swiped it away. Lips drawn with frustration, he closed his eyes. Seconds later, footsteps neared. He startled, watching as Deventh approached.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Ardmy asked, scrambling to his feet. His brows scrunched together as he stared him directly in the eyes.


    ¡°What was what?¡± asked Deventh, looking back over his shoulder.


    ¡°No, not ¨C I meant¡­¡± Ardmy shook his head, gathering his thoughts. By Deventh¡¯s expression, he figured that his confusion may have been just as genuine as his own. ¡°I meant you. For hours now.¡±


    Deventh said nothing as he reached into his pocket. He held his timekeeping device in his palm, its brass chain trailing between his fingers. Its rhythmic ticking filled the air as he observed it for a duration that grew somewhat disconcerting. Meeting Ardmy¡¯s expectant gaze, he clicked the device shut.


    ¡°It¡¯s past midnight.¡±


    Ardmy¡¯s mouth hung open as he blinked in disbelief. He reached forward and placed both hands on Deventh¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± he asked, giving him a slight shake. His voice was thin and frantic. Deventh took a step back, waving his hands away.


    ¡°Yes, just a bit disoriented.¡± A splitting ache jolted through his head. He pinched the upper bridge of his nose, stifling his reaction somewhat to avoid raising further concern.¡°Can I ask you something?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°What was I doing?¡±


    ¡°You were standing like a statue. Unresponsive. Hard to tell whether you were even breathing.¡±


    The pain in Deventh¡¯s head diminished. Bringing a thumb and forefinger to his chin, he let out a low hum.


    ¡°So that¡¯s what happens,¡± he remarked, hushed and contemplated.


    Ardmy¡¯s frantic demeanor subsided. His shoulders fell forward as he released his tension with a deep exhale.


    ¡°Deventh, what is going on?¡±


    Rustling and coughing interrupted their conversation. They looked to Julien, who let out an exaggerated, vocal yawn as he stretched his arms over his head and sat up. The two elves exchanged glances ¨C they would finish discussing later.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever felt so rested. Am I dead?¡± the Nelthrin asked, pinching a section of skin on his own arm. He flinched in pain, disproving his suspicion.


    ¡°Likely an effect of the healing spells,¡± Ardmy said. ¡°How is your leg?¡±


    Julien lifted his leg and rotated his foot. A fresh bandage took the place of the torn cloth from before. The pain had dulled, but the raw flesh burned with friction.


    ¡°Seems better.¡±


    ¡°And your skull?¡±


    The Nelthrin rapped his knuckles against the top of his head. Under the hypnosis of the dourlings, he¡¯d done a great deal of headbutting, but he remembered little of it.


    ¡°Feels fine,¡± he said. ¡°You did all this? Impressive work. I ought to compensate you for¡ª¡± Ardmy raised a hand, stopping him from finishing his thought.


    ¡°Please, I ask for nothing but for you to rest and continue healing so my efforts don¡¯t go to waste. That said¡­¡± He spun on his heels and faced Deventh. ¡°Can we please get out of here?¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± the Dronvar replied. ¡°But there is still one more thing I need to do before we leave the grove entirely.¡±


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Ardmy groaned as he recalled the reason his friend had entered the grove in the first place. However dangerous he previously imagined the task of retrieving the boar¡¯s tusk to be, it had become negligible in comparison to falling under the effects of dourling spells. Still, the idea of staying any longer irked him no less.


    ¡°Right,¡± he said. A curious Julien glanced between the two, unsure of whether it would be unseemly to ask any questions. Ardmy looked down at him and extended a hand.


    ¡°You should be able to walk,¡± he said. ¡°But let¡¯s make sure of it first.¡±


    The Nelthrin agreed with a nod before accepting his helping hand. The strength of his grip and the softness of his palm left him feeling weightless as he was lifted to his feet. Easing the wobbling in his legs, Julien took a few steps.


    ¡°How is that? Any pain?¡± asked Ardmy. Julien shook his head.


    ¡°None at all. Those hands of yours could mend a broken heart,¡± he said with a wink.


    ¡°Y-yes, well,¡± Ardmy said, clearing his throat. ¡°It¡¯s good to see that you¡¯re feeling better.¡±


    The Gildvar observed as Julien continued walking in a circle, stretching his arms and twisting his torso. Pleased to see the results of his work, he smiled while picking the blanket up from the floor. After folding and rolling it into a tight cylinder, he opened his bag and located a spare set of plain clothes, shoes, and a woolen cloak which he kept for his patients.


    ¡°Here, you¡¯ll need these,¡± he said, tossing the items to the unkempt and shirtless Julien. He stuffed the blanket into the vacant space of his bag while the Nelthrin dressed himself. The beige linen shirt hung like a sack from his undernourished body, but it would suffice for the time being.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Julien said as he hopped into his second shoe. The three moved out, looking back not once at the sparkling crystals.


    The colorful luminescence of the plants along the cavern walls seemed dimmer, less mystic, and somewhat uncanny as they continued on. No endless tunnels nor repeating rooms taunted them any longer. Past the curtains of vines they stepped, through the narrowing walls they squeezed, and by the glow of blue mushrooms they traced their way out in a mercifully short time. Pir and Zendine both doused the entrance to the cave in silver and purple. Julien was the first to step forward and immerse himself in it, touched with whimsy among the striped snow lilies.


    ¡°It¡¯s been quite some time since I last saw the moonlight,¡± he said, his palms upturned as he stared in wonder at the sky. ¡°Or the sun, for that¡ªwhat is that?¡± A startle brought his moment of glee to an abrupt end as he caught sight ¨C and smell ¨C of something to his left. He grimaced, pointing to the sign with the boar¡¯s head on its post. It must have become warm enough earlier for it to thaw, for rot to progress. Its flesh drooped in a grotesque manner, revealing the shape of the skull and sinking into the eye sockets. Its jaw hung open to reveal a dangling tongue.


    ¡°Ah, that thing,¡± Ardmy said as he and Deventh stepped out of the cave. ¡°I¡¯m almost happy to see it again.¡±


    ¡°As am I,¡± Deventh said, taking a knife from his belt and reaching up to cut through the softened gums of the beastly head. With the occasional scrape of metal against bone, he loosened a tusk, finding himself grateful he wouldn¡¯t need to kill a boar for such a small piece ¨C he had no means to haul an entire carcass home to avoid waste.


    ¡°Well, that was easy enough,¡± said Ardmy, observing as Deventh collected the tusk and stowed it away. He¡¯d anticipated a longer stay, but was glad to be proven wrong. Once finished, he turned around to face the other two. They nodded in unison, taking the moment of pause to collect themselves. The night was still and quiet, save for a few isolated winds and animals scurrying through the bushes.


    ¡°Where are you headed?¡± Deventh asked Julien as they moved out, proceeding past the clusters of flowers.


    ¡°Well, I was headed back to Kho¡¯gul after doing some work in Ravengarde,¡± the Nelthrin answered. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to be kidnapped and transported to the middle of nowhere, though.¡±


    ¡°Kidnapped and¡ª¡± Deventh remembered at that moment why his name sounded familiar. ¡°Julien Montrose. You were one of the reported missing.¡±


    ¡°Ah, grandmama must have been worried for me. She gets herself caught up in all sorts of gossip about town. I did say I¡¯d be back in a week. Normally I keep to my word,¡± said Julien. Shadows fell over him as he followed them into the glade. Moonbeams shone through the cover of trees and sketched a path forward. Melted snow dampened the ground, leaving it smooth and slippery. Patches of grass tore and uprooted beneath their steps.


    ¡°You were transported somewhere?¡± asked Deventh.


    ¡°Yes. Me and numerous others. We were held captive in some ruins in the Uminoran forest. Towards the northern coast, I believe. Those of us who weren¡¯t too battered tried to escape. Of those¡­¡± His gaze trailed down as he held his elbows and shrunk inward. ¡°Few survived the initial escape. Those who did continued on, but it wasn¡¯t long before we were attacked by raiders. Coward that I am, I was the only survivor. One among us who was lost in the latter incident was a skilled navigator. Without my sparse retention of his knowledge, I¡¯d have never made it back.¡±


    A gentle wind rustled the trees as he fell silent.A snowy owl took flight from the top of a spruce tree, sounding off with its haunting cries. The weight of guilt dropped in Julien¡¯s stomach. Drawing in his cloak, he watched that his steps wouldn¡¯t land him in soppy mud and soak his shoes. He felt he would start shivering any moment.


    ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate to hear,¡± said Deventh. A rare flicker of emotion found its way into his words, whether he was aware of it or not. It took Ardmy by surprise that he did not thoughtlessly delve into further questioning.


    ¡°Maybe so, but it is done,¡± Julien concluded. Wresting a trace of lightheartedness among his lamenting, he managed a nervous chuckle for the sake of dispersing the cumbersome air. ¡°You know, when I finally made it back to Ravengarde, someone told me there was a safe passage to the crossroads within the grove.¡±


    ¡°And you believed them?¡± Ardmy asked.


    ¡°I would never claim not to be naive,¡± Julien said. ¡°I would say this was one of the most embarrassing lessons I¡¯ve learned, but perhaps not the hardest.¡± He turned his head upward and watched the gaps in the canopy shimmering as he moved along. A smile spread across his face, banishing all unpleasant thoughts with an eagerness for the comfort of home. After all he had suffered, it was finally within reach.

 10-2: Boiling Over

    ¡°Sit down, both of you,¡± said Anna. A vein protruded from her forehead, throbbing as frustration heated her blood. Over the drafty, caliginous space of her office hung an ominous air as she seated herself behind her desk. Lydie and Tatisdi said nothing and sat on the other side, where a backless wooden bench provided no comfort in the frigid, stiff atmosphere. Anna clasped her hands together atop her desk and addressed the cat first.


    ¡°Tatsidi.¡± The calm depth of her voice made every hair on his body stand on end. ¡°Where have you been?¡±


    ¡°Tending to business,¡± Tatsidi replied, hesitating to answer as such. Anna was rarely fond of this answer. This instance was no exception and earned an even more impressive groan than usual.


    ¡°Very well, be as vague as you see fit. It is interesting to me, however, that you scurried away when the fire broke out and we have not seen you since. If there is something going on between the two of you, it cannot continue to cause this sort of disorder.¡± She turned her attention to Lydie, rubbing her temples.


    ¡°You, especially, are not impressing me for the sake of joining our guild,¡± she added. As much as she hated being a nag, it seemed it was her job at times. Leading a fledgling guild often came with plenty of irritating behaviors to endure.


    ¡°I ain¡¯t here to impress anyone, hen,¡± said Lydie, wedging her tongue between the gap in her teeth. Folding her arms in front of her chest, she tried to lean back and nearly lost her balance, having forgotten that there was nothing there to support her.


    ¡°Yes, well,¡± Anna slid a palm down her face. ¡°Your attitude is something we can deal with later. For now, I would like to discuss what started the fire and hopefully prevent it from happening again.¡±


    Tatsidi grumbled, turning his head to Lydie as if hoping she would answer first.


    ¡°Oi,¡± she said to him with a scowl. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who would remember. You tell her.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± The tip of his tail twitched and whipped. In an assiduous effort to avoid the Helbrund¡¯s burning gaze, he stared at his claws while extending and retracting them. ¡°Lydie and I were¡­ Arguing. I was unaware that, as the conversation grew more and more heated, her hands would do so as well. It was not long before I saw flames bursting from them. Everything around her caught fire in an instant.¡±


    ¡°And you left without helping her?¡±


    ¡°If we were all rational in our moments of anger, then perhaps the world would be a more peaceful place,¡± said Tatsidi. ¡°She emerged from the flames which swallowed the home of our lady ¨C a mere heap of burning rags poses no threat to her.¡±


    Anna studied the blank expression on Lydie¡¯s face, convinced she¡¯d caught a rare glimpse of contemplation. She stared downward at nothing, a tense hand cupping her ear as her now chin-length hair spilled between her fingers. Her teeth clamped down on her bottom lip as a tight, heavy blink broke her far-off stare, though only for a moment.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± Anna asked her. Though she was genuinely concerned, she did not let up on the firmness of her tone. This seemed to snap Lydie back to focus.


    ¡°Y-yeh, of course,¡± she said, feeling prickles against her sweating palms as she smoothed her brown linen trousers. She hadn¡¯t returned them after borrowing them days ago ¨C they fit a great deal better than her own ragged pair, and she¡¯d taken comfort in them. ¡°He¡¯s right, I can bloody well take care of myself.¡±


    ¡°You told me you had no capacity for magic,¡± Anna said.


    ¡°I meant it. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s on about.¡±


    ¡°This is true,¡± Tatsidi confirmed. ¡°Never once had Lydie utilized magic before, and certainly not fire which erupts from the hands. But I swear on my lady¡¯s grave ¨C I saw what I saw.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Lydie tensed her face, shaking her head without any sign of stopping. Her fists clenched as she leaned forward with her forearms on her lap. With each word she spoke, they tightened until she trembled, her nails digging into her palms. ¡°Lying sack of horse shite, no you didn¡¯t! Not after all this time. That¡¯s not possible.¡±


    Tatsidi flicked his whiskers and placed a hand on her shoulder. He knew well how she¡¯d struggled. When they were close in the days they worked together, he often comforted her, but it became apparent that his touch no longer offered solace. She shrunk back, swatting him away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, ya piss-gargling idiot.¡± Lydie stood, her movements snappy with agitation. ¡°Look, I¡¯m about to get real pissed off, so I¡¯m gonna head out before I start shoutin¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Anna said, ¡°You¡¯re dismissed.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I was goin¡¯ either way. Ya ain¡¯t my boss yet.¡± Lydie said. She nodded to each of them, smoothing out her shirt from shoulder to hips. Planting her fists firmly in her pockets, she turned around to leave, and as she reached for the door a metallic rapping sounded from the other side.


    ¡°Ol¡¯ Dev¡¯s back, looks like with friends,¡± Lydie announced as she swung the door open, stepping aside to let him in. From where Anna sat, she caught a glimpse of Ardmy in the distance, reading a book on the couch. At the door stood someone she did not recognize.


    ¡°Nice addition to your entourage,¡± Lydie remarked, her upper lip protruding as she struggled to wink in Julien¡¯s direction. ¡°I¡¯m still pissed off, though, so I¡¯m headin¡¯ out for a walk. See ya¡¯s later.¡± She waved as she headed out, her voice echoing behind her.


    Deventh, Ardmy, and Julien stepped into the office. Tatsidi rose from his seat and greeted them, then hurried to catch up with Lydie.


    ¡°You¡¯re looking a bit worse for wear,¡± Anna said to Deventh, noting the small rips in his clothing and his straggly strands of hair. ¡°More so than usual, that is.¡±


    ¡°Small predicament involving a side job,¡± Deventh said, avoiding the trouble of a full summary for the time being. He combed his hair back with his fingers, her comment having brought it to mind. ¡°A success in the end, at least.¡±


    ¡°Good, I suppose.¡± Anna¡¯s bobbing nod led her to land her eyes on Ardmy. ¡°And what brings you back here?¡±


    ¡°Fate, I¡¯m beginning to think,¡± the Gildvar said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll explain later, but there¡¯s someone you may be interested in speaking with.¡± Deventh gestured to Julien. ¡°One of the missing.¡±


    ¡°One of the¡ª¡± Anna¡¯s eyes widened as she offered Julien a seat. ¡°Oh, what a relief to know that one has lived. I¡¯m Anna. Your name is?¡±


    ¡°Julien,¡± he introduced himself. ¡°Pardon me for being bold, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen this many suspiciously attractive people in one place. Is this some sort of Lemrasi cult?¡±


    Deventh maintained a composed expression as he held back a chuckle, knowing Anna would find no amusement in such a joke. She flashed the Dronvar a look of where-did-you-find-this-one and proceeded as though he¡¯d not just implied her adjacent to any fiendish deities, in jest or otherwise.


    ¡°It¡¯s lovely to meet you, Julien. Deventh tells me you¡¯re one of the missing individuals of recent,¡± she said, clearing her throat before she continued. ¡°It just so happens that we¡¯ve been investigating the disappearances. May I trouble you with a few questions?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Julien said. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to give you any information I can.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful, thank you. First and foremost, are you well?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t doing so great before, but I¡¯ve been on the mend since Ardmy patched me up.¡±


    Deventh reached into his pocket as Anna proceeded with her usual slew of questions ¨C descriptions of his captors, where they took him, and what events led him from the moment he left Ravengarde to his arrival at the office where he sat now. A slight dissociation muffled their words as he watched the seconds ticking away on his timekeeper. Ten rotations completed before his ears found anything of interest ¨C a passing mention of returning to Julien¡¯s place of captivity. Ardmy had wandered off into the hall at some point, now cozied up on the couch with a book.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t stay to help you,¡± Julien said. ¡°Normally I would be all for that sort of undertaking, but if I can be forthright, my experience has been traumatic enough that I would consider this a turning point. I think it¡¯s time for me to nestle into a more docile life. Perhaps open a shop and find a nice... Wife, or otherwise. Grandmama needs me back in Kho¡¯gul anyway.¡±


    ¡°That is understandable,¡± said Anna, setting down the quill she¡¯d used to take notes. ¡°I don¡¯t blame you for not wanting to revisit the place where you were held against your will. I do appreciate the information, though. The bunk room is across the hall from here ¨C make yourself at home, and feel free to use one of our beds if you need one.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯ve done to deserve such graciousness, but I do not regret meeting the lot of you,¡± said Julien. His voice overflowed with gratitude. ¡°Perhaps the rogue god finally grew bored of toying with me. Here¡¯s hoping I stay on this path of luck.¡±


    ¡°I hope the same for you,¡± said Anna. With a warm smile, she stood, prepared to leave while seeing him out. ¡°It¡¯s been a pleasure, Julien.¡±


    Before she walked past Deventh, she stopped and faced him, tightening her lips as her scrutinizing glare absorbed every detail of his countenance. Dull, weary eyes, a complexion paler than ever, shoulders sagging in complement to his face ¨C she had seen him like this before, but only on rare occasions, grave ones. Without saying a word, she moved on, and he matched her silence as he followed.


    ¡°Bloody idiots all around me, I swears,¡± Lydie muttered to herself, stuffing away her items in her bag without a single care for any manner of organization. She continued to mumble to herself in a constant flow, keeping a similar momentum in her movements as well. Once she reached the point where only a few items remained to be packed, something jerked back on the reins of her mind.


    ¡°Rikkee,¡± she whispered, twisting her head around in search of the stuffed beetle. Starting with the one closest to her, she scuttled between each bed, ripping the covers from the top and bottom bunks to no avail and flinging them mindlessly in every direction. Absorbed in her search, she was unaware that someone had entered the room.


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


    ¡°Have you lost something other than your mind?¡± Tatsidi asked, stopping Lydie in her tracks.


    ¡°Where did you put him, ya shite-eater?¡± she asked, gripping a pillow as she hung from a bunk ladder.


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Rikkee. He was in here, tucked all nice into my bed havin¡¯ a wee nap. Now he¡¯s gone.¡± Throwing the pillow to the ground, Lydie hopped off the ladder and landed flat on her feet.


    ¡°I have not even returned to this room since I came back,¡± Tatsidi said. ¡°Perhaps you have misplaced him. Or burnt him to ashes in one of your new outbursts.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare incinerate¨Cinsinumerate¡ª¡± Lydie grumbled, knocking the heel of her hand against her forehead. ¡°Ugh, either someone stole him, you stole him, or he came to life and scurried off to bug-arse hell on his bloody own. Now shut your gob and help me, or¡­ Still shut it, but get out.¡±


    Tatsidi hesitated, biting his tongue at the urge to remind her that they were in a public space. An expulsive sigh afforded him the patience to ease into helping her. Tail swishing as he prowled, he checked beneath mattresses, in the spaces between walls and bed frames, and atop shelves at every height. Together, they tossed and tore through everything in their path, leaving an ever-growing mess of bits and baubles in their wake with no regard for what belonged to whom. Their efforts turned up no trace of the missing plush toy, but they soon unearthed another secret.


    ¡°All right,¡± Lydie¡¯s muffled voice called out as she slid her upper body out from under a bed, cackling and clutching a book in her hand. ¡°Whose bloody smut is this?¡± She threw the book with great force at Tatsidi, its pages fanning out and ¨C fortunately ¨C softening the blow as it hit him square in the face. He rubbed his nose as the book dropped into his lap.


    ¡°What is¡ª¡± he picked it up and held it open, his ears drawing back as his eyes widened at the lewd imagery within. Were he capable of blushing, he might have done so. ¡°Hooh, I was not aware that orcish women had muscles there.¡±


    Laughter followed, claiming them both. Unabashed, mirthful laughter which pushed out tears once their bellies were too cramped to withstand the force. Their uproar went on for quite some time before they grew tired. Lydie wiped her eyes as the ceiling blurred from where she lay staring up at it. Tatsidi sniffled, letting out a grunt of relief at the chance to catch his breath.


    Their gazes met to exchange years of words they couldn¡¯t share. Grief, sorrow, loneliness ¨C all in the space between a blink. Tatsidi¡¯s whiskers flattened against his cheeks. Lydie relaxed her furrowed eyebrows, leaving creases above either side of her nose. Closing the cover over the profane drawing of the orc woman, Tatsidi spoke.


    ¡°How lucky we are,¡± he said, ¡°to have found each other alive and well here.¡±


    ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡± a voice spoke from the doorway. There stood Ardmy, taking in the disorderly surroundings. In his hands he held Rikkee, whose ragged, segmented legs dangled between his fingers. Before he had a chance to continue, Lydie shot upright and jumped up onto her feet.


    ¡°Oi, what do ya think you¡¯re doin¡¯ with Rikkee?¡± she asked, balling her hands into fists. They sparked, releasing smoke as the rising heat distorted the air. Ardmy took a step back, raising his arms.


    ¡°Woah, all right, there¡¯s no need to be hostile,¡± he said, her sudden reaction having alerted his every sense. ¡°Rikkee ¨C Is that the thing¡¯s name? I found this on the couch out there. Anna told me someone might be missing it. A-are you Lydie?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s it to¡ª¡± Lydie staggered back with a hand on her forehead as the heat dissipated. Tatsidi caught her and helped her right herself on her feet. Stepping out of his reach and snatching Rikkee away, she continued. ¡°Aye, someone here¡¯s Lydie. Ain¡¯t important, though.¡±


    Defenses lowered by a bout of concern, Ardmy skimmed over her for any obvious cause of her sudden weakness.


    ¡°Are you feeling ill?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No, just don¡¯t like people touchin¡¯ Rikkee.¡±


    ¡°Lydie has recently discovered powers which she cannot control,¡± Tatsidi explained. ¡°She does not mean to threaten anyone with fire.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s spoutin¡¯ weevil-shite,¡± Lydie said. ¡°Been sayin¡¯ this whole time I can¡¯t do magic. Nobody will listen to me.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t do¡ªwhat?¡± Ardmy¡¯s ginger lashes flitted in disbelief. ¡°I can detect your energy pool from the next room over. It¡¯s¡­ Well, it¡¯s massive. And I don¡¯t think I need to mention that you nearly just cast everything around you into flames.¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s lost their bloody minds,¡± said Lydie, shaking her head as she tiptoed across the room, taking care not to step on anything delicate. She retrieved her bag and slung it over her shoulder. ¡°You ¨C you are frustrating. I¡¯m going for a walk.¡± As she started on her way out, pointing at Ardmy with aggressive force, Tatsidi cleared his throat.


    ¡°You intend to do so without cleaning up the mess you have made first?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Once again stepping carefully over the mounds of clutter, she moved on to the door. ¡°Fare thee well, ya bastards.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡± Tatsidi slouched forward, his head hanging low. Swallowing his goodbyes and his urges to spare her a glance, he began sorting through various odds and ends.


    Confusion and curiosity humming over his thoughts, Ardmy watched Lydie leave in silence. As she disappeared from view, his attention was swayed to Tatsidi. His ears were lowered and drawn back, and his heavy, slow movements marked his dejectedness. Rather than words, Ardmy offered his help, kneeling to gather pillows and blankets. They continued cleaning for some time, and once they had finished, they stood back and admired their work.


    ¡°Looks even better than before,¡± said Ardmy, chest puffed out and fists at his hips. ¡°All this excellent teamwork and we¡¯ve not been introduced. I¡¯m Ardmy. With whom did I just have the pleasure of tackling this menial task?¡±


    ¡°I am Tatsidi,¡± said the Apo¡¯na. ¡°It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.¡±


    ¡°Tatsidi ¨C ah, I know that name. Deventh spoke well of you in brief mentions during our travels.¡±


    ¡°How kind of him,¡± Tatsidi said with a yawn, his tone peaking with sarcasm. ¡°Well met, Ardmy, and many thanks for your assistance. I believe it is customary in these parts to offer libations to those who have earned your gratitude ¨C allow me to do so.¡±


    Ardmy¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Actually, I¡¯d like to take you up on that. I could use a drink.¡±


    The tavern¡¯s din grew in intensity as they ascended the stairs and flooded in once they opened the door. Having returned to its usual spirit, the space was filled with dozens of merchants seeking a brief respite from their travels. They took part in merriment and debauchery alike, having come for jokes and drinks among friends only to be lured in by gamblers and whores. Competing with the surrounding noise were two dwarven bards, who just barely managed to draw in a small crowd around the stage amongst the preoccupied patrons. Staff pushed through tightly packed groups, carrying trays of clinking plates and tankards to tables, and Tatsidi and Ardmy followed in the gaps before they closed.


    Hopes low of finding a vacant table, they splashed through puddles of sloshed drinks, avoiding dropped silverware as it clattered on the polished tiles. Their search quickly came to an end as they happened upon two tall figures drinking together.


    ¡°Lucky us,¡± Ardmy remarked, picking up the pace as they neared the table, where the guild leaders were found reminiscing.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe they let us stumble into the registry hall in such a state!¡± Anna said with a hoot of laughter, taking a few hefty gulps of ale. ¡°And what a name befitting such drunken boldness¡­ Valorforge! I suppose we should count ourselves lucky we didn¡¯t write down something completely obscene on that charter.¡±


    ¡°My memory of that night doesn¡¯t serve me too well,¡± Deventh laughed, slouched back with his fingers wrapped around the neck of a whiskey bottle, ¡°But I do remember you scared that one orc out of his wits. I don¡¯t think he agreed to your terms.¡±


    ¡°Was that the one I told we¡¯d recruit if he could best me in a fistfight? I was in and out at the time as well¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the one. You had him backed into a corner and cowering.¡± As Deventh lifted the bottle to his smirking lips, he caught sight of Ardmy and Tatsidi approaching and waved his fingers at them in a lazy gesture of greeting.


    ¡°Good evening, all,¡± said Ardmy as he pulled up a chair. He opened his mouth as if to continue, but realized it may have been best to refrain from mentioning the earlier incident. ¡°Reminiscing a bit, are we?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Anna. ¡°We¡¯ve just remembered it¡¯s been a year since we founded our guild. And not a single founding member is still here.¡± After gulping down the rest of her drink, a hearty belch startled the young barmaid who appeared beside their table. All but Deventh placed their orders, and the topic of conversation shifted thereafter.


    ¡°You¡¯re becoming quite the familiar face around here,¡± Anna remarked, addressing Ardmy. ¡°Deventh told me what happened at the gate. Sorry to hear of your troubles.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a minor inconvenience,¡± Ardmy said. ¡°Compared to what I could have been dealing with ¨C poor Julien¡¯s seen it all, it seems. Perhaps it was some force telling me I should keep at my goal of studying to be a doctor. I¡¯ve spent far too much time traveling to make any sort of time for it.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we can recruit you!¡± Anna said, her voice booming with enthusiasm as she set a heavy hand down on the table. ¡°You can study all you¡¯d like while you work with us.¡± Deventh paused with his bottle tipped upward. Work for us was her usual choice of words. He raised his brows at the openness of her invitation as Ardmy brought a finger to his chin, giving serious contemplation to it.


    ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± the Gildvar trailed off, chuckling as he picked up again, ¡°But will I need to fistfight you?¡± His question earned a guffaw from Anna.


    ¡°No, your sense of humor is enough for the first test!¡± she said, accepting a fresh mug of ale from the barmaid who had returned. ¡°But we¡¯ll still need to perform a quick interview if you are interested. Just for reference, of course.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Ardmy sat back as a goblet of wine was placed in front of him. As he picked up the drink and swirled it around, he let his mind wander, as he often had since he¡¯d faced those visions in the cave. Visions in which all his years of loneliness swelled into a tidal wave, crashing down upon him and dragging him under. Forced to face the fact that he was drowning, he came to the conclusion that perhaps it was time for a change. The thought of having a steady place to work among people whose company he enjoyed ¨C at the very least ¨C was more than just tempting; it was beginning to seem ideal.


    Crawling out from the depths of his thoughts, he returned to the conversation having taken yet another turn.


    ¡°Hopefully Jessa¡¯s made it home safely,¡± Anna said, flashing Deventh a glance. ¡°Though I can¡¯t help but feel we¡¯ve been lazing around for a bit too long on some suspicion about that necklace when there¡¯s still the matter of finding the rest who are missing. We ought to figure out a plan to continue.¡± Patting her stomach, she coaxed out another belch.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Deventh agreed, setting his bottle on the table. He seemed to become sober in an instant. All lighthearted humor gone from his demeanor, he assumed his professional manner. ¡°But it can wait until morning. A trip back to Kho¡¯gul may be in order before we do anything as drastic as retracing Julien¡¯s steps to the ruins. Besides¡­¡± He eyed Anna with intent. ¡°We¡¯re still not sure how much of his story is true.¡±


    The Helbrund broke into giggles as she raised her tankard. ¡°Always looking for an opportunity to be rigid and serious, even with all that liquor in your veins. It seems burdensome to harbor such distrust for everyone.¡±


    ¡°It can be,¡± Deventh admitted, allowing one slip of his inhibition. ¡°But someone needs to ask questions.¡±


    More topics came and passed, as did drinks and people. As the night set in, the tavern¡¯s vivacity showed no signs of winding down. Patrons grew drunker, more unruly, breaking the masquerade which merchants often maintained. The bards, as well, did not tire, but let their songs grow louder and more energetic. Anna dozed off with her head resting on the table, and Tatsidi ran off to find Lydie, leaving Deventh and Ardmy to their own discussion.


    ¡°We never got to discuss your incident back in the cave. You know, the one where you became¡­ Inanimate.¡±


    ¡°This is hardly the place to discuss that.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯ll say that so it¡¯s forgotten until the next time you end up in the same state. I may not be a doctor yet, Deventh, but I¡¯ve never seen any sort of affliction like this. Insomnia, sure, but this goes far beyond that.¡±


    ¡°Neither has Z¨¦ah,¡± Deventh said. ¡°As I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware, it would be unusual for that sort of thing to slip past her.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s so, I¡¯m surprised she hasn¡¯t made you stay under observation rather than running errands for her.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s tried.¡±


    ¡°Too stubborn even for her to subdue ¨C I¡¯m willing to bet that¡¯s why she likes you.¡± Ardmy shook his head. The two allowed themselves a moment to be absorbed in the noise around them, sipping their drinks and stewing in a mutual understanding. Ardmy, convinced his friend would never indulge his worries, was taken by surprise when Deventh spoke again.


    ¡°It started about a year ago, as soon as I came to Grimros,¡± he said. ¡°Haven¡¯t felt the need for much sleep, only get hungry every few days. Frequent memory lapses, and a plethora of other symptoms that I can only imagine are related. Despite all that, I don¡¯t necessarily feel ill¨Cand I¡¯d venture to say that anyone else would have declined much faster than I have. The only thing I can tell you with confidence is that I have no idea what it is.¡±


    ¡°If not for the one glaring issue, I¡¯d say that sounds like homesickness,¡± Ardmy remarked.


    ¡°Who knows,¡± Deventh said. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s part of it.¡±


    ¡°Right, well, until we figure things out, just be careful,¡± Ardmy concluded, satisfied with Deventh having chosen to share even this much. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not missing anyone too much.¡± He smiled warmly and sat back, settling into a wordless comfort wherein they enjoyed each other¡¯s company ¨C now beyond the obligation of filling the empty space between them with words. For once, Ardmy knew, without a thread or pang of doubt, that he¡¯d found a true friend.

 10-3: Theatrics

    The lake glistened with the hues of the setting sun, shimmering in full view of the dining room window. The chateau once again assumed its usual dining arrangement with the return of its owner. Servants waited, lined up against the mahogany paneled walls, forced to subdue their hunger. They kept their eyes focused on the scenery outside in hopes that they wouldn¡¯t betray their longing.


    The black-haired boy, the very same who was the first to heed Jessa¡¯s orders of informality in her father¡¯s absence, slouched and leaned back, earning a scornful glare from the graying, slight-statured Nelthrin woman who stood beside him. She nudged the small of his back with her hand, pushing him forward, and threw her shoulders back in an exaggerated demonstration.


    ¡°Mind your posture,¡± she mouthed through creased lips, growing impatient with her son¡¯s rebellious streak as of late. She blamed none other than Jessa for giving him a taste of equal privilege.


    Pierron sat alone at the head of the table. An assortment of cheeses accompanied figs and dates, with thick slices of soft, warm bread and ¨C curiously ¨C herb-roasted rabbit marinated in wine. This alerted him to something amiss. He surveyed the lot of his servants, scoffing as his eyes passed over the petulant boy, and confirmed the absence of the two Fenvari maids. Earlier, upon his arrival, he¡¯d thought nothing of it when a different pair of servants greeted him. For as long as the two maids had been employed, however, rabbit was never served in any form. Still, he began eating, taking comfort in the view and the silence which the others found agonizing.


    The boy fidgeted, twiddling his thumbs and rocking on his heels. He, too, had noticed the maids were gone. Clasping his hands together, he tried to maintain his composure, but anxiety wracked his body. He could not banish the suspicion roiling within him. Although he had no way to confirm his thoughts, they needled him, and he suspected he had no one to turn to in confidence.


    Bells jingled as the door slammed shut in the foyer. Hurried steps clicked across the floor, and Aveline rushed in, stopping short in the archway.


    ¡°Lord Bisset!¡± she shouted, breathless and distraught as she held the frame to keep herself upright. Her sister soon appeared and stood next to her, visage as serene and emotionless as ever. In her hand was a sheet of vellum marked with erratic scrawl. Aveline snatched it from her and waved it in the air to show everyone.


    ¡°I¡¯ve most unfortunate news,¡± she said, her eyebrows drawing close. A long exhale relieved her of her struggle to catch her breath. Mirelle simply closed her eyes, lowering her head as her sister spoke.


    ¡°I deeply apologize for disturbing your¡ª¡± Aveline caught sight of the roast rabbit on the table and brought a hand to her mouth, trying not to retch as the smell of its cooked flesh permeated her nose. ¡°Lovely dinner, but I am afraid that tragedy has struck all of us. Please, Lord Bisset, if I may speak¡­¡±


    The servants maintained their neutral demeanor, though it appeared to be a struggle to do so as anticipation demanded their senses. Some softened in face and posture while others shifted on their feet, but none dared to stir up whispers, nor to react overtly. Pierron, unshaken by the dramatic spectacle, dabbed his face with a napkin and paused his meal. Clearing his throat, he set down the cloth and gave his attention to the wood elf.


    ¡°You may speak,¡± he permitted, turning his head to the other servants and pointing two fingers, palm facing up, toward the frantic maid ¨C a signal that they may face her to listen. She curtsied in thanks and held the parchment out to read it. Before she began, she spoke an introduction.


    ¡°I have a letter,¡± she said, hesitating as her voice fell somber. ¡°From the family of Gilles DeHorten, the butler who has served Chateau Bisset faithfully for decades. Although my sister and I have only known him for a short time, like the rest of you we¡¯ve looked to him for wisdom and guidance.¡± Tears welled in her eyes as they rolled over the words of the letter. Fighting to keep her voice from shaking, she gave her best effort to read aloud.


    ¡°To the Beloved Family and Staff of Chateau Bisset,


    It is with the deepest regret and sorrow of myself and the whole of my family that I am writing to inform you of an untimely death. My uncle, Gilles DeHorten, was attacked and killed by highwaymen on his way to visit us on holiday. His horse was nowhere to be found, and he was left on the road with only the clothes he wore. Fortunately, a kind individual reported the sighting of his body. His badge was well concealed from his assailants, and the Servantry Union was able to identify him and deliver us the news.


    I am sorry that I must write to you under such tragic circumstances. I am beside myself with grief, as I know you, too, will be. Thank you, Lord Bisset and the rest, for giving my uncle a second place to call home, a second family to call his own, and a fair living which he earned through respect, devotion, and wisdom.


    Yours truly,


    Alie DeHorten.¡±


    Aveline sniffled and bowed her head, saying no more. The parchment crinkled as she folded it in half. All onlookers descended into a state of disbelief. Mouths fell agape, heads swiveled, words fled. Glances bounced against each other in search of reassurance, passing between them a question of whether they¡¯d truly heard the words which were said. They continued in this manner until the shock began to settle. None spoke, and none were yet inclined to weep, but hands sought hands and bodies sought the comforting embrace of others.


    Pierron, still seated alone, leaned into the back of his chair, his face devoid of expression as he watched the sun disappear behind the mountains. For minutes, he did nothing else until murmurs and tears swelled around the room. The sounds of grief hollowed his stomach, creating a space for aggression to stew until it burst forth. A dull thud made way for the jarring clink of dishes and silverware as his fists connected with the table. He stood, addressing the others.


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    ¡°You all may eat,¡± he said, pushing in his chair. No one was inclined to his invitation ¨C especially the wood elf maids.


    ¡°I believe I speak for everyone, Lord Bisset ¨C We are not hungry in light of this news,¡± Aveline said. ¡°As for my sister and I, Lenkirn does not permit us to eat rabbits. It is clear you are distraught as well, if I may be so bold as to assume. Is there anything we should do?¡±


    ¡°We should arrange a memorial event,¡± said Pierron. ¡°You two may follow me to my study. We will organize the details there.¡±


    ¡°But Lord Bisset, you¡¯ve only just returned home, and you¡¯ve only just received this terrible news. Wouldn¡¯t you prefer to rest before¡ª¡±


    ¡°We will organize the details in my study,¡± Pierron insisted. ¡°And you will hold your tongue when you feel desirous of speaking your suggestions. You are here to serve, not advise.¡±


    Aveline lowered her eyes, stepping aside as he approached.


