ã€ŠLocal Heroes: The Glory Road [Epic Progression Fantasy]ã€‹


 Episode 1: A Reunion At Rock Bottom

    ¡°I don¡¯t know which is worse.¡± The guard mused. He was leaning against the stone wall opposite the cell in which Vash lay. ¡°The pure-blood elves with their noses in the air, or you half-breeds pretending to be one of us.¡±

    Vash groaned and spat out a mouthful of blood. He worked his tongue around his mouth and was relieved to find all his teeth still in place. Nothing felt broken, but everything hurt. The guards were very good at their jobs. They brought him in bleeding, but not broken.

    The guard chuckled and bit into an apple. ¡°You think that little hood of yours was going to keep us from noticing you?¡± He said around a mouthful of fruit. ¡°Inquisitor Glauch has a lifetime of experience ferreting you types out. Rumor is that he can smell an elvish bastard from across a midden heap.¡±

    Something twinged in Vash¡¯s side as he rolled up into a sitting position. Dislocated rib. Vash thought. Better than broken..still hurts like hell.

    The guard was trying to get a rise out of him. Likely, he was bored and was told not to beat on the prisoner unless he caused trouble. If he thinks I¡¯m going to defend the ¡®family honor¡¯ of my elvish half, he¡¯s dumber than he looks.

    ¡°Now to my mind, there¡¯s not much difference in smell between a half-elf and a midden heap, but that¡¯s why they have Glauch, I suppose.¡± The guard took another bite, juice dribbling down his chin.

    ¡°Part-elf.¡± Vash corrected, wincing. Speaking caused a twinge of pain from his ribs that was hard to ignore.

    ¡°He speaks!¡± The guard said with feigned amazement.

    ¡°Part-elf, some of us have less than half blood, but still get the damn ears.¡± Vash said, tentatively stretching one side.

    ¡°No one cares.¡± The guard said in a flat tone. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter what we call you since you face the headsman tomorrow.¡±

    Tomorrow? Vash thought. That¡¯s awfully damn fast.

    Something must have shown on his face, because the guard grinned, an ugly gap-toothed expression. ¡°That surprised you, huh? There¡¯s been a standing execution order for you and your friends for months. You really pissed off the wrong people.¡±

    That was true. He and the others had been walking a fine line between tolerable crimes and outright rebellion against the Duke. Things came to a head when Byar led an assault on the Duke¡¯s palace. Iona had tried to talk him out of it, but there was no talking to Byar when he was in that sort of mood. The razing of Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow had been the last straw. Just to recover an old tablet that they had stolen. Guards like this grinning idiot had burned shacks and tents. They had beaten bloody any pointy-eared person who dared show their face. In the ashes of their former home, Byar had sworn an oath of revenge on Duke Adolus.

    The attack had gone wrong right from the start. Guards were in the wrong places, making it impossible to sneak past them and requiring more bloodshed than usual. They cobbled together the plan at the last minute so not everyone knew their roles. Vash¡¯s group got separated early on, though they succeeded in drawing the guards away from the inner keep, where Iona and Byar were trying to kill the Duke and the Lord Inquisitor.

    The guards blocked their escape route. Cornered in a guest apartment, they made their last stand. Vash had survived. Jak, Quin, and Pya hadn¡¯t been so lucky. Quin took a sword through the gut, they left her bleeding on the balcony. It had taken her a long time to die. Vash had seen her desperate, terrified eyes in-between beatings from the guards.

    ¡°I guess we did.¡± Vash said, his voice raspy.

    ¡°I¡¯ll never understand you people.¡± The guard said, tossing the apple core into a pile of dirty, wet straw. ¡°City full of opportunity and you decide to steal, extort, and kill for a living.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Vash said, grimacing. ¡°We should really leave that to the experts. Like you.¡±

    ¡°Clever.¡± The guard said. ¡°You¡¯ve got a clever mouth on you.¡±

    Vash grinned. ¡°Funny, that¡¯s what your wife said, too.¡±

    The guard¡¯s face went red. Vash¡¯s smile widened. That¡¯s it. Stop thinking and just get pissed off.

    There was a jangle of keys, the door opened with a screech of rusty hinges. The guard stomped across the cell, fury on his face, grabbing Vash by the front of his tunic and hauling him to his feet. Vash grunted in pain as his rib jostled and shot a spasm down one side of his body.

    ¡°Guess we hurt something when we brought you in.¡± The guard growled. ¡°Makes this easier.¡±

    One meaty fist struck Vash¡¯s side. The rib flexed and grated. Vash had to concentrate hard to keep breathing. He focused on the pain, compressing it into a ball in his mind and throwing it like a stone into a vast, deep lake. Calm fell over him like a blanket. Iona had trained him to focus through the pain, to dissociate.

    You won¡¯t always be sitting in a quiet temple with incense and pretty music. She had said, slapping him across the stomach with a switch. More than likely you¡¯ll have to use your Talents when you¡¯re being stabbed, beaten, that sort of thing.

    Vash¡¯s Core thrummed. He let his mind sink into the well of power he drew on to fuel his Talents. The form for Enhance Body floated into his mind and he latched onto it like a lifeline. Warmth spread throughout his body, dulling his pain. It was still there, just muffled, like a bell wrapped in wool.

    ¡°You got something else to say about my wife?¡± The guard asked, breath a foul mix of apples, stale beer, and onions.

    Vash coughed, waiting for the muscle spasms to stop. He let himself go limp, leaning hard against the guard. He shook his head, feigning more pain than he felt. ¡°Just¡­does she always speak elvish in the throes of passion, or is that just with one of us?¡±

    The guard roared in fury and punched Vash hard across the jaw. Everything swam for a moment, and Vash worried he might have gone too far. Come on you oaf, you know this dance as well as I do.

    Another punch to the face. Vash saw stars. Fist to the ribs, knuckles digging in hard enough to make Vash cry out. Then the guard finally did what Vash needed him to do. With a grunt of anger and effort, the guard flung Vash across the room.

    He rolled, controlling his momentum until he came to a stop by the bucket that served as the cell¡¯s chamberpot. Vash groaned and turned his head. He looked through half-closed eyes, measuring the distance to the open cell door, his own position, and the guard. He groaned for added effect.

    The gap-toothed guard spat into the filthy straw at his feet. ¡°They said to keep you alive until the execution. They didn¡¯t say you had to have all your teeth.¡±

    Good boy. Vash thought. He groaned again and made a show of trying to push himself up. Then he sagged back to the straw.

    ¡°You ain¡¯t so tough.¡± The guard muttered. ¡°Wear some scary masks and stab people in the dark? I can do that. Nothin¡¯ special about¡ª¡°

    Vash waited until the guard reached down for him. He flung a wet clump of filth and straw into the guard¡¯s face. Brown sludge splattered the guard¡¯s face, and he staggered back a few paces. He lashed out with one foot, catching the guard behind the ankle and sweeping his legs out from under him.

    The guard landed with a whoof of expelled air; the breath knocked out of him by the fall. Vash completed his turn, grabbing the bucket and upending the vile contents directly on the guard¡¯s face. The guard heaved and gagged, panicking and trying to clear the filth from his mouth and nostrils. Vash swung the bucket, which collided hard with the guard¡¯s temple, sending him crashing to the ground.

    Vash grabbed the ring of keys off the guard¡¯s belt and scrambled out of the cell, slamming the door closed with another rusty screech. After a quick search, he found the correct key and locked the door.

    ¡°Sorry to be leaving.¡± Vash said, grimacing as his rib shifted again. ¡°But you¡¯ve been an excellent host.¡±

    Gasping and gagging, the guard struggled to his knees. ¡°Come back here, you filthy half-blood son of a bitch!¡±

    Vash paused, contemplating finding a weapon and dispatching the guard. That would take too much time. Anyone could come in. Vash had to leave quickly. He didn¡¯t want to face the headsman the next day.

    Turning, Vash was about to bolt when a tall, broad figure stepped in front of him. ¡°Vash?¡±

    Vash was already striking out with one fist, looking to incapacitate and run. That the man had called him by his real name didn¡¯t register. He had to get out of there. The man moved to block. A thick, muscled forearm moved with surprising speed, swatting away Vash¡¯s attack.

    Damn, he¡¯s fast! Vash thought, kicking out with one leg, aiming for the knee, but the man shifted and his kick landed on his thigh. He remained still, only exhaling an annoyed sigh.

    ¡°Vash, it¡¯s me ¡ª ¡° the man began, but Vash was on the attack again.

    You want to play, big man. Vash thought. Let¡¯s play my way.

    Warmth blossomed in Vash¡¯s chest as he drew upon his Core. He called to mind the form for Agility of the Cat. Mana flooded his body, increasing speed, heightening reflexes.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    Vash landed a blow on one of the big man¡¯s pressure points. That got a reaction. The man missed the parry and hissed in pain when Vash¡¯s strike landed. He didn¡¯t go down, though. Any normal person should be rolling on the ground, begging for their mother.

    He has Talents.

    Vash felt a pulse, an echo of the thrum he felt when drawing upon his own Core. The big man was using a Talent, magically enhanced abilities. Not as complex as spells, but the powers they granted gave their wielders considerable advantages over normal folk. Something which Vash had taken advantage of many times.

    No chance to avoid the fist. They were too close, and the big man¡¯s Talent made blocking a laughable notion. Vash doubled over, a solid strike to his stomach. The man¡¯s powerful fist, solid as iron, struck with the force of a forge hammer. Vash was flung back several feet, landing hard on the slate floor and sliding to a stop only when he collided with the opposite wall. Lying on the floor, he clutched his stomach. His lungs had apparently forgotten how to draw breath.

    ¡°That¡¯ll teach you, little shit!¡± The guard said, his voice croaking as he fought against his instinct to retch. The stricken guard struggled to his feet, a furious scowl contorting his face beneath streaks of brown slime.

    ¡°Enough of that.¡± The stranger said.

    Blinking, the guard glanced back at the big man. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±

    ¡°Corwin Walker, Wayfarers Guild.¡± The stranger said, reaching into his shirt and presenting a bronze medallion.

    Corwin? Vash thought. No, it can¡¯t be. He looked up and studied the big man standing in the doorway. He¡¯d put on muscle, a lot of muscle, and he stood straighter, making him seem taller. But the face was the same. The same mischievous smirk, the same mop of floppy brown curls. What the hell is Corwin Walker doing here?

    ¡°So what?¡± The guard spat.

    ¡°I need a word with your prisoner.¡±

    ¡°Who? Him?¡± The guard frowned, looking at Vash. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Wayfarer business.¡± Corwin said, tucking the medallion back into his shirt.

    ¡°He¡¯s due to visit the headsman in the morning.¡± The guard said, stubbornly. ¡°Duke¡¯s orders.¡±

    Corwin grinned, crossing his arms across his chest. ¡°I just came from the Ducal Palace. Things may have changed. Might want to look into that. In the meantime¡­¡± Corwin looked at Vash. ¡°I need a word with your prisoner.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± The guard said. He pulled on the cell door, which was still locked tight. He felt along his belt, then looked up at Vash. The guard held out a hand. ¡°Keys.¡±

    Vash handed over the keyring.

    The guard sorted through the keys, found the right one, and unlocked the cell. Walking out, he looked down at Vash. ¡°You don¡¯t go anywhere. You and me are gonna have a conversation once this is sorted.¡±

    The guard headed for the door and tried to push past Corwin, but since Corwin was now the human equivalent of a brick wall, had to squeeze past him in a kind of awkward shuffle. The door creaked as the guard left. Vash and Corwin were now alone in the row of cells.

    Silence descended.

    It had been two years since Vash had seen Corwin. A lot had happened in that time.

    ¡°Looks like they¡¯re feeding you well.¡± Vash said, sitting up against the wall.

    Corwin quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, so you do recognize me. I was afraid I¡¯d tracked down the wrong snarky part-elven asshole.¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not like I expected my boyhood friend to show up and ruin my escape from prison.¡± Vash said.

    ¡°Fair.¡± Corwin shrugged.

    ¡°Why are you here ruining my escape from prison, by the way?¡±

    ¡°We heard about Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow.¡± Corwin said.

    The flames, the panic, and the screams welled up in Vash¡¯s memory. He walled off the emotion, slipping a mask of callous indifference in its place. ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°The Wayfarers put out a quest. The Grandmasters wanted the truth about what happened. My master and I were in the area, we took the job.¡±

    ¡°And what did you find out? Let me guess, a group of elvish half-breeds were running a criminal empire out of the shacks, tents, and shelters of the Hollow? They stole some ancient trinket vital to the Duke¡¯s stability, and when the Duke sent in his troops to get it back, these same criminals burned out their poor neighbors to escape?¡± Vash asked, proud that he only let a small amount of his bitterness and contempt slip.

    ¡°Something like that.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t occur to you that the Duke¡¯s story might be entirely bullshit?¡±

    ¡°Not to me, but my master has a healthy distrust of authority.¡± Corwin said.

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°So we did some digging.¡± Corwin said. ¡°Came across a family. They had gotten trapped by the fires. Nice folks, the father got hurt, wife was trying to corral three terrified young kids. The Duke¡¯s troops were blocking every way out. They told tell of a young guy, much like yourself, who brought them through the fire. Got them across the river.¡±

    ¡°Lucky them.¡± Vash said. The ache in his stomach was beginning to subside. One of the side-effects of using mana was quick healing. He kept an eye out for an opportunity to scramble past Corwin. Maybe if I can distract him¡­

    ¡°Their description reminded me of my old friend Vash.¡± Corwin said. ¡°Especially the Vagabond brand, not many folks are walking around with that one.¡±

    Vash didn¡¯t respond, carefully keeping his face neutral.

    ¡°Then there was the attack on the Duke¡¯s palace. Lots of these elvish troublemakers got themselves killed, most scattered if they could escape. But there was one they captured. Imagine my surprise when I found out who it was,¡± Corwin said.

    ¡°Surprised you recognized me, haven¡¯t heard from you in, what? Two years?¡± Vash said.

    Corwin looked self-conscious. ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t know what had happened to you after we left Durron¡¯s Ford.¡±

    ¡°Kicked out.¡± Vash corrected. ¡°They kicked us out, Corwin.¡±

    ¡°I went to the Guild, the Wayfarers, I mean. To see if I could do something. The lodge here in Sathsholm wasn¡¯t very optimistic,¡± Corwin said. ¡°You and your friends really kicked a hornet¡¯s nest.¡±

    Maybe ask your friends about how part-blood elves get shoved into slums, forced into hard labor for pittance. Vash thought, his blood roiling. ¡°Well, we tried invited the Duke over for tea and to talk over our differences, but he burned our homes down.¡±

    Corwin had the decency to look ashamed again. ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s an old statute, part of the charter of the Grand Alliance. A prisoner can volunteer to join the Wayfarers as part of a quest of the ruler¡¯s choosing. If they do, then their sentence is mitigated. Well, so long as they remain a member in good standing with the Guild. The Duke has set a quest for you. You just have to agree to join. And I said to Jabez that we¡¯ve needed a rogue anyway, so I came to see¡­¡± Corwin trailed off, letting the awkward silence descend.

    ¡°Came to see what, Corwin?¡± Vash asked. ¡°Came to see if I¡¯d forgiven you for letting Kat drag us into that stupid job? Or maybe you came to see if I¡¯d say ¡®I told you so¡¯ about Nyx? By the way, I told you so about Nyx.¡±

    ¡°They branded me too.¡± Corwin said, brows drawing together like thunderclouds. ¡°I was a vagabond for months. Couldn¡¯t stay in any town more than two nights. I was cheated, robbed, and beaten with no place to turn, same as you.¡±

    ¡°Not the same.¡± Vash said, anger welling up inside. ¡°You¡¯re at least human. These ¡ª ¡° Vash gestured to the pointed tips of his ears, ¡°¡ªmean I get run out of town before they notice the vagabond brand. For the gods¡¯ sake, the guards took my shoes before chasing me across the river back home. You went north with you ma¡¯s sewing money. I went south barefoot and penniless.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry it fell out that way,¡± Corwin said, meeting Vash¡¯s gaze. ¡°I wanted to make amends, and this gave me the opportunity.¡±

    ¡°Yeah? How do you figure?¡± Vash asked, leaning back against the wall. Completely relaxed, you can let your guard down, big guy.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a bad life.¡± Corwin continued, noticing the look on Vash¡¯s face. ¡°You do some good. Earn some coin. The best part is, so long as you¡¯re part of the Guild, they wipe out your vagabond status. Rise to the rank of a full Wayfarer and you can leave the Guild freed from the vagabond mark.¡±

    I¡¯ve already got a ¡®Guild¡¯ of my own. Vash thought, sourly. A clean slate, though, no vagabond mark.

    ¡°How long does it take?¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°Depends on how hard you work.¡± Corwin shrugged. ¡°Five years, maybe more. I¡¯ve still got pretty far to go, but I¡¯m not complaining.¡±

    The door creaked open. A balding man with a stocky build strode into the room. He wore a gray tunic slashed with green, the colors of the Duke¡¯s Inquisitors. Vash¡¯s guard friend followed close behind, a wide grin on his rat-like face. The Inquisitor, who was apparently in charge, stepped in front of Corwin. He took a moment and sized the younger man up.

    ¡°Wayfarers.¡± The Inquisitor scoffed. ¡°Glorified pest control for superstitious farmers up in the mountains. I am Inquisitor Jacen Glauch. My man says that you are here to discuss my prisoner, that right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I need his expertise for a quest.¡± Corwin said.

    ¡°This one¡¯s bound for the headsman.¡± Glauch said, face neutral. He spoke as though this was a natural fact and not in dispute. ¡°Duke¡¯s orders.¡±

    ¡°The quest comes from the Duke himself.¡± Corwin said. ¡°He¡¯s making a show of mercy while currying favor with the Collegium Arcanum.¡±

    ¡°The only problem plaguing the city that I¡¯ve noticed.¡± Glauch said, turning his gaze towards Vash. ¡°Are the half-breeds that keep showing up on our doorstep. I¡¯d thought that we were rid of the problem when we dealt with Ragpickers Hollow.¡±

    Vash looked back into those cold, gray eyes and recognized them. He¡¯d seen Glauch before. The Inquisitor had been wearing a helm that had obscured most of his face. He had been commanding a squad of crossbowmen on the riverside ramparts. They had been shooting refugees who were fleeing from the fires in Ragpickers Hollow. Glauch had stood out in front and pointed out fleeing part-elves to his men. It had taken all of Vash¡¯s skill to get one family safely across the river.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got the order right here,¡± Corwin said, still smiling affably. He took out a folded paper sealed with emerald wax. The Duke¡¯s seal was plainly visible.

    Glauch glanced at the paper. For a moment, Vash thought he was going to refuse to even look at i. Eventually he plucked the letter from Corwin¡¯s fingers. Glauch broke the seal and scanned the letter within. His face remained impassive, though he read it over several times.

    ¡°This is merely a delay.¡± Glauch scoffed. ¡°This one could never uphold the standards of any Guild, even one as¡­open as the Wayfarers. He might as well submit to the headsman now. Spare me the trouble of tracking him down again.¡±

    The entire time, Glauch didn¡¯t even glance at Vash. The conversation was with the other real person in the room, the other human. He felt anger rising again and took a deep breath to steady himself.

    ¡°That right, Vash?¡± Corwin asked. ¡°Are you bound for the headsman, or are you coming with me?¡±

    Vash considered the situation. He could wait and gamble that the Iona or another Eth Mitaan come to rescue him. They hadn¡¯t come when his team was cornered in the palace. Not when Quin was bleeding out on the floor in front of him, or when Jak had taken a crossbow bolt through the chest, and certainly not when Pya¡¯s rope had been cut and she had plummeted fifty feet to the cobblestones below.

    The weak get eaten. Vash recalled Byar¡¯s favorite saying.

    It wasn¡¯t likely that anyone was coming for him. He could try to escape on his own. However, only having one night made things difficult.

    Corwin was waiting, a question in his eyes.

    I can always run once we¡¯re away from the city. Vash thought. I think I can ditch a few adventurers.

    ¡°What the hell.¡± Vash said, getting to his feet. ¡°A little adventure might be good for me.¡±

    The Inquisitor held up one hand. He turned slowly to face Vash. Those cold gray eyes bored into his own. ¡°This is a temporary reprieve. Creatures like you can¡¯t help what you are. You will fail at your quest, or you will fail as a Wayfarer. It doesn¡¯t matter, when you fail, I will be there to bring you back for the punishment you know in your heart that you deserve.¡±

    Vash held Glauch¡¯s stare. Blood thundered in his ears. It would be so easy to reach out and snap the Inquisitor¡¯s neck. He had done it to guardsmen before.

    The punishment you know in your heart you deserve.

    Glauch¡¯s lips twitched in a parody of a smile. He saw something change in Vash¡¯s eyes. ¡°Step out of line, just once, and I will have you.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll be good.¡± Corwin said, putting a firm hand on Vash¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Won¡¯t you, Vash?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Vash said with a winning smile. Play this game in the street, Inquisitor, and we¡¯ll see who gets the punishment they deserve.

    ¡°You can trust me.¡±

 Episode 2: Meet The New Boss

    Vash glanced over his shoulder. As he trailed behind Corwin, the towering edifice of Graystone Prison faded away in the distance. The knot in his stomach hadn¡¯t released until they had passed beneath the Wailing Gate. The prison¡¯s infamous entrance was the last glimpse of freedom for condemned men before execution. Rumor was that hardened men, nobles, knights, warriors, had broken down sobbing when those doors slammed closed behind them. Which was how the ¡°Wailing Gate¡± got its name.

    Corwin weaved through the pedestrian traffic in the square outside the gate. He led them towards the northwest districts of the city, away from Vash¡¯s familiar haunts in the marshes and slums on the east side of the river.

    I wonder how long it would take for him to notice I wasn¡¯t following him. Vash mused, slowing his pace and falling back. First one stride, then two.

    ¡°Hurry up, Vash.¡± Corwin said, not even turning to look at him. ¡°Jabez doesn¡¯t like to be kept waiting.¡±

    Scowling, Vash sped up to join Corwin. As he got closer, Vash felt a thrumming in his Core, like it was tuning in to a similar vibration.

    Detect Mana. Vash thought. An old trick used by the Talented to keep track of one another in a group, or lock onto a target in combat. There were ways around it. Vash didn¡¯t want Corwin to know all of his tricks yet. Let him get comfortable, then I can make a break for it.

    ¡°Where are we headed?¡± Vash asked, affecting a nonchalant attitude.

    ¡°We¡¯re meeting my Master up in Traveler¡¯s Row.¡± Corwin said, sidestepping a pile of horse dung. ¡°We have rooms at an inn by the Wayfarer¡¯s Gate.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit on the nose.¡±

    ¡°The Glory Road starts at the Wayfarer¡¯s Gate.¡± Corwin said, pleasantly. "It makes sense for us Wayfarers to lodge there. Besides, Traveler¡¯s Row has Guild rates and our cash flow situation has been¡­light, lately.¡±

    Vash snorted derisively.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Vash said, scanning the road ahead. They were traveling up the Street of Blades, a row of blacksmiths, weapons makers, and armorers. Most of the criminal underworld of Sathsholm patronized these shops. A prime spot to loiter and observe arrivals from work gangs or prison barges. Knowing when the Ducal Guard had released a rival was very important information, and could be worth some decent coin. Vash spotted a few young boys clustered by the public fountain. As he and Corwin passed, the boys suddenly took to their feet and darted off in various directions.

    Now the entire city knows I¡¯m off the chopping block. Vash thought.

    ¡°Nothing? Really?¡± Corwin said, looking down at Vash. ¡°Nothing you have to say?¡±

    You really want to know, big man? All right. Vash shrugged. ¡°Just that it¡¯s my luck to not only get drafted into your Guild, but I¡¯m also drafted into an adventuring group who is apparently bad at adventuring.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not bad,¡± Corwin said, defensively. ¡°We¡¯re just more interested in saving lives than collecting coin for it.¡±

    ¡°In my book, that means you¡¯re bad at it,¡± Vash said, glancing at alleyways and rooftops. I doubt if anyone is waiting for me out here, but it never hurts to be cautious.

    Corwin was silent, eyes ahead on the street, carefully weaving past other pedestrians and detritus in the road. Vash got the feeling that he had offended the big man. Strangely, he felt bad about that. Corwin had been a friend once, and in his own mixed up way, was trying to be again.

    ¡°So,¡± Vash said, changing the subject, ¡°who¡¯s this Master of yours? Also, I¡¯m not big on the term ¡®master¡¯, so I won¡¯t be calling him that.¡±

    ¡°Jabez Ironbiter,¡± Corwin said, ¡°he brought me into the Guild back when¡ªwell, back when I was a Vagabond. He¡¯s a good guy, so be nice.¡±

    ¡°Ironbiter?¡± Vash asked. ¡°Sounds dwarfish.¡±

    ¡°Maybe because he¡¯s a dwarf.¡±

    Vash made a face. ¡°Elves and dwarves don¡¯t get along.¡±

    ¡°Good thing you¡¯re not really an elf, right?¡±

    ¡°Watch it, mal¡¯sodla.¡± Vash growled, tamping down a flash of anger.

    ¡°Whoa!¡± Corwin held up his hands, surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. You never used to claim your elvish side.¡±

    ¡°Things change in two years.¡± Vash said, voice tight. ¡°I learned to embrace certain parts of myself.¡±

    Corwin nodded, but didn¡¯t press any further.

    Old, reliable Corwin. Vash thought. There to be a friendly ear, but he never dug any deeper. Never wanted to get involved in someone else¡¯s business. There were more than a few times that Vash could have used someone getting involved. Those days were long past, though.

    ¡°What does ¡®mall sod-ya¡¯ mean?¡± Corwin asked, brows furrowed.

    ¡°Mal¡¯sodla.¡± Vash corrected. ¡°It¡¯s Vanan, high elvish, it means ¡®bad blood¡¯.¡±

    ¡°You speak elvish now?¡±

    ¡°Some. Probably about as well as you speak Old Malconian.¡± Vash shrugged.

    ¡°Probably better. That language died with the old empire for a reason.¡± Corwin said, making a disgusted face. ¡°The nominative case shall always remain a mystery to me.¡±

    Silence fell over them as they crossed the western canal. Small boats passed underneath the bridge, ferrying goods and people to the Riverside district a few blocks away. The streets were becoming more crowded as they neared Traveler¡¯s Row. People and carts were moving either towards the gates or towards the river. Sathsholm served as a crossroads for trade with the southern kingdoms, both the Great River Obrun and the smaller Summerwine river flowed past the city. The buildings were a hodge-podge of old stone construction and more recent wooden structures built out into the deltas and marshes between the rivers. Sathsholm sprawled over the northern bank of Lake Marallon, a body of water more like an inland sea than a lake. The lake provided water transport to the southern kingdom of Patria and the high elven kingdom of Vanan Esain. Bustling trade and travelers seeking their fortune filled the city. The districts of Traveler¡¯s Row, Riverside, and Reedport catered to these temporary residents. Traveler¡¯s Row, however, was more dedicated to those who fought monsters and raided dungeons for a living. It was rowdier, crowded with mercenaries, hedge-wizards, and rangers of all sorts. The shops sold weapons and armor, dungeon delving gear, travel supplies, and all the other bits and bobs needed by those who proclaimed themselves ¡°adventurers¡±.

    Vash hated to admit that he had spent a lot of time in Traveler¡¯s Row, frequenting taverns and eavesdropping on the adventures of the men and women who braved the infamous ¡°Glory Road¡±. He had considered, more than once, asking to join one of those groups and setting off to find adventure. But he always went back home.

    He had obligations.

    Oaths to fulfill.

    Duties I have to get back to. Vash thought.

    They finally turned off the High Street and into Traveler¡¯s Row. The Row was only a few blocks in size, a clustering of buildings running along one long street from the western canal to the Wayfarer¡¯s Gate. The small gate had only a token guard force, none of which were bothering to check the business of the travel-worn folk that passed by them.

    Shadows were lengthening, and the sun began to dip beyond city walls, early evening, but the party seemed in full-swing in the various taverns, gaming halls, and other entertainment venues. Vash remembered Iona telling him that if Traveler¡¯s Row ever goes quiet, then you knew something was terribly wrong in the city. Adventurers, most of them with Talents, all spending what coin they had before heading back out into the wilderness.

    The early spring evening was cool and devoid of the humidity that would plague the city in the sweltering summer months. Adventurers lounged at outdoor tables and in beer-gardens. Vash spotted various diverse groups sharing tables, pairings that would be unheard of in the more stratified parts of the city. Humans mixed with elves, the latter watching their raucous companions with detached puzzlement. Halflings flitted from group to group, making conversation, sharing songs or sampling dishes with their companions. There were a few groups of dwarves, though they kept to themselves, watching the rest of the world with disapproval from beneath their heavy leather hoods.

    Vash was so busy people-watching that he almost ran into Corwin when he stopped in front of a small inn set back slightly from the Row. There were no outdoor tables or fancy decorations, just a simple sign proclaiming it the Wandering Wayfarer with a small Wayfarer crest carved into one corner. Corwin pointed out the device. ¡°That means the owner has Guild ties. We get discounted rates and can turn in bounties anywhere that has that crest.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°Fascinating.¡± Vash said, unimpressed by the shabby exterior. The inn was far enough off the main road that the two larger establishments overshadowed it on either side. Vash had been to the other two taverns, they had gambling and bards. The Wandering Wayfarer, on the other hand, was silent and closed off. The only way to tell that it wasn¡¯t abandoned was by the glow of firelight in the windows.

    Corwin sighed. ¡°Come on.¡±

    The interior was small and dimly lit. Vash couldn¡¯t really tell if it was worse than the outside or the same. At least it looked clean and well-kept. A short L-shaped bar functioned both for serving drinks and for checking in guests for the rooms upstairs. The narrow flight of stairs to the left of the front door ran right behind the bar and looked like they could barely hold a single guest at a time. A cluster of tables formed a loose half-circle around a good-sized hearth. The small fire warded off the chill of the evening, but was not large enough to make the room uncomfortable if the tables filled up.

    Though that¡¯s not likely. Vash thought, taking in the evening¡¯s customers. A pair of older human men sat near the fire eating bowls of some sort of soup. Three women spoke quietly, with a halfling in one corner. They glanced up when he and Corwin entered, then returned quickly to their business.

    The only other patron was a stocky dwarf seated at a table removed from the others. Vash suspected that the dwarf was middle-aged, as such things might be measured by his people, which would put him somewhere between one-hundred fifty and two-hundred. Gray was touching the dwarf¡¯s auburn beard, and he had deep frown lines at the corners of his eyes and around his mouth. He was leafing through a battered book and nursing a pint of something dark with a frothy head. The dwarf looked up when the door opened and gave Corwin a nod of recognition before giving Vash a once-over. His face settled into a deep frown of discomfort, then waved them both over.

    ¡°You took your time.¡± The dwarf grumbled, still watching Vash carefully. ¡°I thought you were planning on being back by mid-afternoon.¡±

    ¡°There were some issues at the prison.¡± Corwin said, taking a seat to the dwarf¡¯s right. ¡°An Inquisitor wanted to throw his weight around.¡±

    ¡°Is that going to be a problem?¡±

    Corwin shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ll be on the road in a day or so. Once we¡¯re out of the city, I doubt there¡¯s much they can do.¡±

    The dwarf grunted, half acknowledgment and half irritation. Then he turned his sharp gray eyes on Vash¡¯s face. ¡°So this is your elf friend?¡±

    ¡°Part-elf.¡± Vash corrected.

    Giving Vash a sour look, the dwarf shut his book and kicked out the chair on his other side. ¡°Boy, you¡¯re going to find that very few folk outside of the gods-damned knife-ears themselves are going to care if you''re full elf, half elf, or one-tenth on your mother¡¯s side. You got the ears, you¡¯re an elf. The sooner you accept that, the easier life is going to get out there.¡±

    Oh, this is going to be fun. Vash thought, bitterly. He kept his mouth shut, though, and took the offered seat.

    The dwarf took a swig from his mug, ale dribbling out of the corners of his mouth and dampening his beard. Lowering the mug, he wiped the foam from his mustache with his sleeve. Vash noted the cuff was frayed and faded from long wear, with stains from leather and sweat. Faded scars on the backs of the dwarf¡¯s hands and across his knuckles were easy to see.

    A fighter, Vash mused. Hard up for coin since that¡¯s an old tunic. But he must be a pretty good fighter, since those scars are all old, nothing too recent. Iona had taught him to ¡®read¡¯ opponents over many long nights at taverns all over the city. A fighter with old scars meant that he had learned from them and gotten better.

    ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t do us any good to sit here and give each other the stink-eye all night.¡± The dwarf grumbled. ¡°You can call me Jabez. I¡¯m Corwin¡¯s teacher and sponsor in the Wayfarers.¡±

    ¡°He called you his master.¡± Vash said, glancing at Corwin.

    ¡°That¡¯s my title,¡± Jabez said, ¡°I¡¯m a fifth-rank Master, I think. I haven¡¯t looked at the rankings in a while. I¡¯m not big on the formalities.¡±

    ¡°Good, I wasn¡¯t going to call you master.¡±

    ¡°Jabez will do fine.¡± The dwarf said, lifting his mug again. ¡°And what do I call you, other than elf boy?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Vash.¡±

    Jabez paused and cocked his head. ¡°That¡¯s an unusual one. Your mother just named you ¡®son¡¯.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Corwin asked, confused.

    ¡°The word ¡®vash¡¯ means ¡®son¡¯, in Vanan.¡± Vash explained, then turned to Jabez. ¡°No, my full name is Liellovash.¡±

    Jabez nearly choked on his ale. He coughed and spluttered for a minute, blinking in surprise.

    Yeah, it¡¯s real funny. Vash thought, waiting for the inevitable.

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­very unusual.¡± Jabez said when he finished coughing.

    ¡°Why?¡± Corwin asked. ¡°What¡¯s it mean?¡±

    ¡°Loosely translated, it means ¡®son of a bitch¡¯.¡± Vash said, giving Corwin a sharp look.

    ¡°Oh.¡± Corwin said, surprised.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to ask ¡ª¡± Jabez said, waving off Vash¡¯s dark look.

    ¡°My mother didn¡¯t know much elvish.¡± Vash cut in. ¡°The last words my father said to her before he left were Liellovash. She thought it was an elvish farewell, and it sounded nice.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Jabez said. ¡°I¡¯ll just stick to Vash, if it¡¯s all the same.¡±

    Vash shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve been called worse.¡±

    Corwin was looking more and more uncomfortable. Not going the way you thought, big guy? Vash thought. Maybe this wasn¡¯t such a good idea. You can let me run off to the Eth Mitaan, assuage your guilt and let me get back to my life.

    ¡°Now that introductions are out of the way, let¡¯s get down to business.¡± Jabez said, pushing away his mug and flipping through the pages of the battered book in front of him on the table.

    ¡°According to the guard, you ran with a group of criminals that all possessed Talents. Is that correct?¡±

    ¡°We weren¡¯t criminals.¡± Vash countered.

    Jabez looked up, giving Vash a blank look. ¡°No?¡±

    ¡°We helped the part-elves in Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow.¡± Vash said. ¡°We protected them, provided food, clothes, medicine ¡ª ¡°

    ¡°Killed rival gangs who impinged on your territory?¡± Jabez replied. ¡°Smuggled Therium salts and redleaf through the Riverside docks?¡±

    ¡°We had to get money somehow.¡± Vash said, bitterly. ¡°And those rival gangs would have killed our people, made things even worse in the Hollow.¡±

    ¡°You also ran loan operations through various front businesses.¡± Jabez said, looking down at a sheet of notes that he had used as a placeholder in his book. ¡°I¡¯m sure your people gave generous terms and were very understanding about repayment options.¡±

    Vash remained silent. That part of the business had always rubbed him the wrong way. Byar said that it was necessary, a source of funds, to fight their oppressors. Vash thought it was merely taking advantage of people who had nowhere else to go.

    ¡°We¡¯ll come back to that another time, I suppose,¡± Jabez said. ¡°But your group had Talents, and they taught you, right?¡±

    ¡°They did.¡± Vash admitted.

    ¡°So, what did they teach you?¡± Jabez asked. ¡°There''re different skills needed for an adventurer than for¡­whatever you were.¡±

    Vash bit back a retort. ¡°They taught me a variety of skills I might need. Enhance Ability was first, mostly focusing on speed and accuracy. Detect Mana to locate targets and work with the team. Shadowmeld to hide from enemies.¡±

    ¡°How dark do you need it for that one to work?¡± Jabez asked, taking out a nub of a pencil and scribbling some notes on his scrap of paper.

    ¡°Twilight is good, full dark is better.¡± Vash said he felt strange admitting to the abilities the Eth Mitaan taught him, but proud as well. He had worked hard to gain those Talents. ¡°Sneak Attack and Waylay on the combat side of things.¡±

    ¡°Yeah? What rank were those?¡± Jabez asked, continuing to make notes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how the Wayfarers do their rankings.¡± Vash said. ¡°But I had progressed to the third level on both.¡±

    ¡°Iron Rank 3.¡± Jabez noted. ¡°Decent for an apprentice.¡±

    Vash wanted to contest the ¡®apprentice¡¯ part, but he didn¡¯t want to admit to some of his other abilities, the ones that he knew were unusual or looked on with suspicion.

    ¡°Anything else?¡± Jabez asked, looking up.

    Vash shook his head. ¡°Just developing my Core and mana capacity.¡±

    Jabez frowned, looking down at the sheet in front of him. ¡°For a criminal gang operating on the outskirts, this is a good start. For a Wayfarer it¡¯s all wrong.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Corwin asked, looking concerned.

    ¡°His focus is on combat.¡± Jabez said. ¡°Apprentice Wayfarers focus more on delver¡¯s Talents: Detect Traps, Lockpick, Waysight, Move Silently, Mindmap, those sorts of things. Getting to Iron Rank 3 in Sneak Attack is great for taking out a group of goblins, but you and I can do that more efficiently with our Talents. What we need is someone who can guide us through a dungeon while avoiding traps. Someone who can move past enemies unseen and get into a better position. A few ranger Talents wouldn¡¯t go amiss either.¡±

    ¡°He can learn those, though.¡± Corwin said, trying to reassure Vash. ¡°Right?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a rogue.¡± Jabez shrugged. ¡°We¡¯d have to get him seen by a Master Delver at the Lodge to find out if he has any chance of learning the more subtle Talents.¡±

    Corwin tried to hide his wince, but Vash noticed. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s an extra cost associated with consulting one of the Lodge Masters, besides the price of your membership,¡± Jabez said, closing his book. ¡°And I¡¯m sure Corwin mentioned that we¡¯re low on funds.¡±

    ¡°Cost?¡± Vash inquired in as neutral a voice as he could manage. ¡°No one mentioned a cost to all this.¡±

    Corwin started speak, likely to make some sort awkward apology, but Jabez cut him off. ¡°There¡¯s a registration fee of 3,500 gold to the Wayfarers, a 1,500 gold application fee to the Delver¡¯s League, partially refundable upon reaching Journeyman rank, five-hundred gold for a Wayfarer amulet, seven-hundred fifty for Guild affiliate membership, and five-hundred to the widows and orphans fund.¡±

    ¡°Almost seven-thousand gold to join your little club?¡± Vash asked incredulously.

    ¡°That¡¯s not counting training fees from Lodge Masters,¡± Jabez said, impassively. ¡°I can teach you a lot about basic adventuring, but Delver talents are beyond me. The one here in Sathsholm will probably charge between two-fifty and three-hundred for an evaluation.¡±

    ¡°No wonder you people are always broke.¡± Vash muttered. ¡°There¡¯s no way I can afford that much, considering I just got out of prison. Judging by your choice of lodgings, I¡¯m guessing you can¡¯t either.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± Corwin said in a placating tone. ¡°I thought it was impossible when Jabez told me the first time, too. The Guild works on credit. You just owe a larger portion of any quest rewards or bounties to the Guild until your debt is repaid.¡±

    ¡°How long does that take?¡±

    ¡°A while.¡± Jabez said. ¡°Work hard and you can discharge your debt by the time you¡¯re a Journeyman. That is, if you earn your ranks.¡±

    ¡°Who decides if I earn my ranks?¡± Vash asked, suspicious.

    ¡°I do.¡± Jabez said, voice carefully neutral.

    ¡°I see,¡± Vash said. He couldn¡¯t help but see the reluctance and irritation in Jabez¡¯s eyes. He doesn¡¯t want this, he definitely doesn¡¯t want me. ¡°This was an amazing idea, Corwin. I¡¯m sure the Inquisitors can have me back in my cell by morning. They¡¯ll probably even keep their deposit on the headsman.¡±

    ¡°Come on, Vash.¡± Corwin protested. ¡°You haven¡¯t even given it a chance ¡ª ¡°

    ¡°What chance?¡± Vash countered. ¡°He doesn¡¯t want me. Doesn¡¯t know how to train me. Even if I make it, I won¡¯t have the money to advance. So, tell me Corwin, what chance do I have?¡±

    ¡°Enough of that.¡± Jabez snapped. ¡°When Corwin came to me with this fool idea, I thought he was daft. I don¡¯t know you. I heard of your friends. The Eth Mitaan? Never anything good. What you did in Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow is the first selfless thing I heard about those butchers. Also, Corwin feels he owes you a chance. So, I¡¯m willing to give you one,¡± Jabez said, his face like stone and eyes flinty. ¡°I will tell you this, though. If we¡¯re wrong, and you turn out to be what they say you are. The Inquisitors won¡¯t have to worry. I¡¯ll end you myself. Understand?¡±

    A statement like that would normally have earned a snide remark from Vash. There was something in Jabez¡¯s eyes that told him that this was no idle threat. The older dwarf had the same look that Byar had when sending them out to do some bloody work. A thrum of mana from the dwarf¡¯s Core told Vash not to push his luck. Vash dropped his eyes.

    Jabez let out a long breath. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve gotten that out of our system. When was the last time you ate?¡±

 Episode 3: Bed and Breakfast

    Dinner was an awkward affair. Vash was not interested in conversation, but the prospect of actual food after three days on the run from the Duke¡¯s Guard after Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow was too tempting to give up. The barmaid, a woman in her middle-years with a few strands of gray threaded through her dark brown hair, brought them bowls of soup and generous hunks of crusty bread. The soup was hearty, if plain. Vegetables and rice with some shredded chicken meat thrown in. Vash didn¡¯t care. He attacked the bowl like he had a bottomless pit to fill in his stomach.

    ¡°Nice to see someone appreciating my soup.¡± The barmaid said, leveling a pointed look at Corwin.

    Corwin held up his hands in self-defense. ¡°I just said it needed a bit of salt.¡±

    The woman scoffed, then turned to Jabez. ¡°Drinks for the lads?¡±

    ¡°Round of ales, thank you,¡± Jabez said in a low rumble Vash was coming to realize was his customary manner of speaking. ¡°And we¡¯ll take our room afterwards.¡±

    ¡°Room¡¯s only got two beds. Want me to toss in a pallet for the new boy?¡± The barmaid asked, gesturing at Vash.

    ¡°If it¡¯s not too much trouble.¡±

    ¡°Not at all.¡± The barmaid said. ¡°Those rangers left this afternoon, so we have a few spares. Merchant group heads out in the morning, so we might have enough guild-rate rooms available tomorrow night for you all to bunk private. That is, if you¡¯re staying another night?¡±

    ¡°That depends.¡± Jabez said, breaking his bread and dunking it into his bowl. ¡°Taking this one to the Lodge tomorrow. If our business ends early, then we may head out in the afternoon.¡±

    ¡°Just let me know.¡± The barmaid shrugged and left to go fetch drinks.

    After she left, Jabez flipped open his book again and made a notation on his bookmark. Vash glanced over and saw it was a running tally of numbers. From what he could see, those numbers were quite low. Jabez looked up and noticed him peeking at his notes. The dwarf frowned and closed the book.

    ¡°Sorry.¡± Vash said, flippant. ¡°I didn¡¯t know a running tally of your expenses was a big secret.¡±

    ¡°Not a secret.¡± Jabez grumbled. ¡°I just expect to have my privacy respected. Just like I¡¯ll respect yours if you become my apprentice.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Vash asked, doubtfully.

    Jabez sat back, chewing, and held Vash in a long gaze. Once his mouth was clear, he heaved a sigh. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask about the Vagabond mark on your arm. Didn¡¯t ask about your Eth Mitaan friends. You join the Wayfarers and your past is your past. So long as you do the job, then it can stay in the past. It¡¯s a fresh start, boy. Most folk don¡¯t get that in this life.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like being called ¡®boy¡¯.¡± Vash said, sullen. He never enjoyed being lectured or when people proved him wrong.

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Jabez said as the barmaid returned with three tankards.

    ¡°Here we go, gents.¡± She said, placing a tankard by each of them. Stopping by Vash, she gave him a thoughtful look. ¡°You look familiar. Have you been here before?¡±

    Vash shook his head. ¡°No, sorry.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s local to the city.¡± Corwin explained. ¡°You might have seen him around.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± the barmaid said, giving Vash another look, noting his pointed ears. ¡°Hope you weren¡¯t out in Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow. Terrible business what happened out there.¡±

    ¡°What do you think happened out there?¡± Vash asked, keeping his voice pleasant.

    ¡°Vash.¡± Corwin said, his voice holding a warning note.

    The barmaid took a slight step back and frowned down at him. ¡°What I heard happened was that a lot of innocent folk got caught up in a pissing match between the Duke and one of the gangs. Things escalated, now the Hollow is burnt out, and the gang got themselves wiped out when they tried to get revenge. Sound about right to you?¡±

    Vash wanted to say something pithy and cutting, like Iona would have. But what the barmaid said cut pretty close to the reality of the situation. The Eth Mitaan had tweaked the Duke¡¯s nose one too many times. It shouldn¡¯t have happened like that, but they had gotten reckless, drunk on their own success. Now their own people were paying for their hubris.

    ¡°Room¡¯s ready when you are.¡± The barmaid said to Jabez, then strode off to help other customers.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to be a delightful traveling companion.¡± Jabez said, taking a deep drink from his tankard. ¡°Do you piss off everyone you meet, or just people trying to be nice to you?¡±

    Vash stayed silent but glanced up at Corwin, who gave him a look of pity, then concentrated on his own bowl. For the first time in a long time, Vash felt very alone.

    <hr>

    The pallet on the floor hadn¡¯t been too bad. Stuffed with rushes, with a clean sheet and blanket, it was the most comfortable bed he¡¯d slept on all week. The competing snores coming from Jabez and Corwin, however, were another matter. Exhaustion had finally taken him sometime deep in the night as he counted the heartbeats between when Jabez would stop breathing and when he would restart with a loud, sudden snort.

    Vash slept fitfully. Dreams of fire, blood, and screams kept bringing him back to consciousness. The unfamiliar locale didn¡¯t help either. Every creak on the stairs or footstep in the hallway brought a surge of panic, making him wish for his tiny room back at the temple. It had been cramped and smelled of damp earth and rot, but he knew every footstep that went past his door was a brother or sister.

    When the sun finally rose, Vash felt like he had barely closed his eyes all night. Still, Jabez managed to rise before him and nudge him awake with the toe of his heavy boot. ¡°Come on, lad. Lodge opens soon and we have some work to do.¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    From boy to lad. Vash thought as he squirmed out from beneath his blanket. In a week I¡¯ll be ¡°son¡± or ¡°m¡¯boy¡±. Won¡¯t that be fun?

    Corwin was already awake and buckling on a heavy leather jerkin. A sword with a well-worn hilt wrapped in leather lay on the bed beside him. The scabbard was plain, something any mercenary would carry. The pommel had an intricate device worked into the metal, though. That indicated that it had been crafted specifically for someone, making it more than just a common blade. Wonder where he got that? Vash wondered, pulling on his own tunic and searching for where he¡¯d left his boots.

    Jabez hefted a large hammer, the head of which was easily the size of two large fists put together. Dwarvish rune writing was engraved into the head and into the polished wood of the handle. If Vash had to guess, then that hammer was very old and an heirloom of some kind. He had always heard that the dwarves handed down weapons through their families, though usually to favored sons and daughters, not ones who became common Wayfarers.

    The tavern was just as empty as the previous night. Only one woman and the halfling occupied the tables when Vash came down the stairs. The smell of sweetrolls wafted from the kitchen, and Vash felt his stomach growl.

    The halfling looked up at the sound and gave a lopsided grin. ¡°I know the feeling, friend. Lin¡¯s sweetrolls are half the reason I stay at this inn when I come through Sathsholm.¡±

    ¡°I rarely get something that smells like that to break my fast.¡± Vash said, looking at the halfling¡¯s plate and the coil of cinnamon, soft dough, and sugar glaze that was in the middle of swift consumption. ¡°I¡¯m lucky to get anything at all, to be honest.¡±

    The halfling nodded, making his long, curled mustaches bob with the motion of his head. ¡°Oh believe me, I understand. I spend most of my time on the road as well. Not as much as you folk, of course, but a considerable part of the year.¡±

    ¡°Us folk?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re with those Wayfarers, right?¡± The halfling asked, cocking his head slightly. ¡°I saw you with the dwarf and the big man last night.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right.¡± Vash nodded. ¡°I guess I¡¯m still on probation.¡±

    ¡°Ah, well, good luck. Need more Wayfarers out there on the Glory Road. Ever since the Obrun River Valley opened up, there¡¯s been no end of bandits and other odd things out on the roads. Too much money flowing and not enough swords to keep it safe.¡± The halfling shook his head.

    ¡°I¡­I must have missed the news.¡± Vash said. He¡¯d heard that big things were happening in the north, but big things were always happening in the north and it hadn¡¯t concerned him yet.

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    The halfling gave a broad grin and leaned closer, as though he were sharing a great secret. ¡°Only the biggest news in the past century. Dwermothrax, the dread is dead!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­good?¡±

    ¡°Dwermothrax was a bloody old dragon. One of the great wyrms. He claimed a vast valley up in the mountains, the headwaters of the Great Obrun river itself, and ruled it like a great scaly tyrant. A few small settlements were allowed up there. Shepherds, farmers, that sort of thing. Dwermothrax tolerated them so long as they didn¡¯t put up a fuss when he raided their sheep. Anyway, a couple months back, a few shepherd boys were tracking some wayward sheep, and they came across Dwermothrax, slinking back into the mountains. His wings were torn to ribbons, and he¡¯d taken great wounds all over his body.¡± The halfling shook his head in amazement. ¡°Still, he was damn terrifying. The boys tried to hide, but he spotted them, told ¡®em that his wounds were mortal and that he wouldn¡¯t be around to keep the valley safe much longer. Told ¡®em that the valley and all its riches belonged to those that could keep it, then warned ¡®em that dark times were coming and that they had to be prepared. Then he crawled into the caves beneath the mountain. Few days later, a great storm could be seen over Drakenvult, the mountain that he made his home. Everyone says that was his death throes. Now there¡¯s a great rush to the valley to find Dwermothrax¡¯s hoard and plunder the riches that he kept us all away from all these years.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite a story.¡± Vash said, unsure of how he was supposed to react.

    ¡°Aye, and now there are riches coming down the roads. The first folk in the valley found Therium in the rivers. Big nuggets just lying in the water for the taking. Which means there are bigger seams up in the mountains. Artificers and alchemists will pay through the nose for just a bit of that stuff, but that¡¯s nothing compared to what a wizard will pay for a steady supply.¡± The halfling¡¯s eyes gleamed at the prospect. ¡°But lots of riches means lots of bandits. Which means a load of silver for you folk as caravan guards and bandit patrols.¡±

    ¡°I suppose so,¡± Vash said, distracted. A tray of sweetrolls was coming out of the kitchen and a plate of them was making its way to the table where Corwin and Jabez were getting settled.

    ¡°I see I¡¯m keeping you from important matters.¡± The halfling chuckled. ¡°I hope we meet again sometime. I¡¯m always looking to make friends with Wayfarers. The name¡¯s Silas Quartercall, of Quartercall¡¯s Fine Goods.¡±

    Silas held out a hand and gave Vash a bright smile. Vash gave a weak grin and accepted the handshake. ¡°Vash Ballard.¡±

    ¡°Pleased to meet you, Master Ballard.¡± Silas said, pumping Vash¡¯s hand enthusiastically. ¡°If you¡¯re ever in need of coin, look for me on the Glory Road. You and your strapping companions would be most welcome in any caravan I travel with. My partners and I would make it well worth your while.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­uh¡­I¡¯ll let them know.¡± Vash said, letting go of Silas¡¯ hand and backing away. The halfling gave him a jaunty wave, then turned back to his table companion, talking animatedly and digging back into his half-finished sweetroll.

    ¡°Making new friends?¡± Corwin asked when Vash finally joined them.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t trying to.¡± Vash said, still a bit bewildered.

    ¡°That¡¯s halflings for you.¡± Jabez grunted.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen Silas a few times on the Road.¡± Corwin said, tearing into his sweetroll. ¡°Seems a good sort. Always has an idea of where the winds are blowing.¡±

    ¡°He said that the Obrun River Valley is open and that some big dragon is dead.¡± Vash shrugged, reaching for a roll.

    Jabez paused, a mug halfway to his lips. ¡°Dwermothrax the Dread is dead?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what Silas said.¡± Vash said, taking a bite of the roll. It tasted every bit as good as it smelled. He had a hard time not letting out a moan of pleasure. It had been a long time since he¡¯d had any sweets or rich foods. The Eth Mitaan kept him fed, but the meals couldn¡¯t be called high-quality fare.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to look into that.¡± Jabez grumbled, taking a drink from a clay mug of strong tea, cloudy with milk and honey.

    ¡°That¡¯s up the Highland Road, isn¡¯t it?¡± Corwin asked. ¡°I thought nobody went up that way.¡±

    ¡°Because of the bloody great dragon.¡± Jabez said. ¡°There used to be a lot of things in that valley. It was an old outpost during the Malconian Empire. Some of the great wizards had towers up there during the Mage Wars. Who knows how many dungeons have formed since those times?¡±

    ¡°Sounds dangerous.¡± Corwin said.

    ¡°Sounds like an opportunity.¡± Vash countered.