    ¡°Of course, Lord Bisset. Pardon me, I had forgotten my place.¡± She waited for him to lead her and her sister out, and they followed as he walked past them. They disappeared from view as they turned left into the hallway.


    The boy, with his mouselike features drawn inward in a plentitude of emotions, nearly jumped out of his skin as his mother¡¯s thin hand rested upon his shoulder. His worst fear had been confirmed ¨C Gilles was no more. Possibilities swirled and spiraled in his mind, and not even the reassuring touch was enough to console him any longer. As the echoes of their footsteps faded, he wondered which of his other fears might come to fruition.


    The three continued through the hallway, following a deep blue carpet runner and passing by a collection of opulent paintings until they arrived at Pierron¡¯s study. He unlocked the door, revealing a space within which was uncharacteristically humble for all the grandiose and ornamented rooms surrounding it.


    No more than a small library with a desk at the center, its most notable feature was a luxurious emerald green rug spread over most of the floor. No grand, towering bookcases were in sight, for he needed few books, at least in his own home. In his frequent travels, he learned well to keep the things he needed in the places he needed them. Some magical references, and records pertaining to his properties, constituted most of his personal collection.


    ¡°Let us discuss,¡± said Pierron, flicking a flame onto his finger to light the tiers of a candelabra. ¡°Please close the door behind you.¡± Mirelle, having trailed behind them, fulfilled his request as she entered last. Anticipating his orders, the sisters stood in perfect likeness with their hands clasped in front of them.


    While he paced around to gather his thoughts, his gaze flitted between the twins and the miniature scrying orb on his desk ¨C a pearlescent sphere no larger than an apple. When he finally spoke, the maids¡¯ pointed ears twitched with attention.


    ¡°We will hold a memorial ceremony in two weeks¡¯ time,¡± he said, his words slowed and enunciated with difficulty. ¡°I am sure his family is busy with their planning of the very same, but our staff deserves their own time to mourn as well. I cannot feasibly allow everyone to travel at the same time.¡±


    Aveline and Mirelle nodded. As he appeared to be ruminating, they waited for him to add more.


    ¡°Undor, first day of The Flourish, when the sun is high. Please announce the event this evening once supper has concluded and the kitchen is cleaned.¡±


    ¡°Of course, my lord,¡± said Aveline. ¡°Shall we seek out a priest for the occasion as well?¡±


    ¡°Please do. There is a temple of Elyn not far from here. Ask that they prepare a celebration of his life. And be ready to offer gold in compensation.¡±


    ¡°Very well. Consider it done,¡± said Aveline. ¡°And what of your daughter? Would you prefer to inform her personally, or shall we take the burden from you?¡±


    Pierron extended an arm toward the scrying orb, holding out his palm with curled fingers. As it spun to life, levitating a few inches from the wooden surface of the desk, it shook off its iridescent colors and became a dull, frosted silver. He kept his focus on it while addressing the Fenvar.


    ¡°I will write to her,¡± he said. ¡°It is too delicate a situation for me to deliver the news indirectly. I know she will be devastated. The two of you must focus on making the necessary preparations.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, my lord,¡± said Aveline. ¡°Is there anything else?¡±


    ¡°Nothing in regards to the ceremony. There is, however, the matter of your final examinations at the Servantry Union. I believe the two of you have played custodian well enough to the staff and house that you ought to earn your official badges.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Mirelle¡¯s eyes lit up as her excitement erupted forth, but she wasted no time correcting her outburst. Smoothing her skirt, she tucked away her smile between tightly pressed lips and lowered her head.


    ¡°Yes. There is no question that you¡¯ve earned it. Once the ceremony concludes, the both of you may take your leave. I will request for your temporary replacements, so please do not worry about doing so.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Lord Bisset,¡± they said in unison, the bells in their braids tinkling as they bowed.


    ¡°Might we assist you with anything else?¡± asked Aveline. Pierron shook his head.


    ¡°That should be all,¡± he said. The orb had slowed its spinning to a complete stop. It now hovered in perfect suspension without bobbing. ¡°It may be best for you both to take your leave. I would like some solitude for now. That is not to chastise you in any way ¨C your diligence has been appreciated beyond measure.¡±


    ¡°It is an honor to serve you,¡± Aveline assured him. ¡°If you are in need of anything, we would love for you to call upon us first. And, of course, we offer our condolences for your loss. We also are troubled by the news, but with your having known him for so long¡ª¡±


    ¡°That is enough,¡± said Pierron, his voice low but thunderous. In his breach of concentration, the orb dropped to the desk with a startling thump, but he caught it quickly and stabilized it once more. ¡°You are both dismissed.¡±


    The two offered one last curtsy, Aveline¡¯s being somewhat rushed and sloppy as she realized her blunder. Wanting to avoid being scolded a third time that day, she scuttered off, her sister dragging behind as always.


    Pierron rounded the corner of his desk as they left, keeping his arm steady and outstretched toward the scrying orb. Even frosted, the view of which he¡¯d caught a glimpse left him disquieted. As if thawing, the blurred surface of the sphere dissipated until it was crisp and clear. He sat himself in his chair, its green cushion matching the color of the rug.


    Uncertain whether the scene before him was correct, he once again attuned the orb to the location of Jessa¡¯s ring. Nothing changed. A hazy blue shroud obscured all that might identify a precise location, but the approximation proved familiar enough.


    Behind the University of Oakenhaven, the Lake of Sages spanned the width of the campus, stretching into the forest beyond and descending to unimaginable depths. Jessa¡¯s ring had been submerged long enough to sink to the very bottom.

 10-4: A Curse Perpetuated

    Velaiah¡¯s head spun. Though slow, it was no less nauseating. She coughed. The weight pressing on her chest, mild for now, reminded her not to move if she valued the air in her lungs. Dehydrated and weak, she fought until her eyelids permitted her to open them. The pain in her head, however, had been waiting in ambush and struck the moment the light entered her pupils. She clenched her fists, but something dug into her hand. Looking down, she found the bamboo tag, which she had squeezed hard enough to skin her palm.


    In her unpleasant return to the waking world, she nearly forgot she wasn¡¯t alone.


    ¡°I was getting worried,¡± said Nyrra, leaving her wondering how long she¡¯d been asleep. ¡°Hopefully you¡¯ve changed your mind¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I have,¡± Velaiah answered, rasping and defeated. She¡¯d hesitated a moment before answering, as if waiting for a force greater than herself to intervene. ¡°Do what you must.¡±


    ¡°That is a relief to hear.¡± Nyrra¡¯s fingers glided over Velaiah¡¯s face, her cheek swollen and welted. She¡¯d bitten her lip at some point, leaving it fat and crusted with dried blood. The delicate touch moved down her slender neck to her arms and wrists, rousing dull pains from bruises and sending a shiver crawling down her spine. ¡°What a waste it would be to ruin something as beautiful as you.¡±


    Slow and sure, almost divine in grace, she stood, letting her haunting smile etch itself into Velaiah¡¯s mind. With light and quiet steps, she slipped away, disappearing behind the folding screen with the silk of her black dress rippling in gentle waves.


    Velaiah stared at the bamboo tag as she lay in agonizing silence. Only her thoughts filled the dead air, reeling with uncertainty of what would happen the next time someone walked through the door. Sweat beaded on her forehead; parched as she was, she did not know she had any more to spare. An eternity seemed to pass stewing in dread before voices spoke out in the hallway. Her stomach lurched when she heard laughter.


    Broken pieces of conversation ¨C both Adris and Nyrra¡¯s voices ¨C carried into the room. Velaiah held her breath, trying to pick out as many words as she could, but they spoke none of value. She discovered only patter, a comfortableness between them that she found deeply perturbing. It sounded blissful. Remorseless. Flirtatious. Without a care in the world that they held a captive in the very next room whom they¡¯d beaten into submission. She wondered how many times they¡¯d done this before.


    ¡°Don''t worry, my dear,¡± she heard Adris say as they neared the door. There was a long pause before he spoke again, the whispers of cloth brushing against cloth. ¡°You are the one who holds my heart.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Father,¡± said Nyrra. ¡°This is all undoubtedly fortuitous. I do hope Tabathys returns soon ¨C I should like to thank her.¡±


    Velaiah¡¯s heart pounded. Desperation burgeoned within her, sending adrenaline gushing through her veins. Heavier than the weight which sat upon her was the realization that her last opportunity to escape was slipping away.


    ¡°Mir¡¯ah,¡± she pleaded to the gray goddess in whispers between short breaths. ¡°Break his spell. Let me be free.¡± A moment of grace was all she asked. Enough to break free and run away ¨C she could handle all the rest, if only Mir¡¯ah would grant her the strength. For all she¡¯d suffered in years of service to her, she asked only this ¨C deserved this.


    Salvation did not come. Instead, there was only the creak of the door¡¯s hinges and the click of the lock setting into place. Velaiah had been there long enough to recognize Adris by the sounds of his quirks: sniffles muffled by a handkerchief, the rustling of his robe as he returned the cloth to his pocket; calm, controlled breaths flowing through his narrow nose; fingers tapping the top of his hand with a slight fleshy pat as he held them, one in front of the other, at his waist, clasped at the crooks of his thumbs.


    His even steps did not miss a beat. Each one was a warning, imprinting his presence, making it real ¨C but not quite as real as when he came into view. Boxed in the squarish frame of his face with proportions as faultless and calculated as his demeanor, his angular features announced no emotion while still projecting the perpetual hum of intelligence. Even as he regarded her, not a single muscle twitched.


    He moved in toward her bedside table, only unhooking his hands to retrieve a pinewood match from a pouch on his sash. Velaiah did not take her eyes off of him as he leaned forward to catch the dying flame of a candle. Sulfur bubbled and ignited, releasing a trace of its pungent odor before that of the burning wood prevailed.


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    ¡°You are doing the right thing, Warden,¡± he said, lighting a stick of incense. ¡°If this debt ends with you, the monster of fate will be sated.¡±


    Velaiah did not respond. She only watched as smoke began to pour from the hanging censer, spreading its dry, heavy fragrance which she had come to abhor. He continued as he turned to face her, an unknown spark alight in his eyes.


    ¡°If only Ghol had done the same ¨C if only he had accepted the death of his stone child Mir¡¯ah as the punishment that it was for letting a mortal woman rule his heart. Had he done so, perhaps our souls would have manifested somewhere nobler ¨C not among a clay-sculpted people cursed to repeat his failings for eternity.¡±


    ¡°We were not just crudely sculpted of clay,¡± said Velaiah, ¡°We were made in the vision of Mir-Virah¡¯s beauty. Nor are we cursed. Not any longer. Ghol¡¯s dues have been paid.¡±


    ¡°Then tell me, Warden,¡± said Adris, ¡°Why we continue to suffer this futility? Why we destroyed our own land with our own greed and vanity? Why we continue to evade mol varondis and repaying our familial debts, despite these being our promised paths to eternal life in Dronth?d?¡±


    ¡°Some of the Shroud¡¯s former adherents believed it to be a self-fulfilling prophecy,¡± said Velaiah. ¡°But I believe it is simpler than that. Even the divines are imperfect; we mortals cannot be without flaws.¡±


    ¡°How interesting your beliefs are,¡± said Adris. ¡°Bold, confident, and steeped in a lethal dose of idealism. I can see why the rest of you were killed.¡±


    ¡°By the likes of your daughters, no less.¡± Velaiah held out the bamboo tag in her hand, heart racing against her laborious restraint of fear. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡± Adris unsheathed a small knife in his pocket and sat himself on the bed beside her. The ravenous glint in his eyes ¨C the one he had the day she arrived ¨C had returned. His facial expression still did not change otherwise. Now that he was so close, it was all the more maddening, unsettling.


    He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and pulled her hand toward him, then plucked the tag from her palm and set it down on his lap. The blade of the knife froze her blood as he traced a line across her hand to the pad of her thumb. He pressed the tip into her skin, and she let out a shaky but controlled exhale. She bit down on her lip where it had already been punctured, and the raw, dull pain overpowered that of the clean, fresh wound.


    Adris squeezed out a deep crimson pearl from her thumb. A small drop separated itself and trailed down as he stopped to speak again.


    ¡°This will hurt,¡± he said. For a moment longer, as if mesmerized, he watched it trickle before picking up the tag. Once acknowledged by a slight nod, he proceeded.


    He pressed her thumb to the empty groove. Excruciating pain took over her senses in an instant. From her fingers, it crawled up her arms and into her core. Then as her heart pumped, it turned every drop of blood to fire and sent it rushing through her entire body, burning as if something were searing its mark into the very walls of the vessels themselves. Holding back from crying out, she whimpered as agony swallowed her whole. It left nothing untouched, not an inch of sanctuary within herself to retreat from it.


    Her eyes squeezed themselves shut, pushing out tears which streamed down her face. She twisted and convulsed, the invisible weight pressing down harder with each movement, leaving her choking and gasping. But she could not keep herself still, not with the sensation of thousands of burning needles piercing and melting her from the inside. The old wound on her lip broke open again. Blood streamed between her teeth, filling each tiny gap.


    The metal buckle of her belt clicked, unfastening. Fabric loosened around her waist and chest as buttons came undone. The cold air nipped at her skin. She''d become far too weak to continue her fruitless struggle. Each precious trace of air escaped her in groans, in sobs. Her face was bloated and wet with reddened tears. She knew, but didn¡¯t want to believe, that he would make this part of her price to pay. Such was the way of those who believed themselves cursed; perhaps they were. Perhaps they had never escaped it after all. It was easier to accept this than to believe a child of Mir¡¯ah would choose this wickedness of their free will.


    A bright light flashed, and Velaiah was transported to a peaceful mountain valley. All was still and quiet as the sunlight glittered on a gentle river winding down the slopes. A bed of gray clay hid itself at the bottom, undisturbed, untarnished. Lush greenery and vibrant flowers stretched over the meadows, vast and endless. There was no pain here, no suffering, for there was not a soul around.


    From the trees, the glint of a distant treasure enticed her. As she came closer to the source, it surrounded her with a soothing hum. She let it lead her deep into a grove, where a massive diamond stood planted into the peaty ground. Encased in the crystal was the goddess, whose song filled the forest with its empty promises. And her face returned Velaiah to her pain ¨C to the deceit and betrayal from her own kin. To the bruises and cuts that ached all over. To the hands that would subdue her and claim what they felt owed.


    Velaiah fell into a kowtow before Mir¡¯ah, knowing now that the gray goddess was aware of everything. She spared only one thought for her as the fragrance of greenery gave way to the smoke of incense.


    I was the guardian of your people. Just this once, I wish you¡¯d have been mine.

 11-1: Gone to the Market

    A cloud of warm breath streamed between Julien¡¯s cold, stiff fingers. Dense with moisture, the air left his dirt-speckled skin sticky and riddled with goosebumps. He shivered as the hairs on his arms swept against the itchy wool of his cloak, his only choice to melt away the chills which ran bone-deep. Once it was drawn over his shoulders, he locked his arms around his chest, leaning forward to press his forehead against his knees. He took a deep breath. The pungent stench of decay pervaded his nose; it worsened by the hour.


    He lifted his head to peer into the shadowed corner where his cellmate lay curled up on the floor. When Julien first arrived, the old man appeared to have already been there for quite some time, and from the beginning he refused to take food or drink. A couple of days had passed by since he last moved at all. Not once had he left his corner. Julien never saw his face, and he felt it disrespectful to look now.


    It was silent, perhaps for too long. For days he¡¯d watched hooded figures dragging people away one by one. Earlier they came to claim a screaming, flailing Gildvari woman. Before her, a Mezthrin man, weakened enough to know struggling would not serve his dignity, thus he went calmly. Before him, many others were taken, and whatever torture lay beyond the corridor compelled screams of terror from even the most stoic of them. But their cries subsided quickly.


    An indeterminate amount of time passed between each incident before the captors returned for their next victim. Sporadic as their timing seemed to be, their method was quite clearly systematic. They spoke a foreign and primitive language, elven derived yet indistinct to the three most common variants ¨C combining the smooth melody of Gildvari, the enunciative twang of Fenvari, and the relaxed trills of Dronvari. During moments of quiet, Julien could pick out muted shreds of words and phrases from beyond the door ¨C Deceased. Retrieve the next. Growth stimulated. Left shoulder. Cull. Retrieve the next. Do not¡­ unless instructed. Idiot. Waste. Cull. Retrieve the next.


    He wondered why they didn¡¯t take his cellmate. He wondered if his turn would come and hoped for sooner rather than later. In the unknown depths, no windows were there to shed their light, and he had not a single tool at his disposal. Even were it to be for his death, his only chance to escape lay within the eventual opening of the cell door. Should he fail and be taken like the others, at the very least he would see an end. Anything was better than waiting there cowering like a helpless child.


    The wooden doors groaned again. His stomach dropped. Two tall, thin shadows warped and stretched in the flickering torchlight as they drew nearer. They stopped when they reached his cell ¨C one man and one woman. Both peered in as one reached into her pocket for the key. His turn had come. How pathetic he suddenly felt ¨C how not unlike a frightened boy ¨C as visions of home¡¯s comforts flooded in uninhibited.


    ¡°Hil ¨­n th?duri,¡± said the keyholder and smaller of the two, pointing to Julien¡¯s cellmate. That one is dead, he gathered from the simple phrase. Her slender hand shimmered with an unusual metallic luster, like unpolished silver. Never had he seen anyone with such a skin tone. The barred door swung open, crying out until it slammed into the wall with a resounding clang. Julien flinched at the harsh sound. The taller figure entered the cell first, closing in on his corner as the keyholder approached the dead old man.


    One last chance to escape.


    Julien scrambled to his feet. Immediately the man leapt forward, reaching out to secure a grip on him. Julien guarded himself with his forearm and wagered what was left of his strength to shove him away. Success ¨C the man stumbled and caught his heel on a crack in the floor.


    ¡°Nelea!¡± the man shouted ¨C presumably the name of the preoccupied woman ¨C to alert her, catching his balance on the wall behind him as Julien bolted out of the cell.


    Now free in the corridor, inklings of hope returned, propelling him to run faster than he ever thought he could. He knew, however, that he¡¯d only bought himself time before they would chase after him again. The uncertainty caused his skin to prickle as his heavy breaths became shorter and shorter. Bare feet aching with deep-set cold as they pounded against the hard stone floor, he kept his pace steady and his balance sure.


    As he neared the end of the long corridor, the doors came into view. He took in a deep and refreshing breath and his lips curled into a relieved smile. This was it ¨C he¡¯d nearly made it. Determined to see his escape through, he picked up speed and focused only on moving forward. Something caused him to falter, however; a glint caught the corner of his eye. Though he tried to ignore it ¨C though he didn¡¯t understand why ¨C it instilled with him a grave incertitude, heavy enough to slow him down and encumber his footing. Still he ran, and still he made it to the door. The last thing he saw was his hand reaching out to grip the handle. Something struck his head from behind.


    Julien blinked. A drop of water had landed on his lashes. In the morning sky, a misty drizzle drifted down gently as the sun¡¯s rays fought to pierce the dense clouds. Tiny blooms peeked out of buds in the trees and bushes, and it had rained all night. With just two weeks left in the Wakening ¨C spring¡¯s first half ¨C new life had nestled itself even into the mountains of Grimros.


    The muddy road transitioned to cobblestone pavement, offering relief from the muddy road as Julien neared the gate to Kho¡¯gul. The thick scent of wet earth permeated the air as he trudged behind wagons and entrants on horseback, his borrowed leather shoes soaked through. His cloak itched without mercy through his dampened shirt.


    He found himself absorbed in a sea of voices as he let the crowd swallow him. Alone yet surrounded by strangers. Everyone and everything looked the same ¨C every building dull, rugged and gray, and every person indistinct. The constant noise and bustle swelled all around him in such a way that it became a backdrop, and everything felt still and silent. Even as he pushed through the crowds of the city¡¯s market circle, the bright, gaudy canopies appeared muted and plain, the shouts of merchants muffled and unenticing.


    Beyond the marketplace, trees and shrubs grew in abundance, their cover thickening as the road branched out to winding byways brimming with tightly packed houses. In the distance, off the road to the left, the Oath¡¯s guild hall overlooked the area from atop the hill. Julien stopped a moment to look up at it, a strange sense of unease sinking in as he beheld its singularity. Oftentimes when he¡¯d pass by, he had the idle thought to follow the road up and join them, but each time he considered the thought more foolish.


    He moved on, setting down the narrowest path on the left. Under the shade of the trees, the streets seemed intimate and safe. It was certainly much quieter than the city¡¯s center, with few souls to be seen aside from those tending their gardens and laundry. There was, too, the occasional squeal of children at play, but they stayed out of sight in their yards. Julien slowed his pace as he approached a house much smaller than the others ¨C which were already quite small themselves.


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    He knocked on the door. No one answered. Long gone was his key after a time he had worked out to be sixty days or more ¨C just over a month. He¡¯d been gone since the end of the Resting, which constituted winter¡¯s second half.


    ¡°Grandmama, it¡¯s me, Julien,¡± he said, projecting his voice as he knocked thrice more. Perhaps she was away at the market and he¡¯d just missed her in the crowd; she did, after all, like to stay vivacious and sociable in spite of her age.


    She¡¯s just gone to the market, he told himself.


    He took a step back and looked around, craning his neck to check the alley beside the house. Drawing his arms in close, he entered the narrow space and peered into the kitchen window. A light coating of dust had settled on the table and countertops, as well as the rim of the cauldron. The pot hung in the fireplace over a stack of blackened wood from which ash fell to the ground below.


    A chilling breeze brushed by, leaving him with shivers that did not stop once it had passed. He moved on to circle around the house and checked every other window. Those that didn¡¯t have the curtains drawn revealed no more than dusty, empty rooms. Guilt crawled under his skin. He wasn¡¯t home to help her, to keep the house warm and livable; though Grandmama had been able to do these things before he left, he worried that his absence afflicted her.


    He completed his circle and tried the door one more time.


    ¡°Grandmama,¡± he shouted, pounding at the door. His fist lingered in place as he hung his head.


    She¡¯s just gone to the market.


    He decided it best to wait a while before panicking. A recessed corner beside the door offered him a place to lean back and collect his thoughts unexposed. Forcing his eyes shut against the will of his bestirred mind, he focused on the breeze tousling his hair while listening to the caws of banter between crows. Yet still his arms and legs wailed for him to move, and his cloak tightened around his neck, growing itchier by the second as sweat formed around the collar.


    He couldn¡¯t stand there any longer. Another circle around the house wouldn¡¯t hurt. As he slipped past the side alley once more, he entered the backyard, where something caught his eye that he didn¡¯t notice before.


    A rusted trowel led a trail of other garden tools spilled out of a bucket. Winds were harsh as of recent and may have knocked them over, but they appeared to have been lying there long enough to flatten the grass and settle into the muddy ground. Grandmama cared well for her tools. It was hard for Julien to imagine she¡¯d leave them strewn about the yard on purpose. More alarming than that, however, was the state of the garden itself ¨C so much so that Julien found himself holding his breath at the sight of it.


    Every year in spring, Grandmama planted gildenblood flowers ¨C hardy, long-blooming flowers, deep red in color with a golden sheen that appeared only when the sunlight dared to peek through the treetops and strike them at the right angle. It appeared she had done so this year as well, but failed to care for them as she typically would. The garden was overgrown with weeds ¨C so overgrown they managed to choke the life from the flowers. Darkened petals fell from their wilted stems.


    Anxiety stirred in his chest now. She would never allow this to happen. Even when overburdened with illness and on the verge of collapse, she would never fail to tend to her garden. A few occasions had arisen in which Julien gave his desperate efforts to relieve her of the task, but she could not be convinced that anyone else would do the job right.


    An idea sparked. Julien glanced back at the kitchen window. It was the only one of adequate size and height for him to climb through. After a quick skim over the pile of tools, he picked up a hand hoe and approached the window. He wedged the blade between the gaps in the frame and slid it upward, hoping to unhook the latch. As it hadn¡¯t been opened in quite some time, however, it had rusted in place.


    His sense of urgency taunted him louder than before, ringing in his ears and sending a jolt of determination through him. He aligned the blade with the latch instead, then thrust the heel of his hand against the handle. The wooden frame answered with a harsh crack as the latch clinked to the floor inside. Dropping the tool, he shook the pain of the impact from his hand and reached out to open the window.


    He stepped up onto the sill and entered the kitchen. Dust rose up and whirled through the air as his feet landed on the floor. As the stale odor filled his nose, so too did another much stronger. Acrid. He froze. For a moment, he thought his heart had stopped, but the sound of its steady beat rose above the silence, assuring him of the contrary. Catching his breath, he looked around the room and let the stillness sink in. Though he wanted to announce his presence, his voice failed him.


    Each step grew louder than the last as he made his way across the room, despite how lightly he trod. Mouse droppings trailed along the walls leading up to the cabinets, and flour and rice spilled from holes chewed through sacks. As he passed by the dusty cauldron, he found the remains of what may have been a stew, with its solid ingredients charred beyond recognition. Flies buzzed about, taking what was salvageable of it.


    The pungent smell was stronger now as he entered the narrow hallway. A sudden force kept him from moving any further, as if freezing his limbs in place. With short, quivering breaths, he focused all his will on struggling against it and managed to push himself forward.


    ¡°Grandmama,¡± he said, unable to muster more than a whisper as he crossed into the living room. The sight that greeted him softened every tense and strained muscle with relief. A fire raged in the hearth, sending a comforting warmth through his benumbed fingers and toes. Grandmama sat in her armchair, focused on embroidering onto a section of cloth.


    ¡°Grandmama, you worried me,¡± he said. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer when I knocked.¡±


    The old woman did not turn around, nor did she pause her craft. She did crack a smile, however, which creased what he could see of her cheeks.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± she asked. ¡°I suppose I was absorbed in my work.¡±


    ¡°The house is in shambles. Have you not been able to take care of yourself?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been taking care just fine,¡± Grandmama assured as Julien caught a whiff of an apple pie in the midst of baking. She held up her project to show it to him ¨C a new, cotton-lined cloak of dark blue. On the collar, she had nearly finished detailing a small, intricate image of an owl sitting on a cypress branch. ¡°I knew you¡¯d come home eventually, so I thought I¡¯d make something nice for you in the meantime.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t be back when I said I would. Were there a way¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t speak such nonsense, dear, nor feel pity for me when you stray too far. The world is full of adventures you¡¯ve abandoned for my sake.¡±


    ¡°And I would do the same again, given the opportunity. You took me in when I had nowhere else to go. The least I can do is be sure you¡¯re cared for when sick.¡±


    ¡°Sick?¡± Her smile grew as she shook her head, letting out a slight chuckle. Now finished with the final touches of the wing, she laid the cloak across her lap. ¡°My sweet little owlet, I assure you I¡¯ve never felt better.¡±


    Julien blinked. When his eyes opened again, the room became a husk of the easeful refuge of laughter, celebration, and quiet togetherness that he¡¯d come to know. Just as in the kitchen, a crumbling pile of spent wood lay in the fireplace. The calming fragrance of cinnamon and warm apples disappeared, giving way once more to the foulness of rot. It was cold again, enough that he could see his breath. Shrouded in the shade of the drawn curtains, Grandmama still sat in her chair, head hanging back, a thread trailing over her hand to a needle dangling between her purple fingers. He had just missed her. Had he returned a day or two earlier, perhaps this wouldn¡¯t have been so.


    Julien slid the cloak away from her lap and set the needle aside on the end table. He knelt beside her chair, setting his forearm on it and resting his head. Tremors of sobs wracked his composure as tears soaked into the sleeve of his shirt.


    ¡°Thank you, Grandmama,¡± he whispered.

 11-2: Little Black Book

    ¡°Velaiah,¡± two worried voices spoke out in unison to thrust her back into reality, where she broke free from the grasp of her own thoughts. After a series of rapid blinks, she looked across the table to the concerned faces of her uncle and her teenage brother. A dry crackle sounded from the hearth. Rickety wooden chairs creaked with each minuscule movement. Velaiah breathed a sigh of relief. She was home, safe with her family.


    ¡°Y-yes?¡± she said as her eyes wandered down to the surface of the table¡ªand given the meals set before each of them, she gathered that they were all having dinner together. The two had started eating, but Velaiah found her fork idly piercing a chunk of potato which had not yet made its way from her plate. Her stomach turned at the thought of lifting any sort of food anywhere near her face, let alone eating it.


    ¡°Are you sure everything¡¯s all right?¡± Her uncle¡¯s forehead wrinkled with the tension of his brow. The worry in his eyes left his stern demeanor unconvincing.


    ¡°Of course, Feron-Thozeth,¡± Velaiah assured, rubbing the fatigue from her eyes with a heavily bandaged hand. ¡°I¡¯m still just tired from traveling so much.¡± A whiff of cardamom traveled up into her nose, and she contorted her face to avoid gagging.


    ¡°I think we should hire a doctor,¡± Uncle Feron insisted, ruffling his mustache with his upper lip. Velaiah shook her head with fervor.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t waste your money,¡± she insisted. ¡°I don¡¯t need a doctor.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s so, I¡¯d hate to see what needing one looks like to you,¡± Feron sighed, shaking his head as he shoveled in a mouthful of purple rice. Muffled, he added, ¡°I¡¯m going to get you one regardless.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s really not necess¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oi,¡± her brother interjected. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you come back in better shape after a beatdown from the Noth Dozrin. And you were excited to tell us all about it. What happened?¡±


    ¡°Nothing involving any criminal syndicates, I can tell you that much,¡± Velaiah said. ¡°My entire time away was terribly dull. Really, Girdorn, I¡¯m just tired.¡±


    ¡°So, you leave for three years to go ¡®work at a hostel,¡¯ come back ready to keel over, and you insist you¡¯re ¡®just tired.¡¯ Kavox. Skip the bormunk-shit and go rest if you won¡¯t tell us what happened.¡±


    ¡°Girdorn,¡± Uncle Feron said sternly, ¡°How many times have you been asked not to speak to your elder sister that way?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right, I should rest,¡± Velaiah sighed, pursing her lips. She pushed her plate toward them, offering away her meal. ¡°Please eat more where I can¡¯t. I will go to my room.¡± She stood up, her legs shaking as she pushed in her chair. Its legs scraped raucously against the stone floor under her weight, which she¡¯d entrusted to it to lessen the trembling. She winced at the cacophony that pounded through her head. Feron rushed over to help her, but she waved him away and began stumbling to her room alone. He sighed, waiting until Velaiah had made her way to her room and closed the door behind her to take his seat again.


    Velaiah let herself fall backward onto her bed. Her bandaged thumb had begun to sting, radiating through her entire arm. It was nothing compared to what she''d endured, but it was uncomfortable all the same. The bruises on her arms and legs ached as if bone deep. The cold air chilled her skin, over which beads of sweat had formed. From her pocket, she pulled out her small black notebook and thumbed through pages of names, recalling the faces of all her previous cohorts ¨C trying to cast one particular face out of her mind as it taunted her relentlessly.


    Aranell Ilen, of Vylin-soren. Daughter of a bookkeep, beautiful and just barely beyond the threshold of womanhood. Dead.


    Vethar Dovrin, of the capital Ux-Noria. A loving father to two boys, chairman of the city¡¯s Mages¡¯ Association. Dead.


    Gothar Ondorio. Melaghe Throvin. Virnah Odon. Dozens of individuals with families and honest occupations all throughout Drondaris and beyond. All lost at the hands of the Noth Dozrin.


    She sighed deeply and without a sound, although she wanted to scream and curse. With the air expelled from her lungs, she channeled away the nausea, the pain, and the tears. As her eyelids grew heavy, the final name on the last page faded in and out of focus.


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    Deventh, of Girin-Uthroz, location indistinct. Guild leader¡ª


    ¡°Valorforge,¡± she whispered to herself, letting out a breathy laugh. Clutching the book face-down to her chest, she allowed sleep to take her.


    A knock sounded at the door. Velaiah jolted awake with a startled gasp. While unsure of how long she¡¯d been asleep, a quick glance at the window revealed a night that had matured well into its full darkness, with a lonesome Zendine shining its deep purple light. She did not answer the person on the other side of the door, but he was not convinced she couldn¡¯t hear him.


    ¡°Velaiah, unless you¡¯re dead, answer me. I¡¯m coming in either way.¡± After a short pause, the door handle began to click, leaving Velaiah with no other choice but to respond.


    ¡°Girdorn,¡± she replied, ¡°I¡¯m trying to sleep. Do you have any idea what time it is?¡±


    ¡°Do you?¡±


    Velaiah kept silent. Her mind still raced with hundreds of thoughts, vexed by the dull pain which filled her body with weakness. Annoyed as she was by her brother¡¯s response, a twisted smile began to spread across her lips.


    ¡°Come in.¡± Before she finished speaking, the door creaked open.


    "Charin.¡± Girdorn waved as he entered, his greeting dripping with sarcasm. After receiving a mere eyeroll in response, he made his way through the room, pulling up a chair from the foot of Velaiah¡¯s bed and setting it down at the side. As he plopped himself into his seat, the lanky young Dronvar let out a huff that ruffled strands of shaggy, rust brown hair in front of his face. Leaning forward with his forearms on his thighs, he fixed his gaze on his sister. Eyes narrowed and lips drawn, he shook his head with pity at the sight of her.


    ¡°I understand that you don¡¯t want old Zeth to worry,¡± Girdorn began, ¡°Not that it makes a difference, since he nearly went out to get you a doctor and I had to stop him. But if something happened to you, and it¡¯s as bad as it looks, can¡¯t you at least tell me?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Velaiah said. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Saying that is better than lying.¡± Girdorn sighed with frustration. ¡°I know there are plenty of things you can¡¯t tell us about your job, but you can¡¯t expect us not to be concerned.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Velaiah paused. ¡°Fair enough. You know, I¡¯m not so sure you¡¯re Girdorn ¨C he¡¯s not the type to worry like this.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re not the type to come home looking like you¡¯re on the brink of death,¡± Girdorn scoffed. ¡°Do I need to spell it out for you that I¡¯d prefer if you lived a full life before joining Mum and Dad in Dronth?d?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Velaiah answered. ¡°Of course I know that.¡± She paused, meeting his gaze. His magenta eyes, usually quite similar to hers, burned with a severity that Velaiah had never seen before. Still, inklings of childlike softness remained in their spirited gleam.


    ¡°You¡¯ve changed,¡± she stated.


    ¡°Well, yes, in case you¡¯ve forgotten you were gone for three years, I¡¯ve grown up a bit,¡± Girdorn scoffed. ¡°You missed my eighteenth birthday, by the way.¡±


    ¡°Ah, there he is,¡± Velaiah chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m... Sorry I missed it. Truth be told, I stayed in Grimros for so long because I got myself into a spot of trouble and couldn¡¯t afford to leave. By the time I made enough money to get myself back home, I sort of began to like my new job.¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me the hostel manager thing was true,¡± Girdorn chuckled.


    ¡°Yes, that was true.¡± Velaiah shook her head, somewhat embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised you didn¡¯t believe it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll admit it¡¯s a step down from your brand of perilous altruism, but I won¡¯t ask how you got stuck there.¡± Girdorn pursed his lips, hinting cheekily with a curious upward glance. ¡°Though I am curious.¡±


    ¡°Come to think of it, that¡¯s a story I can tell you. I¡¯ll be sure to do so before I go,¡± Velaiah assured. Girdorn¡¯s smile dropped.


    ¡°Are you leaving again?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Velaiah nodded as she averted her gaze. ¡°The hostel¡¯s interior was destroyed, but the rebuilding shouldn¡¯t be too long. I¡¯ve decided to go back when I can.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not serious,¡± Girdorn laughed.


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°Why Grimros? Can¡¯t you work at an inn closer to home?¡± Girdorn¡¯s confusion was matched only by his suspicion.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be able to come back and visit from now on. Besides, I can make more money to send over.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Girdorn raised a brow, looking intently at Velaiah¡¯s averted eyes. ¡°I think we¡¯d rather spend time with you than just take money from you, but I wasn¡¯t just speaking for our sake. The travel is blatantly inconvenient for you, as well. I understand, though ¨C whatever unfinished business you have in Grimros, it must be important.¡± He shrugged, and before Velaiah had a chance to respond, he stood up and tilted the chair onto one leg, giving it a partial twirl with one finger before he made his parting comment.


    ¡°Just make sure you come back in one piece next time,¡± the young Dronvar concluded. He then dragged the chair away, dropping it off at the end of the bed before he made his way to the door. He turned back one last time before he left, but Velaiah had already rolled over, facing the wall. Girdorn¡¯s eyes wandered up to the window, where the amethystine eyes of a gray, mauve-tailed rodent ¨C a bormunk ¨C peered inside from the branch of a silver-leafed tree. It nibbled on a pitch black acorn, holding it fast in its tiny and dexterous paws.


    Beside the creature, a larger pair of crimson eyes stared in, too. They pierced through the violet light of Zendine, framed by a black hood and a mask that veiled the thin nose and soft cheekbones of a woman. By the time he blinked, however, she and the rodent were gone; Perhaps, he thought to himself, he hadn¡¯t seen her at all.

 11-3: Pure Altruism

    Anna hoisted up her bulging bag from the floor and set it on her desk. Packed and ready for a short trip to Kho¡¯gul, she allowed herself a moment to catch her breath. She took mental account of everything as it stood; three members were sent out on their own contract earlier that day, and four would travel to the city together ¨C of them, one freshly signed. One other remained absent on business in Oakenhaven.


    The last of these sent her thoughts worrying for Jessa. Each day since she left, one thing or another would spark a reminder of her. It happened often enough that Anna came to worry as one would for their own child.


    Her own child. Long had it been since she let her memory veer in that direction. Blond, wispy curls and cheeks plump with a carefree smile flashed before her as if present and corporeal. She willed the vision away; now was not the time to think of loss from years so far past. Refocusing her attention, she tightened the cords of her pack and steered herself clear of any distracting concerns.


    Three metallic taps sounded at the door, shattering what remained of her latent yearning. Thankful for the diversion, she muttered a word of gratitude to her gods before speaking up.


    ¡°Come in,¡± she said, permitting Deventh to enter. He carried an open envelope, skimming over the letter that had presumably been inside.


    ¡°Dare I ask what news?¡± Anna asked, noting his furrowed brow and unwavering focus.


    ¡°From Thulreg. There¡¯s been an order to cease the investigation,¡± said Deventh, passing her the letter as he neared her desk. Her eyes raced over the parchment, each line etching a new wrinkle in her forehead.


    ¡°Not a single word of explanation?¡±


    ¡°¡®By the earl¡¯s decree,¡¯¡± Deventh said, his shoulders rigid, eye contact sharp.


    ¡°Yes, I read that part,¡± Anna huffed, tucking away a tensed corner of her lips. ¡°I suppose Thulreg would know as well as anyone else not within Lord Gh¨¹nthor¡¯s most benevolent council. It¡¯s a damn good thing we¡¯re going back to Kho¡¯gul.¡±


    ¡°I assumed with this news we¡¯d cancel the trip.¡±


    ¡°Why would we? We might find some answers there.¡±


    ¡°From whom, would you venture?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But you can¡¯t be suggesting now, after all we¡¯ve uncovered, that you¡¯re indifferent to this.¡±


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    ¡°On the contrary, it is concerning,¡± Deventh admitted. ¡°There¡¯s likely some unsavory reason we aren¡¯t meant to have any such answers, but we aren¡¯t exactly in a position to take on deeds of pure altruism.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. We sent Jessa home with enough money to buy us time for it.¡± As she spoke, Anna scooped up her set of gold rings and squeezed them over her fingers one by one. ¡°I can¡¯t stand by while these families are still left without their loved ones. Blind submission to the earl¡¯s orders may suffice for the Oath, but it will not suffice for me. Were it not for our financial struggles, I know it wouldn¡¯t suffice for you, either.¡±


    A deep hum rose from Deventh¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said. ¡°So long as it¡¯s not to the detriment of the guild''s continuance, let¡¯s go as planned and look out for any leads. Though it would be best to seek out some paid work in the city as well.¡±


    ¡°It sounds like we have a deal, then,¡± said Anna. ¡°Is everyone ready to go?¡±


    ¡°Not sure. The letter only just arrived, so no one¡¯s holding their breath for a decision. I¡¯ll go and check on them.¡±


    ¡°Good, I¡¯ll be ready in a moment myself,¡± Anna said as he turned to walk away. Pleased with the success of her persuasion, she let a smile wrinkle her eyes with crows¡¯ feet as she looked down at her desk, where a thin golden chain trailed to a locket. Her expression faded.


    ¡°Wait,¡± she said, stopping Deventh in his stride. ¡°Were there any¡­ Other letters?¡±


    ¡°Were you expecting any?¡± he asked, returning to the front of her desk.


    ¡°I¡¯ve had Jessa on my mind. She did mention she would write us when she arrived home safely.¡±


    ¡°Surely it¡¯s a bit early to start worrying. No courier coming from Oakenhaven would even have a chance to catch his breath.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it is early,¡± Anna said with no conviction. Sweeping the locket off the desk and into her palm, she conceded to the possibility that she was simply being paranoid. Nonetheless, something twisted in her gut, something more convincing than Deventh¡¯s words of reassurance. A pang of intuition, prodding well beyond her power to ignore it. ¡°But do you not feel it? Are you not concerned for her at all?¡±


    For a split second, Deventh averted his enduring gaze. He took a small step back and observed the tension in her posture, the tautness of her face.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t like you.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not. That¡¯s why I am so uneasy, Deventh.¡±


    ¡°Give it some time,¡± Deventh insisted. ¡°In light of recent events, it¡¯s not irrational to consider all that could happen ¨C but getting shaken up will do more harm than good. News will come eventually. When it does¡ª¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll take it one step at a time,¡± Anna said, the edge gone from her voice. She met his gaze, which refused with all its might to break again. After a few seconds of focus, she relaxed her shoulders and nodded. ¡°Of course. Something strange came over me. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll have a letter waiting for us when we return.¡± She waved him off. ¡°Go, see to the others.¡±


    Deventh gave one last reassuring nod and headed for the exit. He glanced back to find Anna giving a mountain guard¡¯s gesture of gratitude ¨C four fingers angled upward against the left side of her chest, a pinky extended away from the others. Though she hadn¡¯t expected him to see it, she did not waver when he did.


    ¡°Thank you, Deventh,¡± she said. ¡°However deep you might try to bury it under your words, I see your compassion more every day.¡±


    Deventh paused, acknowledging her words. Moments passed as they absorbed a mutual understanding. Once the unspoken nudge willed him to leave, he stepped out and moved past the light of the braziers.

 12-1: In Loving Memory

    I will not discredit the cowardice of those who toy with the dead and their tendency to hide away in darkness. Necromancy of the sun, however, is more depraved than I can express here. Its practitioners steal ¨C from the very source ¨C the light of life itself, a gift in which Elyn bathes the world, and corrupt it to the loathsome end of stuffing a corpse with crude animation.


    -Excerpt from the journal of Mellina Tirivalo, University of Oakenhaven


    Light from the high sun draped over the chateau garden, glistening on droplets atop petals and leaves. Rain clouds had come and gone, leaving behind a cool crispness that carried sweet scents in the breeze. All servants of the Bisset household had gathered across rows of benches arranged for the occasion, facing an unattended stone podium. Pierrau himself was not in attendance, having rushed to the city for urgent work demands as usual.


    In the front row sat the two Fenvari maids, whispering and giggling. The bells that decorated their hair ¨C black, instead of their usual silver ¨C chimed with a haunting, resonant tone as they bantered. A woman watched them from the back row, wearing her distaste for their behavior in plain sight on her face.


    ¡°You¡¯ll deepen those frown lines if you keep that face up,¡± said the chipper, round-faced woman beside her ¨C the head cook and longest-standing member of the kitchen staff. She nudged her with her elbow. ¡°Where¡¯s your son?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said the second woman. ¡°He said he didn¡¯t wish to come. He¡¯s getting to that age ¨C rebellious, for the pure sake of being so.¡±


    ¡°Quite a time to exercise it. He ought to be here paying his respects, seeing as the man practically raised him!¡±


    ¡°What, and I was here doing a jig and twiddling my thumbs?¡± the mother chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ve all got our own ways of grieving. Just this once, I would like to choose leniency with him.¡±


    The older woman regarded her with a stern glare. ¡°If respect and etiquette never spited our emotions, Elliere, we¡¯d have no need for them. A servant-child is best not instilled with too great a sense of individuality. Try as our Union might to pantomime preserving our personal autonomy, their customers have the final say in our duties and selves.¡±


    ¡°He is my son, first and foremost.¡± Elliere kept a cold, firm stare as she spoke. ¡°A child is a child. Servant or not.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± said the older woman, tempering her tongue in spite of her own objections. Not one to engage in hypocrisy, she soured her lips and faced forward.


    Elliere followed suit. Her gaze fell upon a yellow runner atop the podium, tracing the flourish around a white sun embroidered on it. Standing tall behind the structure was the fountain woman holding her jug, her stone face depicting naught but her diligence toward an unchanging, unending duty to cycle water. Elliere focused in on a rust brown streak which had soaked into the porous rock, running down from the statue¡¯s right eye to her chin.


    The screeching hinges of the gate ripped Elliere from her trance and raised the hairs on the back of her neck. All conversations came to an abrupt end as a tall male figure appeared, slender and elflike. Clad in a bright white robe, he concealed half his face under a cloth mask and left the rest obscured in the shadow of his hood. The gold embroidered trim on each seam and edge of his clothing shimmered with his every gracile movement as he strode down the aisle between the benches.


    Pointed gold shoes poked out from beneath his robe as the presumed elf stepped up behind the podium. He spoke not a word while preparing himself to give his sermon. With a white-gloved hand, he reached into his pocket and produced a polished white crystal. Setting it aside unceremoniously, he cleared his throat and turned his palms to the sky.


    ¡°Friends of Gilles DeHorten, I welcome you to this celebration of memory,¡± he said. His smooth, effeminate tone instilled a sense of calm, but a liminal sharpness followed close behind and cut through it. ¡°Elyn brings us light and life ¨C gifts whose value we hold beyond measure. What we often deny, however, is that death is a gift as well. Without it, the world-weary do not rest, memories fade behind tiresome days, and nothing begins anew. See how the human cherishes each passing day, while the elf takes a century for granted; see how the gift of life is diminished when we fail to realize death.¡±


    The white crystal taunted Elliere. It was not an unusual sight in Elynian rituals; oftentimes clergy would employ them to absorb the sun¡¯s energy and deliver a calming aura to those in mourning. This one did the opposite. Though inert, it filled her with misdoubt and agitated her nerves. No one else appeared afflicted, however ¨C surely, she thought, she was just stricken with grief. Running a thumb over her knuckles, she soothed herself as the priest continued.


    ¡°When the flame of a mortal life is snuffed out by Lusmir¡¯s algid breath, and his shepherd¡¯s cane guides the soul to their plane of rest or punishment, who is the one that passes him the candle?¡± the priest asked, allowing a moment of pondering among the crowd before he clasped his hands atop the podium. ¡°It is none other than Elyn, who cultivated it, and whom he loves woefully from his remote domain. Weep not for this loss, for she already weeps enough to drown the world; she is a mother, above all ¨C the mother of every soul.¡±


    Though his lecture enthralled everyone present, inciting whispers of awe and relief, Elliere still couldn¡¯t shake the sensation of something amiss. Words meant to comfort and condole instead troubled and galled. A devotee to the goddess of life exuded the dread of death and spoke of it fondly. As he reached with his right hand and pressed a finger to the tip of the crystal, he hummed the rhythm of an incantation. This one was not familiar.


    ¡°I invite you all to feel her warmth," the priest continued, taking a pause in his concentration, "As you close your eyes and find Gilles in the safest corner of your mind. Speak to him there as you once would. Remember him for what he was.¡±


    The priest resumed his humming, more intense this time. The crystal filled with white light, from bottom to tip as a chalice would fill with wine. Elliere did not close her eyes, although everyone else did.


    For the first time in years since her expulsion from the University, she found herself attuned to a strange, potent energy. It permeated everything, emanating from the faceless priest, pouring into the white crystal, and passing through the bodies of all who attended. Like a clawed hand inside her chest, it gripped, squeezed, demanded attention. In spite of it, in fear of it, her mind begged and cried for her to escape, to spring out of her seat and run.


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    She leaned in close to the older woman beside her.


    ¡°Agathe, we need to go,¡± she whispered. The old woman¡¯s face, serene and tensionless, did not give the slightest inkling of a response as Elliere grabbed her wrist. Pulling her arm and trying to shake her from her trance, Elliere spoke with greater force, but kept herself hushed. She glanced at the priest, who had also closed his eyes, and hoped not to be caught. ¡°Please, we need to get everyone away from here. Don¡¯t make me do this alone.¡±


    Her plea fell on deaf ears. Still, she persisted. She stood, holding her grip on Agathe¡¯s wrist, and tried to pull her upright, but the old woman was lost in her reverie. Shaking her head in disbelief, Elliere drew in a trembling breath and cried out to the audience.


    ¡°Get out of here, everyone! Please, if you can hear me! He¡¯s¡ª¡±


    ¡°Child of Elyn,¡± the priest said, chin upturned and eyes shut tightly, ¡°How your grief must burden you so, that it transcends the might of her loving embrace. That you would interrupt the very ritual which calls upon it ¨C how troubled indeed you must find yourself in this moment.¡±


    ¡°How troubled indeed,¡± Elliere said. She brought a hand to her mouth. The words had slipped out beyond her wit. The calm washed over her, too, quelling the suspicion that raged within. Perhaps, she thought, she should have listened to her thoughts earlier, insisting her grief was to blame for her unrest. Yielding to reason, she returned to her seat.


    ¡°Now all of you have borne witness firsthand to the strength of her healing!¡± said the priest. ¡°Keep this moment in your memory and draw upon it when you find that your grief demands consolation. Let us continue now with a prayer.¡±


    Again he turned his palms to the sky and recited a standard Elynian prayer. The crowd droned along with him. Elliere nestled further into the corner of comfort and normalcy she¡¯d found, no longer resisting the strange energy, the goddess¡¯ embrace. She let it cradle her rather than smother her.


    The ceremony went on for a time, from preaching to reminiscence and prayer. The audience maintained its docility for the duration, muttering only words of prayer or affirmation when given the opportunity. At the conclusion of the sermon, one ritual remained yet uncompleted.


    ¡°Now that the mother of souls has mourned with us, it is time we send her essence back to her domain.¡± The priest lifted the crystal and cupped it in both palms. He held it out, raising it above eye level and giving his final thanks. ¡°Gratiri, Elyn.¡±


    The light began to drain from the crystal, seeping out through the bottom. A black haze formed over the top and funneled into the vacant space. It soon overflowed and radiated towards the crowd, just as the light had done earlier, but this time Elliere felt a pull, a forceful tug, now accompanying the squeezing grip which never truly went away. Weakening her, as if siphoning her soul from her heart. She caught whiffs of tainted magic thickening the air as the priest became enveloped in shadow.


    A sickening gurgle tore her focus away, draining her face to pallor. To her right, she glanced over and found Agathe limp and heavy on the bench, mouth hanging open, gasping. A tendril of black haze pierced her chest, flowing back in the direction of the crystal. The old woman¡¯s eyes, glazed over and pleading, left Elliere motionless, her heart skipping a beat. She regretted not running when she first sensed the grasp of menace.


    The time for regret, however, had passed. Each moment, she grew weaker. She grabbed Agathe¡¯s wrist once more and tried to pull her up, struggling against the old woman¡¯s limp, dead weight while her own arms and legs bogged her down as if chained to heavy bricks. Breath held in fast, veins popping from her temples, teeth gritting nigh on breakage, she tried ¨C until Agathe reached over and placed a hand on top of hers.


    ¡°Agathe,¡± Elliere choked, giving up her struggle and loosening her grip. ¡°Please¡­¡±


    Shaking her head, the old woman let a tear roll down her agonized face. Her eyes still pleaded, not for help, but for Elliere to save herself. As Agathe slowly closed her eyes, Elliere¡¯s mind raced. But there was no time to grieve as she remembered her son. She knew neither where he was nor whether he was safe.


    Chaunce, Elliere thought, swiveling her head and scanning the terrified faces  all around before crying out, ¡°Where is he?¡±


    Others had descended into panic as well. Awareness took hold, and they, too, tried to escape. Guttural shouts and blood-curdling screams devoured the peaceful sanctuary of the garden. More were dying by the second.


    The Fenvari maids were nowhere in sight, nor did their jingling bells join in the clamor of the rush. Among those filing out of their seats, some of the braver souls charged at the priest with tools as weapons. Those who didn¡¯t collapse before reaching him were stricken down by his hazy aura like birds in a lightning storm.


    Elliere found no sign of her son anywhere. Weakness ravaged her body. She had little time left. If nothing else, she needed to make sure he was safe. Once she found an opening in the midst of the chaotic flight surrounding her, she gathered what remained of her energy and rushed down the aisle. Shoving past everyone who slowed her down, she made her way to the gate as fast as she could.


    Her hands trembled as she jiggled the latch, trying not to look back and see how many people had fallen. When it finally snapped open, she swung the gate out and beckoned to those behind her.


    ¡°Hurry, we¡¯re almost out of his magic¡¯s reach!¡± she shouted, licking her parched lips between labored breaths. They followed her as she ran out first, finding the edge of the ethereal circle and sprinting towards it.


    As Elliere stepped over into safety, a piercing, tearing pain burst through her chest and numbed her body. Time stopped around her. Her ears rang, drowning out all the sounds of terror. Wisps of warm light clouded her vision, inviting her to relax, assuring her that she would soon be somewhere better than here. She collapsed to her hands and knees, then fell to the ground, gasping for her last breath. When she closed her eyes, the gentle tinkling of bells lulled her to rest.


    As the sun began to set, a boy, no older than twelve, approached the entrance to the garden. His glossy black hair, in the shape of a mushroom cap, whipped about in the breeze. In one hand he held a piece of parchment, and in the other a wooden toy horse. He stopped short, gazing upon the bodies lying on the ground and sprawled out on the benches. Not one servant of Chateau Bisset survived. It was as he feared. He had come back too late. He had failed to protect the only family he¡¯d ever known.


    There was little time to waste. Were the maids to find him alive, he would be killed as well. He hoped to set out and find Jessa, too, reassuring himself that she was alive and well. Nonetheless, the boy knelt beside his mother, wanting nothing more than to spend a few more moments with her. Yet as he said his last goodbyes, no tears nor sadness nor anger came to him. Only emptiness.


    After a few minutes passed, the boy entered the garden and found himself, for the very first time, overwhelmed by an air of desecration. His mother was a religious woman, and though she tried to teach him her lessons, he never knew until now, until it ripped away all that he cherished, what she meant when she spoke of such corruption. A sanctuary where he used to play, used to hide from responsibility ¨C forever shadowed by the murk of death. Even the vivid blooms and greenery looked pale and gray in its hold.


    The boy approached the podium where the priest once stood and kicked it over. It landed with a quake and a hollow thud against the sodden ground. He approached the fountain, and, gazing upon the statue, he found his sorrow in her hollow eyes and the stain upon her cheek. Just as her water flowed, so too did his grief, his new emotions that were so suddenly thrust upon him.


    From the ground beside him, he picked up a rock and hurled it at her with all his might. Her torso broke away from her legs, crashing down into the basin. Her water jug shattered to pieces as it smashed into the lip of the fountain. Water splashed up in a chilling spray as the pieces landed, soaking the boy¡¯s hair and clothes. The stone woman was finally set free from her eternity.


    The boy ran, and with everything else he¡¯d left behind, he abandoned every hope of ever returning.

 12-2: Pendula

    Salt air burned in Jovar¡¯s nose and clumped his unkempt hair into dry, waxy locks. He hated traveling, hated the coast even more. It reminded him far too much of home. Since he began working under Maestus, he¡¯d traversed more of Nelthemar than he cared to see, having expected opportunities to learn his craft rather than suffer the cold, the wet, and the beating sun. Each of his protests were met with vague responses to the effect of ¡°you are not ready,¡± spurring him only to work harder and suffer more.


    ¡°Wyvern¡¯s Rest is quite scenic this time of year,¡± said Maestus, his horse trotting along the road toward the beach in perfect synchronicity with Jovar¡¯s own. ¡°None of the bite of winter, yet none of the bustle of summertime. I hear there are no such seasonal delights in Drondaris.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve heard correctly,¡± said Jovar. ¡°Not that I take any particular delight in outdoor scenery. At least most of the land lacks any semblance of color. I almost wish I was born in the Gray.¡±


    ¡°I care little for the Gray ¨C though I¡¯ve always wanted to visit the peninsula. A little taste of what all the land was in ancient times. But there¡¯s much work to be done first.¡±


    ¡°If I could have you go in my stead, I would be happy to,¡± said Jovar half-jokingly. When he realized his statement could be interpreted as rebellious, however, he cleared his throat and set his eyes forward. Soon came a sudden waft of shit, causing his lips to pucker and his face to scrunch inward. They slowed down as they neared the stables on their left. After leaving their horses to be cared for, they continued on foot past the wall which separated the city¡¯s edge from the beach.


    It was not long before Jovar¡¯s shoes began filling with sand, gritting away at the soles of his feet and accumulating between his toes. Each step made him wince and clench his jaw with enough tension that his head began to ache. The roar of the waves crashing to shore tore through his ears like a blood-curdling scream, and he swallowed a frustrated outcry welling up in his lungs.


    Still he trudged on, falling behind as his endeavor to maintain his sanity held him back. Maestus spared him no pity, refusing to let his straggling keep him from enjoying the view. He muttered something once, but Jovar was too preoccupied to discern his words or tone. Beyond this, neither one spoke to the other.


    They continued for a time before passing beneath a massive arch, beyond which lay a cove nestled between walls of rock. A cave sat adjacent on the water, partially shrouded by an overhang. Overlooking the water stood a decrepit shack with cracked, rotting support posts straining under the weight of its sagging deck. Maestus stopped to inspect the pitiful structure from afar, twisting the ends of his mustache as he shook his head in disapproval.


    ¡°Here we are,¡± he said, his voice tapering in thought.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± asked Jovar.


    ¡°Ah, I see you¡¯ve finally learned to ask questions. How refreshing it is to not be subjected to your blind servility for a moment¡¯s time. Yes, I assure you ¨C we¡¯ve found the right place.¡±


    They soon approached the shack, hesitating as they were greeted by barnacle-encrusted stairs. Maestus stepped up first, the wood moaning under his modest weight as he looked behind to assure his apprentice. A stray frond of dehydrated seaweed fell to the ground as he knocked on the door.


    ¡°Vrok,¡± a woman groaned from within. Glass and metal clattered and rolled across the floor, followed by a peculiar silence. She opened the door, clad in a thin strip of begrimed linen tied around her generously sized bust, as well as a makeshift wrap skirt of the same material. Freckles peppered every inch of her gray skin, and her scarlet eyes scanned for a target to pierce as a scowl besmirched her otherwise lovely face. Acknowledging Maestus, she let her distasteful expression deepen.


    ¡°Listen, I already told you this house is not for sale,¡± she said. ¡°If the earl needs a reminder of our protections, I¡¯ll give it to him by way of knife-to-throat.¡±


    ¡°You must have me mistaken for someone else,¡± said Maestus, flashing a small emblem he carried in his robe pocket. The Dronvari witch surrendered her guard, but not without a snarl.


    ¡°Bastard.¡± After motioning with a tattoo-covered arm to invite them in, she wiped her hands stained with herbs and fluids onto her skirt. Once they were all inside, she closed the door behind them. ¡°You¡¯d better have a damned good reason for interrupting my preparations. There¡¯s meant to be a storm tonight, and with the state of my home I cannot afford to displease V¡¯thron again.¡±


    ¡°I do apologize, Sthrena,¡± said Maestus. ¡°We¡¯re hoping to only be a few minutes of your time. Quite intriguingly, my search around town has led me back to you. I thought I would ask if you might take us to Pendula.¡±


    ¡°Pendula,¡± Sthrena said, crossing her arms as she observed his face for doubt or deception. ¡°And why would you wish to speak with her?¡±


    ¡°My apprentice seeks a favor.¡± Maestus gestured to Jovar. ¡°One that she might be able to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let him speak, then.¡± She turned to Jovar, who had found himself preoccupied with tracing the contours of her body. His face flushed as she directed a smirk at him. ¡°What is your name, dathei?¡±


    Jovar¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He hadn¡¯t expected to be addressed so affectionately. Bringing a fist to his mouth, he cleared his throat.


    ¡°Jovar,¡± he said.


    ¡°Zhovar,¡± she repeated, removing foreign influence from her pronunciation. A soft purr rolled over her tongue as she lingered on the end of his name. ¡°Temperate. Mild. How befitting. Do you have a family name, Jovar?¡±


    In his uncertainty, Jovar looked to Maestus with a careful glance. Upon receiving his approval, he returned his attention to Sthrena.


    ¡°Salanval, yi-vara,¡± he answered, bowing his head.


    ¡°I see.¡± She took a step back, pursing her lips as she eyed him up and down. ¡°Save your formalities for Pendula. We will go at once.¡±


    Sthrena moved on in a rush, her thick, jet hair falling back from her shoulders as she turned to the door. With a sure and confident gait, she led them to a raft which sat wedged ashore. She stepped aboard first and waited for the others to accompany her. Despite his reservations, Jovar surprised even himself by joining her with little hesitation, and Maestus followed without a second thought. Once the three were secure and comfortable, Sthrena rowed into the darkness beneath the overhanging rock.


    The walls narrowed as they progressed onward into the tunnel. As they passed beyond the dwindling reach of light, Sthrena whispered, ¡°Ularine,¡± and reached for a small bottle pendant which hung around her neck with twine. She held it to her lips, and with a gentle kiss it started to glow, lighting the way through the remaining length of the tunnel.


    ¡°Here we are,¡± said Sthrena as the walls widened into a cavern. Lit torches stood on either side of the passageway, guiding them to a dock where other boats sat idle alongside a cargo vessel. From the dock stretched two wooden platforms to the left and right, both joining in the middle a bit further ahead. Crates were stacked from floor to ceiling, bearing the symbol of the Noth Dozrin: a black python wrapped around a sprig of red jasmine. Dronvar stood around in groups, speaking amongst each other in their native tongue as they kept watchful eyes on the three newcomers.


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    ¡°Trouble, Sthrena?¡± one man asked, pointing his chin at Maestus and Jovar. She shook her head, flashing a bright smile in his direction.


    ¡°Pendula,¡± she said, pushing forward without slowing down. ¡°Private business.¡±


    The hum of conversations loudened the moment she announced her purpose. Some curious onlookers followed them, maintaining a distance while keeping them in view. Jovar and Maestus looked around in wonder as the cavern opened wider into a lively hideaway with tents and amenities for all of its occupants. Shouts and laughter from the bar died down as they passed by, evoking silent stares while glowering faces sipped their drinks.


    At the far end of the open space stood a luxurious red tent. Despite its impressive size compared to the others, there was enough shadow to stretch over its entire breadth. A young woman stood guard at the front, wearing a short, plain robe. She kept her arms crossed and her gaze far away, hiding none of her boredom.


    ¡°Sthrena,¡± she said in greeting as the three approached, bowing her head no more than custom required.


    ¡°Gira,¡± said Sthrena in reply. ¡°Is Pendula inside? We need to speak with her.¡±


    Gira blinked in disbelief and pointed a finger to Maestus.


    ¡°Does ¡®we¡¯ include¡­ Him?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my dear. I hope this is no problem ¨C should she object, please let her know¡­¡± Sthrena leaned in and whispered a quick message, leaving Gira speechless as the disdain on her face melted away. The young woman nodded, scurrying into the tent. As the curtains closed, a puff of incense smoke escaped behind her. Moments later, after a series of argumentative whispers, Gira emerged again.


    ¡°She will see you,¡± she said, holding aside the curtain to let them in. Sthrena thanked her as they entered, blowing a kiss in her direction.


    Inside, they laid eyes upon an array of eclectic, lavish furniture pieces. Armchairs, recliners, and couches were arranged on a damask rug, and in the center was a carved wooden table with a smoking censer. Texts in various languages filled a nearby bookshelf, along with trinkets and decorations from Drondaris and beyond. In the far corner, a lacquered wardrobe stood beside a bed with silken sheets, and a folding screen separated the area from the rest. At the very center of the space, a silver tea set rested upon a round wooden table, and a woman sat in a cushioned chair behind it.


    ¡°Sthrena,¡± she said. ¡°You lie on the beach all day and then bring thrinari into our hideaway. Moreover, you bring us a Salanval alongside him. Truly, you fascinate me.¡± She stood and stepped forth, her brocaded red robe trailing on the ground. Motes of blue light floated above them and carried through the thin fragrant haze, causing the gems on her cheeks and the glossy red of her lips to shimmer. Her face was stern yet welcoming, her topaz-colored eyes filled with a cautious curiosity.


    ¡°I appreciate the sentiment, Pendula,¡± said Sthrena, clasping her hands together and bowing from the waist. ¡°The Salanval is the apprentice of the human, Maestus, and he requests a favor. I do not know what it is, but I thought we might let him speak.¡±


    ¡°Apprentice? Of what craft?¡±


    ¡°Necromancy, yi-vara.¡±


    Pendula¡¯s cordial demeanor faded away in an instant. Maestus and Jovar exchanged glances, both having been unaware that Sthrena would divulge such information.


    ¡°Sthrena, is this some sort of elaborate jest?¡±


    ¡°N-no, my Velt¨¹rina. I promise it is as I say.¡±


    At a loss for words, Pendula pressed two fingers to her forehead in thought. She then joined her hands together, concealing them in the wide sleeves of her robe.


    ¡°I¡¯ve known Salanval men to have a rather¡­ Stronger chin than I see before me now. May I know your given name?¡± She addressed Jovar, motioning with a slight turn of her head for him to step forward.


    ¡°Jovar, yi-vara,¡± he said with a bow.


    ¡°One of the lost brothers,¡± she said, ¡°Not unexpected. I¡¯d hoped for the missing one, but I will settle for the exiled one ¨C I know not the details of your crimes, but I suppose that speaks of your family¡¯s penchant for secrecy. For what purpose have you sought me out?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Jovar swallowed a nervous lump in his throat. ¡°I would ask to be escorted to Dhul Noria, so that I might visit my mother and father¡¯s grave.¡±


    Pendula raised a brow in suspicion.


    ¡°Given your status, do you not believe it¡¯s perhaps¡­ A bit too late for you to try to fulfill mol varondis?¡±


    Keeping his gaze low, Jovar rubbed the cuff of his sleeve between his thumb and forefinger.


    ¡°Th-that is well understood, yi-vara. What I want is not to fulfill an already failed duty to them, but to visit for the sake of visiting. I ask so that one of their sons may still return to them, that they might still be remembered, with no concern for whether it redeems my soul.¡±


    ¡°And I am meant to trust a necromancer to simply visit a sacred burial place? One that bears such significance to the very founding of the peninsula?¡±


    ¡°I am under apprenticeship now,¡± said Jovar. ¡°Should I practice outside of my master¡¯s observation, I will lose everything I¡¯ve worked to earn since my exile.¡±


    ¡°Pathetic,¡± Pendula muttered. She spoke up, addressing Maestus, who had busied himself with the idle task of skimming titles on the spines of books while the others spoke in a language he did not understand. ¡°Is it true? That Jovar may not practice your craft unsupervised?¡±


    ¡°That is correct,¡± Maestus said. ¡°Nor does he yet practice under supervision. He still has much to learn, as well as to unlearn.¡±


    ¡°I asked you a yes-or-no question, kr¨­ng,¡± said Pendula, invoking an unkind word for non-Dronvar. ¡°For your confirmation, I thank you, but I do not require your embellishments.¡± Returning to her native tongue, she continued the conversation with Sthrena and Jovar.


    ¡°You understand the risks associated with traveling between our safehouses, correct?¡± she asked. ¡°And with being smuggled into Drondaris?¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± said Jovar.


    ¡°And you understand that you may come to the attention of your cousins among the Noth Dozrin ranks in Girin-Uthroz, despite our best efforts to keep you hidden?¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°Then there remains only the question of your payment. Do you have any information on the whereabouts of your brother? Should you have a significant lead, that is all we would require.¡±


    ¡°I do not. Had I any such leads, yi-vara, with all due respect, I would have brought him back home for a chance at redemption.¡±


    As she pondered, Pendula drew in a deep, deliberate breath, and Jovar winced at the sight of the smoke entering her nostrils. She stepped back, giving a curt nod.


    ¡°Very well. I do hope you¡¯ve prepared another offer, then?¡±


    ¡°My master had something in mind, yi-vara.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Like a little pet.¡± She turned her nose up at Jovar and invited Maestus to speak once more. ¡°What do you have to give us in return for this favor?¡±


    Setting his shoulders back, Maestus assumed a businesslike demeanor. His efforts to match her countenance earned him a warped grin in response.


    ¡°A boon, for you and yours,¡± he said. ¡°Not only will I fight to extend the protections over your space indefinitely, but I will see to it that Sthrena¡¯s home is restored structurally, and your hideout fortified.¡±


    ¡°And who are you, that you might accomplish this in a meaningful way?¡±


    Sthrena leaned in and cupped her hand over Pendula¡¯s ear. Once she had heard enough to come to an understanding, Pendula waved the witch away.


    ¡°I see. Pray tell though, Maestus, why you would do all of this for your lowly apprentice?¡±


    ¡°Because there is a personal favor for which I owe him a great debt, for which no sum of money is too much to ask. However harsh my method of teaching may appear, I am grateful to him.¡±


    Following his persuasion, a long silence came to pass. Pendula nodded, approving of his honorable sentiments.


    ¡°Perhaps not all Nelthrin take without returning, after all,¡± she said, relaxing her arms at her sides. ¡°Jovar, Sthrena will guide you to your first safehouse after ensuring her home stays sound through tonight¡¯s storm.¡±


    ¡°You may stay with me, if you prefer the noise of the water over that of people,¡± Sthrena offered in addition, placing her hand upon Jovar¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Tonight I will call upon the sea twins V¡¯thron, and a masculine presence may help to balance their duality.¡±


    Jovar flinched, her delicate touch causing his stomach to flutter. Though he knew nothing of witchcraft, he found the smile that accompanied her invitation irresistible. With a sheepish nod, he accepted, his curiosity undeniably piqued.


    ¡°Then it is settled,¡± said Pendula. ¡°We will see to it that our protections are granted to you on your journey to Drondaris. And Maestus, we look forward to your contributions.¡±


    Jovar and Sthrena gave Pendula one last parting bow. Caring for nothing more than to pour herself a fresh cup of tea, the Velt¨¹rina returned to her chair without further comment. After a wave of her hand to indicate their dismissal, the trio departed together.

 12-3: The Captive, Part II

    ¡°You¡¯re here,¡± whispered a tender voice as a supple hand stroked the Captive¡¯s cheek. He awoke to a beautiful face staring down at him, silver-skinned with void-black eyes and short, bristled antennae protruding from her forehead. She twisted a lock of his hair as her warm breaths caressed his neck. ¡°I thought I would never see you again. How long I¡¯ve been trying to reach you¡­ And here you are. Wanting to be here.¡±


    His one good eye darted about as he tried to orient himself. The two lay on the same bed of stone in the same cold, brassy laboratory from which he¡¯d escaped years ago, yet he was surprised to find that he was reasonably clothed, with no restraints clasped around his wrists and ankles. This was not a dream, nor was it fully real, a projection enshrouded in silence and the constricting sensation of smallness. Though he felt no urgency to leave, he was unsure how he ended up here, never having known himself to possess such abilities. Sensing his unease, the Captor pressed a finger to his lower lip, fidgeting with it.


    ¡°Where did you go?¡± she asked, eyes shimmering with worry and sadness.


    ¡°Back to Esyrene,¡± said the Captive, gently grasping her wrist to lead her hand away from his face. ¡°I do not belong here.¡±


    ¡°You are time itself,¡± she said, ¡°You belong everywhere, all at once.¡±


    ¡°I am no such thing.¡±


    ¡°Are you not?¡± The moment he let go of her wrist, the Captor reached up and stroked a finger over his vacant eyelid. ¡°Even now, a chorus led by Tem Talur¡¯s voice resonates within you. You need only to accept the final transplant.¡±


    ¡°But I will not,¡± said the Captive. ¡°And it is best that you give up on your search for a vessel. Your cult has lied to you. You cannot bring him back.¡±


    ¡°Someone has deceived you, that you would believe that. How deeply those seeds have rooted themselves,¡± said the Captor. She drew back, sitting herself upright. The short, bristled antennae protruding from her forehead twitched with irritation. ¡°Why did you come back here, then? Are you cruel enough that you would return just to taunt me, or are you unconvinced by your own notions of what you truly are?¡±


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    ¡°I did not come here of my own volition,¡± said the Captive, pushing himself up into a seated position as well.


    ¡°And I do not appear to those who want nothing from me. I have tried in vain for years. In this state, I cannot make you stay ¨C I cannot make you do anything you don¡¯t want to. That is the work of fate, not me, so tell me why you are here.¡±


    The Captive searched every crevice of his mind for an answer. He could think of no rightful reason why he would want to be here, why he would want to find himself once more in the place where he was subjected to torture and disfigurement. Moreover, he did not know why he wanted to be anywhere near the one who brought him this torment, leading him in with such alluring lies. But as he looked upon her mournful face ¨C eyes that once smiled with him, lips that once slipped impassioned gasps and sighs into his ear ¨C he descended into a raging battle against his own subconscious.


    ¡°I want to say goodbye,¡± he said.


    ¡°Why?¡± asked the Captor, bringing a hand to her chest. At a loss, she averted her gaze, trying to find her words. They came only after a great effort to understand. ¡°I am no one you would say goodbye to. No matter how much I loved you, you never felt the same way.¡±


    The Captive shook his head, his lips drawn with a bitter thinness as he stood, ready to leave.


    ¡°I can assure you that one thing is clear: You love nothing but the idea of your dead god.¡±


    Before he had a chance to walk away, the Captor sprung onto her feet and grabbed him by the wrist. Dust fell from her wings, glittering as did her tears.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to leave yet,¡± she said. Not a second later, his arm curled around her waist. She gasped as he tightened his hold to pull her closer. Heights nearly matched, they stood nose-to-nose, each hesitating as their shallow breaths grazed the other¡¯s lips. She rested her hand on the side of his neck, sending a tingle rippling down his spine as her thumb pressed against his jaw. At the very same moment, they both broke through their uncertainty and met in the middle with a kiss.


    As he brushed a hand against her shoulder to let down the strap of her dress, the soft warmth of her skin melted everything away ¨C his doubt, his dignity, his better judgment. All reasoning slipped away from him, leaving no more thoughts spinning around in his head as her dress crumpled to the floor. She soon eased into deepening their kiss while pulling up at the bottom of his shirt. Once she¡¯d coaxed it off of him, he leaned towards the bed, laying her down.


    In this liminal space, if she could not hurt him, neither could this; it was only one last time, after all.

 13-1: The Demon Grows

    ¡°Dirien!¡± Helaneth¡¯s panting cry rippled through the branches of the canopy as she ran across the forest floor, her boots tamping a path into the mud. Swiping at a drop of sweat before it ran into her eye, she smeared the dirt of her hands onto her flushed face. She glanced over her shoulder to find her other companion had disappeared as well. Upon realizing she was alone, she skidded to a stop. A rustling in the distance drew nearer and nearer, and from the thick underbrush emerged Al¡¯mar.