    Jabez gave Vash an appraising look. ¡°Sounds like something we¡¯ll worry about if we can get you Wayfarer status, and if we make good on the quest the Duke gave us to secure your freedom.¡±

    ¡°Corwin mentioned something about that when he came to get me,¡± Vash said, stuffing the last of his roll into his mouth. ¡°What are we supposed to do, exactly?¡±

    ¡°Helping some mage in a village north of here.¡± Corwin said. ¡°Nothing special.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that once we get you squared away.¡± Jabez said, tossing back the last of his tea. ¡°Speaking of which, we should get going before the Lodge gets too busy.¡±

    Corwin nodded, snagging the last roll from the platter and holding it in his teeth while he settled his sword belt.

    Vash rose reluctantly, the sweetroll starting to do some somersaults in his stomach. That¡¯s foolish. I¡¯ve been in the inner sanctum of the Eth Mitaan. I¡¯m not worried about some adventurer¡¯s test. ¡°Anything I should know before we do this?¡±

    Jabez thought for a moment, hefting his hammer onto his shoulder. ¡°Evaluations are different at every Lodge and for every Master. If I had any advice, it¡¯s this: being a Wayfarer isn¡¯t about having a bunch of Talents and magic items, it¡¯s about knowing how to use what you do have to your advantage.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Vash muttered. ¡°Right now, I don¡¯t have much of anything.¡±

 Episode 4: The Guild Lodge

    It was a short walk from the Wandering Wayfarer to the Sathsholm Wayfarer¡¯s Lodge. Just a few blocks from the high street in Traveler¡¯s Row. Corwin and Jabez moved confidently through the early morning crowd, heading towards the gate. Jabez returned a few hails from other Wayfarers, but didn¡¯t stop to converse. It seemed like Jabez actively avoided other people, a heavy thundercloud of a look on his face. Corwin, however, would occasionally stop to chat for a few moments, then jog to catch up to Vash and Jabez before they turned a corner and left him behind. Vash kept his eyes open. The little rats from the Street of Blades had spotted him the evening before. He had made plenty of enemies in the other gangs in the city, that he was out in the open and not with the other Eth Mitaan made him vulnerable. Walking about in broad daylight felt like he had a target painted on his back. It was like an itch between his shoulder-blades that he couldn¡¯t scratch.

    Just because I can¡¯t see them yet, Vash thought, doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re not there.

    Mercifully, the walk was over quickly. The Lodge looked like all the other warehouses in the city, a squat, blocky structure with few windows on a cleared lot. A sign hung above the massive double-doors. A device that was the combination of two Malconian runes: the Wanja rune that often stood for mercenary or sellsword in Old Malconian script and the Vekh rune, that meant stranger or traveler without a home. Vash was very familiar with the Vekh rune. A constable in Durron¡¯s Ford had branded one on his forearm. The Vagabond brand was a ¡®merciful¡¯ alternative to death. It was as old as the Malconian Empire, since the Solarians adopted it from them. The mark doomed Vagabonds to spend their lives wandering from place to place. Every country in the Grand Alliance has a law that forbids vagabonds from staying in any town or village longer than two nights. It effectively removed them from society, never allowing the branded to set down roots. The Wayfarers Guild was one of the few groups that took in Vagabonds. Become a Wayfarer and they forgave your mark, but that meant you spent your life as an adventurer. A life that was often hard, painful, and short.

    A hulking, seven-foot tall Orc guarded the door, heavy mace within easy reach. He glanced down with beady, black eyes as Jabez, Corwin, and Vash approached. His voice rumbled like thunder. ¡°What¡¯s your business?¡±

    If the brute intimidated Jabez, he didn¡¯t show it. ¡°New apprentice. Need to get a Delver¡¯s evaluation.¡±

    The Orc looked over at Vash and drew back his lips from his tusks. Vash couldn¡¯t tell if he was smiling or snarling. ¡°Master Eddar will need to look at him before Master Royce can run him through the Gauntlet.¡±

    Jabez frowned. ¡°Eddar about?¡±

    The Orc hooked a thumb towards the door. ¡°He¡¯s in the in his office. In a foul mood, though.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±

    This time, the Orc bared his tusks in an obvious grin. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ll see.¡±

    Jabez let out an annoyed grunt and pushed open one of the great doors. Corwin followed and motioned to Vash to keep up. As he passed beneath the hulking Orc, Vash thought he heard him chuckle, a deep rumbling sound in his chest. It was unnerving.

    After Vash passed through the door, it swung closed behind him with a great boom that echoed through the cavernous front room. Heads looked up at the sound. Tables stood throughout the front room for anyone to use. Several adventuring parties gathered with books, maps, and notes strewn about as they researched various quests. After giving the new arrivals a quick once-over, the adventurers went back to what they were doing, some with annoyed looks at the interruption.

    Directly in front of them was an impressive-looking desk. An older woman sat at the desk, filling out paperwork. Behind her was a large board with cards tacked to the soft wooden surface. The cards hung in precise columns that were labeled Iron, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Vash guessed that those were some sort of ranking system to determine which Wayfarer could take which quest.

    The wall to Vash¡¯s right had several bronze coins with the Wayfarer device embossed on them, hanging from hooks. Each coin had a name written on a card beneath them. Some names looked familiar, but most were unknown to him. Hallways lead back into the depths of the lodge, one next to the quest board, one in the center of the room and one at the far end.

    Jabez approached the clerk at the desk. ¡°I¡¯m looking for Master Eddar. Your Orc at the door said I had to bring my apprentice by before getting an evaluation.¡±

    The clerk looked up from her paperwork, a confused expression on her face. Then she looked past Jabez, spotted Vash, and she looked slightly pained. ¡°Ah yes, you¡¯re the ones. Down the hall behind me, office at the far end.¡±

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Jabez said, looking irritated. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get this over with.¡±

    Vash followed Jabez and Corwin back into the halls of the Lodge. The walls were oak-paneled and had a deep, earthy stain, giving the hall the look of a wealthy gentleman¡¯s club. Gilded mage-lamps glowed at regular intervals in the hallway. A few clerks moved with swift efficiency from one room to the next, often clutching stacks of papers.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°This place looks more like a bank than an adventurer¡¯s hall.¡± Vash said.

    ¡°It sort of is a bank.¡± Corwin explained. ¡°Wayfarers have accounts here and credit, which we can spend with affiliated businesses. It¡¯s also a research library, networking hub, center for professional development. It serves a lot of functions within the Guild.¡±

    Vash nodded, glancing into the open rooms as they passed. He saw one set up like a martial school with training dummies and targets. A few young men and women were being put through a series of sword forms under the stern eye of a gray-haired dwarf. Another room was shelf-upon-shelf of books and scrolls. Finally, they came to the end of the hallway and a heavy door with a brass plate at human eye-level. The plate read simply ¡®Lodge Master¡¯.

    Jabez knocked with one heavy fist, then waited. After a few moments, came a call from within. ¡°Come!¡±

    The office had the same oak paneling as the rest of the Lodge, but it shone with recent oiling. Large windows let in the morning sunlight and showed a small private garden just outside. Several portraits hung on the walls, two humans and two elves that Vash didn¡¯t recognize. At one end stood a heavy desk with the device of the Wayfarer¡¯s Guild carved into the front.

    At the desk sat a human. He was in his middle-years with wide wings of gray hair sweeping from his temples, overtaking the chestnut brown of his youth. He wore a pair of optics perched on the end of his nose as he read over a report. Glancing up, he fixed the three of them with a frown and then waved them inside. ¡°Come in, don¡¯t dawdle in the doorway.¡±

    Jabez strode to the center of the room, then let his hammer fall from his shoulder and rest, head-down, on the carpet. The head made a heavy thunk as it came to a rest. Eddar winced, but refrained from commenting. Vash and Corwin flanked Jabez, standing sightly behind the dwarf and at each of his shoulders. Vash wasn¡¯t sure what exactly was going on, but there was a palpable tension in the air.

    Eddar took off his optics and tossed them onto the desk, rubbing his eyes. ¡°Do you have any idea how much trouble you¡¯re causing me, Jabez?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Jabez said, dryly. ¡°But I have a feeling you¡¯re about to tell me.¡±

    ¡°When you came by before, I told you that getting one of the Eth Mitaan out of Graystone using Wayfarer privilege was a bad idea. I distinctly remember telling you to drop it.¡± Eddar said. ¡°And now you¡¯re standing here, with one of them standing beside you, and asking for a Guild evaluation.¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t just let him die, Master Eddar ¡ª ¡° Corwin began, but Eddar cut him short with a glare.

    ¡°I will get to you later.¡± Eddar said. ¡°You went far beyond the scope of any apprentice in this situation. Going straight to the Duke himself? Are you mad?¡±

    Corwin flushed and looked at his boots.

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it out on the boy,¡± Jabez said. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have put the fool notion in his head.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I know,¡± Eddar agreed. ¡°And now I have to deal with a Solarian law being invoked here in Galadon because of the frankly bewildering treaties signed at the formation of the Grand Alliance. A law, I might add, that was never invoked in Galadon until yesterday. That Duke Adolus agreed to honor the law and had a quest ready to go in exchange is troubling on many levels.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean ¡®a quest ready to go¡¯?¡± Vash asked, puzzled.

    ¡°It means that the Duke had something prepared when Corwin got there to invoke Wayfarer privilege.¡± Jabez said, turning to glare at Corwin over one shoulder. ¡°Which means he knew what we were going to do and then used it to his advantage.¡±

    ¡°When I heard you¡¯d taken a Vagabond as an apprentice, I had thought that was odd. Now you¡¯ve taken two.¡± Eddar said, incredulous. ¡°You should be retired in a Lodge somewhere, Jabez. Instead, you¡¯re running around like it¡¯s the old days and shadowspawn are crawling over the mountains to threaten the realms of men. Not only that, but you¡¯re bringing in folk that have no training, no background in this kind of work, and that actively threatens our position here in the South. This isn¡¯t Solaria or Nosvaral. They haven¡¯t seen the same things down here. So Wayfarers are a curiosity, an interesting bauble to look at for a moment and then ignore. If we cause trouble, then we might be told to pack our bags and leave.¡±

    Jabez looked at Eddar with a stoic gaze. ¡°You finished?¡±

    Eddar sighed. ¡°Yes, I suppose so.¡±

    ¡°Good, I need a Delver evaluation for the boy.¡±

    Eddar sighed and pulled over a heavy, leather-bound ledger. He flipped through pages until he found what he was looking for and grimaced. ¡°Royce has a three-hundred gold fee for evaluation and your debt to the Guild is¡­substantial.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m good for it.¡±

    ¡°And if he passes?¡± Eddar asked, making a notation in the ledger. ¡°I¡¯m not sure we can extend credit for registration.¡±

    ¡°We can talk about that after the evaluation.¡±

    Eddar looked up at Jabez and shook his head. ¡°I suppose we can¡¯t save everyone from themselves. Have you ever been on the Delver side of the house?¡±

    ¡°Never had a need.¡± Jabez shrugged.

    ¡°They¡¯re a bit peculiar, but Royce is a fair judge of talent, so he¡¯ll give you a good evaluation,¡± Eddar said, closing the book. ¡°I¡¯m sure Royce knows you¡¯re in the building. He¡¯ll meet you in the common room.¡±

    Jabez nodded to Eddar, turning to leave.

    ¡°One last thing,¡± Eddar said, ¡°Duke Adolus rarely offers quests to the Wayfarers. He usually has private adventurers for this sort of thing, people who don¡¯t ask many questions. I¡¯d be careful out there, if I were you.¡±

    Jabez merely grunted in acknowledgment before turning towards the office door. Vash followed, turning over Eddar¡¯s words in his mind. The Duke has private adventurers. The Duke has an obsession with a variety of items and artifacts from the elder days, before the fall of Malconia. I always thought he just bought them, not that he organized quests.

    The thought of raiding a dungeon for the Duke was galling. He hated the very idea of doing anything for Adolus¡¯ benefit. He was so preoccupied that he didn¡¯t notice that Jabez and Corwin had come to a halt and he nearly tripped over the dwarf.

    ¡°What is it¡ª ¡° Vash began, then looked up to see a group of men in gray tunics slashed with green. They were wandering around the main hall, attempting to look unobtrusive while pointedly looking for something. At the main desk stood a stocky man with a bald head. ¡°Dammit.¡±

    Inquisitor Glauch looked up, his cold gray eyes settling on Vash. His face settled into a look of satisfaction. ¡°Ah, there you are.¡±

 Episode 5: Uninvited Guests

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Corwin asked, drawing himself to his full height and glaring at Glauch. ¡°We haven¡¯t broken the terms of the agreement. There¡¯s no need to be looking for Vash.¡±

    Glauch¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change as he looked over at Corwin. ¡°I¡¯m here on the Duke¡¯s business. We heard that our little friend here was to receive his evaluation, and I am tasked with providing a thorough report to his Grace on his capabilities.¡±

    ¡°Yeah? Why is that?¡± Jabez asked.

    Glauch blinked as though the answer was obvious. ¡°His Grace wishes to determine the likelihood that your group will succeed at the task he has given you. Surely you can¡¯t begrudge him his curiosity. We have seen the Eth Mitaan in action, but we have never really had an accounting of their abilities and¡­weaknesses.¡± Glauch gave Vash an unpleasant smile. ¡°It should prove quite illuminating.¡±

    Vash suppressed a snarl. Watch all you like, mal¡¯sodla, you won¡¯t learn a damn thing. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that I was going to be on display. I would have dressed better.¡±

    Jabez waved an irritated hand at Vash. ¡°Cut that out. We don¡¯t normally have outsiders observing the Gauntlet, but I don¡¯t see the harm, so long as you don¡¯t interfere.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be a fly on the wall,¡± Glauch said, raising a conciliatory hand, ¡°You¡¯ll never know I¡¯m here.¡±

    ¡°Good, now we can discuss the fee.¡± Jabez nodded.

    ¡°Fee?¡± Glauch quirked an eyebrow, suddenly unsure.

    ¡°To observe,¡± Jabez said, ¡°You didn¡¯t think we¡¯d just let you do that for free, did you?¡±

    The look on Glauch¡¯s face almost made Vash smile. Instead, Vash adopted a more casual stance and nodded, as though what Jabez said made perfect sense. Corwin looked confused, but wisely kept his mouth shut.

    ¡°I think a fee of¡­three-fifty is fair.¡± Jabez mused.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, if you think I¡¯m going to pay three hundred and fifty silver¡ª¡°

    ¡°No, that would be gold.¡± Jabez interrupted.

    A dark look passed over Glauch¡¯s face, his cheek twitching in suppressed rage.

    That hit a nerve. Vash thought, looking over the Inquisitor and his team. Glauch¡¯s men drifted towards their leader with an air of false casualness, hands drifting to weapons. They kept glancing towards the Inquisitor, waiting for a signal.

    Glauch took a moment and gathered himself. When he met eyes with Jabez again, his careful, neutral expression returned. ¡°That¡¯s quite a sum. For that much, I would want to see something quite spectacular.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re expecting.¡± Another voice said from further down the common room. ¡°The Gauntlet is a fairly straightforward affair.¡±

    A well-dressed halfling joined the knot of soldiers that casually menaced both Vash¡¯s group and the older woman at the reception desk. He had jet-black hair tied back in a neat braid that fell just below his shoulders. Deep onyx eyes swept over the assembled group, noting each individual as he passed. A pair of long daggers hung from the halfling¡¯s belt, looking like short swords on a person of his size. ¡°But Jabez is right, this isn¡¯t a charity. You want to see our training methods? Then it will cost you.¡±

    ¡°Royce.¡± Jabez said, nodding towards the halfling who then joined the group, standing beside Jabez.

    ¡°Jabez.¡± Royce returned the nod, not taking his eyes off the Inquisitor. Vash could feel a low thrumming in his Core. It was coming from the halfling, and felt like a purring cat. Soothing, but with a hint of menace. ¡°Now, gentlemen, I am quite busy and dealing with this evaluation is going to take up time I don¡¯t have. So, I would suggest deciding whether you wish to pay the fee quickly. In the meantime, Jabez, if you and your students would follow me.¡±

    Royce began walking towards the hallway at the far end of the common room. Jabez immediately followed. Corwin and Vash, after a moment, realized that they should follow as well and moved to catch up to the two masters.

    ¡°Just a moment!¡± Glauch called, frustration creeping into his voice.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, m¡¯lord.¡± Royce called over one shoulder. ¡°This part is for Guild members only. Should you wish to observe, the secretary at the desk will take the agreed payment.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Vash risked a look back, seeing Glauch glaring daggers at him. He hurriedly turned around and kept his eyes forward. Inquisitors are always damn unsettling. Vash thought. Every encounter he¡¯d had with those allied with the Duke¡¯s Inquisition had been odd. Inquisitors showed a distinct lack of emotion, unless they were causing violence or pain, then they lit up like a child at the Hearth Festival. What did we do to earn the attention of creatures like that one?

    Approaching the door on the far side of the common room, Royce took his Wayfarer medallion out from where it hung beneath his tunic and pressed it to a small bronze plate on the wall. The door made a soft thunk, as though something was being released, and then swung slowly open. Vash could feel the eyes of the Inquisitors on him until the door shut and sealed itself behind them.

    ¡°Thanks for that, Royce.¡± Jabez said, looking relieved to be behind closed doors.

    ¡°That was stupid, Jabez.¡± Royce said, giving Jabez a hard look that seemed out of place on the usually laughing features of a halfling. ¡°Duke Adolphus and his damned Inquisition are all up in arms about you taking this boy on as your apprentice. I¡¯m sure Eddar already gave you a tongue-lashing about that.¡±

    ¡°He may have mentioned some political issues.¡± Jabez conceded.

    ¡°Inquisitors have been sniffing around Lodges all over Galadon,¡± Royce continued. ¡°No idea why or what they want. Now we have to show off one of our Gauntlets, so thanks for that.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, I just didn¡¯t want to pay your fee,¡± Jabez said. ¡°Thought it was an easy way to kill two birds with one stone.¡±

    ¡°Gods save us from fools and skinflints.¡± Royce made the sign of Bolban, the patron of the halflings. ¡°Nothing to be done about it now, I suppose.¡± He glanced back at Vash, giving him a quick assessment. Royce grimaced. ¡°I suppose we should be grateful they let you keep your boots.¡±

    ¡°This time.¡± Vash replied, not looking at Corwin.

    ¡°Has he got any Delver training?¡± Royce asked, turning back to Jabez.

    ¡°He¡¯s had basic Talent training, decent mana reserve if the stories of his friends are to be believed.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve met them,¡± Royce scoffed. ¡°More assassins than rogues. How long was he with them?¡±

    ¡°Two years, give or take.¡±

    Royce grimaced. ¡°Enough time to gain some bad habits. Not so long that training can¡¯t mend them.¡±

    Vash kept his face carefully neutral. He was tired of having his skills belittled by glorified monster hunters. The Wayfarers had a reputation for being all talk and little action. So far, nothing he¡¯d seen contradicted that reputation.

    Royce came to a heavy oak door, banded with iron, and unlocked it with an odd-looking key. Vash felt a surge of mana as the lock disengaged. Protected by more than just deadbolts and clockwork, it seems.

    The door opened quietly, oiled hinges making the heavy wood and iron contraption swing with the barest amount of effort from Royce. Beyond was a small, bare room with another door on the opposite wall.

    ¡°Well, boy, this is the start of the Delver¡¯s Gauntlet.¡± Royce said, facing Vash. ¡°The goal is simple: pass through each of the five doors. The rooms beyond will test the skills of a Delver, so keep that in mind as you go.¡±

    ¡°All right, what are the skills of a Delver?¡± Vash asked, peering through the imposing door at the empty room.

    ¡°Is he serious?¡± Royce asked Jabez, annoyance creeping into his tone. Jabez shrugged in response. Jaw tight in frustration, Royce turned back to Vash. ¡°A delver is silent, observant, deft, and clever. In short, you¡¯re a thief, boy. Get the goods and don¡¯t get caught.¡±

    Vash nodded. ¡°All right, do I get any tools? Equipment?¡±

    ¡°I would say that you can use what you have on you, but¡­¡± Royce gestured to Vash¡¯s tattered and stained clothes.

    ¡°Here,¡± Corwin said, drawing a long dagger from his belt and handing it hilt-first to Vash, ¡°It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s better than nothing.¡±

    The plain dagger was well-weighted for hand to hand fighting and long enough to be effective in a tight space. It was also a weapon that Vash was familiar with, though he preferred the blackened blades used by the Eth Mitaan. Vash nodded his thanks and tucked the dagger into the waistband of his trousers. ¡°What else?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it. Get to the end using what skills you have,¡± Royce said. ¡°We¡¯ll be watching in another room using a scrying orb. Good luck, delver.¡±

    Royce started off down the hall. Corwin hesitated, giving Vash an encouraging smile before following the halfling master. Jabez waited for them both to get some distance ahead before stepping close to Vash. ¡°Be careful in there. Gauntlets aren¡¯t designed to kill you, but they do challenge trained Wayfarer apprentices. You can get hurt, and accidents happen all the time.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, accidents?¡± Vash asked, pointedly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that Royce would intentionally do anything to harm you; however, this situation has put the Guild in a tough spot,¡± Jabez said. ¡°If you were to fail the Gauntlet, and get seriously hurt, then it might remove some problems for the members around here. Just¡­be careful. That¡¯s all I¡¯m saying.¡±

    Vash wanted to say that it would also remove some of Jabez¡¯s problems as well, but he hesitated. He didn¡¯t have to tell me that. Vash thought, feeling a twinge of reluctant gratitude towards the surly dwarf. He gave Jabez a slight nod of thanks and turned towards the entrance of the Gauntlet.

    ¡°Good luck, Vash.¡± Jabez said, then followed Royce and Corwin down the hallway.

    Alone in the hallway, Vash tried to shake out the nerves that were creeping up on him. You¡¯ve done harder things than this. He thought, remembering his initiation in the Sunken Grove. The memory of shadowy fingers lightly tracing beneath his eyes still sent shivers down his spine. A simple Wayfarer test shouldn¡¯t be any problem. You¡¯re a damn Hunter of the First Mask, anointed and accepted into the Taleuc ko¡¯Sul eth Mitaan.

    A tingle touched the space between his eyes, where Byar had drawn the elvish rune for spirit almost a year ago during the initiation, opening the channels between his will and his Core and setting him on this path.

    ¡°I fear no shadow, for I am shadow.¡± Vash whispered the words of the familiar prayer, calming his nerves like a soothing balm. He drew the dagger from his waistband and flipped it through his fingers to the toin¡¯sur position, as Iona had shown him. ¡°I fear not death, for I am death. Let my Hunt begin.¡±

 Episode 6: The Gauntlet

    Vash stepped into the first room of the Gauntlet. As he crossed the threshold, the heavy oak door swung shut behind him, locks engaging with a series of soft clicks. Turning, he saw that there were no keyholes or access mechanisms on this side of the door.

    Only way out is forward. Vash thought.

    Closing his eyes, Vash let his will sink into his Core, a blossom of warmth spread through his chest from a place just below his heart. It pulsed in time with his heartbeat. With a gentle nudge, Vash expanded his senses. Like a bladder filling with air, his aura expanded as he released mana from his Core. Opening his eyes, Vash took in the room again, looking for anything out of the ordinary, anything dangerous.

    Initially, nothing tripped his senses. The room was a standard square room, roughly two paces across, with stone walls and a tiled floor. Mage-lamps on either side of the room emitted a soft golden glow that was slightly brighter than candlelight. Apart from a slight stuffiness, nothing in the room seemed out of the ordinary. The walls were solid, no holes for arrows or spikes, no pipes for gases or liquids. None of the tiles felt truly different from the others, as they would have if they had traps.

    Vash slowly crossed the room to the opposite door. It was the same construction as the one he had entered through. Oak banded with iron, though it had a standard key lock from what Vash could tell. He touched the handle and tried opening it.

    Locked, Vash thought when the handle barely moved and the door remained firmly in place. I suppose my first challenge is to get out of this room.

    Kneeling next to the lock, Vash passed the dagger across the keyhole, blocking the light. He waited a moment. One of the Eth Mitaan tricks against intruders was to wait by keyholes or peepholes. When the intruder blocked the light from the other side, they would stab a stiletto through the hole. Often you¡¯d stab them in the eye or through the hand. Either way, it was an effective strategy. Nothing happened this time, so Vash moved the dagger away and looked into the hole.

    The Enhance Senses formula floated in his mind. Vash willed a small portion of his mana into a copy of the formula, feeling the Talent snap into place. Simpler and cruder than spells, Talents locked a portion of the user¡¯s mana into themselves while they were in use. Wizards could control the flow of mana in their spell frameworks to produce different effects. They could also withdraw their mana, regaining a portion back into their Core.

    Talents used mana immediately. Once the framework released, then the mana dissipated. Using Talents drained mana from the user¡¯s Core and it took time for it to regenerate. Vash¡¯s Core could perform three or four Major Talents, or twice the number of Minor Talents, before he needed to rest. Enhance Senses was a Minor Talent, so the mana Vash used was negligible, but small Talents added up and he didn¡¯t know what he¡¯d be facing during this test.

    Best not to lean too hard on Talents until I have a better idea what I¡¯m going to need them for. Vash thought as he studied the lock in front of him. His enhanced eyes focused on the keyhole and what he could see of the mechanism inside. Elvish eyes were better at seeing things in low light than humans and the Enhance Senses Talent made them even more sensitive. He felt the odd sensation of mana enhanced lenses sliding and adjusting within his eyes. The lock grew larger in his sight, like he was looking at it under a magnifying glass, and the extra light sensitivity revealed the inner mechanisms that normally would be too dark to see.

    A pretty simple lock. Vash thought as he studied the mechanism. I¡¯d be able to pick it¡­if I had lockpicks.

    He sat back on his heels, frowning, letting his eyesight adjust back to only slightly enhanced. ¡°Wayfarer rogues probably always carry their tools with them. I know I did until the Ducal guard took mine.¡± Vash muttered to himself. He tugged at the collar of his shirt. The room was getting warm. ¡°All right, but Royce wouldn¡¯t just put me into the Gauntlet with no way of succeeding, would he? There¡¯s got to be another way to do this.¡±

    Reaching out with his aura again, Vash thoroughly went over the room, this time in concert with Enhance Senses to pick out minute details that a simple aura check would miss. It was a slow process and used most of the mana he¡¯d allocated to the Enhance Senses Talent, but he finally found something after several minutes of careful examination. One stone in the wall was loose.

    Vash touched the stone gently. It rocked beneath the pressure of his fingers. Carefully, Vash pressed and prodded until the stone pivoted in its place on the wall, revealing a small hidey-hole. Inside the hole were a few lengths of wire, a strip of coarsely woven cloth, and a few stones.

    ¡°I suppose we¡¯re doing this the hard way, then.¡± Vash muttered. ¡°Of course, why would they hide actual thieves¡¯ tools when they can hide some random crap and see if I can make it into something usable? I bet they think they¡¯re building character.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Sweat trickled down Vash¡¯s forehead and stung his eyes as he bent the wires into the semblance of a set of lockpicks. ¡°Why is it so warm in here?¡±

    Vash stopped and thought for a moment. It was warm, yes, but more than that the air felt thick, close. He concentrated on his breathing for a few moments. Each breath was harder than the last. Not immediately noticeable, but significant. He examined the two doors, focusing his sense of touch on feeling any drafts or breezes. Running his hand along the door frames and over the keyholes, he felt nothing. The room¡¯s air was completely still. That means the air isn¡¯t moving, which means there isn¡¯t any new air coming in. The room sealed itself.

    Fighting a surge of claustrophobia and panic, Vash tried to stay calm. Panic wouldn¡¯t help and would just waste time. Vash approached the lock and slid the twisted bits of wire inside, feeling along the tumblers for the right sequence to release the lock. Enhance Senses allowed him to feel the slightest movement of the mechanism. After a few moments of prodding, he withdrew the wire and adjusted the shape.

    Take your time, focus on what you¡¯re doing. Vash thought. Don¡¯t think about how hard you¡¯re breathing or how stuffy it¡¯s getting.

    Vash reinserted the wires and slid them into position with deft fingers. The lock moved slowly. He grinned in triumph, finishing the motion. The lock gave a satisfying click. Vash withdrew the wires and was about to stand up and open the door when he heard, faintly, a second click. If he hadn¡¯t been using Enhance Senses, he would have missed it, but something else had engaged within the lock. Vash froze, unsure of what to do next. The mage-lamps flared slightly, then shifted to a cool blue color and gradually dimmed.

    That shouldn¡¯t be happening. Vash thought.

    Mage-lamps ran off a slow trickle of ambient mana. In theory, they should last forever, or at least until the spell framework collapsed. He shook his head. There wasn¡¯t time to worry about mage-lamps. He had to keep moving. Vash grasped the handle of the door and confidently pushed down, expecting it to open easily.

    The handle did not move.

    Again, the mage-lamps dimmed. Vash started feeling dizzy and nauseous, his breath coming in longer gasps. He sank to one knee, head swimming. There must be a secondary lock, and it triggered a trap.

    Fumbling with his makeshift lock-picks, Vash approached the keyhole again. His fingers were noticeably less steady as he felt for the secondary mechanism. It was difficult to make his hands do what he wanted them to while his body was screaming in panic that it wasn¡¯t getting enough air.

    Stay calm and focus. Vash thought, If you panic, then you¡¯ll never get out of here.

    With agonizing slowness, he searched the interior of the lock, looking for anything he might have missed. The lock-picks yielded no new discoveries - no extra tumblers or gears that could reset the lock.

    The mage-lamps dimmed slightly again. Vash glanced up at the lamps. They now emitted only a weak glow, like a dying candle burning the last of its wick. That was when he noticed the small holes on the brass mounting plates, one below each of the globes. He pushed his way, woozily, to his feet and then stumbled to the first lamp.

    It took a few tries, but he finally got his wire probe into the hole. There was definitely a mechanism of some sort inside the lamp. Mage-lamps didn¡¯t normally have any moving parts, just a small alchemical globe and a series of etched runes inside the brass and crystal. This one had a series of gears and tumblers. He gently probed the mechanism, feeling for any give with his enhanced sense of touch. The wire lightly grazed a groove in the brass while moving from one tumbler to the next, and Vash felt a sudden jolt of mana. His Enhance Senses winked out, leaving his fingers with a numb, tingling sensation and a distinct blurriness to his vision.

    Vash cursed under his breath, not sure what happened, but knowing that there was no way he had the concentration now to use the Talent again. He was going to have to rely on his own skills. Grimacing, Vash continued to probe and test the lock, looking for weaknesses. He felt like his fingers were the size of sausages and that he¡¯d suddenly put on a pair of thick gloves. Breath coming in quick gasps, Vash found the right combination of tumblers and felt another click.

    Instantly, the lamp¡¯s light flared back to its previous brightness. Vash felt a cool current of air radiating off the lamp. He sucked down a few breaths hungrily, some of the fuzziness evaporating from his mind.

    Across the room, the second lamp was almost down to an ember. Vash moved to the second lamp. As soon as he crossed the halfway point in the room, he felt the air vanish. He staggered back, and the air returned.

    ¡°Well, this will be interesting.¡± Vash muttered. He took a few deep breaths and lunged across the room.

    The breathable air around the second lamp was almost completely gone. Vash held his breath while he worked the wires into the small hole. The mechanism seemed similar to the one he just solved, but something was different. Nothing was moving as he expected or turning when he applied pressure. Before long, he had to dart back to the fresh air on the other side of the room. Panting slightly, he glared at the crude lock-picks hanging from the hole across the room.

    ¡°Damn adventurers, thinking they¡¯re clever.¡± Vash grumbled, annoyed that he wasn¡¯t getting it. The mechanism was almost identical. Why didn¡¯t it work? He looked back and forth from one lamp to the other. What¡¯s different? They¡¯re exactly the same except that they¡¯re¡­oh bloody hell!

    Vash dashed across the room, moving the picks back into position as he repeated the motions that he¡¯d used on the first lamp, but in the reverse direction. This time the mechanism moved smoothly, exactly as he¡¯d expected. The lamp flared brightly and fresh air caressed Vash¡¯s face. To his left, Vash heard a catch release on the exit door.

    ¡°Not so bad,¡± Vash said, breathless. He pocketed the wire next to the stones and the cloth strip and went to the door. It swung open on well-oiled hinges, revealing a hallway that ran about twenty paces to another door at the far end. Stone pillars stood every few paces with tasteful artwork carved on their faces. Mage-lamps lit the corridor, though these were missing the brass connecting plates, so it was unlikely that he¡¯d be facing the same sort of challenge.

    Vash stepped into the corridor.

    Click

    ¡°Gods dammit!¡±

 Episode 7: The Hall of Silent Steps

    There was no time to think. Vash fell back on instinct, letting his awareness sink into his Core. Mana flooded his body, and his perception of time slowed to a crawl. His senses screamed at him to move, but no direction seemed safe. Normally embracing his Core would give him a tug in the right direction, to avoid danger and move to a safer position. This time, it seemed, there was no safe position to move to.

    Vash cursed and took a gamble. Leaping forward and to his right, he tucked his shoulder and rolled. Behind him came the sound of a crossbow bolt whizzing through the air where he had just been standing. Vash heard it hit the stone wall and clatter to the tiles. Continuing his roll, he felt the tile beneath him give.

    Click

    You have got to be kidding me!

    Coming up onto his feet, Vash leaped to the tiny wooden baseboard that ran between the support beams in the hallway. The baseboard was less than half a hand-span in width. Summoning the formula for Cat¡¯s Grace, Vash used the mana and locked the Major Talent into place. A surge of mana flooded from his Core, much more than he had used for Enhanced Senses. He landed on the baseboard and spun to place himself on firmer footing, braced against the support beam and the stone wall. The tile he had just been standing on crumbled and fell away, along with three other neighboring tiles. Now a pit was yawning just below Vash¡¯s toes. The pit was around ten feet deep, with sloped sides of muddy soil. At the bottom was a pool of dark, brackish water.

    I don¡¯t want to know how deep that water is, Vash thought, or what might be in it.

    Breathing heavily, Vash considered his situation. His aura was sensing danger all around. That likely meant that someone had trapped every tile.

    I knew I should have picked up Detect Traps when I had the chance. Vash thought, kicking himself for having focused so much on stealth and combat. Byar had counseled him to invest in utility Talents, but he had wanted to be a Hunter like Iona.

    The warnings his aura gave him were about general danger, not focused on anything in particular. There was so much danger in the room that he couldn¡¯t separate out a safe path. Each direction gave him a warning thrum, telling him that moving that way was a bad idea.

    Meanwhile, holding his balance on the thin baseboard was sapping his mana. Unlike Enhanced Senses, Cat¡¯s Grace was reliant on a steady stream of mana from his Core for the constant minute adjustments to balance and reflex. Vash had to do something soon, or he was liable to run out of mana.

    He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself while he considered his situation. Moving meant triggering more traps. Staying in one place meant slowly draining his mana until he could no longer maintain his balance and fell, likely triggering more traps.

    There has to be something¡­ Vash thought. He wracked his brain, trying to think of anything from his training or his limited list of Talents that would help him. Nothing was coming to mind.

    Can¡¯t stab a trapped tile.

    Then he paused and looked at the tiles, taking in the design. Or can you?

    Each tile in the hallway had a small geometric design at each of the four corners. The corners seemed to connect, forming a design about a hand-span across. It was just enough space for a careful rogue to place his foot.

    Need to test it, though. Vash thought, shifting his weight so that he rested his shoulder against the support beam and freed up the use of his right hand. He drew the dagger that Corwin had given him. Despite being weighted wrong for the purpose he had in mind, it was large and solid and should provide the force he needed.

    Taking a deep breath, he focused on the nearest corner design. It was three paces away, but on the other side of the pit trap. Vash flipped the dagger in his hand, holding it by the blade, and with a flick of his wrist, sent it spinning towards the spot he had picked. The blade tumbled, awkward, not meant for throwing, but it struck its target point-first and with a good amount of force. The dagger bounced off the tile with a metallic clang and landed on a neighboring tile. It skittered and slid for a few moments, coming to rest balanced on the edge of the pit trap.

    Vash cursed his luck. He¡¯d hoped to recover the dagger, that didn¡¯t seem like an option now. But it had served its purpose. There was no ominous click, no shifting of tiles or flash of danger from Vash¡¯s Core. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°All right, so that¡¯s where I can step.¡± Vash muttered to himself. ¡°Now I just have to get to it.¡±

    Cat¡¯s Grace was depleting his mana little by little as he held position. He would need it to make sure that his landing didn¡¯t end in disaster as well. The jump was just within his range, but he still hesitated. Making a mistake here might prove fatal. Jabez had said that the Master Delver wouldn¡¯t intentionally try to kill him. Suffocation, crossbow bolts, unclimbable pits with water traps at the bottom? Not deadly at all.

    To be safe, Vash knew he needed to use Enhance Ability as well, to give him the added strength to make the jump. That meant he would have to layer his Talents, holding Cat¡¯s Grace stable while calling up Enhance Ability. Holding two formulas in your head wasn¡¯t easy, and it also wasn¡¯t something Vash had done very often.

    Can¡¯t stand here and dither, Vash thought. If I wait too much longer, then I won¡¯t have enough mana left in my Core to do both.

    Layering Talents was a tricky process. Vash pushed the formula for Cat¡¯s Grace to the background in his mind, feeling it tremble a bit, but still holding, as he structured the formula for Enhance Ability on top of it. It was like tracing a shape with your left hand while drawing a new shape with your right. Awkward, but possible. Finally, he had the completed formula for Enhance Ability worked out. He held his breath and connected the formula in his mind to the mana in his Core.

    A flood of warmth flowed into his muscles, wicking away fatigue and strain. The Talent snapped into place and Vash felt the mana being pulled from his Core. It was a minor Talent, so it locked the mana in and would only function once. Even as the Talent locked into place, Vash could feel it fading. He had to hurry or it would waste the mana.

    Vash pushed off from the wall, leaping across the pit¡ªand overshot his target.

    He sailed over the small diamond-shaped design and hurtled towards the opposite wall. Acting on instinct, Vash twisted his body so that he collided with the wall feet-first. Vash pushed off again, gentler this time, letting the landing absorb most of his momentum. As he did, he absorbed the last of the mana in Enhance Ability. The formula collapsed and Vash struggled to hold on to the structure of Cat¡¯s Grace. He landed on the ball of one foot, any more and he would put pressure on the neighboring tiles. Cat¡¯s Grace faltered, the structure trying to break apart in his mind. Vash felt his balance shift, his body fighting against inertia and gravity. Willing the formula back into place and spending more mana, Vash stabilized his Talent. With a few awkward flailing motions, Vash regained his balance.

    Nothing happened.

    Vash let out a relieved breath. I can do this. He reassured himself. Now get moving before you exhaust your mana.

    In a few quick hops, Vash crossed the hallway. It stung to leave the dagger behind, but he knew he didn¡¯t have the mana to retrieve it and get across the hallway. Judging by the ¡®evaluation¡¯ so far, he was going to need whatever mana he had left for the next part.

    Vash reached out for the door handle and felt a pulse of warning from his Core. He paused, hand hovering a finger-length from the latch. Is the door trapped too?

    Pulling his hand back, Vash felt the pulse of warning fade. He fought the rising panic. Taking too long here would deplete his mana, leaving him vulnerable when he needed Talents, but moving too fast would put him in danger from any traps on the door. Running his hand over the wood of the door and around the latch, Vash paid attention to how his Core reacted. The pulse became stronger the closer he got to the door handle itself, and weaker as he moved away.

    Maybe something happens when I open the door?

    Vash checked the hinges and the door frame for triggers. The pulse faded the further he moved from the handle. Frowning, Vash peered at the metal door handle. It was nothing special. He couldn¡¯t see any triggering mechanisms, needles, or blades on the handle. In fact, the only thing out of the ordinary was that it was slightly dirtier than the others that he¡¯d seen. A thin coat of grease layered the back of the handle where it met the latch.

    Right where my hand would go. Vash thought, Contact poison?

    There were several substances that could be absorbed through the skin. Most were annoying, some were debilitating, and whatever was on the door handle would no doubt cause him trouble. Vash reached into his pocket and withdrew the length of cloth that he found in the previous room. The cloth was a coarse weave, meaning that it wouldn¡¯t provide as much protection as a leather glove would, but it was better than touching the handle with his bare hand. He wrapped the cloth around the handle, carefully avoiding touching the ¡®grease¡¯ with his bare skin. When the handle was wrapped, Vash¡¯s danger sense barely made a whisper as he reached for the handle.

    Vash carefully turned the handle and opened the door. Beyond was a dimly lit room crowded with wooden crates. Mage-lamps on the walls provided a small amount of light, but the illumination was barely enough to see the outlines of the crates. Vash hesitated at the doorway, careful not to rush in and get himself into trouble. He stretched out one foot and gingerly touched the floor on the other side of the doorway. His Core remained still. Vash put his weight on the extended foot. Again, his Core did not pulse in response to danger.

    Let¡¯s see what¡¯s in this room, shall we?

    He stepped into the room, cautious and alert. As soon as he passed the threshold, the door behind him slammed shut and the lock clicked into place. Vash dropped into a crouch, peering into the darkness. From somewhere in the room, beyond the rows of crates, he saw a few faint yellow glows.

    UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS. A voice from the darkness boomed. Authoritative, but strangely flat, the voice had a slight ring to it, like it was coming from inside a well or some place deep. INTRUDER, MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN AND YOU SHALL NOT BE HARMED. RESIST AND THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES.

 Episode 8: Observers

    The room Royce lead Corwin and Jabez to was large enough to hold a dozen people. Plush, high-backed chairs stood in a circle around the scrying orb. A sideboard with various bottles and decanters stood against one wall, though Corwin was sure that if he helped himself to the libations that he¡¯d have another fee tacked onto his Guild account. He took a position against one wall, near the door, staying as out of the way as possible while still able to see what was going on.

    Master Royce took a small notebook out of his pouch, along with a nub of a pencil. Flipping to an empty page, Royce made a few notations, then touched the scrying orb with two fingers. Glowing blue and white clouds blossomed from the initially opaque orb, bathing the room in a soft, blue glow. Above the orb was a blurry image that resolved itself into a smaller representation of Vash and the room he was in. Aside from the image being slightly transparent, it was a quite clear and detailed picture of what was happening in the Gauntlet at that moment. While Corwin stared at the magical marvel, Royce frowned and dragged two fingers across the orb, rotating the image. No matter what side faced Corwin, he noted, the image of the Gauntlet wall was transparent, providing an unobstructed view.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to stand all the way back there.¡± Royce said, in a distracted, but pleasant tone, while watching Vash and making a few more marks in his notebook.

    ¡°Pardon?¡± Corwin asked. He¡¯d been so caught up in watching the image that he¡¯d almost forgotten Royce was in the room.

    ¡°You can take a seat.¡± Royce said, still not looking at Corwin. ¡°Eddar¡¯s a stickler for rules and appearances, but I¡¯m a bit more relaxed.¡±

    Corwin thought about it, then shook his head. ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I¡¯m sure Master Jabez would prefer I kept a watch position.¡±

    Royce let out a sharp laugh. ¡°I¡¯ve never known Master Jabez to prefer his apprentices to do anything besides get him another ale.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡±

    ¡°Look, Jabez is a very capable fighter.¡± Royce said, turning to face Corwin. ¡°I¡¯d have him in my party in any dungeon dive you¡¯d want to take. But he¡¯s got a bit of a reputation when it comes to apprentices.¡±

    ¡°He seems all right to me,¡± Corwin said, choosing his words with care. Guild politics was a thorny subject with Jabez. Luckily, they spent most of the year out on the road, only going to Guild Lodges when necessary. So they avoided the worst of the maneuvering and politics.

    ¡°Ask around about the Dromund Keep incident.¡± Royce said, face becoming serious. ¡°You¡¯re still early enough in your career that you can have your Marker transferred to another Master.¡±

    Corwin was about to respond when the door opened and Jabez walked through. ¡°No poaching my apprentices, Royce.¡±

    ¡°I was just letting him know that there are options.¡± Royce said, turning his attention back to the orb. Vash was investigating the lock, passing the dagger over the keyhole. Corwin saw Royce frown slightly and make a note of what he was seeing. ¡°Besides, I have no need for you School of the Blades types, much less for an apprentice from there. Blundering around my nice, neat delve. Setting off traps and getting blood everywhere, no thank you.¡±

    If Jabez had caught the rest of his conversation with Royce, he didn¡¯t say. He crossed the room and took a seat opposite to Royce, turning his attention to the image floating in mid-air. Vash found a loose rock with odds-and-ends in the alcove behind it. Royce gave a grudging nod and made more notes. The three of them stood in silence for a few moments, watching Vash work out the first room of the Gauntlet. After bending some wire and working the door lock, Vash stood up and looked very satisfied. A red glow appeared on the image of the door and numbers began counting down in the air above the image.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Corwin asked, not quite following what he was seeing.

    ¡°He tripped a trap,¡± Royce said. ¡°If he knew Detect Traps, then it wouldn¡¯t have been an issue. Your apprentice apparently doesn¡¯t know that particular Talent, though.¡±

    Jabez didn¡¯t comment, remaining stone-faced, watching Vash work through the problem.

    ¡°What¡¯s that mean?¡± Corwin asked.

    ¡°The timer is how much time he has until he fails the evaluation.¡± Royce said, nodding towards the numbers that were steadily ticking down.

    Corwin frowned and looked over at Jabez. The dwarf kept his eyes on the image, never looking away. Frustrated, Corwin looked back at Royce. ¡°What happens if he fails the evaluation?¡±

    Royce opened his mouth to answer, but closed it when the door opened again. Master Eddar entered the room, followed by Inquisitor Glauch. ¡°If he fails the evaluation,¡± Eddar said, in an annoyed tone, ¡°then he¡¯s rejected from the Wayfarer¡¯s Guild.¡± He crossed the room and took a seat next to Royce.

    Glauch drifted to stand by the sideboard, eyes scanning the room with barely concealed contempt.

    Eddar continued, ¡°In that event, he would normally be returned to the Ducal authorities. However, since he was and is still under a sentence of treason and death, we have agreed to remove certain safeguards in order to judge your prospective apprentice adequately.¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Jabez shot Eddar a look. ¡°What have you done?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m simply dealing with your mess, Jabez.¡± Eddar snapped, then rapidly composed himself. ¡°If the boy has the skills needed to become a Wayfarer, then he will be fine. If not, then the problem takes care of itself.¡±

    ¡°This was just supposed to be a training evaluation.¡± Jabez said, eyebrows drawing together like thunderclouds. ¡°What about Master¡¯s prerogative? The Vagabond Law?¡±

    Eddar looked at Glauch and Corwin thought he saw a hint of shame pass over the Lodgemaster¡¯s face. It was only for a moment. Then Eddar turned his attention to the image of Vash struggling with the device hidden in the second mage-lamp. ¡°I am using my discretion as Lodgemaster to make some¡­adjustments, for the good of the Lodge and the Guild presence here in Galadon.¡±

    ¡°The Duke does not appreciate being made a fool of,¡± Glauch said from the sideboard. He uncorked a bottle, sniffed it, then made a face and put it back. He turned back to the rest of the room, but his gaze swept past Jabez and settled on Corwin. Glauch gave Corwin a thin smile, ¡°Neither do I.¡±

    The countdown on the floating image stopped and a soft chime sounded. The red glow on the door shifted to green, and Vash opened the door. Corwin smiled. Good going, Vash. I knew you could do it.

    The image shifted, showing a long hallway, Vash entering from one end. As soon as Vash stepped into the hallway, another chime sounded and the timer reappeared. Red glows blossomed all across the hallway tiles. Corwin stiffened as Vash narrowly dodged a crossbow bolt, then moved with lithe, fluid grace to wedge himself against the wall as the tiles he had just been rolling across collapsed into the muddy water below.

    ¡°That¡¯s quite impressive.¡± Royce murmured, looking at Vash in surprise.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Glauch asked, quickly crossing to the circle of chairs and staring at Vash. ¡°What did he just do?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Royce said, as though seeing Vash in a new light. ¡°It looked like a variant on Enhance Ability. Judging by his aura, however, his Core is burning a lot more mana that it would if he were using a minor Talent like that one.¡±

    ¡°You can see his aura?¡± Corwin asked, squinting and trying to see for himself.

    ¡°Using the scrying orb,¡± Jabez told him. ¡°It¡¯s one perk of being a Master in this situation.¡±

    ¡°Did he tell you about that one?¡± Royce asked Jabez.

    ¡°No, he mostly was working with Minor Talents, any Major ones were more combat oriented.¡± Jabez said, leaning forward in his seat.

    Corwin saw Jabez absently fingering the small, tarnished bronze rings that were threaded through his beard. He¡¯s interested, that¡¯s good. Corwin felt some relief. If Jabez didn¡¯t think Vash was worth the time, then all his effort was going to be wasted. It had been a struggle for Corwin just to get Jabez to accept him as an apprentice, let alone take on Vash as well. Jabez had his doubts when Corwin presented him with the idea.

    But Jabez likes an underdog, that¡¯s what made him take me on. Corwin thought. If Vash is the same person I remember, then he¡¯ll impress the old man, too. If he doesn¡¯t¡­

    The feeling of dread that crept over Corwin almost made him shudder. He remembered his own Gauntlet. It differed from the one at this Lodge, which was a far newer construction than the one at Samson¡¯s Gate. The training grounds in the hometown of the Wayfarers were almost like a temple, full of old magic and the spirits of adventurers who had gone before. The last task had been to take his Wayfarer amulet from a Shrine of Olom, the god of fate and destiny.

    Most Wayfarers never felt anything when taking their amulets. Masters viewed it as routine, a harmless, archaic ritual. Sometimes, however, destiny had other plans.

    The vision was a chaotic jumble of images: ancient dungeons, deep wildernesses, himself leading other Wayfarers, fire, death and blood, a man with a manic smile and an ancient dagger, a woman wreathed in flames that did not seem to touch her.

    Corwin had forgotten most of it, but the part that haunted him, the part that he could not let go of, had to do with Vash.

    It was only a moment, but it was enough. Vash in armor black as the deepest caverns of the Underlands, carrying blades that shone like pale moonlight, standing against him on the parapet of a crumbled city wall. Corwin was also armed in the vision, carrying a blade he had never seen before, a sword with the flared leaf-shape that Malconian swordsmen preferred. The metal gleamed silver and bronze in the brief flashes from lightning. Corwin faced off against his friend, a feeling of hatred and betrayal surging through him. Vash bore a dark look, cold, callous, and unfeeling. Lightning flashed, and they both charged one-another, then the vision had ended.

    He¡¯d never told Jabez about the vision, but ever since then, he had been on the lookout for news of Vash. Visions from Olom often could not change. But the god of fate liked a good story. Or so the rumor went. If he could change Vash¡¯s fate, then maybe he could change his own. Because one thing was certain, if the vision came to pass then truly bad things were going to happen. He didn¡¯t know what, but every time he thought of the vision, Corwin had a wave of despair wash over him.

    I can change it. He thought, watching Vash study the tiles, then draw Corwin¡¯s dagger, preparing for a throw. It all starts here.

    Glauch chuckled slightly when the dagger struck the ground and skittered out of reach. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what he thought he would achieve doing that.¡±

    Vash sprang from the wall and landed lightly on one foot, balancing precariously on the small corner decorations of the tiles. Jabez nodded as he watched. ¡°He was finding a safe place to stand, figuring out the rules.¡±

    Eddar frowned at the image, glancing at Glauch, trying to judge the Inquisitor¡¯s reaction. Glauch¡¯s smirk faded into a carefully neutral expression. He folded his arms across his chest and focused intently on Vash¡¯s progress through the hall.

    Royce leaned forward when Vash approached the exit door, intense interest plain on his face as Vash extended a hand to reach for the door handle. Corwin saw that the handle itself was glowing red on the image. Another trap?

    Vash examined the knob, then wrapped it in the thin cloth from the first room. Royce made a hmmm of interest and made another note.

    ¡°What did you use this time?¡± Eddar asked, while trying not to look at Glauch.

    ¡°Stranglethorn.¡± Royce said, not looking up. ¡°The sap is a pretty potent contact paralytic. At the very least, he would have lost the use of his dominant hand for a few hours.¡±

    ¡°Yet he defeated it with a strip of cloth.¡± Glauch said. His face didn¡¯t change, but Corwin could almost hear the sneer in his voice.

    Royce looked up. ¡°I¡¯m trying to assess his skills, not fail him outright.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Glauch said, looking down at the halfling. ¡°We want to be fair.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be too concerned, Inquisitor Glauch.¡± Eddar said. ¡°The next room is quite challenging. I made certain of that.¡±

    Jabez¡¯s head snapped to look at Eddar. ¡°What the hell is that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± Eddar said, looking determined but with a tinge of regret. ¡°It will be over soon.¡±

 Episode 9: Maze of Shadows

    The voice had barely finished intoning its warning when a single bright light flared in the center of the room. Vash ducked and flattened himself against a stack of crates. The light swept across the room, passing over his hiding place and then moving on. It was a bright light, focused into a single beam, like a hooded lantern or a lighthouse. Useful for a targeted pool of light, but it left many shadows for a skilled assassin to use to his advantage.

    He crept to the edge of the stack of crates and peered around the edge. The room was still too dark to make out many details, other than the shadowy bulk of stacks of crates and boxes, but a few details became clearer with the additional light source. Vash spotted the source of the bright light easily enough. A large crystal floated in the air in the center of the room. One facet emitted the light in a targeted beam, sweeping across the room in a slow circle. Still crouched, Vash craned his body to see what the light revealed. Mostly it was as he expected, wooden crates and boxes, but they stood stacked in a strangely random way, creating a kind of maze with dead-ends and corridors.

    So I just have to avoid the slowly moving light? Vash thought. Shouldn¡¯t be too hard.

    The light moved over one of the dim yellow glows that he had spotted earlier when first entering the room. Vash froze and felt his blood go cold. A crudely shaped humanoid figure stood rigidly against the wall. Someone had fashioned its features into a blocky approximation of a human, with gaping holes for eyes and mouth. The glow came from the statue¡¯s mouth, like a candle was lit somewhere in its chest and the illumination was only strong enough to reach the first opening. The eyes were dark black pools of shadow.

    Vash recognized a golem when he saw one. They were fairly common among merchants and trading houses in Sathsholm. A Malconian rune prominently carved on its forehead, a Lotros rune, the rune of motion and action. That meant that it could move as well as observe. Most golems were immobile, simply serving as watchers, able to alert their masters with their loud, booming voices. Others could move, chasing their prey with terrifying speed and precise motions. Common golems being made of simple, fired clay was an advantage for the thief. Their outer shells could crack or shatter like any other clay jar. The exceptions were the ones made with clay from the Underlands. The black clay that formed on the banks of the deep underground rivers and lakes had a sheen like obsidian when fired. When formed into a golem, the deep clay had a strength more akin to solid brick. Chipping away and eventually breaking it was possible, but with far more difficulty than their common counterparts.