    ¡°Apologies if I gave you a fright,¡± he said, squinting as he peered off into the distance, ¡°Or a disappointment.¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re not Dirien,¡± Helaneth said with a shrug. ¡°But I s¡¯pose it¡¯s better that I don¡¯t lose both of ya¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Does this happen often?¡± Al¡¯mar asked, taking a lengthened stride to avoid a puddle. ¡°Tell me he isn¡¯t truly afraid of every critter that leaps out from the woods.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s afraid ¡¯cause they¡¯re unpredictable,¡± said Helaneth. ¡°I mean, you¡¯ve seen the teeth on a squirrel, and you¡¯re okay with not knowin¡¯ what it¡¯s thinkin¡¯? It¡¯s a wee bit strange.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think about it often,¡± admitted Al¡¯mar. ¡°I tend to reserve those worries for things with much sharper teeth. Or weapons.¡±


    ¡°Aye, I forget we¡¯re the strange ones.¡± The wild, dirt-speckled curls of her blond ponytail whipped from side to side as she shook her head. ¡°In Fenglade, we have a connection with the animals that we don¡¯t have anywhere else. Telepathy or what have ya. Walk into the forest at night and it sounds like the bloody Brass Tusk. Most of our animals are bigger than anything Nelthemar¡¯s got, too. Little rodents with unknown schemes rollin¡¯ about in their skulls? Terrifying. Giant frogs three times the size of a person? Even Dirien¡¯s got no problem hoppin¡¯ away on its back like a damned lunatic.¡±


    ¡°Suddenly I''m second-guessing my plans to visit Fenglade,¡± Al¡¯mar remarked. Helaneth¡¯s outstretched arm stopped him short of his next step. Right foot in front of her and a finger to her lips, she turned an attentive ear up to the treetops.


    ¡°D¡¯ya hear that?¡± she whispered, prompting Al¡¯mar to listen in. The wind carried the faint sniffles and sobs of a private lament from deeper within the darkness of the forest. It dispersed to a soft echo, as if from the ether.


    ¡°That is not Dirien,¡± Al¡¯mar whispered back.


    ¡°¡¯Course it isn¡¯t. But what if whatever it is has got him?¡±


    ¡°I suppose this means you want to get closer to it to find out.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yep,¡± Helaneth said, her lips popping. ¡°Dirien¡¯s the light of my life, but none of it¡¯s comin¡¯ from the attic. He¡¯d be the first to fall for the classic cryin¡¯-bitch-in-the-forest that lures you in to suck out your soul or what have ya.¡±


    ¡°That is true,¡± said Al¡¯mar. ¡°Aye then, lead the way.¡±


    A carpet of slippery moss stretched over the ground as the cover of trees became denser. The area was virtually untouched, thus no path had yet been cut through the dense brush. They waded through the thinnest patches they could find, inching closer to the source of the weeping. In time they spotted a clearing around a still pond.


    The view left them awestruck, standing in silent admiration. Motes of purple light drifted over the water, plucking each bristle of shadow from reeds swaying in the breeze. Mischievous pixies chased dragonflies in circles, stirring up soft rippling waves as they tried to douse the insects in their luminous dust. Such rare beauty could only be found in the most undisturbed depths of the woods.


    Rare as the sight was, it was also delicate and fleeting. A fit of shouting echoed from straight ahead, shattering the stillness. Footsteps pounded in the dirt, soon followed by a chorus of insect-like buzzing. A figure burst from the shrubs into the clearing. The pixies¡¯ light vanished in their fright as the noise became louder.


    "Dirien!" Helaneth called out.


    ¡°Hela! Dreadweevils! Run!¡± Dirien shouted back as he ran along the edge of the pond. In pursuit of him flew a swarm of giant weevils the size of an adult human, teeth gnashing within their elongated snouts. The buzz of their wings encircled and overwhelmed everything. Rather than heeding Dirien¡¯s cry, Al¡¯mar and Helaneth waited to ensure he would get to them safely. As he approached, he took hold of his lover¡¯s hand, not slowing down for a second. Helaneth stumbled, but he guided her with such care that she quickly found her footing.


    The three ran from the pursuing insects, finding their momentum despite the brambles and branchlets serving as obstacles. They managed to gain some distance, and soon the trodden path came into view. But they were stopped when a tangle of roots caught Dirien¡¯s ankle. He tumbled to the ground, landing face-first in a bush and dragging Helaneth with him.


    ¡°Ow, fuck,¡± said Helaneth, tugging at Dirien¡¯s arm. Thorns dug into her skin as she rose to her knees and drew out little droplets of blood. Al¡¯mar heard the crash and rushed back to help, bounding over the vegetation. With a yank of his sturdy arms, he pulled them both to their feet, but Dirien hung limp, groaning and torn up with cuts and bruises. The wood elf was quite lanky and modest in stature, thus Al¡¯mar was well able to heave him onto his shoulders. But by the time he managed to do so, the dreadweevils were even closer than before.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got him, young lady, let¡¯s go,¡± said the brawny Mezthrin, taking on a collected urgency in his tone that she did not know him to possess ¨C perhaps an inkling of his oft-mentioned previous life. Retracing their steps, he led her down the fastest path, all while cursing himself for lacking a blade suitable for clearing brush.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look back,¡± Al¡¯mar said, having caught Helaneth stealing glances that encumbered her movement.


    ¡°When do they stop following us?¡± asked Hela, her words shortened and strained.


    ¡°Once we¡¯re out of their home, I¡¯d say. They don¡¯t like open spaces. Now pick up the pace!¡±


    Their efforts to maintain distance were met with more resistance the further they ran. Mud and debris stuck to the blood on Helaneth¡¯s leg, smearing into her wounds. It stung terribly, and the friction slowed her down. Dirien¡¯s weight sat like a rock upon Al¡¯mar¡¯s shoulders, and while he had sufficient strength, his endurance had waned over the years. Both pressed onward nonetheless, resisting a vexing temptation to look back.


    A hellish roar sent tremors through the earth, knocking them flat onto their backs. Dirien fell from Al¡¯mar¡¯s shoulders, his head striking the ground. From the same direction as the roar, a deafening crack like that of lightning pierced through and dominated every sound in the vicinity. Ears ringing from the blast, Al¡¯mar and Helaneth opened their eyes. The insects had swarmed around them. There were fewer, though, and the smell of charred carapace accompanied the sudden absence.


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    Hela strained to lift her head. Through the swarm she could see a humanlike figure, but it was twice the size of the insects, and purple skinned with horns on its head. It had distracted some of the dreadweevils, while others swept down at a sword-waving Al¡¯mar who was trying his hardest to protect an incapacitated Dirien.


    ¡°No use running,¡± shouted the Mezthrin, managing to pierce the abdomen of a weevil and cut a clean slice downward. Greenish-brown fluid poured from the wound, oozing down his blade and splattering on his arms and face. He spat it away from his lips, mostly unfazed. ¡°Have you ever killed a Lus¡¯rak Ar¡¯Galatha, by any chance, young lady?¡±


    ¡°What the bloody¡ª¡± one of the insects took a nosedive toward her, and she fumbled for her dagger while side-stepping out of its way. ¡°What are you on about?¡± The nose-diving weevil crashed to the ground, and she used her blade to pierce through its head with a resounding crunch.


    ¡°Lightning demons, young lady. Have you ever killed one?¡± Another burst of lightning bolts fanned out overhead from the Lus¡¯rak¡¯s hands, scorching three more bugs. Helaneth covered one ear. In a fluid motion, she dislodged her dagger from the dead weevil¡¯s head and jammed it directly into the mouth of another as it swooped in.


    ¡°Do I look like the type of fool who goes around killin¡¯ demons?¡±


    ¡°Looks can be deceiving!¡± Al¡¯mar laughed, nearly spinning a full turn as he cut through the belly of another dreadweevil. ¡°Worry not, he won¡¯t go after us until the bugs are out of the way.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯ll go after us ¨C how reassuring.¡±


    ¡°It is all right. Once we deal with them, follow my lead. And have your limberness about you.¡±


    Helaneth paused, locked in stance with her right leg forward. Her arm was scooped in front of her, holding her dagger parallel to her chest which moved up and down with her quickened breaths. She looked at Dirien, once more conscious but still lying there, helpless. Foolish as he¡¯d been to wander off alone, and fragile as she knew him to be, she knew his heart well enough to find a glint of acknowledgement in his gentle eyes. He was aware of his fault in wandering off, and Helaneth was aware that she still wanted nothing more than to protect him.


    Trouble did not wait for Helaneth¡¯s rumination to conclude. She charged at a weevil that was hurtling toward Al¡¯mar¡¯s back while he was preoccupied with two others. Together, with the unexpected and interim help of the lightning Lus¡¯rak, they fought through the remainder of the swarm. Crunching chitin and sticky hemolymph abounded, overpowered only by the choking smoke of the scorching bolts.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± said Al¡¯mar, holding up a hand in Helaneth¡¯s direction while keeping his focus on the Lus¡¯rak¡¯s face. Surrounded by a smoking circle of its own kills, it stood, unmoving, with a scheme flickering to life in its eyes. ¡°This one has no handler, and they are very stupid on their own. When I close my fist, young lady, find cover and stay under.¡±


    ¡°What about Dirien?¡±


    ¡°I will secure him.¡±


    The demon curled its clawed hands as if cupping an invisible sphere. Bolts of lightning arced between its fingers and channeled into the empty space to form the shell of an orb. The creature spread its hands further as the orb grew in size, the electric flow increasing in intensity and brightness. Helaneth looked to the stone-faced Al¡¯mar ¨C in part for his signal, as well as for reassurance. He did not move, nor did he regard her in any way.


    Sparking and discharging, the orb grew massive and its light became blinding. Helaneth trembled with uncertainty, but she¡¯d never known Al¡¯mar to be unreliable or untrustworthy. The Lus¡¯rak raised its arms, turning its palms outward. Al¡¯mar curled down his ring and pinky finger, glancing over at Helaneth. He nodded, then tucked down his middle finger. Then index finger. Then thumb.


    The Lus¡¯rak let out another thunderous roar, its arms quaking against the sheer force of the conjured sphere. Helaneth darted over to a tree with a thick trunk and squeezed herself into the hollow. Al¡¯mar bounced backward and scooped up Dirien, then made a dash for cover beneath an overhanging rock as the creature hurled the orb straight at him.


    An explosive, all-consuming thunder upturned the earth, sending the ground into convulsions. Limbs cracked and fell from the trees nearest the blast, and squealing animals scattered in panic. The sheer force pushed a whistling wind in every direction from the center. Helaneth cupped her hands over her eyes, pleading for her life, for Dirien¡¯s and Al¡¯mar¡¯s too, in heavy whispers as the tremors continued for what felt like ages.


    As they tapered, all was silent. There was nothing but the smothering thickness of smoke. Helaneth looked down at her hands, not yet sure whether to believe she¡¯d survived. She poked her head out to find a perfect circle of scorched vegetation ¨C and the Lus¡¯rak nowhere to be seen.


    Al¡¯mar emerged with a bewildered tautness on his lips. He scanned in every direction, turning up short of an answer for the creature¡¯s disappearance. What did catch his attention, however, was what he found in its place. There knelt a young woman, propped up on wobbling arms as she stared at the charred brush. Tears fell from her eyes, and her thin body quaked with sobs. Her lips moved, but no words formed. She shrunk back as Al¡¯mar approached, flinching at the hand he offered.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± her weak voice croaked. She brushed a matted clump of chestnut hair behind her ear. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to hurt anyone.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± said Al¡¯mar, his deep voice smooth and comforting. ¡°It is all right, young lady. I have known many who lost control of their Lus¡¯rakian summons. But precious few of them survived.¡±


    ¡°He started out so small,¡± said the young woman. ¡°I never would have imagined¡­¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± said Al¡¯mar, once again offering his hand. She accepted this time, and his kind yet rigid gaze commanded her attention as he spoke. ¡°It was not easy for this old man, either. The more I suffered in life, the more my sorrows battered down and weakened my soul¡¯s door to Lusmir''s domain. But I lived on. Rather than letting myself suffer more, I went to battle with my despair. Then I sifted through the detritus to piece together a fortress within myself, in place of that door, one that no demons can penetrate. Since then, young lady, they do not come knocking uninvited.¡±


    ¡°I suspect I have a long way to go in that regard.¡±


    ¡°Maybe so. It is a gift to begin with ¨C knowing how to find and open that door. But when you become the keyholder, that is when you¡¯ll know you¡¯ve passed the test. Wherever you might be on that journey, know that so long as you are alive, you are doing quite fine.¡± Al¡¯mar looked her over, taking pity on her poor condition. ¡°Now, onto more immediate things ¨C do you need help? Where were you headed?¡±


    ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t really headed anywhere. I had sort of hoped no one would find me, so I could¡­¡± she choked back a new swell of tears.


    ¡°I have felt that way, as well,¡± said Al¡¯mar, regarding Helaneth with a nod as she approached. ¡°But after fifty-five years on this plane, I have found a purpose. I have found camaraderie. From the looks of you, young lady, you still have a lifetime to do the same.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± the young woman said, no longer holding back the flow of tears. ¡°Um ¨C what¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Al¡¯mar.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I really do appreciate your kind words, Al¡¯mar. I may have needed them more than I knew. I¡¯m Jessa.¡±


    ¡°Oi, now wait a moment,¡± Hela chimed in, ¡°We know of a Jessa.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said Al¡¯mar. ¡°The two leaders of our guild are always whispering about rent¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re from Valorforge,¡± said Jessa, her mouth agape.


    ¡°Oh, wow,¡± said Hela, ¡°What in Lenkirn¡¯s name is a monied lass like you doing out here?¡±


    ¡°Preferably never returning home. It¡¯s a long story.¡±


    ¡°Aye, well, if you fancy coming along, you can tell us on the way back to the Brass Tusk. We¡¯ve got everything done here that we needed to do ¨C though we¡¯ll have to stop at a healer on the way to get Dirien¡¯s head checked out.¡±


    ¡°I suppose my original plan was to go back¡­¡± Jessa glanced between her two fellow guild members. ¡°All right, then. Deventh and Anna are waiting for me to report back anyway. I¡¯m ready when everyone else is.¡±


    Helaneth and Al¡¯mar both acknowledged her with a warm smile. It was getting late, and the desire to rest began tugging at the edges of their consciousness. After fetching Dirien and taking a quick survey of their own injuries, they made haste in their departure.

 13-2: The Wayward Hero

    ¡°And then my father walked in with a crab sitting on his shoulder. Apparently, some old shop-witch sold the thing to him insisting it could talk, and he¡¯d been waiting hours to hear it. Shiny little creature with a rainbow of colors depending on how you looked at it, and it had a pointy little hat on its¡ªoh, he¡¯s awake.¡± From his chair beside the bunk bed, Ardmy looked over when he heard movement.


    ¡°Keep talking about the crab,¡± Deventh said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get back to my story in due time ¨C how are you feeling? Do you know where you are?¡±


    Alert but somewhat confused, Deventh sat himself upright, flicking his gaze around for any giveaways for his suspicion he was being tricked. Across the room, Anna sat in a chair beside an empty bunk bed. A slow blink closed in over her eyes, in relief at both Deventh¡¯s return to consciousness as well as the abrupt end of Ardmy¡¯s story. Lydie and Tatsidi had their own bunks, too, against the adjacent wall by the window. The pair snoozed through all manner of racket at home, and here was no different. Deventh concluded his survey and fixed on Ardmy¡¯s face, finding nothing but concern in his heightened brows.


    ¡°Ogre¡¯s Bowl, Kho¡¯gul,¡± Deventh answered. ¡°We stayed here last night.¡±


    Ardmy leaned forward in his chair, pressing his fingertips together in thought.


    ¡°Yes, well¡­ and the night before. You¡¯ve not blinked awake for a second since we turned in on the evening of our arrival.¡±


    ¡°Apologies,¡± said Deventh, the pinkish sunrise reflecting on his face from the window, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to waste so much time.¡±


    ¡°Time is no object, Deventh, I assure you. We were concerned with your ailment ¨C your well-being is valued, whether or not you understand that.¡±


    Anna¡¯s pursed lips, and her otherwise relaxed posture, spoke for her. She did not ask for an explanation, nor did the fractious demeanor typical of her in such situations prickle the air. It was clear Ardmy told her what he knew of Deventh¡¯s affliction, and she was more disappointed than irritated with finding out only now.


    ¡°Do you not have to piss after sleeping for that long?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Good point,¡± said Ardmy, ¡°On that note, are you hungry? Still tired? Do you feel anything out of the ordinary?¡±


    Second-guessing his own bodily attunement, Deventh paused to collect his senses. No urgencies, no pit of hunger in his stomach. No stiffness, pain, nor cramping. No signs of dehydration, not even chapped lips. On the contrary, he¡¯d never felt more well-rested. Only a faint metallic taste lingered on his tongue.


    ¡°No complaints.¡±


    ¡°Well, either you¡¯ve suddenly become a very strange immortal entity, or your affliction is of the magical sort. Though I was confident in having narrowed it down to the latter already, as there are few likely explanations for the near-perfect stasis of your organic processes. Unfortunately, my expertise is mostly limited to matters of the corporeal variety. I would urge you to be seen by Z¨¦ah.¡±


    ¡°I had plans to visit on our way back.¡±


    ¡°Please go get treated,¡± Anna chimed in. ¡°I¡¯d rather not have to scrape you up when you pass out and get run over by a wagon.¡±


    ¡°Hire someone to scrape me up if you need to,¡± Deventh insisted. ¡°But it should be fine until we leave the city. It¡¯s best not to waste any more time.¡±


    ¡°Easy, now,¡± Ardmy said, jumping to his feet and holding out his arms as Deventh stood slowly. As soon as he lifted himself off the bed, he began clutching his forehead. And there it was ¨C a splitting headache, the usual garniture of these episodes, enacting its vengeance. He remained stable through it, and Ardmy backed off. ¡°Another headache?¡±


    ¡°Aye, not any worse than the last.¡± After the initial swell of pain, it dulled to a tolerable intensity. Anna watched him with a scrutinous eye and a blank expression, unimpressed and unconvinced.


    ¡°How can you so confidently predict you¡¯ll be fine?¡±


    Deventh realized, rather unlike himself, he¡¯d spoken on a hunch. Such certainty without sound reasoning was not his usual manner, especially given the sporadic nature of his episodes. At the very least, they needed to come to a rational agreement.


    ¡°Truth be told, I can¡¯t. Based on the gaps between previous incidents, though, it¡¯s more likely than not that it will be some time before it happens again. If it does while we¡¯re here, then I will go to Z¨¦ah.¡±


    ¡°Fine, you stubborn old dumrak,¡± Anna said, standing and patting him on the back with a firm, heavy hand. ¡°Just try not to die.¡±


    ¡°Fair deal.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad we can agree. Now, all of us should start the day with a good breakfast. And I mean all of us.¡±


    ¡°Breakfast,¡± Lydie grumbled, rolling over and yanking Tatsidi¡¯s tail which hung from the top bunk. A second roll nearly landed her on the floor, but she bounced to her feet. As she yawned and reached her arms up for an overhead stretch, Tatsidi jumped down to the floor, groggy and zombielike, but also quite ready for a meal.


    By late morning, they¡¯d left the Ogre¡¯s Bowl and set out on their way to the Oath¡¯s guild hall in hopes of finding more of an explanation from Thulreg. None but Deventh spared a glance at the Graystone Hostel as they passed by. Carpenters were preparing for the day¡¯s work on reconstruction, two carrying wooden beams through the door while one hauled in tools. He tracked them with his gaze until they fell out of his range of sight.


    A bit deeper into the market square, a surly old orc swung his bell unceremoniously as he hobbled to the center of the commotion. The breeze tousled his bright yellow cape, a bold contrast to his torpid presence in combination with his brocaded blue doublet. His voice was loud enough to demand attention, but he slogged in speech as much as in movement.


    ¡°Khoz-khor, khoz-khor! One and all! The Grimros Guard has recovered most of the missing individuals¡¯ bodies. The burials will take place this upcoming Shendor in the garden graveyard, where a memorial space has been set aside for victims of this recent tragedy. If you are affected by loss due to these incidents, Beaverton Traders is also offering compensatory provisions at their local headquarters for those in need.¡±


    ¡°Yes, feed them and they¡¯ll shut up,¡± Anna muttered as she quickened her pace. She set her focus on the hilltop guild hall, leading the others up the sloping road.


    ¡°Do ya¡¯s think we can get some of them provisions if we come up with a proper good sob story?¡± Lydie mused, failing to dodge Tatsidi¡¯s elbow as it nudged her ribs. ¡°Ow. Fuck me for just askin¡¯ a question, then.¡±


    Thin-pressed lips concealing a smirk, Deventh shook his head in feigned disapproval to ease Anna¡¯s annoyance. Ardmy brought a hand to his mouth, but it did nothing for the chortle that escaped from his nose.


    They soon arrived at the hall to find it in its usual manner of activity, filled with adventurers taking rest and imbibing between their exploits. Deventh espied the nods of recognition and smiles of gratitude which followed them as they passed through, finding that they stirred an unprecedented sense of accomplishment ¨C strange, but not unwelcome. Lydie, Tatsidi, and Ardmy settled in at a vacant table while Deventh and Anna split from the group to meet with Thulreg.


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    ¡°Ah, my favorite bunch!¡± the jolly orc said, a latent curiosity contorting his face. ¡°What brings you lot here?¡±


    ¡°Your letter,¡± Deventh answered as Anna slipped the crinkling parchment out of her pouch. ¡°This order seems¡­ Sudden, to say the least. We were curious if you know any more details.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Thulreg asked, his gut jolting with laughter. ¡°Not a clue ¨C I¡¯m no councilman. But I¡¯m inclined to believe it¡¯s a load of bollocks.¡±


    ¡°A sentiment we all share,¡± said Anna. ¡°Do you know about the bodies that were found?¡±


    ¡°Well.¡± Thulreg shifted in his chair. ¡°There is a rumor goin¡¯ around that they haven¡¯t truly found a single damned one. I¡­ know a man personally who accepted a hefty bribe to keep quiet about his own daughter. Not sure what else they did to him, but he never struck me as the type. On the contrary, he was more doting than a mother.¡±


    ¡°And yet you¡¯d still rather call off the contract?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of preference,¡± said Thulreg. ¡°Keeping it open would be like dangling a slab of meat in front of a Chilbear¡¯s spit-stringed maw. Rather not lose a hand ¨C I¡¯ve got a wife of my own, and three gromlings to look after.¡±


    A glint of concern flitted across the orc¡¯s stern eye. With a slight cock of his head, Deventh glanced at Anna. Thulreg¡¯s reasoning was understandable, was safe. All guilds under Grimros registry were bound by local governance, not excluding their own. If the Oath¡¯s chairman stood to lose his entire livelihood in defying it, so did they ¨C and he was worried for them as much as himself.


    ¡°That will do, Thulreg. Thank you for your time,¡± Deventh concluded, stepping in before Anna¡¯s face could turn any redder. Staying her tongue against a flux of protests, she relented.


    ¡°Yes, thank you,¡± she said through gritting teeth.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Thulreg rose from his chair, reaching out a sturdy arm to shake hands with each of them. ¡°And I apologize ¨C for any other matter, I¡¯d extend whatever help you lot would request of me. I am still grateful for your kindness.¡±


    They returned to the others to collect them before leaving. Lydie promised to catch up, muttering something about a drink she¡¯d already ordered. A shrugging Tatsidi urged them on without her. At the building¡¯s exit, just as Deventh was reaching for the handle, the door opened from the other side.


    ¡°Julien,¡± said Deventh, recognizing the familiar face in the threshold.


    ¡°Oh,¡± the young Nelthrin man responded, stumbling into the foyer as he gathered himself. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be damned.¡±


    ¡°Shopkeeping didn¡¯t work out for you, I take it?¡± Deventh asked, noting his sword and scale cuirass. In search of a merchant¡¯s mark on his cloak, he found only an owl embroidered into the collar. He was looking healthier, clean, but no less distressed than last they¡¯d met. At Deventh¡¯s query, Julien lowered his head, adjusting his satchel strap.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say my life-altering experiences did not end with my return to the city. Although I must admit ¨C my next steps weren¡¯t exactly calculated.¡±


    ¡°Running with the Oath, then?¡±


    ¡°Aye, though I¡¯m not initiated yet. Been running errands for Thulreg all week.¡±


    ¡°Exhilarating.¡± Deventh smirked.


    ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it.¡±


    ¡°And your grandmother? Is she well?¡±


    Julien shook his head. Deventh detected an air of grief, a sullen sobriety leaving his body to hang loose. The tension of worry had long since passed.


    ¡°My condolences,¡± Deventh said. ¡°Best of luck with your new affiliation. We were just on our way out.¡± Deventh tilted his head to the exit, but as Anna pressed her palm to the door, Julien seized the opportunity to speak freely.


    ¡°I believe I¡¯ve made a mistake, Deventh.¡± A grim despondency shaded his voice. ¡°Tell me, does Grimros, too, harbor such festering corruption that I came so far to escape?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps worse, depending on where you came from.¡±


    ¡°At least there are threads of truth to be found here.¡± Amidst the silence that ensued between the two, Anna gave a signal for the others to file out. A quick exchange of glances passed between the two guild leaders before she closed the door behind them, leaving Deventh and Julien to their conversation.


    ¡°Ransvale was also rife with messy cover-ups,¡± Julien continued. ¡°Among other sloppily executed political endeavors. Atrocities, even.¡±


    ¡°So I¡¯ve heard. Most regions of Nelthemar rival Drondaris in that manner.¡±


    ¡°Aye. There''s nothing quite like a remote city propped up on a rivalry between the local government and a group of vigilante assassins who fancy themselves the protectors of the people.¡± Julien¡¯s nose wrinkled with a bitter disgust. ¡°I thought it to be a noble cause working alongside the guard. It turns out that one was not better than the other.¡±


    ¡°Rarely is either side better in such dichotomies.¡±


    ¡°Well, there was certainly the illusion. They put me on a pedestal, gave me praise and riches, called me the Hero of Ransvale. Made a walking target out of me, perhaps by design. To get to the point, I was a pawn of Lord Dorin for far too long not to recognize what is transpiring here. Frankly I cannot rest knowing what happened to me, and all those other people, just for it to be buried in that cemetery with all those decoy corpses.¡±


    ¡°Thulreg mentioned that he¡¯s aware of the bribes,¡± said Deventh. A twinge of annoyance tickled his throat, trying to goad him into making an ill remark, but he chose to swallow the urge. ¡°Have you told him of your misadventures?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Julien said as a cynical laugh escaped him. ¡°I don¡¯t trust him. Thulreg lacks any semblance of a spine, which neither surprises nor disappoints me. So I ask you, who saved me without question or reward ¨C are you giving up the search, too?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Deventh spoke with not a moment¡¯s hesitation nor a shudder in his voice. ¡°Will you be joining us?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Julien said, matching his confidence. ¡°So long as you and your cohorts continue to prove yourselves the exception to my expectations of this place, it would be an honor to work alongside you.¡± His smile faltered with a brief hesitation, during which he met Thulreg¡¯s inquisitive gaze from across the room.


    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled,¡± Deventh said, diverting his attention to initiate a hearty handshake. ¡°Welcome aboard, Julien.¡±


    After a brief conversation to break the news to Thulreg, Julien rejoined Deventh, and they set out to meet with the others, of whom only Anna and Tatsidi remained. Lydie followed closely behind, and having spotted the interaction between them from afar, she took to prodding with questions before anyone else had a chance to speak.


    ¡°Oi. Is he comin¡¯ with us?¡± she asked, leaning against a lantern post. ¡°Wherever it is we¡¯re goin¡¯. Seems like we ain¡¯t gettin¡¯ anywhere hobblin¡¯ around this stupid city.¡±


    ¡°I hope it¡¯s no trouble,¡± said Julien. ¡°If you¡¯re truly set on continuing your search, I¡¯m here to offer whatever help I can.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Anna asked. ¡°Ha! You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that. Please, make yourself one of us ¨C we have some work to seek out before we head back to the inn, but there is much to discuss.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the sudden change of heart?¡± asked Lydie, the shuffling of her first step kicking up dirt as they started back out on the road, ¡°Wanted us to chase ya all the way to Kho¡¯gul? Wanted ol¡¯ Dev to really try and win ya over?¡±


    ¡°I think that is enough questions, Lydie,¡± Tatsidi intervened, but Julien took her remarks in good humor.


    ¡°I do love playing hard-to-get,¡± he said, cracking a smile. ¡°But I can assure you that more has changed than just my mind.¡±


    ¡°Jul¡ª¡± Lydie cupped her hand over her mouth as a tipsy hiccup lit a spark within. Smoke streamed between her fingers and billowed up to her eyes. ¡°Julien, right? What do ya think? We¡¯re wastin¡¯ our time here, right? If you was us, you¡¯d get straight to those forest ruins, right?¡±


    ¡°I do think it¡¯s our best option,¡± Julien hesitated to admit. ¡°Everyone in the city is afraid to open their mouths, paid off and threatened with further losses not to do so. Grandmama was a confidant to many, thus I¡¯m acquainted with some of the affected families. I¡¯ve tried asking around. Always the same answer ¨C I shouldn¡¯t interfere, I should lie low, it¡¯s dangerous for anyone to know my connection to all of this.¡±


    As he absorbed the conversation, Deventh found Lydie¡¯s slew of questions to be in line with his own curiosities. He noted Anna¡¯s slow nodding along and her confident stride; she was equally impressed with Lydie¡¯s focus, her casual approach that seemed to put Julien at ease. A tactical habit, perhaps, learned from her previous occupation, or a simple display of her inclination towards men of a certain appeal. Whatever the case, Deventh thought, she was in unusually high spirits.


    ¡°You¡¯re safe with us,¡± said Anna. ¡°But that¡¯s better shown than said. Now, we¡¯re near the market, let¡¯s work out supplies. We¡¯ll meet back at the Ogre¡¯s Bowl.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t need to tell me twice,¡± Lydie said, springing ahead with Tatsidi tailing her. Julien, too, split off to attend his own tasks.


    ¡°There seems to be a long road ahead of us,¡± said Anna once only she and Deventh remained.


    ¡°Seems to be.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an odd thing, what started so simple ¨C all these twists and turns.¡± Standing beside him, Anna peered out over the bustling market in the valley. A hair strayed from her bun, but she left it be. ¡°And around each bend I still find myself, the bright-eyed young woman I was twenty years ago, still grasping at the thread of hope, frayed as the years have made it, that I can make everything right with the world.¡±


    Deventh slid his hands into his pockets and immersed himself in the view as well. The people, the stalls, and the rush of the day¡¯s endeavors looked infinitesimal from where they stood. Perhaps this is one of many reasons the Nelthrin built their castle on a hill, he mused.


    ¡°Personally, I was beginning to take comfort in the mundane,¡± he said. ¡°But perhaps that is not our calling.¡±

 13-3: Ticking Down

    ¡°I win again,¡± Lydie sang, slamming down a hand of cards onto a dried, sticky patch of the last patron¡¯s spilled drink. Hands behind her head, she kicked back in her moment of triumph. A grumbling Ardmy sunk into his chair.


    ¡°It is easy to win when you cheat,¡± Tatsidi growled, his ears folded over. His whiskers flicked forward and back as he crossed his arms, shifting his attention to a more important matter. ¡°Were we not meeting here to discuss plans? Anna and Deventh seem to be awfully late.¡±


    The Ogre¡¯s Bowl had met the tapering end of its suppertime rush. Warmth from the kitchen dwindled by the minute, as did the fragrance of butter and garlic. The barmaid, too, was afforded some time to catch her breath, but the night had only just begun, and less food would soon lead to more drinks.


    Julien sat with them, taking amusement as a quiet spectator to their game. Since he joined them, Lydie had been changing rules and swapping cards ¨C the latter of which, he had to admit, displayed remarkable sleight of hand. But Tatsidi¡¯s curiosity led his attention astray too, and as he scanned over the heads of the other patrons, a gust of cold air flooded in. When he looked to the door, it had already swung shut, and Deventh and Anna began their weaving path between tables to reach them.


    ¡°Evening,¡± Deventh greeted everyone as they pulled up chairs. Julien smiled, raising his tankard, and Anna waved for the barmaid before sitting.


    ¡°Apologies for our lateness,¡± she said, her chair creaking as she searched for a comfortable position. ¡°I hope you¡¯ve all kept yourselves entertained while waiting.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Ardmy said, his tone rising well beyond his normal inflection. ¡°Lydie was just teaching us how to play a Sheannoran card game. It¡¯s called ¡®Saucy Weevil ¨C No-Wait-That-Wasn¡¯t-It, Kiss the Ogre, No-That-Was-a-Dice-Game, Lusmir¡¯s Eleven Deathplanes, Let¡¯s-Just-Play.¡¯ Although, something tells me she¡¯s forgotten the rules as well as the name, seeing as they keep changing. Curious.¡±


    ¡°Curious indeed,¡± said Tatsidi, a grin baring his sharp canines. ¡°We were just beginning to grow weary of playing children¡¯s games, but not yet too much.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Anna said, loose skin gathering around her rings as she twisted them off her swollen fingers. Tatsidi began collecting the cards strewn across the table while the two guild leaders settled in and awaited drinks. When the time came due, the topic of plans found its way to them.


    ¡°I would estimate it¡¯s here,¡± said Julien, pointing to a remote forested valley in Uminora ¨C the Gildvari kingdom neighboring Nelthemar. ¡°Just a quick climb over the Razorbacks, a sneak past the mountain guards at Chilgrave, a wade through the Noxious Valley, and a swim over Pir¡¯s Shiver Bay¡­¡±


    Anna chuckled, musing at the details of his plans for a perilous journey. ¡°You might have a hard time with those mountain guards.¡±


    ¡°Of course, how could I be so foolish?¡± Julien placed down his tankard with a bit more force than intended, and ale sloshed over the rim as it bounced back. His finger drew a much safer path on the map, mostly by thoroughfare, and his bottom lip protruded in mock contemplation. ¡°I suppose this way will do. Through Raven Gate, across Pareltolle, and, well, then we squeeze in between some mountains.¡±


    Deventh followed Julien¡¯s route with his eyes. ¡°No civilization for miles, I take it?¡±


    ¡°Tens of miles once we leave Anhedell at the border. Eerier still, once we stray from the road there¡¯s not a tree in sight for hours.¡± Julien clasped his hands on the table. ¡°That distance, as you might imagine, brings us to the subject of horses. Of which you only have two.¡±


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    ¡°Both Ardmy¡¯s, at that,¡± Deventh said.


    ¡°And not particularly acquainted with riding,¡± the Gildvar chimed in.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you any of your own?¡±


    ¡°Maintenance costs, mostly,¡± Deventh said, shrugging. ¡°Rarely have our travels been heavy or far enough for going without to be an issue. And we¡¯ve certainly had no need to stray from Grimros, let alone Nelthemar itself.¡±


    ¡°Sound,¡± said Julien, ¡°I should be able to arrange something in that regard. A steep discount on rental, at the very least.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Deventh said. ¡°How many of us are needed for this expedition, and what, or whom, will we find?¡±


    ¡°The more, the merrier, I¡¯d say¡­ Well, perhaps merry isn¡¯t apt, but we¡¯ll need as large a group as we can manage,¡± Julien said. ¡°It¡¯s a ruin of old Gildvari fashion ¨C tunnels and caverns bored through rock and dirt, reconstructed with meticulous masonry. It¡¯s almost lovely until you notice the blood streaks are not part of the marble.¡± He paused with an- odd flinch and thumbed the embroidered owl at his collar.


    ¡°As for whom, if there is anyone still there, prisoners are kept deep underground. By no means is the place too heavily guarded. The winding maze certainly lessens the need ¨C it''s trouble enough on its own.¡±


    ¡°And you surmise we¡¯ll find answers if we reach the prison?¡± Deventh asked. Julien shook his head.


    ¡°The room beyond it, rather,¡± He drew in a deep breath, flushing as he swigged his ale. ¡°They dragged people there from their cells. Not long after, screams. Gurgling. Silence. Dread constantly looming. No one knew when they¡¯d be next.¡±


    Twisting the neck of his whiskey bottle between his finger and thumb, Deventh met Julien¡¯s gaze. Amidst the fear and dismay raging in the young man¡¯s eyes, he found an equally fervent resolve that was eager to conquer what few specks of doubt might dare to disrupt it.


    ¡°No words can alleviate the lasting torment of captivity,¡± Deventh said, his tone flat. Julien relaxed his trembling grip on the handle of his tankard, studying the Dronvar¡¯s expression. Whatever conclusion he¡¯d found in his words or his face, it seemed to suffice. ¡°Nonetheless, you¡¯re still here to speak of it. Your captors, is there anything we should know about them?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps.¡± Julien pinched his chin in thought. ¡°They wield magic somewhat formidably. None of them seemed to be of high status among their¡­ cult, I believe it is. Although, two of them, a man and a woman, were quite unusual looking.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°I could not place their origin. Almost silver in complexion, with dark, dark eyes. My closest guess was Dronvar, and they could pass as such to those less keen. But their language¡­ Familiar, yet foreign all the same ¨C elven, but not one of the three common derivatives.¡±


    Deventh tipped the bottle against his lips. A cold sensation spread across his tongue as the liquor evaporated, and the burn traveling down his throat quelled a rising tension in his chest. The din became muffled around him, and he felt each tick of his timekeeping device jumping in his pocket.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± asked Anna, ripping him out of his trance which may have lasted longer than he realized.


    ¡°Aye,¡± Deventh assured, taking a quick swig before setting down his whiskey bottle, ¡°Just curious, regarding that description.¡±


    Anna nodded, leaving him to ruminate.


    ¡°And you¡¯re certain this is what you want to do, Julien?¡± she asked. ¡°After what you¡¯ve endured, this sort of eagerness concerns me enough to ask.¡±


    ¡°This is what I need to do,¡± Julien answered. ¡°Never has any certainty shaken my entire being to the point of such restlessness. If it meant no one else would suffer the same fate, I would return just to lock myself back in that cell until they dragged me away to my death.¡±


    As Anna took in his words, the motherly concern which rounded her face yielded to a smirk of admiration.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drink to that,¡± she said, raising her mug. ¡°How refreshing it is to see dedication in a place so sick with apathy.¡±


    ¡°It is Grimros, after all,¡± Tatsidi muttered. Anna continued coordinating the smaller details of their imminent journey, occasionally having to redirect Lydie¡¯s attention to the topic at hand. Still, jokes prevailed and came in waves, as it was likely the final night they¡¯d have to make merry before setting out on their journey.


    Deventh sat back and withdrew from the conversation, giving it just enough attention to soak into the edge of his mind. Mirth and laughter encircled him in a muted embrace, eliciting little more than a half-smile to signal he was still among the others. Something in Julien¡¯s description called to the deep recesses of his memory, frayed his nerves beyond any inkling of hope to enjoy himself. He turned up nothing in those shadowed corners, but they reeked of rot and metal.

 14-1: Switches and Buttons

    The air was dry. A frigid sting shot through Deventh¡¯s sinuses. Under the dim light of a capsule-shaped lamp, he stood at his workbench, a well-loved surface riddled with nicks and dents, intent on repairing the trigger of his glove¡¯s crossbow. But with cold, stiffened joints, his fingers failed to provide any leverage as he tried to wedge a prying tool beneath the button shroud. He saw his breath as he exhaled, and he shuddered at the sensation of drippings from his nose clinging to his septum piercing. Only now did he realize that while he was absorbed in his work, the temperature had dropped steadily over time.


    Time, he reminded himself, setting down his glove to retrieve his timekeeper from his pocket. The hands of the clock face spun erratically, and he tweaked a small lever on the side to calibrate it. The hours had certainly come and gone, but he was pleased to find enough time remained to finish his work. For small repairs, he didn¡¯t often deem it necessary to return here, but his other projects languished in recent months, cast aside in a sad heap while he struggled to make ends meet. He wasn¡¯t sure when next he¡¯d find the opportunity to tend to them.


    Outside the light¡¯s reach, shadows enveloped the rest of the room, crawling up the metallic walls to the lofty ceiling. A steam engine chugged and hissed in the room adjacent, filling the space with its soothing rhythm ¨C another comfort he¡¯d missed in his absence due to its unmatched ability to drown out his thoughts. Focusing on the repetition of the piston strokes, Deventh closed his eyes and clasped his hands together to warm them. He then returned to his task, savoring the last of his brief reprieve from worrying about such troubles as time.


    Deventh wriggled his fingers back into his gloves and checked that nothing poked nor prodded. He tested the crossbow mechanism, and when he was content with the results of his work, he stowed his tools within the meticulously organized sections of a nearby crate. Once he¡¯d returned everything to its rightful place and double- and triple-checked for errors, he made his way to the door. As he opened it, the room flooded with mechanical whirring.


    The steam engine toiled away, turning the gears of a machine more than twelve feet high, a massive siphon to draw in magic and feed the laboratory¡¯s functions. Bathed in the moonlight which streamed in through the glass dome ceiling, the duo worked together to feed the laboratory¡¯s functions. Time may have lessened the intensity of Deventh¡¯s fascination with the pair of constructs, but he¡¯d never seen anything like them on the surface, and they still demanded his attention every time he stepped into the space. Sometimes, in this very light, it was still as breathtaking a sight as the day he¡¯d discovered it.


    A disc serving as the machine¡¯s console spun at a comfortable height for an observer to monitor. Six ethereal projections hovered around the circumference, following its rotation. One depicted a clock, centering time in tandem with Esyrene¡¯s surface. Another flickered with lines of smoky blackness, a cloak to displace the hermitage outside of any tangible coordinates. The third, a gauge to show the supply and stability of magic energy. The fourth, a portal, the fifth, a cage of iron bars, and the sixth, a static white circle with soft, glowing edges.


    The magic gauge showed some degradation, fading from a shaky green to a solid yellow. It had been this way since he last visited. A slight decline took place in the month between, but nothing alarming. Not yet. As for the nature of the issue, physical or otherwise, he did not know ¨C but time remained to figure it out, if only he could spare such a precious resource. For now, the machine ran well enough to keep everything stable.


    Deventh turned his chin up and gazed at the stars. Among the constellations that danced overhead, one cast an overwhelming shadow over his contentment. Tem¡¯s Eye, boldly named as the last remnant of the Time God¡¯s forgotten existence. Clear evidence, some argued, that his essence remained in the cosmos, keeping watch over past, present, and future. Deventh dismissed the notion, wanting to end his visit on a less pensive note. After all, it didn¡¯t need to be Tem.


    The other gods have eyes, too. A flimsy wave-away more than an earnest attempt to reason with himself ¨C at the very least, he found some manner of humor in it.


    He turned around the corner of the machine and stood facing a panel of switches and buttons, with a lever to the right. In an effortless display of muscle memory, he flipped a number of switches and pressed a few of the buttons in a particular order before pulling the lever. As the whirring loudened, he took a step back. A dimensional seam appeared and began slowly tearing to form a portal.


    Waiting for the portal to come to size, Deventh glanced once more behind him, having forgotten to check on the one construct that kept the others fueled: an automaton, patched together with scraps from his other projects. He¡¯d originally found it collapsed in pieces on the floor, and once restored to function, it seemed intrinsically bound to maintaining a symbiosis between itself and the machine. Having completed its duty of tending the boiler for the moment, it wandered the perimeter of the room, waiting to respond to incidents or orders. Again, nothing alarming.


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    By the time Deventh was satisfied with the state of the place, and he could find no more reasons to stall his departure, the portal grew to a comfortable size through which to step. And so he did, closing his eyes as the bright light surrounded him. Liminal silence filled his ears, hushing the mechanical noise. Soon the sensations faded, and he blinked in the fading light to find himself back on the surface. In his office. Just as cold as before ¨C but a different sort of cold, one that settled much deeper into the emptiness.


    Hardly a second passed after the portal dissipated, and already there was a knock at the door. He didn¡¯t know whom to expect, but it certainly wasn¡¯t the person who stood in the threshold.


    ¡°Jessa,¡± he said, ¡°Welcome back. Have you only just returned?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she answered, ¡°Hela, Dirien, and Al¡¯mar are here as well. We, um, found each other on the way. They¡¯re reporting to Anna right now.¡±


    ¡°Quite the coincidence. Hopefully your travels weren¡¯t too troublesome?¡±


    ¡°Not at all,¡± Jessa said, her voice rushed. As she fidgeted with the spot on her finger where she once wore her ring, her eyes shot downward. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t write like I promised. Actually, there¡¯s something I need to tell you.¡±


    Deventh stepped aside, inviting her in. Jessa smoothed her skirt as she sat, her gaze darting around at everything above her height. Sitting opposite Jessa, Deventh thumbed through a stack of papers. She was clearly shaken up over something, and he thought it best to allow her some time to ease into her surroundings. When she was ready, she continued unprompted.


    ¡°We¡¯re not getting the necklace back.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡± Deventh asked, his curiosity piqued.


    ¡°I gave it to my father. And then he took it to his laboratory in Wyvern¡¯s Rest to investigate it. When I saw him the next day, he said it was too dangerous to give it back to me and that he¡¯d be keeping it for a long-term study. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t elaborate.¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡± Deventh tapped on his desk, a slew of possibilities rushing by in his head. He refrained from asking any questions about it, figuring it was beyond her control. ¡°That certainly raises questions.¡±


    ¡°I ¨C yes, it certainly does.¡± Jessa released her breath and once again fiddled with her absent ring. ¡°But, um, aside from that, there¡¯s¡­ something else you should know.¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°I left the University and ran away from home. Before I left, I tossed my ring in the lake. My father can''t track me anymore.¡±


    With a slow nod, Deventh set aside another batch of possibilities.


    ¡°And you don¡¯t suppose this is the first place he¡¯d go looking for you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Jessa managed a half-whisper, then worked up the confidence to speak clearly. ¡°Even if it is, I know passages in this building he would never find. I can make myself scarce or escape if I need to.¡±


    ¡°Escape routes or not, you do understand how this might put our guild in jeopardy, correct?¡±


    ¡°Well¡ªthat¡¯s partially why I¡¯m telling you. But as long as he doesn¡¯t find me here, you¡¯re not in any trouble. He wouldn¡¯t dream of cutting off a source of income over a suspicion. All you need to do is make sure you keep up on rent from now on ¨C and I can help with whatever work needs to be done to accomplish that.¡±


    Deventh leaned back in his chair, pressing his fingertips together. Though tense and fidgety, Jessa carried an unprecedented surety in her words. The possible consequences of her flight were difficult to ignore, but without knowing her motivations, he couldn¡¯t fault her. Rather, he found himself sympathetic.


    ¡°What made you decide to do this?¡± he asked. Jessa gave a nervous hum, combing her fingers through her hair.


    ¡°On our way to Quarryside, when we were caught in the snow, you told me about how you ran away from home,¡± she said, ¡°That there were things you miss, and yet you haven¡¯t looked back.¡±


    ¡°Aye. But the things I miss don¡¯t outweigh the positives of making that decision. Are you certain this is what¡¯s right for you?¡±


    ¡°It may have been a bit rash,¡± Jessa admitted, ¡°But the more I thought about it, the more I found reasons why I should have done this a while ago. Even if it wasn¡¯t my only option, I¡¯ll do what I can to make it the right one.¡±


    ¡°That settles it, then,¡± said Deventh, ¡°Have you ever been to Uminora?¡±


    ¡°N-no. Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°Well, it would be difficult for you to be found here if you were on an expedition with the rest of us.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Jessa¡¯s voice fluttered, light with relief. ¡°Really? I can stay?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve nowhere else to go, I would imagine.¡±


    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true,¡± Jessa said. ¡°What about Anna? Will she disapprove?¡±


    ¡°Doubtful, but I will speak to her, of course. Is there anything else you wished to discuss?¡±


    Jessa froze, biting her lower lip. She shifted in her seat, a glint of contemplation and restraint in her eyes.


    ¡°No, I¡­ I think that¡¯s it,¡± she said.


    ¡°Very well,¡± said Deventh, heading to the door to see her out. ¡°We¡¯ll be heading out overmorrow. Hopefully that provides you with ample time for you to rest and prepare. I¡¯ll spare you the details for now, as there should be more opportune times to discuss them ¨C when you haven¡¯t just arrived back.¡±


    Jessa stood and straightened her chair, and by the time Deventh turned around at the exit, she hadn¡¯t moved an inch. He thought he¡¯d felt her eyes on him as he passed by, but he didn¡¯t expect to catch her bewildered stare. She startled, then scurried over to him, avoiding his gaze.


    ¡°Thank you, Deventh,¡± she said, giving a slight bow of her head. ¡°Anywhere else, I fear I would have well overstayed my welcome.¡±


    A nod of acknowledgment seemed enough to reassure her. As she nodded back at Deventh, a smile curled her lips. She then skipped away, headed across the hall to the bunk room. At the same moment, Dirien, Helaneth, and Al¡¯mar were filing out of Anna¡¯s office, and out stepped the Helbrund behind them. The two guild leaders regarded each other with their typical silent exchange, wherein they agreed to speak later. Weary and anticipative of what was to come, they both slunk back into their offices.

 14-2: Bastard Bird

    By mid-afternoon, the group arrived at Raven gate, where notably absent were the crowding and chaos of Deventh¡¯s and Ardmy¡¯s previous visit. An orderly queue was now formed to collect tolls, whereas they¡¯d last seen the place overrun with crowds of caterwauling merchants packed so tightly they couldn¡¯t breathe. Despite its size, the line moved quickly enough, and a bit of idle chatter was enough to keep them occupied as they inched toward the passage.


    As they neared the gate, an argument flared up, akin to that of last time. A young man, whose short scarlet cloak and matching hose indicated him as a messenger to the king, pointed to the seal on a rolled parchment with such force that it bent inward. The guard he confronted was none other than Khurek.


    ¡°Any ol¡¯ swindler can waddle on up to the gate in a red cloak,¡± said Khurek, ¡°No papers, no exemption.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve shown you my emblem and the king¡¯s seal,¡± said the messenger, his face drawn with incredulity. ¡°No papers are required. Where is your superior? Is he aware of your gross incompetency that besets you with the boldness to deny passage to a royal messenger?¡±


    ¡°Khurek,¡± a voice called out from a door opening at the foot of the tower. Captain Tiroirs sauntered over to the scene, an arm swinging at his side. He glanced between Khurek and the messenger, then slapped his palm against his sword¡¯s pommel, rocking on his heels. ¡°First you trouble the guild associates, and now you¡¯ve decided to take on the king¡¯s couriers. My apologies, good messenger, what seems to be the issue?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve an urgent missive from King Nelphus to the earl of Ravengarde,¡± the young man said. ¡°Per regulation and circumstance, I am exempt from the toll, captain, but your subordinate begs to differ. Understand, captain, that I can and will make mention of this event in my report to the king.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, Khurek can be quite the stickler,¡± said Tiroirs with a nervous waver. ¡°With the commotion as of late, our defenses are heightened, but I am sure, given the magnitude of your own responsibilities, you are fully unconcerned with such matters. You may pass. But please, good messenger, do be careful, for there has been an anomalous quantity of uradrak sightings in the wetlands.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, captain. I will be duly vigilant,¡± said the messenger. Behind a glib smile, his teeth scantly caged a restive impropriety ¨C a suggestion that he keep his subordinates in check. ¡°Good day to you.¡±


    ¡°Ardren¡¯s might, your boldness knows no limits,¡± Tiroirs said to Khurek, a sigh releasing his tension as the messenger passed through the gate. From a satchel at his side, he produced a sealed parchment of his own. ¡°Not to worry ¨C I do recognize that certain incumbencies of guarding toll gates may not be suited for everyone.¡±


    The orc read the letter from Tiroirs, and with each line his face contorted more and more.


    ¡°Reassignment¡­ City guard¡­ Kho¡¯gul,¡± he said, his jaw falling slack. He stood and turned away to hide his frown from the crowd, letting the parchment roll back up on its own. ¡°Well, then. Order¡¯s an order, right. But I¡¯m gonna miss workin¡¯ with ya, captain.¡±


    ¡°Likewise, my friend, but I am certain you¡¯ll succeed,¡± said Tiroirs. ¡°Your diligence is admirable ¨C though perhaps better suited to intracity patrols. I¡¯m most confident you¡¯ll get along fine with Lieutenant Goby. Now, go and get your things. You¡¯re hereby relieved of your post.¡±


    ¡°Lieutenant Goby¡­¡± Khurek trailed off, his face flushed with a dreamy smile as he swayed upright and saluted Tiroirs. ¡°It¡¯s been an honor, captain. Maybe one day I¡¯ll see you in Kho¡¯gul.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have a pint.¡±


    Khurek gave one last nod before walking away, head high and shoulders squared with a newfound optimism. Tiroirs turned his attention to the growing line of people waiting to pass and gestured to the Valorforge party, of which Anna and Deventh stepped forward.


    ¡°Good afternoon,¡± Anna greeted the captain as she reached for her coin pouch. ¡°I¡¯d like to pay the fee for myself and my six guild members.¡±


    ¡°Of course, kind lady,¡± said Tiroirs, pointing to each horse and its respective burden as he surveyed the group, ¡°Ten silver.¡± Anna handed him their dues, but before they moved out, Deventh inquired about the creatures Tiroirs mentioned to the messenger.


    ¡°First a man-pig, and now drake-bears,¡± he said. ¡°Seems you¡¯ve been a busy man. Any areas we should avoid making camp?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I knew you looked familiar,¡± said Tiroirs, peering toward the back of the group and waving to Ardmy and Julien, ¡°Of the many faces I see every day, only one brass mask has brought me the head of a dourling ¨C and quite a tale to go along with it. I¡¯m sure, given your capabilities, you¡¯d find an uradrak to be a minor annoyance, but if you can¡¯t be bothered then I¡¯d advise you to avoid camping altogether. They can be anywhere in those deeper forests.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll manage,¡± said Anna. ¡°Now, let¡¯s not keep everyone held up any longer.¡± Motioning to the group, she urged her mount forward, and alongside Deventh she took the first steps into Ravengarde.


    There, the busy highway wound through lush meadows, overlooking a drenched floodplain which teemed with soft rush and reeds. The Nelmis River, fed by the falls of the Grimcrest mountains, raced alongside the road in smooth meanders with willows brushing above. Dark blue swallowtails drifted by, feasting on nectar from a blanket of deep-colored wildflowers as gray moths nearly the size of housecats bumbled through blooming shrubs.


    ¡°Wow,¡± said Jessa, touching a hand to her cheek as a crisp, damp breeze brushed against it, laden with the sweetness of hyacinths and honeysuckle. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ve never been to Ravengarde.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± asked Anna. ¡°I thought for sure you¡¯d have properties to manage out here.¡±


    Jessa shook her head. Her hand moved away from her cheek, returning to the reins. By the length of the pause before she spoke, in which the voices of travelers, the rattling of cargo, and rolling of wagon wheels enveloped the group, it became clear that she hadn¡¯t been thinking about her father and previous occupation. Nor did she want to.


    ¡°No¡­ Lord Debastien isn¡¯t known for his fair bargains. He¡¯s not just stingy, he sets his prices high because he knows no one will pay. Concentrating his wealth in Ravengarde solidifies his influence here ¨C and he prefers to keep it that way. Or so my father says. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s very fond of him.¡±


    Anna nodded, deciding not to pry any further. She must have noticed the flatness of her tone. Jessa traced the horizon to the path ahead, where the flat meadows continued as far as one could see, dappled with birch and red maple coppices. It was difficult for her melancholic thoughts to thrive with such a view sprawled out before her. Among friends, no less.


    The crowds thinned gradually as traffic dispersed at the branching byways to villages and sprawling farms where the fertile land nourished barley and greens to feed people across all of Nelthemar. A sheet of clouds moved in as the wooded patches grew in density and frequency. They continued on, taking advantage of every last second of daylight until spokes of sunset poked through a dense, leafy canopy. The time had come to set up camp, and so they followed a trail of patted-down dirt to a wooden bridge.


    After stopping to fill their waterskins and let the horses drink, they crossed the river and moved a safe distance out from the road. They soon happened upon a small grove beneath a sweeping view of a golden sky, the clouds now magenta bellied and lethargic, and it was there they decided to rest for the night. Everyone took to their own tasks to prepare for the evening ahead; Deventh and Julien set out to find wood while Anna and Jessa stayed back to collect and arrange rocks for the fire. Ardmy tended the horses, making sure they were groomed, fed, and unburdened. Lydie and Tatsidi remained unoccupied with any contribution aside from one of their typical squabbles.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Are you not the one who decided to skip breakfast today?¡± asked Tatsidi, funneling his frustration into fluffing his bedroll. ¡°When you say you are fine, do you not foresee the full duration for which you will need to remain fine? And now, unequipped to hunt, you demand that we chase rabbits as the sun is setting when we have adequate sustenance for those of us who came prepared?¡±


    ¡°Well when ya put it that way, ya make me sound like an arsehole.¡±


    ¡°Good. Then perhaps you may consider that you are being one,¡± Tatsidi said, plucking a stray puff of powder down from his whiskers.


    ¡°I¡¯ll consider muddling my boots around in wet donkey shite and then kicking your two front teeth in like a pair of whorehouse doors when the guard¡¯s lookin¡¯ for your father. Gimme your bow.¡± Lydie stomped over to where his belongings were set out on the ground, but Tatsidi held out his arm to stop her.


    ¡°Give you my bow?¡± He scoffed. ¡°When your hands may spark aflame at any moment and reduce it to ash? With your impressive record of breaking and misplacing things which belong to others? And you demand this in the same breath you spent spouting these crude, crude things at my expense. You baffle me with this nonsense ¨C give you my bow.¡±


    A grunt of frustration flared Lydie¡¯s nostrils, rushed hot blood to her forehead. She felt a surge of tingling warmth gushing through her radial artery ¨C the same that preceded every incident in which her hands would spark and smoke. Swallowing hard, she quelled her boiling ire to a simmer.


    ¡°Can ya just let me borrow it?¡± she appealed with a soft sincerity, her body going slack. ¡°I swear I won¡¯t do anything stupid. I¡¯ll take care of it like my own. Promise.¡±


    ¡°Like your own? The one that is nowhere in sight?¡±


    Silence fell between them. A gentle breeze tousled Lydie¡¯s hair, a shadow cast upon her contorting face as the clouds darkened overhead. A while passed, a battle with the lump in her throat which she managed to swallow.


    ¡°Oi. That¡¯s low, even for you. What, did you want me to run back into my room that night and choke on smoke to save it? ¡¯Cause I did. Would¡¯ve taken burns all over my body if it meant I didn¡¯t have to give it up ¨C but it was already gone, like everything and everyone else. Ash and charcoal by the time I found it. Only regret is leaving it behind in the first place.¡±


    Tatsidi lowered his ears. He said nothing, reaching down to grab his bow and quiver, then passed them over to her.


    ¡°Very well. Take care of it like your own.¡±


    ¡°Was that so fookin¡¯ hard?¡± Lydie snatched the bow out of his hands. The sudden snappy movement and the sharpness returning to her voice took him aback. Hopeful for an apology, she lingered, but when she received none, she slung the quiver over her back and trotted away. It was not worth demanding what wouldn¡¯t be sincere.


    Treading through piles of twigs and leaves, she crossed through a section of underbrush. All the while, she stewed in Tatsidi¡¯s thoughtless words, words that gripped her and burrowed into her skin like talons. But night was falling fast, and she had to work quickly, so she let her discomfort propel rather than impede her. Light on her feet and determined to return to camp before dark, she happened upon another, smaller clearing and clambered up the incline of an outcrop within it. At the summit, she parted the bushes and gazed out to the shadowed line of underbrush.


    Something moved in the bushes ¨C she tracked it with her eyes as it stirred up loose leaves in its path into the open. Soon emerged a pheasant, intent on making its way to roost, but not without stopping to peruse among the debris for loose berries and insects.


    A bird¡¯s just as good, thought Lydie in compromise with her earlier intent to hunt a rabbit. Taking extra care not to rouse the animal¡¯s attention, she slowed her movements, made sure each one was purposeful. She picked up Tatsidi¡¯s bow and nocked an arrow. Drawing back the string, she took aim while the bird was preoccupied.


    ¡°Thanks, Tatsidi, ya furry ballsack,¡± she said, loosing the arrow. It whistled over the bird¡¯s head, then planted itself in the ground. The pheasant jumped with a flap of its wings and scuttled back into the bushes. Lydie stared at the arrow shaft protruding from the ground, clamping her teeth over her bottom lip.


    ¡°Fu¡ªugh!¡± she groaned, wiping the dirt and sweat of her palms on her trousers as she ran through her mind with a million reasons why she¡¯d have made a successful shot under any other circumstances.


    String¡¯s frayed. Draw¡¯s too heavy. Limbs are too long. Bird¡¯s a bastard. Tatsidi¡¯s a bastard. I need a drink.


    And still, through the thick of her ironclad excuses, it was only getting darker. In the twilight, she now had to squint to see any movement, not that there was any to be seen. Perhaps the time had come to give up, to return to camp.


    But Lydie was not ready to return. In fact, she was only getting angrier the more futile everything began to seem, more anxious as it became harder to douse the fire growing within the pit of her stomach. She scanned once more along the edge of the brush, but all was still, except for a mild breeze tousling the leaves.


    Gonna kill that bastard of a bird.


    Lydie scampered down to level ground, looped around the corner of the outcrop. Her eyes adjusted to the shadows beneath the treetops as she made her way into the brush. Creeping through the vegetation, she came across more movement, the rustling of a creature trying to distance itself from her. It stopped for a moment, a long, feathered tail popping up just long enough for her to recognize the bird before it continued on its way. There he is. Lydie gripped the bow tighter, locking each finger around it as she ducked low to stalk her prey.


    She followed the pheasant to a copse shaded by a massive oak tree and some maples surrounding it. The area was clear of shrubs, and in their place was a huge, sturdy nest of twigs supported by rocks. Its diameter, Lydie estimated, must have been at least ten feet.


    Don¡¯t suppose that¡¯s a nest for a wee bird like that. As for what creature could have possibly lived there, she hoped to finish her hunt and get out well before it came back. The pheasant had once again stopped to poke between twigs for food. She had a clear shot of it now ¨C if she could manage to avoid breaking her deadly silence.


    Steadying her anger-shaken hands, she moved her arms with precisive fluidity without agitating the surrounding bushes. She raised Tatsidi¡¯s bow, retrieved another arrow. As she focused in on her target and drew back her arrow, her vision tunneled to precision. Her ears filled with the chirps of crickets, the croaks of frogs. Warm breath from her nose grazed her upper lip.


    If I miss this one, I¡¯m a bloody bastard, too.


    With a deep breath and a tight blink, she imagined her anger radiating from her hand wrapped around the bow¡¯s grip, traveling up the limbs and through the string, pooling into the arrow itself. And when it was all drained from her body, leaving her light as a feather, again she loosed her shot.


    Thump.


    The arrowhead pierced the neck of the bird. It tumbled, lifeless in an instant, to the ground. Lydie held her breath, stood slowly from her crouched position. A pure, childlike grin brightened her face. Excitement surged into her arms, and she threw them in the air, letting out a victorious howl. Nearly toppling over with hurried steps, she stumbled toward her prize to collect it.


    But as she reached into her bag to retrieve a piece of cloth, the ground rumbled behind her. Bush branches snapped, leaves tore off. Her celebration must have alerted the nest¡¯s owner of her intrusion. There was still time, though ¨C she snaked out a cloth from her bag and formed it into a sling, checking over her shoulder for the progress of whatever-it-was. Lydie¡¯s heart started racing as she scooped up the carcass into the sling. She jumped up onto her feet, swiveling her head about to near dizziness to find a way out.


    North, she reminded herself, then sprung in that direction. The overgrowth was much more troublesome to traverse, but she made it a fair distance from the nest. Wading through bushes well above her knees, she pressed on as fast as she could, but soon realized that the rumbling hadn¡¯t stopped. The rustling hadn¡¯t grown more distant. Whatever this creature was, it was chasing her, gaining on her. She was still in its territory ¨C or perhaps it was hungry.


    She ran faster, heart pounding in her ears, breaths quick and shallow. The brush tore her clothes and scraped her legs. Peering over her shoulder, she caught sight of a beastly shape, a spot of moonlight reflecting off a head of turquoise scales and traveling down a spine arrayed with spikes. As she turned her head around, her ankle caught on a forked stem, knocking her flat.


    With a strong tug, she freed her ankle, reaching for her dropped belongings as she tried to push herself upright. The ground shook and thundered. The beast neared. She rolled aside to move herself out of its path, but the creature was nimble on its thick paws and managed the shift without trouble. As it charged toward her, its draconic head and bear-like body were revealed ¨C an uradrak.


    As Lydie finally caught her footing, legs stinging with cuts and adrenaline coursing through her, she unleashed a cry for help, so forceful she thought her head might burst.

 14-3: The Bear-Drake, Part I

    A spark fell onto the tinder. As fire caught the wood stacked above, Deventh set aside his flint and steel and stepped back to take count of everyone. Six, including himself ¨C Lydie hadn¡¯t returned yet, but Tatsidi¡¯s annoyance was as telling as it was palpable. Anna and Jessa were rationing out apples, bread, and dried meat across the expected days of travel and portioning a fair amount for each meal that evening. It seemed everyone present was settled in and unwinding well from their long, yet thankfully uneventful, first day of their journey. Once the food was sorted and stowed, Anna stood and brushed herself off.


    ¡°That should do it. We ought to make it to the city tomorrow, but if we don¡¯t, we¡¯ll still have plenty to eat for another night.¡± She swiveled her head as if searching for something. ¡°Where¡¯s¡ª¡±


    A distant shout rived the peaceful atmosphere. Deventh watched Julien reach over to grip the hilt of his sword, his own reflex, too, leading his hand to his dagger. Tatsidi¡¯s fur stood on end, pupils dilating and contracting as his head turned toward the trees. Fumbling through her backpack, Anna spat a slew of curses at her own choice to remove her rings for the night.


    ¡°Bo-dasa¡¯s mane,¡± Tatsidi growled, as irritated as he was worried. ¡°Do not bother with your weapons ¨C I will go to her rescue.¡±


    ¡°I will go by your side,¡± insisted Julien. ¡°The burden of her safety oughtn¡¯t be yours alone.¡±


    ¡°But it is mine alone. Leave me to it.¡±


    ¡°Still your sentimentalities,¡± said Deventh, ¡°You heard the guard captain earlier. Uradrak are about.¡±


    ¡°Yes, so let¡¯s waste no more time bickering,¡± said Anna, holding her arm in position for her shield as she twisted the ring on her middle finger. ¡°Jessa, Ardmy, I trust you both to watch over the camp while we¡¯re gone.¡± A frown parted Jessa¡¯s lips, and her hands fell into her lap holding a skewer and a chunk of apple. Her wide and worried eyes flashed a glance at Deventh, but they soon found their way to an unbothered, confident Ardmy as he stepped up to the task.


    ¡°Everything will be ready by the time you all come back,¡± said Ardmy, his chin slightly tilted toward the worried Nelthrin. This assuaged some of her doubt about whether they would, indeed, come back ¨C yet still, as they moved out, she kept stealing glances at Deventh. Having noticed her preoccupation, Ardmy sat beside her at the fire. Between them, linen cloths were arranged with a pile of skewers, chunks of dried beef, cubes of semi-hard Sheannoran cheese, and slices of russet apples. He picked up one of the skewers and, with a stiff-lipped smile to reassure Jessa, he helped her to prepare their evening meal.


    Tatsidi rushed on all fours, bounding over fallen leaves and branches. He took care to pace himself and keep the other three would-be rescuers within a comfortable range, leading them rather than bolting ahead. All the while, his keen nocturnal vision kept him alert to the sights and obstacles of the forest ¨C thorny briar tendrils, freshly woven spiderwebs, mounds marking the burrows of animals best left undisturbed. He soon picked up on a unique vibration and stopped, nose and whiskers twitching as he oriented himself. He felt the others stop behind him as well.


    ¡°She is nearby,¡± he said, ¡°And she is not alone.¡±


    He wasted no time starting deeper into the woods, chasing the vibrations. A light flashed in the distance. A high-pitched frequency pierced Tatsidi¡¯s ears, causing them to fold down to protect his hearing. The others, wondering why he¡¯d suddenly stopped again, soon found out ¨C when the sound plunged to a ground-shaking roar. They all quickened their pace, the flashes of light appearing more frequently and accompanied by Lydie¡¯s strained shouts and the odor of smoke as they came nearer to the source of the unrest.


    The underbrush was sparse there, and substantial patches of ground were freshly singed. Lydie shouted from atop a boulder, preoccupied with the uradrak as it tried to grab hold with its claws and climb up the side.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it under fookin¡¯ control,¡± she said, managing to conjure a somewhat unstable fireball in the palm of her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t piss it o¡ª¡±


    Anna ignored her and charged in shield-first, licks of flame on the charred ground glinting off her full suit of golden armor. As she arrived within range of the beast, she went in for a swing with her mace between the horns on its head. But its armored skull proved resilient, and while stunned, the creature suffered only a small dent in its scales. The force of her own swing bounced back at her, nearly causing her to lose grip on her mace. Staggering back, Anna kept her shield raised as another fireball hurtled toward her. She managed to hop out of the way before it scorched her boots.


    ¡°Sorry, hen!¡± shouted Lydie. The bear-drake huffed, shaking the daze from its head, and turned around with heavy steps to face Anna. The Helbrund stood her ground, holding her shield fast and mace outward. Julien hurried to her aid, sword in one hand and a pure arcane charge in the other. While Anna had the creature¡¯s attention, he hurled the ball of energy at its side. He tried to move in for a swing with his sword but leaned back as a clawed paw swept in for his face.


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    As Anna¡¯s shield and mace vied for the beast¡¯s attention, Tatsidi snaked through the shadows, intent on approaching from behind. He had only his dagger, and as he drew closer to the boulder where Lydie had taken refuge, he realized that she was no longer in possession of his bow. He paused in his tracks, growled to himself ¨C but soon came to his senses. Proceeding to his intended position, he fought back an urge to curse.


    Deventh stayed low in a small patch of brush, racking his mind for the best approach. While Anna and Julien were doing well enough with keeping the bear-drake distracted, the right poison or restraint would expedite the rescue. He plucked a bolt from his pouch and selected a poison he assumed strong enough to fell an uradrak ¨C one he used sparingly and took great care to avoid opening unless necessary. It was a heavy neurotoxin, sourced from the venom of the violet death adder, a Drondaris elapid.


    He loaded the poisoned bolt and lifted his crossbow to aim. A decent shot would prove difficult with the bear-drake¡¯s erratic movements ¨C throwing its own weight everywhither, twisting and swinging its head at Anna and Julien, paws lifting and slamming back onto the ground. He had to take care, too, for the shot not to even graze a hair on an arm of his companions ¨C the toxin, distilled under Z¨¦ah¡¯s method, could be fatal even on contact with chafed skin.


    Once Deventh confirmed everyone was out of his path, he took aim, curling a finger to the trigger. But he caught a glimpse of the creature¡¯s slit pupil as a glint of orange shot across it. One of Lydie¡¯s fireballs blazed toward him ¨C he ducked lower than was comfortable to avoid it, losing his aim in the process. The shot discharged from his crossbow and burrowed into the dirt.


    He turned to face the fireball¡¯s point of impact. A patch of grass and dried leaves shriveled and crackled, pungent black smoke rising from them. Clearing his throat of the stinging fumes, Deventh began to dig the bolt out of the ground.


    Lifting its front legs off the ground, the bear-drake left its neck vulnerable. Julien seized the opportunity to move in for a slash with his blade. But he was too slow ¨C claws caught onto his arm when the beast came back down. They tore his sleeve, drawing blood.


    ¡°Julien!¡± shouted Anna, ¡°Get behind me! You¡¯re only distracting it from my shield!¡±


    Julien shook his head. He had another idea. Instead of continuing to hurl spheres of energy at the beast, he conjured one around himself. A shield, one he hoped might contend with Anna¡¯s until one of them found the right opening. But the slashes in his arm were deep ¨C some of his magic energy trickled out with his blood, and he had to channel more to compensate. Holding his breath tight, he prepared himself to strike.


    Having carefully tapped the loose dirt from the bolt, Deventh loaded it back into his crossbow. Again, he took aim, a precise return to the position that offered him a clear shot before ¨C everything from the height of his forearm to the degree of angle from which the wind stroked his nose.


    He pressed the trigger. Nothing.


    ¡°Thoum vrok,¡± he muttered.


    The protective aura surrounding Julien started to flicker, phasing in and out. Jolts of pain interrupted his channeling. The more he focused, the more his energy gushed out of his wounds, the more he had to compensate. Having lost none of its momentum, the uradrak kept lashing out with its massive claws and chomping at them with teeth that could crunch bone with ease. Noticing the decline of Julien¡¯s condition, Anna positioned herself between him and the uradrak. She swept in with her mace, slamming into its lower flank.


    The creature roared, ribs cracking and barbs piercing its skin. Anna heaved herself back as it lowered its head. It did not, however, afford her the moment she needed to catch her balance before butting its curved horns into her shield, tossing her off her feet. She landed flat on her back. Every vertebra popped, but her shoulder took the brunt of the impact ¨C and what she assumed would later be pain.


    I am truly not getting any younger, she thought, limbs stretched up into the air, rocking, attempting to right herself like a hapless turtle. While she was down, Julien offered himself as the beast¡¯s target ¨C prodding, poking, disengaging. He repeated this pattern, missing not a single inch of movement in calculating a chance for a meaningful strike.


    Julien felt his body slowing down, each second a new brick stacked upon his shoulders. Aside from some flesh wounds and whatever small fracture may have ensued from Anna¡¯s mace, the beast was hardly weakened at all. In his unwavering focus, Julien had thought nothing of what the others aside from Anna were doing ¨C and in that moment he gave his curiosity the leeway to check. Lydie was still crouched on her boulder perch, twisting her lips into curses, gritting her teeth, trying and failing to conjure more than a fizzling, sulfurous spark. Deventh, concealed in the bushes, fussing over something. Tatsidi, nowhere.


    That moment of lenience was enough for the uradrak to seize another magnitude of advantage. It bore down, leaving him no choice but to fall back, and pinned him to the ground under the threat of its fearsome teeth and claws. His hand curled around a phantom hilt; his sword had slipped from his grip. Where it landed did not matter, not now.


    The last thing he could think to do was release his shield, to send magic gushing through his veins, grating, searing the vessel walls. Another ball of pure energy gathered in his hand, growing slowly and with no modest toll of pain. But it grew nonetheless.


    The monster, too, knew this power, wielded it, taunted him with a flash of fierce knowledge, suggestions even of sentience in its slit-pupiled, amber eyes. It opened its mouth and swallowed every meager morsel of energy that Julien painstakingly spent his entire reserve to scrape up. All in an instant. All he had left to save himself, to save the others, reduced to a snack. If even that wasn¡¯t too generous an equivalency.


    Would it be so bad, he mused, if after everything, this was it? The dread and rot of imprisonment, the absurdity and humiliation of becoming a man-pig, the loss of the very last person who cherished him ¨C perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be so bad for this, of all monsters, to be the one to close the final curtain. His heavy eyelids concurred, falling over his blurred vision as it filled with a feathering white light.

 14-4: The Bear-Drake, Part II

    Inside the monster¡¯s mouth, the light gathered into a sphere. Blinding beams escaped between its teeth and dotted Anna¡¯s golden armor as she rushed in, skidding on her knees to shield Julien. She thought of hoisting him over her shoulder and making distance from the threat, but the uradrak drew its head back, having reached the extent of its magical charge. She instead braced herself, her arm locked in place to hold her shield steady. The monster widened the gape of its jaws the more the sphere grew, and soon the light enveloped everything. Even when she closed her eyes, Anna saw only the blinding whiteness, thought only to pray.


    Ardren, protect us.


    The monster channeled the sphere it amassed into a singular beam. Suppressing none of its might, it unleashed the full explosive force of energy on Anna¡¯s shield. The blast whistled in her ears like the winds of a blizzard. As it continued, it became more muffled, though the impossible force persisted.