    The golem moved slightly with the light, tracking its progress across the room. Vash stifled a curse as the light passed over a second golem of the same construction as the first, then a third.

    That¡¯s bloody overkill. Vash thought. Even if I had a weapon, there¡¯s no way I could fight three off. He considered the layout of the room, the lack of light, and the golems themselves. So this is a stealth challenge.

    The light sweeping around the room revealed a door in the opposite corner of the room. Royce had said that the goal was just to get to the end of the Gauntlet. So his goal appeared to be to cross the room without being smashed into a paste by the golems.

    Using Shadowmeld would make him nearly invisible unless that spinning light caught him in the open. However, Shadowmeld was a major Talent and would use a large amount of his remaining mana. He didn¡¯t want to deplete his mana and find out there were still three rooms left.

    I¡¯ll have to try it the hard way. Vash thought. Can¡¯t chance draining my Core. Leave the major Talents for if I really need them.

    INTRUDER. Intoned the three golems in unison, one hollow voice. SURRENDER NOW. YOU HAVE SIXTY SECONDS TO COMPLY OR WE WILL SUBDUE YOU BY FORCE.

    Vash did his best to ignore the creepy, hollow voices. Focus on the job at hand.

    The light swept across his hiding place again. Vash waited until the light had passed him, then darted to the next pile of crates a few feet away. When Vash began to move, the spinning crystal paused, swinging back in his direction. He barely made it behind the crates before the circle of light passed over them. If he had moved a moment sooner, he would have been caught in the open.

    The crystal paused, drifting back and forth as it searched for more movement. Vash waited, heart pounding, until the crystal began its sweep of the room again.

    INTRUDER, SURRENDER NOW. YOU HAVE FORTY-FIVE SECONDS TO COMPLY OR WE WILL SUBDUE YOU BY FORCE. The golems boomed, Vash heard the scrape of ceramic on ceramic. He peeked around the corner and saw the golems moving their heads slowly, following the path of the light. The golems stood at the center of three of the walls, giving them a good, wide view of the room. Vash had to be careful as he moved. It was possible that if he moved to one spot, and it was open to the view of one golem, then there would be enough light to expose him. But he was also running out of time. He couldn¡¯t dither, hoping that he could see a path through. He had to take a risk and pray that luck was on his side for once.

    Crouched at the edge of the small pile of crates, Vash waited until the light was a good distance away before darting to his next hiding spot. It was a longer stretch in the open, but the placement of the boxes allowed him cover on two sides while his back remained to the unoccupied wall. Again, the light stopped and swung back towards Vash¡¯s movement, faster this time. Vash heard the scrape of the golems moving their heads to look. He risked a bit of mana and fed his Enhance Ability Talent, picking up speed while keeping his footsteps light.

    Sliding behind the boxes, Vash was a mere heartbeat ahead of the light. The crystal kept the focused beam on his hiding spot, like an accusing glare.

    INTRUDER, SURRENDER NOW. YOU HAVE THIRTY SECONDS TO COMPLY OR WE WILL SUBDUE YOU BY FORCE. The golems toneless voices sounded angry, though Vash knew golems did not possess emotions or personalities. They were just animated bits of clay that performed a set of tasks.

    Three heavy feet thudded against the tile floor. The golems had stepped away from their spots on the wall. Another set of footfalls sounded after the first. They were moving.

    Maybe I triggered a patrol? Vash thought. The beam of light moved on, slowly spinning, like a sulking child returning to their chores. Vash risked a look around the opposite corner from the departing light. The golems had moved away from their positions and were walking in a slow circle in the opposite direction of the beam of light. The blocky clay heads swiveled back and forth, movements becoming smoother and more natural. In the shadows, they could be any other guardsmen, albeit ones that moved with precise, measured steps.

    COME OUT LITTLE MOUSE. One golem said, its toneless voice conveying more menace than any guardsman that Vash had faced.

    YOUR FAILURE IS INEVITABLE. Another boomed. There was a heavy crash and the sound of splintering wood. Vash looked out, seeing one golem lashing out with a heavy, clay fist, shattering boxes and crates. It paused, as if admiring its handiwork, then continued its slow, methodical patrol.

    Another crash to Vash¡¯s other side. He didn¡¯t have to look to know what was happening. The golems were removing places for him to hide. If the light increased its speed at all, he would be caught in the open before he could reach safety, since the next space he could use was several paces away. The other stacks of crates were open on at least one side of a golem¡¯s gaze. Vash knew he was going to have to spend the mana and risk Shadowmeld. He just had to hope that he could get past this challenge without completely draining his Core.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    Vash took a deep breath, calming himself and forming the framework of his Talent in his mind¡¯s eye. It was more intricate than the ones he¡¯d used before, but it still only took a few heartbeats to form. He felt the Talent lock into place, then released the mana from his Core. The framework held, and Vash could feel shadows gathering around him. A cold numbness spread over his body, and the color faded from the world around him.

    Mana flowed into his Shadowmeld Talent like a raging river. Iona described using the Talent as stepping out of the world for a few moments, and Vash couldn¡¯t help but agree. He often felt like he was stepping from a place of warmth and color into a cold mist of gray shadows. Byar said that Shadowmeld was more than just a way to hide from prying eyes, but never went into detail. That was for later, when he earned a higher rank.

    Breathing steadily, Vash fought the urge to shiver in the sudden cold, and waited for the crystal light to pass. He let it get a suitable distance from him before dashing for the next piece of cover. As he moved, he watched the crystal. This time, it did not pause and return to seek him out. It continued to sweep across the room as if he hadn¡¯t moved at all.

    That¡¯s handy. Never noticed that before. Vash thought. Shadowmeld didn¡¯t just hide the user from the sight of others, but from other senses as well.

    Someday, Vash thought, I¡¯m going to have to test it when I¡¯m not in danger of being smashed to a pulp.

    The sound of splintering wood caught Vash¡¯s attention. A golem tore through the boxes that he had just left behind. The clay man tore apart the boxes methodically, searching through the detritus. Although the expression on the golem¡¯s face never changed, Vash felt certain that the creature was confused and frustrated.

    It didn¡¯t know that I¡¯d moved. Vash thought. It thought it had caught me.

    That meant that the golems were tracking him the same way that the crystalline light was. Which meant that the golems were specifically hunting him, not just providing an obstacle. A feeling of dread washed over Vash. Something had changed. The previous challenges had been difficult and dangerous, but this one felt more targeted, intentional.

    I need to get out of here. Vash thought.

    The light swept past as the golem straightened and scanned the room. THE MOUSE HIDES.

    WE MUST FIND WHERE IT HAS GONE. The second golem turned towards the center of the room.

    The third smashed the nearest set of boxes. LEAVE IT NO PLACE TO HIDE.

    Vash darted from his hiding place, narrowly avoiding the second golem as it trudged across the room. The creature¡¯s heavy tread vibrated the floor when it walked. It turned its torso from side to side, looking for anywhere Vash may have gone. The first golem followed in its wake, smashing more boxes, throwing them across the room.

    A stack of crates exploded into splinters in front of Vash, who skidded to a halt. The third golem tore through them, clay hands shattering wood, empty black eyes searching the shadows beyond.

    Vash sidestepped out of the way of the golem. Even though it couldn¡¯t see him, it could crush him just by walking in the wrong spot. The wreckage that the golems were creating blocked his simple path to the opposite door, and the light was inexorably sweeping around again. Movement was causing him to spend more mana to keep the Shadowmeld in place. The telltale fatigue of mana overuse was fogging Vash¡¯s mind, slowing his movements.

    Each way he moved was blocked, either by the light, a golem, or crates and boxes being shoved out of place. Vash bit back a snarl. The Shadowmeld may cover his footsteps, but he doubted that his voice would be as well.

    The light was sweeping his way again, and the golems had smashed all the covers that Vash could easily use. Under bright light, the Shadowmeld would burn away, making him visible. Vash had to move and move quickly. Darting past one golem, Vash narrowly avoided a hammer-like blow as it punched a box out if its way. Vash leaped over a pile of broken wood, landing lightly on the far side before immediately darting to his right to avoid a golem striding towards the place he had just vacated. The light was on his heels now. Vash ran towards the far door. The golems were behind him now, open ways through the crates that they hadn¡¯t destroyed were just ahead of him.

    Vash¡¯s heart surged, a smile creeping onto his face.

    I¡¯m going to make it!

    Vash¡¯s Core was so depleted that he barely sensed the warning tug as the crate came flying at him. It was too late to change direction or duck. The crate struck him in the side, sending him crashing into a pile of boxes. His feet went out from under him and Vash went tumbling to the ground.

    Warmth and light flooded back into his body and shadows burned away in an instant. Vash looked up to see that the light had found him, the beam pointed directly at him. The Shadowmeld evaporated like smoke on the wind. The other facets of the floating crystal burst into light, illuminating the entire room.

    Vash winced at the sudden change of light, blinking to clear his vision. The sound of ceramic on stone caught his attention. The golems had seen him.

    FOUND YOU! The golems intoned as one. The ground shook as they strode towards him, ignoring all obstacles in their way.

    Vash scrambled to his feet, stumbling to one side as a clay fist struck the ground where he had been lying a moment before. The stone tile cracked in a spiderweb pattern with the force of the golem¡¯s blow. Vash had barely regained his balance when a crate struck him. The wood cracked with the force of the impact and Vash felt the warm trickle of blood from a scrape across his scalp. He looked up and saw one golem picking up another crate, bigger this time, and preparing to throw it at him.

    The first golem straightened, pivoted, and lunged at Vash. Enhance Ability sputtered to life in Vash¡¯s limbs, allowing him to dance backwards away from the golem¡¯s devastating fists. He was sluggish, though, his Talents wouldn¡¯t last long at this rate. The golems moved forward, trying to corral him away from the exit door.

    With a surge of mana, Vash leaped onto the pile of crates behind him, avoiding the first golem¡¯s fists and the second¡¯s hurled crate. He kept moving, jumping to the next pile just as the first golem smashed into the wood beneath him. Vash leaped from pile to pile, cutting a straight line toward the exit door. He didn¡¯t look back. The scrape of ceramic and the crunch of wood told him everything he needed to know.

    He landed hard on the floor in front of the exit door, his knees almost gave out beneath him as he stumbled and slammed headfirst into the door. Vash felt something crunch in his nose and blood ran freely down his face. He shook his head and reached for the latch.

    It was locked.

    Vash nearly screamed in frustration, shaking the immobile latch. He barely heard the thudding of clay feet behind him. A sudden thought struck him.

    Where''s the third golem?

    Without turning, Vash threw himself to one side. The charging golem was going too fast to change direction. It crashed into the door, lashing out with its heavy fists with a killing blow meant for Vash. The door shattered and flew off its hinges into the hallway beyond. The golem stumbled and toppled, overbalanced. It crashed to the ground, half-in and half-out of the room.

    Vash staggered to his feet. The golem was slowly pushing up onto its hands and knees. The other two were wading through the destruction of the room behind him, but would be there in seconds. Vash jumped up onto the back of the fallen golem, running across it, past the broken door and into the hallway beyond.

    Tripping, he landed and rolled across the tiles, coming to a stop against the stone wall opposite the struggling golem. Directly above him stood a very surprised looking gnomish woman, her pink hair done up in a messy bun, and she was holding a rod with various runes carved along its length.

    The gnome blinked down at Vash¡¯s bloody face in surprise. ¡°That wasn¡¯t¡­I mean, it shouldn¡¯t have¡­¡±

    A clay fist slamming into the floor just beyond her toes interrupted her.

    MOUSE! The golem roared. The other two golems crowded the doorway behind their fallen comrade. They hammered at the wall, stone chips flying as they fought to get to their target.

    The gnome squeaked in surprise and fumbled at the rod in her hands, twisting the dials until certain runes lined up. She pointed it at the golems. ¡°Stolva!¡±

    Immediately, the golems stopped moving. The yellow light within their mouths faded and went out. They stood, frozen in the doorway, in the last pose they had been in before the gnome commanded them to stop.

    For a moment, the hallway was silent. Vash panted, and the gnome made small panicky noises next to him. Finally, Vash sat up, wiped some of the blood from beneath his nose with his sleeve, and looked up at the gnome. ¡°So¡­does this mean I passed?¡±

 Episode 10: Lost and Found

    ¡°He passed the damn Gauntlet, Dane.¡± Jabez said, his voice a low growl. He stood in front of Lodge Master Eddar¡¯s chair, and with Eddar sitting, Jabez could glare at him eye-to-eye. ¡°What more do you want? Should he recite the Lineage of Masters? Maybe come up with a little dance while he sings The Ballad of the Valiant Vagabond?¡±

    Vash was glad that the cloth that he was using to staunch the blood running from his nose also covered his grin. Eddar was squirming. Clearly, things hadn¡¯t gone to plan. Royce fiddled with his notes, clearly angry with the interference in his Gauntlet. When Corwin had helped him to the observation lounge, Royce and Jabez had been trading off on berating Eddar. Royce was furious that the golems had been tampered with.

    ¡°It was a stealth challenge, not a ¡®how good are you at not getting flattened¡¯ challenge.¡± Royce was saying as Vash entered the room. ¡°Overriding the golems with that control rod was foolish and dangerous. You gave them conflicting commands and almost sent them on a rampage through the whole damn Lodge. Thank the gods that Harmony knew the universal shut-down code, or we¡¯d have an even bigger mess on our hands.¡±

    Eddar glanced at Inquisitor Glauch, which set off Jabez. ¡°Oh, are we letting the Inquisition set Guild policies now? I¡¯m sure the Grandmasters will be overjoyed to hear how we let the Inquisition set Guild policies now.

    Glauch had bristled, but had remained silent, allowing Eddar to soak up the abuse for actions that he caused. While Corwin had gotten Vash to a chair and supplies to clean him up, Jabez and Royce kept up the pointed back and forth until Eddar finally had to say something.

    ¡°It is my opinion that the evaluation could not be conclusive with the last test having gone, unfortunately, awry.¡± Eddar said, trying to get back some of his authority.

    ¡°Gods save me from bureaucrats,¡± Jabez spat, looking angry enough to break things, starting with the Lodge Master.

    Royce gave Eddar a disbelieving look. ¡°Your opinion? Well, good thing you aren¡¯t the Master Delver of this Lodge, isn¡¯t it? Who is that again? Oh, right, it¡¯s me. And in the Master Delver¡¯s opinion, Vash has displayed the skills necessary to become a Wayfarer in the League of Delvers. He¡¯s raw, but nothing that we can¡¯t iron out with experience and training.¡±

    Corwin laughed triumphantly and clapped Vash on the shoulder. The touch shook him unexpectedly, surprising Vash with how much his friend had changed in two years. Corwin was always strong. Working a farm will do that, but he was never this strong.

    Glauch shot Corwin a glare of disgust. ¡°So is that how the Wayfarers operate? Your Master renders his verdict on the half-elf¡¯s abilities and you, the servant, just overrule him?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not my master,¡± Royce said, coming to his feet and crossing to Vash. ¡°He just runs the Lodge. Keeps the paperwork in order and the bills paid. For rogues in our Guild, I have the final say here.¡±

    The Inquisitor scoffed. ¡°And this¡­person, is someone you deem worthy of joining your Guild.¡±

    ¡°Provisionally, yes,¡± Royce said, reaching into his waistcoat and producing a small bronze medallion. It was dull and tarnished from age and wear. One side bore the device of a black crescent moon within a larger circle, the symbol of Sala, goddess of the lesser moon, lady of hidden things and secret places. On the other was the combination of runes that symbolized the Wayfarers Guild. Royce held the medallion out to Vash. ¡°I can offer you the rank of level one Apprentice. Your master will have to petition the Grandmaster¡¯s Council for you to be instated as a full Guild Member, but this will give you the protection and support of the Guild until then.¡±

    Vash looked down at the medallion. It¡¯s just symbolic. It gets your head off the chopping block until you can find Iona and the others. He took the medallion from Royce. It was surprisingly heavy, as though made of some dense material. Vash slipped the chain over his head and let the medallion hang against his chest.

    A thrum from his Core was echoed by the medallion, which gave a slight vibration once it settled against his skin. He felt a blossoming of energy within him, like something was let loose. The throbbing in his nose subsided, and he could already tell that the blood had stopped. Many of his aches and weariness vanished in a cool wave that passed over his body. Vash blinked in surprise.

    What the hell was that?

    Corwin put a hand on Vash¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Congratulations. Welcome to the Wayfarers.¡±

    ¡°What just happened?¡± Vash asked, suspicious.

    ¡°It¡¯s a¡­bonus of joining the Guild.¡± Corwin said, glancing at Glauch meaningfully. ¡°Jabez will tell you all about it later.¡±

    Vash frowned, more secrets, just like in the Eth Mitaan.

    ¡°We¡¯re done here.¡± Jabez said decisively, turning and motioning Vash and Corwin to follow.

    ¡°Dammit Jabez, it¡¯s not over and you know it,¡± Eddar said, frustrated.

    ¡°If you¡¯ve got a problem, you can take it up with the Grandmaster¡¯s Council.¡± Jabez said over one shoulder. ¡°Royce, are we settled?¡±

    The halfling nodded. ¡°Because of that fiasco in the Gauntlet I¡¯m waving my fee. With the Inquisitor so graciously making a donation to observe our little ritual, that gives you a credit with the Salvagers.¡±

    Jabez let out a heavy sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good news. I did not know how I was going to kit the boy out properly. At least we can get him some starting gear.¡±

    ¡°Three-hundred gold for starting gear.¡± Vash said, bewildered. ¡°You can buy a house for that much.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re forgetting your indenture to the Guild.¡± Royce said. ¡°Until you pay off all of your debt, you¡¯ll only get ten percent of any windfall that comes your way through the Guild. So you have a thirty gold credit with the Salvagers Union.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Vash said bitterly as the reality of his debt sank in. Thirty gold, that¡¯s about three-hundred silver. It¡¯s better than nothing, I suppose.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look so glum,¡± Corwin said, steering Vash to the door. ¡°The Salvagers come across all sorts of interesting gear and the bloodstains usually come out pretty easy.¡±

    <hr>

    Vash stuck his finger through a ragged hole in the leather jerkin. He made a face while he wiggled it back and forth.

    The gnome that had handed it to him smiled as if nothing were out of place. ¡°Just a bit of mending, and it¡¯s good as new. We sell mending kits, just so you know.¡±

    Vash heaved a sigh and tried on the armor, finding it a little big in the chest and shoulders since it was made for someone with a human-sized frame, but it otherwise fit well. At least this one doesn¡¯t have a gaping bite taken out of the stomach.

    Vash, Corwin, and Jabez had been going through the Salvager Yard for the past hour. All sorts of bits and bobs, equipment, trinkets, weapons, and other oddities filled the small warehouse tucked behind the Guild Lodge. The Salvagers Union was technically part of the Guild, but they had very little to do with the actual adventuring side of being a Wayfarer. Salvagers bought looted items that Wayfarers brought back from dungeons and monster lairs, hoping to augment the Guild Fee. As a result, there was a variety of armor and weapons from bandits, cultists, and humanoid monsters. However, all of it was from a dead bandit, cultist, or monster, so there were minor problems, like holes from sword stabbings, burns from magical fire, or bites from angry monsters.

    The leather armor Vash was now wearing at least felt like the ones he wore with the Eth Mitaan. It was normal leather, however, possibly given a Therium salt curing to increase its protective value while retaining its flexibility. The holes from where the previous owner had met their demise lined up over Vash¡¯s kidneys.

    At least the bugger died quick.

    ¡°Ah! That looks marvelous on you, sir!¡± the gnome said, clapping his hands excitedly. Even shorter than halflings, and with a body type that tended towards a more rounded shape, it was hard to not view gnomes as overgrown children. Especially when you took their eccentric hair colors into account. This gnome, who had introduced himself as Cordy, had thick lavender hair that he wore in a stylish topknot. He also seemed to think he was working at a high end haberdashery from the way he presented items and fawned over the color and the drape.

    Vash twisted and stretched a few times, noting the ease of movement. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s better than nothing.¡±

    ¡°Sir, I would note that this item provides an armor rating of 2 on the Gideon Scale. It¡¯s made from lowland bull¡¯s hide, which gives it a bonus rating of +1 against blunt trauma. Fists, clubs, maces, that sort of thing.¡± Cordy said, making expressive gestures toward the coat.

    ¡°But not so great against blades?¡± Vash said, pointedly.

    ¡°Sadly, there must be a trade-off somewhere.¡± Cordy shrugged, his smile never faltering. ¡°Even using magical enhancements, changing the nature of the base material is quite difficult. So, it is better to choose equipment that helps one mitigate one¡¯s weaknesses, at least when choosing protective gear.¡±

    Vash nodded. He could see the logic in that. The cuirass was a dark brown, nearly black, but with enough color not to stand out and scream ¡®I¡¯m a thief, arrest me¡¯, if you wore it in the town square. Also, Vash was far more susceptible to heavy force attacks, like being knocked around by a golem. He had trained to dodge blades or turn them aside. Besides, armor was useful even if it wasn¡¯t all-around protection. ¡°How much?¡±

    ¡°For you, sir? A mere seventy-five silver.¡± Cordy said pleasantly.

    Vash frowned. That was almost a third of his credit. Everything else had been more expensive, or in worse shape.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get swindled by that nob,¡± Jabez said, coming down the aisle with a few items tucked under his arm. ¡°It¡¯s not worth over thirty.¡±

    Cordy gasped in horror. ¡°Master Jabez, I know you aren¡¯t impugning my honesty as a businessman. But, I understand times are lean for you and your apprentices. I could see allowing this out my door for sixty-five.¡±

    Jabez made a face. ¡°Forty, the hide is old and is going to need a Therium conditioning soon.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know I keep my wares in top condition.¡± Cordy said, eyes dancing. Vash realized, with surprise, that the gnome was enjoying this. ¡°But things do slip through the cracks. So, in the interest of goodwill, I could discount it to sixty.¡±

    ¡°Fifty.¡± Jabez countered.

    ¡°Fifty-five and I¡¯ll throw in mending laces for free.¡± Cordy responded.

    Jabez looked up at Vash questioningly.

    Vash shrugged. He guessed it was acceptable.

    ¡°That¡¯ll do.¡± Jabez nodded, then began laying out some other items on a nearby shelf. A pair of vambraces, nicked and scarred, with sweat-stains around the wrists. They were a similar leather to the armor, but with steel plates sewn into them. A thick leather belt with numerous buckles and rings to attach equipment. An assortment of pouches, large and small, good for holding a variety of small items. He held up a bundle wrapped in leather. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if you had a preference, but these are the least expensive I could find.¡±

    Vash took the bundle, unwrapping the ties and rolling it out on the shelf. It was a set of thief¡¯s tools, well-worn like everything in the Salvager¡¯s Yard, but well cared for. No chips, and they looked recently oiled. The dwarf has a decent eye.

    Nodding, Vash re-rolled the tools. ¡°They¡¯ll do for now.¡±

    Cordy looked over at the selection, nodding in approval. ¡°Those are some superb choices, if I may say so. Ten silver for the vambraces, five for the belt. I¡¯ll let the pouches go for six and the¡­ahem¡­trade tools for fifteen. Thirty-six in total.¡±

    ¡°The tools are worth ten,¡± Vash said, taking the vambraces and buckling them onto his forearms. ¡°And these have seen better days. I wouldn¡¯t go higher than six for the pair. So, twenty-seven is my offer.¡±

    ¡°Could we compromise at thirty?¡± Cordy asked, voice sounding pained, but eyes sparkling.

    ¡°I suppose.¡± Vash sighed, putting on the belt and securing the pouches in his preferred style. Feeling like my old self again.

    ¡°Wonderful!¡± Cordy beamed. ¡°Now, what else can I get for you?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll need a standard Wayfarer¡¯s pack.¡± Jabez said, then shot the gnome a look. ¡°Standard price, no mark-up.¡±

    Cordy held up his hands defensively. ¡°I know the rules, Master Jabez. I¡¯ve already secured a pack for your apprentice at the approved rate of ten silver.¡±

    Jabez grunted, like he wanted to make a comment but was keeping himself in check. ¡°Boots next.¡±

    ¡°What about weapons?¡± Vash asked. ¡°My account is dwindling on all these knick-knacks.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll get to weapons.¡± Jabez said. ¡°On the Glory Road a good pair of boots is worth as much as any sword.¡±

    ¡°Corwin mentioned the Glory Road.¡± Vash said, following Cordy and Jabez to another section of the Salvager¡¯s Yard. ¡°I thought the main road north from here was the Riverside Road?¡±

    ¡°It is.¡± Jabez said. ¡°It¡¯s a Wayfarer thing, all the roads from Sathsholm here in the south up to Kundaraak way up north, collectively. We call it the Glory Road. Sounds grander than two-thousand miles of blisters and bandits.¡±

    Vash blinked. He knew Wayfarers traveled all over the Grand Alliance, but he didn¡¯t think that they trekked that far. I don¡¯t want to get too far from Sathsholm if I want to find the Eth Mitaan again. I may have to make a run for it sooner rather than later.

    ¡°But you don¡¯t walk the whole thing, right?¡± Vash asked, ¡°You just patrol a section.¡±

    ¡°Every Wayfarer has walked the Road at least once.¡± Jabez said. ¡°Corwin and I were building up funds before starting the first leg of the journey. You just don¡¯t get the experience down here that you need for the really big jobs.¡±

    Vash pondered this while Jabez and Cordy inspected a variety of boots and haggled over the price. I could end up in Nosvaral or Solaria before I¡¯m done. That¡¯s a long way from here. Better to make a break and lie low out in the countryside. Byar used to talk about other Eth Mitaan upriver near the Shrouded Fens. Maybe I can hook up with them and find any survivors?

    ¡°Try these on.¡± Jabez said, handing Vash a pair of mended boots. The leather had mismatched patches and repairs. Much like the rest of his current equipment, it didn¡¯t look stylish or even coordinate well with the other pieces, but when he slipped them on, the boots fit well and supported his feet far better than the tattered shoes he had been wearing.

    Jabez looked him over and gave a brief grunt of approval. ¡°That¡¯ll do.¡±

    ¡°Weapons?¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°Right this way, we have quite a selection.¡± Cordy said, excitedly.

    Jabez made a face, like he was uncomfortable with giving Vash anything more dangerous than a soup spoon. Get used to it, old man, I¡¯m not wandering around unarmed.

    The weapons section of the Salvager¡¯s Yard took up most of one corner of the building. Racks of swords, spears, maces, and other implements of death crammed in together. Cordy tried to steer them to a showcase on the outer edge of the section, but Jabez brushed past the shining collection to the barrels of plain steel towards the back.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure you¡¯ll find the quality you¡¯re looking for among those¡ª ¡° Cordy began.

    ¡°These will be fine.¡± Jabez cut the gnome off, perusing the various weapons in the big barrels labeled ¡®Discount¡¯. ¡°What¡¯s your style, boy?¡±

    ¡°I have a name.¡± Vash muttered, irritably.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You keep calling me ¡®boy¡¯ or ¡®the boy¡¯.¡± Vash said. ¡°I have a name.¡±

    Jabez just looked at him. ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯d appreciate it if you used it.¡±

    ¡°All right¡­Vash, what¡¯s your style?¡±

    ¡°Two-weapon,¡± Vash said, ¡°Small sword and dagger.¡±

    Jabez started sorting through the barrel, pulling out a few pieces to look over. ¡°Use the small sword for offense or just for blocking?¡±

    ¡°I use it to attack and defend, dagger is mainly for offense, though.¡±

    ¡°Ese¡¯ko anaethi?¡± Jabez asked, selecting a blade roughly the length of his forearm.

    Vash blinked in surprise. ¡°How the hell do you know about that?¡±

    ¡°Kid¡­Vash, I¡¯ve been walking the Glory Road since before your mother was born. I¡¯ve known plenty of folks from all over. I¡¯ve seen most of the elvish fighting styles, even the ones they don¡¯t like talking about. The Silent Thorn can be pretty nasty in the right circumstances. Makes sense why they focused on the Shadowmeld Talent, since it works best from a place of surprise.¡± Jabez continued, taking a few other swords out of the barrel, then moving to a basket of daggers. ¡°Might want to study Et¡¯ya ston Anaemo, Willow in the Wind. It¡¯s a complementary form that will work better in open combat.¡±

    Against his will, Vash was intrigued. He had complained about the need for constant stealth when using the Silent Thorn style. Byar had brushed it off. If you¡¯re ever in a stand-up fight. He had said. Then something has gone wrong, and you¡¯d be better off just running.

    That strategy had failed him badly in the Duke¡¯s palace. Once he and the other Eth Mitaan had been exposed, they had run, then when they couldn¡¯t run anymore they had been caught and slaughtered. ¡°Is that a form that you know?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m familiar with the basics.¡± Jabez said, sorting through daggers. ¡°I know a few Kaeleshi elves up in Vinya-Esain that can give you a better understanding once we get that far. That is, if you¡¯re still planning on being with us.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice, remember?¡± Vash said. ¡°If I want to keep my head, I¡¯m a Wayfarer from now on.¡±

    ¡°I know the deal that Corwin struck with the Duke.¡± Jabez said, taking the weapons to a table and laying them out. ¡°I also have been around long enough to spot someone that¡¯s ready to run at the first opportunity.¡±

    Vash said nothing, following in Jabez¡¯s wake.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been jumpy since I laid eyes on you.¡± Jabez continued. ¡°Always looking for the exit. Eyes on the move. If you want to spot a tail, by the way, don¡¯t keep looking over your shoulder. It gives them an opportunity to fall back or change tactics. Use reflective surfaces when you can and your peripheral vision when you change direction.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not planning on running.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit.¡±

    ¡°I have enemies in this city, though, and not just the Ducal Guard. A lot of folk would be happy to put a knife in the back of one of the few surviving Eth Mitaan.¡± Vash said, hoping that explanation would mollify the dwarf.

    ¡°Then it¡¯s a good thing we¡¯re heading out in the morning.¡± Jabez said, turning to face Vash. ¡°Look, I know this situation isn¡¯t anything you wanted. I¡¯m not especially thrilled about it either. But I¡¯m going to need you to get us through this quest from the Duke. Can you give me that much for getting your head out of the noose?¡±

    Vash considered this. It gets me out of the city for a bit. Gets the Duke off my back. I can always ditch these two and head for the Shrouded Fens once we start north. ¡°I can give it a try, but I¡¯m no adventurer.¡±

    ¡°Who is?¡± Jabez snorted. ¡°Just do your job and try not to get anyone killed. We¡¯ll talk about the adventuring side later. Now pick out your steel and let¡¯s get going.¡±

    Vash took his time looking over the weapons that Jabez had selected. Unsurprisingly, the dwarf had a keen eye for good steel. In the end, Vash picked a small sword that was on the longer side, since he preferred a bit of reach and a heavy dagger. Others would have preferred a smaller, concealable blade, but Vash enjoyed knowing that his dagger would not snap in half at an inopportune moment.

    Jabez went off to haggle with Cordy while Vash familiarized himself with his new weapons. Vash stepped through a few of the simpler Silent Thorn katas, getting a feel for the weight and balance of his blades as well as how his new armor and boots impacted movement. The first time, it felt awkward, but he quickly settled into something of a rhythm. It wasn¡¯t ideal, but he could learn to work with these tools.

    ¡°That looks fancy.¡± Corwin said, approaching from one aisle.

    ¡°Just a few exercises.¡± Vash said, sheathing his weapons. ¡°Where have you been?¡±

    ¡°Restocking for Jabez and me.¡± Corwin said, holding up a net bag of sundries. ¡°Also putting together a Wayfarer¡¯s pack for you.¡±

    Corwin tossed a pack to Vash. Vash caught it in mid-air and was surprised at the weight. Despite its weight, the traveler¡¯s pack balanced well and didn¡¯t feel as heavy as it should.

    I hope that¡¯s not because we can¡¯t afford food.

    ¡°Packed it myself.¡± Corwin said proudly. ¡°Jabez says that efficient packing and maintenance of gear are crucial for any Wayfarer on the road.¡±

    Vash tried on the pack. The pack provided a good balance for long travel, but Vash could already feel the straps digging into his shoulders.

    ¡°Those clasps on the bottom hook into those rings on your belt,¡± Corwin explained. ¡°It helps take some of the weight off your shoulders.¡±

    ¡°Huh.¡± Vash said, hooking the clasps to his belt and instantly feeling some of the weight shifting away from his shoulders. ¡°That¡¯s clever.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got a bedroll, your share of the road rations, mess kit, oilcloth, rope, and a few other useful odds and ends in there.¡± Corwin said, digging in the other bag. ¡°I also got you this. It¡¯s every Wayfarer¡¯s best friend.¡±

    Corwin pulled out a book with a battered green cover. Vash winced. Reading wasn¡¯t his strong suit. His foster father hadn¡¯t bothered to teach him back in Durron¡¯s Ford, and the Temple cleric wasn¡¯t a fan of educating ¡®half-breeds¡¯, as he called children like Vash. He had eventually learned his letters with some help from Corwin and a few others, but hadn¡¯t truly learned to read before becoming a member of the Eth Mitaan. Even now, his reading was slow and he had difficulty with bigger words or dense texts.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you with anything you can¡¯t figure out.¡± Corwin said, earnestly. ¡°Just trust me, this book is worth it.¡±

    Vash grimaced, but he took the book from Corwin. Faded, embossed letters on the cover said its title was ¡®Gideon¡¯s Guide to Adventure¡¯. The cover even had a bronze Wayfarer¡¯s symbol attached to the front. Vash felt his medallion vibrate as he brought the book close to inspect it. The book vibrated in response. Surprised, Vash almost dropped it.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Corwin asked.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Vash said. The book and his medallion stopped vibrating after the initial contact. ¡°Must be one of those Wayfarer things you couldn¡¯t tell me about.¡±

    Corwin looked confused. ¡°No¡­it¡¯s just a book.¡±

    ¡°OK, well, thanks.¡± Vash said, tucking the book into one of his larger pouches.

    ¡°There¡¯s a lot of handy information in there.¡± Corwin said, even Jabez swears by it.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give it a look then.¡± Vash said, not sure what kind of reaction Corwin was expecting.

    They stood in awkward silence while Jabez concluded business with Cordy. If Corwin is expecting things to go back to the way they were in Durron¡¯s Ford, then he might be in for a surprise. Vash thought. A lot has happened since then, big man.

    Jabez waved Vash over. ¡°We¡¯ve settled up. To no one¡¯s surprise, we¡¯ve spent your entire credit.¡±

    Cordy ignored the glare that Jabez was giving him and beamed up at Vash. ¡°It¡¯s always such a pleasure to see a new Wayfarer finally kitted out properly. One last thing, just a formality, really.¡± The gnome took out a small leather-bound notebook, a bronze Wayfarer sigil on the cover. He flipped through the pages, finally finding the page he wanted and made a few quick notes with a pencil that he had tucked behind one ear. ¡°If you¡¯ll just press your medallion to the bottom of the page there, we¡¯ll be all set.¡±

    Vash glanced at Jabez, who gestured for him to go ahead. With a shrug, Vash pulled out his Wayfarer medallion and pressed it lightly to the bottom of the page that Cordy was holding out.

    The medallion gave a small shudder. A dark ink splotch appeared beneath the spot where Vash held his medallion. The ink flowed into words beneath the total that Cordy had written.

    <blockquote>

    Liellovash ¡®Vash¡¯ Ballard

    Apprentice Level I, Delver¡¯s League

    Jabez Ironbiter, Master

    </blockquote>

    ¡°Handy, isn¡¯t it?¡± Corwin said with a grin. ¡°It¡¯s how we keep track of everything in the Guild. Once you take the medallion, it¡¯s soul-bonded to you, impossible to lose.¡±

    Vash looked at the medallion uncertainly. If it keeps track of my records and is soul-bonded to me, then that means it can also be used to find me.

    He looked up and met eyes with Jabez. The dwarf gave a small shrug, as if he knew what Vash was thinking and that there wasn¡¯t much he could do about it.

    If the Guild could find him, then he couldn¡¯t run. Eventually, they could find him again.

    That means I can¡¯t go find the other Eth Mitaan. I can¡¯t go find Iona.

    The medallion suddenly felt very heavy around his neck.

 Episode 11: Red Caps

    During the walk back to the Weary Wayfarer, Vash was silent, brooding over the disk of bronze that lay against his chest. Corwin kept up a steady stream of chatter, speculating about their quest and the jobs they could take afterwards. Apparently, he and Jabez mostly dealt with monster infestations, shadow cult camps, and bandit groups. Good for a bit of coin here and there, but not the same as the more lucrative dungeon delves and ruin explorations.

    Once, the thought of exploring ancient ruins and dungeons would have filled Vash with joy. Now it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

    What did you expect? He thought, They would let you run around without a leash? Corwin is a trusting fool, but that dwarf may be more clever than I gave him credit for.

    Jabez kept his eyes fixed forward, grunting in acknowledgment of Corwin¡¯s comments every now and again. He played the part of the gruff master well, but Vash suspected one didn¡¯t become a Master in the Wayfarers by being foolish or reckless.

    He¡¯s the one to watch out for when I make my break¡­if I can make a break. Vash thought, frowning.

    As he held the medallion in his fingers, Vash carefully inspected it. It wasn¡¯t anything special, similar to the identification tags that guardsmen wore. Wayfarer¡¯s glyph on one side, Sala¡¯s sigil on the other, a few tiny runes etched around the rim in a language that Vash didn¡¯t know offhand.

    I¡¯ll probably have to find a hedge mage to break the soul bond.

    ¡°It¡¯s pretty neat, huh?¡± Corwin asked, beaming. ¡°You figured out what you unlocked yet?¡±

    Vash looked up at him, confused. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Your Guild Marker, the amulet. As you gain ranks in the Guild, it unlocks passive Talents.¡± Corwin said. ¡°I wanted to tell you about it when Royce gave you the medallion, but it¡¯s not something we talk about when folk like Inquisitor Glauch are in the room.¡±

    He had forgotten about the sudden rush of vitality and how his nose had stopped bleeding as soon as he¡¯d taken the medallion. Now he took a mental inventory of any changes in his body. The bruises on his knuckles from fighting the guardsmen at the Ducal Palace had faded and almost disappeared. He no longer felt the deeper bruises on his stomach and ribs from the beatings he had taken.

    ¡°Something to do with healing?¡± Vash guessed.

    Corwin grinned. ¡°It uses ambient mana to bolster your own natural healing. So, it doesn¡¯t use your personal mana reserve and is constantly repairing your body. Wear it all night and your nose will be back to normal by morning.¡±

    That¡¯s handy. Vash thought, tucking the medallion back under his shirt.

    ¡°Being a Wayfarer has its perks. You can read about them in the Gideon¡¯s Guide.¡± Corwin said, enthusiastically.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to check that out,¡± Vash said, trying to move off of the conversation and get back to brooding.

    ¡°Remember that the Gideon¡¯s Guide is a place to start, not the end-all-be-all of Wayfarer knowledge.¡± Jabez said. ¡°Gideon Harlow didn¡¯t see everything that this world has to see, nor did he write everything down. So keep your eyes and ears open.¡±

    Corwin made a face like he¡¯d heard this speech a thousand times, but he kept silent.

    As Jabez neared the Weary Wayfarer, he stopped. Vash and Corwin stopped behind him. Vash didn¡¯t notice anything out of the ordinary. More guardsmen than usual loitered on street corners, unsurprising due to the Eth Mitaan attack on the Duke.

    ¡°Something wrong?¡± Corwin asked, stepping up beside Jabez, brow furrowed.

    ¡°No, just thinking.¡± Jabez said. ¡°Since our boy¡­I mean, Vash, is now a Wayfarer¡ªat least probationary¡ªwe should probably take him to a proper Wayfarer tavern to welcome him to the Guild.¡±

    A mischievous grin split Corwin¡¯s face. ¡°You aren¡¯t suggesting¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I think we have to go to the Drunken Drake.¡± Jabez said decisively. He turned on his heel and began walking towards the Wayfarer¡¯s Gate.

    ¡°What¡¯s the Drunken Drake?¡± Vash asked. ¡°I¡¯ve lived here for two years and never heard of it.¡±

    ¡°The Drake¡¯s a bit of a hole-in-the-wall.¡± Corwin said, clapping Vash on the shoulder and steering him to follow Jabez. ¡°It¡¯s not Wayfarer exclusive, but it¡¯s definitely more friendly to Wayfarers.¡±

    Vash allowed Jabez to steer him, following him when he turned off the high street and into one of the many side-streets in the shadow of the city walls. They didn¡¯t have to go far. In less than a block, Vash heard thumping drums and fast fiddle playing, as well as the low buzz of voices. As they turned a corner, the three of them found themselves swallowed by a small crowd of adventurers. Most lounged at outside tables in front of a stone building that looked like it had seen better days. A variety of people talked, gamed, ate, and drank in front of the wide open double-doors. Above the doorway was a modest shingle with a crudely sketched Draconic figure painted on it. The creature looked far more comical than fearsome, with exaggerated angry eyes and oddly human arms holding a pair of ale mugs. A shaggy-haired Tauroc with large, curved horns leaned against the door frame, watching the chaos with a lazy, bored expression.

    Jabez approached the Tauroc. ¡°Got any tables inside, Hefnir?¡±

    The massive bull-headed Tauroc looked down at Jabez, jaw working placidly as he chewed something. Vash, having grown up in a farming community, didn¡¯t want to think about what the Tauroc might be chewing on. Hefnir made a deep rumble of annoyance. ¡°We¡¯re full up.¡±

    ¡°You telling me that a fifth level Master can¡¯t get a table?¡± Jabez asked.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t say that,¡± Hefnir rumbled. ¡°Just sayin¡¯ that there aren¡¯t any tables available.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Jabez looked past Hefnir into the interior of the tavern. From where Vash was standing, he could see that Hefnir wasn¡¯t lying. The tables were crowded with every kind of person imaginable. Elves, dwarves, orcs, Tauroc, halflings, gnomes, and humans of every shape, size, and color crowded together at tables and lined the bar. On a raised platform at one end of the tavern were several musicians playing a thunderous song that had most of the rabble singing along:

    <blockquote>

    Here¡¯s to the Masters, who showed us the way,

    To Journeymen brave who joined the fray.

    To Gauntlets braved and maidens won.

    To our brothers in arms,

    And to the adventures to come!

    So raise your mugs, you Wayfarers bold!

    With broken blades and stories untold,

    From Underland depths to the dwarf lords¡¯ peaks,

    We¡¯ll drink and we¡¯ll sing ¡®til the new day breaks!

    </blockquote>

    Only one table didn¡¯t join in the chorus. They were laughing and clapping along, but obviously didn¡¯t know the song any more than Vash did. With a start, Vash realized he recognized some of them. Not necessarily by their faces, but by the red-dyed caps they all wore. Members of the Red Caps had been an annoyance to the Eth Mitaan in the Riverside district, never really a rival, but Vash had clashed with them before. Now they seemed to enjoy free run of the city.

    Jabez seemed to notice them as well. He turned to Hefnir. ¡°What about that table? Looks empty to me.¡±

    Hefnir glanced over at the Red Caps. ¡°Needs to be cleaned off. If you want to do it, you¡¯ll get no argument from me.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s clear some garbage, boys.¡± Jabez said, motioning Corwin and Vash to follow.

    ¡°Wait, I know them.¡± Vash said. ¡°They aren¡¯t going to just leave if we make a few threats.¡±

    ¡°He knows.¡± Corwin said, rolling his shoulders and cracking his knuckles.

    Jabez stalked across the room, eyes fixed on the Red Caps¡¯ table. Other Wayfarers noticed the dwarf on a mission and moved their drinks out of the way or adjusted their seats to give him, Corwin, and Vash room to move.

    ¡°You might want to set your pack down.¡± Corwin advised, setting down the bag he¡¯d brought from the Salvager¡¯s Yard. ¡°Hefnir will make sure it¡¯s not bothered, right Hef?¡±

    The big Tauroc made a grunt that sounded close to a cattle lowing, but Vash took it as assent. Vash dropped his pack next to Corwin¡¯s bag and followed them through the crowded room.

    <blockquote>

    We¡¯ve traveled far on the Glory Road,

    From Solaria far, the High King¡¯s abode,

    Through Vinya-Esain¡¯s enchanted wood,

    Where Kaeleshi archers understood,

    Our Wayfarer¡¯s badge meant friend, not foe,

    In Oxthera¡¯s towers, our legends grow!

    From Aladur¡¯s plains to Galadon¡¯s shores,

    We¡¯ve fought what comes from the Underland¡¯s doors,

    In Patria¡¯s court or Nosraval¡¯s gloom.

    Our deeds light fires in fair lady¡¯s rooms!

    So raise your mugs, you Wayfarers bold!

    With broken blades and stories untold,

    From Underland depths to the dwarf lords¡¯ peaks,

    We¡¯ll drink and we¡¯ll sing ¡®til the new day breaks!

    </blockquote>

    Jabez marched up to the Red Caps¡¯ table and picked the nearest one, a scruffy-looking youth who raised a mug of ale to his lips. With a casual smack of one thick hand, Jabez swatted the mug out of the youth¡¯s hand. The clay mug shattered on the floor and left a puddle of ale on the floor stones.

    The youth just stared in shock. A stout Red Cap sitting beside him got to his feet and glared down at Jabez. ¡°What the hell¡¯s your problem?¡±

    ¡°He wasn¡¯t singing.¡± Jabez said, pointing at the gaping youth.

    ¡°Who the hell cares?¡± The stout Red Cap asked, incredulous. ¡°None of us were singing, we don¡¯t know the song.¡±

    ¡°This is a Wayfarer tavern. Guild Law says that when the Wayfarer Toast is sung at a Wayfarer tavern, then everyone sings, or else you got to leave.¡± Jabez said, voice calm but with a definite promise.

    ¡°Screw that.¡± Another Red Cap said, getting to his feet. He was taller that Vash and had the thickly muscled arms of a dock worker. ¡°No ponce Guild tells a Red Cap where he can go.¡±

    ¡°Then we got ourselves a problem.¡± Jabez said. ¡°Me and my apprentices need a table. Guild law says you got to leave and give up your table.¡±

    ¡°You want the table, then you¡¯re going to have to back up your words, shorty.¡± The stout Red Cap said. ¡°You and your apprentices¡ª¡° The Red Cap looked up at Corwin and Vash. He paused, eyes glittering in recognition. ¡°I know that one.¡±

    The youth looked up at Vash, finally shaking off the shock. A mean grin split his face. ¡°Oi, I know that knife-ear. He¡¯s a Masked One¡­oh, wait, he can¡¯t be a Masked One. They¡¯re all dead, ain¡¯t they?¡±

    The Red Caps laughed. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant sound. Vash felt anger blossom in his chest, and he glared at the youth.

    ¡°I think you made the half-breed mad, Alvy.¡± The stout Red Cap said. ¡°Not that anyone cares, since you don¡¯t got a gang to back you up anymore, do you?¡±

    Alvy, the young Red Cap, stood up and held Vash¡¯s gaze, cocky and eager. ¡°I know the Last Sons, over in Drover¡¯s Court, would love to have a word with you. Pol, don¡¯t you think this might be the one who put out Nath¡¯s eye in that scrap the Sons and the Masks had?¡±

    The big Red Cap nodded. ¡°Probably hard to tell since they wore those masks. Definitely worth a few silver to hand him over.¡±

    ¡°I think we can have some fun first, don¡¯t you?¡± Alvy sniggered.

    ¡°No blades, boys.¡± Jabez said. ¡°Understand.¡±

    Vash didn¡¯t, but Corwin nodded.

    ¡°Oi, I forgot you were there¡ª¡°

    Jabez¡¯s fist shot out like a viper, slamming into Alvy¡¯s stomach with the force of a forge hammer. The youth flew back, tumbling over his chair and rolling into the suddenly empty space behind him. The Wayfarers in the tables around the Red Caps had shifted back in anticipation.

    Corwin charged the stout Red Cap, landing a solid blow to the stomach and doubling the man over, following up with an uppercut that sent him sprawling. The big Red Cap, Pol, roared in fury and caught Corwin with his shoulder, shoving him across the room and slamming him into a stone wall.

    The two other Red Caps, who until this moment had been laughing and drinking at the entertaining scene, suddenly stood up and charged Vash. With his mana still low from the Gauntlet earlier, Vash was taken by surprise. The first Red Cap went for his ribs with a series of body blows. His punches caused the leather to contract, resulting in strikes that were only bruising instead of potentially rib-breaking. The second came in from the side and caught him across the jaw with a well-timed jab.

    Vash¡¯s head swam, and he saw stars. His medallion pulsed, and within a few heartbeats, Vash¡¯s vision cleared.

    Damn, that¡¯s useful.

    The first Red Cap was lunging in again for another series of strikes to his ribs and stomach. Vash twisted, bringing up an elbow and cracking it across the Red Cap¡¯s chin. The man spun, eyes rolling in his head, and fell to the ground. The second Red Cap yelled something, but Vash didn¡¯t catch it, then came leaping over his prone friend, lashing out with a series of wild strikes. Vash either took the blows on his armor or deflected them with his metal-lined bracers.

    The Red Cap snarled in frustration and pulled a stiletto from his belt. The quick jabs from the thin knife pushed Vash back across the room. Vash timed the man¡¯s attacks. He had the same problem most amateur fighters did. He fell into a rhythm.

    In anticipation of the next attack, Vash turned and seized the man¡¯s wrist. He pulled the Red Cap, using his own momentum against him. Vash backhanded the Red Cap across the face, feeling the man¡¯s nose crunch beneath his knuckles. The muscles under Vash¡¯s other hand slackened slightly, and he twisted the Red Cap¡¯s wrist hard. With a cry of pain, the Red Cap dropped the knife. Vash snaked one hand around the back of the Red Cap¡¯s neck, grabbed his head and slammed it into his rising knee. The Red Cap crumpled and Vash stepped back, ready for another attack.

    Jabez stood by the table, arms crossed, one foot on the head of the young Red Cap, Alvy. Corwin was standing over the big Red Cap, Pol, who was on the ground in a fetal position whimpering. Breathing hard, Corwin wiped a thin trickle of blood from beneath his nose and gave Vash a savage grin.

    Moments later, Hefnir and some large humans arrived to gather the Red Caps. The Tauroc nodded to Jabez. ¡°I appreciate the lack of damage. Have a good night.¡±

    Pulling out a chair, Jabez nodded graciously to Hefnir. He turned to Vash and Corwin. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve had a bit of fun, let¡¯s get a drink.¡±

 Episode 12: Dinner With Friends

    ¡°Our nights in town aren¡¯t always so active.¡± Jabez said, stripping the meat from a chicken leg with his teeth. Grease ran down his chin and through his beard, but he didn¡¯t seem to mind. Chewing thoughtfully, he pointed the bone at Corwin. ¡°Do you remember our last tavern brawl?¡±

    ¡°Haddonfield.¡± Corwin said around a mouthful of bread, sodden with a thick brown gravy.

    ¡°That¡¯s right! You were chatting up that Baedani lass and her suitor didn¡¯t take kindly to it.¡±

    Corwin took a swig from a mug of ale and wiped his mouth on his tunic sleeve. ¡°He was only a suitor because he was the only unmarried man in the village that she wasn¡¯t related to. I merely told her that there were other villages and some of them weren¡¯t too far from Haddonfield, that she had options.¡±

    Jabez laughed. ¡°Then he hit you with a chair!¡±

    Chuckling, Corwin took another drink. ¡°Wasn¡¯t much of a fight. Just a few punches thrown.¡±

    ¡°That lad took down the angry suitor and four of his best mates and never even spilled his ale.¡± Jabez beamed, proudly. The dwarf threw back the remains of his ale and raised the mug above his head, signaling the barmaids that he needed a refill. Corwin and Jabez had been eating, drinking, telling tales, and singing along with the tavern musicians for almost three hours. The dwarf was flushed and his eyes glassy. Corwin wasn¡¯t far behind, though he maintained a more sedate demeanor in contrast to his Master¡¯s exuberance.

    Vash had sampled the ale. It was the dark, bitter stuff that the dwarves loved. It sat heavy on the stomach and packed quite a kick. Jabez mentioned it was mixed with Gamlaender, a dwarvish spirit, and rare find south of Tonuraak. Vash carefully nursed his cups, knowing that this was likely some sort of bonding thing that Jabez was trying to do.

    ¡°They mostly gave up after I knocked down Britta¡¯s suitor.¡± Corwin waved off the praise from Jabez.

    Of course Corwin would remember her name. Vash thought, not only did the man have the swarthy good looks of Elani westerners, he was the type of man who was earnestly interested in any woman he pursued. He didn¡¯t bed them and forget them, the way so many mercenaries and adventurers did. I wonder if that¡¯s because he¡¯s still hung up on Kat Tolman?

    ¡°You¡¯re too modest, boy,¡± Jabez argued as a barmaid refilled Jabez¡¯s mug. He caught the girl¡¯s gaze and pointed at Corwin. ¡°That young man is one of the best warriors I¡¯ve ever trained. A natural fighter.¡±

    She gave Jabez an indulgent smile and glanced over at Corwin, who shrugged modestly.

    ¡°And that one.¡± Jabez pointed to Vash, his expression contemplative. ¡°That one I¡¯ve got a good feeling about. He held his own, and that¡¯s rare for both an elf and a thief.¡±

    The barmaid laughed and looked at Vash. Recognition dawned in her eyes and her smile vanished. Her gaze held a mix of fear and distrust, but she swiftly replaced it with a pleasant smile.

    A fleeting moment, but Vash knew that look. She¡¯d likely known someone who tangled with the Eth Mitaan, maybe a Last Son or a Barge Brother. They were the groups that the Masked Ones clashed with most often. The barmaid gave them a forced smile and hurried off to server other tables.