    Wrapped in a white silence, she endured not only the massive impact, but the unfettered emotion that tinged all magic, the inklings of the soul that seeped in. Her shield knew well the dreams and woes of man and monster, but never like this. The sheer draconic rage, Julien¡¯s fear, hope, and despair, all culminated into the weight of what felt like a mountain bearing down on her. She thought it might shatter every bone in her body, crumble them to dust. Yet still, she endured.


    Soon it was over, no more crushing weight, no more blinding light. Only darkness through squeezed-shut eyelids, and the fleeting notion that Elyn had passed her candle on. But the dead had no such things as a pulse pounding in their ears, nor breath heaving in their chests. Nor did Lusmir¡¯s domain know the hair-raising chill of a nighttime breeze. The ringing in her ears abated, and she picked up another sound: panting.


    The beast had weakened itself, spent all of its energy. Likely it had thought the blast enough to kill its threats ¨C a fair gamble, as this was nearly the case. Head hanging and limbs bowed, intent on wringing what drops of stamina remained from its own ragged form, the uradrak began to wobble and sway toward her.


    Anna was weak, weaker than the monster. Her arms fell limp, and she could not find the strength to lift her weapon, nor to pick herself up from the ground. Her shield propped itself against her shoulder, mace rolling out of her slackened grip. She strained with all her might, but her muscles cried out, cramping, begging her not to move. The uradrak inched closer every second, its heavy steps rattling the earth.


    With a glance over her shoulder, Anna found a helpless Julien lying in the dirt. A sudden rush of adrenaline coursed through her as shadows of demon wings began to dance along the ground. Amidst the grotesque cacophony of laughter and twisted hymns taunting her, she raised her aching arms and cupped her hands over her ears. Julien, she kept repeating to herself, trying to keep her focus, but it was impossible to drown out the noise. Julien. Dead or alive, she needed to protect him, but¡­


    A voice called out from above, one strident enough to frighten the horrors away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move, hen,¡± Lydie said, hands curled around a fireball much larger and more stable than the previous ones, ¡°We¡¯ve got this.¡± Her lower lip jutted as she trained her gaze on the creature¡¯s flank. When her aim was focused, she thrust out her palm, propelling the scorching orb at her target.


    Strands of fur shriveled and charred. Bubbles hissed across a patch of scalded flesh melting to vapor. Pained cries thundered through the atmosphere. The putrid smoke that resulted prickled across Lydie¡¯s tongue. She grimaced, cupping her mouth and nose. Well, that smells bloody awful.


    With her free hand, she waved behind her back, and Tatsidi vaulted over her. He landed on the ground, feet sturdy as he stood face-to-face with the beast. As he caught his breath, he whipped his tail, staring the uradrak in its eyes ¨C they were fading. Finally. He then sprung onto all fours, circling around the beast to distract it. And as he coaxed the creature into facing just the right direction, Anna beheld the raw, drooping flesh of its side, a grimace shrinking her face while Lydie waved a signal across the way.


    A bolt whizzed past Anna¡¯s head, narrowly missing her ear. It embedded itself in the beast¡¯s side, penetrating the patch of raw flesh. The uradrak stopped in its tracks with a heavy blink, roared, and turned its face to Anna. A new fervency burned in its gaze. The poison took hold instantly, but death did not ¨C not before the monster could claim a partner in its demise. With its last flare of willpower, it lifted itself onto its hind legs, preparing to lunge.


    Anna, against the limits of her body¡¯s diminished strength, propped up her knees, twisted her torso, and rolled over to take hold of Julien¡¯s sword. It took all her effort to keep her arm straight against her quaking muscles, but she took advantage of the creature¡¯s weight and momentum to drive the blade between its ribs. One final twist of her torso gave her the grace to roll to safety, causing her to wrench the soaked blade from the collapsing body. Blood spattered across her face and in her hair.


    She lay there, staring the fallen beast in the face. Even now, something kept it from closing its eyes. She offered it a face to look upon in its final moments, for whatever purpose it wanted one. Its fading gaze burrowed into her soul as its own began to drift from its once fearsome body. A low, somber voice resounded in her head.


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    Lord Maestus, I am bested.


    As its eyes closed for the very last time, blue rays shimmered around its body. Anna watched them beam, then fade to wisps of dust. She repeated,


    ¡°Maestus¡­?¡± As she palpated her head for bumps, in front of her face appeared Deventh¡¯s outstretched hand. A kind gesture from friend to friend, as always; one that the burden of her size and armor made futile, of course, but kind nonetheless. After twisting her ring to unsummon her armor, she waved him away and wobbled to her feet on her own.


    ¡°Maestus?¡± Deventh asked.


    ¡°Yes. It said something sounding like that, I think ¨C you didn¡¯t hear it?¡±


    Deventh shook his head.


    ¡°Never mind, then. I may have been hearing things. Even if I wasn¡¯t, there are more important matters.¡± She plodded over to Julien and crumpled to her knees at his side. As she watched his shallow breaths tousle the hairs above his lip, she doubled over with a sharp exhale, relief overwhelming her body with convulsive jolts somewhere between laughter and sobbing. Of course he wasn¡¯t dead; he had no reason to be.


    For the sake of giving Julien the attention he needed, Anna pulled herself together. A soft, golden glow radiated from her hands as she grasped his arm. He was stable, more afflicted by exhaustion than his wounds. A bit overzealous ¨C much like herself at his age ¨C but expending magic to his limits would become far less sustainable over time. As she focused on healing him, the fading demon chants still clung to the edge of her mind, persevering until they fizzled out completely. The terrors often came and went in the same manner, under the right circumstances.


    She caught Deventh watching her from afar, hands in his pockets, somehow emanating a sympathetic cognizance even through that damned mask. By then, Julien was healed enough to seal his wounds against any further blood loss, but for the sake of conserving her energy, she would leave the rest to Ardmy.


    ¡°You lost it?¡± shouted Tatsidi, shattering all manner of somberness between the two leaders. ¡°After all your bellowing and pleading, you lost it?¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t lose it,¡± Lydie said, biting the tip of her tongue as she hung from her boulder perch by one hand. She let go and landed flat on her feet with a slight bounce. ¡°I dropped it. Left it at the ugly bastard¡¯s nest, probably. We can go back and look now that it¡¯s dead.¡±


    ¡°Fine. But if we run into another one of those things, I hope you are prepared to die this time.¡±


    ¡°Rather be dead then listen to you gabbin¡¯ about how I always fuck everything up.¡± Cocking her chin in the direction of Deventh and Anna, she curled a hand against her hip. ¡°You two need us for anything, or can we go back and look for the whinge-master¡¯s bow?¡±


    ¡°There are muscles cramping in my lower back that I didn¡¯t even know I had,¡± said Anna, ¡°But I believe Deventh and I can handle Julien. Go, it¡¯s best not to be short on weapons if you can recover it.¡±


    The group parted ways. Anna and Deventh headed back to camp with Julien in tow, Lydie and Tatsidi to the uradrak nest. Along the way, Lydie crouched mid-step from time to time and bounced back up with an item or two she¡¯d dropped during the chase. Each occurrence made Tatsidi¡¯s eyes ever narrower, stretching his patience thin with the anticipation of turning up empty-handed. When they came upon the nest, however, a moonbeam lustered upon the mislaid bow as if putting it on display for its long-lost owner. Lydie¡¯s gait changed suddenly, arms swinging and a spring in her step. Tatsidi held out his arm in front of her chest to cut her off, picking up the bow himself.


    ¡°You will not be handling this anymore,¡± he said, ¡°no matter how much you beg for pity next time.¡±


    ¡°Fine. I caught us all dinner with the bloody thing, but you can starve if¡ªwhat¡¯s that?¡± Lydie spotted something in the center of the nest, a faint shimmer among the shadows. Tatsidi caught sight of it as well, but he was rather content to leave with his life and his bow. Reluctant as he was to stay any longer, Lydie gave him no warning before she began sloughing through the leaves and interwoven twigs.


    ¡°A-ha, and on top of no roasted peasant, you won¡¯t get to share the gold from sellin¡¯ this beauty,¡± she teased, holding up what appeared to be a necklace.


    ¡°Pheasant.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Roasted pheasant. Unless you have managed to stuff a hapless old man into your pack. No longer would something so outlandish surprise me. You should put that necklace back ¨C Oenar only knows what sort of curse it bears.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lydie hopped out of the nest, clutching the necklace in her palm. ¡°Ya got your bow back, and I just found this, and you¡¯re standin¡¯ there correcting me? Lecturing me about curses? What do you care if it¡¯s cursed? Didn¡¯t you steal an entire jewelry box from the Oath hall?¡±


    ¡°One with a brain larger than a melon seed might consider that there is a whisker¡¯s difference between locating a personal stash and finding a singular piece of jewelry, deep in the woods, with no body or clothing to accompany it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a lot of words. You¡¯re just jealous ya didn¡¯t find it first.¡± She dangled the necklace in front of Tatsidi¡¯s face. A short puff of air whistled out of his nose, and his tail dropped to the ground.


    ¡°Of course. Foolish me.¡± As he reached out to swat the pendant away, his eyes widened. ¡°Wait, Lydie¡­ Does this not look familiar to you?¡±


    ¡°What do ya mean?¡± she asked, turning the pendant to face her. Sticking her tongue between her teeth, she contorted her cheek to inspect it. ¡°S¡¯pose it kinda looks like that one we looted off that one elf prince we¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, Lydie. Much more recent than that.¡±


    She looked closer, twirling the chain between her fingers.


    ¡°Oh, aye. Looks a bit like the one Rauleth¡ªoh.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we should bring this back to camp.¡±


    ¡°Should we? What if it is cursed?¡±


    ¡°I do not know, Lydie,¡± said Tatsidi after a short contemplation, the hairs on his neck standing on end. ¡°But what we do know is that Miss Jessa was sent home with a similar item and returned empty-handed. That is all too suspicious for my liking. If it is anything like the previous, then we are safe to keep it for now. Anna and Deventh must see it.¡±


    On their way back, they passed some patches of scorched ground and Tatsidi only then recalled Lydie hurling fireballs with ease. A sly grin spread across his face as he addressed the incident.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, ¡°Do you still deny your abilities for magic?¡±


    ¡°Surprised no one¡¯s killed you yet for flappin¡¯ your stupid maw when ya haven¡¯t got the whole story,¡± said Lydie. ¡°You don¡¯t know what my life was like before House Sorilarei.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps if you¡¯d ever told me, I would.¡±


    ¡°There ya go again.¡± Lydie crouched down and bounced back up with some of her belongings that fell out of her pack during the chase. ¡°Sometimes things hurt and ya can¡¯t just talk about them. Y¡¯know, I was supposed to go to a magic school, get real smart like Jessa. Problem was I couldn¡¯t trap pixies in bubbles or pick up spoons with my mind by the time I was four like the other weans. My parents kept me locked up in my room like a prison for years, said they wouldn¡¯t let me out until I could make somethin¡¯ happen. Only opened the door to feed me, send in private magic tutors who couldn¡¯t teach me a damned thing, and then beat me for wastin¡¯ their money. It didn¡¯t end ¡®til I ran away.¡±


    Tatsidi¡¯s ears folded over, his whiskers drawn back.


    ¡°I am sorry, Lydie,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ya damn well better be.¡±

 14-5: Teardrops

    They returned to the camp, where tension and uncertainty still loomed above the heads of those present. Jessa twiddled her thumbs, staring down at the ground while no one touched a single morsel from the food she prepared. Ardmy had just finished cleaning and applying a potentilla extract to Julien¡¯s wounds, and they were now ready to be dressed. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he began to imbue bandages with healing magic. Anna and Deventh sat quietly by the fire, and after setting down their things near their bedrolls, Lydie and Tatsidi approached them.


    ¡°If we may have a word,¡± said Tatsidi to Deventh, who was tinkering with the ever-fickle trigger of his glove¡¯s crossbow. He glanced up from his work and clipped the small tool into a metal hook at the back of his wrist.


    ¡°Is everything all right?¡± he asked, noting a crackle of irritation in Tatsidi¡¯s voice, as well as a slight grimace baring the tip of one sharp canine.


    ¡°We are uncertain,¡± said the Apo¡¯na, causing Jessa to turn her head to the conversation. She thought better of speaking, though, as Tatsidi continued. ¡°I was of the hope that the four of us might speak in private, if Anna has not lost herself to a far-off land.¡±


    The Helbrund stared into the fire, oblivious to her surroundings. Deventh nudged her with a hand just below the shoulder, taking care not to startle her.


    ¡°Yes, I return to rugged ground,¡± Anna declared, brushing off her blatant dissociation. ¡°Seems I was lost in the flames. What¡¯s the matter, now?¡±


    Deventh stood, motioning to Anna. A grunt companioned her great effort to stand, after which Tatsidi led them to his and Lydie¡¯s remote section of the camp. Out of earshot of the others, they spoke freely.


    ¡°What is this about?¡± asked Anna. In reply, Lydie unclutched her palm and dangled the chain of the necklace from her finger. Both leaders raised a brow ¨C Anna in confusion, and Deventh in acknowledgment. The Helbrund searched for answers in her colleague¡¯s expression, then somewhere in the crook of his thumb which grasped his chin. Her tired face sagged as the realization set in.


    ¡°How did that get here?¡± she asked. ¡°Where did you find that?¡±


    ¡°In the beast¡¯s nest,¡± said Tatsidi. ¡°We are not so certain this is mere coincidence.¡±


    Deventh held out his hand to Lydie. She snaked the chain into his palm, setting off a twinge in the metallic contacts of his glove.


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely enchanted,¡± he said, ¡°Or cursed. Whoever infused this used a seal to mark their ownership of it. Similar to the other, if not the same.¡±


    ¡°Is this not the same piece that Jessa was to take home?¡± asked Tatsidi. Deventh shook his head.


    ¡°A duplicate, perhaps, but not likely the very same. Dispelling an enchantment as potent as the previous would have crumbled a delicate piece like this to dust after breaking the fortification. Unless, of course, Jessa¡¯s skill as a mage is in the ranks with Nelmis the Divider.¡± His light jest invoking the first king¡¯s wizard fell flat. ¡°Few possess the capability, let alone the desire to visit the effort of such a reinfusion.¡±


    ¡°And what does any of that mean?¡± asked Lydie.


    ¡°It means that some entity has created more than one of these enchanted pieces deliberately,¡± concluded Tatsidi. ¡°Now, if only we could determine why trouble clings to the teardrops of these shiny trinkets.¡±


    ¡°This seems to be no coincidence,¡± Anna concurred. The strange aura as the uradrak fell, the voice ringing with a name she didn¡¯t recognize ¨C maybe these were no hallucinations after all. As Deventh turned the necklace in his hand, the gems caught the light of the distant fire and gleamed with the same luster as the rays which died with the beast.


    ¡°You¡¯re quiet, suddenly,¡± Anna said to him. ¡°Any thoughts?¡±


    ¡°Theories. Nothing worth a spiral down the void of speculation, but a start.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Given all that we know, and whatever manner of conspiracy is unfolding, is it not safe to assume that any land barons operating within Grimros might be lending at least a hand of indifference, if not outright complicity?¡±


    ¡°I suppose.¡±


    ¡°I wonder which of those categories would apply to Lord Bisset.¡± Deventh closed his fingers around the pendant. A wordless agreement passed between everyone to conclude their meeting. The night had already been tiresome enough.


    But there was still much to do before they could rest with their thoughts. As they dispersed, Lydie took the opportunity to begin cleaning and cooking her kill. Deventh, noting Anna¡¯s condition as she hobbled back to the fire, decided to speak with Jessa on his own. They found a spot still within range of the campfire¡¯s light where trees rounded a peaty recess. Anticipation crawled in Jessa¡¯s fingers, grasping for a lock of hair.


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    ¡°How are you holding up?¡± asked Deventh.


    ¡°Wh-what?¡± asked Jessa. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who just got back from fighting an uradrak?¡±


    ¡°That oughtn¡¯t invalidate any queries on how you¡¯re faring. You took quite the leap from your nest.¡±


    ¡°I¡ªdon¡¯t mean to be rude, but I assumed from all the secrecy you had something else to discuss.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d be correct. But the thought to check on your wellbeing crossed my mind as well. No pressure if you¡¯d like to get straight to business.¡±


    ¡°I would.¡± Her anxiety would not be quelled until he spoke his intent.


    ¡°Very well.¡± He showed her the object of curiosity, hooking it on his fingers. The spark of recognition sent her heart plummeting into her stomach, speechless as she awaited an explanation. Deventh recounted to her the details from the meeting with Lydie and Tatsidi, allowing her time afterward to digest the information.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said. ¡°I thought you were going to tell me the first one followed us. Though, I guess this isn¡¯t too much of a relief.¡±


    ¡°It certainly invites more concern than consolation,¡± said Deventh. ¡°More curiosity as to the origin and purpose of these pieces. Those being conundrums of their own, another question grows more intriguing as well ¨C if you¡¯ve left the first one in your father¡¯s hands, where will it go from there, and why?¡±


    Tangled and constricted in a web of possibilities, Jessa found no words. Every intelligible reply slipped away from her, buried beneath the dread thought that Deventh¡¯s question might have been accusatory. Her nervous fidgeting intensified, alternating between combing her hair and pinching her skirt.


    ¡°Apologies for mentioning your family while everything is still fresh,¡± said Deventh, eyeing her frantic hands, ¡°As for the necklace, same as the last ¨C would you mind applying that suppression spell?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± said Jessa, ceasing her fidgeting. ¡°Of course.¡± She took the necklace in one hand, laid three fingers on top of it with the other. A controlled exhale lulled the magic within to a temporary slumber. Deventh thanked her as she passed it back to him. He turned away to start heading back, but Jessa stayed behind.


    ¡°Deventh,¡± she said, ¡°I lost someone very special to me.¡±


    He stopped and turned to face her again. Preferring not to make any assumptions about the meaning of ¡°lost,¡± he awaited an explanation.


    ¡°Elyza,¡± said Jessa, choking out a laugh as she recalled only one brief mention of her to Deventh. She¡¯d always kept their relationship a secret, especially from those most inclined to disapprove. Above all others, Dronvari culture was rife with such prejudices, yet here she stood confessing to him, self-preservation be damned. ¡°Last I spoke of her, I think I called her my study partner. That¡¯s half of the truth.¡±


    Having second thoughts, Jessa paused and tightened her lips. The shudder of doubt in her voice was not lost on Deventh. He crossed his arms over his chest, giving a slight tilt of a listening ear in her direction.


    ¡°Go on,¡± he encouraged. Jessa made herself small, hiding her chin behind clasped hands.


    ¡°She¡¯s alive, I¡¯m sure,¡± she said. ¡°But she¡¯s gone, and she left nothing but a note saying I would never find her. Of course, I still looked ¨C I searched everywhere I could think of, all throughout Oakenhaven.¡±


    ¡°Did something happen between the two of you? An argument? A falling out?¡±


    ¡°Worse, I think. I drew a line she couldn¡¯t cross. Elyza was one of my last anchors to home after my mother died. I endured my father¡¯s abuse and domineering to be with her. I would have endured nearly anything ¨C but I couldn¡¯t just give up on my dream to find my own path.¡±


    ¡°Is that what she asked of you?¡±


    ¡°Yes. She didn¡¯t approve of my joining the guild.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s no mystery why. A guild of our stature is not exactly the picture of stability. Anyone aiming to protect you would recognize that.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, but you and Anna and the others gave me a chance no one else would. You showed me I can stand on my own. Of course I¡¯m going to return that faith.¡± Raising her chin, Jessa looked up and met his gaze. ¡°I think Elyza¡¯s love was contingent on my willingness to let her shelter me. That seems to be my luck.¡±


    ¡°Maybe in Drondaris you¡¯d find agreement about luck. It¡¯s far from unusual to maintain a subconscious adherence to familiarity, for better or worse. Trading your father¡¯s thumb for another was a natural progression, but it wasn¡¯t your predestined lot.¡±


    ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re saying I chose to keep myself in a cycle of misery.¡± Jessa¡¯s face heated up, her cheeks flushing with irritation. Her misinterpretation came as no surprise to Deventh.


    ¡°Is it worse, then, that you had freedom to choose and to act when you finally became aware of a problem? Don¡¯t misunderstand ¨C the only intended implication was that you were drawn to what you knew and sought comfort in it. It would be foolish to deny that unfavorable circumstances befall everyone beyond control from time to time. But presently, you¡¯re here ¨C you had an out, a choice not to lie down to fate and continue accepting that cycle, and you seized it.¡±


    Loose leaves feathered down from a shaken branch as an owl took flight, calling into the darkness. In the distance, the others at the camp had livened up a great deal, talking, eating, laughing together while Lydie kept diligent watch over the spitted pheasant. For the first time, Jessa found no relief in speaking with Deventh. She wasn¡¯t sure whether she disagreed with his sentiments, but perhaps she¡¯d expected too much from confiding in him so deeply while her wounds were still raw.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to go back now,¡± she said.


    ¡°Aye.¡± Deventh took a step back, giving a sympathetic nod. ¡°Sorry to hear about Elyza. Truly.¡±


    Jessa lingered, watching him walk away. She pressed the cuff of her sleeve to the corner of her eye, soaking up a teardrop as it formed.

 15-1: Beady Eyes

    For a day more, the group traveled through woods and wet meadows, following the meanders of the Nelmis river. Soon appeared more mountains, relieved as they¡¯d been to be far away from the dull, gray sight for a time. The Gildarine range spanned from the west of Uminora into Pareltolle, looming over Ravengarde City which joined the peaks in the north to the coast in the south. One more stretch of wooded highway and they¡¯d see the stony walls. They had company, too, as travelers destined for the city funneled in from the adjoining roads.


    In respect to conversation, the second leg of the trip was so treacherous and boring that even Lydie could find nothing to say, not even a single gripe, and Ardmy entertained to fruition the idea of asking Jessa about her university lectures. She obliged, going on for a spell about elemental theory and leading into a story of her professor who was caught dabbling in witchcraft. Each time her retelling turned a corner where Elyza lurked, she swallowed the pangs of longing and pressed on, but this grated on her enthusiasm after a while and caused her to taper off. She stared out toward the hazy mountain peaks and placed her mind there, far away from herself and from anyone else.


    A deep, scabby itch burned in Julien¡¯s arm beyond any hope of relief, trapped under the friction of bandages. Ardmy had been smart enough to conserve his magic, to use it only to an extent where the wounds could do most of their own healing. More than Julien could say for himself ¨C he sustained no serious injury but would likely be short his access to magic for a few days. Conservation had been the last thing on his mind at the time; buying even a fraction of a second for the others to save themselves was the first. He¡¯d accepted death when caught in the moment, but now after being taken by the collar and wrenched from its grasp, he conceded to himself it was better to be alive, to still have a chance to see things through.


    As the day neared its end, the sunset-warmed gray of the city walls commanded their attention. Damp, briny air wafted from the Nelthemar Sea which stretched out from the estuary. The mast of a lone cog beckoned eyes to a small port along the shore, sails furled to rest after a long journey. From the deck, a gabbling crew hauled in crates of varicolored grains from Drondaris, bales of wool from Sheannore, and casks of Esdaran wine, all amassed from the hub port of Brinas Bay. In the distance, weary fishermen rowed a small fleet of barges over the gently rolling waves, eager to return to port with the day¡¯s catch.


    Fish and supply stalls thrived on the main road through the outskirts, though most had already been vacated for the night. Mongers¡¯ dwellings dotted the gradient of grass and sand, obscuring the dilapidated homes of the city¡¯s poorest along the north edge of the wall. The nearer they drew to the gate, the more Anna felt her shoulders creeping up to her ears. As of late, she¡¯d spent far too much time in cities for her comfort. The noise and the dangers of unfamiliar faces were best left to Deventh¡¯s expertise, if one could speak of his tolerance as a skill.


    The guards at the gate stared straight ahead, paying little mind to those passing through. The heels of their spears sunk into the dirt and had formed packed-down dents over hours of complete stillness. They served only as brute enforcers for the true guardians of the city: a neat row of ravens watching overhead, perched in crenellations along the parapet. The large corvids observed the happenings in the sprawling outskirts, scrutinizing inbound travelers with a fierce and judging sentience.


    The very namesake of this place, Julien mused. He¡¯d heard stories, but those painted a picture much more absurd than intimidating; for those pitch-bead eyes to brim with such intelligence was a great deal more unnerving than anticipated.


    One such raven locked eyes with Deventh before lifting off its perch, revealing a single white talon on its left foot. It hovered there, sizing him up or perhaps delivering some sort of cryptic warning, then took flight over the wall and into the city.


    The city was a place of dark, gray brick and pointed roofs, masked in the shadow of its own walls. The group sought a place to rest, and as they traveled the road cramped between shops and residences, they could not ignore an overwhelming presence. Ravens took strategic posts everywhere ¨C along eaves, on windowsills, and in the branches of elms.


    A sudden thwack from Tatsidi¡¯s tail knocked Lydie off balance.


    ¡°Oi, what was that for?¡± she asked, taking a short leap to recover her footing.


    ¡°I am sorry, Lydie,¡± said Tatsidi, wide-pupiled eyes slivering the air. ¡°There are just so many birds. Ones that are agents of the rogue god, no less.¡±


    ¡°In Thrundar, they are regarded as Lusmir¡¯s pets,¡± remarked Anna with a sneer. ¡°They cling to the seam between here and the spiritual plane, chasing the smell of soot from faulty life-candles. Any person they follow will succumb to sickness or death, and then they snip the wicks with their beaks.¡±


    ¡°One of my professors gave a lecture on divine symbology,¡± said Jessa. ¡°The consensus among all the differing beliefs is that Salan, a guardian of Oenar¡¯s domain, was charged with choosing a creature to act as an equalizing force among thieves. He chose crows and ravens as they¡¯re just as attuned to cooperation as mischief, and with flight, they can reach vantage points from which to conduct unbiased judgment. However, Lusmir also found them valuable for their ability to traverse the spiritual plane, so befittingly, they traverse divine domains as well.¡±


    ¡°I have not attended a Nelthrin school, but it seems your professors do not teach from experience,¡± said Tatsidi. ¡°These creatures know nothing of honor, let alone spirits. Those that do not peck your nose or pluck from your pockets are biding their time for richer rewards. You confirm they are of Oenar¡¯s domain ¨C and so however the tale is spun, I do not trust them.¡±


    ¡°W-well, you don¡¯t have to trust them,¡± said Jessa. ¡°The consensus isn¡¯t about being told what to believe, especially on matters of culture and religion. It¡¯s about what we all have in common despite our differences. And no one is ever barred from challenge or dispute.¡±


    ¡°In theory,¡± Ardmy chuckled.


    As conversation dwindled, they happened upon an inn that was suitable for a night¡¯s stay. They stabled their horses, and while the others headed inside, Deventh pulled Anna aside.


    ¡°I¡¯ve business elsewhere in town this evening,¡± he said. Anna pressed her lips thin, folding her arms across her chest. Sliding his mask down, Deventh looked at her with reassurance. ¡°It won¡¯t delay our morning departure.¡±


    ¡°Is it wise for you to wander off on your own?¡± asked Anna. ¡°With whatever that thing is that keeps happening to you?¡±


    ¡°Do you regard me as feeble for it? Of course it could happen again, but that¡¯s not going to dictate whether business is conducted.¡±


    ¡°Fine. At least tell me where you¡¯re going.¡± Anna produced a crinkling map from her bag and Deventh pointed to an unmarked area in the center. He lowered his voice.


    ¡°There¡¯s a hatch behind the butcher shop. The door is warded; don¡¯t knock. I can¡¯t give the passphrase, but Jessa should be able to help with disarming it. This is, of course, if you must go there for dire reasons.¡±


    Anna raised a brow at the mention of the butcher shop but refrained from asking any questions.


    ¡°Right. I¡¯d much prefer it if you kept to your word of being back before morning so we can avoid any more extraneous ventures, but lately it seems we can never be too prepared.¡±


    They split ways, Anna shaking her head as she held the door open, looking back at him one more time.


    Deventh secured his mask in place and adjusted his hood while he walked. Now that he was alone, the feeling of being watched began to intensify. He couldn¡¯t determine whether it was due to his solitude intrinsically or rather something watching him in particular. For the time being he put it out of his mind and made it to his destination.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    The butcher sat beneath an awning on a weather-gnawed stool, heaving his round body forward to submerge a bloodstained cloth in a bucket. As he righted himself, he began rubbing the cloth on the blade of his bone saw. On the table behind him lay his cleaver and knives, already cleaned and honed. The man gave Deventh a curt and measuring nod, then wiped the sweat from his beet-red face with his apron.


    A quartet of ravens swooped down and flew into the shop through the open window. The butcher scrambled to his feet in a clumsy rush to chase them off. His foot caught under the leg of the stool, which landed on its side with a hollow thud. He swung the door open, swearing and brandishing his saw as he hobbled inside. Deventh used the distraction to slip into the alley unnoticed.


    He passed through a gate and entered a fenced-in garden overgrown with weeds. In the far corner he found a hatch, and as he reached down for the handle, the mischievous ravens flitted overhead. Three danced in a suspended circle, fighting over a scrap of sinew. The fourth, perched on a fencepost, was the one with the white talon.


    Deventh stopped, turned around to look at the creature in closer proximity than before. It stared through his mask, past his eyes to a depth no sapient entity had ever accessed with a simple gaze. In a most passive and unthreatening way, it was absorbing an exhaustive knowledge of him. It understood him before he even had a chance to blink.


    ¡°Not us, nor them. You are something else,¡± croaked a throaty voice as the raven took off into the trees. Its companions soon followed, having shredded the meat scraps into equal parts draped between their beaks.


    He opened the hatch and tested the first stair. A film of mold made the surface slippery, the wood warped and distended with rot. Treading lightly and carefully, he descended into the musty depths. The bottom landing opened into a vestibule with an entrance to a long, dark passageway on the far end. At the end was a door he had to squint to make out from the shadows. Specks of dust floated in what little light reached the space, clinging to cobwebs in the corners.


    Deventh stepped over a thin stream of water that flowed from the cracks in the wall, wondering whether he¡¯d come to the right place. Z¨¦ah had reassured him that some practitioners of her occupation preferred to live more hidden than others, but any confidence that she wouldn¡¯t lead him astray was long gone. After the dourling incident, anything was possible. The dense, moldy malodor thickened with each step, trapped and stewing in the narrow passage. It was enough to provoke a grimace under his mask.


    Stepping up to the door, he raised a loose fist but quickly drew it back. That polite instinct had nearly invited any eager warding effects to unleash themselves upon him. He waited instead.


    A faint, irregular shuffling preceded a hard thump against the door from the other side. The hinges rattled, then came the sound of mouth breathing.


    ¡°Mending of body.¡± A weak and warbling voice pierced the solid wood, as though lips were pressed directly against it.


    ¡°Soundness of mind,¡± Deventh answered. The door opened, revealing an adolescent boy of some combination between human and Dronvar. Moreover he was sickly and kyphotic, with sparse patches of hair and a crooked foot trailing behind him. A walking pity of a child ¨C born not only of half blood but with a thin and broken body. If he was lucky, he lived from birth here in the harborage, and if not, life on the outside would have been unimaginably cruel. Either way, his eyes had seen sorrow.


    ¡°The doctor is with a patient,¡± said the boy. ¡°Enter and wait, please.¡±


    As he entered, Deventh felt the dampness from the passageway evaporate. The harborage¡¯s interior was much more typical of a Mezthrin doctor¡¯s dwelling with its warm torchlight, botanical fragrances, and a comforting atmosphere despite the adjacency to death. Surely a place this hidden had seen much of it, but Harborers had their secret techniques, their ways of masking that distinct gravity.


    The boy led Deventh to a bench facing a short tea table and invited him to sit down. As he did, a wretched groan resounded from the threshold across the room. Deventh¡¯s eyes shot over to a thick, purple curtain hanging as a divider. The boy bowed his head, though it seemed more a gesture done in nervous avoidance of potential eye contact than a display of courtesy.


    ¡°The patient has taken a turn for the worse,¡± he said, and flinching he added, ¡°Apologies that you must wait.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble,¡± said Deventh. ¡°No patient is more important than the next.¡± The boy let his arms fall to his sides, but this was the extent of any relief in his demeanor. Still wary, he shuffled around, opening and closing drawers, pinching the buds of dried herbs. A desperate and obvious search for a means to occupy himself. A whistling kettle soon saved him, putting him to a meaningful task. He bumbled through the cupboard while Deventh was still fixed on the curtain, and he eventually made his way over with a tray full of rattling cups.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome to some tea if you¡¯d like,¡± he said as he set it down on the table. ¡°Green with toasted purple rice.¡±


    ¡°Interesting choice. Are you from the Gray?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The boy winced. ¡°I can get you something else if you¡¯d like.¡±


    ¡°This will do.¡±


    The boy said nothing as he lifted the teapot, starting with a steady pour into one of the cups. His whole body jolted suddenly and he lost his grip. The teapot tumbled to the floor, but not before hitting the lip of the tray and knocking over the cups. Boiling water splashed onto his clothes and, from how hard he bit his lip, scalded the skin beneath. Deventh jumped up to help, looking around for something to dry the spill.


    ¡°Please, you don¡¯t need to help,¡± said the boy. Pressing his fingertips into his brow, he groped around for a rag. ¡°Not this. Not again. Ugh¡ªexcuse me. Please, sit down and be comfortable. I¡¯ll have this fixed in a bormunk¡¯s whisker.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s you who ought to sit down, kh?utth. No sense in making servility your tomb.¡± The boy shrunk in confusion at his use of such a familiar term for addressing juniority. Deventh shook his head and removed his mask, setting it on the table as he let down his hood. He continued his search while the boy stood frozen in place.


    ¡°So you are Dronvari.¡±


    ¡°Aye.¡± Deventh¡¯s voice was trapped in a cupboard where he¡¯d stuck his head.


    ¡°I thought as much, but¡­ You haven¡¯t shown me a speck of cruelty. Back at home, I could only have wished to be ignored. If it wasn¡¯t disparaging words at the first greeting, then I¡¯d have been spat on, beaten down or pelted with rotten fruit.¡± He averted his gaze as Deventh returned to him and passed him a cloth. ¡°Thank you, tho-varo.¡±


    ¡°You can thank me by dropping formalities. How old are you?¡±


    ¡°Fifteen, th¡ªfifteen.¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯re old enough to learn this ¨C maybe even too old to be just learning it ¨C you¡¯ll never earn respect by acquiescing to cruelty. Nor will it keep you safe, no matter how far people try to wedge you into that comfortable corner. It¡¯s a trap to keep you complacent, keep you choosing to be their fool.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s easy for someone like you to say. Someone with a normal body.¡±


    ¡°Are you happy, then, with defeat? With designating yourself as lesser than others?¡±


    ¡°No. But the world hasn¡¯t offered me any other choice.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes options need to be created when you¡¯re not satisfied with what¡¯s on offer. Wielding the right weapon at least tends to make people think twice about their words and actions. Surely you¡¯re not incapable of that.¡±


    The boy resisted a smirk that pulled at the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°No one¡¯s ever called me kh?utth before. Just other things much less endearing. I did always envy those with older brothers.¡±


    Deventh shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t get wistful. You¡¯re not missing out.¡±


    The boy finished dabbing the moisture from his clothes and set the cups aside to dry off the tray. A brooding tension settled across his forehead, and he looked a great deal less pitiful, more contemplative. He lifted the tray and wiped the surface beneath it, a sudden heartiness in his movements.


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right about some things. I don¡¯t know who you are but¡­ Thank you for not treating me too much like a sick person.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± said Deventh. ¡°And don¡¯t worry about getting more tea.¡±


    The boy nodded, knees wobbling as he tried to reach the floor with his drying cloth. They gave out, though, and his elbows smacked the table, sending the dishes into a fit of clattering. Waving a hand, he clutched his dizzy head again.


    ¡°I¡¯m all right,¡± he said, ¡°Go away¡ªI mean¡ª"


    The curtain ruffled open with a heavy swoosh and a tall, burly man stepped out. A sleeveless robe bared broad shoulders and arms as thick as logs with a healthy, vibrant chestnut tone.


    ¡°Welcome, friend of Z¨¦ah,¡± he said, his striking citrine gaze surveying Deventh as he held the curtain aside, ¡°Do come in."

 15-2: The Harborer

    Deventh followed the Harborer down a short hallway. The curtain barrier had kept at bay a strong lavender smell tailed by the earthy crispness of thyme which intensified as they moved along. After passing by two rooms to their left, both with wide, curtained entryways, they reached the end of the hall, and at its head was the infirmary. The doctor entered first, holding the curtain aside to let his guest in.


    As Deventh stepped into the room, the first thing that took his attention was a bed along the far wall which rested a patient. He had seen Z¨¦ah prepare beds in a similar fashion, and only ever for the dying. The man lay swaddled in thick blankets, his forehead glistening with oils, and dried sprigs of the fragrant herbs were laid in the creases between frame and padding. On the table behind the bed stood a horizontal row of three black candles which were not yet lit. Final rites would be held soon. Deventh took care not to stare for too long, lest he provoke the Harborer superstition of watched souls delaying their departure like a stubborn pot refusing to boil.


    The remaining beds were vacant, and in many regards the space looked similar to Z¨¦ah¡¯s infirmary with warm lighting, ample floor space for easy movement, and herbs hanging from racks. The most prominent difference was the absence of a disarrayed worktable; this doctor¡¯s meticulousness seemed to match his stern countenance. He kept his worktable sparse, instead storing most of his medicines in a cupboard with glass panes.


    A somber scowl etched itself on the Harborer¡¯s face as he glimpsed the patient, a look of self-fault spiting his better wisdom. He stroked his beard, a trimmed and kempt cascade of black, clearing his throat as his focus shifted to Deventh.


    ¡°You¡¯ve come a long way from Grimros,¡± he said, ¡°I understand you are ailed and hope that traveling hasn¡¯t impacted your well-being.¡±


    ¡°Not in the least,¡± said Deventh. ¡°Quite the unique location for a harborage, beneath a butcher shop.¡±


    ¡°I see Z¨¦ah has let you get comfortable with making remarks about our conventions. Butchers have highly privileged privacy protections, as well as some tools that we happen to share. It is not so much a capricious arrangement as it is a practical one.¡± While his flat tone betrayed nothing, a sniffle emphasized his disparagement. ¡°Now, before we stray any further from purpose, I hear you bring an extract that might revitalize our ancient death care rituals.¡±


    Deventh produced a vial of paradise ivy extract from the pouch on his belt and proffered it to him. The doctor held it up to the light of the flame, twisting it between his fingers.


    ¡°It is as the texts describe, in a visual sense. This is no trivial matter, what Z¨¦ah has claimed on behalf of you and her. If this is true, then you take on a new obligation to our guild.¡±


    ¡°Of what sort?¡±


    ¡°Loyalty. Secrecy. Were you Mezthrin, your entwinement in our practice would be enough that we may have forced you to initiate.¡± He wandered over to his table and reached into a drawer to retrieve a tome with bent corners and frayed edges. The pages ruffled as he set it down with a muted thump.


    ¡°I believe neither of us would want the need to arise to hold council for the sake of nullifying your patient protections, so I hope we can keep this simple,¡± he continued. ¡°You will divulge your collection methods and locations, and you will study the distillation texts and provide your own notes from performing the process. You will then seek a Mezthrin scribe, a Juniper of Anhedell, and he will amend the master text. But before you do, I suggest checking your work as if your life depends on it.¡±


    ¡°It sounds as though it does,¡± said Deventh.


    ¡°It is good you understand we don¡¯t take these things lightly.¡± The doctor retrieved a loose sheet of paper from inside the book¡¯s cover and reached for a quill across the table. He wrote a note addressed to the mentioned Juniper and passed it to Deventh. ¡°Now, let us speak of your ailment. Z¨¦ah detailed some of your symptoms: insomnia, decreased appetite, headaches, memory lapses, catatonia, unconsciousness. All congruent with maladies of the brain ¨C but that¡¯s not where it ends, I understand.¡±


    ¡°That is the overview of things,¡± Deventh confirmed, ¡°The insomnia begets very little fatigue, and the loss of appetite is near total. Both catch up eventually, but sometimes not for weeks.¡±


    ¡°Indeed ¨C I had half expected to meet with a sunken-eyed ghoul. Under normal metabolic conditions, three seasons with minimal food and sleep would lead you to considerable wasting, if not your death bed, depending on the degree.¡±


    ¡°Aye. There is one recent occurrence as well, more severe than anything previous. Three days unconscious, complete cessation of all bodily function, save for shallow breathing and a faint heartbeat. Had I not been accompanied by a physician in training, I might have been buried alive.¡±


    ¡°That leaves less than a grain of sand¡¯s doubt, then, that you are suffering a magical affliction. Given that you¡¯ve exhausted Z¨¦ah¡¯s tests for corporeal ailments and most common types of magic, this must be a great deal rarer.¡± He tapped his chin. ¡°From what I hear, you have reservations about staying under observation?¡±


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    From the other room sounded shuffling feet and clinking cutlery. The doctor motioned dismissively and looked at Deventh, expecting an answer.


    ¡°Correct,¡± Deventh said, ¡°For no length of time can I take leave of my business.¡±


    ¡°Such luxuries that only the dead can afford. Best of luck with that investment. There is one more thing yet unaddressed ¨C Z¨¦ah mentioned it wasn¡¯t until the second octourne after you came to Nelthemar that you noticed your first symptoms. Before that, I assume, you were living in Drondaris?¡±


    ¡°That is correct.¡±


    ¡°And is there anywhere else you visited during your travels?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    The doctor narrowed his eyes. Lamplight flitted across them, catching as it would on facets of a citrine gemstone. ¡°Are you certain?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deventh said after a pause so short he could only hope it went undetected. At best, this was a test, and at worst, he was wise to his lie. ¡°It was no leisurely endeavor. I needed to make haste to Grimros.¡±


    The doctor tapped his foot, a slow, deliberate motion both contemplative and expectant.


    ¡°Very well. Whatever it is you¡¯re protecting, I hope for your sake you¡¯ve considered whether it¡¯s worth your life.¡±


    Again a clamor erupted from the next room, one that could only be dishes tumbling out of a cupboard. A floor-shaking impact, one more akin to a falling body, accompanied the shattering chaos. Then came wailing, and repeated thumping like that of fists on the ground.


    ¡°What is he? What is that man¡ªNO!"


    Deventh stepped forward, wanting to calm the aggrieved boy, but a raised arm at chest level stopped him.


    ¡°I will tend to the child,¡± the Harborer insisted. ¡°You have until I return to decide if you¡¯d like to remember the truth.¡±


    ¡°He is something¡­ Not like us. Not like¡ªSTOP¡­¡±


    The doctor hurried out, swishing the curtain shut as if to say do not follow me. The boy¡¯s cries turned to shrieking peppered with attempts at words, a writhing tongue forming mangled and unintelligible vocalizations. Soon Deventh heard the Harborer speaking to the boy in hushed tones, reducing the outcries to smoldering whimpers, but the quiet was not reassuring. A sense of danger prickled at the back of Deventh¡¯s neck, and he crept up to the curtain to get a better ear of what was happening.


    ¡°You serve him, then, that thing, that husk!?¡± the boy cried. Then came hurried footsteps, shards of broken ceramic dragging across the floor, the sound of bodies clashing. Deventh slid the curtain open and inched forward into the hallway, tiny bottles clacking together as he thumbed through his concoctions.


    ¡°Let me go!¡±


    ¡°Calm down, boy! Where did you get this strength?¡±


    On more than one occasion, Deventh had seen sudden feats of strength from the frail. The need to intervene was not beyond possibility. Speeding up to a brisk walk, he selected a tranquilizing drug from one pouch, retrieved a dart from another, and prepared the tip, all while the sounds of struggle continued to escalate.


    ¡°I warned you,¡± said the boy, ¡°Do not get in my way, do not!¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡± All the impassive monotony fled from the Harborer¡¯s voice at once. ¡°Put that¡ª"


    His command was cut short by gasping, gurgling, a heavy drop to the floor. The same prickling sensation radiated from Deventh¡¯s neck, now crawling over every inch of skin. Lumbering footsteps headed his way, thundering and shaking the floor. The curtain swung open to reveal the boy charging toward him, brandishing a bloody knife. As he closed in, he thrust the blade at Deventh.


    ¡°Ghoul! Hollow!¡± His voice cracked with all the zeal and conviction of a cleric banishing a demon. Deventh ducked to the side and grasped the knife-wielding wrist, digging two fingers into the soft spot between thumb and forefinger. The hand¡¯s grip slackened, and the knife fell to the floor.


    The boy broke free of Deventh¡¯s grasp and stumbled trying to reach down to reclaim his weapon; he may have found some strength and dexterity, but his crooked foot burdened his movement. Deventh kicked the knife across the floor, and it slid all the way back into the entry room. For a moment, the boy was stunned, and in spite of his hypnotized state seemed to calculate that turning his back to retrieve his weapon would not end well for him.


    He lunged forward instead, and Deventh jumped back before dipping into the adjacent bedroom which was furnished with little more than the necessities. On his way through the wide entryway, he gave the curtain a forceful tug, and down with it came the rod from which it hung. Sliding the curtain off, he wielded the rod horizontally ¨C a sturdy wooden shaft with rounded edges, good enough to fend off the stuporous attacker without hurting him beyond necessity.


    In one hand, the dart rested in the crook between his palm and fingers; he was saving it for a jab that wouldn¡¯t miss. Its point faced outward to prevent any punctures while the padding and friction of his glove kept his grip sure even as the rounded edges rolled against the curtain rod. Tightening his grip even more, he planted his feet firmly to brace for another incoming charge.


    Flailing arms lashed out at him. He held the rod at arm¡¯s length to intercept them. The boy lashed out lower, higher, to the left, then the right, each time blocked and shoved away. After failing a number of attempts to reach Deventh, he instead grabbed the rod from the other side and pushed back with all his might. They struggled for a bit until the boy took a misstep backward, his foot landing on the fallen curtain.


    That one slight slip was all Deventh needed to seize the advantage. He heaved a half-turn and pinned the boy against a dresser beside the bed. Swapping a hand for an elbow to leverage the bar, he readied the dart while dodging kicks and holding steady against squirming and writhing.


    The boy was finally losing some strength after a burst of testing his body¡¯s limits. Deventh managed to jab the point of the dart into his shoulder, successfully administering the tranquilizer. A pained shout in response to the puncture took him by surprise, and he faltered just long enough for the boy to deliver a mighty headbutt to his nose.


    Pain burst from the epicenter, fanning out over his face, and while Deventh sniffed up blood, the boy salvaged every last drop of his strength and yanked the rod out of his grip. He raised it over his shoulder, and Deventh staggered back as it came swinging down at him.


    A moment too late, it seemed. It was dark after that.

 15-3: Rescue

    ¡°Get up.¡± A boot nudged Deventh¡¯s side.


    The gruff, irritated voice belonged to Anna. She stared down at him, fists planted on her hips and fire burning in her eyes without a whit of sympathy. Deventh grunted, coughing up dust as he pushed himself up from the floor with quaking arms. Not fast enough for Anna, of course; rather than helping, she tapped her foot and repeated herself. He got up to his knees and rested his elbows on top of the bed beside him. Anna started in with a lecture, but Deventh was preoccupied with looking around and trying to squint away the slight blurring in his vision.


    ¡°This has gone on long enough, Deventh. You cannot travel alone anymore. You¡¯re not well and you¡¯re not taking it seri¡ªwhat are you looking for? Are you even listening?¡±


    ¡°The boy.¡± Deventh brought a hand to the crust of dried blood under his nose as he wobbled to his feet. ¡°And the doctor. Did you see anyone?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a dead man on the floor in the entry bathing in his own blood. Other than that, no, we¡¯ve gone no further than this room, if there is anyone else¡­ Did you say doctor?¡±


    ¡°Aye, came here to get another opinion. Among other business.¡±


    Anna pulled back the corners of a regretful frown. For once she seemed sorry for chastising him. Once he had his posture straight, she reached into her pocket and passed him a rag, earning a skeptical glare. ¡°It¡¯s clean,¡± she assured him.


    Deventh figured he ought to meet her in the middle with some explanation of what had transpired, and as he was recounting, wiping away the blood under his nose, two faces peeked into the room.


    ¡°Crazy old devil,¡± said Ardmy, stepping in with his arms crossed, ¡°If you were visiting a harborage, why didn¡¯t you just say so?¡±


    Jessa waited back in the hallway, leaning against the wall. From what he could see at a distance, Deventh picked out an unspecific intensity welling in her eyes, spilling over the blurred lines. He retracted his gaze, feeling as though he was being pulled down into the murky depths.


    ¡°How long have I been gone?¡± He changed the subject while Ardmy insisted on having a look at the bruising on his nose and forehead. He reached instinctively for his timekeeper, but the Gildvar was so uncomfortably close that his hands and face obstructed his view.


    ¡°Long enough,¡± said Anna. ¡°The three who stayed behind are getting everything ready. We should only be behind schedule by a couple of hours, granted that we found you alive.¡±


    All night, then. Deventh winced as Ardmy¡¯s fingertip pressed into a tender spot on his nose.


    ¡°Alive is more than you could have asked for.¡± Ardmy stepped back with a hand clasped around his wrist. ¡°If there¡¯s a fracture in your nose, it¡¯s mild enough that it should heal without intervention. And that bump on your forehead¡­ Well, from the looks of it, you¡¯re feeling that, too.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve felt worse.¡± But he hadn¡¯t in a long time. If Ardmy was right about his nose, it was no contender for his greatest discomfort. Not against a spinning, aching head and surges of nausea that weakened his knees. The worst of it, though, was that far-off feeling, as if his mind was trying to split away from him. He usually felt rejuvenated after his episodes, but this was the first time one had been accompanied by a concussion.


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


    Then he remembered the doctor¡¯s other patient, and the note he was charged with bringing to the scribe. The thought of the boy still being there crossed his mind, too, hiding in another room. ¡°One last thing before we go.¡±


    He led them to the back room, keeping himself rigid even as the floor swayed beneath his feet. His vision was even blurrier now, but he stayed focused on the shape of the doorway at the end of the hall. When they approached the threshold, he held up a hand to signal the others to wait, then peeled the curtain back. The room looked just as it was left, including the bed along the far wall where the swaddled patient hadn¡¯t moved.


    With Anna close behind, he stepped in and strode toward the table where the doctor left his note. Anna approached the bed, her shoulders sagging after a brief inspection.


    ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± Her frown deepened against her profile when she turned her head to the candles left unlit. She knelt beside the bed, a grimace betraying the pain in her knees. Resting her hands on the frame a shoulder¡¯s width apart, she lowered her head and gave a quick, silent prayer.


    ¡°Denied his final rites.¡± Deventh folded the note to Juniper in half, then in quarters, and slid it into his pocket. ¡°At least he¡¯s not Mezthrin.¡±


    Anna raised her head and relaxed her arms but stayed kneeling. ¡°I know we¡¯re late for our departure, but the thought of leaving the bodies here doesn¡¯t sit right with me. What should we do?¡±


    ¡°There is a butcher shop right above our heads.¡±


    ¡°Is this really the time for your jokes, Deventh?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not entirely a joke.¡± Deventh met Anna at the bedside of the deceased man. He bowed his head, however little and late an offer of respect it was. ¡°A report of two deaths is likely to be better received from the city¡¯s trusty butcher than a couple of strangers passing through. Eliminates a troublesome bout of questioning, and while we¡¯re at it we might ask whether he¡¯s seen the runaway child.¡±


    ¡°What does it matter if he¡¯s seen the child? Are you planning to chase him down?¡±


    Deventh shrugged. ¡°If he¡¯s within reach.¡±


    ¡°Why? To take revenge? Who¡¯s to say he won¡¯t go off on another rampage? You got away with your life. Forget the child.¡±


    ¡°Revenge?¡± Deventh chuckled at the absurdity of the thought, then held his breath through the resulting wave of nausea before continuing. ¡°Trying not to hurt him was the entire reason I ended up in this state. No, what I¡¯m after is answers. The ramblings, the unbridled strength¡­ It was like something had taken over him. Maybe it¡¯s sheer madness, maybe it¡¯s more.¡±


    ¡°This is an awful lot of speculation to act upon.¡±


    ¡°It certainly is,¡± Deventh admitted. All this time spent grasping for a medical explanation, and still he turned up nothing while his condition spiraled beyond control. The stare of the raven perched upon the fencepost, and the possessed shouts of a sickly young boy ¨C given the fruitlessness of his efforts, such omens seemed saner leads to follow than any doctor¡¯s advice. ¡°But where have the paths of logic and sensibility led thus far? Only to dead ends.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m concerned with how hard that boy may have hit your head.¡± Anna pressed her weight into her hands and stood, turning to face Deventh. She caught sight of Ardmy and Jessa, both of whom had been standing quietly by the doorway, posted at each side and observing the conversation. ¡°Now, two deaths are no small matter. Should I trust you have a plan to win favor with the butcher?¡±


    ¡°If talking to him and probing for an opportunity is a plan.¡±


    ¡°Very well. I suppose I can¡¯t expect you to have all the ideas in the world if someone¡¯s beaten them out of you with a curtain rod. If that¡¯s all we have, then that¡¯s all we have.¡±


    Patting Deventh on the shoulder, she started for the exit. As he turned around to follow, Jessa¡¯s lost stare once again filled his vision, but only for a brief moment before she pivoted and left the room.

 15-4: Butcher Shop

    It was early enough that when they climbed out from the hatch, the blue-tinged morning light was easy on Deventh¡¯s eyes. Through the gate and around the building, the butcher shop door stood propped open with a bucket of salt. It appeared they were the first to enter for the day while the butcher was hard at work, brows taut with unwavering focus as he sawed out a ham. Behind him, the other half of the pig¡¯s carcass spun slowly on a hook. It made Deventh dizzy watching it. His nose, too, fell victim to the onslaught of every spice imaginable, which caused his stomach to turn.


    The butcher separated the thigh from the carcass and sliced off a chunk of bone before setting it down. Looking up from his block, he cared little to hide his contemptuous glare. It became clear he had been aware of the group¡¯s presence all along and had no choice left but to acknowledge them.


    ¡°You lot from outta town?¡± He swiped away the sweat from his upper lip with one knuckle, eyeing each of them up and down.


    ¡°Yes, that we are.¡± Anna trotted up to the counter to browse, but there was little stock prepared for the day; some lard and offcuts, a few sacks of jerky, and a ring of smoked sausage links.


    ¡°That explains why you¡¯re wandering in here like a bunch of whelps who¡¯ve lost their ma. Shop ain¡¯t open yet.¡±


    The Helbrund cleared her throat into a curled hand. Deventh sensed she wanted him to intervene, but in his dazed condition he was more apt to worsen the situation. He couldn¡¯t risk another blow to the head if he misspoke. Anna appeared to have arrived at the same conclusion; she shook the tension from her arms and pressed on with whatever scrapings of a response she could salvage.


    ¡°My apologies for our intrusion, then. The door was open.¡±


    ¡°And what? The smoker¡¯s outside, you expectin¡¯ me to fuss with a door all morning?¡±


    ¡°What a shame,¡± Ardmy chimed in, ¡°It is often said that a city¡¯s butcher is its measure of prestige. We were set to leave for Pareltolle this morning, but I told my cohorts it would be a great sorrow to leave without some of your smoked bacon. I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s the best in Nelthemar.¡±


    ¡°Haeva¡¯s flat floppin¡¯ tits, you¡¯d put the royal court to shame with that pretentious blithering.¡± The butcher wiped his hands on his apron where his round belly sloped. ¡°Fine. Long as you¡¯ve got coin, I don¡¯t care how exhausting you are to listen to. Lucky for you, I¡¯ve got a batch about to be ready. Pay up now and wait outside.¡±


    They met at the counter, and when the butcher named his price, Ardmy went pale as chalked parchment. No doubt he¡¯d been given the special price for unwitting tourists. He looked to Deventh for reassurance and received it in the form of a glare that urged him not to haggle. Every drop of favor counted. Ardmy handed over his coins, swallowing hard to cope with the exorbitant loss. Feet dragging, he joined the others to wait outside the shop.


    Anna stepped out from beneath the awning and stretched her limbs. Joints popped from her shoulders to her knees as she unleashed a relieved yawn.


    ¡°Who knew we had another resident windbag? Thank you, Ardmy. We¡¯ll be sure to compensate you for that ghastly price.¡±


    ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t going to ask, but that would not go unappreciated. What¡¯s important is he has our money and we have his attention. Hopefully that will be all we need.¡±


    Minutes later, the butcher hobbled out through the doorway. His presence snuffed out an idle conversation about healing techniques that sparked between Anna and Ardmy in the meantime. He walked past them and rounded the corner on the opposite side of the building from where they came. When he returned, he approached Ardmy and handed him a bundle wrapped in oiled parchment and secured with twine. He cradled at least a dozen others in his arms and had a hurried manner about him.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Ardmy¡¯s words of gratitude fell flat as the ornery man ignored him to return to his shop. He and Anna exchanged glances, Jessa rolled her eyes. None said a word; they were letting him get away.


    ¡°There¡¯s been an incident you ought to hear about,¡± Deventh intervened, stopping the butcher in his tracks just before he stepped through the doorway. ¡°Underground. The doctor¡¯s chamber. We should speak somewhere a bit more private than your shopfront.¡±


    ¡°Only now one of you grows a spine.¡± The bundles in the butcher¡¯s arms crinkled as he shrugged to adjust them. ¡°Knew somethin¡¯ was up when I caught that lad sneakin¡¯ about. Gonna put the merchandise down. Meet me ¡®round back. You know where, seein¡¯ as you came from there.¡± On his way in, he nudged the salt bucket with his foot to let the door swing shut behind him.


    Deventh and the others waited in the fenced area for a spell until the butcher, looking a touch less irritable, joined them. He stood in the open gateway, leaving an opening for himself to escape, and faced them with his arms crossed over his chest. A knife hung from a loop in his apron. It was not there before.


    ¡°Talk.¡±


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    Deventh nodded, holding his forehead while he gathered his thoughts. It felt as though they¡¯d spill out if he didn¡¯t. Rubbing his brow before he began, he told of the rampage, the doctor¡¯s fate, and the state in which the others had found him. He thought it best to omit the detail where the boy was after him in particular. A few nostril flares and eye bulges throughout his retelling signaled that the butcher was more than familiar with the child. There was a short silence, but he seemed to believe Deventh¡¯s story.


    ¡°Always knew there was somethin¡¯ wrong with that lad.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Regular customer o¡¯ mine, ran errands for the doctor. Got a soft spot for the infirm, I have, so I helped out any way I could. But the boy was always mutterin¡¯ to himself. Rattled me a mite.¡±


    ¡°Did you happen to see him last night? Early this morning?¡±


    ¡°No. Thought I may have heard some thumpin¡¯ around, but I¡¯ve been havin¡¯ dreams lately and put it down to that. Wasn¡¯t ¡®til I woke up an¡¯ found a note that I realized he made off with three sacks of dried beef.¡±


    Perhaps that was the reason for the steep price on Ardmy¡¯s purchase, as well as his sour mood, but Deventh thought better of calling it out. It took all the focus he could muster not to lose his place in the conversation; he hoped Anna and Ardmy were absorbing the details. He was fading fast and there was no telling how much he¡¯d remember later.


    ¡°Do you still have that note?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡± He produced the note from a pocket on his apron and handed it over. Deventh squinted to focus on the words, but they slipped away, blurring and sliding over each other every time his eyes centered on them. Anna leaned forward with her fingers laced together to read over his shoulder.


    ¡°I am sorry, good butcher. I must leave on a long errand and I cannot spare any coin. I solemnly apologize and promise I will never wrong you as such again. Sincerely, Rhov¡­ What¡¯s this crossed out here?¡± She took the note from Deventh¡¯s hands and held it close to her face to decipher the scrawl. ¡°Demons. False gods. I must go to Utel.¡±


    Utel. The name echoed through Deventh¡¯s head, expanding in his skull until the pressure left him immobilized. Blinding stars flashed and swirled in his vision, the calls of ravens muffled in his ringing ears. In his moment of lost control, withdrawn from his surroundings, he didn¡¯t realize he¡¯d spoken the thought aloud.


    ¡°Aye,¡± said the butcher. ¡°There¡¯s always some lunatic babbling about one ancient site or another in big cities like this. Makes people sick in the mind, it does. Can¡¯t help feelin¡¯ sorry for the lad, in a strange way.¡±


    ¡°He killed a man.¡± Anna resisted a reflex to clench her fist and crumple the note. ¡°Nearly two. And he caused the passing of another to go unguided. Perhaps that is not his nature in lucidity, but some instinct in me, however base it feels, makes it difficult for me to find sorrow. I worry only for the bodies left behind. How will they be handled?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t mean to hit a nerve.¡± The butcher threaded his thumbs through his apron loops. ¡°Listen, I know what you¡¯re jabbin¡¯ at. In any normal town, it wouldn¡¯t look good on you to report this, aye? Best to ask the man whose business is the lifeblood of the people, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡­ was our thought, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Well, unfortunately for me, you were damned right about that. I¡¯m not keen on moving the carcasses of anything other than animals, and equally I¡¯m not keen to play host to two rotting bodies in my shop basement. Neither¡¯s good for business. Those birds have probably already seen enough to start piecing things together, but they can¡¯t act unless I say somethin¡¯. My privacy protections have been more of a curse than a privilege in two hands¡¯ worth of ways so far, but this seals it. So if you¡¯re fussed about them being taken care of, then it¡¯s good you¡¯ve left me with no choice by telling me about it.¡±


    A swath of ravens flew overhead in a peculiar formation of three perfect parallel lines. One bird at the lead of its line turned its gaze down at them but did not descend.


    ¡°Does that mean they¡¯ve seen the murder? The theft? And they just¡­ Won¡¯t do anything unless you say so?¡± The abhorrence of the thought brought a sneer to Anna¡¯s face.


    ¡°The theft, maybe they saw that. The murder, no. They¡¯ve been wise to the harborage for decades, and they could even dispel the wards on the door and lead a raid if it suits me ¨C or Lord DeBastard¡¯s agenda, of course. But thankfully, they haven¡¯t got eyes that can pierce the ground yet. Whatever they¡¯ve seen or haven¡¯t, the thing that¡¯s certain is they can catch whiffs of shite and follow them to its maker. Anything that looks odd, they chase it. A sickly halfthrin boy like Rhov, muttering and stumblin¡¯ about in a hurry, even strangers like yourselves comin¡¯ into the city, they know where you came from and where you¡¯re staying. Or hiding. You heard me right, though. They won¡¯t take action unless I ask.¡±


    ¡°And when they find Rhov, would we be able to speak with him?¡± asked Deventh.


    ¡°Perhaps, if they find him. He seems smart enough to hide somewhere out of town ¨C maybe not Utel, but not here. In either case, I can tell you¡¯re fucked up halfway to Dronthod, and it can¡¯t feel too good to be bested by a crippled boy, so I¡¯ll give you my advice. Leave him be and count your life as a consolation prize. The rest will be handled.¡±


    Deventh gritted his teeth so hard his eye sockets ached. His motive in asking did come off as pathetic without the one detail he couldn¡¯t spare. It was already becoming harder to think, and he felt an invisible wall rising from the ground to encircle him. He''d reached his limit. Anna gave him a worried glance and tried to expedite the conversation¡¯s end.


    ¡°Is there anything we can do for your trouble?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Why, when your friend¡¯s already paid for it?¡± The butcher smirked, and Ardmy¡¯s face flushed. ¡°If you really wanna help, let me open shop for the day, head on to Pareltolle as you were doin¡¯. And if you find yourself in Ravengarde needin¡¯ to have a near-death experience again, try the baker¡¯s shop instead.¡±


    ¡°Will do.¡± Anna¡¯s voice doubled. So did her body, and so did everything else. Deventh¡¯s knees buckled. He failed to catch himself and fell forward onto Anna¡¯s outstretched arm. Ardmy helped him upright and acted as a crutch on one side. Anna did the same on the other using only her hooked arm. Both were saying something and carrying him somewhere, but the world was reduced to globules of intermixing colors, and their voices to whispers across a ravine.

 16-1: Sea-Swallowed

    A wet, chilling wind blew in from the restless sea. The rolling waves grew more agitated by the minute, sheets of foam hissing louder each time they struck the shore. Sthrena had just finished gathering her ritual items and carried them across the room in a wooden box. She stopped and stared through the window above her altar, where the world outside was cast in a grayish green. Her hands shook with uncertainty as she reached into the box and placed an aquamarine crystal atop the purple linen runner.


    As hard as it was to ignore the worsening conditions outside, the equal discomfort of feeling useless simmered under Jovar¡¯s skin as he sat in idle silence on the bed. He had no experience in witchcraft, never so much as opened a single book on its elements. Some fields of magic reprehended even the suggestion of offering help to practitioners, and he had no way of knowing whether hers fell under that category. Sitting, watching, staying out of trouble ¨C since his exile, those were the principles he knew best.


    ¡°You don¡¯t talk much, do you, dathei?¡± Sthrena kneeled on the floor and set the box down beside her. Jovar¡¯s heart skipped a beat at her question. She picked out a wax-sealed jar of what he assumed were dried herbs. They all looked like shriveled weeds to him, but everything she kept had a purpose. Fingers curled around the jar, she closed her eyes. A faint white glow traced the lines of sprigs and the veins of leaves. When she opened her eyes, it faded.


    ¡°Not particularly,¡± Jovar answered. He cleared his throat, realizing how that may have sounded. ¡°I mean, I didn¡¯t want to disturb you.¡±


    Sthrena laughed. Her smile outshined the worry that wilted her face, wrinkling the bridge of her pointed nose. After setting the jar beside the crystal, she twisted a candlestick into a brass holder.


    ¡°How long have you lived at the mercy of a thrinari master? And before that, how long were you subjected to all the titles and proprieties and frivolities of our way of life? You can speak freely with me, Zhovar. You are my equal.¡±


    ¡°I¡ªyes. Of course.¡± Jovar was never good at conversation, but perhaps she recognized that. The space between them became calmer in an instant. She placed the candle on the altar, clear of the runner, and pressed the tip of her finger to the wick. Once it caught fire, she drew back and sat herself cross-legged. She spun herself a quarter turn to face him.


    ¡°This could be my last night living here.¡± Sthrena looked down, crossing her thumbs over each other. ¡°Your Maestus will be held to his word of rebuilding, but¡­ These walls, these planks, they¡¯ve borne witness to so much of my life. So much love and joy and grief and despair. They¡¯ve endured all of it, are drenched to the core in it, and if not tonight, it¡¯s only a matter of time before it''s all washed away.¡±


    The more she spoke, the less he knew what to say. The last time anyone had confided in him to any extent was far beyond his memory, if it had ever happened at all. They¡¯d met mere hours ago, yet she insisted on calling him dathei and treating him like a longtime friend.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± said Sthrena, trying to keep her smile as it faded, ¡°V¡¯thron will do what is most fit for the seas. Sometimes he is too generous, and she must be cruel; other times she is ruthless, and he must be merciful. My home encroaches on theirs, and so whatever their judgment, I will be grateful to have lived here so close to them.¡±


    Still Jovar said nothing. He knew nothing of the figures she described, nothing of her way of life. It was clear by her expectant pauses that she wanted him to speak, but he wouldn¡¯t know where to begin. Not without risking any inadvertent insults or other blunders just as humiliating. Sthrena studied his face, not relenting even when he averted his gaze.


    ¡°Your eyes burn with curiosity, but you are still afraid to speak.¡± She climbed onto the bed and sat beside him. ¡°I know that is what the thrinari do to the minds of those unlike them, but I don¡¯t often have company these days, and one last conversation with some authenticity would do this place honor.¡±


    Jovar shifted in his spot and ran his fingers through his hair. Over the hours spent in the salt air, it had gotten waxier and more clumped. It was frizzled, unruly, and it made his scalp itch. On her, though, the very same looked beautiful and free.


    ¡°Your belongings are still here,¡± he said, ¡°If the storm stands to destroy your home, why haven¡¯t you moved them for safekeeping?¡±


    ¡°I have no possessions that I wouldn¡¯t sacrifice to V¡¯thron,¡± she said. ¡°Everything I own is an offering. In fact, I would offer myself, but that does not sate my family¡¯s monster.¡±


    ¡°You owe a debt?¡±


    ¡°My mother did. And my sister, Gira, whom you met earlier, is only a few years my junior. It would be cruel of me to pass on that burden.¡±


    Rain patted against the roof. The wind picked up and the sky grew darker. Sthrena took a deep breath. The storm was marching in, but she didn¡¯t want to end the conversation just yet.


    ¡°What got you exiled? Was it the necromancy?¡±


    Jovar¡¯s stomach turned. He was hoping the subject wouldn¡¯t come up. It wouldn¡¯t be fully a lie if he answered yes, but it wouldn¡¯t be the complete truth, either. The last thing he wanted to do was lie to someone who had been so genuine, but there was no way he could tell her everything.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he answered, and did not elaborate. Sthrena narrowed her eyes, looking him up and down, but she didn¡¯t press for details. Her lips twisted, warring with words she wanted to say while the storm swirled around them and demanded her diligence. Surrendering to it, she stretched out a hand toward him with her palm upturned.


    ¡°Give me your hand,¡± she ordered, and he obliged. Her skin was soft, if a bit clammy, but he found himself savoring the warmth of it. Giving a slight squeeze, she voiced a plea to her gods ¨C or whatever they were.


    ¡°A woman the tempest, a man the temperate. When we one day return to the sea, let us become part of your likeness.¡± The wind howled, lobbing huge raindrops against the exterior. The floor jolted beneath them. Sthrena¡¯s face turned to stone as she stared forward, moving on with the rest of her prayer. ¡°But tonight, grant us mercy. Imthron, quell the tempest, soothe her anguish. Vithra, let your maelstrom heart be stilled.¡±


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    The roar of wind and rain enclosed them. Sthrena remained steadfast, mouthing her prayers to herself; or she may have been whispering, but every second the storm grew louder until it overcame every other sound. Jovar wondered how long they¡¯d have to endure before she saw fit to try and escape with their lives.


    Blinding light flashed through the window. Thunder rumbled and shook the floor again, this time long enough that it almost felt like an earthquake. Then came the sound of breakage, like wood snapping, and something slammed on the wall outside. All was still for a moment, and then creaking and cracking sounded from beneath the floor. Sthrena squeezed his hand harder, her lips moving faster as a teardrop cut a path between the freckles of her cheek.


    ¡°We need to get out of here,¡± said Jovar, slinging his pack over his shoulder as the world tilted away from them. He stood and gave her a gentle pull, but she still sat praying. A crack on the joint of the opposite wall started gushing water. With the support posts already giving way, it was only a matter of time before the pressure would bore a hole.


    Roof spars snapped, sending a mound of loose thatch down into the room. Rain poured in through the opening and accelerated the flooding. More and more, the feeble little shack sagged into the water. Jovar¡¯s heart pounded.


    ¡°Yi-va¡ªSthrena.¡± Jovar choked on her name. He was hardly sure of his worthiness to speak it. ¡°It¡¯s lost. We should go to safety.¡±


    Sthrena blinked fast a few times, then bit her lip and shuddered. She nodded, letting him lead her with their hands still cupped together. As they started for the door, the shattering of glass and an ear-splitting cacophony of sounds burst from behind them. She looked over her shoulder and gasped; the window and her altar were destroyed. Jovar could feel that he was tearing her away from everything she ever knew as he gave her hand another gentle tug.


    He opened the door, and the wind grabbed it and slammed it against the wall. They stepped out onto the deck, hopping over the gaps where planks were missing. Sthrena faltered on one of her landings and nearly fell through, but Jovar¡¯s grip saved her.


    ¡°Vrok,¡± she swore, wrapping her arm around his and holding on tight. ¡°I knew that one was rotting for some time.¡±


    By the time they reached the beach, their hair and clothes were already soaked through. Jovar shielded his eyes and scanned along the cliffside, then looked to the spot where Sthrena¡¯s raft had been moored. It was gone. What was left of it wouldn¡¯t take them anywhere. They wouldn¡¯t make it to the Noth Dozrin hideaway.


    ¡°I know a place,¡± Sthrena shouted over the whistling wind. She pointed to the rock arch about fifty yards to their left. ¡°Just beyond there. Let¡¯s hurry.¡±


    Debris swirled in the wind as they trudged their way across the beach. Jovar directed them clear of it each time it neared. The wet sand hampered their footing and slowed their progression, but they made it to the arch and took a brief respite under it. Sthrena held herself in a hug, shivering as she looked back at her home.


    The shack was teetering on its last posts, its walls bending under their own weight. It leaned with one edge dipped into the water as if it were testing it before it dove in. Lightning flashed again. The bolt touched down and pierced what remained of the roof. It left behind a gaping hole that burned for a moment until the structure folded and collapsed with a drawn-out groan, tumbling into the sea. The waves washed over it, swallowing everything.


    She stared, frozen but for a slight swaying, lips parted with no expression. No words found her. It didn¡¯t look like she was even breathing at all. Jovar thought the wind might topple her over. She shivered again, holding herself as she turned to face him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Her lips formed the words, but she didn¡¯t speak loudly enough for her voice to carry. She stepped out from the cover of the arch and waited for Jovar to join her. Staying close to the rocky cliffside for shelter under the overhang, they moved on toward whatever place it was that Sthrena knew.


    The cold was setting in for Jovar as well. His clothes were sodden, and the further they walked the more sand clung to them until it gritted against the goosebumps on his arms. Waxy, clumped-together hair was luxurious compared to this.


    After some distance, the cliff face curved inward, further from the waves. Sthrena slowed down as she continued along the curve, the slight turn of her body and tilt of her head indicating she was looking for something. They must have been close.


    ¡°Here we are,¡± she said after a short distance more. A protrusion of rock jutted out at waist level, and beneath it the wall opened into a cave. Sthrena ducked into it, turning around to beckon him in. Another test of discomfort ¨C he hated constrictive spaces, but there was no choosing where to stay for the night.


    The space was little more than a small alcove, but it did open up to standing height. He had no lantern to ease the darkness, but Sthrena already thought ahead of him. The same as earlier that day, she held her bottle pendant to her lips and spoke a short spell.


    ¡°Ularine vro-thados.¡± A soothing, dim light bathed the space in seconds, but there was little to see. A sea-sprayed dirt floor with pebbles and sand scattered over it, some larger rocks here and there. Sthrena removed the pendant from her neck and placed it in a recess on the wall.


    Jovar set down his bag and checked on his belongings. To his dismay but not surprise, everything was either damp or soaked through. He set clothing aside in a heap and took out his rolled wool blanket. Wet splotches had leaked from the surrounding items, but it was still usable. Sthrena came and sat beside him, letting out a shivering sigh. Her teeth chattered.


    ¡°Here.¡± Jovar passed her the blanket. He tried to avoid her gaze, but her scarlet eyes captured him. Tears glazed the surface of them but did not fall. Wrapping the blanket around her shoulders, she managed a distorted smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re different from the timid little twinemouse I met earlier, dathei. Still sweet, that is certain, but when it comes to it, you¡¯re capable.¡±


    He had thought anyone would be capable when survival depended on it. His only thought was for the two of them to escape alive, but he now realized it was a strange thought; he wasn¡¯t used to caring about anyone but himself. Perhaps in the moment, something did change in him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about your home,¡± Jovar muttered. He blinked, realizing what he said and wondering what had come over him.


    ¡°Please, Zhovar.¡± The tears escaped and ran down her face. She brushed a rain-soaked lock of hair behind her ear. ¡°V¡¯thron has made judgment, and we are alive. New things and new memories will come. We could even start now.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    Sthrena smiled, shaking her head. She grasped the corners of the blanket and wrapped him in it with her, pulling him into an embrace, and then a kiss. His breath vanished, his arms stiff and lost. He eased back into himself, finding her waist with his hands. Her skin was cold, but the warmth of her lips and her tongue melted him like a balmy spring sunrise after an arduous winter.