    Jabez frowned, watching her go. ¡°That a common reaction?¡±

    ¡°Around here?¡± Vash asked. ¡°Pretty common.¡±

    ¡°Then we¡¯d best not dally.¡± Jabez¡¯s drunken cheer falling away and the gruff master Wayfarer returning. ¡°The sooner we get out of the city, the better, since you seem to have so many friends here.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t walk into a bar and knock the drink out of a Red Cap¡¯s hand.¡± Vash admonished. ¡°I told you I had enemies, and you walked me right up to one of them.¡±

    ¡°Sorry about that.¡± Jabez said, awkwardly. ¡°Sometimes folk exaggerate, get dramatic, y¡¯know.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Vash said. ¡°Not about something like that.¡±

    ¡°Noted.¡± Jabez said, then quaffed his ale in a series of long gulps. He slammed the mug down on the table, rattling the plates and cutlery, then let out a loud belch. ¡°Hooo, I needed that. Let¡¯s head back to the Weary Wayfarer, one last night in a proper bed before we hit the road.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°That¡¯d be a change, since I¡¯m on the floor.¡± Vash pushed back his plate and made ready to depart.

    ¡°Not tonight, boy,¡± Jabez said. ¡°Couple Guild rooms opened up at the Weary Wayfarer. Each of us can have our own room.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that expensive?¡± Vash got to his feet and eyed Jabez and Corwin as they wobbled slightly where they stood. ¡°I thought we were short on coin.¡±

    ¡°My credit¡¯s still good in this town.¡± Jabez scoffed. ¡°At least for tonight, anyway.¡±

    Jabez took a confident stride towards the tavern door and tangled himself in his own chair. After a few hops and more than a few curses both in the Common Tongue and in Hakhdahr, the dwarvish language, Jabez straightened himself out and headed confidently¡ªif unsteadily¡ªtowards the door.

    ¡°The Guild subsidizes a lot of rooms and meals on Traveler¡¯s Row.¡± Corwin said, as Jabez passed out of earshot. ¡°So taverns like this look the other way when a Wayfarer doesn¡¯t have the coin to pay for bed for the night, or a meal. Trust me, if we had to pay standard rates, we¡¯d be sleeping under a bridge somewhere.¡±

    Corwin tossed a few silver coins onto the table as they left and gave their barmaid a friendly wave. Vash noticed she waved back at Corwin, but avoided looking at him entirely.

    <hr>

    The room at the Weary Wayfarer was more of a closet than a room. It fit only a cot, a washstand with a basin, and a small shelf for a candle. Vash didn¡¯t care. For the first time in days, he could close the door and not have anyone watching him. He sighed in relief, resting his pack on the floor by the bed, and taking a seat on the narrow cot. The thin mattress, which felt stuffed with rushes, would be comfortable enough.

    I¡¯ve slept on worse. He reminded himself.

    Vash unbuckled his belt and hung it on one of the wall hooks within reach of the bed. Next he stripped his armor, frowning at the punctures in the leather. He needed to repair that soon, but not tonight. Right now he felt tired down to his very soul. All he wanted to do was crawl into bed, douse the light and forget about everything for a few hours.

    He glanced over at the candle on the shelf. Above it was a small window. Too small to fit his shoulders through.

    Not a handy escape route then. Vash thought.

    Something flickered past the window.

    Vash blinked and quickly dropped into a crouch beside the bed. He slid sideways away from the window, reaching for his dagger and pinching out the candle.

    Darkness enveloped the room, save for the moonlight casting an eerie glow on the fogged window glass. Vash waited, crouched in the corner, dagger held in a ready position. He fixedly stared at the window, searching for any movement or changes in the light. His eyes adjusted quickly to the shadows. His elven blood granted him superior night vision, but adjusting from candlelight to moonlight still required time.

    He stayed crouched for a few dozen heartbeats, body tense and ready to react. Vash started to feel a bit silly, like he¡¯d overreacted to something ordinary. Maybe a pigeon had flown past and through the cloudy glass he hadn¡¯t recognized the shape.

    Or that ale hit me harder than I thought.

    A faint pulse of mana brought him back to full focus. Someone close had used a Talent. Very close.

    Vash slowed his breathing and allowed his awareness to sink into his Core. He felt the emptiness within. No Talents until his Core refilled itself, but his connection to the weave of mana would give him insight into his surroundings.

    Clearing his mind, Vash pushed his awareness out into the room through his Core. He could feel the motes of magic around him, the ebb and flow of mana through the world. Energy flowed around him in a gentle swirl, buffeting around the room, against the walls, along the cot, dipping into the water jug to take on an elemental tint. An empty spot remained, like a hole in the weave, with mana flowing around it.

    A Shadowmeld? Vash thought. He waited, concentrating on the empty area. After a dozen heartbeats, he felt a flicker, a pulse of mana. Someone was pushing mana into their Talent to keep it going. The pulse came from the corner, the empty spot.

    Vash lunged forward, hand outstretched to grab whoever was hiding in the corner, dagger primed for a sudden attack.

    The pulse of mana became stronger, and Vash felt it flow around him. His fingers brushed the edge of a cloak or tunic. He closed them quickly, trying to get a grip on his opponent, but the cloth slithered out of his grasp. Vash turned mid-lunge, pivoting on one foot to bring his dagger around. A hand closed around his wrist, expertly twisting the knife away.

    Vash felt his hand go numb. The dagger clattered to the floor, and he fell to his knees as the hand kept twisting, locking wrist, elbow, and shoulder. He grunted in pain, trying to get some slack on the hold so he could escape.

    The mana in the room rippled, and the shadows fell away from his opponent. A slender figure in black leathers, a hood covered their head, and within the hood was a silver-white wooden mask. The face was angular, stylized. Stag¡¯s horns carved into the forehead on either side of a pair of crescent moons, one large and one small.

    ¡°You are never more vulnerable than in your own bedchamber.¡± A melodic voice said from beneath the mask. ¡°I thought I taught you better than this, Sparrow.¡±

    Vash¡¯s heart leaped at the sound of that voice. ¡°Iona?¡±

    With her free hand, the figure reached up and pushed back her mask and hood. Beneath was a part-elvish woman with a pale, angular face. She had a short bob of black hair that she kept tied back and away from her face. Dark, sapphire eyes that looked black in the moonlight glittered down at him. Her mouth was a thin, tight line of concentration, which after a moment quirked into a devilish smile. ¡°You didn¡¯t think we¡¯d completely abandoned you, did you?¡±

 Episode 13: Nightingale

    Releasing her grip, Iona stepped back, just out of reach in the small room. Her eyes glittered mischievously. But that was a ruse, Vash knew. Iona was a woman of singular focus. Even if she was enjoying the moment, she was calculating several variables and all of them had to do with her survival or the survival of the Eth Mitaan.

    Vash slowly got to his feet, rubbing his wrist. He wanted to rush to her, take her in his arms, breathe in her scent, but he held back. There were questions he needed answered first. ¡°Where have you been? What happened?¡±

    Iona¡¯s face dropped slightly. ¡°Things didn¡¯t go well at the Duke¡¯s Palace. My team got separated and cut off, and we couldn¡¯t make it to you in time. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    The memory of Quin lying on that balcony, eyes wide in terror as she struggled for one more breath, flashed in Vash¡¯s mind. A growing pool of blood surrounding her. Vash could only lie there and watch while the guards pummeled him with mailed fists and bound him like a trussed pig. He closed his eyes and pushed the memory away. When he opened them again, Iona was looking at him with concern.

    Is she worried about my well-being? Vash thought. Or does she wonder if she can trust me?

    ¡°Byar?¡± Vash asked, pushing aside the thought for now.

    ¡°He¡¯s alive.¡± Iona said. ¡°Sends his regrets, but he can¡¯t move freely right now. He figured you¡¯d rather see me anyhow.¡±

    ¡°I do prefer your face to his,¡± Vash admitted. ¡°Beards just do nothing for me.¡±

    Iona gave him another of her rare smiles. ¡°I¡¯m glad you made it out, Sparrow.¡±

    Vash felt his heart race. Iona never liked his given name. Her elvish was too good to ignore the oddness of it. Eth Mitaan took code names to use with one another in the field, once the masks were on. Iona liked to give her students the names of birds. She¡¯d called him Sparrow from the first day that he¡¯d stumbled into Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow. That she almost never called him by any other name gave him a warm feeling. It was her claim on him, on his heart, even when they weren¡¯t able to express it openly. ¡°I was worried about you. The Guard kept any news of you or Byar away from us. I thought that since they weren¡¯t bragging they¡¯d killed or captured the great Nightingale that you¡¯d escaped.¡±

    ¡°It was a near thing.¡± Iona said. ¡°I had to jump from one of the river towers and swim to the far side. I took a crossbow bolt to the shoulder. Luckily, my armor held, and it was just a scratch. Bled like hell, though. Then I spent a day in the sewers playing hide-and-seek with the Guard and the Inquisition. Finally caught up with Byar and the other survivors yesterday morning. That¡¯s when I heard about you and your team.¡±

    Vash looked away, guilt rising inside him. Knowing there was nothing he could have done, but feeling the weight and pain of it, anyway. They were his team, his responsibility.

    ¡°No one blames you.¡± Iona said, pulling Vash¡¯s attention back. ¡°You were in the worst position when things went wrong. It¡¯s a miracle that you survived.¡±

    ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t.¡± Vash sighed. He had been thinking it over while Corwin and Jabez had drunk themselves foolish. ¡°They knew I was Sparrow, and they knew that you and I are close. They were going to execute me, hoping you would try some sort of foolish rescue.¡±

    This time, Iona looked away. Vash felt his heart sink a bit. He¡¯d known the likely truth, but he didn¡¯t want to admit it. No one was coming, not even her.

    ¡°We couldn¡¯t risk it.¡± Iona said softly. ¡°We had lost too many already.¡±

    ¡°I suppose Byar was right¡ª¡° Vash started.

    ¡°It was my call, Sparrow.¡± Iona said. ¡°I was the one who decided against attempting a rescue.¡±

    Vash winced. The truth hurt, even if he had suspected as much. ¡°We weren¡¯t there to kill the Duke, were we?¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°It would have been a pleasant side benefit. But, no, there was another mission.¡± Iona said, face neutral.

    ¡°Which was?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you that, Sparrow.¡± Iona said, and her voice actually sounded pained at that.

    ¡°Maybe after we regroup with the rest of the Eth Mitaan ¡ª ¡°

    ¡°Sparrow.¡± Iona said gently, taking a step towards Vash. ¡°We need to talk.¡±

    The bottom fell out from beneath his soul. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s some way to break the bond with the medallion. In the meantime, I can use soulmasking to confuse any trackers¡­¡±

    Vash trailed off as he met Iona¡¯s eyes. She stepped in close, her sapphire eyes holding a pain that her face hid. ¡°We had a message from higher up. They want you in the Wayfarers.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Vash¡¯s brows wrinkled in confusion. ¡°Why? What could I possibly do here?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Iona said, placating. ¡°Things are very much in flux right now. The Eth Mitaan are leaving the south, the Vanan pure-bloods know we¡¯re here and they¡¯re sending Eth Sakara to root us out. We have some contacts in Vinya Esain among the Kaeleshi. For pure-bloods, they¡¯re not so bad.¡±

    ¡°How will I find you?¡± Vash asked, imploring her to make sense. ¡°What am I supposed to do?¡±

    She stepped forward and gently laid her hands on his chest. ¡°We will find you. The Wayfarers aren¡¯t the only ones who have a bond on your soul. For now, all I know is that there is something big on the horizon and the only way for us to get close is to have someone in the Wayfarers. That someone is you.¡±

    Vash searched her eyes, trying to control the panic and fear that he was feeling. They¡¯re not abandoning me. It¡¯s just another mission. Just another task.

    ¡°Vash,¡± Iona said, laying a hand on his cheek and holding his gaze, ¡°I was the one who told Corwin about you. We needed an Eth Mitaan close to the Wayfarers, and it was the only way to save your life. I need you to trust me.¡±

    ¡°I want to.¡± Vash said, unconsciously pressing his cheek into her hand. The fighting callouses on her palm and fingers contrasted with the warm softness of her touch. ¡°I just don¡¯t know how I can do this.¡±

    Iona quirked a smile. ¡°You¡¯re my Sparrow. Of course you can do this.¡±

    Vash bent his neck slightly and kissed her. His arms went around her waist and he marveled at how delicate she felt, like a fragile Nightingale, and not the deadly assassin that he knew her to be. He heard her sharp intake of breath and felt her press herself into him. The hand on his cheek traveled up and her fingers ran through his dark hair. Her other arm went around his neck. She pulled him into her; the kiss intensifying. Her lips parted beneath his and he felt her tongue seek his.

    He breathed in her scent as he held her close, sharp and spicy, with notes of leather and oiled metal. Underneath it all was the light lavender scent of the soap she used. The scent that Byar had chided her time and again would give her away, but she had continued to use ever since Vash had told her he loved it. He wanted to sweep her up and put her on his narrow bed. Wanted to undo the complex buckles of her Eth Mitaan leathers and seek the soft curves underneath. He needed her, but he knew tonight it would not happen.

    All too soon, Iona pulled back, breaking the kiss. Her forehead resting against Vash¡¯s, she sighed deeply. ¡°We need you to do this, Sparrow. I need you to do this.¡±

    The ache in his heart was almost overwhelming, but Vash steeled himself against sorrow. ¡°I will do all that I can. But to be honest, I¡¯m not so sure how well I am going to do with these Wayfarers. Corwin ¡ª well, he¡¯s Corwin, a sheepdog that walks like a human, loyal, affable, and not the brightest star in the sky. Jabez¡­I really don¡¯t know what to think about him. I have little experience with dwarves. No way to know if he¡¯s a fool or just stubborn. Not to mention that the Wayfarers as an organization seem disorganized, floundering. Too caught up in politics, too fractured.¡±

    Iona took a step back to look in his eyes. ¡°We need you to make your team better. Get yourselves noticed. You¡¯re one of the Masked Ones. Surely it can¡¯t be that hard to learn to be an adventurer.¡±

    Vash couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I may not deserve your faith, but I appreciate it.¡±

    She gave him another smile. This one was fond, warm. A smile from the heart. ¡°I know you can do this. Don¡¯t worry, we will be watching.¡±

    Suddenly, Iona darted forward, giving him another deep, hungry kiss. Vash felt his hunger for her rising to a burning need. But, as quick as it began, the kiss was over. Iona backed away. Somehow, they had gotten turned around and she was near the door. She gave him one last smile before pulling her mask and hood back into place.

    The expressionless silver-white wood changed Iona¡¯s entire demeanor. She was now the deadly Nightingale, not the warm, complicated woman from a few moments before. Vash felt a surge of mana that was quickly suppressed. The shadows gathered around Iona¡¯s form until she was just another vague shape in the dim moonlight. He could barely feel the disturbance in the room¡¯s mana when she moved away. The door opened for a moment, then she was gone.

    Vash sat down heavily on his cot. Not only am I bound to the Wayfarers, I can¡¯t go back to the Eth Mitaan even if I could.

    A wave of loneliness swept over him. He was alone again, left with only with vague promises and the fading scent of lavender.

 Episode 14: On The Road

    Morning found Vash waiting in a press of travelers waiting to pass through the Wayfarer Gate. They had wanted to get on the road early, to beat the morning flow of traffic. However, a great number of people apparently had the same idea.

    It hadn¡¯t been a restful night for Vash. He was already concerned about working with the Wayfarers, the debts he had incurred, then the visit from Iona happened. Cut off from the Eth Mitaan, that stung more than he wanted to admit. It didn¡¯t matter that Byar had a plan and needed him in the Guild for some obscure reason. Vash felt abandoned, left behind again. That led to him tossing and turning in his bed for some time.

    Giving up on sleep around midnight, Vash lit the candle on his bedside shelf and dug out his copy of Gideon¡¯s Guide to Adventure. Reading was always a trial for him, and he figured that an hour of trying to puzzle his way through a guidebook for Wayfarers would numb his mind enough for sleep.

    He flipped through a few pages. It was clear the book had obviously been through many hands. The green cover was worn and stained. Pages were dog-eared, crinkled and yellowed at the edges and the ink had smudged in places.

    At least there aren¡¯t any bloodstains. Vash thought. The first part of the book appeared to chronicle the history and formation of the Wayfarers, or, as it is formally called, the ¡®Honorable Guild of Wayfarers and Vagabonds¡¯. Vash skipped that, moving to the section detailing delvers and rogues.

    <blockquote>

    The League of Thieves

    As with most of the schools within the Guild, the League of Thieves started as a rival Guild for adventurers, though with a much more criminal bent. They pursued the usual adventurer activities like dungeon delving and treasure hunting; however, when times were lean, these adventurers would turn bandit or side with the various criminal gangs in the cities. Grandmaster Samson Shadowbane made an alliance with the League with the help of his longtime friend and companion Cara ¡®Cutpurse¡¯ Towne. The name of the League has changed many times, as they have tried to gain a more respectable reputation. Deep down, however, they will always be thieves.

    </blockquote>

    Vash let out a sigh in response to that last sentence. Not that he expected much from an organization that professed to be a shield against the darkness of the west. A light in the shadow. Vash had seen that description while skimming earlier parts. He scoffed at the obvious propaganda.

    A note in the margin he had missed before caught his eye.

    Next to the line:

    <blockquote>

    Deep down, however, they will always be thieves.

    </blockquote>

    Someone wrote, in a small but neat hand:

    <blockquote>

    ¡°And thank the gods for that!¡±

    </blockquote>

    Vash chuckled. Perhaps someone in the Guild had a sense of humor.

    There was more history about the League, famous figures like Cara Cutpurse and Niall Nine-Fingers, as well as their deeds and legends. There were more notes in the margins, making snide remarks on the veracity of the author¡¯s claims, or underlining what the previous owner had thought were important sections.

    The section that detailed the common Major and Minor Talents for a Wayfarer rogue surprised Vash. The margin notes got more detailed, usually contradicting the passage written. A previous owner crossed out Talent schematics and drew in a slightly different schematic with detailed formation instructions in the space beside them.

    The Talent Dancer¡¯s Precision looked very much like his own Cat¡¯s Grace, but wasted even more mana. The mysterious margin note-taker crossed out the schematic and had drawn one that was more complex off to the side, with instructions as well. Vash looked it over. Though the schematic was more complex, the formula and its implementation looked far simpler.

    <blockquote>

    Think I solved the mana leak on this one. Should reduce the initial cost by half and not pull on the Core as much.

    </blockquote>

    The note-taker wrote in the margin. Vash looked over the schematic again, seeing how the mana flowed back into itself in a kind of looping pattern.

    This might work. He thought, getting more comfortable on his narrow cot. I wonder what else this guy came up with.

    Vash spent the next several hours going over both the original and the revised schematics in the Guide. He didn¡¯t even notice when his eyes grew too heavy to keep open.

    Jabez hammered on his door before first light, gruffly telling him to get dressed and ready for travel. Awaking with a start, Vash panicked, unsure of where he was or who was banging on his door. He dropped the Gideon¡¯s Guide and scrambled for his dagger before he woke up enough to remember the events of the last few days. Massaging a stiff neck, Vash picked up his guide and tossed it on to the bed. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time he¡¯d spent so much time reading.

    Can¡¯t be good for the eyesight. He thought, pouring water into his basin and splashing his face with it. Maybe that¡¯s why mages are always wearing optics?

    Vash came downstairs to an empty dining room. The embers of last night''s fire glowed in the hearth. Corwin sat at an empty table, bleary-eyed and rubbing his temples. Jabez stood at the bar, settling up with the innkeeper, an older woman with gray hair pulled back into a tight bun. The two of them talked in hushed tones while Jabez counted out coins on the countertop.

    Setting down his pack next to Corwin, Vash looked down and had to laugh. ¡°You look like I feel.¡±

    Corwin groaned. ¡°No, my stoic demeanor is masking a world of pain. You barely had anything to drink last night. I was the idiot who tried to keep up with a dwarf.¡±

    Now Corwin looked a bit green as the three of them shuffled along with mercenaries, trading carts, messengers, and pilgrims towards the Wayfarer Gate. Vash pitied the big man, but felt kind of smug as well.

    That¡¯s what overindulging gets you.

    They waited in line for the gate for almost an hour. The guards doing thorough checks of everyone passing through. Vash craned his neck, trying to see what was going on up ahead. ¡°I wonder what¡¯s taking so long?¡±

    ¡°No clue,¡± Jabez said. ¡°Normally you get waved through when you try to leave the city. It¡¯s only coming in through the gates where they shake you down.¡±

    ¡°It may have to do with the attack on the Duke¡¯s palace.¡± A voice piped up over Vash¡¯s shoulder. He turned to see the impressively mustachioed face of Silas Quartercall. The halfling sat on the buckboard of a large wagon. By human standards it was large, for a halfling it was enormous. Pulled by a pair of oxen, the wagon trundled slowly along with the flow of people. Silas leaned forward, conspiratorially, ¡°I heard that the attempt on the Duke¡¯s life was a feint, that the assassins were really after something in the Sath family vault.¡±

    Vash shook his head, feigning confusion. ¡°What did they steal?¡±

    Silas shrugged, ¡°No one¡¯s said. So far, it¡¯s just a rumor. But, over the past few days, the guard has been searching everyone¡¯s belongings as they¡¯re going through the gates. Also, a few smuggler friends of mine let it slip that their usual contacts aren¡¯t taking bribes to let them through. If a guard gets caught letting someone through without a search, it¡¯ll mean their hand at least.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    We weren¡¯t there to kill the Duke. Iona had said.

    Corwin gave him a questioning look that Vash ignored. ¡°Any guesses?¡±

    Silas considered this for a few moments. ¡°They seem to mostly be going after scribes and printers. At least those are the folk getting the most thorough checks. So maybe a book or some papers?¡±

    ¡°What book or paper would be worth getting this worked up about?¡± Vash scoffed, frowning at the guard, who he could see were rifling through a traveler¡¯s bag. One stopped digging through the bag when he pulled out a book. The guard flipped through the pages and even shook the book out to see if anything was tucked inside. Satisfied, the guard tossed the book to the ground with the rest of the traveler¡¯s belongings and continued their search.

    ¡°Oh, there are plenty of valuable books.¡± Silas said. ¡°Anything from the library of Orus Malcos is worth a thousand times its weight in gold. Wizard tomes from the Mage Wars are priceless to the Collegium. There are a fair few scrolls out there that fetch a staggering price as well. Or it could just be the Duke¡¯s dirty letters to his mistress. You never know with nobles.¡±

    Vash nodded his thanks to Silas, turning back to the slowly moving line. What the hell did you steal, Byar?

    <hr>

    After two hours of shuffling in the early morning dust and an overly thorough examination of their light packs, the three of them were finally through the gate. Vash had a moment of panic when the guard rifled through his Gideon¡¯s Guide, frowning at the pages like they had offended him somehow.

    ¡°This book has scribbles in it.¡± The guard said with a thick Galadonian accent.

    Vash remained silent, knowing it was best not to talk to the guard unless they asked you a direct question.

    Jabez glanced over. ¡°Wayfarers take notes in the margins all the time. There a problem?¡±

    ¡°Just strange is all.¡± The guard said, face a mix of confusion and disgust. ¡°Spend all that money on a book that someone¡¯s written all over.¡±

    ¡°Wayfarers are odd folk.¡± Jabez said, taking his pack back from one of the other guardsmen.

    The guard glanced up, looking from Jabez to Vash. His eyes narrowed, and Vash got a sinking feeling that this guard was the type that got put on duty near Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow. The guards on the Ragpicker Gate were notorious for denying part-bloods entry to the city for any reason at all. They especially hated half-elves for some reason.

    ¡°You,¡± He gestured to Vash with the book, ¡°You from Sathsholm or somewhere else?¡±

    Vash licked his lips, trying to think of an answer.

    ¡°He¡¯s from Durron¡¯s Ford.¡± Corwin said, coming up to join Vash. The big man plastered on a gormless smile and exaggerated his own Galadonian accent, the one Vash only ever heard him use with close family and friends on the farm. ¡°I know it¡¯s something to see, a knife-ear from one of the Summerwine villages, but we get visits from Vanan rangers, too. If you know what I mean.¡±

    The guard looked confused for a moment, then gave Vash a nasty grin. He brayed out an irritating laugh, showing crooked, stained teeth. ¡°Yeah, I heard that the maids upriver can¡¯t wait to give up their virtue to those elvish ponces. Don¡¯t see the appeal, myself.¡±

    Fighting a burning anger rising inside him, Vash schooled his expression. He knew what Corwin was doing. It was an old trick he¡¯d pulled back home. Folk like this guard hated being laughed at, but make them feel like they were in on the joke on someone else and they became your best friend, at least for a short while. It was an easy way to get them past the gate, but that didn¡¯t mean that Vash had to like it.

    ¡°We done here?¡± Jabez asked, shouldering his pack.

    The guard made a show of looking over Vash¡¯s book once more, then tossed it to the ground, barely missing a pile of horse manure. ¡°Yeah, get moving.¡±

    Now outside the city gates, Vash took in the broad Marallon plains that stretched to the north and to the east. The main gate to the city, the Prince¡¯s Gate¡ªfrom when Sath had been one of the tiny, squabbling principalities before the unification of Galadon¡ªstood a half-mile to the east. Merchants and travelers flowed out and onto the eastern road, the Lakeshore Road, through the plains and farms between the Great River Obrun and the smaller Summerwine River. Taking that road would lead the traveler into the safe and secure Duchies of eastern Galadon. That was not the road that he was taking.

    A smaller flow of travelers set out on the road to the northwest. The road followed the Obrun as it cut its way through the landscape. In the distance, Vash could see the dark haze of forests and hills on the horizon, and looming above them were the jagged shapes of the Stonepeak mountains. The first mountains of the Shield Ranges. Three great mountain ranges made up the Shield Ranges: the Stonepeaks in the south, the Dragonscales in the midlands, and the Alderhahz in the north. The Ranges were the natural barrier between the civilized eastern kingdoms and the Western Wilds.

    Vash didn¡¯t really know much about the Wilds other than they were abandoned after the fall of the Malconian Empire and it had something to do with the Drae, the demons of the shadow. Now the road that he was on, the one that Jabez and Corwin set off down with simple confidence, would take him as close to the Wilds as anyone got.

    Just think of this job first. Vash thought, trailing behind Corwin as they followed the slow procession of travelers away from the Wayfarer¡¯s gate. Worry about everything up in those mountains later.

    ¡°Where are we heading, by the way?¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°Mossfen Hold,¡± Jabez said over one shoulder, never slowing his brisk, determined pace. ¡°It¡¯s a holding about a day upriver from Sathsholm. We should get there before sunset.¡±

    Vash nodded, looking around. He hadn¡¯t traveled in this direction out of the city since he arrived two years ago. He had been to a few of the holdings on the Lakeshore Road, but the Rivermarch Road, the one they were on, was unfamiliar to him.

    Most of the other travelers on the road were on foot, some wearing heavy packs of supplies and tools. Likely tinkers or other professionals who made their living traveling from village to village, plying their specialized trades. Others were clearly Wayfarers or mercenaries, smaller packs and sporting weapons and armor. Wagons, like the one that Silas Quartercall drove, were rarer but not missing entirely. Crates of trade goods packed the backs of the wagons as they trundled over the gravel of the road near the city.

    A few other travelers caught Vash¡¯s eye, however. A barge on the Obrun was slowly making its way upriver. Vash watched a team of oxen towing it upstream, plodding along on a towpath that ran alongside the river. People crammed the deck of the barge, families from what he could see. One mother and child leaned against one of the barge¡¯s rails, looking out at the travelers on the road with a strange, haunted look. They looked tired, and the meager bags piled in the center of the barge spoke volumes about their situation. One child, a boy younger than ten, watched him with wide brown eyes until the road made a turn and Vash could no longer see the barge.

    ¡°Refugees from Patria.¡± Corwin said. ¡°The king died without an heir. Now the Dukes down there are squabbling over the throne. The Temple is also getting involved since they think that a shadow cult is behind all the chaos. Meanwhile, the smallfolk are getting run off their farms, towns are being raided and burned, armies are everywhere. It¡¯s a right mess.¡±

    ¡°And it¡¯s better here?¡± Vash asked, dubiously. Every week brought new word from Vuln, the capital of Galadon, about some conflict between the king and his Dukes. The House of Sath was apparently particularly troublesome since they controlled the best port on Lake Marallon and had the navy needed to control the entire northern part of the great lake.

    ¡°They seem to think so,¡± Corwin said, nodding at a knot of travelers plodding along the road, meager possessions clutched in arms or slung over their shoulders.

    Vash watched them for a few moments. The travelers¡¯ clothes had stains and tears from long travel and wear. Their shoes looked to be falling apart and completely wrong for the type of travel they were doing. A few of the women were wearing thin slippers, like a lady¡¯s maid would wear inside a grand house or castle. ¡°I wonder where they¡¯re heading?¡±

    ¡°Obrun River Valley.¡± Jabez said. ¡°A ways north of here. It¡¯s in a weird spot that could technically be Aladur, Tonuraak, or even Solaria. No one wanted it because of the big bloody dragon that lived there.¡±

    ¡°The one Silas was talking about?¡± Vash asked. ¡°Something-the-dread?¡±

    ¡°Dwermothrax.¡± Jabez said. ¡°Yeah, now that he¡¯s dead, the High King in Solaria has declared it open for settlement.¡±

    ¡°So these folks head up there to homestead.¡± Corwin said, a mix of hope and pity on his face. ¡°Try to make a new life.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Vash asked. ¡°Aside from a lack of supplies.¡±

    ¡°Dragon domains are dangerous places.¡± Jabez replied over one shoulder. ¡°Especially one as old as Dwermothrax. Even Wayfarers don¡¯t go into territory that an Elder Wyrm has claimed, so the place is likely riddled with eruptions from the Underlands, which means lots of nasty monsters. More than likely, a full dungeon or two has formed over the years. Then you have treasure hunters, prospectors, merchants, all those sorts heading that way brings bandits and mercenaries. So, you can see how it might not be the best choice for a family from a farm down south to make a home in.¡±

    Vash considered this, watching an older couple shuffling along the road, bent by the heavy sacks they carried. A younger woman with a babe in arms followed them, a girl child trailing after her. Vash could see the pale band of skin where the younger woman had worn a wedding band.

    Sometimes we don¡¯t get a choice. We go where we can, and pray to make it through another day.

 Episode 15: Negotiations

    The walk north was not especially arduous. They were still traveling along the flatlands of Galadon, prime farming country along the wide, gentle River Obrun. However, Vash was not used to trudging long miles with a pack of all his possessions on his back. His feet ached in the unfamiliar boots, and his legs burned from the mile-eating pace that Jabez set.

    How does he keep up this pace with such short legs? Vash thought bitterly after a brief rest.

    After announcing that they were ¡®wasting daylight¡¯, Jabez had sprung to his feet and set off with no apparent aches and pains. The Wayfarer medallion would occasionally release a pulse of healing magic, which Vash was grateful for. But it didn¡¯t do more than dull the burning in his leg muscles or prevent blisters from forming on his heels.

    Even Corwin seemed to flag as the shadows lengthened and the sun sank towards the tops of the mountains on the western horizon. Vash was about to ask how much longer they planned on walking when Jabez stopped by a tall, weathered stone obelisk at a fork in the road. The Rivermarch road continued north while a smaller, less maintained road lead west.

    The Wayfarers had left most of the other travelers behind some time ago. Now the three of them stood on the empty road, waiting while Jabez considered the obelisk. Vash looked at the western road with some trepidation. He could see that the road meandered a way through high grass fields, then plunged into marshes and swampy clumps of trees.

    Jabez was jotting something down in his notebook, copying runes and numbers. He frowned down at what he¡¯d written, like the marks had given him indigestion.

    ¡°Something wrong?¡± Corwin asked, sharing a glance with Vash.

    ¡°No, not really.¡± Jabez said, shaking his head and putting the notebook away. ¡°This is a Waystone. The early Wayfarers put them up in places they wanted adventurers to either know about or be wary of.¡±

    ¡°So, which is this one?¡± Vash asked. ¡°Is it ¡®good food and clean water¡¯, or ¡®watch out, cannibals ahead¡¯?¡±

    ¡°A little of both, actually.¡± Jabez said, starting down the western road.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound promising.¡± Corwin said as he and Vash hurried to catch up.

    ¡°The stone says it¡¯s a mana-rich area.¡± Jabez continued, eyes fixed on the road ahead. ¡°So we¡¯ll get a bit of a kick to our Talents. But it also said that this area was once home to a Shadow Cult, worshipers of the demon lord Rasu.¡±

    ¡°That was a long time ago, though, right?¡± Corwin asked, hopefully.

    ¡°Sure.¡± Jabez said. ¡°But once a Shadow Cult taints an area, it¡¯s like a stain that¡¯s hard to get out. It may not be easily visible, but from time to time it makes itself hard to ignore.¡±

    ¡°Sounds pleasant.¡± Vash muttered.

    ¡°Depends on how bad the taint got, and how many Wayfarers have been through to cleanse it. I doubt we¡¯ll have to worry too much. Mossfen Hold is a pretty popular spot, since it¡¯s on one of the western paths to the Wayward Forest and Vanan Esain.¡± Jabez said.

    Vash tried to smother a wave of concern at the mention of Vanan Esain. The kingdom of the Vanan elves, the First Bloods, the high elves, was a place he wanted to avoid, if possible. The Vanan considered Eth Mitaan to be heretics and criminals. Few groups were as dedicated to the eradication of the Eth Mitaan as the Vanan Eth Sakara. A group of fanatics that also served Vanan Esain as spies and bounty hunters. The idea of running into any of the high elves was bad enough. The thought of encountering a group of Eth Sakara made his blood run cold.

    The worry must have shown on his face, because Corwin shot him a reassuring smile. ¡°Mossfen Hold isn¡¯t the sort of place you¡¯re likely to run into too many high elves. I wouldn¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    ¡°No?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± Corwin said.

    <hr>

    Though Mossfen Hold was only a few miles from the Rivermarch Road, it was almost full dark before they arrived. Vash groaned in relief as he stepped off the muddy path and onto the wooden boardwalk that made up the ¡®streets¡¯ of Mossfen Hold.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m still wearing boots." Vash complained. "I may just have a vaguely boot-shaped mud coating on my feet.¡±

    ¡°I told you to watch your step,¡± Jabez said, coming up beside him. The dwarf¡¯s legs were also coated in dark brown mud from the knees down. ¡°Sinkholes like that are pretty common out in the marshes.¡±

    ¡°So are red midges.¡± Corwin said, swatting the back of his neck and cursing when his hand came away bare. ¡°Must be breeding season. I swear I must have lost a pint or two to those bloodthirsty little demons.¡±

    Vash grunted in agreement. The red midges had swarmed from the marshes near the road, following them for the last few hours. If he hadn¡¯t been distracted by tiny, crimson, biting insects, then Vash likely would have seen the sinkhole that Jabez had pointed out and would not be covered in the heavy clay. ¡°I need a drink and a bath.¡±

    ¡°We can likely manage the drink.¡± Jabez said, scraping the soles of his boots on the edge of the boardwalk. Mud sheared off the bottom of the boot like sculptor¡¯s clay. ¡°The bath you¡¯ll have to find on your own.¡±

    Trying to knock some mud off his boots, Vash frowned at Jabez. ¡°Are you telling me that people stop bathing when they¡¯re not even a day¡¯s ride from the city?¡±

    Jabez shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s the midges. The cleaner you are, the more likely they are to swarm and bite you. The folk that live out here would rather be a bit muddy than covered in midge bites.¡±

    ¡°I can understand that sentiment.¡± Corwin groaned, slapping another midge and looking satisfied at the tiny red splatter on his forearm.

    ¡°According to the Duke¡¯s quest, we¡¯re supposed to meet our contact at the tavern here.¡± Jabez said, removing the quest sheet from a pouch and unfolding it to double-check.

    Vash looked around the holding¡¯s high street. Several squat, mud-walled and thatched-roofed buildings stood on pylons a short distance above the sodden ground. Locals went about their business, sticking to the boardwalks between the buildings. They gave the Wayfarers quick glances of curiosity, but largely seemed to try to avoid notice. Vash watched as a few men closed up a building, likely a general store from what Vash could see through the cloudy glass windows, and headed up the boardwalk towards one of the few two-story buildings in the village.

    Bright lanterns hung from the awning over the large front door. A crudely painted sign on oilcloth hung from a pole affixed to the side of the building. The sign appeared to have a strangely proportioned green figure in mid-song painted on it. Vash nodded towards the building. ¡°I think that may be our tavern up there.¡±

    Jabez glanced at the quest, then back up at the tavern shingle. ¡°We¡¯re looking for the ¡®Singing Frog¡¯. That could be a frog.¡±

    ¡°Looks more like a goblin with indigestion.¡± Corwin muttered.

    ¡°It¡¯s close enough.¡± Vash said, heading towards the tavern, still trying to scrape excess mud off the bottoms of his boots. ¡°And if it¡¯s the ¡®Goblin¡¯s Heartburn¡¯, then they likely can tell us where to find the ¡®Singing Frog¡¯.¡±

    Corwin and Jabez did not raise any arguments, following Vash down the boardwalk towards the tavern. A young boy scampered past them, a lit twist of wicking on a long stick in one hand. The boy rushed to the lanterns that hung from tall poles along the boardwalk. The lanterns lit with a soft bluish glow, giving the village an eeiry, cold feeling, but Vash noticed that almost immediately the midges stopped biting him. A cloud of the tiny bugs formed around each of the lanterns, probably drawn by the light.

    More people were coming out onto the boardwalk as the lanterns were lit. Some set up on chairs outside of homes or on the stoops of buildings. Women clustered in little knots near a large stone cistern close to the tavern, chatting while waiting with buckets to draw water for the evening. Several men made straight for the tavern doors, most in mud-spattered ponchos and high-waisted oilcloth trousers.

    The three Wayfarers drew looks of interest from the townsfolk, especially Jabez and Vash. Trying to ignore the stares, Vash pushed through the slatted door to the tavern. A wave of sweet redleaf smoke washed over him, followed by the smell of close-quarters, unwashed bodies and stale beer. By the dim, smoke-clouded light of the tavern, Vash could see several men with pipes and the pleasantly bemused expressions of redleaf smokers at a trestle table. They ate some sort of roasted peppers, laughing and joking with one-another. A dice game was going at another table, and a line of men crowded the bar, holding up copper coins to get the barkeep¡¯s attention.

    Vash scanned the crowd, not sure what he was supposed to be looking for.

    Maybe I should have asked more about this quest? Vash thought, feeling the hazy, light-headedness that came with redleaf smoke.

    He was about to ask Jabez about their contact when he spotted a trio of men at a corner table. All three wore plain gray robes, though one wore a leather harness with a variety of straps and buckles. They had small clay cups in front of them, but they left them untouched. At first, Vash mistook the one in the harness for an old man, but on further inspection, saw that he was just extremely thin. The two men that flanked him, however, were large and doughy. Their robes stretched across their shoulders, and they had a dull, vacant expression, like cows out in a pasture.

    The thin man noticed them at about the same time, turning to regard the trio of Wayfarers in the doorway. He gave them a smile, which did nothing to improve his countenance, and beckoned them with one long, spindly hand.

    Jabez brushed past Vash, speaking to him and Corwin in a low voice. ¡°Let me do the talking. You two hang back.¡±

    ¡°Fine by me,¡± Corwin said. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to talk to him.¡±

    Vash followed Jabez, a step or two behind, and approached the corner table. The thin man nodded to them companionably. Up close, he wasn¡¯t any better. The man had over-large and slightly bulging eyes. The whites had taken a yellow tinge that looked unhealthy.

    But when he spoke, his voice was firm and commanding. ¡°Hello there. I assume you are the Wayfarers that Adolus sent to assist in my little project?¡±

    On a first name basis with the Duke, that¡¯s alarming. Vash thought, carefully keeping his expression neutral.

    ¡°We are, if you¡¯ve got the Marker for the quest.¡± Jabez said.

    ¡°Ah yes, quite forgetful of me.¡± The thin man gave Jabez a tight smile, then made a show of searching through the pouches and pockets on his harness and robes. Finally, he produced a bronze coin, stamped with the Wayfarer mark. He placed the Marker on the table and slid it across to Jabez, withdrawing his hand quickly once the coin was within Jabez¡¯s reach.

    The dwarf ignored the oddity and retrieved the Marker. He checked the number on the reverse side, comparing it to the one on the quest. Nodding, Jabez pocketed the Marker and regarded the thin man. ¡°All right, you¡¯ve got yourself a party of Wayfarers. I¡¯m Jabez. Anything you need from us should go through me. These are my apprentices Corwin, and Vash. They work for me, and take orders from me, understand?¡±

    The thin man¡¯s smile slipped slightly, eyes showing a flash of irritation. ¡°I understand how your guild operates, Master Jabez. My name is Zakarias Meng. I am a fifth circle artificer of the Nosraval Collegium.¡±

    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Jabez grunted, not quite managing to keep the skepticism out of his voice. He waved to the two larger men on either side of Zakarias. ¡°And those two?¡±

    Zakarias looked at his companions as if realizing for the first time that they were there. ¡°Them? Oh, they¡¯re unimportant. Porters for my equipment, good for lugging heavy things and not much else.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Jabez said, ¡°Well then, I suppose we had best discuss what you need us for and work out our fee.¡±

    ¡°I thought the guild let you know all those details when you took the quest?¡± Zakarias said, making a show of confusion.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Jabez shook his head. ¡°All I know is that you need Wayfarers to help you explore a ruin.¡±

    ¡°Well, there you go.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to need a bit more than that.¡± Jabez said. ¡°What kind of ruin is it? Do you need us for protection against monsters? Do you know what kind? Is there something specific you are looking for and is it something you are willing to tell us about? We need to answer those questions to prepare and also to formulate our fee.¡±

    ¡°You mentioned your fee before.¡± Zakarias frowned, then glanced up at Vash. ¡°I thought that had already been taken care of.¡±

    Jabez followed his gaze and then looked back at Zakarias. ¡°Nah, that¡¯s not how Wayfarer contracts work. The contract only covers what¡¯s specifically outlined in the quest. You¡¯ve already paid for us to accompany you to this ruin and explore it with you to your satisfaction. For us to do things like fight monsters, disarm traps, look for hidden passageways, well, that¡¯s outside the scope of the quest. If you want us to do any of that, then we will have to discuss an additional fee.¡±

    ¡°Ah.¡± Zakarias said, a note of displeasure in his voice. ¡°Then I suppose you¡¯d best sit down so we can discuss an equitable arrangement.¡±

    Jabez pulled out the chair opposite Zakarias and took a seat. Vash moved to sit next to him, but Jabez held up a hand. ¡°Why don¡¯t you and Corwin go get a drink and something to eat? It¡¯s been a long day, and you two don¡¯t need to be here for this.¡±

    Vash frowned down at Jabez, then glanced up at Corwin to get an idea of what to do. Corwin nodded and motioned for Vash to follow him. After hesitating for a moment, Vash followed Corwin across the common room, taking a seat at the end of one of the trestle tables.

    ¡°What was that all about?¡± Vash asked once they were seated and comfortably out of earshot.

    ¡°Jabez doesn¡¯t like our employer.¡± Corwin said, fishing for coins in his belt pouch. ¡°He¡¯s trying to get some information about this quest out of him and get us some more money at the same time.¡±

    ¡°So¡­we don¡¯t renegotiate contracts after accepting the quests?¡±

    Corwin fished out a pair of copper coins and held them up like other patrons had done. ¡°Normally the quests are pretty clear: destroy five bandit camps between Sathsholm and Kharboc¡¯s Twins and get twenty gold. Return fifteen goblin totem bags to a Guild Lodge and get a reward of ten silver each. That sort of thing. When the quest is more vague like the one Zakarias put together, that¡¯s when we negotiate.¡±

    A pair of clay cups thunked down on the table in front of Vash. A young man with a wispy beard and sullen expression poured a light-colored ale from a pitcher, sloppily moving from one cup to the other and splashing some on the table. He grabbed the coins from Corwin¡¯s fingers and started to walk away.

    ¡°I usually like my ale in my cup rather than around it,¡± Vash muttered, lifting the cup out of the spreading puddle of spillage.

    The young server¡¯s head whipped around. ¡°What¡¯d you say?¡±

    Conversations around Vash died off suddenly. The villagers didn¡¯t look at Vash and Corwin, but they were listening intently.

    Vash bristled, guessing what the young man¡¯s problem was. ¡°All I said was I prefer my drink to be in my cup, not on the table.¡±

    The young man stood straighter, hands balling into fists, but Vash could see he was trembling slightly. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, there are plenty of other taverns.¡±

    He¡¯s scared. Vash thought. What the hell is going on?

    Corwin, ever the peacemaker, held up one hand in a placating gesture. ¡°No problem, accidents happen. Just be more careful on the next round. That¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°His kind weren¡¯t all that careful when they went chased that dire boar across my pa¡¯s fields.¡± The young man said, with an aggressive jerk of the chin in Vash¡¯s direction. ¡°They trampled half the fall crop, then expected him to thank them for ridding the forest of a shadow-touched creature.¡±

    ¡°What kind do you think I am?¡± Vash asked, knowing the likely answer and keeping his voice carefully neutral.

    ¡°Vash¡ª¡° Corwin began, but the boy had his blood up and interrupted.

    ¡°Them highborn knife-ears.¡± The tavern boy spat, genuine anger in his voice now. ¡°Call themselves the Emerald Stags. I¡¯m sure you know ¡®em. We all know how elves stick together.¡±

    There were some mutterings from the patrons. The boy was riling up the small crowd. Vash scowled at the youth and saw him flinch, but still he didn¡¯t back down.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know any stags, emerald or otherwise.¡± Vash said, calmly. ¡°Since I¡¯m only a half-blood, I don¡¯t know many high elves at all. They mostly think we¡¯re impure, dirty, and don¡¯t like to associate with us.¡±

    The boy looked confused, unsure of what to say next. At that moment, the barkeeper, a rotund man with a thick brown beard and shaved head, noticed what was going on. ¡°Cal? There a problem?¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± Corwin called back, keeping his eyes on Cal, ¡°Your serving boy here has just never met a Wayfarer, and doesn¡¯t know they come in all different flavors, including half-elf.¡±

    At the mention of a Wayfarer, Cal¡¯s confused look became startled. ¡°Wayfarers?¡±

    Corwin pulled the bronze medallion out from beneath his shirt, then nodded encouragement to Vash. Frowning, Vash lifted his own medallion up so that Cal could see the Wayfarer sigil engraved on the front.

    ¡°I¡­um¡­I didn¡¯t know.¡± Cal stuttered, face going a deep crimson.

    The barkeep emerged from behind the bar and approached Cal, putting a fatherly hand on the young man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go wash some cups for me, lad? I¡¯ll take care of things out here.¡±

    Cal nodded and darted off through a curtained door behind the bar. The patrons watched him go, then with a last judgmental look at Vash, they turned back to their own business.

    The barkeep shook his head, drying his hands on his apron. ¡°Sorry about that. We get a group of Vanan Rangers through here every couple of months. They say they¡¯re hunting shadow-touched creatures in the Wayward Forest, but every time they come through, they cause some sort of trouble.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got no love for Vanan.¡± Vash said, taking a sip of his ale. ¡°But he should know that there¡¯s more than one type of elf out there.¡±

    The barkeep winced. ¡°Yeah, last time the Emerald Stags came through, they caused a ruckus out at Cal¡¯s family¡¯s farm. Seriously damaged the crop. When Cal¡¯s pa confronted the leader of the group, the elf took offense and shot him in the leg. Now the crop¡¯s ruined and Cal¡¯s pa may not be able to work the farm the way he used to. Cal¡¯s been working here nights after working all day at the farm to keep money coming into the family.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s awful.¡± Corwin said. ¡°The Duke¡¯s men don¡¯t do anything?¡±

    ¡°The Wayward Forest is technically the territory of Vanan Esain, so it¡¯s the elves¡¯ domain. Those rangers are all highborn as well, so they¡¯ve got ties in Sathsholm.¡± The barkeep said. ¡°We could raise a ruckus, but it wouldn¡¯t go well for us. Better just to keep our heads down and hope that the Stags find a different area to hunt shadow-touched.¡±

    ¡°Well, we¡¯re supposed to be working with a Collegium mage to explore a ruin near here. Once we clear it out, it should lessen the impact of the shadow on the area.¡± Corwin said, sympathetically.

    The barkeep gave a weak smile and a nod. He glanced over to where Jabez was in deep conversation with the frail-looking mage. ¡°I¡¯m sure it will be a great help. Enjoy your evening, sirs.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s encouraging.¡± Vash muttered, taking another drink. The ale wasn¡¯t as strong or hoppy as he was used to, but it had a nice, smooth flavor with a hint of berries in the aftertaste.

    ¡°If a Wayfarer comes to town, it usually means something has gone bad, or it¡¯s about to get worse.¡± Corwin said, looking around the tavern while nursing his ale. ¡°Things look a little off, but not too bad. Though the Vanan hunting shadow-touched across the border is disconcerting.¡±

    Vash merely grunted, taking in the furtive, curious glances of the patrons, as well as their disheveled appearance. His only experience with hold folk was from back in Durron¡¯s Ford, so couldn¡¯t say if they were ¡®normal¡¯ or not.

    If this lot were back there, Vash thought, I¡¯d think a blight hit their crop.

    He saw many unfocused stares and forced smiles. Something was going wrong in this town and the populace was trying to put on a brave face in front of strangers.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know the Emerald Stags.¡± Vash mused. ¡°But if they¡¯re one order of the Vanan Rangers, then they¡¯re likely to cause as much harm as they do good.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Corwin asked, trying not to appear too eager to start a conversation. ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Vanan are extremely xenophobic. They rarely leave the Wayward Forest. In fact, they mostly prefer to stay in their own holdings and cities far from the border.¡± Vash said, setting his cup down and gazing into the wheat-colored liquid. ¡°Vanan society considers Rangers highly suspect because they actively interact with other races and outsiders. But they are tolerated because elves need protection from those same outsiders. Rangers who leave the forest, for whatever reason, are dangerous.¡±

    ¡°People leave restrictive societies for all sorts of reasons.¡± Corwin shrugged.

    ¡°Not Vanan,¡± Vash shook his head. ¡°The ones who leave the forest are zealots. Either hunting the shadow or enforcing elvish standards on the rest of the world. Like with Cal¡¯s father. Vanan think they¡¯re better than all the other races, blood purity and all that. Anyone daring to challenge a Vanan¡¯s right to do whatever the hell he wants¡­well they see that as a threat and an insult.¡±

    Corwin frowned in concern. ¡°In that case, I hope we don¡¯t run into them.¡±

    ¡°So do I. They aren¡¯t fond of half-breeds.¡± Vash¡¯s lip curled slightly. ¡°Even though they¡¯re responsible for more than a few of them.¡±

    ¡°Responsible for what?¡± Jabez said, approaching the table and tucking a folded paper into a belt pouch.

    ¡°Nothing important.¡± Corwin said. ¡°Just talking about the elf situation in the area.¡±

    ¡°Emerald Stags.¡± Jabez made a sour face. ¡°Yeah, I heard of those buggers. Useful when fighting shadow-touched, but damn annoying every other time.¡±

    ¡°Think there¡¯s been an uptick in shadow activity because of the dungeon we¡¯re helping skinny over there with?¡± Corwin asked.

    Taking a seat, Jabez shrugged. ¡°According to him, it¡¯s an old ruin, not a dungeon. It¡¯s possible that something is using it as a lair, but apparently it¡¯s not really open to the outside, so I¡¯m not sure how much residual effect it might have on the area.¡±

    ¡°How old?¡± Vash asked. He¡¯d always had an interest in ruins and ancient structures. The really old stuff was on the other side of the mountains, in the shadow-pact lands, the ruins of Old Malconia. Close to the mountains, however, there were plenty of outposts, temples, and towers.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t say.¡± Jabez shrugged again. ¡°Just old.¡±

    Vash struggled to keep his face calm. Knowing how old the ruin was might give them some idea of what they could be facing. Malconian outposts were the favorite haunts of shadow-touched. Abandoned towers from the Mage Wars attracted hybrid creatures, magical constructs, and fae. Ancient temples housed undead and unhallowed creatures. He knew this just from sharing drinks with adventurers on Traveler¡¯s Row. The fact that Jabez brushed it off was concerning.

    ¡°From what Zakarias said, it¡¯s a ruin of ¡®historical significance to the area¡¯, not a place of power or dungeon.¡± Jabez continued. ¡°Said to be cautious of traps. Maybe some beasties from the area found their way inside, but not the nastier monsters.¡±

    ¡°Pay?¡± Corwin asked.

    ¡°Talked him up to ten gold, for delving expertise and as bodyguards.¡± Jabez said, signaling the barkeep for another round of ales.

    ¡°That¡¯s pretty good,¡± Corwin said. ¡°Even after the Guild cut, that would get us pretty far.¡±

    ¡°Figured we could head to Amical Falls after this, get Vash some more serious Delver training and take a short breather for me to work with you on some defensive Talents.¡± Jabez said, handing a few copper coins to the barkeep and taking the proffered ales.

    ¡°Any food, gents?¡± The barkeep asked, still wary, but hopeful for some more coin.

    ¡°I could eat.¡± Jabez said. ¡°We¡¯ll take whatever¡¯s on the menu for tonight.¡±

    ¡°We got fried reedfish. It¡¯s pretty good. My missus bastes it in butter and herbs.¡± The barkeep said.

    ¡°That¡¯ll do. Bring enough for me and the lads. We¡¯ll also take a room for the night, if you have one.¡±

    The barkeep glanced at Vash and looked apologetic. ¡°All I got right now is the bunkhouse. Communal bunks, and with the tensions with the Emerald Stags, I¡¯m not sure the other guests would¡­ah¡­that is¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you have a hayloft?¡± Vash sighed.

    The barkeep looked relieved. ¡°Aye, we do. It¡¯s a bit small since we aren¡¯t a big place.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take the loft and you two can take the bunks.¡± Vash said, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

    ¡°No, we can all take the loft.¡± Corwin said in solidarity.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Vash said, ¡°plus the two of you snore like Tauroc with head colds. It will be a blessing to be spared from that for a night.¡±

    ¡°Very good.¡± The barkeep said. ¡°No charge for the hayloft, for the inconvenience.¡±

    Vash nodded, but said nothing. Jabez settled up for their food and beds, then he and Corwin began chatting about some tavern they had stayed in up in Aladur. Vash thought that their time would be better spent discussing strategies for the next day, but he didn¡¯t feel up to pushing the issue.

    Their meal was simple, but quite good. The herbs and butter masked the overall earthy taste that reedfish commonly had, and it paired well with generous portions of rice and vegetables. Vash ate methodically, turning over thoughts in his head. He should have expected to run into Vanan elves out in the world, but this close to Sathsholm was a surprise.

    The su¡¯sodla, or pure-bloods, hated part-elves even more than humans did. Kaeleshi, in Vinya Esain to the far north, were relatively tolerant. The Vanan, however, were almost homicidally obsessed with purity. Some of the high elves visited Sathsholm, and the nobility even maintained estates in the city. They rarely left their enclaves, but when they did, they went out of their way to cause trouble for half and part-bloods. A common game for Vanan youths in the city was to find a tavern, search out any part-elves, then lure them back to the estates with promises of ¡®telling them about their heritage¡¯ or ¡®helping them find their ancestors¡¯. If the poor rube was lucky, then they left the estate in the morning with only a bad beating. Vash knew more than a few part-elves who¡¯d had their ear-tips cut off in a Vanan ¡®game¡¯.

    His general demeanor must have showed on his face. Corwin looked at Vash with concern. ¡°Something wrong?¡±

    ¡°Just a long day and I¡¯m not used to that much travel.¡± Vash said. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to go seek out that hayloft.¡±

    ¡°All right.¡± Jabez said. ¡°You might want to take a look at the chapter dungeon delving in the Gideon¡¯s Guide before turning in. I¡¯m not expecting this being anything more than keeping a scholar from choking on too much dust, but it¡¯s best to be prepared.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Vash said, pushing back from the table and shouldering his pack.

    ¡°Be down at first light.¡± Jabez said. ¡°This place is a good distance out into the wilderness, apparently.¡±

    Vash nodded, then left the table. He could feel Corwin¡¯s eyes on his back. Where was this concern when I was telling you how Nyx was an idiot and going to get us killed?

    Shrugging off the painful memory, Vash sought the barkeep and got directions to his ¡®bed¡¯ for the night. Around the back of the tavern stood a small, three-stall stable. An off-white, swaybacked farm horse, and a cantankerous mule were the only residents. Vash ignored the irritated brays of the mule and the placid stare of the horse as he stumbled through the dark stable. A small alchemical lantern hung on a peg on the wall, giving the stable a weak, cold light.

    Vash took up the lantern and found the ladder to the hayloft. Since I¡¯m the one sleeping here, I don¡¯t think anyone will mind if I take this.

    He carried the lantern up into the loft, grateful that it was alchemical and not oil. The idea of burning to death because he accidentally kicked a lantern was not appealing.

    As haylofts went, the Singing Frog¡¯s was pretty standard. It was just big enough for a few bales of hay and some bags of oats. Vash prodded the loose straw into a makeshift pallet, laying his bedroll across it, then settling down himself.

    Lying on the bedroll, Vash suddenly felt every mile he had walked that day. It would be so easy just to wrap himself in the bedroll and drift off. But the thin scholar and his off-putting smile, coupled with the promises of an ¡®easy¡¯ quest, had him on edge. Duke Adolus would never make a simple quest part of a condition of my release.

    Sighing, Vash opened his pack and rooted around until he found his copy of Gideon¡¯s Guide. He turned to the chapter on dungeon delving and found the page helpfully dog-eared. A scribbled annotation next to the chapter introduction read:

    ¡®Go straight to the Detect Traps formula and thank me later!¡¯

    Vash chuckled to himself, again wondering who made these notes.

    Another rogue? He thought, The annotations certainly seem helpful to someone like me.

    Flipping through the chapter, Vash found the Detect Traps formula. Here he found the original formula marked through with an ¡®X¡¯ and an improved diagram sketched next to it, with instructions on mana flow and maintenance. Smiling at his good fortune, Vash settled in and began to read.

 Episode 16: The Mossfen Delving

    ¡°This isn¡¯t suspicious at all.¡± Vash said, watching the ¡®scholar¡¯ that had hired them as he excitedly paced the small clearing. Vash slapped at another of the red midges that landed on his neck. Pools of cloudy, brackish water dotted the soft moss-covered ground of the clearing. Small clouds of midges hovered above those pools while massive dragonflies darted back and forth, disrupting the clouds momentarily like a barge passing through a fog bank.

    ¡°Quit grousing, not every employer is a cleric of Taella.¡± Jabez said from where he sat on a nearby boulder that jutted from the marshy ground. The dwarf looked absorbed in carving geometric designs into a large tooth, a tusk from a creature that Vash didn¡¯t recognize. Jabez seemed at ease, but Vash noted that his war-hammer was within easy reach, and he kept glancing at Zakarias and his hulking, silent servants. ¡°Let the man work.¡±

    <hr>

    It had been a rough morning.

    Vash awoke with the sunrise and a loud argument from outside the stable doors. One of Zakarias¡¯ servants was below him in the stable. The servant had brought out the donkey and was loading the beast with a pair of heavy chests and some travel bags. The large man moved carefully and methodically with the chests, ensuring they were secured to the donkey¡¯s back before piling on the travel bags.

    The shouting was coming from the doorway, one local was trying to get past Zakarias¡¯ other servant. The man was large, well over six feet tall, and his tattered gray robe strained at the shoulders and over his ample belly. Vash would bet that there was some solid muscle under that fat, and that the big man knew how to use it. The servant glared down at the local with beady black eyes beneath a heavy brow. He had cut his hair short, giving it a bowl shape with ragged ends. The two servants looked similar enough to be brothers, if not twins.

    ¡°Dammit, man, let me pass!¡± The local was red-faced and shouting, but he dared not take a step closer to the hulking brute. ¡°My horse is in there and I¡¯ve got to get out into the fields by midday!¡±

    The servant simply stared down at the local, unconcerned with the difficulty he was causing.

    The local seethed in frustration, then spotted Vash in the hayloft. ¡°Hey! Elf! You¡¯re a Wayfarer, right? Working with this lug, aren¡¯t you? Get him to move so I can get my horse!¡±

    As one, the two servants turned to look up at the hayloft. The stare they gave Vash was not one of malice or anger, merely acknowledgment, then dismissal when they turned back to what they were doing.

    ¡°I¡¯m not working with them.¡± Vash said, pulling on his boots quickly. ¡°We¡¯re working <i>for</i> their master. I can¡¯t do anything about them being rude assholes.¡±

    Vash grabbed his pack and jumped down from the hayloft. The servant with the donkey looked at him with an expression of mild annoyance.

    ¡°Don¡¯t blame me.¡± Vash said, putting on his pack and tightening the straps. ¡°If you let the man get his horse, he¡¯d be out of your way without causing a ruckus. Since you two decided to be asses, you¡¯ve caused a problem and drawn attention.¡±

    Vash pointed out the door. A small gathering of locals stood at the mouth of the alley that led back to the <i>Singing Frog¡¯s</i> stable.

    The servants looked at the gathering, then exchanged glances. A growing look of annoyance passed between them, then the one at the door stepped aside, allowing the farmer to get to his horse.

    ¡°Finally! Thank you!¡± The farmer huffed and strode past. Within moments, he had the horse harnessed and led her out of the stable. The servant at the door gave Vash a flat stare the entire time.

    Vash shrugged and followed the farmer out, heading into the tavern and trying to ignore the unblinking stare from the servants.<i> I don¡¯t know what their problem is, and I don¡¯t want to know.</i>

    Inside the tavern were a few patrons, all breaking their fasts and getting ready to head out early. Jabez, Corwin, and Zakarias sat at one table. The scholar had a map opened between them and was pointing out routes and landmarks.

    ¡°¡ªit looks like this path used to be a pilgrim road. It should lead straight to the ruin and shave a good few hours off the journey.¡± Zakarias was saying, pointing out some marks on the map.

    Jabez shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s Scaleback territory. They usually avoid people, but if you wander into their marshes, then they view you either as attackers or as prey, not ideal either way. Are you sure that what you¡¯re looking for is in this area? It¡¯s all marshes, not exactly the best spot to build anything solid.¡±

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s what everyone thinks!¡± Zakarias said excitedly. ¡°But look here, the marshes lead into this small valley. The surrounding hills are all rock. I¡¯m willing to bet that the builders found some natural caves carved by the marsh waters and modified them to suit their needs.¡±

    ¡°And what were those needs, exactly?¡± Vash asked as he approached.

    Zakarias looked up, his large eyes holding a startled expression. ¡°Well, that¡¯s what I¡¯m trying to find out. It may be part of the early Malconian expansion, or perhaps a temple to a deity of the lesser pantheon, prior to the unification. It really could be anything!¡±

    ¡°We saw a waystone on the Rivermarch Road that said there used to be shadow cult activity in this area. Could this ruin be connected?¡± Vash asked, taking a biscuit from a plate when Corwin offered.

    ¡°Shadow cult? No, I don¡¯t think so.¡± Zakarias scoffed. ¡°Those folk don¡¯t build structures like this. They usually just make temporary camps in the wilderness.¡±

    ¡°Vash has a point.¡± Jabez said, sipping from a large mug of tea. ¡°Even if they didn¡¯t build it, a shadow cult can taint an area. Makes it easier for a dungeon to form.¡±

    ¡°My research suggests that this structure was sealed during the Malconian Dominance. Without access to the outside world, the structure could not form a dungeon core, no matter the mana saturation or cult activity.¡± Zakarias said emphatically.

    ¡°It¡¯s been, what, five-hundred years since the fall of Malconia?¡± Vash asked, skeptically. ¡°You think that it¡¯s stayed sealed all that time? What about entries from the Underlands?¡±Stolen story; please report.

    Corwin gave Vash a surprised look. ¡°When did you become an expert in dungeoncraft?¡±

    ¡°What? You gave me that <i>Gideon</i> book. I started reading.¡±

    Zakarias gave Vash a shrewd look. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re here. Just in case some beast or other has made a home there.¡±

    ¡°If it winds up being a full-blown dungeon, then we retreat.¡± Jabez said. ¡°We aren¡¯t equipped to take something like that on.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the experts.¡± Zakarias said with a thin smile.

    <hr>

    The journey hadn¡¯t been bad for the first hour. They followed the road out of Mossfen Hold, which was, although muddy, relatively well maintained. After that, however, they set off through the marshes to the northwest. Sometimes they could use game trails or old paths through the wilderness, but mostly they were stuck slogging through marsh, swamp, and forest.

    Jabez and Zakarias worked together to keep them headed in the right direction. At one point, Jabez kept them from straying into Scaleback territory, pointing out the totems hanging in the trees. Zakarias appeared annoyed that the Wayfarers weren¡¯t willing to take on a Scaleback village just to shave a few hours off his travel time.

    Vash had heard of the lizard men from travelers and sailors on Lake Marallon. A sizable population had claimed the islands southwest of Sathsholm. The Duke sent several expeditions into the islands. The few that returned claimed that the Scalebacks had eaten the other soldiers, or sacrificed them to their demon gods. After that, most folk just avoided the islands and took care not to aggravate the Scalebacks.

    When they finally reached their destination, it was late afternoon. The small valley between rocky, steep hills was a flat expanse of marsh, random boulders, and twisted forest. No sign of any construction, ruined or otherwise. For the past hour, Zakarias had been consulting his scrolls and striding around the clearing, almost giddy with excitement.

    Vash was getting concerned.

    ¡°So all this doesn¡¯t bother you?¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°All what?¡± Jabez replied, continuing to whittle.

    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know.¡± Corwin said, coming up beside Vash like a huge, muscular shadow. ¡°This whole place screams ¡®<i>stay out</i>¡¯. The trees around the clearing look diseased and warped, but they grow so close together they may as well be a wall. The ground is all squishy and all the undergrowth smells of rot and decay. Then there¡¯s our employer.¡±

    ¡°I try not to judge.¡± Jabez said.

    Vash frowned. ¡°I just don¡¯t see this ending well.¡±

    ¡°This was the quest that the Duke set out for us. If you¡¯ve got a way to wriggle out of this and keep your head, I¡¯m all ears. ¡°

    Vash scowled. He had no answer for that. His gaze drifted over to Zakarias¡¯ servants. When they had arrived in the clearing, the two of them had unloaded the donkey. They piled the traveling supplies haphazardly, but had carefully taken hold of the two heavy chests. Each carried their own chest, thick lacquered wood with iron banding. They never put the chests down, simply held them while waiting for instructions from Zakarias.

    Sensing they were being watched, the servants turned their heads slowly in unison and stared back at Vash and the others, silent and unblinking.

    ¡°At least the money¡¯s good.¡± Jabez sighed.

    ¡°The money is pretty good,¡± Corwin agreed. ¡°Think we¡¯ll survive long enough to actually get paid?¡±

    Zakarias let out a bark of laughter as he swept aside a cluster of vines on a suspiciously shaped boulder embedded in the rocky hillside.

    Vash blinked, not believing what he saw. ¡°Is that a skull?¡±

    Corwin looked up and sighed. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what it looks like.¡±

    ¡°A screaming skull.¡± Jabez added.

    The boulder was a mottled black and gray stone. A combination of the rock¡¯s natural shape and careful carving had formed it into the likeness of a human skull, its jaws open wide as if screaming in fury.

    ¡°If the mouth turns out to be the ruin¡¯s entrance¡­¡± Corwin began, but trailed off as Zakarias pressed his hand to a moss-covered rock. Ancient stone ground against itself. Dirt and flakes of rock fell away as the back of the skull¡¯s mouth opened into a darkness that swallowed the weak light from the clearing.

    Vash could tell from the wrinkles on the back of Zakarias¡¯ skull that he was grinning from ear to ear. ¡°I hate being right.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t remember him looking that evil back in town.¡± Jabez said, frowning. He put away his carving in one of his many belt pouches and pushed himself to his feet.

    ¡°Tavern lighting makes anyone look good,¡± Corwin said.

    Vash let his hands fall to the blades on his hips. ¡°So, what do we do now?¡±

    Jabez made a face. ¡°Guild Law is pretty clear. They offered us a contract, and we accepted. So it looks like we¡¯re going adventuring.¡±

    ¡°You accepted. I don¡¯t remember being consulted.¡± Vash said, bitterly.

    Jabez glanced up. ¡°Are we going to have a problem?¡±

    Vash met Jabez¡¯s eyes. ¡°No, but I think we need to ask more questions next time before we leave town.¡±

    ¡°How the hell did the Guild allow that guy to buy a contract?¡± Corwin muttered, watching Zakarias pulling vines aside and beaming with delight.

    The secret entrance finished opening and Zakarias motioned to his servants to prepare to move out.

    ¡°Gentlemen!¡± Zakarias cried happily, turning to face them. ¡°I believe I¡¯ve found the entrance!¡±

    ¡°It, uh, it looks like a skull, Zakarias.¡± Corwin said.

    ¡°A screaming skull.¡± Jabez added.

    ¡°Does it?¡± Zakarias asked, turning. ¡°Oh¡­well, I guess now that you point it out¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve got some concerns.¡± Corwin said, eying the servants. They had stopped staring and were crossing the clearing, carrying the heavy chests easily over the marshy ground.

    ¡°Really?¡± Zakarias asked, blinking in confusion. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s ominous, I suppose, but it could mean anything. The ancient followers of Mordis used to put skulls on everything. This may be a pre-unification temple to the god of death, which would be fascinating.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re sure you don¡¯t know what this place was used for?¡± Jabez asked, voice steady and eyes hard.

    ¡°Not at all.¡± Zakarias said, giving them a thin-lipped smile. ¡°And I am tiring of having to answer that question.¡±

    Jabez and the scholar locked eyes for a few moments, neither seeming to soften their stance. Finally, Zakarias shook his head and motioned towards the screaming skull cave. ¡°We¡¯re wasting time. Let¡¯s get going, shall we?¡±

    Jabez grunted, hefting his war-hammer as he strode towards the yawning portal. Corwin gave Vash a rueful shrug, then followed their master, drawing his sword and holding it loosely to one side. Vash followed at a slower pace, taking his time and keeping an eye on Zakarias.

    The unnerving scholar smiled at him, placidly. ¡°I noticed you remained silent while your companions voiced their doubts. I appreciate the vote of confidence.¡±

    <i>I just know better than to tip my hand</i>. Vash thought. Aloud, he tried to sound casual. ¡°I like to reserve judgment.¡±

    ¡°A good philosophy.¡± Zakarias nodded his approval. ¡°I only wish more people ascribed to such ideals.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to know who to trust these days.¡± Vash said, following Jabez and Corwin while being careful to watch Zakarias. ¡°This is a dangerous business, after all.¡±

    Zakarias snorted. ¡°Not as dangerous as all that. The Silent King was destroyed over three-hundred years ago. Monster attacks are down all across the Grand Alliance. I even heard that a dragon died recently.¡±

    ¡°I heard the same thing, somewhere up north.¡±

    ¡°Rumor, perhaps, but even those magnificent beasts have rarely appeared over the past century.¡± Zakarias said wistfully. ¡°We may be in the waning days of such adventures.¡±

    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s a good thing.¡± Vash said, contemplating the idea. The Temple said that the Shadow was ever-present and required constant vigilance. What if they¡¯re wrong? They¡¯ve been wrong before.

    ¡°Perhaps.¡± Zakarias said. ¡°But at least today we have this ruin to explore.¡±

    Vash turned to see Corwin disappearing down into the shadowy interior of the skull¡¯s mouth. He hesitated one last moment.

    <i>I fear no shadow, for I am shadow.</i>

    ¡°Come on, elf!¡± Came Jabez¡¯s voice from within the stone skull. ¡°We haven¡¯t got all day!¡±

    ¡°Indeed!¡± Zakarias said. ¡°Let us see what the ancients have left for us, hmm?¡±

    With a deep sigh, Vash nodded. He tried not to shiver as the stone teeth passed over his head. At the back of the ¡®mouth¡¯ was a stairway leading down into the earth.

    <i>I fear not death, for I am death</i>. Vash thought and tried not to think about being swallowed as he descended the spiral staircase.

    <i>Let my Hunt begin.</i>

 Episode 17: Into The Dark

    The steep, close staircase spiraled down into damp-smelling rock for several turns before opening into a large, dark chamber. Vash breathed easier upon exiting the claustrophobic spiral of the staircase. He had never liked small, enclosed spaces, much less ones that could have unknown monsters at the bottom.

    Or traps, or who knows what. Vash thought, bitter pessimism creeping in again. He shook his head as if he could clear the bad thoughts with motion. Stop that. Time to focus.

    Vash stepped out from the stairway into a long underground hall. A pale blue-white light illuminated the area around Jabez and Corwin. Jabez tied a glowmoss elixir to the chain of his Wayfarer amulet. The elixir was a small vial of glowmoss and Therium salts suspended in an alcohol solution. Shake the bottle vigorously and the glowmoss would bloom and feed off the mana produced by the Therium, emitting a soft light ideal for maintaining night vision.

    The glow from the vial only reached about fifteen feet. Carved pillars stood at regular intervals, pocked and weathered by age, but still sturdy. The solid stone pillars disappeared into the gloom above. The floor was flat and bare, with large flagstones roughly two feet on a side made up the floor¡¯s construction. A cold mist clung to the floor and eddied around their ankles, obscuring details on the stones.

    That¡¯s going to make finding floor switches difficult. Vash frowned, remembering the Gauntlet a bare two days before. As a precaution, Vash let his awareness sink into his Core, allowing his aura to expand and give him a better idea of what dangers were in the area.

    His Core gave a slight tremor. There was something to be wary of out in the darkness, but he couldn¡¯t tell what it was specifically or where it might be coming from. Slowly, Vash approached Corwin and Jabez.

    The dwarf examined the nearest stone pillar with a critical eye. He held his war-hammer loosely in his right hand while he ran thick fingers over the carvings on the stone. Corwin stood beside Jabez, sword held at the ready, scanning the darkness. He nodded at Vash¡¯s approach and moved to the side slightly so that Vash could take his place on the right flank of their little triangle.

    ¡°What¡¯s our plan?¡± Vash asked, blinking as his elvish eyes adjusted to the light levels. Elves could see in low-light, their magically enhanced vision came with a slight glow around their eyes in dim or dark areas. Half-elves had a similar, if less powerful, ability. His eyes had inner lenses that focused and filtered light, albeit without the magical enhancement. Vash felt the awkward sensation as his inner lenses shifted to compensate for conditions.

    The right-hand wall of the chamber was becoming visible in shades of gray and brown. He could make out a few alcoves in the walls, each one with a haphazard stone archway raised above it.

    ¡°The plan is to keep together, and keep quiet.¡± Jabez said, stepping back from the stone pillar and dusting his fingers against his pants leg. ¡°Watch for trouble on the flanks. We don¡¯t want to disturb anything that might not want to be disturbed.¡±

    Vash bit his lip and made a face, but kept silent. Half measures, sloppy.

    ¡°Got a problem with that?¡±

    Vash looked back over his shoulder. Jabez had shifted his position slightly, lifting his hammer into both hands and scanning the darkness in front of him. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to do a full search, face whatever is out there, make sure that it doesn¡¯t block our way out?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Jabez said. ¡°If we knew what was down here, and we knew we had the resources to take it on. There are plenty of monsters that are happy to let you go on your way if you don¡¯t go looking for them. Some things just want to be left alone, and they can be very dangerous when cornered.¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡± Vash asked. ¡°Like what?¡±

    This time Jabez shot a look back at him, surprised at his interest. ¡°If you really want to know, we¡¯ll talk about it after we finish this job. Not really something to discuss while we¡¯re in the middle of things.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s mostly the non-humanoid creatures that you can leave alone or avoid.¡± Corwin said. ¡°Molds, jellies, even Mimics.¡±

    ¡°Mimics? Those can¡¯t be real.¡± Vash had heard of the ambush-predator monsters that preyed on unwary dungeon explorers. He¡¯d always thought they sounded fairly far-fetched. How likely was it that a creature would evolve to look exactly like a treasure chest?

    ¡°They¡¯re real.¡± Jabez said. ¡°And they¡¯re damn dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Have you seen one?¡± Vash asked, incredulously.

    ¡°No.¡± Jabez admitted. ¡°But I have it on good authority¡ª¡±

    ¡°Until I see one with my own eyes, they¡¯re a myth.¡± Vash scoffed, only half-serious. The dwarf¡¯s buttons were easy to push, and he couldn¡¯t resist. Jabez shook his head. ¡°Damn stubborn, pointy-eared¡­¡± There were more insults, but Jabez¡¯s voice faded into mutters before Vash could take real offense.

    Light blossomed behind them, accompanied by the grunts of Zakarias¡¯ servants struggling with the heavy chests down the narrow staircase. Zakarias himself carried an alchemical lantern which filled the room with a golden light.

    ¡°Gods dammit.¡± Jabez breathed, tensing and searching the remaining shadows. ¡°I told them to wait for the all-clear.¡±

    ¡°A little more light isn¡¯t a bad thing.¡± Corwin said.

    Vash agreed. Having more of the chamber revealed was much more reassuring than imagining horrors in the deep darkness. He felt his shoulders relax a bit as the shadows retreated, revealing old stone and cobwebs. Wisps of dusty webs hung from the arches high above them and filled the arched alcoves along the wall. Vash could now see that the alcoves housed long-dead bodies wrapped in burial shrouds.

    Not shrouds, even preserved the shrouds would be in tatters by now. Vash thought, trying to puzzle out why it bothered him. That one on the end is different. Is it upside down?

    ¡°Should there be this many webs in a sealed vault like this?¡± Corwin asked, looking up into the shadowed recesses of the ceiling.

    Vash followed his gaze. The webs were larger and thicker, up high. The ceiling was made of unfinished stone, lumps and crags standing out in contrast to the smoother stonework below. Loose dirt fell from the ledge above.

    <i>Great, the roof is unstable too.</i>

    One rock shifted and Vash made ready to move out of the way as another shower of dirt and pebbles fell from above. Vash narrowed his eyes and his elvish vision sharpened and focused on the small area, enhancing details he¡¯d missed before, like the long roots that dug into the rock and were now unfolding with intricate slowness. The stone shifted again and multi-faceted silver eyes lifted and regarded him with curious malice.

    ¡°Spiders!¡± Vash hissed, drawing his weapons, a long dagger in his left hand, a short sword in his right. ¡°Big ones.¡±

    Jabez and Corwin both looked up. The glint of dozens of eyes flashed as the spiders clustered on the ceiling turned to regard the intruders.

    Jabez hefted his war-hammer and growled. ¡°It¡¯s a damn Hollowmound nest.¡±

    Hisses and the click of armored legs against stone rose from the spiders as the nest flowed forward with alarming speed. Coming into the light, the spiders were about the size of a dog, but with a wider reach from their long legs. Thorny plates of chitin covered the spiders¡¯ bodies, and they varied in color from a glistening black to a sandy brown, with red stripes running down their bulbous abdomens.

    A spider leaped from one pillar, eager to attack. Jabez stepped forward and swung his hammer in a wide arc, catching the spider in the center of its body. The spider shrieked as the force of the blow sent it flying across the room, crashing into the far wall with a crackling sound, like eggshells being dropped on a stone floor. It slid down the wall, trailing pale green blood on the stones.

    Vash was so distracted watching Jabez¡¯s attack that he almost didn¡¯t notice the spider descending on a line of silk behind him. The click of chitin as it landed on the floor pricked his ears moments before it slashed at him, razor-sharp forelegs stabbing down at his back. Instinct took over and Vash reached within, tapping his Core and felt the sudden rush of warmth as mana flowed out to the rest of his body. The formula for<i> Enhance Ability</i> snapped into place, boosting his speed and agility many times over.

    Time felt as if it slowed to a crawl. Vash stepped to one side, turning and avoiding the spider¡¯s attack. The bladed forelegs crashed hard into the floor stones, throwing sparks with their impact. Vash stepped in, short sword finding the joint of one of the spider¡¯s forelegs. He twisted the blade and a gush of thick spider-blood flowed out. The spider hissed and scuttled back, the end joint of its foreleg hanging uselessly.

    Two more spiders descended from the ceiling, trying to cut Vash off from where Corwin and Jabez were engaged with arachnid attacks of their own. Vash moved to one side, trying to flank the monsters. The closest one lashed out with a foreleg attack. Mana-fueled reflexes moved Vash out of the way. He felt the wind of the attack.

    That was too close. Vash thought, looking for a way to take a position next to Corwin. Vash was used to working in a team, watching each other¡¯s backs and covering flanks. Jabez and Corwin were far more at ease trusting their Talents, armor, and their own resiliency. Vash was getting left behind as the two warriors pressed their attacks.

    Corwin was grinning like a madman, falling into step with Jabez as he hacked through any spider foolish enough to get close. One spider got past Corwin¡¯s guard and landed a blow on the big man¡¯s chest. The spider struck his breastplate with a metallic thunk, forcing Corwin back a step. A moment later, Corwin straightened and laughed. The spider scurried back, the tip of one foreleg having broken off and leaking thick, greenish blood. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t think it would be that easy, did you?¡± Corwin growled, then let out a battle-cry and hacked at the retreating spider, pushing further away from Vash.

    <i>So much for teamwork</i>. Vash thought, the three spiders he faced all moved with him, keeping him at the center of a triangle, forcing him to dodge over and over from their attacks, pushing him further away from his companions and towards where other spiders were descending from above.

    Vash could feel the mana draining out of <i>Enhance Ability</i>. Soon he would have to either let the Talent go or reset it with another infusion of mana. Can¡¯t do this for long, time for some old tricks.

    Taking a step away from the lights of the party, Vash found the deepest shadows he could and formed the <i>Shadowmeld </i>formula in his mind. Mana flowed into the mental construct and pulled the shadows around him like a cloak. Rather than warming, it gave him a bone-deep chill. Color leeched out of the world even as his vision became sharper, allowing him to see clearly in the darkness. The spiders reacted with confusion. To their eyes, the surrounding shadows absorbed him and swallowed him into a deeper darkness.

    <i>My turn</i>. Vash thought.

    He stepped around the most aggressive of the spiders, a black and red monstrosity that was drooling some sort of white foam from its mandibles. Vash leaped lightly onto the spider¡¯s back, swiftly driving his sword into the joint just behind its head. The spider gave an anguished screech and a spurt of thick spider blood flowed out of the wound.

    It spasmed and rolled. Vash rolled with it and, coming up on his feet, warmth and color intruded on the edges of his awareness until he got a firmer hold on the shadows.

    The other two spiders ignored their dying compatriot and turned towards where Vash had appeared for a moment. A twinge in Vash¡¯s Core was the only warning he had. The spider that he had wounded reared back and flung a sticky ball of webbing towards him. Vash moved out of the way and the ball splattered against the stones at his feet. The webbing exploded against the stone, sending out sticky tendrils in all directions. Some splashed against Vash¡¯s boots, hardening almost instantly and rooting his feet to the spot. Shadows retreated and Vash fought hard to hold on to them, realizing the outlines of his boots were visible now with the webs wrapped around his ankles.

    The spiders moved slowly towards Vash, cautiously advancing on the misty shape coming into focus as Vash lost his grip on the shadows. The second spider flung another clump of webbing. Vash ducked, but a clump of webbing splattered his right side, hardening into tendrils around his sword arm and sealing it to his side. The shadows evaporated like mist around him, color and warmth flooding back to Vash as he became visible again. The spiders chittered and surged forward. Vash slashed at them with his dagger, trying to keep the spiders at a distance while he struggled against the webs that held him fast.

    His dagger made contact with one spider, but it skidded off the chitin armor. The spider swept Vash¡¯s hand aside with its foreleg, knocking the dagger out of his grip. Vash cursed, ducking and weaving away from the sharp forelegs and now lunging bites.

    Vash had read some on common dangers of dungeons in <i>Gideon¡¯s Guide </i>the night before. It had said the Hollowmound spider venom was necrotic, killing and breaking down the flesh, making it easier for the spiders to consume. That meant that any bite from one spider could severely hamper his ability to fight.

    <i>Great, that part I remember!</i> Vash thought, smashing a fist into the uninjured spider¡¯s cluster of eyes. Hissing, the spider backed away. One enormous eye was leaking fluid and left an empty, collapsed crevice in the creature¡¯s head.

    The spider with the injured leg suddenly flung itself at Vash, legs seizing his torso and sending him crashing to the ground. Vash attempted to roll away, but the sticky webbing caught his boots and the spider¡¯s weight held him down. The spider glared down at him with shiny black eyes. Vash could feel the malice flowing off the creature and the glee it was taking in having him pinned and at its mercy. It reared back, sharp mandibles drooling frothy venom.

    Vash didn¡¯t see the blow when it came. One moment the spider was prepared to inject him with deadly venom, the next its head had collapsed like a shattered egg. The huge head of Jabez¡¯s war-hammer swept the spider off of Vash. It landed somewhere in the darkness with a thud.

    For a few moments, Vash just lay there, stunned.

    ¡°You gonna lay about all day, or are you going to earn your keep?¡± came a gruff voice.

    Vash blinked, seeing Jabez standing over him. Spider blood splattered the dwarf¡¯s mail and the head of his war hammer.

    He frowned down at Vash, shaking his head. ¡°Hollowmound webbing is strong when you pull directly against it. Try moving your arm like this,¡±

    Jabez demonstrated, swinging his arm against his body in a short arc.

    Shifting slightly, Vash did as Jabez said. The webbing loosened and stretched until Vash could shake it off. ¡°That¡¯s a good trick.¡±

    ¡°Keep it in mind.¡± Jabez said, then thought a moment. ¡°Or, better yet, just dodge next time.¡±

    Vash rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to say something snarky. He loosened the webbing around his feet enough to kick free, then got up and surveyed the room.

    The fight was over. Spider carcasses lay strewn about the chamber. Corwin was going from corpse to corpse, digging his knife below the mandibles and extracting spider fangs. Vash watched him in disgusted fascination. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Spider venom.¡± Corwin said, carefully wrapping each fang in a strip of linen bandage before placing them in a heavy leather pouch. ¡°Alchemists can make an anti-necrotic out of it. They fetch some decent coin.¡±

    ¡°Makes an excellent poison as well.¡± Zakarias said, peering at the dead spiders with interest. Neither he nor his assistants looked at all fazed by their encounter with the creatures.

    Corwin looked up and frowned. ¡°You saying things like that isn¡¯t helping your ¡®dark wizard¡¯ vibe. Just so you know.¡±

    ¡°Dark wizard vibe?¡± Zakarias asked, confused.

    ¡°Ominous dungeon, not particularly forthcoming with information, pointing out useful poison ingredients.¡± Corwin said, finishing his task and sealing the pouch.

    ¡°Merely dispensing useful information.¡± Zakarias shrugged bony shoulders. ¡°What your shadow-walking friend does with it is his business.¡± The skeletal smile he flashed at Vash was unnerving at best.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of poisons.¡± Vash said, picking up his dagger.

    ¡°To each his own.¡± Zakarias said, though he sounded disappointed. ¡°As for the rest, I have told you everything that I know¡­that would be of use to you.¡±

    The look he gave Corwin could be read several ways. All were at least vaguely threatening.

    ¡°Oi! Wayfarers!¡± Jabez called from across the room. ¡°Focus on the task at hand. These are just Hollowmound workers. Who knows how big this nest is? If there are warriors, or, gods forbid, a queen, then this trip gets much more dangerous.¡±

    Vash shot Jabez a look but kept his mouth shut.<i> Earn your coin, gain rank, and you can leave the pint-sized tyrant behind. </i>He thought. The Eth Mitaan wanted him in a good position within the Wayfarers and getting into a better adventuring party looked like the first logical step.

    ¡°Does it go any further?¡± Corwin asked, approaching the far wall. ¡°I¡¯m not seeing any doorways.¡±

    ¡°There is more.¡± Zakarias said. ¡°My research shows a larger complex.¡±

    Jabez grunted and drifted over to examine more carvings on the walls. ¡°Well, Vash, you¡¯re our rogue. See what you can find.¡±

    ¡°Jabez.¡± Vash said, approaching the dwarf and lowering his voice. ¡°I worked on Detect Traps last night and haven¡¯t had time to really try it. I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m up to secret doors yet.¡±

    Jabez sighed. ¡°Try it. Your Core is more attuned to that sort of thing than mine or Corwin¡¯s. This job isn¡¯t just Talents, there¡¯s a bit of instinct to it as well.¡±

    ¡°All right.¡± Vash said, turning away from Jabez. I don¡¯t think this is going to end well.

    Vash made a show of examining the alcoves on the far side of the room. The lanterns carried by Zakarias¡¯ servants illuminated the chamber and gave him a better look at everything around them.

    Crude, but solid stonework made up the bottom ten feet of the walls, rough-hewn rock that had served as the spider¡¯s home stretched another fifteen feet above that. Large stone pillars stretched to the ceiling, providing support. The bodies hanging in the alcoves were all skeletal; skin shrunken and leathery over what remained below. The bodies had clearly been drained long ago and never disposed of. Piles of bones and webbing lay in the dark corners of the room, showing what the spiders did with the bodies when they were done. Above each alcove was a rune that was unfamiliar to Vash. The designs were sharp, angular, oddly upsetting. Less something one would find marking a larder and more what one would use to mark a sacrifice.

    <i>I don¡¯t remember giant spiders having a god they worshiped, or them being worshiped by any cults.</i> Vash thought. <i>I really need to read up on monsters and dungeoncraft. </i>

    Movement caught Vash¡¯s attention as he was about to leave the last alcove. The web-wrapped body swayed slightly, wisps of webbing floating in the air. Carefully, he moved closer to inspect the alcove. He held his hand up near the swaying, twisting corpse. A slight breeze wafted across his fingertips.

    Taking a breath, Vash let his focus drift to his Core. The warm ball of mana just beneath his breastbone pulsed and hummed. He quieted his mind like Iona had taught him. His Core thrummed through different harmonics as he searched for the one that would help.

    Vash scanned the back of the alcove, his Core pulsing stronger or weaker as he moved in different places along the stones. He passed his hand over a large-sized stone to one side of the alcove and felt his Core buzz excitedly. After a moment of inspection, Vash felt something click into place within him. In his vision, a pale red aura outlined the stone, and a slight rush of essence left him.

    <i>What was that?</i> Vash thought, startled. <i>I didn¡¯t even use a formula</i>.

    Hesitantly, Vash released the Talent, paying close attention as he did so. As the Talent faded from his mind, he felt as though he could sense the outline of the formula. Fumbling and awkward, Vash pieced the formula back together and, after a few moments of adjustment, he felt it settle into place. Mana flowed into the new formula construct. A red glow appeared around the same stone. Vash almost cheered. He had unlocked a new Talent.

    ¡°There¡¯s something back here.¡± Vash called over his shoulder. ¡°Looks like a switch opens a door in this alcove.¡±

    ¡°Great work!¡± Corwin said excitedly, joining Vash at the alcove.

    ¡°Not bad,¡± Jabez said, standing back a few paces and watching Vash work..

    The excitement of learning a new Talent gave Vash a fresh jolt of adrenaline. He reached out and pushed the stone with the red outline. The rock moved after some slight resistance, a soft click sounding somewhere within. For a moment nothing happened, then the sound of a mechanism clanking to life came within the stones. Rock scraped against rock. The back of the alcove moved slowly to one side, revealing a dark tunnel beyond.

    Vash¡¯s Core pulsed urgently. He felt, rather than heard, the second click of another mechanism. Yelping in surprise, he dropped to the floor just before an arrow whistled over his head. It sailed across the room and shattered into splinters against the far wall.

    ¡°Maybe activate <i>Detect Traps</i> before pressing buttons.¡± Jabez muttered.

    ¡°You all right?¡± Corwin asked, holding out a hand to help Vash to his feet.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Vash said, grudgingly accepting the hand.

    They stood in front of the new tunnel, another tight fit, barely big enough for them to walk single file. It seemed to go a long way into the rock beyond, sloping downward slightly from the secret door.

    "Excellent." Zakarias called as he and his men crossed the room to join the adventurers. "I''m glad to see my faith in you all was not misplaced."

    "That''s a tight squeeze." Corwin said, frowning at the tunnel. The darkness within seemed to swallow the soft blue-white glow from the light elixir.

    "Bound to be more spiders, more traps." Jabez said, joining them.

    ¡°So, who goes first?¡± Vash asked.

 Episode 18: A Memory of Shadows

    ¡°One day I¡¯ll learn to keep my damn mouth shut.¡± Vash grumbled as he crept down the narrow corridor. He had a vial of glowmoss elixir hanging on a string around his neck, leaving his hands free as he moved carefully, placing each foot deliberately, senses alert for any signs of traps or triggers.

    The narrow passage forced them to walk single file. Vash didn¡¯t like not being able to see the others. Especially not knowing where Zakarias and his creepy servants were.

    Feels like they¡¯re staring at me.

    He glanced back periodically to check on his companions. Corwin followed close behind, holding his own glowmoss elixir high. The big man gave Vash an encouraging nod every time he looked back. Jabez was next in line, the dwarf grumbling under his breath about "shoddy stonework." The scholar and his two servants brought up the rear, but they were far enough back that the shadows swallowed them and all Vash could make out were rough shapes in the darkness.

    Vash''s foot connected with something, sending it skittering across the stone floor. He stopped and looked down, dreading what he might find.

    Just a skeleton. Vash breathed a sigh of relief. He knelt to get a closer look. Its bones scoured clean and scattered as if it had lain there for ages. He saw no obvious wounds or damage, but with just bones, it was hard to tell. The positioning disturbed him. He looked up and saw several other skeletons a short distance ahead in the tunnel. They all lay face down, arms splayed forward as if they had fallen while running.

    "These poor bastards were trying to escape something," Vash murmured.

    "And failed clearly," Jabez said. "So keep those elf eyes peeled, eh?"

    Vash frowned. Unless he concentrated on keeping up his low-light vision, it lapsed back into his normal, more comfortable human sight. He focused on adjusting his vision, feeling his eyes molding themselves to what he wanted. Blinking rapidly, the corridor became suddenly brighter, and Vash could see further into the gloom. However, colors were more washed out and his vision warped slightly at the edges, unsettling his sense of where things were.

    Vash gritted his teeth against the wave of dizziness from the sudden shift in perspective. The distortion from his more sensitive eyes made the walls feel even closer. He felt trapped, confined. His heart quickened. He had never liked tight spaces. He wanted to rush ahead to get out of this corridor. Memories from the year he spent working in the mines as a part of a Penance Detail came rushing back.

    <hr>

    The fight had been stupid.

    Jannick always taunted him about his poor reading skills, but it came to a head when Vash had voiced his desire to join the Order of Rasander. An ancient organization dedicated to exploration and discovery. A group of Rasanderians had taken rooms at the Inn Vash worked at. He had gotten to talk with them and even pointed out some notable ruins in the area around Durron¡¯s Ford that he had explored. One of them was even a part-elf like himself.

    When Jannick heard Vash talking excitedly to Corwin and Kat the next morning, the older boy hadn¡¯t been able to resist crushing his dreams.

    You have to be able to read to join any of the Orders, knife-ear. Jannick taunted.

    I know my letters. Vash protested, holding desperately to this thin hope. It won¡¯t be long before I get the hang of the words.

    Jannick laughed, needling that Vash would have to have a real understanding of reading, not just sounding out words from a Temple primer. Then his friends had chimed in on all of Vash¡¯s faults, everything they could think of to keep him from joining the Order.

    Corwin tried to put a stop to it, but Kat held him back. He had already gotten into trouble with Domai Matthias for sticking up for the ¡®impure creature¡¯ on other occasions. Getting a formal reprimand from the Temple would put even more strain on Corwin¡¯s family.

    The little group of bullies wanted a show from Vash to see him humiliated and crying. So they pushed and wheedled, listing all the reasons he should just give up and throw himself into the river.

    It was Jannick, however, who crossed the last line. Look at him, you just know that his whore of a mother died of shame. Imagine having a reminder that you sullied yourself with an elf looking back at you every day!

    The fury had come over him so quickly that he had no time to process it or even hold it back. Jannick didn¡¯t even see the fist that broke his nose. One moment the tall, slender boy was laughing with his friends, the next there was a sickening crunch and blood began pouring down his face.

    If Vash had stopped there, then he might have gotten away with a local penance. But the anger he let loose that day had been building within him for years. He tackled Jannick, driving him to the ground. The other boy flailed with one arm, trying to catch himself. The snap of his arm breaking, followed by the howls of pain, made Jannick¡¯s circle of friends flee, abandoning him to Vash¡¯s barrage of flailing fists.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Corwin hauled him off of Jannick after a moment of stunned bewilderment. Vash¡¯s hands were red with the other boy¡¯s blood, and he struggled against Corwin¡¯s grip, trying to get back and finish the job.

    Jannick lay in the dirt, screaming in pain. His nose knocked to one side, and he was missing one of his front teeth. Clutching his right arm, Jannick wailed and rocked until some villagers came running to see what the problem was.

    The next few hours were a blur.

    In the end, the Holdmaster and Domai Matthias agreed Vash needed to be sent to the Ducal Penance detail. No one, not even Vash¡¯s foster father, Sam, had spoken out against the punishment. Corwin said that he wanted to, but his brother Wil forbade it, saying that Vash had caused enough trouble for their family.

    For the next year, Vash had toiled in Duke Gellar¡¯s silver mines. Alongside petty thieves, bandits, and violent brawlers, Vash spent every day except Temple Day below the ground. The sun became a distant memory, and his joy from exploring caves and ruins snuffed out like a candle. Because he was small and slender, the overseers sent him into the tightest offshoot tunnels to work. Fear of becoming stuck, the small alchemical light vial dying slowly while the other penitents laughed at his pleas for help, haunted his nightmares.

    <hr>

    Taking a long, shuddering breath, Vash brought his focus back to the here and now.

    Focus on what you can control. The mantra that Byar had repeated when Vash¡¯s fears threatened to overwhelm him. You might be surprised at what you can accomplish if you just take things one step at a time.

    Breathing was the first thing that came to mind. Taking slow, controlled breaths of the stale air, reassuring himself that he wasn¡¯t suffocating. Then he inched forward, slowly. He wasn¡¯t stuck, not trapped by thousands of pounds of rock and soil.

    Now do your job. Vash thought, carefully scanning the walls and floor for any cracks or holes that could indicate a trap. Nothing out of the ordinary, just old stone.

    Up ahead, the corridor opened into a larger chamber, big enough for them all to enter at the same time. Vash hesitated at the threshold, peering inside. His enhanced sight could make out a high ceiling of rough stone and circular tiled floor. Four pitted stone pillars supported the ceiling, smaller than the ones in the first chamber, but of the same design. Aside from the pillars, the chamber appeared empty.

    Vash took a cautious step inside. The others filed in behind him, fanning out to examine the pillars and walls. Vash crossed the room towards a dark opening on the far side. It was a similar corridor to the one they just exited. Vash blinked and let his eyes return to normal, regaining his composure while his companions explored the small room.

    "Well, this looks safe enough," Corwin said, rapping his knuckles against a pillar.

    "Careful," Jabez said. "We don''t know anything about this place. I wouldn''t trust any of this to be safe just yet."

    Corwin nodded, taking a step back from the pillar. "Good point."

    "I didn''t expect so much hand-wringing from experienced adventurers," Zakarias said, inspecting some faded carvings on the wall. "Second-guessing every step, moving at a snail''s pace. Where''s your sense of adventure?"

    His oily tone made Vash bristle. He did not trust the scholar''s motives for a second. "If we knew what we were getting into, maybe we''d be more willing to move faster. What exactly do you do at the Collegium? Maybe knowing what you were studying will help?"

    Zakarias gave Vash a thin-lipped smile. "It would neither interest nor help you in this situation. My apologies if I sound critical. It''s just this expedition is the culmination of several years¡¯ worth of work."

    ¡°Work doing what?¡±

    ¡°My specialty is in studying pre-Malconian celestial powers. Specifically, how the unification of the Temple affected mana structures and power dynamics on a purely metaphysical level.¡± Zakarias said condescendingly.

    ¡°That¡¯s quite a mouthful.¡± Vash said, unimpressed.

    ¡°You asked.¡± Zakarias shrugged.

    Vash met the scholar''s gaze, trying to get a sense of what the man was thinking. He could tell that Zakarias was lying about something, but couldn''t decide what, exactly.

    ¡°These markings don¡¯t look like Temple glyphs.¡± Jabez said, studying the carvings that ringed the room.

    The carvings, though faded, did not look like anything Vash had ever seen in any of the temples dedicated to the Malconian pantheon. An odd, spiky script stood out beneath stylized pictograms of strange ritual practices.

    They look familiar, though. Vash thought, recalling the clay tablets in the Eth Mitaan temple beneath the great tree back in Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow. A feeling of dread passed over him. The things that they had done in the old temple had been useful and given him many gifts, but the experience had been harrowing.

    ¡°Likely an old Baedan writing form.¡± Zakarias said, squinting at the carvings. ¡°We know several tribes migrated down here from the north before the Malconians expanded east.¡±

    "Let''s move on." Jabez said, frowning at the carvings and stepping back. "We''ve dallied here long enough."

    Turning away from Zakarias, Vash moved toward the next passage. Approaching the archway, Vash felt a slight warning thrum in his Core. It¡¯s reacting to something nearby, not like a danger sense, that goes off when something actually happens. Could it be reacting to mana?

    ¡°Something wrong?¡± Corwin asked, joining Vash at the archway.

    Vash felt his Core thrum, echoing a release of mana somewhere nearby.

    "What was that?" Corwin asked, drawing his sword and looking around.

    "That was a trap." Jabez said, giving Vash a dark look.

    Vash was about to say something in response but his attention was drawn to the corridor they just exited. The unsettling sound of dried bones clattering together, then scraping against the stone floor. Down the corridor, he could see several pinpricks of orange light. As the lights moved closer, Vash could see that the pinpricks were illuminating the skulls of the skeletons that they had left behind.

    Slowly, but with inexorable menace, the skeletons were coming for them.

    "Move." Jabez said, taking Zakarias by the wrist and leading him toward the exit corridor. He stopped, looking past Vash, a frown creasing his weathered face.

    Vash turned, looking down the other corridor. For a moment he didn''t understand Jabez''s reaction. Then he heard the clatter of bones, the scrape against stone. Finally, as though coming around a corner, he saw the glowing eye sockets appear and stare directly at him.

    "Dammit."

 Episode 19: Tunnel of the Dead

    Vash stepped back, unable to believe his eyes even as he kept them fixed on the corridor in front of him. <i>Undead¡­but those aren¡¯t real, right? Just stories for superstitious peasants, keeping them fearful of ¡®demons¡¯ and warlocks.</i>

    Glowing pinprick eyes fixed on him, unsteady movements finding a rhythm. They made no sound except for the clatter of bone scraping against bone and the rustle of ancient boots shuffling through dust. <i>Hard to deny what I¡¯m looking at, though.</i>

    The skeletons stumbled slowly into the light, clad in tattered rags and rusted armor. Some had once been wearing leather cuirasses, but they had long ago become brittle as old paper. They carried a mixed assortment of weapons: clubs, spears, a sword or two. Vash scanned them quickly, his Eth Mitaan training kicking in, seeing and summarizing what was in front of him.

    <i>Human, some old equipment, nothing of value</i>.

    He glanced back at the others. Corwin and Jabez waited expectantly, faces taut. Behind them, Zakarias peered over his servants'' shoulders, hungry eyes darting from Vash to the shambling undead and back.

    <i>What¡¯s he so interested in? </i>

    Vash turned back to the bones. Traps he could handle. Tricks he could spot. But magic?

    <i>If we survive this, we need to hire a mage. </i>Vash thought.

    The empty sockets of the approaching skeletons flared with crimson light. They moved faster, shuffling turned into walking, which turned a jog.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got running skeletons!¡± Vash called out.

    "They''re speeding up on this side too," Corwin said from the other side of the room.

    Vash drew his blades, short sword in his right, and a long dagger in his left. The undead approached at speed. Rusted clubs, swords, and axes hanging limply in their grip. Behind him, he heard the rattle of Jabez drawing his war hammer from the ring on his belt.

    "Stay close!" Jabez barked. "Shield the scholar!"

    Vash moved to intercept the first skeleton. It swung wildly; he ducked the blow and sliced it through the torso, just below the ribcage, delivering a forceful blow across its spine. Vertebrae flew, and the other bones collapsed, inert once more.

    <i>Just bones</i>, Vash thought. <i>I can handle this</i>.

    He darted toward the next one. One arm fell apart when he slashed its shoulder. Spinning, he sliced through its knee joint and sent it crumbling to the floor. Vash stepped back, letting the bones fall around him. He caught movement on the floor. The one he''d cut in half was dragging itself back together.

    <i>What the hell?</i>

    "They keep reforming!" Corwin yelled. Vash turned to see the big warrior land a solid sword blow, smashing a skeleton while another was rebuilding itself at his feet.

    "Watch out!" Jabez called, dashing to Vash''s side, war-hammer shattering a skeleton to pieces. "Keep your eyes on your targets, elf!"

    Vash turned back to face several more skeletons lumbering towards him. On instinct, Vash stabbed one through its ribcage, but it was just bones - no vital organs to strike.

    Jabez swung his hammer, sweeping the legs out from under the skeleton impaled on Vash''s dagger. It collapsed to the floor. Immediately, the bones began clattering as they searched for their mates.

    One skeleton lunged at Vash, dessicated skin flaking off the bones when it opened its jaws wide in a silent scream. Vash side-stepped its swing and lopped its arm off at the joint. It stumbled back, reaching for the lost limb. Jabez stepped forward and crushed its ribcage with his hammer.

    The shattered bones skittered about on the floor tiles, seeking their other pieces. Faster than Vash thought possible, the splintered ribcage had knitted itself back together, no worse for wear than when it had stumbled in for its attack.

    <i>They¡¯re relentless.</i> Vash thought, sweat soaking his brow as he blocked and attacked over and over again. No matter the damage inflicted, the bones would simply reassemble into a full skeleton, pick up a weapon, and go back on the attack. <i>They¡¯ll just wear us down. It¡¯s a losing battle.</i>

    Vash risked a glance back at Zakarias. The scholar watched avidly, making no move to assist them.

    "Any bright ideas?" he called.

    Zakarias raised one thin eyebrow. "I¡¯m just an academic, not an adventurer. You seem to have it handled."

    Vash bit back a retort as another skeleton attacked. He blocked its blow, then kicked it in the chest, sending it sprawling. The skeleton rotated its head and torso, then its hips and legs. Within a heartbeat, the skeleton was back on its feet and turning to return to the fight.

    <i>There has to be a way to stop them permanently. Some weakness to exploit.</i> Vash''s mind raced even as his body reacted on instinct - ducking, slashing, always moving.

    <i>What do I know about animated dead? </i>Vash thought. <i>C¡¯mon, think, you listened to all those adventurer¡¯s tales about facing creatures from the Silent King¡¯s army, the army of undead.</i>

    He needed to destroy or disrupt something that fueled their movement.

    A skeleton slapped Vash''s arm aside and darted in. It bit into Vash''s shoulder, teeth sinking into the leather, jaws clamping shut. Vash cried out in pain, stumbling back and falling beneath the skeleton. He felt a warm trickle of blood flowing down his chest, the skeleton''s jaws moving inexorably closed.

    Jabez''s hammer shattered a skeleton''s ribs. He kicked the pieces apart, scattering them, moving to help Vash. Two more skeletons moved up, grabbing at Jabez''s arms and face.

    Vash pushed against the skeleton, trying to force it up and off of him, but it held on tight, jaws working as it bit down harder, eyes glowing a dispassionate orange.

    <i>Glowing eyes.</i> Vash thought. <i>Just like the glowing mouths of the golems back at the Wayfarer¡¯s Lodge in Sathsholm.</i>

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    Vash brought the hilt of his dagger down in an awkward strike against the side of the skeleton''s skull. It did little damage, but there was a slight flickering in the skeleton''s eye glow. With an effort, Vash smashed the dagger into the skull, a spiderweb of cracks forming at the temple and several pieces falling away. The strength of the skeleton''s bite immediately lessened and its grip was weaker. Vash struck again, obliterating the skull and releasing a puff of orange light and vapor. For a moment, the light hung in the air like motes of dust in a sunbeam. Then it coalesced into a tiny bead of light and roiling vapor before surging towards the shattered bones.

    A tug on Vash¡¯s core pulled his attention upwards. Not all the light and energy from the skeleton had returned to the bones. Some were drifting upwards towards a carving just above the archway. It had the same spiky lettering as the rest of the carvings. Vash couldn¡¯t read it, but he could see that residual orange energy gathering around the runes. His Core thrummed at the sight, and Vash knew what he had to do.

    "Smash the skulls. It slows them down!" Vash called, bringing his short sword down on the reforming skull of the skeleton at his feet.