    Never in his life had Jovar known his desires reciprocated. Even as she unfastened the buckle of his belt and the button of his trousers, he kept denying to himself that any of this was real. He found the loose end of her top and untied it. It unraveled and fell to the ground as she helped him out of his shirt.


    She broke away from him for a moment to set the blanket flat on the ground behind him, then pulled him back into a tighter embrace. Their bodies pressed together, she laid him down. Pebbles and sand grated his skin through the thin layer of the blanket, but all his peeves in the world all at once couldn¡¯t spoil the moment, couldn¡¯t make him want her any less.


    For the time being, there was nothing beyond the two of them. Despite how the storm raged outside their shelter with no sign of letting up, their thoughts were as distant as the sea-swallowed shack.

 16-2: The Fledgling

    The screeching of metal startled awake the young woman inside the cell. Rubbing the blur from her eyes, she turned her head, heavy as if filled with concrete, to the source of the noise. A woman, an understated beauty neither fresh-faced nor older than thirty or so in appearance, stood in the gap of the iron gate. An oversized robe concealed her figure, and her lips were rouged to the same intensity as her irises. She recognized this woman, but only on a visceral level as someone who had come to feed her ¨C like livestock recognizing its owner.


    ¡°He was right,¡± the woman whispered, bringing a hand to her mouth with a slight gasp. ¡°You¡¯ve awakened now, truly.¡±


    Corner to corner, with dry, stinging eyes, the prisoner scanned every inch of the cell. A vague sense of unease twisted her stomach. She had suffered here. As for how, or why, she couldn¡¯t remember, and any guesses were beyond her imagination.


    The robed woman approached, her skirt whisking up motes that shimmered as if materializing at the feet of a goddess. She sat facing the prisoner, brows soft and slightly raised, lips both pursed and parted. As she lowered her hood, the scent of patchouli wafted from her hair, a hint of vanilla following. The young woman drew back, hugging her knees. She shuddered as the empty, hollow feeling in her stomach intensified.


    ¡°You¡¯re safe here,¡± the robed woman promised. ¡°Do you remember anything?¡±


    Her throat was too dry to speak. She tried to think back and pull a single memory from somewhere, but there was nothing, not even her own name. Shaking her head, she held a hand up in a spot of lamplight. Purplish veins bulged beneath a surface of translucent white skin, tracing paths to each bony, knobby-knuckled finger. Her stomach was wringing itself out now; she doubled over, trying not to heave.


    The vague flashes of agony, the loss of all memory, the ethereal, nurturing figure belying any emotion with soothing words ¨C all of it was enough to make her consider she was dead. The only thing that suggested the contrary was the gnawing, agonizing hunger. She pounded her fists on the ground, crying out in both pain and distress as her thoughts spiraled.


    A gentle squeeze on her shoulder brought her back, eased the pain. For some reason, that touch was a familiarity in a complete void of memory. It made her feel safe.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, fledgling.¡± The robed woman¡¯s voice was soft and pacifying even as she delivered such grave news. As the corners of her mouth turned upward, they revealed a pair of sharp canines. ¡°You¡¯ll start to feel more like yourself soon, maybe even more so than you¡¯ve ever been able to feel.¡±


    ¡°More like myself? And who am I?¡± More rasp than voice came out. It prickled her throat and made her cough. She covered her mouth, in part to hide that she was testing a light bite of her lip, and discovered her own pair of sharp teeth.


    Fledgling. I¡¯m one of those things. So is she. What is it they¡¯re called¡­?


    ¡°You are someone who made a great sacrifice for someone she loved,¡± the woman answered. ¡°That is all I can tell you for now, to avoid any further shock before your body and mind are prepared to handle it. The rest will come back to you, including your name. Slowly, but most assuredly.¡±


    ¡°Slowly? How long? Days? Years?¡±


    ¡°Certainly not years, so please take that as a piece of solace. Lord Cedric will explain everything. I¡¯m here to get you bathed and clothed to present to him, since finally it seems you¡¯re stable.¡±


    ¡°All right, I suppose.¡± The fledgling clutched her abdomen. The pangs were back, albeit less intense. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    ¡°That is no surprise. You¡¯ve been ravenous from the moment you changed. Noisy, as well, with your strange little grunts. I¡¯ve quite enjoyed looking after you, a great deal more than any others, I might even say. Oh, but my apologies, here I am reminiscing already. We¡¯ll see to it that you¡¯re fed¡­ after your meeting.¡± She stood, brushing off her robe, and offered a hand.


    Stiff legs made for great difficulty in the task of standing. The fledgling found herself wondering when the last time was that she used them. She angled her arms out at her sides and flexed her calves to raise herself onto her toes a couple of times, then rolled back onto her heels. Her guardian kept both hands hovering over her shoulders as she took her first steps. They walked out of the cell, arms locked together for safety.


    ¡°Can I at least know your name, since you¡¯ve been taking care of me this whole time?¡± asked the fledgling. A sudden stop caused her to lurch forward, but the strength of a guiding arm helped to right her.


    ¡°I suppose it can¡¯t hurt,¡± answered the guardian, staring down at the floor. ¡°I¡¯m Sylvestra.¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°No, sorry, it¡¯s¡­ nothing.¡± Sylvestra shook her head, dispelling the fog apparent in her eyes, and continued moving forward. ¡°I¡¯m just flattered you cared to ask.¡±


    Their conversation fell flat after the exchange; the fledgling was speechless as she took in her surroundings. Along the walls were more cells, with others locked up just as she was. Thin and pale, their hair sparse if they had any, most did nothing but sit limply with far-off stares. One was eyeing the two of them as they passed by, hunched over two hands holding a rabbit. Blood dripped from his mouth and between his fingers, forming a pool on the floor that glistened in the lamplight.


    Do I look like them? The fledgling reached a hand up to the top of her head. Thin, brittle hairs snapped in her grasp. She let go of them and pressed her fingers against her cheeks, which she found to be hollow and gaunt. Sylvestra chuckled.


    ¡°You¡¯re one of the prettier ones. And even if you weren¡¯t, it¡¯s only temporary. You¡¯ll look like yourself again, only better.¡±


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    She wondered if Sylvestra realized how little looking like herself meant to her. She wondered whether she¡¯d recognize her own face at all if she saw it. For now, it was nothing more than a blank silhouette in the eye of her mind.


    They soon reached a door where a lantern hung from a hook. Sylvestra reached up and took it by the handle. She led the fledgling through, and they walked in silence down a long, decrepit corridor riddled with spiderwebs and cracked mortar. After what felt like a mile, they made a turn and came to a stairwell.


    The fledgling plodded up the stairs while Sylvestra did her best to guide her. The weakness in her limbs, despite being unaccompanied by any pain, made the task feel akin to climbing a mountain. Her mind wandered, now curious to know whether she ever had climbed a mountain in her previous life.


    At the top of the stairs, Sylvestra opened another door and extinguished her lantern, then hung it on its hook. The next corridor was much more amicable and well lit, with no apparent structural troubles or uninvited, eight-legged tenants. They came upon an alcove fitted with a carved marble inset, and the fledgling stopped to admire it.


    Flawless figures of men and women played out a vibrant, mirthful scene in front of her, moving as if enchanted. Some danced, coattails flowing and skirts billowing. Others sat on luxurious, padded chairs to watch the spectacle, raising goblets, applauding, leaning in to whisper among each other. A pair shared a kiss, entangled in each other¡¯s arms.


    Sylvestra stood beside her ward and took in the image as well. She clasped her hands together.


    ¡°That¡¯s the celebration of Libereath. Our kind used to be hunted and executed throughout Nelthemar, but after a great effort from Lord Vildeson, who came before Lord Cedric, we were granted amnesty. That is, on the condition that we would isolate ourselves from cities. Once our sanctuary was founded here, they celebrated in this fashion for three whole months.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± the fledgling remarked. Sylvestra nodded, and a hint of wistfulness trickled into her voice as she continued.


    ¡°Yes. For a time, we had an artist in our midst. Of course, we all have an eternity to cultivate any skill we¡¯d like, in a technical sense, but Lord Cedric believes there¡¯s a wall to the heart that no amount of practice can penetrate. No one can be taught how to reach such raw depths of their own vulnerability that it becomes infectious. That is the essence of talent. Every time I look at this, I find myself inclined to agree with that sentiment.¡±


    The fledgling said nothing, curious about what happened to the mentioned individual, but not enough so that she would risk upsetting her guardian with the question. Her silent acknowledgment seemed to suffice, though, as they both lingered to enjoy the view a bit longer.


    In the top left corner of the scene, a sullen creature loomed. He sat heavy on his knees with his arms supporting him, thin and pale and sparse of hair. While her eyes were locked on his stare, remote from the others but direct to the viewer, the movement and merriment ceased, like time had stopped in that little realm of perfect beings.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± said the fledgling, stepping back as another hunger pang ripped her from her trance, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to hold us up.¡±


    ¡°That is quite all right.¡± Sylvestra gave her a reassuring smile. ¡°There¡¯s much to see throughout the entire castle, so please don¡¯t feel shy about enjoying it. Come, let¡¯s get you to the bath.¡±


    She¡¯d gathered from the surroundings that they were within the walls of a castle, but hearing it still filled her with wonder. She followed Sylvestra further along the corridor, slowing down here and there to admire larger-than-life portraits with gilded frames, sculptures of men and beasts, and tapestries depicting struggle between human and vampirekind.


    Vampires, she remembered. That¡¯s what they¡¯re called ¨C we¡¯re called.


    Through a door to their left, they entered a quiet wing with a lower ceiling and a more intimate atmosphere. In the first section, two walls¡¯ worth of bookshelves overlooked an arrangement of couches and chairs with soft padding. A young, raven-haired girl melted into one of the seats, barely visible past a stack of books on the center table. Preoccupied with her reading, she paid no mind to the two who entered. A thick, green rug stretched over the area, leaving only a few inches of cherry wood flooring exposed before the wall and archway.


    Sylvestra smiled and waved at the girl, but otherwise did not try for her attention. She motioned to the fledgling and whisked her into the next room.


    There were four beds, one in each corner separated by folding screens, with a side table and a chest at the foot. Of the chests, three were closed and one open; Sylvestra approached the open one and took out a robe and some towels. She passed them over to her ward.


    ¡°This will be your bed.¡± She gestured to it, her voice hushed. ¡°The others are around; you will all meet eventually. Here, we¡¯re almost to the bath.¡±


    The fragrance of rose oil filled the air as they entered the bathing area. The With that scent came the flashing image in the fledgling¡¯s mind of a young woman¡¯s face, blue-eyed and chestnut-haired with a smile that could crumble her to her knees. Her heart jumped and refused to slow down. As soon as the image appeared, it vanished. She blinked hard, exhaling through rounded lips.


    ¡°You may set your things down on the chair.¡± Sylvestra pointed to one beside a mirror. ¡°And¡­ Don¡¯t be alarmed if you do see your reflection; we have managed to find ways to make that possible. Something about interdimensional refraction¡ªtruly, I don¡¯t know. Lord Cedric could explain better if you are curious.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sylvestra. Setting her things down, the fledgling resisted a pull to glance in the mirror. ¡°You¡¯ve been a wonderful help to me so far.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad I could be of assistance. We will see each other often, but I¡¯ll miss being your appointed guardian. Let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves, though; we still have a few more ventures together yet. Enjoy your bath until then. I¡¯ll be waiting in the corridor.¡± She spun away, her skirt rippling, and closed the door behind her.


    The fledgling closed her eyes, savoring the first moment she had to herself since gaining consciousness. As she peeled off her linen shirt, her hands grazed her ribs, and each individual one was palpable. She stepped out of her pants and tossed both items of clothing, stiff with blood stains, onto the floor. Not long after a sigh of relief came another urge to retch, but she held her abdomen and hunched over.


    She collected herself and stepped onto the stool beside the tub. Steam pervaded her nose, tumid with the scent of roses. It soothed her dry throat, but it brought back flashes of that chestnut-haired woman. She still had no name, but the fledgling¡¯s chest swelled with a hazy sensation. Maybe she was the one Sylvestra mentioned, the one she loved enough to make a great sacrifice, whatever that may have been.


    She stuck a finger into the water and stirred a pink petal, checking the temperature. Her legs shook as she held onto the edge of the tub and eased herself in. Resting her head on a leather pad, she let the warmth swaddle her and whisk her away on a bed of roses. Soon she was drifting off, and in her first fragments of dreams, a familiar voice whispered a name.


    Elyza.

 16-3: The Fledgling, Part II

    Elyza opened her eyes, though she didn¡¯t remember closing them in the first place. The bath had run cold, but she neither shivered nor did goosebumps appear on her smooth, chalk-white skin. The cold stiffened her joints, though, which made climbing out of the tub a great deal more difficult than it was to get in.


    She dried herself off and, squeezing the ends of her stringy hair into the towel, she skimmed the room for any clue of the time. No light penetrated the thick stone walls here, nor had she passed by a clock in her short journey through the halls. Sylvestra hadn¡¯t returned for her yet, however, so she assumed she wasn¡¯t late.


    The robe she donned was much like Sylvestra¡¯s, if not looser fitting, enough so that it made her feel like a clothed skeleton. Her sleeves hung well past her hands and refused to stay rolled at the cuff. Resigning to the blanket of heavy fabric swallowing her frame, she tossed her hood over her head ¨C grateful to hide those stringy, ugly hairs.


    On her way out of her quarters, she again passed by the young girl, whose glare as she poked her nose out from her book made Elyza shiver in a way the cold no longer could. She wondered if they would ever speak with each other, or if she¡¯d at least get used to that penetrating stare. Either way, she had to live with her now, and she seemed harmless enough, however unnerving her presence was.


    Sylvestra waited out in the corridor, leaning with her back to the wall. When the door opened, her eyes shot to Elyza, and she stood herself straight.


    ¡°Good, you¡¯re ready.¡± She stepped in close and pinched the fabric at Elyza¡¯s shoulders and waist. ¡°Your robe is a bit big, but not too much so. That¡¯s to be expected. Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll grow into it.¡±


    The hunger came back, tamed in a way. There was no more nausea and hollowness, but a tight cramping as if her stomach had shriveled. Elyza thought better of complaining again, and instead hoped to herself for a short meeting.


    Another short trip down the corridor led them to a door they¡¯d passed earlier, unsuspecting and bearing no difference to the others. Sylvestra hesitated before knocking, her loose fist hovering in front of the door. It opened before her knuckles made contact, and in the gap stood a dark-haired and well-dressed man. An energy both enticing and sinister emanated from him, flooding the breadth of the corridor like a racing river.


    ¡°Lord Cedric.¡± Sylvestra bowed at the waist, gesturing to Elyza. ¡°I give my ward to you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve outdone yourself, Sylvestra. Even the most devoted mother would envy your nurturing proclivities. You stand up to every test.¡± The clarity of his voice carried throughout the space, drifting unperturbed over the rushing current of his aura. Meeting Elyza¡¯s gaze, he cracked a slight smile. ¡°And you ¨C how far you¡¯ve come from where you started. Let¡¯s have a talk, shall we?¡± Standing aside, he ushered her into the room while Sylvestra stayed behind.


    The library¡¯s interior stole Elyza¡¯s breath without warning. Captivated, she traced the arc of the ceiling to its point, then followed the descent of the wispy floral chandelier. At level with it, the paintings of figures unknown beckoned her into their scenes, serene and sprightful even in moments of melancholy. Shelves lined with thousands of books ¨C had he read all of them? Had he lived long enough to do so?


    ¡°Do take your time. There is much to absorb here for someone who¡¯s just awakened.¡± Cedric remarked, twiddling his thumbs as he paced from end to end of his desk, ¡°But please be aware that you¡¯re already late for our meeting.¡±


    Elyza gasped. As she shook herself back to reality, her eyes widened and snapped to his mischievous grin. Her mind went blank of excuses, though she thought it best anyway not to speak unless prompted.


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    ¡°A jest. Take comfort in burying your mind for time alongside your mortality ¨C while you¡¯re here, that is.¡± His smile softened as he addressed her apparent uncertainty. ¡°You may speak as you wish. I am not so above you that you should feel uneasy.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Lord Cedric.¡± The rasp in her voice returned. ¡°There¡¯s much to which I still need to grow accustomed. Only a few of my memories have returned as of yet.¡±


    ¡°That is normal at this stage. Have you recalled your name yet?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± She hesitated; this was her first time saying it aloud. ¡°Elyza.¡±


    ¡°As lovely a name as when I first heard it. But if you find it no longer suits you, you can always choose another. Do you remember anything else?¡±


    ¡°A face.¡±


    ¡°Yours?¡±


    She shook her head, biting her lip. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. A young woman, yes, but not me. And no name to it, either.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure Sylvestra has assured you twice over that you¡¯d remember everything in time. What you¡¯ve experienced is akin to a second infancy, a rebirth into an unliving body. The notion of self, rived from the carnal mind to be dismantled, reformed, and the two rejoined. Grant yourself the mercy of patience.¡±


    A hint of sincerity tinged his inflection. On his next pass in front of the desk, he picked up a raven figurine and turned it in his palm. His other hand reached up to touch a small scar on his otherwise pristine cheek. It was odd to observe so much fidgeting from someone so composed in diction, someone with such power to hold dominion over a coven of his own. It was as if it overflowed into his limbs and extremities, searching for an outlet.


    ¡°Patience. Of course.¡± A cramp in her stomach arrived on cue. She winced but did not make a scene of it, and her eyes wandered to the two marble statues of robed figures watching from behind the desk. Their gazes, along with Cedric¡¯s, prodded her with their unnerving expectancy. She followed with the only question she could think of. ¡°Will I remember why I¡¯m here?¡±


    ¡°Of course, but you may cease to share the sentiment with your old self. You are¡­ different from the others.¡±


    ¡°Different? How so?¡±


    ¡°There was an incident during your transformation. Among the things you¡¯ll remember, this is not one; it¡¯s a gracious phenomenon of our kind not to recall the pain of death. I will spare you the gruesome details, but yours was a challenge, a thing to be studied. If I had my way, I would keep you here, where you¡¯d serve your potential.¡±


    At his second hint toward the impermanence of her stay, Elyza raised a brow.


    ¡°Am I going somewhere?¡±


    ¡°Yes, unfortunately, you are. Frankly, the plan we have set out for you is a waste of your capabilities, but there was nothing anyone could do to anticipate this turn of events.¡± He thinned his lips, suppressing a slight twitch that teased at a sneer. ¡°I am bound to my word, even in dealings with mortals. Especially so, perhaps; mortal men are fickle, beset by their own fervor. They¡¯ll set the world ablaze at a moment¡¯s notice over anything and nothing. That would be more trouble than I care for, logistically speaking.¡±


    ¡°Maestus.¡± A strange name slipped past her lips. She touched the tips of her fingers to them, not quite certain that it came from her mouth. The image that appeared in her mind was that of an unremarkable, mustached man. ¡°I¡¯m here because of him.¡±


    ¡°In a sense, yes. Not for his sake, but for the benefit of someone you loved, whom his ambitions stood to help.¡±


    ¡°That girl¡­ Jessa.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Cedric¡¯s voice was softer, his pitch slightly higher. He paused his pacing to set down his figurine on the desk. ¡°You¡¯re recovering memories much more quickly than expected. I would advise that you rest. This process will exhaust your mind, and any mental or physical strain can be dangerous while your foundation is rebuilding itself. There¡¯s time yet for you to enjoy the amenities of the castle, even if you¡¯re set to leave. This is your home, and as such, you should seek comfort here.¡±


    ¡°If this is my home, will I ever return? After I¡¯ve done what I¡¯m setting out to do?¡±


    ¡°There are few promises I make, Elyza, being so bound to my word. Please, do not concern yourself with imagined scenarios or ideals of what you might do after you¡¯ve served your purpose. Such is another folly of mortals.¡± He adjusted the cuff of his sleeve, undoing the buttons and refastening them. ¡°I arranged this meeting for no other purpose but to welcome you. Let¡¯s conclude with light hearts and speak again when you have more of yourself. Rest. Eat. I can only imagine that you¡¯re hungry.¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°Then go now, with an unburdened mind. It was a pleasure to speak with you, however brief.¡±


    ¡°Likewise, Lord Cedric.¡± Elyza recalled the bow Sylvestra had given him earlier and dared to replicate it. The gesture earned her a fang-baring grin of approval.

 16-4: Good Boy

    ¡°Four days.¡± Helaneth snapped a sprig of berries from a bush and passed them to Dirien. A short walk behind them, a campfire crackled, tended by a diligent Al¡¯mar while he roasted a pheasant. ¡°Four days we¡¯ve been out here and nothin¡¯. Don¡¯t twist me up, I feel bad for the demented old fool, but he shouldn¡¯t even have a dog if he¡¯s gonna let it wander through portals.¡±


    Dirien moved in to touch her shoulder, but she leaned out of reach, dropping to her hands and knees in pursuit of a stubborn sprig.


    ¡°We¡¯ll find him soon.¡±


    ¡°Ya always say things, but you¡¯re never sure. In fact, usually the damned opposite thing happens from what you say, and then we¡¯re runnin¡¯ like rabbits from giant weevils and Lus¡¯rak. How can you always be so optimistic? Doesn¡¯t anything ever piss you off, Dirien?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ no, Hela. I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°Too pure to live in a world like this, ya are.¡± Helaneth stood, shaking free of a twig that snagged on her sleeve. She grasped Dirien¡¯s hand and gave it a slight squeeze. Gazing into his eyes, she took momentary refuge in their innocence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dirien. You¡¯ve done nothin¡¯ wrong. Just that I get fed up with things sometimes. Not you, though. Don¡¯t you change a thing, all right?¡± With a gentle tug of his hand, she led him back to the fire.


    Even Al¡¯mar was struggling to maintain his jolly demeanor. He greeted them with a smile as sincere as he could manage given the circumstances.


    ¡°Supper should be ready soon. And from the looks of it, you two have foraged well, too. Let¡¯s be grateful that we at least have Lenkirn¡¯s blessings amidst this senseless endeavor.¡±


    Helaneth clenched her fingers, forgetting they were still clasped with Dirien¡¯s. He yanked himself free with a slight whimper.


    ¡°I¡¯m already in a poor mood without your blaspheming.¡± Kicking out a leg, she dropped her weight to sit on a log. ¡°Ain¡¯t no forest god¡¯s blessings anyplace this far from Fenglade. Nothin¡¯ tying people and nature together, just everything an¡¯ everyone being, surviving individually. Whoever says otherwise is lyin¡¯ to ya.¡±


    ¡°My apologies, Miss Helaneth. The last thing I mean to do is offend.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just irritated is all.¡± In the corner of her eye, she spotted something moving. A faint rustling made her ears twitch. From the bushes a few yards away, a brown tail stuck out, wagging excitedly.


    ¡°There he is, the bastard!¡± Chunks of bark broke away from the log and stuck to Helaneth¡¯s clothes as she jumped to her feet. Her head rushing with thoughts of relief that their endeavor would finally end, she sped to the bushes. As she closed in, the tail withdrew, and the canine figure attached to it retreated.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it¡¯s gonna be.¡± The dog weaved through the vegetation, clearing obstacles with expert jumps. Helaneth tried her best to keep up, but the chase was, of course, a game to the animal. They continued into a clearing, where the dog stopped and faced Helaneth, wagging his tail. She stopped, too, standing still with her arms flared at her sides. Controlling her breath was not an easy task after a spurt of running, but she kept it steady.


    She set a toe forward, keeping a close eye on the dog¡¯s movements. Easing her weight onto it, she inched toward him. The dog lowered his head, crouching on his front legs, tail wagging faster now. She took another step, and the dog crouched lower with a playful growl. A third step, and the dog sprinted back, reassuming its position once he made some distance.


    ¡°Who¡ªugh, who¡¯s a good boy?¡± she asked in as soft and sweet a voice as she could while her blood was simmering with frustration. ¡°Stay, boy.¡±


    While she was contemplating her next move, she looked over her shoulder at the source of crackling twigs behind her. Dirien emerged from the brush, and the dog twisted around and ran off. Helaneth groaned.


    ¡°I almost had him!¡± she shouted. ¡°Go back with Al¡¯mar! I¡¯ve got this.¡± As soon as she finished giving her command, Al¡¯mar appeared as well. Helaneth threw her arms in the air.


    ¡°Gods, are you serious¡ªI don¡¯t have time for either of ya¡¯s!¡± Rubbing her temples, she waited for a plan to come to her, but her blood was boiling away her ideas. ¡°Both of ya do what you want, but don¡¯t mess this up for me. I¡¯m gonna catch the dog, and we¡¯re gonna bring him right back to that old bastard mage as soon as the first ray of sun pokes up.¡±


    They said nothing in reply. Helaneth hurried on after the dog, dipping down to pick up a stick he might find tempting. Bounding over the forest floor debris, she found her pace and kept her eyes locked on the only sign of the dog among the brambles: his tail, which never ceased its wagging.


    The chase continued for far too long, pulse pounding in her ears as her stamina wore down to the vapor. The shadow of a tall escarpment loomed, and the dog slowed to a stop at the edge of it. His tail stopped wagging. He lifted a front paw and drew back his ears, his body rigid. Helaneth tiptoed closer, and to her surprise the dog did not try to run away.


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    ¡°Tryin¡¯ to show me somethin¡¯, boy?¡± she asked, hushing her voice. His glossy nose twitched at a scent she soon picked up as well. Sharp, fetid. Heavy. A slight breeze lightened it, but it was potent enough to sting. Her upper lip curled into a grimace. ¡°What is it? A dead deer? Go on and show me.¡±


    The dog whimpered, still pointing.


    ¡°What? Ya ran all this way and now you¡¯re scared?¡± Helaneth scanned the breadth of the rock face and found nothing. Sunlight was growing scarcer, and shadows obscured the deep clefts. She took a step past the dog, and only then did he relax his stance. He lowered his tail, leveling it with his body, and followed her as she proceeded forward.


    The odor grew stronger and heavier the closer they came to the wall of rock. While a dead animal in a forest would have been no surprise, this was more than that, tenfold. Helaneth had a strong stomach, but this challenged even her resolve. She swallowed an oncoming urge to retch, her hand reaching up instinctively to cover her nose.


    ¡°This must be even more foul for your cute little nose,¡± she said to the dog. ¡°Can ya help me find where that awful smell is coming from? You can have a nice stick if ya do.¡±


    The dog¡¯s ears, flattened triangles, pricked up at the word ¡°stick.¡± His tail stood and he let out an excited bark.


    ¡°Aye, but not ¡®til our work is done.¡± She held up the stick and waved it. The dog sat, panting with anticipation. ¡°I¡¯ll throw it nice and far for ya, I will. Promise.¡± As she lowered it to her side, the dog resumed his normal demeanor. He must have been well-trained.


    ¡°Go. Seek? I dunno¡­¡± She pointed in the general direction of the scent. ¡°Oi, ya slobberin¡¯ mutt, show me the fucking¡ª¡± The dog dashed off, looking back over his shoulder. She hurried after him again, this time wrapping around the side of the cliff and climbing up the slope on the other side.


    At the crest, which was speckled with brambles and centered with a stalwart oak tree, Helaneth doubled over hands-on-knees.


    ¡°Damn¡­ dog¡­¡± she sputtered between breaths. ¡°Lucky you¡¯re cute.¡± She trudged the last few paces, looping around the tree. Its thick trunk concealed the scene that waited on the other side: a flat cart with torn wrappings of canvas and linen, the securing ropes loosened. Through the tears in the fabric escaped limp, shriveled hands and soulless, oozing faces. The fluids of decay soaked through spots of the fabric, and the excess dripped into the dirt.


    ¡°What¡¯d I tell ya, old man,¡± Helaneth muttered to herself, ¡°No gods out here.¡± The dog lay on the ground, whimpering, tail low and head between his paws.


    After a battle between her hesitance and curiosity, she gathered enough courage to inspect the scene. On the ground beside the cart lay a body unlike the others: a teenage girl, waterlogged letters spilling from her bag. Helaneth searched the pocket of her cloak and found a small leather case imprinted with the courier¡¯s guild brand. Inside she found the badge of her company, one that was not familiar. Was she charged with transporting this cargo, or was she caught in the wrong place at the wrong time?


    As she pocketed the badge and case, a sudden shout from the woods raised the hairs on her neck.


    ¡°Miss Helaneth!¡± Al¡¯mar was out of breath but still able to channel sternness in his voice. ¡°Now, I know you¡¯re frustrated, but we all work better together, you¡¯ve got Dirien worried sick, and the forest is dangerous in the night¡ª¡±


    ¡°Will ya quit flappin¡¯ your gob? If ya scare away the dog again, we¡¯re gonna have a problem.¡± Helaneth grimaced, having caught a sharp whiff of the smell again. Tightening her lips, she waited for her stomach to settle. ¡°And do ya not smell the rot of corpses?¡±


    ¡°Corpses?¡± Al¡¯mar¡¯s face turned grim as he turned around the tree trunk and looked upon the many faces of death. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ve grown so accustomed to that stench I thought it was a deer. Sometimes when the Lus¡¯rak cross over for a summoning, they reek of it.¡±


    ¡°Oi, old man. Ya gonna help me or not?¡±


    ¡°My apologies, Miss Helaneth. What is your plan?¡± he asked, starting his own survey of the scene.


    ¡°I dunno, what with the findings of Dev and Anna¡¯s crew. Reportin¡¯ this to the guard might do more harm than good, but if we¡¯re keepin¡¯ an eye out for our own investigation, we can¡¯t pass this up. Could be a lead.¡± She glanced down at the young messenger, a frown dimpling her rounded chin. ¡°Ya think this girl knew what she was draggin¡¯ around?¡±


    ¡°She may not have,¡± Al¡¯mar said as he continued to inspect the shipment. He bent down, sliding his hands under a dry portion of the canvas wrap to feel around the flat bed of the cart. ¡°It is not unheard of, Miss Helaneth, for criminal entities to request younger initiate couriers with a strict ¡®do not open¡¯ order. It is a strategy they employ to throw potential pursuers off their scent.¡± Emerging with a small, flat box just thick enough for the lock on its side, he rocked on his heels and eased his old knees straight.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± asked Helaneth.


    ¡°Locked is what it is!¡± He tried the lid with a gentle push of his thumbs. ¡°And important, no doubt. I wonder who has the key.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t ya just bust it open?¡±


    ¡°You really ought to be less trusting of that method, Miss Helaneth. You can never be sure how these kinds of things are secured, or how they might blow up in your face. Sometimes, even, in a literal sense. You could end up destroying an important lead, and yourself in the process.¡±


    ¡°All right then, old man, what do ya suggest we do?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps the Association mages can help us once we¡¯ve returned safe with their friend¡¯s dog.¡±


    ¡°I suppose, long as they don¡¯t get too nosy.¡± Helaneth nodded to the dog, whose tail tip twitched as she acknowledged him. ¡°Now where¡¯s Dirien? Back at the camp?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We shouldn¡¯t leave him alone for too long, considering what happened with the weevils last time. Were we truly wanting to just leave the bodies here?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯ve got time to send ¡®em off, old man, be my guest. I¡¯ve got the dog and we¡¯ve got a lead for our investigation; I¡¯m not muddlin¡¯ around in any corpse juice to figure out any more.¡± She tried a snap of her fingers, and to her surprise and delight, the dog rushed to her side. ¡°Besides, like ya said, we shouldn¡¯t leave Dirien alone for too long. I¡¯m pissed off, I¡¯m tired, and at the risk of havin¡¯ to stay any longer in these forsaken woods, I¡¯m goin¡¯ back.¡±

 16-5: Magistra

    ¡°He¡¯s dead?¡± Helaneth shrilled. Even whispers traveled well in the lecture room, and so her shouts were earsplitting as they bounded across every walnut-paneled wall. ¡°Days, days searchin¡¯ for the damn dog, haulin¡¯ ourselves out to the middle of nowhere and back, and you¡¯re tellin¡¯ me the old nutterbrain¡¯s gone and keeled over anyhow?¡±


    ¡°Miss Helaneth,¡± Al¡¯mar grunted through his teeth. Elbows out to either side, he closed a hand over his fist and lowered his head in apology to the overseer of their task. Magistra Bellanaume, now pending head of the Grimros Mages¡¯ Association, restrained none of her disapproval, her sharp face a weapon in itself. She cast her gaze down at the young Fenvar from her own impressive height, thin eyes narrowing to knives in the barred shadows of window frames. Her pointed chin jutted with a shift of her jaw.


    ¡°Is this how you represent your company?¡± she asked. ¡°Do you speak so crudely of everyone with no regard for their position?¡±


    ¡°I ask for your lenience with my colleague¡¯s rudeness, Magistra,¡± said Al¡¯mar. ¡°She means no disrespect to the founder of your chapter. Our task has proven more arduous and eventful than anticipated, and it has taken a toll on her.¡±


    ¡°Lenience,¡± said the sharp-eyed wizardess, ¡°Is what eroded the Mages¡¯ Association to its current state as the laughingstock of magical practitioners across Esyrene. In a place as crooked and antiquated as Grimros, we suffer that effect tenfold. If I¡¯m to even begin to surmount centuries¡¯ worth of decline, I must be stringent with my associates, and even more so with those I commission for business.¡±


    ¡°I reiterate, we apologize. I would like to think, Magistra, that in spite of Miss Helaneth¡¯s blunder, we¡¯ve shown good faith in bringing back the late First Wizard¡¯s dog.¡±


    ¡°That is granted, and in no way does your colleague¡¯s little gaffe diminish it.¡± The loose bell of her sleeve crumpled against the podium as she thumbed over a sheet of parchment. ¡°Change is coming to the Mages¡¯ Association, myself the catalyst, along with others of similar rank across Nelthemar. And this letter I have here is from our first correspondent in Uminora. Suffice it to say, our cause is gaining traction. These changes start with the small things, you see, such as a simple warning to you and your company that each one of you will conduct yourselves professionally, lest you cease to find work within our walls. Stress, fatigue, or simply being rough around the edges are no longer acceptable excuses. Please do deliver that message to your superiors.¡±


    Al¡¯mar lowered his hands to his sides and tilted his chin upward. ¡°I will relay this, Magistra.¡±


    ¡°Good. Now, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re on the tips of your toes waiting to discuss your reward. One hundred Esda, as promised.¡± She ducked behind the podium and retrieved a lockbox from the shelf, then unlocked it with a key from her sash. ¡°Your help is appreciated. So long as mutual respect is maintained, you are welcome to seek out work from us anytime.¡±


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Thank you for this opportunity, Magistra,¡± said Al¡¯mar, accepting with both hands the bag of coins which she passed to him. He hesitated before stretching out his overlapped palms to accept it. He couldn¡¯t miss his opportunity to ask the favor they needed, however unnerving her rebuke. ¡°I hate to ask in the same breath that airs gratitude, but would you be willing to have a look at something we found while on this task?¡±


    ¡°Surely it¡¯s important, if you would be so bold as to ask. Please, do show me.¡±


    Helaneth shuffled forth with her bag cradled in her arms, looking down at the floor. Al¡¯mar reached in and produced the flat box. The wizardess double blinked, then took the box to examine it. She ran her fingers over the debossed ¡°M¡± on the top, her nose wrinkling as if she¡¯d smelled something foul.


    ¡°With this, I cannot help you,¡± she said, handing it back to Al¡¯mar, ¡°The lock is warded under a spell far more potent than you could afford to compensate me for, were I to open it. I care little to take the risk.¡±


    ¡°Wait ¨C does that mean it¡¯s dangerous?¡± Helaneth asked.


    ¡°Only if mishandled. If you put it back where you found it, you should have nothing to worry about. Sometimes it is well that you do not tamper with such things.¡±


    ¡°I beg your forgiveness, Magistra, but this box was found beneath what appeared to be a shipment of corpses,¡± Al¡¯mar insisted. ¡°We could find who did this.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe I want to participate in such reckless do-gooding? Perhaps take it to the king¡¯s wizard, if he¡¯ll be so gracious as to see you. You have been paid for your work, and as it stands, you are still welcome to come back. It would be a shame for your continued prodding to jeopardize that.¡±


    During the silence that followed, Al¡¯mar grasped for anything to persuade her and quickly reached the end of the rope. A misstep barring them from future prospects with the Association would be dreadful to explain to Deventh and Anna, despite his itch for answers.


    ¡°We¡¯ll just go and put this right back where it was then, ay, Al¡¯mar?¡± Hela chimed in. ¡°Maybe she¡¯s right, ya know, about mindin¡¯ our own business.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I suppose so.¡± Al¡¯mar tightened his grasp on the bag of coins as his other hand surrendered the box to Hela. ¡°Thank you again, Magistra, for this opportunity.¡±


    ¡°And thank you for doing this final service to the First Wizard. It would be a great sorrow for our losses to be two, even if one is an animal. No doubt crosses my mind that the dog will be well loved as a community pet.¡±


    ¡°Does he have a name, Magistra?¡±


    The wizardess nodded. ¡°Leonarde.¡±


    The dog ¡ª who had been soaking up sun rays on a recamier beneath the window ¡ª wagged his tail at the sound of his name and jumped down to the floor. After a quick stretch and a hearty yawn, he trotted over, then wedged his snout between Helaneth¡¯s fingers and gave her palm a slobbery lick. In a short-lived moment of glee, she giggled, but her smile soon dropped, and her voice became soft and wistful.


    ¡°Looks more like a Bowen to me, but who am I to judge?¡± She gave Leonarde a pat on the head, ruffling his ears. ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ let¡¯s go now, Al¡¯mar.¡±


    Leonarde¡¯s claws clicked against the hardwood floor as he tried to follow them out. Helaneth stopped in the doorway and shook her head, crouching to eye level with him and patting his head one last time.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to stay, pal,¡± she said, ¡°Magistra and the others will take good care of ya. Promise.¡±


    Magistra Bellanaume snapped her fingers and called Leonarde over. His tail drooped and he gave a whimper, but he returned to her, sulking the whole way.