    Jabez roared a dwarfish war cry and tackled the two skeletons clinging to him, smashing them to the ground. The bones started trying to put themselves back together. Jabez grabbed the skulls and slammed them together, bones shattering like eggshells. Glowing, orange vapor escaped between Jabez''s fingers and the bones clattered to the ground.

    Wisps of orange light escaped from the tiny knot of energy and drifted up to the carving above the archway.

    ¡°Hold them off. I¡¯ve got an idea.¡± Vash said, getting to his feet.

    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Jabez asked, kicking the piles of bones down the hallway, making it harder for the skeletons to reform.

    ¡°Disarming the trap.¡± Vash said, sheathing his weapons and leaping at the nearest pillar. The rough stonework gave good traction, but still Vash pulled up Enhance Ability to lend strength and agility to his climb. He added the recursion loop that he¡¯d seen in the <i>Gideon¡¯s Guide</i> margin notes and felt a much smaller pull on his Core. Warmth flooded his limbs, and he began scaling the pillar with the telltale fluid grace of someone using a Talent.

    A warning pulse from Vash¡¯s Core made him look up. A skeleton down towards the end of the corridor was lifting a crossbow. The weapon, though old, pointed directly at him and seemed to be in working condition.

    He was about to shout for help, but Jabez rushed to the archway, lifting his hammer in a high, overhand arc. Vash felt a great pull of mana centered on Jabez and his raised hammer. Blue light traced the runes and designs that Vash hadn¡¯t seen before on the dull gray head of the hammer. Jabez himself seemed to glow slightly from the amount of mana he was pulling.

    The skeletons in the corridor hesitated, as though confused by the sudden surge of mana ahead of them.

    <i>¡°Baldniruuk!¡±</i> Jabez shouted, voice taking on the strange echoing tone of spellwork. He brought the hammer down in a quick, overhand strike, hitting the floor and shattering the flagstone at his feet.

    <strike></strike>A wave of force rolled out from the dwarf¡¯s strike and barreled down the corridor.

    The wave of magical force engulfed the skeletons. As it hit each one, they flew apart like a battering ram had struck them. Bones shattered into chips or strewn about haphazardly.

    There was silence for a moment except for Jabez breathing heavily. The dwarf looked up at Vash. He was pale and ashen. Whatever he¡¯d done with that hammer had taken a lot out of him. Jabez scowled, ¡°Get moving! That won¡¯t hold them for long, but it buys you some time.¡±

    Jabez moved across the room to join Corwin at the opposite archway. Corwin¡¯s face was slick with sweat and Vash could tell that his sword was getting heavy. A clattering noise from the exit corridor told Vash that the shattered skeletons were already trying to reform.

    <i>Get moving!</i> Vash berated himself, ignoring the pain in his shoulder as he climbed.

    A vibration came from Vash¡¯s Wayfarer medallion. Cool energy swept through him and he felt suddenly reinvigorated. The sharp pain in his shoulder faded to a dull ache, and he could concentrate on what he was doing.

    Vash clambered up the pillar with surprising speed. At the top, near where the pillar met the ceiling, Vash braced himself between the pillar and the curved wall of the chamber. He wobbled for a moment, feeling the stones shift slightly in the pillar. He hoped it would hold long enough to do what he needed to.

    Sharpening his vision, Vash studied the carvings and runes. He concentrated and his vision narrowed to a sharp point, roving over the various symbols. <i>I don¡¯t want to screw this up and make it worse.</i>

    The orange motes of mana floated around the symbols on the carving, seemingly at random. To Vash¡¯s surprise, they moved in a definite pattern.

    <i>Wait, is that a recursion loop?</i>

    The technique he had learned from the margin notes in his Gideon¡¯s Guide was a method for directing mana back through a central point when initiating a Talent. This meant the energy stayed in the loop and could be collected back into the Core, rather than dissipating back into ambient mana. It was a more efficient way of working with mana and, apparently, a fundamental part of beginning spellwork for mages.

    It was also tricky to disrupt. Doing it wrong could create a feedback that would release the energy in a sudden rush of explosive power. Like throwing lamp oil on a fire, it could blow up in your face. Vash licked his lips and studied the pattern intently, trying to ignore the scraping of bone in the corridor below him.

    A surge of power flowed through the mana pattern in the carving.

    Vash blinked, <i>It¡¯s speeding up.</i>

    He looked down towards the entry corridor. Corwin and Jabez were mowing down skeletons with speed and precision. More motes of mana floated into the air and flew towards the carving.

    <i>Striking down the skeletons is speeding up the process.</i> Vash thought, turning back to the carving. <i>Need to find the fulcrum, I can disrupt the mana flow from there.</i>

    ¡°Whatever you¡¯re going to do, Vash, do it quick!¡± Corwin shouted.

    Don¡¯t think about them. Vash thought. Focus on the pattern, find the fulcrum and the pattern collapses.

    He followed the nodes, but the speed of the roiling motes of power and how quickly they were being absorbed into the larger construct made it harder to find the pattern.

    A scraping sound came from the pillar beneath his foot.

    Vash looked down to see a partially formed skeleton reaching up for his boot. It was crawling up the pillar, digging its finger bones into the crumbling stone. Legs were forming behind it. In a moment, it could stand and grab for his leg.

    <i>Now or never.</i> Vash thought.

    Drawing his dagger, Vash slashed through a rune that he felt confident formed the fulcrum of the construct. The dagger cut through the rune, marring its shape, and there was a sudden rush of energy. A bright yellow light blossomed from the cut.

    ¡°Dammit.¡± Vash cursed and did the only thing he could think of. He dropped.

    Vash fell straight down onto the still-forming skeletal warrior, just before the carving cracked and exploded outwards in a flash of light and a cloud of stone fragments.

    He hit the ground hard, shattering the bones of the skeleton beneath him and knocking the wind out of himself. The world spun and his ears rang.

    Shaking his head, Vash groggily rose to his knees, fumbling for his sword before the skeleton reformed.

    The bones didn¡¯t move.

    Vash looked up. In the corridor beyond, the skeletons collapsed into heaps of mis-matched bone. The lights had gone out in their eyes and the bones fell apart into chips and splinters.

    Vash sagged back against the pillar, chest heaving and head swimming. Corwin whooped from the other side of the chamber. Jabez and Corwin were standing in a pile of bone chips. Dust coated their faces and clothes. Corwin had a long trickle of blood that ran down one side of his face where he¡¯d taken a scratch from a weapon or a skeletal finger. Jabez looked ashen, exhausted. Though none of the skeletons had breached his armor.

    They''d won, though it had been closer than Vash liked. A small smile crept across Vash¡¯s face, and he let himself savor the victory for a moment.

    Zakarias and his servants appeared behind Jabez, lining up as though waiting in line at a food cart.

    "Well fought," the scholar said mildly. "Shall we continue?"

    Feeling the burning rage welling up inside him, Vash opened his mouth to snarl about useless scholars, but Jabez cut in before he could get a word out. ¡°Yes, I believe the quicker we get this done, the better.¡±

    Vash swallowed his anger, and he staggered to his feet. This quest was getting worse by the moment. But if he wanted to keep his head on his shoulders, Vash needed to complete it.

    <i>Deal with this pompous prick later</i>. Vash thought, wiping the sweat from his brow. <i>I just hope that¡¯s the last surprise this place has to offer.</i>

 Episode 20: Quick and Quiet

    The tunnel ended in a crumbling wooden door. A group of skeletons lay clustered around it, all looking like they were trying desperately to open the door. Scratches and gouges from panicked hands showed even after, likely, hundreds of years.

    <i>They died trying to escape.</i> Vash thought, looking at the skeletal remains. <i>What happened here?</i>

    ¡°More people trying to get away from something.¡± Jabez mused, nudging a thigh bone. ¡°And dying before they can reach safety. Any insights here, <i>scholar</i>?¡±

    Jabez didn¡¯t even try to hide the scorn in his voice.

    ¡°Before the Grand Temple unified the Malconian Pantheon, it was quite dangerous dealing with various petty gods.¡± Zakarias said in the same calm, unperturbed tone that he always used. ¡°Who knows what these poor souls conjured up? Dark god? Demon servant of the shadow?¡±

    ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem like a lot of damage.¡± Corwin said. ¡°Whatever it was, it didn¡¯t smash through walls or anything.¡±

    Zakarias clicked his tongue impatiently. ¡°Come now, except for a few traps and some vermin, I have seen nothing to warrant this level of caution.¡±

    <i>Easy for him to say.</i> Vash thought. <i>He didn¡¯t have to fight the ¡®vermin¡¯ or figure out the traps.</i>

    ¡°Can we keep moving?¡± Zakarias said, thin face betraying his annoyance.

    Jabez gave Zakarias a dark look, but he soon turned to Vash. ¡°Do your thing, son.¡±

    <i>And now dangerous doors are ¡®my thing¡¯.</i> Vash thought, but he approached the door cautiously. Passing his hand over the chipped and crumbling wood of the door, Vash didn¡¯t feel any warnings from his Core. That didn¡¯t mean that there was no danger on the other side of the door, just that the door itself would not hurt or kill them. Next, he investigated the door¡¯s lock and handle. Again, no warnings. But looking, Vash saw heavy corrosion on the door¡¯s lock.

    Vash, before doing any further work, tried simply to open the door. As expected, the door was locked and did not budge. ¡°Locked, but I don¡¯t sense any traps.¡±

    ¡°Well, pick the lock and let¡¯s get going.¡± Zakarias said, his patience obviously wearing thin. The scholar¡¯s thin, skeletal face looked even more gaunt in the pale yellow light of the alchemical lamps. Zakarias¡¯ bulging eyes had an eager, manic look.

    <i>We must be getting closer to what he¡¯s looking for</i>. Vash thought. The scholar was stubbornly keeping information from the Wayfarers, but he didn¡¯t have a gambler¡¯s face, wearing many of his emotions on his sleeve.

    Meanwhile, Zakarias¡¯ assistants remained impassive, carrying their heavy chests without effort or complaint. Vash would pay his last couple silver to know what their role was in all of this.

    <i>I¡¯d wager they¡¯re not just here to carry things</i>.

    ¡°The lock¡¯s heavily corroded.¡± Vash explained. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯ll be able to get the clockwork to work properly.¡±

    Zakarias¡¯ lip twitched in irritation. ¡°Well then, I believe these two ¡ª ¡± He gestured to Jabez and Corwin  ¡° ¡ª are more than capable of smashing the door down.¡±

    ¡°Capable, yes, willing is another story.¡± Corwin said, fingers flexing on the grip of his sword.

    ¡°Smashing the door would alert anything in the area.¡± Jabez explained. ¡°It would give them plenty of time to get ready for us.¡±

    ¡°Might as well ring a dinner bell.¡± Corwin said.

    "Yes, yes, I''m sure there''s great peril ahead," Zakarias said dismissively, ¡°but your mission is to get me a complete survey of the ruin. So, we press on, yes?¡±

    Jabez looked like he wanted to hit something, but he controlled his temper. ¡°Vash, give the lock a try.¡±

    ¡°All right, but no promises.¡± Vash said, reaching for the roll of thieves¡¯ tools in the pouch on his belt.

    Vash knelt in front of the lock, unrolling his tools on his knee. He selected a pair of picks and lightly inserted them into the lock. Rust flaked off as the picks scraped against the sides. Vash could feel things falling apart or going soft beneath the prongs of his picks. From what he could feel, the mechanism was a real mess inside. The tumblers felt either rusted into place or had fallen apart years before. There also seemed to be some intentional damage, likely whatever had locked the door in the first place had sabotaged the lock to make it so that no one could get past the door.

    That explains the cluster of bodies here. Vash thought while he probed and manipulated within the lock. It¡¯s strange to have two groups fleeing in opposite directions.

    The damage to the lock prevented picking it by normal means. Just a few moments of probing told Vash that, so he would have to try one of the new Talents he¡¯d studied in the <i>Gideon¡¯s Guide</i>.

    <i>Open Locks</i> was a simple Talent when viewed from the outside, but it increased with difficulty and complexity along with the locks it was intended to open. With this particular lock, it could be tricky, since many parts had crumbled apart, but it was worth a try.

    Vash let his consciousness sink into his Core, constructing the basic formula for the Talent. Mana trickled into the construct, stabilizing itself and forming a bridge between Vash¡¯s abilities and the magical enhancement. He twisted the picks, but the construct was too weak. The construct began to destabilize, and Vash could feel his hold on the lock fading. He pushed more mana into the construct and added a second layer. Gears ground and rust fell from the keyhole as the Talent took hold. Slowly, carefully, Vash turned the picks and felt the bolt retract.

    The door shuddered slightly as the lock gave way. Vash released the Talent, feeling the mana dissipate. ¡°Got it.¡±

    ¡°Good work!¡± Corwin said. Vash didn¡¯t even have to turn to see the man¡¯s encouraging smile.

    Vash shifted uncomfortably and put away his tools. ¡°All right, don¡¯t celebrate yet. I just opened a stupid lock.¡±

    He grabbed hold of the door handle and pulled. For a moment the rusted hinges resisted, keeping the door shut tight. Vash put some more effort into it. The hinges squealed as the door came open, making Vash grimace at the noise, but nothing else happened.

    Beyond the doorway was a large hall, easily twice the size of the entrance hall. Small patches of glowmoss grew here and there within the hall, giving dim illumination to stone walls covered in decorative friezes. Large octagonal columns stood at regular intervals and disappeared into the dark recesses of the ceiling. At the far end of the hall, a staircase descended into the earth. Glowmoss clustered in large patches all around the stairs, illuminating them far more than other areas of the hall.

    Vash took a step forward, but froze when he felt a tremor from his Core. ¡°Wait, something¡¯s not right.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?¡± Zakarias asked, exasperated, stepping forward to join Vash.

    Jabez put a hand out, blocking the scholar¡¯s advance. ¡°Hold up. If the boy senses something, it¡¯s worth taking a moment.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve taken more than a few moments since coming down here.¡± Zacharias said angrily. ¡°I¡¯m tired of being impeded in my work.¡±

    ¡°Aye, and we¡¯ve been lucky to survive those ¡®moments¡¯. A bit of vigilance could save our skins,¡± Jabez rumbled. He turned and pointed at the glowing patches in the room beyond. ¡°That¡¯s glowmoss out there. It only grows in the Underlands. If it¡¯s in there, then the Underlands have broken through into this temple, dungeon, or whatever this place is.¡±

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Zakarias'' eyes narrowed as he looked down at Jabez, a sneer of contempt on his face, but he held his tongue.

    Jabez turned back to Vash. ¡°Go ahead lad, see what you can find.¡±

    Vash peered into the gloom of the hall, straining his senses. The unease in his Core continued to build, like a twisted knot just beneath his heart.

    <i>This place feels wrong somehow. Too still, too quiet.</i>

    Concentrating, Vash adjusted his eyes for the dark. The light, to his eyes, bloomed brighter and details became visible. He could see the columns stretching up to a high vaulted ceiling. At the top of the columns, thick strands of spider silk crisscrossed from one to another. The webs formed a tangled maze that spanned nearly the entire hall.

    <i>What the hell are those?</i> Vash thought, squinting at masses of spider-silk in the webs. Nearly lost amidst the webbing, several bulbous shapes hung suspended.

    Vash felt a wave of revulsion. <i>Egg sacks. Dozens of them.</i>

    A flicker of movement drew his gaze. One of the Hollowmound spiders skittered along a web strand, its dark carapace blending with the shadows. Vash''s skin crawled at the sight of the bloated, hairy arachnid. The hound-sized creature moved with surprising speed. Its mandibles clicked together as it surveyed the room below with a multitude of glistening black eyes.

    Once he saw one, Vash could pick out the others. They clung to walls and columns, crouched in webs, or tended to the egg sacks. None seemed aware of Vash¡¯s presence.

    <i>That could change quickly, though.</i>

    Vash stepped back, not wanting to get spotted. "Spiders," he murmured. "The ceiling''s covered in webs and egg sacks. At least a dozen spiders that I can see."

    Corwin tensed. "More Hollowmounds."

    ¡°They look like the ones we fought before.¡± Vash nodded.

    Zakarias heaved an annoyed sigh. "Yes, yes, more dreadful monsters. But they''re up there, and we''re down here. Let''s keep moving."

    He tried to push past Vash into the hall. Bringing up an arm, Vash blocked his way.

    "No, there¡¯s too many. Those spiders spot us and they¡¯ll overwhelm us easily."

    Zakarias gave Vash a haughty stare. Behind him, his two servants swiveled their gaze to Vash in an oddly synchronous manner. Their expressions didn''t change, but their body language suggested they were a hair''s breadth away from violence.

    Jabez looked beyond them, squinting into the dark. "I don''t like it. Twelve spiders, we can see. Egg sacks, all over, but those are just workers."

    "You sure about that?" Corwin asked.

    "If you''d seen a Hollowmound Warrior, you would know," Jabez grumbled. "We didn''t come geared up for an extended monster fight."

    "What are you saying, dwarf?" Zakarias asked, his voice kept carefully neutral.

    "I''m saying we should go back to town and load up on some supplies. Maybe hire one or two more swords. Then we come back and tackle your dungeon," Jabez said. "Shouldn''t put us back more than a few days."

    "No." Zakarias said. "That is unacceptable."

    "Why?" Jabez asked. "We on some sort of timetable?"

    Zakarias bristled, but kept his features neutral. "In a sense. I am in competition with several other scholars who were not far behind me."

    "Why not work together?" Corwin shrugged. "You''d still map out the dungeon, and it would be much safer."

    "You have obviously never worked in academia." Zakarias said without turning to look at Corwin. "I need to get to the central chamber of this ruin. It is of the utmost importance. If you can''t do that¡­then I suppose I have no choice but to rescind my contract and report you to the Duke."

    Jabez frowned. "This is really damn sketchy."

    Zakarias gave him a smile that didn''t reach his eyes. "That''s not my concern, Master dwarf."

    Vash felt a sudden wash of cold dread. Rescinding the quest would also revoke his reprieve from the headsman. The Inquisitors would drag him back in chains. If he was lucky, then he would go straight to the chopping block. If he wasn¡¯t, then he''d live out the last few days of his life in the water cells in unimaginable agony.

    ¡°Then we don¡¯t have much of a choice, do we?¡± Jabez said in a tight growl.

    ¡°There is always a choice.¡± Zakarias said, magnanimously.

    Jabez scowled and turned back to the doorway. "Vash, can you see what the spiders are doing out there? My darkvision isn¡¯t what it used to be."

    "I can take a look," Vash said, ducking his head out and scanning the room quickly. "There''s five that I can see that are just hanging in the webs. One is moving about, but not quickly. It''s on the far side of the chamber and looks like it''s keeping near the eggs. The rest appear to be fairly high up, near the tops of the columns or on the ceiling."

    "Hollowmound Spiders spend a lot of time resting, conserving energy, especially when eggs are about to hatch. As long as we don''t disturb the web, they likely won''t even know we''re here." Jabez gave Vash a questioning look. "Think you can guide us through, quiet as a mouse, avoid disturbing them?"

    Vash considered the distance across the hall to the glowmoss-lined staircase. Moving slowly, they could skirt the room by sticking close to the walls. The spiders seemed all grouped in their nests for now.

    He nodded. "Yeah, I can get us past them. But no sudden moves or noise."

    Jabez nodded. "Right then. You lead, we''ll follow. No lights, quick and quiet."

    ¡°How are we to follow him if we can¡¯t see him?¡± Zakarias asked.

    ¡°<i>Detect Mana?</i>¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°Easiest way to keep track of one another in a dungeon.¡± Jabez said. ¡°Vash, Corwin, let¡¯s do this.¡±

    A moment later, Vash felt the telltale thrum in his Core of a Talent being activated, then another. Vash summoned the pattern for <i>Detect Mana</i> to his mind. It was a simple, and familiar, Talent and took no effort to activate. As soon as he did, Vash felt tremors in the flow of magic coming from Jabez and Corwin. Now, without seeing them, he could tell where they were, and if they were moving.

    Corwin and Jabez tucked their glowmoss elixirs into their pouches, dousing the light. Zakarias nodded to his servants, who closed the shutters on their lanterns. The only light visible now was the glowmoss inside the chamber up ahead.

    Vash concentrated and formed his <i>Enhance Ability</i> Talent in his mind. It was getting almost as easy as breathing now, and with the new recursion loop, he barely felt like he used any mana. His limbs felt light, nimble, and any lingering fatigue vanished. ¡°Keep close, remember to keep quiet and move as quick as you can.¡±

    He didn¡¯t wait for any acknowledgement, moving on silent feet into the large chamber. Even with his darkvision activated, Vash could barely make out basic details of the room. Everything looked washed in the pale blue light of the glowmoss, giving the place a cold, sickly feel.

    Vash ranged ahead, careful to avoid the strands of webbing that ran from the bigger webs to anchor points on the floor. The strands were barely thicker than a length of twine. They stretched, taut, to the large sheets of crisscrossed webs closer to the ceiling, gravid with egg sacs and their attendants.

    After making it past the first two columns, Vash paused and studied the nearby webs for any reactions from the spiders. Most of the spiders stayed where they were or crawled over the egg sacs. One or two were moving through the webs, but not towards Vash.

    <i>All right, passed the first test</i>. Vash thought, then waved at the others to follow him.

    The rest of the group traveled in a ragged line, with Corwin at the front and Jabez bringing up the rear. From their body language, Vash could tell that Zakarias was not taking this well, or seriously. <i>You don¡¯t have to like it, just do it, you skeletal freak.</i>

    Vash turned back, steeling himself for the next section¡­and froze.

    The spider that was slowly lowering itself from the webs above was easily three times the size of the others, dark brown with yellow stripes along the back of its body. Its legs were far longer than the regular workers and the front pair were as thick around as Corwin¡¯s arms. Sharp, chitinous serrations lined the back of these oversized legs and it held them daintily up in front of it, like a noblewoman holding her skirts above a muddy puddle.

    <i>I guess I know what a Hollowmound Warrior looks like now.</i> Vash thought, swallowing hard and holding as still as possible. <i>It hasn¡¯t attacked. Maybe it hasn¡¯t seen us?</i>

    T

    he creature landed with surprising dexterity on the flagstones. Long legs reaching out to feel its way down before letting out the last few feet of silk. It carefully kept one leg on the nearest web strand, shifting the leg now and then like it was trying to feel for something.

    The vibrations in the webs. Vash had heard that spiders knew they had trapped prey when they felt the vibrations of struggling insects through the strands of their webs. The warrior swayed first to the left, then to the right. Vash could see the bulbous head lifted in the air, mandibles working.

    <i>Tasting the air like a snake.</i>

    Wishing he¡¯d had the opportunity to look into dungeon denizens like Hollowmounds, Vash remained still, but gestured behind him for everyone to stop. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Corwin halt about a dozen paces behind him. Vash couldn¡¯t make out any faces, even with his darkvision, but he could see Corwin¡¯s body language become tense and uncertain. Behind Corwin, Zakarias and his servants almost ran into the big man.

    Vash shook his head in irritation. If he was a Dark Wizard instead of a damn irritating scholar, then he¡¯d be able to cast <i>Detect Magic</i> too, and we wouldn¡¯t be fumbling around with three blind men.

    Zakarias hissed a question to Corwin in a low whisper. Vash couldn¡¯t make out the words, but he could still hear the tone, angry and indignant. Wincing at the sound, Vash looked back at the Hollowmound warrior. It paused and turned towards where Corwin and Zakarias stood. The spider made a strange clicking, chittering sound.

    Motion in the webs above, Vash looked up and saw the workers moving purposefully through the complicated web. The spiders approached the patches of glowmoss and began rubbing their abdomens with their forelegs, then transferring whatever was there to the moss in front of them.

    <i>What the hell are they doing?</i> Vash thought, looking back at the warrior. The large spider was taking slow, deliberate steps away from the web, head lifted and mandibles working feverishly.

    Light bloomed, still the blue color of glowmoss but definitely brighter. Vash looked up at the workers. Whatever they were spreading on the glowmoss patches was causing them to glow brighter. The shadows faded.

    The Hollowmound warrior slowly turned, facing Vash. Its beady black eyes fixed on him, while its mandibles emitted a rhythmic clicking sound.

    More movement from above. Hollowmound warriors descended on their own strands of silk, all echoing the clicking of the one on the ground.

    <i>It sounds like a war chant</i>. Vash thought.

    The warrior finished its turn and faced Vash head on. It hit its forelegs together twice, making a loud, hollow sound. A challenge.

    <i>So much for quick and quiet.</i> Vash thought, reaching for his weapons.

 Episode 21: Simple Mistakes, Deadly Consequences

    The attack came so quickly that Vash barely felt the warning pulse from his Core. Already backing up, away from the Hollowmound Warrior, Vash barely avoided the scythe-like claw of the giant spider. A long slice opened up the belly of his leather armor, only grazing the flesh underneath. Wayfarer medallion pulsing, numbing the pain, Vash turned his backward stumble into a backward roll, getting some distance between himself and the warrior spider.

    ¡°They know we¡¯re here!¡± Vash called, drawing his blades and immediately falling into the <i>toin¡¯sur</i> stance.

    A chorus of hisses, clicks, and thumps of chitin went up along the previously silent webs. Vash¡¯s enhanced vision picked out other warriors emerging from alcoves along the walls where they rested in the shadows. The workers tending the egg sacs either clustered protectively around their charges or descended to lower webs, legs working their spinnerets to make clumps of webbing.

    <i>The workers will pin us down and the warriors will come in for the kill</i>. Vash thought, but could not consider the situation further, since that was when the warrior in front of him charged.

    Low to the ground, fighting arms wide, the warrior scuttled forward with ground-eating strides from its long legs. Its large, bladed arms spread wide to prevent Vash from dodging.

    Vash was prepared for that. At the warning pulse from his Core, Vash leaped into the air, pushing mana into <i>Enhance Ability</i> to give him extra height and speed. Fast slashes from the spider passed a bare span beneath his feet, cutting through the air where his legs had been a moment before.

    <i>Disabling attacks</i>. Vash thought. <i>Not killing blows, they want to keep us for later</i>.

    The memory of the skeletons hanging in the alcoves in the first room, webbed up and desiccated, came to the front of his mind. The egg sacs in the webs above, heavy with ready-to-hatch eggs, also sprang to mind.

    <i>This could go very badly.</i>

    He came down hard, landing with one boot outstretched to smash into the warrior¡¯s head, aiming for the eyes. The warrior dodged to one side at the last moment. Vash scraped the side of its head, scraping over one of the smaller eyes. He felt the wet pop of the eye bursting beneath his heel.

    The spider hissed in pain, jerking back. Vash stumbled, but righted himself quickly. Light bloomed behind him and he risked a look back.

    Zakarias and his servants removed the shutters from their lanterns, pushing back the shadows and letting everyone see what they were up against. Corwin and Jabez shook their glowmoss elixirs and tossed them out beyond the lamplight, making pools of light in the darkness.

    ¡°Vash!¡± Corwin called. He and Jabez taking up positions on either side of the scholar¡¯s party. ¡°Don¡¯t get separated!¡±

    Nodding, Vash took a step back. His Core immediately screamed a warning and Vash threw himself in the opposite direction. Balls of webbing struck the floor behind him, spreading out in wide circles before drying into solid strands. Vash glanced up, spotting two worker spiders in the webbing above. The workers were each already crafting another ball of webbing, mandibles clicking in excitement.

    More workers were descending, finding strategic points around the hall, trying to box in the intruders. Hisses and clicks drew Vash¡¯s attention. The warrior had shaken off the worst of the damage done to it, and was now carefully circling to one side. Movement to Vash¡¯s left, and a second warrior stepped out of the shadows, moving in careful sync with the one Vash had already wounded.

    ¡°They¡¯re cutting me off!¡± Vash called, trying to keep both warriors in front of him while simultaneously stay out of the range of fire of the workers above.

    ¡°Hang on!¡± Jabez said. ¡°We¡¯ll come to you!¡±

    Behind him, Vash could hear the grunts and shouts as Jabez and Corwin went to work. The crushed-eggshell sound of spider carapaces cracking coupled with the clicking screeches of pain.

    <i>Focus on what¡¯s right in front of you.</i> Vash could almost hear Byar¡¯s words, remembering being pitted against three other skilled Eth Mitaan in sparring sessions. <i>You will always be outnumbered. Focus on one opponent at a time, remove that opponent. Do that enough and you will no longer be outnumbered.</i>

    Vash chose the wounded warrior as his first opponent. The spider was already down an eye, and having taken some pain from him might make it slightly more skittish. It had maneuvered next to a column outside of the ring of pale yellow light from Zakarias¡¯ lanterns.

    <i>That should work.</i>

    Without hesitation, Vash sprinted forward. <i>Enhance Ability</i> giving him surprising speed. The other spiders had no chance to react, as they were focused on their own trap. Reaching the edge of the pool of light, Vash brought up <i>Shadowmeld</i>. Colors faded and an icy chill ran through him. Time seemed to slow, his muffled footsteps sounding hollow and far away.

    The wounded warrior brought its legs in and backed up a pace in surprise, turning its head from side to side, trying to see where Vash had gone. Vash changed course, moving to one side and springing off the ground to reach the column next to his target. <i>Enhance Ability</i> pulled more mana, giving him the strength and agility needed to reach the column. Then, once his foot struck the stone surface, he pushed off, twisting through the air directly over where the warrior crouched.

    Sound and color erupted into Vash¡¯s world as he released <i>Shadowmeld</i> and activated <i>Sneak Attack</i>. The small sword in his right hand lanced out for the vulnerable joint where the spider¡¯s head met its body. Greenish-white ichor flowed out of the wound as the sword struck home. Vash plunged the blade all the way to the hilt into what his Core was telling him was a vital spot. With his other hand, Vash wrapped his arm around the spider¡¯s head, drove the dagger into the same joint on the opposite side of the head. With a grunt of effort, Vash twisted both weapons in opposite directions.

    The warrior spider¡¯s head popped off in a gush of ichor and strange-looking innards. The spider shuddered, its legs curling in on itself in its death throes. Vash leaped from the creature¡¯s back, narrowly missing being hit by the webbing of workers who now could see where he was.

    Vash dodged to one side, his Core thrumming a warning. The surviving warrior brought its scythe-claws down in a deadly, stabbing motion. The chitin struck sparks from the stone floor and left foot-long gouges behind. Hissing in frustration, the spider sidestepped to bring Vash back into its line of attack. More globs of webbing rained down from above, forcing Vash to bob and weave to avoid losing movement in one or more limbs. The warrior spider warily closed the distance and tested Vash¡¯s response with feints and sudden slashes with its scythe-claws.

    The feints were easy to avoid. The familiar thrumming of his Core meant Vash had a heartbeat or two to respond before the spider could actually attack. Behind him, Vash could feel Corwin and Jabez moving but being blocked by other faint mana-shapes. Likely more Hollowmound warriors from different parts of the chamber. Their low mana capacity made them difficult to track using <i>Detect Mana</i>, and his danger sense would not go off until an attack. Vash batted away a sweeping slice from the warrior in front of him. The attack was a test, so it was easy to sense and deflect.

    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    <i>It¡¯s working up to something.</i> Vash thought, taking another step back toward Corwin and Jabez. <i>I can¡¯t tell what ¡ª.</i>

    Vash¡¯s Core raised an alarm immediately as he took that last step. A sound of tearing webbing and the sudden presence of another large figure were all the warning Vash had. He was shoved roughly to the ground as a massive creature landed on his back. The impact with the flagstones knocked Vash¡¯s breath out of him, and he lost his grip. The small sword flew from his hand and skittered across the stone floor. He held on to the dagger only because the fall had left the weapon trapped underneath him.

    Instinctively, Vash pushed up against the ground, trying to get back onto his feet, but several hundred pounds of hard chitin and hissing fury held him pinned. Vash reached out for his sword, lying a few feet away, but a scythe-claw came down on his shoulder. One serrated extrusion punched through his armor at the shoulder. Vash screamed as pain exploded and he felt a warm wetness blossom on his under tunic. Immediately his Wayfarer medallion spread a cooling numbness to his shoulder, trying to dull the pain. It was only somewhat successful. Vash writhed beneath the spider¡¯s claw, trying not to do any more damage to himself, while also desperately working to get loose.

    The spider ground down on Vash, mandibles clicking. It pulled him backwards along the floor, leaving a trail of blood. The first warrior followed, but the one holding Vash reacted with a lunge and a hiss, and the warrior slowed, looking indecisive about whether Vash was worth the fight.

    Several <i>thuds</i> nearby announced the smaller workers dropping from the webs above. Two immediately darted to Vash¡¯s legs, and he felt them encase him in their webbing. Vash kicked out, trying to free himself, but he couldn¡¯t get the right leverage and soon his ankles were bound in webbing.

    <i>I need to do something soon.</i> Vash thought, desperately. <i>Or I¡¯m not going to make it.</i>

    He painfully wriggled himself until he could get his dagger out from under his body. It was a long dagger, but wouldn¡¯t do a great deal of damage against the warrior holding him without precision attacks. Hopefully, he could do enough damage for it to back off, though.

    The workers had made it to his knees, and the warrior continued to drag him backwards. He felt the lip of some sort of pit or hole in the ground.

    <i>It was hiding in the ground!</i> Vash thought. <i>Sneaky bastard!</i>

    Vash grunted and stabbed upward with his dagger. The first few strikes thunked against the spider¡¯s carapace, doing little beyond scratching the black and yellow body. The warrior seemed unconcerned, continuing to drag Vash slowly back into its hole.

    Taking a deep breath, Vash focused. Craning his neck, he looked up at the bottom of the warrior above him. He could see the small head and clicking mandibles just above his own head. Focusing on his target, Vash pulled on his Core. He didn¡¯t have a Talent in mind, just needed the extra boost from the mana stored there.

    A rush of mana flowed into him, further numbing the pain from his wound and lending strength to his body. Vash pushed up against the floor, driving the spider¡¯s weapon leg up. There was a fresh bloom of pain as the scythe-claw slid and tore further into the meat of Vash¡¯s shoulder. Vash ignored it, focused on this one chance.

    Vash brought his dagger up in a wide arc, stabbing deep into the head of the spider. He felt the thinner chitin give beneath the force of his blade, pale green spider blood dripping down his hand and arm. The spider made a hissing shriek, immediately pushing back away from the source of its pain. Vash lost his grip on the dagger, but the spider also pulled its scythe-claw free from the wound in Vash¡¯s shoulder.

    Rolling to one side, Vash suddenly found himself in the clear. The warrior spider had stumbled back into its hole, Vash¡¯s dagger protruding from one side of its face. He had stabbed through two eyes and a mandible hung halfway off the creature¡¯s face. It shook its head in anger and pain.

    As soon as the warrior had shrieked, the worker spiders scattered. Some were already climbing back up the webs, but all had moved well out of range of the thrashing warrior. Vash was alone in an empty space, conveniently close to where his short sword had landed. He grabbed the hilt of the blade and quickly sliced at the webs binding his legs together. The webs parted easily under his sword. Within moments, he was free.

    Struggling to his feet, Vash took a blow to the chest that knocked him back several feet. He managed to stay upright and keep hold of his sword. The warrior that he had faced earlier advanced out of the shadows. It had struck him a glancing blow from one of its scythe-claws and was now preparing to leap onto him for the kill.

    The spider had reared back, legs curled and ready to spring, when a large sword sliced its head off. The spider thrashed wildly, but Corwin stepped out of the way and gave it a savage kick, sending it rolling off to one side.

    Workers launched themselves at the big warrior, but he sidestepped each attack and hacked through their bodies with savage precision. Behind Corwin was Jabez. The dwarf charged the warrior that Vash wounded, spinning on his heel and delivering a powerful blow with his war-hammer. The warrior¡¯s body cracked, green blood oozing from multiple rents in the creature¡¯s carapace. Jabez grabbed Vash¡¯s dagger from the slumping spider, then turned to the group.

    ¡°Move! More are coming!¡±

    Vash looked up. Jabez was right. Above them there was rampant activity in the webs. Workers were rapidly descending from the shadows. Motion closer to ground level caught Vash¡¯s attention. Holes in the floor covered by detritus and webbing moved aside and more warriors crawled out of them, sluggishly at first, but rapidly shaking off their stupor.

    Zakarias and his servants jogged past Vash, forming up behind Jabez and Corwin. In passing, Vash glimpsed Zakarias grinning like a child at the circus.

    <i>What the hell is his problem?</i> Vash thought, hurrying to catch up as well.

    A worker leaped out of the webs towards Vash, cutting off his thoughts. Vash whirled and sliced through the spider. An awkward attack, but it got the job done, lopping off three of the spider¡¯s legs. The creature landed and flopped on the ground, unable to right itself and leaking blood all over the floor.

    In a tight knot, the Wayfarers and the scholar moved across the room. Jabez and Corwin made quick work of any spider that got too close. Even the warriors kept a careful distance from Jabez¡¯s hammer. The dwarf¡¯s speed and skill amazed Vash. He could feel the subtle thrum of Jabez using Talents, but they came so fast that it was hard to tell one from another.

    After a few moments, which felt like hours, they reached the stairs down to the next level. Vash looked down and saw an open doorway, but it looked as though the thick wooden door was still intact. ¡°Get down the stairs! If we can get the door closed, we might be able to brace it!¡±

    There were no arguments. Vash led the way, taking the stairs two and three at a time. Beyond the doorway was a dark corridor, patches of glowmoss illuminating it sporadically. Webs hung in the corners of the hallway, but not like the ones in the chamber outside.

    <i>Let¡¯s hope that means no more spiders.</i> Vash thought, ushering Zakarias and his servants past.

    Corwin descended the stairs backwards, slowly moving away from a pair of workers. The smaller spiders chittered and lunged. Corwin stabbed one in the face, then kicked it off the blade when it started twitching. The second worker leaped into the air, trying to land on Corwin from above. Corwin merely reached out and grabbed the spider out of the air, just below the mandibles. With a grunt of effort, Corwin crushed the carapace under his hand. Spider blood flowed over his fingers and its legs curled in on itself. Corwin tossed the dying spider aside and quickly descended the stairs.

    Jabez was right behind him, a wounded warrior spider limped forwards, still trying to get to the dwarf. It had obviously taken a heavy blow to the side. One scythe-claw dangled uselessly, and pale blood seeped from cracks in the creature¡¯s armor. Jabez backed down the stairs slowly, careful not to underestimate his wounded foe. Reaching the bottom, the warrior made one last effort, slashing out at Jabez with its good scythe-claw. Jabez deflected the attack, and the spider hissed in pain, the tip of its claw breaking off. The warrior backed up out of Jabez¡¯s range, and the dwarf took the opportunity to back quickly through the door.

    Vash and Corwin heaved the heavy door closed, rusted hinges squealing in protest. Finally, the door closed with a hollow boom that echoed through the empty corridor. A rusted, but still solid, metal-banded crossbar was on the floor behind the door. Corwin heaved the heavy bar into place, sealing the door.

    For a moment, none of them spoke. They merely panted and tried to recover. After getting his wind back, Vash looked up, spotting Zakarias looking around the corridor with mild interest. Lip curling in anger, he strode forward, getting into the scholar¡¯s face.

    ¡°What part of ¡®<i>silent</i>¡¯ did you not understand?¡±

 Episode 22: Come In To My Parlor

    ¡°You are wounded and highly agitated.¡± Zakarias said, his voice calm, but with a bite of irritation. ¡°Please step back.¡±

    ¡°You almost got us killed, you arrogant shit.¡± Vash seethed. Zakarias¡¯ hulking servants took a step towards him, faces placid, but their small, dark eyes intent and focused.

    ¡°What was so gods damned important that it couldn¡¯t wait until we were across the chamber?¡±

    ¡°I was merely inquiring how long this was going to take.¡± The scholar said, heat entering his tone. ¡°There are certain aspects of this expedition that are time sensitive.¡±

    ¡°The particulars of this quest are slipperier than greased eels.¡± Jabez growled. ¡°First, it¡¯s an unknown ruin recently uncovered. Then it¡¯s a ruin that you know about but don¡¯t have details. After that, it¡¯s a competition with other academics to unearth something that you know about, but refuse to tell the rest of us. Now, there¡¯s a time component.¡±

    Zakarias¡¯ face remained unreadable, but his eyes burned with anger.

    <i>This is a man who is not used to being questioned.</i> Vash thought. <i>Scholar my ass.</i>

    Shifting his gaze to Jabez, Zakarias took a conciliatory posture. ¡°I apologize for the difficulty, but discretion was of the highest importance. I assure you that everything I am undertaking here today was approved by Duke Adolus and the Lord Inquisitor.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not helping your case,¡± Corwin said, posture shifting to face the servants, who had not turned their attention from Vash.

    ¡°This is a recently uncovered ruin.¡± Zakarias said, placatingly. ¡°However, it is one that I have been looking for, indeed I have been searching for it most of my career. This is the last undisturbed stronghold that we know of, of one of the Demon Princes of Draenos. Specifically Rasu, the Defiler of the Flesh.¡±

    Jabez¡¯s face went stony. ¡°You lead us into a Drae stronghold? Places like this are meant to be assaulted by dozens of Wayfarers working with the other Great Orders. It¡¯s not a place you attempt without backup and specialized equipment.¡±

    ¡°No, you misunderstand,¡± Zakarias said, shaking his head. ¡°This stronghold has not been active for many hundreds of years. It was, in fact, one of the earliest sealed during the war with the Silent King. It was before Wayfarers and the other Great Orders became quite so¡­ahem, enthusiastic¡­with Drae strongholds.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because they¡¯re tainted.¡± Jabez said, genuine anger rising in the dwarf¡¯s voice. ¡°Unless you purge every stone, the shadow clings to it. Left alone long enough and it can fester and grow again.¡±

    ¡°And then we learn nothing about how they form.¡± Zakarias said, exasperated. ¡°It¡¯s possible that dungeon hearts are formed in the same manner as these strongholds. We have seen a dramatic up-tick of dungeon formation here in the south. The Dukes and other lords don¡¯t want to say anything about it, but there seems to be a push from the shadow to establish a more permanent foothold. If we know how the shadow forms a dungeon, what makes it grow into a stronghold, then we can prevent it from happening. Then you and other Wayfarers don¡¯t have to risk your lives delving tunnels filled with all sorts of monstrosities.¡±

    Vash looked over at Jabez. The dwarf was giving Zakarias a hard stare. Not knowing enough about dungeoncraft, Vash couldn¡¯t say whether or not the scholar was lying. He knew Zakarias had not been honest with them the entire time, and that it was better to trust your instincts.

    A wave of dizziness swept over Vash. He stumbled to one side and caught himself against the wall. His Wayfarer medallion pulsed weakly. Vash felt the pain in his shoulder and the effects of blood loss. Blood soaked his undertunic, and the wound burned slightly¡ªa bad sign.

    ¡°Damn.¡± Jabez said, coming over to Vash but shooting Zakarias a look. ¡°We¡¯re not done talking about this.¡±

    Zakarias nodded and moved to stand with his servants, hands tucked into the sleeves of his robe.

    Jabez eased Vash to the floor. ¡°Those medallions help with the pain, but they can also mask when something is bloody serious.¡± He examined Vash¡¯s wound with a practiced eye. ¡°That bugger got you good.¡± Jabez dug through his satchel, frowning and muttering to himself as he looked for something. Finally, he pulled out a small bottle with a few fingers¡¯ worth of amber liquid at the bottom. ¡°There we go. I knew I still had some left.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Vash asked, looking at the bottle dubiously as Jabez pulled the stopper.

    ¡°Tonuraak brandy.¡± Jabez said, holding it up to Vash¡¯s lips. ¡°A mix of distilled heartblossom and stone-grapes. They¡¯re grown in dwarfish caverns though, so they get infused with Therium. It¡¯s better than most healing elixirs since they just use Therium salts as a base.¡±

    Vash was about to protest, but Jabez shoved the bottle into his mouth and poured the liquor down his throat. It had a crisp, fruity taste, and a pleasant burn as he swallowed. Vash could feel the telltale warmth of a magic elixir spreading from his gut out to his fingertips, traveling all along the meridians of his body, looking for damage to repair.

    The burning sensation from his shoulder vanished, replaced by the odd feeling of flesh knitting back together. The dizziness faded, but left behind a deep fatigue. Vash shook his head, trying the clear it of the sudden fogginess.

    ¡°Only drawback to using brandy rather than an elixir is that it¡¯s not a restorative.¡± Jabez said, putting the empty bottle back in his satchel. ¡°Your Core should start repairing the damage once you get time to rest, but in the meantime, you will not be operating at peak levels. Keep that in mind as we go.¡±

    Vash nodded, head no longer swimming, but his senses felt dull and his movements sluggish. <i>At least I¡¯m not bleeding to death anymore.</i>

    He checked the wound on his shoulder. A hole, about the width of two fingers held together, had been punched through the leather. The flesh beneath had been repaired, but an angry red scab on the beginnings of a nasty scar told Vash that everything wasn¡¯t back to full yet. A cleric or a real healing elixir would have him back on his feet, but those services were expensive, so he¡¯d have to rely on dwarven booze today.

    ¡°You all right?¡± Corwin asked, moving to stand protectively over him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine in a minute.¡± Vash said, getting to his feet. ¡°At least until the demons eat my soul, or whatever the hell happens in a Drae stronghold.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry.¡± Zakarias said, dismissively. ¡°This place has been inert for quite some time.¡±

    ¡°Tell that to the people who live in Mossfen.¡± Jabez said. ¡°I bet they get cyclic monster attacks. Random, unexplained illnesses, as well as odd crop failures. Hell, the waystone even warned that this was the heart of a shadow-cult. I just thought it was the residual effects of the cult, but no, the damn Demon Prince himself had a summer house here.¡±

    ¡°Do you want to get out of here or not?¡± Zakarias snapped, apparently reaching the limit of his patience.

    That shut them up.

    ¡°From what I have seen of the layouts of similar structures.¡± Zakarias continued. ¡°The central chamber should be on this level. This is where the cult, or the monstrous servants, or whatever was using this stronghold, would come to commune with Rasu. They¡¯d receive instructions, make reports, or be disciplined for failure. This chamber was also one of the few in the stronghold that connected directly with the outside world. It may be a steep climb, but we should be able to get out that way.¡±

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°And you get your information.¡± Corwin said, disgusted.

    ¡°Two birds, one stone.¡± Zakarias said, magnanimously.

    ¡°Then what are we waiting for?¡± Vash asked. Getting to his feet was an effort, and the world swam far too much for his liking, but he made it eventually. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving.¡±

    <hr>

    "The place is bigger than I expected.¡± Corwin said quietly. He was following just behind Vash, deliberately putting some distance between himself and Zakarias. If the scholar and his followers noticed, they didn¡¯t seem to pay it any mind, traveling in a small knot and apparently at ease. At the very end was Jabez, keeping an eye out for spiders that may have followed them, as well as making sure that their employer didn¡¯t wander off and cause trouble. ¡°Jabez and I have explored a few ruins, but they¡¯ve just been small tombs up in the hills. Making sure that they¡¯re kept quiet and don¡¯t turn into dungeons.¡±

    Vash agreed. They had been walking along the main corridor for some time now. Smaller rooms and dead-end corridors branched off the main hallway, but didn¡¯t seem worth investigating further. If it had been a stronghold for the shadow in the old days, then it must have been home to quite a sizable force. ¡°I never studied much dungeoncraft. What¡¯s the difference between a ruin like this and a dungeon?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s entirely possible that this is a dungeon.¡± Corwin said. ¡°We won¡¯t know unless we find some heartstones.¡±

    ¡°Heartstones?¡± Vash welcomed the distraction. His head was still fuzzy from the dwarvish liquor, and he was battling serious fatigue.

    ¡°Therium crystals about the size of a fist.¡± Corwin held up his own fist as an example. Vash could see that Corwin had more than a few cuts and bruises along his forearm.

    <i>Glad I wasn¡¯t the only one that took a few hits.</i> Vash thought. <i>That would be embarrassing.</i>

    ¡°So, Therium grows where there¡¯s a high mana concentration.¡± Corwin continued. ¡°If there¡¯s a connection to the Underlands ¡ª y¡¯know what that is, right?¡±

    ¡°Caverns and tunnels deep down.¡± Vash said, rolling his eyes. ¡°Home to some really nasty stuff.¡±

    ¡°Pretty much, yeah.¡± Corwin nodded. ¡°Anyway, because of the blight during the fall of Malconia, everything in the Underlands has a bit of a taint of the shadow. The worst of it is west of the shield mountain ranges, and going under the mountains is nearly impossible, but some stuff manages to get through. When the shadow gets this far, it can latch onto Therium crystals to feed itself. When it does that, it forms a heartstone. They¡¯re weird looking, usually purple or greenish, more organic than crystalline. If a heartstone gets big enough, it will consume the others in the area and form a dungeon heart. That¡¯s when things really get nasty.¡±

    ¡°I thought it had something to do with the Drae? The demon princes¡­and queens? They get confusing.¡± Vash said, noticing that the corridor was sloping downward and although it had large patches of glowmoss, the light made only small pools in the oppressive gloom.

    ¡°It does, and it kind of is.¡± Corwin agreed, happy to keep expounding. ¡°Once the dungeon heart forms, then that¡¯s when the shadow really gets going. Depending on the area, the kind of monsters it attracts, what the structures were originally used for, that sort of thing, then the heart can form a connection to one of the Drae. That lets the demon get a foothold on this side of the mountains. When that happens, it¡¯s really bad. Entire areas become shadow-tainted. Cults flock to the area, monsters surge through the Underlands because now they¡¯ve got a safe path. People can get really hurt if the dungeon gets too big. That¡¯s why we try to close openings to the Underlands, and investigate ruins whenever we can.¡±

    ¡°Great, so this is a regular occurrence.¡±

    ¡°No, this is¡­this one is odd,¡± Corwin said, glancing over his shoulder at Zakarias. ¡°We mostly know how dungeon hearts form, but sometimes they just pop up in areas with low mana concentrations, or ones that don¡¯t have connections to the Underlands. Drae Strongholds were like that too, back after Malconia fell. They¡¯d pop up without warning. No one knows why.¡±

    Vash said nothing, mulling over the implications. Corwin continued, filling the silence with chatter. ¡°Unmapped ruins can be really lucrative, but they¡¯re also really dangerous. Jabez and I usually avoid them since we¡¯re both part of the School of the Fist. Until now, we have had no one from the other Schools to partner with, which makes dungeon delves tricky.¡±

    ¡°Other schools?¡± Vash asked, peering into the gloom. Ahead of them the corridor seemed to dip and then ended in a heavy double-door.

    ¡°Yeah, the other specializations in the Wayfarers.¡± Corwin said. ¡°We can talk about those later. I think we¡¯re almost to the central chamber.¡±

    Vash cautiously agreed. The door at the end of the corridor was made of the same gray-brown stone as the rest of the structure. Carved into the door panels were pictographs of rituals and the same strange, spiky writing from the friezes in the corridors above. As they approached, Vash noticed a central picture of a humanoid figure suspended head-down over a yawning pit. Robed figures lined a chamber to either side. It was an obvious sacrifice, but the imagery was like a spider hanging its prey. Vash had a sinking feeling that the spiders making their nest here wasn¡¯t a coincidence.

    Zakarias came up from behind them as Vash was studying the door. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it. Gods, the imagery is fantastic.¡±

    ¡°What does it mean?¡± Vash asked, eying the door warily.

    ¡°Oh, it wouldn¡¯t be very interesting to you,¡± Zakarias said, gazing at at the doors. The scholar radiated an intense hunger, hands hovering over the carvings like a starving man over a proffered loaf of bread. He was eager, but afraid someone would yank it away at the last moment. ¡°It¡¯s just ritual and dogma, instructions for the faithful.¡±

    ¡°But what does it say?¡± Jabez asked. The dwarf was a few steps behind the rest of the group, hammer in hand. He stood casually, but there was a tautness to his movements.

    <i>Jabez thinks something is about to happen.</i> Vash thought. <i>Something in the chamber?</i>

    ¡°Instructions on how to open the chamber safely.¡± Zakarias said, confidently. Before anyone could stop him, the scholar reached out and began manipulating the door. He pressed in certain carvings, twisted others. Then at last he whispered a few words under his breath, like a prayer or a password.

    Vash waited, tense, for something to happen. The corridor remained silent for a time. Vash exchanged wary glances with Corwin. Zakarias did not look away from the door, a look of happiness and contentment on the thin man¡¯s face.

    <i>I don¡¯t like this at all.</i> Vash thought, letting his hands fall to his weapons. The two servants were looking straight ahead at Zakarias, silent and still as statues. <i>If anything happens, those two will have to be dealt with first.</i>

    From somewhere deep within the stronghold, there was a groan of ancient gears and a rattle of chains. Dust and dirt drifted down off the stone doors. With agonizing slowness, the doors swung inwards, scraping against bones and other detritus on the ground inside the chamber beyond.

    The room beyond seemed to be the central chamber of the structure. A large square room supported by four columns that stretched into the gloom above. Beyond that was a hexagonal room with a large circular opening in the center of the floor. Glowmoss covered the walls, as did a purplish glowing crystal structure. All seemed to come from the central pit in the far room.

    What caught Vash¡¯s attention, though, was the piles of human bones in front of the doors. Dozens of people had tried to escape this room, but sealed in before they all died. From the mass of bones, they climbed over each other, desperate to get away from what emerged from the pit.

    <i>And we just opened the door.</i>

    ¡°Come in, don¡¯t be shy,¡± came a soft, feminine voice that echoed through the cavernous room. ¡°I have not had visitors in so very long.¡±

    Vash swallowed hard and took a step back. A hand like iron came down on his uninjured shoulder and stopped him from moving any further. Vash looked back to see one of Zakarias¡¯ servants standing right behind him, small eyes intently fixed on him. The chest that he had carried was resting on the floor, the top opened. Within the chest were the butchered remains of a human torso. The chest cavity had been hollowed out and strange reddish-purple crystals encrusted the wound. The servant held in his other hand a sphere of opalescent purple stone.

    What the hell is that? Vash thought with horror.

    The other servant was taking a similar stone out of the chest that he carried. Meanwhile, Zakarias took several steps forward into the central chamber, his arms spread wide.

    ¡°I am not a visitor, lady.¡± Zakarias called. ¡°I am a sworn ally of your sire and prince! Today we shall set a heart to beating that was callously stopped so long ago!¡±

    ¡°Gods dammit.¡± Jabez growled and started forward, hefting his hammer.

    The servant closest to him grabbed the dwarf by the collar and casually tossed him into the next room. Jabez flailed as he flew through the air, landing hard and skidding to a halt about ten feet into the central chamber.

    Vash and Corwin tensed, ready to charge in or flee, but the next moment rooted them in place. Out of the pit came an enormous, chitinous leg, followed by another, and another. Eight legs heaved an immense, bulbous body out of the pit. At the front of the creature, where the head of a spider would normally be, was the top half of a human woman. Her body had the grayish cast of disease and ill-health, bulbous cysts dotted and deformed her flesh. A few lank strands of hair clung to her bald scalp, and one side of her face had several black spider eyes bursting forth, pulling the skin taut to one side.

    The creature settled its enormous bulk on the edge of the pit and regarded Zakarias with a horrific smile. ¡°He promised you would come. Welcome, shaper of the flesh. Welcome, and many thanks for the sacrifices that we have needed!¡±

    ¡°Their souls are strong.¡± Zakarias said, happily. ¡°I tested them all day. They will make the perfect base for the soulstones.¡±

    ¡°Wonderful. Shall we begin?¡±

 Episode 23: Champion of Rasu

    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be surprised.¡± Corwin said, taking a step away from Zakarias¡¯ servants, increasing the distance between himself and everyone else in the room. ¡°You practically screamed ¡®scumbag shadow-touched traitor¡¯ from the moment we met you.¡±

    Zakarias gave a nonchalant shrug. ¡°Sometimes it¡¯s best to trust your instincts.¡±

    Vash allowed himself to pull forward against the grip of the hulking servant over his shoulder. The servant barely had to put any effort into keeping Vash in place, but the point was to get him to shift his weight, pulling back to keep Vash from moving freely. ¡°You know how I feel about ¡®I told you so¡¯.¡±

    ¡°One of your favorite phrases, if I recall.¡± Corwin said, moving slowly backwards, keeping his back to the rounded wall.

    ¡°Not really.¡± Vash said, slowly flipping the dagger in his off-hand so that the blade pointed behind him. ¡°If I have to say it, then that means things have really gone bad.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a fair assessment.¡± Jabez grunted, getting to his feet, facing the deformed combination of woman and spider that rested her ponderous bulk a mere ten feet from where Jabez stood.

    Zakarias smiled, stepping back to stand behind his servants. The placid, massive figures displayed all the menace of a cow chewing her cud, but Vash knew from experience that the two possessed a strength that they had all underestimated.

    ¡°If it¡¯s any consolation, you all did much better than I anticipated. I thought that you ¡ª ¡° Zakarias pointed at Corwin ¡° ¡ª wouldn¡¯t make it this far. Hence why I only brought two soulstone matrices.¡±

    The Hollowmound Queen hissed in a strange approximation of amusement. ¡°Two for the stones, one to consume.¡±

    ¡°I suppose it works out well that way, then.¡± Zakarias mused. ¡°I was going to offer you one of my men, but now that¡¯s unnecessary. Which is good, I hate to waste resources. Do you have a preference, great lady?¡±

    ¡°I will take the little one.¡± The Queen rasped, licking her cracked lips as she stared down at Jabez. ¡°It will take a few days to tenderize him, leathery thing that he is, but he¡¯s almost saturated in mana. I could feed off him for weeks.¡±

    ¡°Good, that¡¯s settled then.¡± Zakarias said, clapping his hands together once in excitement. ¡°Shall we proceed?¡±

    Vash tried to shift out of the brute¡¯s grasp, but the man just gripped him harder. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to think we¡¯re not part of this conversation.¡±

    ¡°I hate it when people talk about me like I¡¯m not there.¡± Corwin said, raising his sword and taking a defensive stance. ¡°It¡¯s really damn rude.¡±

    ¡°Let me deal with the dwarf while you restrain the apprentices.¡± The Hollowmound Queen said. ¡°The process will take a few hours, and I¡¯d rather not have to chase down my food while I¡¯m working.¡±

    ¡°Enough of this,¡± Jabez growled. Vash could feel the dwarf pulling on the ambient mana in the room. Blue-white runes and traceries of power illuminated the hammer in Jabez¡¯s hand as he raised it high.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯d forgotten about that thing,¡± Zakarias said in annoyance.

    ¡°<i>Baldniruuk!</i>¡± Jabez called, voice taking on the amplified, echoing with the power of the mana coursing through him. Swinging the hammer in a mighty arc, Jabez took a step forward and slammed the head into the ground in front of him. A wave of energy and cracked floor tiles flowed from the hammer strike directly towards the Hollowmound Queen.

    Faster than a creature of her bulk should be able to move, the Queen shot a line of webbing to the ceiling and quickly got far enough off the ground that the shock wave passed beneath her. Several bricks crumbled around the edge of the pit and tumbled into the abyss. Stone flaked off the veins of purple crystal on the walls, enough that Vash could see where they all met: an altar-like structure on the far side of the pit.

    Glowing purple crystals, heartstones Corwin had called them, clustered around something in the very center of the altar. The larger crystals cradled something within that glinted now and again with a disorienting opal sheen.

    <i>A dungeon heart?</i> Vash thought. <i>I¡¯m not sure what it does, but it seems pretty important.</i>

    With an awkward <i>thud,</i> the Queen returned to the ground. ¡°That could have hurt me, little morsel. Not. Nice.¡±

    The Queen surged forward, huge scythe-claws unfolding from beneath her torso. She slashed first with the right, then the left, trying to pin Jabez down.

    Again, the dwarf moved with surprising speed and agility, dodging the first claw, then rolling forward inside the Queen¡¯s reach. He struck her thorax twice in rapid succession. The Queen shrieked in rage and pain as Jabez¡¯s hammer left two small cracks in her carapace. They oozed the same pale-green blood as the spiders above, but the wounds were not large and more surprising than they were damaging.

    Scuttling back, the Queen moved on the offensive again, sidestepping and striking with deadly precision. Vash felt the thrum of Talents being used. Jabez dodged, blocked, and wove his way around the attacks. He looked formidable, but Vash could see how much using his magic hammer had cost him. Jabez¡¯s eyes were sunken and shadowed, and his skin took on a pale, sweaty sheen. The beginning signs of mana overuse.

    <i>If he keeps up like this, he¡¯s going to go into mana burn, then we¡¯re in really bad shape.</i> Vash thought. <i>Time to do something stupid.</i>

    Vash stopped pushing against the grip of the servant who held him, immediately launching himself backwards. The force of the servant¡¯s grip even aided Vash in the move. He flung himself back hard into the servant¡¯s chest, simultaneously stabbing backwards with his dagger. The blade bit deep into the bigger man¡¯s thigh.

    The servant grunted, the first sound Vash had heard either of them make. So they feel something at least. He pulled upwards on his dagger, intending to open a long slash in the servant¡¯s inner thigh. The blade barely moved, though, like he was stabbing through a layer of gristle and connective tissue, not a large, vulnerable muscle.

    Vash finally pulled his blade free and spun away from the clutching hands of his opponent. The servant made a face that Vash could only describe as ¡®annoyed discomfort¡¯ and studied his wound. A four-inch gash in the servant¡¯s leg bled weakly. What should have been a torrent of dark red blood was a mere trickle of wine-colored liquid, more watery than normal blood, that seemed to slow on its own as Vash watched.

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    The servant looked up at Vash. His expression changed. Annoyance flashed over to anger, and those small eyes changed color to a glowing amber. The man took deep breaths, each exhalation a snort of fury, like a bull. Within moments, Vash could see the man¡¯s robe, which was already tight across his chest and shoulders, begin to stretch and tear. Vash felt a surge of mana, and the man transformed. Robes tore as muscles stretched and expanded. Soon, only rags hung from the man¡¯s grotesquely expanded body. He grew taller, rising to almost eight feet in height, looming over Vash like a furious giant.

    Now a towering brute, the creature that was once Zakarias¡¯ servant, tossed aside his shredded robe. Beneath, his body was a patchwork of grafted skin and muscle, scars criss-crossing the brute¡¯s body like the stitches of a novice seamstress.

    The brute gave out a roar of fury, letting Vash see his enlarged canines and over-sized jaw. He stalked forward with a menacing directness.

    ¡°Don¡¯t kill them, yet,¡± Zakarias said with a calm detachment from where he stood by the door. ¡°We need them alive for the soulstone process.¡±

    Snarling in annoyance, the brute swiped at Vash, trying to grab him and pull him into a hold of some sort. Vash danced back, moving out of range, but barely.

    <i>He¡¯s fast, too.</i> Vash thought. Immediately, Vash activated <i>Enhance Ability</i>, needing the extra speed and agility to stay ahead of the Brute. Reaching into his Core, he found his mana was waning. <i>Too much of this, and I¡¯ll be no better than Jabez.</i>

    The brute¡¯s meaty fist swiped at Vash, who dodged again, but not fast enough or far enough. Fingers the size of sausages brushed his wounded shoulder and sent Vash tumbling with the force of the blow. He rolled with the fall, keeping hold of his weapons and tumbling away from the brute.

    <i>Enhance Ability</i> held, Vash could vault to his feet, now much closer to Jabez and the Queen. The dwarf and spider remained locked in combat. The Queen had taken several more blows to her thorax, leading to more weeping cracks. One leg was bent at an odd angle, slowing the Queen¡¯s movements, making her unbalanced and awkward. However, Jabez suffered large tears in his mail, with bloody gashes visible beneath.

    Across the room, Vash could see Corwin locked in combat with the other servant, who was also changing into a brute. Corwin¡¯s sword lay on the ground a few feet away from him, and he gripped the brute¡¯s wrists as he huffed and expanded. A look of fear and effort was plain on Corwin¡¯s face as he fought desperately to keep the brute from getting inside his guard. Moment by moment, however, Corwin¡¯s arms were being forced back, and the brute moved forward.

    In the doorway, Zakarias watched with an amused expression.

    <i>Fighting them separately is going to get us killed.</i> Vash thought, glancing at his own opponent, who was now lumbering in his direction. <i>We need to get this fight moving in our direction.</i>

    Vash darted across the room, not bothering to stop to consider what he was doing. He darted between the Hollowmound Queen¡¯s legs, barely avoiding strikes and stabs from the sharp chitin claws. Not stopping, Vash zeroed in on a break in the Queen¡¯s exoskeleton, where two segments of her legs met. As he passed, Vash summoned up <i>Sneak Attack</i>. Without the added advantage of <i>Shadowmeld</i>, it wasn¡¯t as devastating, but he could land a powerful strike at the vulnerable break in the carapace.

    The Queen screeched, Vash¡¯s short sword tore through the joint, spraying thick spider blood through the air. The leg buckled, unable to support the Queen¡¯s weight. She stumbled and lashed out at Vash, but it was too late. Vash continued moving past her toward Corwin.

    The brute pursuing Vash tried to change directions as the Queen stumbled into his path, huge abdomen swinging around. He wasn¡¯t fast enough and the turning Queen¡¯s bulging abdomen struck him hard, sending the brute to the ground and sliding back the way he came.

    Vash ignored what was happening behind him, focusing instead on getting to Corwin. He slid his dagger up one sleeve to free a hand, then grabbed Corwin¡¯s lost sword as he passed. The blade was twice as long as his own sword, and half again as heavy. Vash felt the twinge of magical potential from the sword for a moment, but it disappeared almost as swiftly as it had come.

    <i>Hopefully, it¡¯s got some powers Corwin can use, because after this I¡¯m out of ideas.</i>

    ¡°Corwin!¡± Vash called, bracing the big sword against his shoulder as he charged.

    Glancing up, Corwin gave Vash a look of confused alarm, then realization dawned. A deep thrum of mana use came from Corwin and Vash could see his arm muscles ripple and bulge. He dragged the brute around, getting the hulking man in a better position, exposing his back to the trained assassin.

    Zakarias realized what was happening a moment after Corwin. ¡°Watch out!¡±

    It was too late. Vash summoned <i>Sneak Attack</i> again, pouring as much mana as he could into the Talent. The sword¡¯s tip steadied, and he felt it almost guide itself to a point halfway up the brute¡¯s torso and slightly to the left of the spine. At the moment of impact, Vash released the mana he¡¯d been building into the Talent, and it surged through his muscles into one perfectly timed thrust.

    Corwin¡¯s sword slid into the brute¡¯s back with hardly any resistance. Vash put all his weight into the thrust, feeling the steel scrape against bone. The brute¡¯s mouth fell open and his eyes went wide in a moment of complete shock. Corwin rolled away as the tip of his sword erupted out of the brute¡¯s chest. Now a torrent of water-thin, wine-colored blood flowed from the wound. The brute made low moans of pain and shock as he stared down at the two feet of steel sticking out of his chest.

    Not wasting a moment, Corwin stepped around the brute and took hold of his sword¡¯s hilt. Vash fell away to the side, gasping from spent mana. Corwin heaved on the bastard blade. His muscles straining, the sword moved slowly upwards. The brute spasmed and shook, bloody froth leaking from his mouth, but he seemed unable to do any more than moan. A low keening sound. With a sudden, wet <i>crack</i>, Corwin¡¯s sword ripped up through the brute¡¯s shoulder. A long, gory crevice left in its wake, blood sheeting down the brute¡¯s body.

    Pivoting on the ball of his foot, Corwin lopped off the brute¡¯s head in one swift stroke. The head fell to the ground, bounced a few times, then rolled into the pit and disappeared.

    The second brute let out a wordless howl of rage. Vash looked back to see pain and fury on the man¡¯s face.

    <i>Maybe they were brothers, after all?</i>

    Charging, the brute lowered his head like a bull and ran straight for Corwin. His huge legs pumped, building speed as he ran.

    Corwin shifted, bringing his sword around to a guard position, watching the brute charge with a ready calm.

    ¡°Dammit, not like that!¡± Zakarias shouted, frustration plain in his voice.

    Vash moved to one side, ready as the brute passed. He stabbed with all the strength and precision that <i>Enhance Ability</i> could give him at the brute¡¯s knee as he passed. Vash¡¯s short sword darted out and back like a viper. The small blade tore through the joint, and the brute¡¯s leg collapsed, sending him crashing to the ground.

    Corwin took the advantage that it gave him, stabbing down where the brute¡¯s head met his neck. There was a sickening crunch. The brute spasmed once, then lay still.

    Next to Vash, the brute¡¯s hand relaxed and released the fist-sized opalescent stone that he had been clutching. Vash quickly grabbed it and put it into a pouch.

    <i>No idea what that is, but we don¡¯t want it rolling around.</i>

    ¡°Gods, what a mess!¡± Zakarias snarled from his place in the doorway. ¡°Well, if you want something done right¡­¡±

    The surge of mana from Zakarias was like he was pulling from a deep pool rather than the shallow pond of ambient mana. The crystal structures around the room flared brightly. Zakarias held out one hand.

    <i>¡°Ela na¡¯molya, t¡¯ama moh.¡±</i> Zakarias intoned. Blood and gobbets of flesh flew from the dead bodies of the fallen brutes. When they touched Zakarias¡¯ body, they formed a slick second skin that rippled and bunched in alarming ways.

    <i>¡°Ela na¡¯molyana, t¡¯soma moh!¡±</i> He called, bones tore themselves from the brutes and wormed their way into the rapidly expanding and growing body that Zakarias was forming for himself.

    ¡°That¡­does not look good,¡± Corwin said, backing away.

    Hissing laughter came from the Hollowmound Queen. She was in terrible shape. The opening that Vash had given Jabez had been enough for the dwarf to inflict serious damage. But now Jabez was kneeling, clutching a puncture wound just above his hip. The Queen dragged herself up, looming over Jabez with an exultant look on her face.

    ¡°Oh, great prince!¡± The Queen hissed. ¡°You must have grand plans indeed. You sent not merely a shaper, but a <i>CHAMPION!</i>¡±

 Episode 24: Tear It All Down

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­new.¡± Corwin said, taking a step back from where Zakarias continued to absorb the flesh and bones of his dead servants.

    Zakarias¡¯ body swelled, forming new, grotesque muscles. Bones fused into strange shapes, arranging themselves as a makeshift armor. Some of the bone warped and fused itself into sword-length spikes that grew from Zakarias¡¯ arms. All the while, the ¡®scholar¡¯ continued his chant, drawing more and more mana into himself.

    ¡°Fall back!¡± Jabez shouted through gritted teeth. ¡°He¡¯s a warlock. Borrowing a demon¡¯s powers, a fucking demon prince! We have to get out of here!¡±

    Jabez stumbled to his feet and tried to fall back while the Hollowmound Queen was distracted. The motion drew her attention, and she whipped back around. The Queen¡¯s scythe-claws slammed down on either side of the dwarf. ¡°You aren¡¯t going anywhere, little morsel.¡±

    Corwin gave a wordless battle-cry and launched himself at the Queen from behind. A surge of mana preceded a powerful strike at the Queen¡¯s abdomen. His sword bit deep into the bulbous, black and yellow striped pod. A gush of sticky green-yellow spider blood flowed from where his blade opened a long gash along her abdomen.

    The Queen let loose a shriek of pain and rage, lashing out with one claw and catching Corwin full in the chest. Corwin¡¯s breastplate rang like a bell, but held against the strike. The blow lifted him off his feet and flung him across the room. He slammed into a column and crumpled to the ground.

    Vash¡¯s first instinct was to rush to Corwin, to see if he could help him or at least protect him while he got back to his feet. Eth Mitaan training screamed at him to ignore that instinct.

    <i>When everything goes sideways, your priority is to escape</i>. Iona told him and the other initiates.<i> If you can, get your people out, but you cannot help them if you are also captured or killed. There¡¯s always a weak spot, some flaw you can exploit, make an opening. Keep your eyes open and be ready to use that opening when it comes.</i>

    Zakarias had finished remaking his body into a nightmare of flesh and bone. The stick-thin scholarly mask was gone, replaced by a ten-foot giant of bone plates fused onto an undulating mass of muscle and other tissue. Vash could see Zakarias shift towards Corwin, not moving against him yet. Waiting, prepared to strike.

    <i>What¡¯s he waiting for?</i> Vash thought. <i>Corwin¡¯s down. He could kill him in an instant if he wanted to ¡ª </i>Then Vash remembered Zakarias didn¡¯t want him and Corwin dead. He needed them alive to complete his task.

    Vash moved warily, retreating away from both Corwin and Jabez. He scanned Zakarias, really looking at him rather than reacting with revulsion. At the center of Zakarias¡¯ new body, just above the breastbone, Vash spotted what he was looking for. A strange, gleaming stone, twin of the one in Vash¡¯s pouch, was embedded in Zakarias¡¯ new flesh. Cradled in a mass of bone and flesh, it reminded Vash of something.

    The dungeon heart. Vash thought, taking a quick look beyond the sacrificial pit to where the heart stood upon the altar. The heart was now pulsing an alternating blue and purple sheen across its pearly surface. The heartstone crystals pulsed in sync with the dungeon heart, creating a strange mockery of a heartbeat. Vash could feel the underlying thrum of mana. The heart was affecting the ambient mana, but he could also feel it coming from the stone in his pouch. Now that he knew what to look for, he could feel the sympathetic throb. It was subtle, the same way ripples across a deep pool were subtle. The heart could access vast quantities of mana, and the stones, the heartstones, and the soulstones that Zakarias intended to make, likely could tap into that deep well.

    <i>That¡¯s what he¡¯s been drawing on</i>. Vash thought, turning to face the dungeon heart. <i>That¡¯s the connection.</i>

    Vash dashed across the room, moving toward the altar as fast as he could.

    ¡°Vash!¡± Jabez called. ¡°What are you doing? Help Corwin and get out of here!¡±

    ¡°Oh, no you don¡¯t!¡± The Queen hissed, moving painfully, but still with deadly swiftness. She moved away from Jabez and crossed the distance to the sacrificial pit in a heartbeat. Reaching for her spinneret, she tried to form webbing, but shrieked in frustration. Corwin¡¯s strike on her abdomen had damaged the spinneret. She was leaking sticky web fluid and thick, mucous-like spider blood as she dragged her abdomen over the floor.

    Vash didn¡¯t stop, not for Jabez¡¯s shouts or to face the Queen. Focus, one goal, don¡¯t stop until it¡¯s done.

    The skitter of spider legs sounded close behind him. The warning from his Core was almost too late. Vash dodged to one side; the Queen¡¯s claw knocked him aside instead of impaling him. Vash slid across the stone floor, realizing he was heading right for the pit. He flailed, trying to slow down, stabbing the ground with his short sword and drawing sparks. Vash slowed his momentum, but did not completely stop. His legs went out over the abyss and he felt the terrifying lurch of vertigo as he fell. With a surge of mana into Enhance Ability, he stabbed harder. The blade of his short sword finally caught in the crevice between two floor tiles, ancient grout crumbling, but finally stopping Vash short.

    Clinging to his sword with both hands, Vash dangled over the edge of the pit. He pulled hard as he could, keeping his chest and shoulders on solid ground. Kicking, he tried to find purchase with his feet, but beneath the lip of the pit there was nothing but empty air. The room was built over a crevasse, and only a thin layer of stone and mortar prevented everyone from falling to their deaths.

    <i>Existential dread later.</i> Vash chided himself. <i>Get yourself up, NOW!</i>

    Vash pulled, trying to will more mana into <i>Enhance Ability</i>, but he was at the limit of what he could do. The fatigue and dizziness of mana overuse was creeping in, and his grasp on his Talent was faltering.

    A crash in front of him made him look up. The Queen now towered over him at the edge of the pit, horrific face twisted into a delighted grin. ¡°Are we in trouble? Oh my, this is delightful.¡±

    Vash scowled, trying again to haul himself up. His short sword made a scraping sound as the surrounding mortar flaked away.

    ¡°It would be so easy just to let you fall.¡± The Queen said, her voice quivering at the thought. ¡°But my prince¡¯s Champion needs you.¡±

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    She reached down and grabbed Vash by the arms, dragging him up quickly and painfully. Vash lost hold on his short sword and it clattered to one side, coming free from the mortar. The Queen let go of one arm and let Vash dangle over the pit, hanging painfully by one wrist held in the claw at the end of a still-working leg.

    V

    ash looked over at Jabez and Corwin and any hope he had vanished. Corwin lay still at the foot of the column he¡¯d been flung into. Jabez had tried to take on Zakarias, apparently. The dwarf¡¯s hammer lay out of his reach, and Zakarias¡¯ bone blade pinned him through one leg.

    ¡°You fought well.¡± Zakarias said, his voice taking on a strange echoing quality, as though multiple voices were speaking at slightly different times. ¡°But now the game is done. I can feel that you are almost out of mana. If you push it any further, then you¡¯re going to damage that nice little soul of yours. If that happens, then I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to use you anymore, and you can trade places with this one.¡±

    Zakarias twisted the bone-blade and Jabez groaned in agony, face contorting with pain. ¡°Believe me, you¡¯re getting the better option. A moment of pain and then nothing. The Queen there will slowly digest you and consume you for days. It is a horrific death.¡±

    Vash could feel that Zakarias was right. If he pushed any further, he¡¯d begin using parts of his own soul to fuel his Talents. Mana Burn, the bane of mages and the Talented. Burn too much and you burn away parts of what made you you. There were stories of mages becoming terrible sorcerers or warlocks after a bad burn. Some Talented had even burned away their ability to use mana entirely.

    <i>If it meant we could escape, I¡¯d chance it.</i> Vash thought. <i>But in a contest of mana, Zakarias can draw on the dungeon heart, an almost unlimited pool¡­</i>

    Vash looked at the stone embedded in Zakarias¡¯ chest, the twin to the one in his pouch right now.

    <i>It¡¯s worth a try.</i>

    Reaching into his pouch, Vash¡¯s fingers brushed the stone. The cold tingle of raw mana flowed over his fingers, throbbing in time with the heart¡¯s pulses.

    Zakarias tilted his misshapen head. He had obviously felt something. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Something stupid.¡± Vash replied and seized the stone.

    The act of seizing the stone, claiming it, felt very different from when he just scooped it up to get it out of the way. An electric cold flowed through the meridians of Vash¡¯s body, sending throbbing pulses up his arm and deep into his chest. It was only a few heartbeats, but through the shock and pain, it felt like an eternity. The freezing tendrils burrowed their way into his Core. Vash could feel the warmth ebbing away from the center of his being, replaced by this cold flood of mana.

    His fatigue evaporated; he banished his pain. Suddenly, he noticed a deep, cold ocean of mana. The power was overwhelming. It was looking into the soul of a god. All he had to do was reach out and touch it, claim it just as he had the stone in his fist, and he could do anything.

    But now he could sense other things. The great abyss of power also connected Zakarias. If Vash was dangling his fingers in the water, then Zakarias had both hands shoved up to his elbows. There was something else there as well. A presence sluggishly turning its attention towards them. It felt curious, intrigued, but also vast, and hungry. Vash desperately knew that he did not want the attention of that huge, dark presence.

    <i>Find the opening, use it, escape. </i>Vash thought.

    The connection between Vash and the vast power became stronger. He felt how he and Zakarias connected to it, as well as their connection to the dungeon heart and the heartstones. He sought the channels of connection, working on instinct towards the dungeon heart itself. If he could cut off Zakarias¡¯ connection to the dungeon heart, then they might have a chance.

    There was a surge of anger and a slight twinge of fear through the connection. Zakarias figured out what Vash was trying to do. Vash felt Zakarias¡¯ presence forcing its way into the dungeon heart, tightening his grip and denying other connections. The Queen trembled. Vash faintly felt her connection to the dungeon heart faltering, echoing how Vash felt when his Core ran out of mana. Through the connection, Vash felt the Queen¡¯s pain as the dungeon heart stopped blocking it and healing her wounds.

    The Queen¡¯s grip faltered. Straddling two worlds¡ªthe internal world connected to the dungeon heart and everything else within it, and the external, material world where the Queen was about to drop him to his death¡ªVash found himself in a precarious situation.

    Vash fell as the Queen¡¯s grip slackened. With a practiced flick of the wrist, he drew his dagger from where he¡¯d stored it up his sleeve. Driving the dagger into the thorax of the Queen, Vash halted his fall, tearing a long gash down the spider¡¯s body. The Queen shrieked and thrashed, but Vash held tight, sinking back into his Core and the connection to the dungeon heart.

    Zakarias was shoring up his total control of the heart, blocking every connection he could. Vash felt his awareness shrinking, but he could still touch the vast ocean of mana, still feel this web of connections. Now, instead of the one central node, Vash sensed several smaller nodes, all pulsing in rhythm with the dungeon heart.

    <i>The heartstones. </i>Vash realized. <i>They¡¯re connected to the dungeon heart, feeding it mana, extending its control.</i>

    Vash felt his way through the smaller, more delicate connections of the heartstones. As he did, the heartstones fluttered slightly, throwing off their rhythm. One heartstone didn¡¯t seem to affect the system much, but after he¡¯d touched several of them, Vash noticed the beating of the dungeon heart falter.

    A wave of alarm came from Zakarias. Panic.

    <i>He doesn¡¯t know what to do.</i> Vash realized. He reached out to more of the heartstones, forcing his way into their delicate rhythms and disrupting them. In moments, the heartstones were beating in wildly different patterns. The dungeon heart itself was stuttering, stopping, racing, trying to find that rhythmic pulse again.

    Vash opened his eyes into the material world. He hung from the Queen, her eyes bulging as she tried to contain the viscera spilling out of the ever widening wound. Zakarias had abandoned Jabez and raced to the dungeon heart on the altar. The sheen of the stone pulsed wildly in staccato patterns. Flesh and bones sloughed off of Zakarias¡¯ body as he moved. As the dungeon heart lost stability, he lost his connection to whatever power that Rasu granted him.

    Looking around wildly, Zakarias tried to piece together what was happening. The purple crystals of the heartstones pulsed out of rhythm with each other. Their structures cracked, and the crystals took on a cloudy appearance, flawed and dark.

    One by one, the heartstones cracked and Vash could feel the dungeon heart losing stability. It raced, straining to maintain control as node after node crumbled away.

    Suddenly, there was a booming <i>CRACK!</i>

    Vash¡¯s senses snapped back to what he could see and hear. His left hand burned with cold and long tendrils of numbness ran up his arm, burying deep within his chest.

    Zakarias stared in horror at the dungeon heart upon the altar. The crystal heartstones that surrounded the dungeon heart were cracked, cloudy, and crumbling into dull purple sand. The heart itself had cracked in the center of the spherical, shiny stone. Vash could feel the power dissipating from the dungeon heart. It¡¯s pearlescent, multi-hued surface dulling to a flat pale gray.

    The last of the flesh melted off of Zakarias, leaving him standing dumbfounded beside the altar. He turned to Vash, all traces of arrogance gone.

    ¡°By the gods, what have you done?¡±

    Vash had no answer. Suddenly, more loud cracking sounds echoed through the room. Fissures appeared in the walls, following the lines of the corrupted Therium as it flaked away. Dust rained from the ceiling and the old stone buckled. Whatever power had held this ruin together was now faltering.

    The Queen let out a last, rattling gasp, and her body went slack. The stones beneath her lost their mortar, and the very floor crumbled. Her body pitched forward, pulled by Vash and the crumbling floor.

    The glowmoss in the room dimmed.

    Zakarias ran for the doorway.

    The last thing that Vash saw before the glowmoss failed entirely was Corwin and Jabez sliding towards him and the pit as the room tilted violently and stones collapsed into the yawning chasm below.

 Episode 25: The Underlands

    ¡°It¡¯s a bit further, farm boy,¡± Cole said, his shadow blocking the wan yellow light of the alchemical lantern. ¡°Push through the cracks and the vein should be right on the other side.¡±

    Vash scowled, heart hammering in his chest. He had tried to get through the cracks in shaft fourteen a dozen times in the past week. Each time left him scraped raw, tearing his penitent tunic to shreds, and with no silver to show for his efforts. The overseers delighted in sending him into the deep, narrow places, knowing they terrified him.

    Cole was the worst. At first, Vash had thought the affable guard was trying to be friends, to guide him back to a better path, which was the stated purpose of Penitent Duty. Over the first few days, Cole had teased out what frightened Vash and what his weaknesses were. Every day since then had been torment.

    His first week in the mines, Cole had made him crawl through a shaft that they nicknamed ¡®the coffin¡¯. Only the slenderest of miners could even attempt to journey through the narrow, sloping shaft. Vash had gotten stuck several times during the crawl, panic seizing him as the others laughed somewhere far behind him.

    Now Cole was sending him into a new series of shafts that were just tall cracks in the rock. He claimed that there was a large vein of silver on the other side. Bringing in more than your quota could lessen your sentence. Vash had learned the hard way that being smaller and weaker meant you never made quota. After the first few beatings, he had learned to separate his finds and set aside a bag for the bigger and more violent penitents as a kind of tithe.

    ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to fit through that crack,¡± Vash said. It was thinner than the width of his chest. He wouldn¡¯t be able to take a full breath, even if he fit. ¡°We¡¯ll have to either widen it or find another way.¡±

    ¡°The way, farm boy, is you shut your gob and get moving.¡± Cole said in a pleasant tone. Vash had heard it enough to know that the friendlier Cole got, the angrier and more dangerous he was. ¡°We¡¯re behind and I¡¯m below quota.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t worth it to protest. Either he would attempt the deed, or he would earn a beating. Attempting the deed at least held the possibility that he would earn enough to avoid the notice of the Athairian monks who ran the Penitent Detail. The monks of Athair, king of the gods, the law-giver, were far more strict than any cleric Vash had ever met. That they disliked the other ¡®lesser¡¯ races was common knowledge. Vash had learned to avoid their notice whenever possible.

    Taking a few deep breaths, Vash gave a hard exhale, forcing as much air out of his lungs as possible, then squirmed into the widest crack he could find. The jagged rock face scratched and scraped against his body, tearing new rents in his tunic. Vash winced as the stone scraped his face and compressed against his skull.

    <i>Just a bit further. It can¡¯t be that far until it opens up.</i> Vash thought, his lungs beginning to burn with the desire to take a breath.

    He knew from experience that if he inhaled now, he wouldn¡¯t get a full breath, and the expansion of his chest would get him stuck. His instinct would be to gasp, which would lead to panic, which would not get him out of there any sooner.

    Ignoring the pain and fear, Vash pushed on, forcing his body through the narrow crevice. He could feel his hair being yanked out as it snagged on the rock. Warm blood trickled down his chest, sharp outcroppings digging shallow furrows into his flesh.

    Ahead was only darkness, a deeper shadow that drank in the light. Vash pushed forward, panic setting in. The crack was getting narrower. He forced his skull through yet another too-small variation in the rock, only to feel it wedge tight with the next shift.

    <i>Oh no,</i> Vash thought, dread seizing him in the pit of his stomach.

    His lungs burned. Skin scraped raw, throbbed and wept blood, soaking his tunic. Vash wanted to cry out, but he couldn¡¯t take a breath, just tiny gasps. His ribs strained to expand, almost breaking themselves in his desperation to breathe.

    The light faded. Footsteps retreated behind him, leaving him alone in the crevice.

    <i>Is Cole leaving me here?</i> Vash thought, now in a full panic. He wanted to cry out, but didn¡¯t have the breath to make more noise than a whimper.

    In moments, darkness enveloped him completely, making the air feel thick.

    <i>No, not like this. Please.</i>

    His own sobs and whimpers sounded far away, swallowed by the hungry darkness.

    ¡°Please¡­¡±

    <hr>

    Vash awoke with a start. He was in darkness, but not the absolute darkness of the silver mines. Suppressing a shudder, Vash rubbed his eyes.

    <i>It¡¯s been a while since I thought about those days.</i>

    Blinking, and trying to get his eyes to focus in the deep gloom, Vash struggled to sit up. He could feel his legs pinned beneath something. His legs still had feeling in them, but no pain, so that was a good thing. Shifting, he looked behind him. A large, misshapen lump lay across his knees. Despite his largely depleted core, Vash directed a tiny trickle of energy into his elvish sight. The world brightened and colors were more vibrant; he felt the odd sensation of lenses shifting within his eyes as details leaped out at him.

    The misshapen lump was the corpse of the Hollowmound Queen. A huge rent ran down the middle of her body from where he had stabbed her. The fall mangled and twisted her humanoid form. Small puddles of sticky greenish fluid gathered under the bulk of her body.

    Vash shoved at the creature¡¯s abdomen, pushing it off his legs enough to pull them out from beneath. He stretched his legs and feet. Aside from some bruising, he couldn¡¯t feel anything wrong, which was a relief.

    His left hand, however, felt strange. Vash remembered he had clutched the soulstone with that hand, used it to connect to the dungeon heart and the heartstones. He could still feel the strange, pulsating lake of mana, just beyond his reach. Shaking his head, Vash tried to concentrate on his hand, to see what damage had been done.

    Even with his enhanced sight, Vash couldn¡¯t make out any details. The only difference he could tell was that his left hand felt more distant, like a ghost of a limb rather than an actual part of his body. It was disconcerting, and he knew there likely was some damage, but he couldn¡¯t dwell on it now.

    <i>One step at a time.</i> Vash thought. <i>Figure out where I am and if anyone else is down here with me.</i>

    Broadly speaking, the first part was obvious. Any dungeon grew out of one place, and that was the Underlands. The vast world beneath the world that was simply known as ¡®the Underlands¡¯ was a complex ecosystem of creatures who adapted to and embraced the shadow. Most adventurers only had the most fleeting experience with the Underlands, since their jobs were to seal off any places where the Underlands broke through into the world above. Tracking down and sealing these ¡°eruptions¡± occupied most of a Wayfarer¡¯s time.

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    <i>From how far down the Mossfen dungeon went, and how far I likely fell, I must be pretty deep at this point.</i> Vash thought, straining to see where he and the Queen had fallen.

    A long, steeply sloping ridge stretched up several hundred feet into the gloom above. Vash could barely make out a few muted patches of glowmoss on the cavern ceiling. The destruction of the dungeon heart had likely sapped the area of its ambient mana, dimming the glowmoss. Mana was seeping back into the area. Vash could see patches of glowmoss starting giving off weak blue and purple illumination here and there.

    ¡°Corwin!¡± Vash called. ¡°Jabez!¡±

    His voice bounced and echoed around the cavern, sounding strange and weak in the darkness.

    ¡°Either they can¡¯t answer,¡± Vash muttered. ¡°Or they can¡¯t hear me. Neither are good options.¡±

    Grunting, Vash pulled himself to his feet. A wave of unsteadiness passed through him, as well as weakness and hunger. <i>I used too much mana, now my body is desperate to replace it.</i>

    Luckily, his pack was still fastened securely to his back and the straps on his belt. Reaching into one pouch, he found a hard, square piece of travel bread. Vash gnawed on a corner of the hard, flavorless biscuit as he thought about his situation.

    <i>I¡¯m in the Underlands. Likely wounded my hand, but no idea how badly yet. I have some supplies, but it¡¯s only a few days at most. Corwin and Jabez were carrying most of our food and we¡¯d planned to stock up with the proceeds from the quest. </i>Vash thought, scanning the area around where he fell while the glowmoss steadily grew in brightness. <i>Food I can deal with. I¡¯ve been hungry before, and with what I¡¯m carrying, I can stretch it out for a week or more. Water is going to be more of a problem. </i>

    Vash tested the waterskin hooked in easy reach on his pack. They¡¯d filled up that morning before setting out for the ruin, but the hard traveling and fighting in the ruin itself had been thirsty work. He had drained it nearly by half. I¡¯ll have to find a water supply soon.

    Luck was apparently on his side, for once, because on the edge of hearing he could just make out the sound of running water. It was hard to pinpoint with the echoes of the surrounding cavern, but Vash figured that the sound was coming from somewhere to his right.

    Vash turned back to the body of the Hollowmound Queen and searched the ground nearby for his dropped weapons. He found his dagger still lodged in the abdomen of the Queen. Sticky ichor covered the blade. Wiping it down as best he could, Vash then sheathed it, resolving to give everything a good cleaning once he made camp.

    A few minutes of searching amid the rubble turned up Vash¡¯s short sword. A bad nick marred one edge, and Vash¡¯s use of the sword as an improvised piton scratched and dulled the tip.

    <i>I¡¯ll have to be careful about that damage.</i> Vash thought. <i>That chip is going to weaken the blade, might break at an inopportune time.</i>

    He sighed. It was another complication to add to the list. Vash turned away from the body of the Queen. ¡°No use putting it off any further. Time to get moving.¡±

    Carefully picking his way through the broken stones and uneven ground, Vash slowly made his way towards the sound of the water. It was slow going at first, finding his way through all the loose stones in the deep darkness. Surviving the ruin and the fall would be pointless if he sprained or broke his ankle down here, far away from any help.

    The disruption of the local mana was stabilizing itself. Glowmoss gradually brightened until the cavern had a dim, twilight illumination. Large patches on the rocks above cast pale blue light onto to the cave floor. Vash could now see more than a few feet in front of him. The destruction of the dungeon heart had done more damage than he¡¯d thought.

    Large sections of worked stone had slid down the steep slope, leaving a gaping hole in the rock above. Parts of the ruin had smashed through stone outcroppings and paths that once lead down to the cavern floor. Chunks of stone work and fallen rocks turned a flat section of the cavern into a kind of twisting maze of unstable piles of rubble.

    Slowly, Vash wound his way through the crumbling detritus, and the sound of running water grew louder. <i>I must have been further away than I thought. That sounds like more than a trickle.</i>

    Skirting the corner of what had probably once been a room in the ruin above, Vash stopped and quickly took cover in the shadows. He had heard the indistinct murmur of voices up ahead. <i>It could be Corwin and Jabez, but it could also be¡­well, I have no idea what else it could be, but unlikely to be something good.</i>

    Vash crept towards the sound of the voices, careful to keep to the shadows and move as silently as possible. A few more yards and he could see the pale yellow glow of an alchemical lantern, like the ones that Zakarias¡¯ servants had been carrying. He held back. <i>There¡¯s no chance that those two survived all that. Maybe Zakarias came down here after things calmed down?</i>

    ¡°I swear I heard him over there somewhere.¡± Came a familiar voice.

    <i>Corwin?</i>

    ¡°I heard something, too. Doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s Vash.¡± answered the gruff voice of Jabez. ¡°The echoes play tricks on your ears. Also, there are things down here that like to lure you out into the dark. Don¡¯t be so quick to charge off.¡±

    Vash risked a peek around the side of the rock. An empty stretch of rock stood between his hiding place and a crevasse carved in the stone. A good-sized river flowed through the channel in the rock, the sound of its rushing waters muted by the large conical stones that rose here and there on the edge of the crevasse. They looked like trees made of stone.

    On the far side of the crevasse, fifty or sixty feet from where Vash stood, were Corwin and Jabez. Corwin stood on the edge of the drop off, holding a beat-up alchemical lantern. He had torn and dirty clothes, scratched armor, and bruises and blood marred his face, but otherwise he seemed unharmed. Jabez sat on a nearby stone, left arm trussed up in a sling, his shoulder bandaged and dark with blood.

    Vash was about to call out to them when a thought struck him. <i>They¡¯re on the far side of that crevasse. I can¡¯t get to them, and they can¡¯t get to me. I could just¡­leave, and no one would know. They¡¯d think I was dead. </i>

    The thought was tantalizing. He could find his way to the surface somehow. Then he could find one of the other Eth Mitaan cells. They operated in several major cities in Galadon. Make up a new identity, then track down Iona and then¡­

    <i>Then what?</i> Vash thought. <i>Iona and Byar specifically wanted me in the Wayfarers, wanted me to take jobs like this. Coming back like that wouldn¡¯t look good. </i>

    The bronze medallion on his chest thrummed slightly, echoing a pulse of mana.

    <i>Then there¡¯s that thing.</i>

    ¡°Vash!¡± Corwin called, looking in his direction. ¡°Can you hear me?¡±

    <i>It was a nice thought while it lasted</i>. Vash sighed and stepped out from behind the rocks.

    ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± He called, crossing the open stone to the edge of the crevasse, opposite Corwin.

    Corwin lit up with a bright smile of relief. ¡°Thank the gods you¡¯re all right!¡±

    ¡°More or less.¡± Vash said, flexing his left hand. The numb strangeness had intensified during his walk to the river. He had avoided looking at it in the growing light, afraid of what he might see. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°You tell me.¡± Corwin said, shrugging. ¡°I came to when the whole damn floor collapsed. Luckily, the pit was over an entry slope, so the drop wasn¡¯t too bad. But the ruin came down with us, smashed everything up pretty good. No way we¡¯re getting up that slope without climbing gear.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t do us any good, anyway.¡± Jabez said, limping to the river¡¯s edge. ¡°That was an old ruin, primed to destroy itself when the dungeon heart was¡­slain, I guess. There will be nothing up there but collapsed tunnels and random rocks.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s comforting.¡± Vash said. ¡°So now what do we do? How do I get over there?¡±

    Corwin shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think you can. This crevasse is wider than you think. The light plays tricks on you down here. Somewhere between sixty and a hundred feet. No way to jump it.¡±

    ¡°Ropes?¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°With the beating we all took, I don¡¯t want to risk any stunts like that if we don¡¯t have to.¡± Jabez said, face grimacing in pain as he shifted his shoulder. ¡°However, I think I know where we are, which is a lucky thing down here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡± Vash said.

    ¡°If I¡¯m right, then this is Deeprush River.¡± Jabez said, looking down at the rushing water somewhere in the dark below. ¡°About three days¡¯ travel upriver is the waterfall that is its source. The falls come through a breach in the Thunder Hills, a breach at the Wayfarer stronghold of Amical Falls. If we can follow the river, we¡¯ll come up right under the strongest Wayfarer Lodge in Galadon.¡±

    Vash looked down at the darkness below, turning left to see if he could gauge where the river ran. Small blotches of glowmoss illuminated islands in the sea of darkness. He could see that somewhere close, the crevasse widened, which would force him further away from Corwin and Jabez.

    ¡°Three days.¡± Vash said. ¡°I¡¯d be on my own, in the Underlands, for three days.¡±

    Vash could barely make out Jabez¡¯s nod from this distance. ¡°Keep close to the river. Only stop when you absolutely have to. Still got your <i>Gideon¡¯s Guide</i>?¡±

    ¡°I do.¡±

    ¡°Good. There¡¯s some good information in the delving chapters.¡± Jabez said. ¡°Rule of thumb, anything that looks strange: avoid it at all costs. Understand?¡±

    ¡°Do I have a choice?¡±

    ¡°Not really.¡±

    Vash took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ¡°Three days.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll meet you at the falls.¡± Corwin called across the divide. ¡°I promise.¡±

 Episode 26: Roots of the World

    The pinpoint of light that was Corwin and Jabez¡¯s lantern faded amid the stalagmites on the far side of the river. They left Vash with the other lantern, but with three days of travel ahead and no way to refuel it, he left it hooked to his pack for now.

    ¡°I¡¯ll use it in an actual emergency.¡± Vash said to himself, more because he needed to hear a person¡¯s voice in the eerily silent cavern than because it needed to be said. ¡°No use running it dry because I need a night-light.¡±

    He had been traveling for a few hours; he guessed. It was hard to tell the passage of time in the gloomy twilight of the glowmoss. Corwin and Jabez had kept pace with him, for a time, on their side of the river. Eventually, a sheer drop-off to the water below forced them away from the canyon¡¯s edge. At that point, they had all said their last farewells, and Corwin and Jabez followed the cliff to find another way forward.

    Vash moved slowly, keeping them in sight for as long as possible. Hating to admit that he just didn¡¯t want to be alone down here.

    <i>We¡¯re always alone, Sparrow. </i>Vash remembered Iona saying one night in the temple beneath the great Ironwood tree in Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow. As the latest recruit to the Eth Mitaan, Vash felt isolated from the rest of the Masks. He mentioned it to Iona, feeling lonely and isolated.

    <i>We¡¯re a lonely ghost operating the strings of a marionette made of meat</i>. Iona said, and although she had smiled, there was a tinge of sadness to it. <i>What we do is going to separate you from others. Even when you take your oaths and receive the eyes of the Hunter, you¡¯ll still be that lonely ghost locked inside your own head. You don¡¯t have to like it, but you have to make peace with it. Connection is a luxury that our kind just can¡¯t afford.</i>

    Vash chuckled at the irony. In the space of less than a week, he had lost most of his brothers and sisters in the Eth Mitaan, joined a new brotherhood with the Wayfarers, and now he was separated from them.

    ¡°If I were a superstitious man, I¡¯d think I was cursed.¡±

    When the dot of light disappeared into the blue-gray gloom, Vash felt an icy shiver creep up his spine. He had been alone in dangerous situations before. The Underlands were something entirely different. A kind of liminal space between the light and life of the world above and the death, silence, and darkness of the shadow.

    ¡°All right, Vash.¡± He muttered to himself, resettling his pack and looking to the path ahead. ¡°No use being broody and philosophical. Save that for when you¡¯re at a tavern and you can blame it on the wine.¡±

    Following the canyon, Vash picked up the pace. His side of the river had a fairly flat area of stone and earth bordering the rushing water. A few stalagmites stretched towards the ceiling high above, but were easy to avoid, even in the low light. The absence of any other sounds was the hard part for him. Aside from his own footsteps and the flow of the river, there was nothing, as though the rock swallowed sound as well as light.

    His mind kept trying to trick him into hearing things that weren¡¯t there. Another set of footsteps behind him, or something scurrying among the tall rocks off to his left. Vash would pause occasionally and listen, eventually having to move on when it turned out to be just his imagination.

    Beyond the basic paranoia, his stomach continued to rumble. Gnawing on a piece of travel bread kept the hunger from overwhelming him, but he knew eventually he would have to stop and really eat something. Also, his left hand itched and throbbed. Vash had been afraid to really look at it. In the darkness, he could see that several scabs had formed on the palm of his hand, making the skin there rougher. It didn¡¯t really hurt, just felt strange, but he had been around enough magical things to know that some of them had terrible effects that showed up hours or days later.

    ¡°I¡¯ll look at it when I have to rest,¡± Vash told himself, continuing to march forward. ¡°No use worrying about it now, since it isn¡¯t stopping me from traveling.¡±

    He tried not to worry when his Wayfarer medallion sent out brief pulses of healing magic. The itching remained on his palm and Vash willed himself not to scratch or worry the scabs.

    The side of the canyon sloped down. Vash could barely feel it. After a few hours of travel, however, Vash found himself walking on the rocky shore of the river. The wide, pitch-black, flow of water moved swiftly, but quietly. Vash couldn¡¯t see any rocks protruding from the water. It was likely that the river was so old that it had worn down any rocks in its way, giving it a deceptively placid look.

    Vash paused at the river¡¯s edge, tasting the water using a cupped hand. It was cold, clean, with a faint metallic taste. His Core didn¡¯t pulse any warnings, so Vash filled his water bottle, drank his fill, then refilled the bottle.

    ¡°At least there¡¯s water.¡± Vash said, stoppering the bottle and attaching it to his pack. Then a thought struck him. ¡°Water draws animals, prey. Which then draws predators.¡±

    He sighed. ¡°Even when there¡¯s something good, there¡¯s a downside.¡±

    He moved on, staying on his guard this close to the river. Who knew what he would run into looking for a drink?

    Before long, Vash noticed that the dim light was fading. He looked up at the large glowmoss patches on the cave ceiling. The patches faded to almost nothing, a dot here and there, like stars in the deep velvet blackness above.

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    He also realized that he was bone tired.

    ¡°Seems like a good enough excuse to make camp, I suppose.¡± Vash said to himself. He lit the alchemical lamp, bathing the area in a muted yellow light. After a few minutes of searching, he found a small niche that would serve as a campsite. Ringed by high rocky surfaces, the small nook was close enough to the river that he wouldn¡¯t lose his way, but set far enough back that anything casually passing by would not notice him.

    With a sigh of relief, Vash slid the straps of his pack off his shoulders. He let out an involuntary groan when he rolled his shoulders. The healing magic from the Wayfarer amulet had done a decent job of muting the worst of the travel soreness. However, with all the injuries and exertion that he had put his body through, there was a limit to what the amulet could do.

    ¡°Speaking of injuries,¡± Vash said, steeling himself. ¡°No use putting it off.¡±

    He knelt beside the lamp and brought his left hand into the light. Vash grimaced at the damage that the soulstone had done when he¡¯d grasped it. A circular scar now dominated his palm. The flesh was rough and thick, like a brand, discolored with a strange grayish hue. Jagged lines radiated out from his palm like branches, wrapping around his wrist and back between his fingers.

    Vash flexed his fingers experimentally. The scars did not seem to affect his dexterity. Aside from some itching and a slight numbness close to the scars themselves, they might as well have been tattoos or some stray dirt that marked his hand.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just some sort of bruise.¡± Vash mused, examining the markings. ¡°I know I¡¯m not that lucky, though. This will probably come back to bite me in the ass when I least expect it.¡±

    He shook his head, resolving to visit a healer as soon as he could, but deciding it wasn¡¯t worth worrying about at the moment. Sifting through his pack, Vash found a packet of trail rations and his <i>Gideon¡¯s Guide</i>.

    The packet contained a modest meal of dried meat, travel bread, and a hunk of hard cheese. Not exactly a feast, but enough to keep him going. Vash tucked into the meat and cheese while flipping through the <i>Gideon¡¯s Guide</i>. The first few pages he opened to dealt with adventuring in the Underlands.

    ¡°Convenient.¡± Vash said around a mouthful of cheese. ¡°Every time I open this book, it goes right to what I need. I wonder if there¡¯s some sort of enchantment on it, or it¡¯s just laid out really well.¡±

    <blockquote>

    <i>When the subject of adventuring in the Underlands comes up among Wayfarers, by far the most popular piece of advice seems to be this: ¡°don¡¯t¡±. Even dwarves, subterranean masters that they are, avoid the wilderness of the true Underlands. The eternal darkness of the shadow lingers here more heavily than in any place on the surface. Creatures of nightmare lurk in hidden places, far away from the cleansing light. When you enter the Underlands, you enter the domain of the shadow. Make no mistake, you are not welcome here.</i>

    <cite></cite></blockquote>

    ¡°That seems a bit melodramatic.¡± Vash said, scanning the margins for any helpful notes that the previous owner had seen fit to scribble.

    <blockquote>

    <i>For once, I agree with Gideon. The Underlands are dangerous in a way few truly understand. Avoid a deep delving, if at all possible.</i>

    <cite></cite></blockquote>

    Vash paused in chewing to take that in. ¡°Well, that¡¯s alarming.¡±

    He skipped ahead. Warnings about the dangers of adventuring in the deep places of the world didn¡¯t really help if you were already there. The next section went into the basic ecology of the Underlands, and the first bit was actually pertinent to his current situation.

    <blockquote>

    <i>The first time one experiences a glowmoss ¡®shuttering¡¯, it is alarming. Rest assured, this is a very natural cycle in the Underlands. In fact, the dimming of glowmoss is very similar to a sunset on the surface. Every twelve hours, glowmoss blooms constrict and enter a hibernation cycle, absorbing ambient mana and processing other nutrition that it has pulled from the world. Unless there is a serious disruption of the area¡¯s mana cycle, then the glowmoss will bloom again around dawn. </i>

    <cite></cite></blockquote>

    ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Vash said, popping another piece of dried beef into his mouth and taking a drink from his water bottle to soften it up. A small note in the margin gave extra advice, as usual.

    <blockquote>

    <i>¡®Night¡¯ in the Underlands is very similar to above ground. This is when the most dangerous predators hunt. Take care to find a defensible place to set up camp. It¡¯s also crucial to set a watch. Traveling alone in the Underlands is NOT advised.</i>

    <cite></cite></blockquote>

    ¡°Really?¡± Vash muttered around his mouthful of dried dinner. ¡°It¡¯s so inviting down here. I can¡¯t imagine anything dangerous.¡± He was exhausted, frustrated, and several small wounds were making themselves known now that he had stopped moving. For a moment, he considered putting the book back into his pack and grabbing what sleep he could. Then, one of the margin notes further down the page caught his eye.<blockquote>

    <i>Turn to page 374.</i>

    <cite></cite></blockquote>

    Vash blinked in surprise. The helpful notes in the margins were one thing, but the explicit instructions made him suspicious that this wasn¡¯t just some helpful adventurer¡¯s notebook. He stared down at the faded ink for a long time. Finally, he decided he was overthinking the situation. ¡°Fuck it, it¡¯s a book. What could happen?¡±

    Flipping through the book, Vash came to page 374. It was one of several blank pages provided by the <i>Guide</i> to allow readers to take notes. Like the margins throughout the rest of the book, the same cramped writing filled this page, along with a drawing of a river canyon and its surrounding lands.

    Squinting at the drawing, Vash saw the name <i>Amical Falls</i> scrawled at one end of the canyon.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s just too convenient.¡± Vash said, giving the book a suspicious glare.

    The book remained silent. No further instructions to turn pages or helpful explanations. Just a map and a few landmarks noted along the river route north to the falls.

    ¡°It could just be a coincidence.¡± Vash said after looking over the map for a few minutes. ¡°A delver from the area would want to put some information about the local Underlands. Makes sense, right?¡±

    The book didn¡¯t answer.

    ¡°It¡¯s worth taking a look, even if it¡¯s wrong or out of date. Having some idea of what¡¯s ahead could be helpful.¡± He said, trying to convince himself. Mostly, he didn¡¯t want a reason to turn out the lamp. The glow of his little light was comforting against the deep darkness that surrounded him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just read a little bit,¡± Vash rationalized. ¡°To get ready for the journey tomorrow. Then I¡¯ll get some sleep.¡±

    <blockquote>

    <i>Rest is vitally important when traveling the Underlands. Be warned, however, the mix of heavy ambient mana and the shadows¡¯ continued influence makes dreams especially vivid and strange. Sometimes, depending on the dreamer, you might see glimpses of the future. Usually, though, they¡¯re just terrifying.</i>

    <cite></cite></blockquote>

    Vash rubbed his eyes and groaned. ¡°Gods dammit.¡±

 Episode 27: A Walk In The Dark

    Sleep didn¡¯t come easily. Vash finally turned out the lantern and wrapped himself in his bedroll. The strange ghost-sounds of the Underlands kept him on edge for a long time. Even keeping his dagger clasped in one hand did little to assuage his anxiety. Finally, exhaustion claimed him, dragging his mind down into a blessedly dreamless sleep.

    Vash awoke to the sound of splashing water accompanied by low grunts and growls. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, but the glowmoss had bloomed, bathing the Underlands in the strange bruised twilight color that Vash was becoming accustomed to.

    The splashing and growls grew louder, like a fight was going on at the river¡¯s edge. Vash peered out from his niche among the stalagmites. He could barely make out vague shapes at the shore. The larger one seemed to be trying to pull a smaller one up onto land.

    Gingerly tapping into his Core, Vash felt the warm relief of full mana. With practiced ease, he activated <i>Enhance Ability</i>, focusing on his sight. After a moment of discomfort while Vash¡¯s elvish eyes adjusted themselves, the world grew brighter and he could see what had been making all that noise.

    Immediately, Vash wished he hadn¡¯t.

    Surprisingly, the two large creatures that fought at the riverbank did not make more noise. The first was humanoid, but easily a half-head taller than even Corwin. Thick, night-black scales ran down its back, flanking a decorative frill that adorned the creature¡¯s spine. It wore a kind of skirt made from dark leather, slit up the sides to allow its powerful legs freedom of movement. A thick, muscular tail thrashed behind it, acting of its own accord. The creature¡¯s face was elongated, with a blunt snout and a heavy jaw. That jaw, Vash could see, held scores of sharp teeth that were currently buried deeply in the body of its opponent. Vash had seen a creature like this before, but smaller and far less alive.

    A Scaleback, the lizard-men of the marshlands.

    <i>Apparently, some of them live in the Underlands as well.</i> Vash thought.

    The second creature was a huge, milk-pale flatworm. Its body was long and wide to better help it move through the water. The worm pulsed and undulated in the scaleback¡¯s claws, moving with an unsettling, boneless manner. Suddenly, the worm whipped its ¡°head¡± around, pushing forward a solid mass from somewhere in its body. The hemispherical mass formed something like the head of a hammer, colliding with the scaleback with brutal force.

    A meaty <i>thwack</i> resounded over the splashes. The scaleback let out a throaty hiss of pain and surprise, letting go of the worm and staggering away from the creature. Stumbling and heavily favoring one side, the scaleback retreated to the safety of the rocky shore, trying to get out of the worms reach. But it was too late. The worm whipped itself around again, slamming its solid head into the scaleback. This time, the lizard-man took a blow across the face. Vash could see the side of the creature¡¯s head cave in, leaving behind a grotesque, pulped mass.

    The scaleback collapsed into the shallows of the river and the worm continued to hammer it over and over with the strange solid mass it formed within its body. Vash winced when he heard bones snap and the wet slap of flesh being pulverized.

    It was over in a few moments. The scaleback stopped moving, and the worm, once satisfied that its opponent was dead, dragged the body back with it into the water. The creature¡¯s grotesque, star-shaped mouth was already elongating to envelop the newly softened body of the scaleback.

    When the worm finally disappeared beneath the surface of the water, all that was left of their conflict was a small puddle of blood slowly seeping into the stone.

    Vash waited as long as he could, as silently as he could. Waiting for what might happen next. Once he was certain that it was over, Vash relaxed slightly. The battle had been a mere few feet from where he lay. Either creature could have come upon him in the night and killed him before he had time to react.

    Shivering from the sudden surge of adrenaline, Vash hurriedly packed up his camp, taking special care to make sure his weapons were clean and moved freely in their scabbards. Within a few minutes, Vash had everything stowed in his pack and he was ready to move on.

    But he hesitated.

    <i>It¡¯s just fear.</i> Vash thought. <i>Nothing you haven¡¯t faced a thousand times before</i>.

    This was different, though, and he could feel it. The Underlands were far beyond anything Vash had ever faced. He was also alone, again, for the first time in a long while. He hated to admit it, but that was something that frightened him to his core. No one to watch his back, no one to watch while he slept.

    ¡°Three days.¡± Vash murmured, eyes drawn to the puddle of blood on the stones. The dim blue light made the blood look black, just like the color of the river water.

    <i>I fear no shadow, for I am shadow. </i>The words echoed in his mind. A familiar mantra that Iona taught him in those early days, when the nightmares had been at their worst. It meant more than just fear of the dark. The shadow itself, the embodiment of evil on the mortal plane, the Eth Mitaan did not fear it, scoffed at those who did. For they knew the truth: the shadow was a part of every living being.

    <i>No light without shadow.</i> Vash thought, tightening the straps of his pack, then taking the first step out from his hiding place.

    ¡°I fear not death, for I am death.¡± Vash said, his voice steadying, the prayer doing as intended, focusing his mind and banishing childish fear.<i>

    </i>

    <i>No life without death.</i> Vash thought, starting his trek along the river, careful to keep one eye on the calm waters. <i>Death is a part of us all.</i>

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean I want to welcome death <i>this</i> early.¡±

    <hr>

    Progress along the riverbank was slower than Vash had hoped. The way was often blocked by some obstacle that he had to either go around or over. Also, the river twisted and turned, often looping back on itself as it continued to carve its way deeper into the earth.

    A series of rapids created a confusing and loud section of his journey. The water sheared through the soft rock, making nearly sheer walls as it descended. Vash had to move onto tiny toe-paths while he tried to follow the river.

    He crept along the slick rock, clinging to hand holds while shuffling along. More than once, his foot slipped and Vash quickly summoned Enhance Ability to give him the strength to cling to the rock long enough to regain his footing. The spray from the rapids was soaking into his clothes, making him wet, cold and miserable.

    ¡°I really hate this place.¡± Vash said, gritting his teeth as the ledge of rock that he was inching along narrowed again.

    Ahead, the rock ledge ended in a sheer drop-off. Vash approached it warily and peered over the edge. Roughly twenty feet of pitted stone were between him and another ledge further down. The path was too far above the river for Vash to see it clearly. He could hear the roaring of the water, and it was loud enough that the river couldn¡¯t be too far down.

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    ¡°Still, a drop like that is likely to kill me,¡± Vash grumbled. He looked around for any other way forward, but only saw more glistening rocks and empty space filled with roiling spray from the river below.

    ¡°Gods-fucking-dammit!¡± Vash said, his voice coming out in an angry hiss. He gritted his teeth in frustration, unable to come up with a curse vile enough for how he felt. Taking a deep breath, Vash steadied himself. Lashing out and throwing a tantrum wasn¡¯t going to help in this situation.

    ¡°Nothing for it but to climb, I guess,¡± Vash said, gazing down at the climb with a bitter scowl.

    Setting his feet firmly, Vash mentally gathered up his frustration, fear, and fatigue. He let those feelings sink into the deep well of his mind, letting calm and focus settle over him. Vash called up <i>Enhance Ability</i>, mentally splitting the Talent to fuel his strength and agility. He would need both for the climb down. Mana flowed out from his Core, warming his muscles and filling them with strength and vitality. His balance shifted, putting him on a more advantageous footing. Vash tamped down any lingering doubts and reached around the corner of the rock wall to find his first hand hold.

    The descent was long and difficult. Wet stone made footing treacherous and Vash had to keep pouring mana into the strength to maintain his grip. Memories of the mines floated up as the rock bit into the flesh of his hands.

    ¡°This is the opposite problem, though.¡± Vash said to himself as another moment of panic threatened to break through his calm. ¡°In the mines, everything was too close, too small. Here, the danger is that I¡¯m hanging out over a <i>FUCKING FIFTY-FOOT DROP</i>!¡±

    Cursing seemed to help with the old fears, and they went scurrying back to the depths of his mind while he concentrated on the task at hand.

    Finally, he reached the next ledge of stone. This one was at least wide enough for his whole foot to stand on. Releasing Enhance Ability, Vash felt every muscle in his arms, hands, and back screaming at him. He hoped that there wouldn¡¯t be another section like that until he had a chance to rest awhile.

    The ledge continued along the rock wall and finally began to open onto a wider path. After some time, the path finally widened into enough space to sit. Vash gratefully dropped his pack and sank down, leaning his back against the rock wall. His shoulders and legs ached terribly, and his stomach rumbled in protest. Vash hadn¡¯t had anything to eat since the night before. First the fight between the Scaleback and the Hammerworm had pushed him to get moving quickly, then the treacherous climb had meant stopping for anything other than a sip of water from his waterskin was out of the question.

    Vash drank deeply from his waterskin and unwrapped some cheese and travel bread from his small store of rations. He let himself take a moment to enjoy just being off his feet and getting some food into his belly, meager fare that it was.

    The path was sloping downwards, back to level with the river. Vash could see the water again, a black surface dappled with the blue-white glow from the glowmoss far above. It moved swiftly past him, sweeping down the way he came towards the cataracts. The river was wider here. He could barely see the opposite bank.

    Vash scanned the dim outlines of rocks and cliffs on the far side of the river, searching for the pinprick of yellow light that would indicate Corwin and Jabez were nearby. He hadn¡¯t seen them since their paths diverged the previous day.

    ¡°Stupid,¡± Vash said to himself. ¡°With all the obstacles I¡¯ve run into on this side, if their path is any easier, they¡¯d be half a day or more in front of me.¡±

    He didn¡¯t want to consider the alternative, that the other Wayfarers were behind him, slowed by their injuries or they ran afoul of the Scalebacks. The lizard-men in the marshes on the surface were known to be maneaters, and generally difficult to deal with.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯re fine.¡± Vash said, shaking his head and eating the last of his cheese. He tucked the travel bread into a pouch for easy snacking as he traveled, then picked up his pack again.

    As Vash buckled on his pack, he spotted motion up ahead, where the river bent and widened into a small lake. He saw dark shapes moving against the glowmoss that grew along the shore of the lake. It was the first patches of the stuff that he had seen that wasn¡¯t on the cavern roof.

    Careful to keep still and not attract any attention, Vash watched the dark shapes for a time. The shapes didn¡¯t move like anything he was familiar with, and were too far away to look like anything more than dark blobs against the glowing background.

    <i>Great</i>, Vash thought, <i>just when I got comfortable talking to myself</i>.

    Though he was still a good distance away, Vash walked slowly and cautiously along the path. He kept close to the wall and made sure that no lights shone behind him to give whatever was up ahead a clear view of his silhouette.

    After a hundred feet, the path sloped down to a floor of coarse black sand. Large boulders stood in groups of three or four, making multiple paths along the beach. Vash could see patches of glowmoss in the crevices of the boulders. Wide, shelf-like mushrooms also clung to the rocks. Their color was difficult to make out in the dim light, but they looked similar to fungus that grew in the forests around Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow. Pale flesh spotted with dark blotches on top, delicate gill-like structures below.

    Vash was careful not to touch anything as he moved. Some mushrooms he knew of would release spores if disturbed. He didn¡¯t want to find out what the spores of the mushrooms in the Underlands would do.

    It took Vash more than an hour to get close enough to really see the bend in the river where he¡¯d first spotted the dark shapes. Huge pillars of rock, where stalactites and stalagmites had fused over the centuries, stood sentinel over a wedge-shaped promontory of rock that jutted out into the small lake. Glowmoss spread from the roof of the cavern down along the pillars and onto the nearby boulders. The result was a kind of glade or marsh where the water had slowed.

    Pale white grass stood at about waist-high, and reeds with oddly bulbous tops poked out of the shallows. The shelf mushrooms also grew here, as well as large, wide-capped mushrooms with colorful luminescent patterns.

    Vash might have found the scene fascinating, even beautiful, except for what was also in the shallows.

    Tents of bone and a strange, pale leather sprung up like toadstools in the high grass. Racks of fish hung off of racks leaning against the boulders. Moving through the plants and the tents, wading in the shallows or working while squatting on flat rocks were Scalebacks.

    It was an entire tribe, from what Vash could see. The huge bulls lazed in the shallows, floating with their large yellow eyes half-lidded. Smaller females were busy with numerous tasks around the camp, carefully avoiding where the bulls floated. Small hatchlings clung to their mothers in a clump, squeaky croaks demanding food or attention.

    A hatchling wandered too close to a bull that lounged in the damp sand. The large male snapped at it, and only luck kept the hatchling from becoming a mid-afternoon snack.

    <i>That¡¯s a lot of Scalebacks.</i> Vash thought.

    Now that he was looking, he could make out the irregular forms of other Scalebacks at a distance from the camp. They crouched, motionless, gripping spears or heavy clubs. Sentries, watching for any threat to their camp.

    Vash could see sentries stationed all around the camp. They were at a distance that cut off any access to the shore of the lake or the river.

    <i>I won¡¯t be able to get close to the river</i>. Vash thought. <i>I¡¯ll have to go around.</i>

    He glanced off into the distance. Away from the river, the terrain became rougher. Caves and tunnels lead away from the river cavern, but he couldn¡¯t tell if any of them lead back to it.

    <i>I¡¯m just going to have to risk it</i>. Vash thought.

    Slowly, carefully, he moved towards the closest tunnel that appeared to be going in the right direction. The tunnel entrance was wide enough for three people to walk abreast, but Vash couldn¡¯t see any glowmoss growing anywhere. After a few steps inside, all light faded away.

    <i>I¡¯m going to have to use my lantern.</i> Vash thought. <i>Even using Talents, there won¡¯t be enough light to see my way.</i>

    He crept inside the tunnel until he was far enough for the light from his lantern to be obscured by the boulders at the tunnel¡¯s mouth. Vash adjusted the knobs on the lantern and a soft, yellow light bloomed inside the alchemical sphere within.

    Light pushed back the shadows in the tunnel and Vash felt some relief. Any light stronger than the dim glowmoss illumination relieved some of the anxiety of traveling in the darkness.

    A low growling hiss from further down the tunnel brought it right back.

    Yellow reflective eyes appeared about ten feet away. A shadow uncoiled itself from where it crouched at the first bend in the tunnel. As it moved, Vash could see the light glinting off of obsidian-black scales. The large, muscular tail swept black sand back as the Scaleback bull rose up to its full height. The reptilian face looked down at Vash with cold indifference.

    Vash stared up at the lizard-man. It was a full head taller than Corwin, so it towered over Vash. Crooked, sharp, white teeth stuck out of the creature¡¯s mouth at odd angles, like its jaws were too small to hold so many instruments of death.

    ¡°Well, shit.¡±

 Episode 28: Hunted

    For a tense second, Vash and the Scaleback just stared at one another, neither making a move. Vash¡¯s fingers twitched, wanting to draw his weapons, but knowing that as soon as he did, the lizard-man would attack. Without taking his eyes from his opponent, Vash used his peripheral vision to take in the tunnel.

    <i>There¡¯s enough room to move, but not enough to get any actual distance. </i>Vash thought quickly. <i>Its mobility will be hampered, but it¡¯ll still have reach on me. I¡¯ll need to rely on speed, and from what I know of these things¡­they¡¯re FAST.</i>

    The thought was like the ringing of a dinner bell. The Scaleback hissed and surged forward, faster than anything Vash had ever fought before. His Core warned him a heartbeat before the Scaleback struck. Vash pivoted and the Scaleback¡¯s jaws snapped in empty air, a hair¡¯s breadth from Vash¡¯s nose. He could smell damp moss and rotted fish as the Scaleback appeared in front of him.

    Vash summoned <i>Enhance Ability</i>, splitting the Talent evenly between general speed and dexterity, and his perception. It wouldn¡¯t help to be fast if he couldn¡¯t tell where the next attack was coming from.

    Leaping back, Vash drew his dagger and short-sword, dropping into a crouch.

    <i>Make yourself as small a target as possible</i>. Iona had taught him. <i>Bigger opponents like to overwhelm you with strength, reach, and size. Don¡¯t let them control the fight.</i>

    The Scaleback growled, launching itself forward again, but angling in anticipation of Vash trying to pivot away from his attack again. Vash¡¯s awareness shifted as his Talent slowed his perception of time, allowing him to think quicker. Rather than pivoting to one side, like before, Vash dropped into a deep stance. He slid his front foot forward, pushing off with the back foot and remaining as low as possible to the ground. The muscles of his thighs protested from the sudden stretch, but he¡¯d worry about that later.

    His Guild medallion was already sending pulses of healing energy to mute any pain.

    As the Scaleback passed above him, Vash picked a point where the leg met its hip and stabbed out as hard as he could with his short sword. The Scaleback twisted. Even with Vash¡¯s Talent bolstering his speed and agility, the creature was just naturally faster. Steel sliced along the Scaleback¡¯s thigh, but instead of a crippling wound, the lizard-man took a shallow cut to the thigh.

    It skidded to a stop, stumbling slightly from the wound on its leg, blood flowing from the long, shallow cut. The Scaleback gave a hissing growl of irritation and adjusted its own footing. The hulking creature shifted its wounded leg back, keeping it out of the way while blood dripped onto the stones beneath its feet. It glared at Vash, yellow eyes going from predatory to an all-to-human anger. Reaching over its shoulder, the Scaleback drew a short spear and held it before itself with practiced ease.

    Not just a big, ugly monster. Vash thought. A fighter, too.

    The Scaleback lunged. Vash parried with his short sword, then barely avoided when the Scaleback stepped through its lunge and slashed with their off-hand. The long fingers, with wickedly sharp claws, cut through the air just in front of Vash. Stepping back, Vash brought up his dagger and scored another shallow cut on his opponent. This time, Vash cut the soft underside of the Scaleback¡¯s forearm. The creature gave a croaking grunt of surprise, pulling its arm back and whipping the spear around in an arc, trying to club Vash with it, knock him off-balance.

    Vash dropped beneath the swinging spear and rolled himself clear on the other side of the Scaleback. He came up from his roll, landing lightly on his feet. His Guild medallion pulsed a warning, but there wasn¡¯t enough time to react. Vash turned slightly and the Scaleback¡¯s tail caught him across the midsection.

    The tail was like getting hit with a club made of muscle and leather. Vash felt his concentration break and his Talents falter. The impact knocked the wind out of his lungs, then he slammed into the tunnel¡¯s rock wall, his head hitting the rough stone. Vash¡¯s vision swam, and his limbs went limp. He crumpled to the ground.

    <i>Get up! GET UP!</i> Vash screamed internally. He knew he had bare heartbeats before the Scaleback leaped on him and tore him to pieces.

    Another pulse from his medallion. Vash flailed, scrambling away desperately. A sudden yank on his back and the sound of tearing cloth. The straps of his pack yanked him backwards. Vash glanced back. The Scaleback was snarling with its teeth sunk deep into his backpack, tugging him backwards, jerking its head from side to side with animalistic fury.

    Vash slipped his arms from the straps, scrambling forward, thinking that the Scaleback would tumble backwards. But he stopped suddenly. The straps clipped to his belt, designed to take the weight off his shoulders, now held him fast to the jaws of the Scaleback.

    Thinking quickly, Vash slashed at the straps with his dagger. The leather parted beneath the blade, and Vash was free.

    The Scaleback stumbled back a few steps, but not as much as Vash had hoped. It spat out the torn remnants of his pack and lunged forward again. Vash desperately sought the control to activate one of his Talents while he scrambled to his feet.

    Before Vash could turn, he took a heavy blow to the back again. Three lines of fire raked down his back from right shoulder to left hip. He cried out from the sudden pain, rolling away from the Scaleback and striking out wildly with his short sword, trying to gain some distance.

    His medallion sent out waves of healing magic, but he knew it was more serious than his other injuries had been so far. The medallion¡¯s healing properties numbed the pain slightly, dulling the edge, but Vash could already tell that his range of motion was affected and a warm wetness was soaking the back of his tunic.

    <i>I need to end this</i>. Vash thought. <i>I won¡¯t last much longer.</i>

    The Scaleback made a quick hopping step back, away from Vash¡¯s wild slash. Its jaw dropped, and it made a series of rhythmic, barking grunts.

    <i>Is it laughing at me? </i>Vash thought, astonished.

    Fury blossomed in his chest. Vash felt a sudden connection to his Core as anger pushed pain, fear, and fatigue to one side. Mana flowed into familiar constructs: <i>Enhance Ability</i> and <i>Detect Mana.</i> A burst of vitality erupted in Vash¡¯s muscles. Then, just as he hoped, he felt a throbbing pulse of mana from the Scaleback.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Many monsters had their own Cores, like the Talented. Which meant that you could use the same tricks to track a monster as you did a person. The Scaleback moved to press its attack, then hesitated, jaw snapping shut, and yellow eyes glaring at Vash with suspicion.

    <i>Felt that, did you?</i> Vash thought. <i>Try this one on for size.</i>

    Vash hooked the ring on the alchemical lantern with his short sword. He flung it at the Scaleback¡¯s face. The lizard-man dodged contemptuously, but Vash hadn¡¯t intended to hit it. Just get the light on the other side.

    Color leeched from the world as Vash summoned the construct for <i>Shadowmeld</i>. Chill and numbness overcame his body, and he heard sounds as muffled and distant. The shadows wrapped themselves around Vash like a thick blanket.

    The Scaleback stopped short, long head whipping from side to side, searching for its quarry.

    Vash dashed to one side, coming at the Scaleback¡¯s unprotected side, aiming for the soft, pale-gray hide that marked the creature¡¯s belly. He pulled in more mana, forming <i>Sneak Attack</i>, and for good measure he summoned <i>Bloody Strike</i> to pour extra damage into the attack. It was doubtful he¡¯d get a second chance at this, so it had to count.

    The Scaleback seemed to sense Vash¡¯s presence in a bare heartbeat before the attack came. It pivoted, but did not turn far enough in time. There was a sudden, golden flash of expended mana as Vash¡¯s short sword struck the Scaleback in the side, sinking to the hilt in the creature¡¯s thick torso.

    Bellowing with pain and rage, the Scaleback tried to twist and counter-attack against Vash, but it was too late. Releasing the short sword, Vash continued past the Scaleback, the dagger in his left hand slashing a long, bloody rent across the creature¡¯s soft belly.

    A torrent of blood and entrails erupted from the enhanced strike, splattering over the stones at Vash¡¯s feet. He skidded to a stop, feeling his knees go weak. Stumbling to the side of the tunnel, Vash turned to face the Scaleback, panting with exertion.

    The lizard-man stood dumbfounded, staring down at the bloody mess of its torso and trying to comprehend what had just happened. Slowly, it wobbled, then sank to one side, falling first to its knees, and then collapsing onto the stone floor.

    One breath, two, and then Vash felt the creature¡¯s mana wink out, like snuffing a candle.

    Almost sobbing in relief, Vash sagged against the tunnel wall. He was shaking with adrenaline and mana usage. It had been a long time since he had had to combine Talents that way.

    Vash felt muted pain from the slashes on his back, but knew the adrenaline wouldn¡¯t block it forever. Also, the smell of blood would likely bring the other Scalebacks soon.

    <i>I need to get out of here, quick.</i> Vash thought. He stumbled, rather than ran, to the body of the Scaleback. Gripping his short sword with both hands, Vash pulled the blade from the lizard-man¡¯s torso. Sheathing his weapons, he searched for his pack.

    Vash cursed when he came upon the shredded remnants of his pack. He found his water bottle split open, its water spilled over the contents of his pack, rendering it useless and leaving him without water. The squares of travel bread had scattered all over the floor of the tunnel. Vash felt his heart sink when he saw that most of them were lying in the pool of Scaleback blood and entrails.

    <i>Worry about that later. Save whatever you can now.</i>

    A few odds and ends had survived, including the Gideon¡¯s Guide, only suffering another scratch on the battered cover.

    Placing the remnants of his meager belongings into his belt pouches, Vash scooped up the alchemical lamp and stumbled deeper into the tunnel.

    <hr>

    The slap of reptilian feet came close to where Vash wedged himself onto an overhanging shelf of rock. In the dim light of the glowmoss, two shapes weaved their heads back and forth, blunt snouts lifted high in the air.

    Vash held his breath. The Scalebacks had been hunting him for hours. He started hearing their calls not long after his fight in the tunnel. The tunnel had been fairly short, opening into another cavern. This cavern wasn¡¯t near the river, so Vash had to move toward where he thought the river should be, hoping either this cavern connected to the river or a tunnel led back to the previous one.

    As he¡¯d moved toward the river, he¡¯d heard the sound of the hunt a ways behind him. Hoping to throw off pursuit, he had thrown his lantern up on a high ledge. Some hunters had followed the light, and he¡¯d heard the echoing roars of frustration. That had given him roughly an hour¡¯s reprieve, but the Scalebacks had quickly returned to his trail. Now they were following his scent.

    Between his wounds and the fact that the Underlands were the Scalebacks¡¯ home, Vash had soon found the hunters nipping at his heels. It had come time for him to do something clever, or resign himself to becoming dinner for the lizard-folk.

    <i>Please let this work. </i>Vash prayed to any god that was listening.

    He had dabbed a few strips of cloth from his tunic in the fresh blood from his wound. Then he had scattered them throughout the area, the last he¡¯d wrapped around a rock and had hurled it down a side tunnel going away from his intended escape route. Then he had found this hiding spot and carefully climbed up while trying not to leave a trail.

    Angry grunts and hisses came from various places that he¡¯d left scent markers. One hunter approached the two near Vash, holding one of the bloody strips of cloth. It held it up for the others to inspect. Judging by their body language, they were neither impressed nor happy with this information.

    One of the Scalebacks turned away from the group, clearly frustrated. It walked a few steps away, close to where Vash was hiding. Grunting and snorting, it squatted below Vash¡¯s outcropping. Vash held as still as possible, trying not to make any noise or draw any sort of attention.

    After a few moments, there was the sound of trickling water and the hunter made a deep sigh.

    Vash bit his lip to keep from letting loose a manic laugh.

    A loud roar came from the direction of the tunnel that Vash had tossed his last strip of bloody cloth. The two hunters turned immediately towards the sound. One darted off, the other followed for a few steps, then turned and made an impatient gesture at the third.

    The Scaleback relieving himself made an irritated hiss. Then there was the sound of claws scraping in the dirt and stone. Finally, the last Scaleback trotted out to join his companion, adjusting their leather skirt as they went.

    Vash waited, listening as the growls and hisses receded into the distance. When there was silence, he slid from his hiding place, still careful to avoid making much noise. He hurried off in the opposite direction from the Scalebacks, heading for a tunnel that, he hoped, would lead back to the river caverns.

    His back was a constant, throbbing pain. He couldn¡¯t tell if he was still bleeding. His saturated tunic clung to his back, and he couldn¡¯t feel any blood trickling. The Guild medallion had stopped pulsing some time ago. Either it had run out of mana or there was nothing more that it could heal. Ever since then, the pain had crept back steadily. Vash had been relying on Eth Mitaan techniques to push away the pain, to deal with it later, when he wasn¡¯t running for his life.

    The tunnel was smaller than the one he¡¯d encountered the Scaleback in earlier. Like the other one, however, it also was devoid of glowmoss. After a few steps, he would be in total darkness.

    <i>You knew that was a possibility when you threw away the lantern.</i> Vash chided himself.

    A roar echoed somewhere behind him. It did not sound happy.

    "Damn, I¡¯d hoped that trick would have kept them occupied a little longer." Vash swore, leaning against the tunnel entrance. He was exhausted. Too much mana, too little rest, and now blood loss. He needed to find a place to rest, just for a few hours.

    The tunnel looked like a black hole in the fabric of the world. But it was his only option.

    ¡°Well, only option other than getting eaten by lizard-men.¡±

    Vash chuckled at his own morbid joke, then took the first few hesitant steps into the darkness.

 Episode 29: Sanctuary

    Trailing his hand along the wall of the tunnel, Vash walked deeper into the absolute darkness. Within a few steps, the tunnel curved, and he lost even the meager light of the glowmoss in the previous cavern. He fought down memories of Duke Gellar¡¯s mines, how other penitents had tormented him by stealing his lantern while he worked in a small shaft.

    Those days are long gone. Vash told himself. You aren¡¯t a scared boy under the thumb of criminals and hypocritical clerics.

    But the darkness was the same. The uneasy feeling that there was something out there, watching and waiting for him to let his guard down. Every time he had ventured deep into the mines, he felt an oppressive something out in the darkness.

    ¡°I am the hunter, not the prey.¡± Vash whispered, trying to focus on the prayers that the Eth Mitaan used. The words had always settled his nerves, ever since he took his oaths. They had even banished thoughts of the mines. The first few months in the temple had been hard. His room was a small cell, barely wide enough to stretch his arms across. Surrounded by damp earth on all sides, absolute darkness when he would put out his lamp. He had spent many nights sleeping in the sanctuary, unable to banish the memories that the darkness brought.

    That was how he¡¯d first met Iona. He still remembered her storming into the sanctuary after a Hunt had gone particularly poorly. She had some choice words for Byar that evening. The leader of the Eth Mitaan had listened to her with the same placid expression he always wore, then chided her for ¡®<i>not seeing the entire picture</i>¡¯. A favorite phrase of his, and infuriating since he never gave out more information than he felt necessary.

    Discovering Vash had heard the entire argument, embarrassed and angered Iona. But not long afterwards, she had helped him face both his past and his fears. The techniques she had taught him not only helped him sleep in his own bed, but gave him a foundation for developing his Talents later.

    It had been quite some time since he had thought of those days. Vash was surprised that the memories came to him now, but at least they distracted him from his own predicament. Focusing back on the here and now, Vash continued his slow, methodical trek along the tunnel. It was far longer than the previous one had been. It also sloped down and to the right, something Vash noticed after the second time, the tunnel wall took a gentle curve.

    Without sight, Vash relied on his other senses, just as Iona taught him. Unfortunately, this deep into the earth, his other senses did not do him much good either. His hearing, usually quite sensitive, only picked up the dull thudding of his own heartbeat and the rush of blood through his ears. The tunnel itself was still and silent. Vash hoped that was a good sign. At least he couldn¡¯t hear the growling hiss of the Scalebacks, or the clicking of their claws on stone.

    <i>Though it¡¯s possible that they know something about this tunnel that I don¡¯t</i>. Vash thought. It was too much to hope that the Scalebacks had fallen for his ruse and then just called off the hunt. They would pick up his trail, eventually. <i>If they don¡¯t follow me down here, then this might not have been the best idea.</i>

    He risked a little mana, adjusting his low-light vision, hoping to see something, even if it was just more of the tunnel. Though he felt his eyes adjusting, there was not enough light to make anything visible.

    ¡°Jabez is probably right at home down here.¡± Vash said to himself, quietly. ¡°I heard dwarves don¡¯t even need light to see. They can feel the echoes from the rocks.¡±

    There was no response from the darkness.

    ¡°I may have finally cracked.¡± Vash chuckled.

    He was about to let go of his Talent and save his dwindling mana, but he hesitated. There was a faint feeling from within his Core. Not like in combat where he could sense an attack, this was more subtle. Vash focused on it for a moment, just letting his mind drift into his Core. As he did, he felt several new mana pathways carved through his body. They felt sharp, spiky, like a fresh wound. He winced, the thought reminding him of the slashes across his back.

    Even though these new channels felt raw and sensitive, he could feel them moving mana around his body. It felt strange, almost like he had a second Core, but distributed across the left side of his body. One thing was certain, however, the channels all radiated from where he had grasped the soulstone.

    ¡°If I get out of here, I¡¯ll need to get someone to look at this,¡± Vash said, but for now he tried to focus on what the faint feeling from his Core was trying to tell him.

    It was like a soft, but insistent, tug in one direction. Not like the sudden, sharp pulses of warning in combat. This was like having a shy child take him by the hand and want to show him something. The tug was insistent and eager, but the grip was soft and could slip away at any moment.

    Curious, Vash focused on the pull, letting it guide him. Ahead, the tunnel split. Vash could feel the difference in the tunnel¡¯s size and the movement of air. One shaft had a slightly upward slope and ran straight, as far as he could tell. The other continued the path he followed, sloping downward and curving to the right.

    He stood in front of the two shafts, uncertain what to do. The unfamiliar sensation from his Core lightly pulled him towards the downward sloping shaft, urging him to continue the way he was going.

    ¡°It feels beneficial, like a Talent or combat senses.¡± Vash said to himself. ¡°But I must have gotten it from that soulstone, and I have no idea what those things were meant to do. Nothing good, judging by Zakarias¡¯ actions.¡±

    Vash took a step towards the upward sloping tunnel, focusing on his Core and seeing how it would react. The response was almost instant. Vash felt a sharp pull away from the other tunnel. He almost jerked to a stop, surprised by the sudden increase in severity.

    Frowning, Vash tried again. This time, a tingling sensation in his left arm accompanied the pull. It wasn¡¯t pain, but Vash could tell that it could become unpleasant.

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    ¡°Something really wants me to take that other tunnel.¡± Vash said, frowning. He didn¡¯t like it, but since he wasn¡¯t sure that the new channels were malicious, it was worth investigating.

    ¡°Who knows, it could be long-lost treasure.¡±

    <hr>

    The pull intensified as he continued to follow the tunnel even deeper into the Underlands. It didn¡¯t throb or pulse like he¡¯d experienced with his Core. This was a steady, insistent force that wanted him to go in this direction. After a short time, Vash saw a muted blue glow appear around a bend in the tunnel.

    Glowmoss patches grew along the ceiling of the tunnel. The light they gave was not as strong as in the main caverns, but it gave enough illumination to reveal a bit more of the tunnel that he was following. Minerals, dripping from above for centuries, covered the walls in old, weathered stone. Running his hand over the smooth rock face, Vash felt a familiar thrum in his Core.

    ¡°Mana,¡± He said to himself, quietly. ¡°And a lot of it. What is this place?¡±

    He partially answered his own question as he came around another bend. Blue and purple crystals poked through the layers of stone. They glittered in the soft light of the glowmoss while contributing their own purplish light.

    ¡°Therium.¡± Vash breathed, staring at the clusters of crystals. Just a handful of these were worth hundreds of gold marks. He resisted the immediate temptation to hack away raw crystals in a greedy frenzy. ¡°It only grows in areas of high mana concentration. So, there must be something nearby that is producing that much magical energy.¡±

    Monster lairs, especially those of old, powerful creatures, were the most likely places to generate the ambient mana needed for Therium growth. Also ancient ruins, places of power, had deposits nearby.

    ¡°With my luck, it will be some nameless horror from the early days of the world.¡± Vash muttered.

    Ahead, the Therium deposits became more easy to spot. Large clusters of crystals extended from the walls, encroaching on the space available to walk. The sharp crystals snagged on his clothes, threatening to slice them to shreds if he wasn¡¯t careful. Vash navigated the virtual maze of Therium crystals. Mana swirled within the crystals, like multi-hued clouds roiling behind glass colored a gradient of blues and purples.

    The effect was hypnotic, and if it weren¡¯t for the steady pull that Vash was feeling from the soulstone wound, then he would have paused and stared into the crystalline depths for hours. The pull was insistent, however, and he only stopped to look for a few moments.

    Not long after finding the Therium, the tunnel opened into a small cavern about a hundred feet on a side. As Vash entered, the glowmoss opened, reacting to his presence. Pale blue light bathed the cavern, revealing flat-topped mushrooms as tall as young pines. The floor had a carpet of pale grass that swayed lightly in a breeze that Vash could not feel.

    Even more incredible were Therium crystals growing as tall as a man, radiating concentrated mana. Vash marveled as he ambled into the new cavern. Swirling lines of purple crystal grew along the cavern walls, lined with lighter blue glowmoss patches. It was beautiful. But there was something else that drew Vash¡¯s eye. Nestled amongst the looming mushrooms and heavy stones was a structure.

    At first, Vash thought it was just an oddly symmetrical boulder, but as he approached, he could tell humanoid hands obviously made it. The building was little more than a squat, stone and mortar square, about fifteen feet on each side. A pair of narrow windows faced Vash as he approached. Strange symbols decorated the stones that ran around the roof of the structure.

    ¡°Not Common script, and not any elvish that I¡¯ve seen before.¡± Vash said, looking over the structure. It didn¡¯t look like any specific construction that he¡¯d seen in Sathsholm. The building looked like anyone could have built it. The building was so devoid of specific flourishes.

    A simple square doorway formed the entrance, and Vash followed the pull of his soulstone marking inside. The interior was just as plain as the exterior. Small piles of rocky detritus littered the floor, along with several bones of indeterminate origin. What drew his attention was at the far end of the building. Someone had built a small altar. To what and for what purpose Vash couldn¡¯t tell. There was some of the strange writing on the stone table, and in the center was a swirling white and silver orb. It looked similar to the soulstone that had wounded him.

    Vash looked at the stone. The pull was definitely coming from the odd, pulsing orb. He cocked his head to one side. ¡°Maybe they call each other?¡±

    He leaned on the altar, trying to get a better look at the orb. As soon as his hand touched the stone, Vash knew he¡¯d made a mistake.

    A sudden rush of mana filled him, not recharging his Core, but filling the new channels in his body. Vash felt a connection to the orb and through that, to a vast network of mana channels spreading like a web from the orb and through the building. He could <i>see</i> the path of the mana through the local area. It was like building a map inside his head.

    His mind rocketed along the paths and tunnels, unconsciously looking for the way back to the river. Within moments he had found the way, just a few turns off of the tunnel he¡¯d been following. He could see <i>everything</i>.

    One of the nearby tunnels opened into a cavern of walking fungus. The mushroom people looked harmless, about the size of a dwarf or a gnome, with awkward, rotund bodies. But Vash could ¡®see¡¯ they had several Scaleback carcasses that they were carving up like butchers.

    Another path led him to a nest of those strange Hammerworms. Dozens of the slimy creatures writhed and roiled in a shallow pool that fed into the larger river. A clutch of eggs at the center and the bodies of various creatures piled around them.

    <i>A first meal for the young.</i>

    There was still a hunting party of Scalebacks prowling the tunnels, but they missed this one every time. Vash felt the building erasing any scent or sense that the Scalebacks could use to track him to this place.

    <i>It wants me here</i>. Vash thought.

    A warm pulse of mana flowed through him. It certainly felt like a yes.

    Vash felt himself being pulled further into the connection with the orb, the building, the Underlands itself. He had a fleeting vision of himself taking up the silvery orb, seating himself upon the altar and melding with it. Becoming the heart of something else, something both new and old, something powerful.

    Another glimpse and he saw a man in segmented armor, like the centurions of the Malconian Legions depicted in the great illuminated tapestries of the Grand Temples. The olive-skinned man laid aside his helmet and picked up the orb. He placed it against his forehead and pressed firmly. Golden sparks of mana fell as the orb burrowed into the centurion¡¯s flesh. When he was done, a third eye looked out from the center of the centurion¡¯s forehead. It glared at him, the yellow iris contracting a vertical, slit pupil.

    Vash pulled away. He wanted nothing to do with that eye, that creature. His awareness snapped back to where he was standing. The silvery orb was in his hand, and he was raising it to his forehead.

    ¡°No!¡± Vash snarled, dropping the orb.

    He stumbled back; the orb bouncing with a hollow clack sound. Vash¡¯s hand came off of the altar, and he felt the connection snap. The mana that had been coursing through him suddenly cut off. His head felt light, dizzy. He fell away from the altar, exhaustion turning his arms and legs to lead. Vash fell on his side, trying to avoid falling on his wound.

    Vision fading, the last thing he saw before passing out was the silver orb coming to a rest a few feet from him.

 Episode 30: Whispers From The Past, part 1

    The marble floors echoed with the sounds of booted feet as Vash sprinted down the palace corridor. Shouts came from somewhere behind him. He didn¡¯t dare look back. The frantic breaths of his companions were loud all around him, not only from running, but from panic.

    The attack had gone all wrong. Locked doors that should have been open. Hallways that should have been empty suddenly had servants wandering about in the dead of night. One wrong turn was all it took. The maid had screamed bloody murder before Pya had silenced her. The alarms sounded, and the palace sprang to life. Guards appeared at every turn, their swords drawn and ready to take on anyone foolish enough to invade their lord¡¯s home.

    Jak, running beside him wearing the same dark leathers and carved wooden mask as the rest of them, cursed under his breath. "Where in the hells are Iona and Byar? This was supposed to be fast!"

    Vash had no answer. There were supposed to be three teams: Iona was going to lead an attack on the sleeping guards in their barracks. Vash and his team were going to sabotage the gatehouse, making escape easier, and Byar was leading an attack on the Duke himself. It was quick, surgical, and offered vengeance for their friends in Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow.

    Something felt strange. Vash couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this had happened before.<i> Focus, Vash, now is not the time!</i>

    The smell of smoke was filling the air. A fire, somewhere in the castle.

    <i>Did Iona or Byar set it as a distraction? </i>Vash thought. <i>Or did something else go terribly wrong?</i>

    Pya, ever the pragmatist, called out from behind. "We need to get out of here now. Before they close off all the exits."

    ¡°What do you think I¡¯m trying to do?¡± Vash snapped over his shoulder. The thought of leaving Iona and the others behind twisted his gut, but there was no other choice.

    <i>Live to fight another day.</i> That was one of Byar¡¯s favorite expressions. <i>There¡¯s no vengeance if you¡¯re dead.</i>

    Vash tried to remember the layout of the palace. The next corridor should run along the outside wall of the keep. They could drop from a balcony onto the keep¡¯s outer wall and from there out into the city.

    ¡°Turn here!¡±

    They rounded the corner just as a trio of guards came out of the apartment at the end of the hallway. The guards skidded to a halt, shock on their face, as the four assassins raced towards them.

    Olver reacted first, throwing a dagger with fluid grace. The blade found its mark in a guard''s eye and the man crumpled, screaming.

    Vash and Lys moved as one, blades whispering out of their scabbards. One guard stared at his fallen companion, jaw slack. The other turned to face the oncoming threat, sword up and ready. Steel clashed against steel as the guard blocked Vash¡¯s first attack, sparks flying in the dimly lit hallway.

    The guard was braver than he was skilled. A thrum pulsed in Vash¡¯s Core, and he followed his instincts. He dropped to one knee, ducking under a wild swing; then followed through with a counter-attack, hamstringing his opponent with a quick slice. The guard fell to one knee with a pained grunt. Vash finished him with a slice along the throat, hot blood spattering his gloved hands.

    Lys dispatched the last guard with equal efficiency, her short sword finding the gap between helm and gorget. Blood fountained up in a red wave when she withdrew her blade.

    "Move!" Vash called, rising to his feet and allowing a quick pulse of mana to flow from his Core into his limbs. Fatigue evaporated, and he was running again.

    He burst into the large apartment that the guards had just exited, the team close on his heels. The sitting room was spacious and opulent, rich furniture provided ample seating for almost a dozen people, and sconces on the walls shone with warmly tinted mage lights. Beyond, Vash could see a balcony overlooking the lake.

    <i>That¡¯s our way out</i>. Vash thought, but a quiet voice deep inside of him whispered: <i>No, it isn¡¯t.</i>

    "Bar the doors!" He said, already moving to close the heavy oak doors.

    Jak joined him, helping to swing the doors shut. Olver grabbed a spear from a display on the wall and jammed it through the door handles.

    ¡°That won¡¯t hold them for long.¡± Jak said. ¡°Help me move some of this furniture.¡±

    Olver and Jak started moving the largest of the sofas over to the door. Vash sheathed his weapons and grabbed an overstuffed chair to stack on their makeshift barricade.

    Pya darted past them, already searching for another way out. She disappeared into one bedroom, then the other, before returning with a grim shake of her head. "The door and the balcony are the only ways out."

    Shouts came from the hallway beyond, then the sound of boots running in their direction.

    Vash cursed under his breath. ¡°Looks like they found the bodies.¡±

    Lys stepped out onto the balcony, leaning over the railing to gauge the drop. "Dammit!"

    Vash turned. ¡°What? How far to the curtain wall?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no curtain wall.¡± Lys said, coming to the balcony door. ¡°We¡¯re on the far southern side. It¡¯s a sheer drop to the lake. We¡¯d never survive the fall.¡±

    Olver''s breath was coming in short, panicked gasps. "We''re trapped. There''s no way out. What happened to Byar and the others? We''re going to die here!"

    ¡°You¡¯re not helping, Olver.¡± Pya said, her voice cold and calm beneath her smooth featured mask.

    Vash looked around the room, his mind racing. The furniture barricade wouldn''t hold for long. The balcony was too high, and a fall was a death sentence.

    Fists began hammering at the door. The guards had found them. There was no more time to search for an escape route.

    "Jak, with me," Vash said, drawing his weapons and taking a position to one side of the rattling door. "We hold the line. No one gets past us."

    Jak nodded grimly, his own blades at the ready.

    Vash turned to the others. "Pya, have you got anything left? Something to give us an edge."

    Pya was already rummaging through her satchel. "I''ve got a smoke bomb, a sleeping toxin, and a few blade poisons. They won''t last long, but they might buy us a few seconds."

    "All right, toss the poisons to Jak and Olver." Vash said.

    Pya distributed the vials of oily liquid. ¡°It¡¯s a tanglefoot distillation. Just a scratch should make their muscles seize up.¡±

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    Jak nodded his thanks and began spreading the poison over the dark steel of his weapons.

    "Olver, find a spot to hide,¡± Vash said, looking at the youngest and smallest member of their group. ¡°Hit them when they go past. They¡¯re going to be bigger and stronger. Don¡¯t go toe-to-toe."

    The mask made seeing Olver¡¯s expression impossible, but Vash could see his hands trembling. Olver slipped behind a tapestry, the folds hiding him from view.

    "Lys, you¡¯re the best shot. Take the balcony. Stay out of reach."

    Lys was already moving, short bow in hand. She took cover behind the doorjamb, an arrow nocked and ready.

    The hammering grew louder; the door shuddering under the onslaught. Furniture scraped across the floor as the barricade shuddered.

    Vash''s grip tightened on his swords, his knuckles white. Across from him, Jak was still, his stance firm.

    For a moment, there was silence. Then a hollow boom, the sound of something heavy hitting the door. Cracks appeared, splinters flew, the wood groaned under the fresh assault.

    <i>Kyrinos, I don¡¯t ask for much</i>. Vash thought, offering a prayer to the god of Hunts and Hunters. <i>But your assistance in getting us out of this room would be a great help.</i>

    The booming strikes against the door came in rhythmic succession, ratcheting the tension with each cracking, shuddering blow. Faintly, Vash could hear raised voices beyond the door. Someone barked a command, and the blows stopped.

    Vash held his breath, waiting, nerves stretched taut.

    The next sound, although muffled by the doorway, rang out like the peal of a bell. It vibrated the air and he could feel it in his very bones. Vash felt a thrum of response from his Core. Someone on the other side of the door was using a Talent, a powerful one.

    A crack like thunder sounded, and the door exploded inwards. The furniture barricade scattered across the floor like children¡¯s toys and the door exploded in a shower of splinters and stone dust. The mage lights winked out as sconces fell from the wall, plunging the room into shadowed moonlight from the open balcony door. Vash turned away from the blast, bits of wood and stone flying, hitting his leathers.

    In the doorway, silhouetted by the flickering light of the corridor, stood a tall, armored figure. Vash couldn¡¯t make out any features in the dim light and haze of stone dust. The figure surveyed the room, then hooked the mace he had used to shatter the doors onto his belt. He turned and motioned casually to the guards standing behind him. ¡°Take them.¡±

    Vash met the first guard''s gaze as he turned to look into the room. The guard¡¯s face went from awed amazement to a kind of grim pleasure. He spotted Vash and lifted his sword, striding forward confidently.

    "Come on, then," Vash muttered under his breath. "Let''s dance."

    A smoke bomb burst on the floor, filling the room with a thick, choking haze. Vash heard the guards coughing and cursing, their advance faltering as they stumbled over the debris of the shattered door.

    Vash reached for his Core, drawing on the well of magic within him, the formula for <i>Enhanced Vision </i>locking into place in his mind. He felt the others doing the same, their Talents sharpening their senses, allowing them to see through the smoke as if it were nothing more than a light mist.

    An arrow whistled through the smoke. The shaft suddenly sprouted from the throat of the lead guard. He gurgled, dropping his sword, hands going to the arrow. Blood bubbled up from his mouth, dribbling out as he slowly sank to his knees. Another whistle of an arrow told Vash that Lys was not pausing to admire her handiwork. This one struck a guard in the thigh. He fell to the ground, a red stain growing on his pants.

    Vash and Jak moved forward, smoke covering their advance. A guard, disoriented from the smoke, swung wildly at any shape that he saw in the swirling gray mist. Vash dodged one clumsy blow, then drove his short sword up under the man''s chin. He felt the blade grate against bone, then slide free as the guard collapsed, choking on his own blood.

    Somewhere to Vash¡¯s right, Jak darted within range of a guard. This one kept his head and didn¡¯t swing at every movement. He waited until he was certain of Jak¡¯s position and attacked. Vash could feel Jak using his Talents to dodge and avoid the guard¡¯s sword. In a surge of mana, Jak writhed like a serpent, avoiding a thrust from the guard, and landed a cut along the man¡¯s ribs. Jak then disengaged, moving out of range.

    The guard laughed at the wound, barely more than a scratch. He squinted through the rapidly thinning smoke and spotted Jak. Snarling, the guard moved forward, but after a few steps, his expression changed to one of puzzlement, and then concern. The guard let out a choking cry as his body contorted, his muscles contracting painfully. He whimpered as the force of the contracting muscles began snapping his bones, unable to draw enough breath to scream. Jak stepped back into the fray, ignoring the slowly dying guard writhing on the ground.

    A hulking shape burst through the smoke. Heavily muscled and carrying a double-headed battle-axe, the man stood a full head taller than the other guards. Free of the smoke, the guard looked around briefly and spotted Pya. Letting out a wordless battle-cry, the guard charged, lifting his axe for a deadly attack.

    Vash moved to intercept, but another guard came charging through the last of the smoke, putting Vash on the defensive. He tried to call out to Pya, but the guard was forcing him to focus all his attention on staying alive.

    The massive guard bore down on Pya. She backpedaled, narrowly avoiding the blade of the battle-axe. Pya dropped one of her vials, but the glass didn¡¯t break. She reached for her short sword as the axe came down again. Deftly skipping to one side, Pya barely evaded the guard¡¯s slash. The powerful blow raised spiderweb cracks on the marble floor. The guard grunted in annoyance and turned to face Pya again.

    Vash dodged and blocked while trying to keep track of his people.

    Have to end this quick. He thought, but the guard was skilled and used to fighting people with Talents, Vash couldn¡¯t find an opening.

    There was a slight movement behind a tapestry. A shape was moving close to where Pya was fighting the huge guard.

    <i>Olver</i>, Vash thought, <i>no, don¡¯t try it, he¡¯s too big</i>.

    But Olver was already moving. The young thief burst from his hiding place behind the tapestry, his dagger flashing as he leaped onto the guard''s back. The guard roared and thrashed as soon as he felt the weight of Olver land on his back. Olver tried to stab the bigger man, but the guard was wearing heavier leather than the others. Olver¡¯s blade dug in but did not penetrate.

    Red-faced with rage, the guard backed into the nearby wall, slamming Olver against the stones with bone-cracking force. Olver cried out, dropping his dagger and almost losing his hold on the guard.

    Vash could tell that Olver would not last much longer. Calling on his Core again, Vash pushed mana into Enhance Ability, focusing on speed and agility. The mana flowed slowly, sluggishly; he was running low, he could feel the fatigue of mana burn lurking deep in his soul.

    <i>I can¡¯t keep going at this pace.</i>

    The big guard reached over his shoulder, grabbing hold of Olver and hauled him up and over his head. Olver went flying and landed, sprawling on the floor in front of the hulking guard. Raising his axe again, the guard smirked as Olver tried to crawl away.

    A glass vial smashed into the guard¡¯s face, splattering a pale lavender liquid across his mouth and nose. The guard cried out and stumbled away, trying to wipe away the liquid. Pya darted in, grabbing Olver by the arm and dragging him back toward the balcony.

    The guard blinked his eyes clear and focused on Pya and Olver. Face contorting in fury, the guard stalked forward, raising his axe again, ready to slash through Pya and Olver with one stroke. Pya stood over Olver, short sword held loosely in one hand as she calmly waited. The guard took another step, blinked, then his eyes rolled back in his head. Like a mighty oak felled by a woodsman, he fell slowly forward, then crashed to the ground.

    <i>Sleeping potion.</i> Vash thought, shifting his focus to his opponent.

    Pya and Olver were safe for the moment. Now he had to focus on keeping himself alive. With a deft twist of one hand, Vash slashed across the knuckles of his opponent. The guard yelped in pain and lost his grip. Vash continued the motion and forced the blade to one side. He lunged forward with his off-hand. The dagger punched through the leather armor with ease. The guard gave a choked gasp as Vash buried his blade to the hilt. He looked at Vash as the life left his eyes, a mixture of fear and surprise.

    Freeing his dagger, Vash stepped back, ready to face the next threat. To his surprise, he found the doorway empty. A haze of smoke still lingered just beyond the shattered doors, obscuring the hallway beyond. Vash blinked. His fading mana was no longer enough to power his enhanced senses.

    ¡°Is that it?¡± Jak asked cautiously. He had cuts on his sleeves and bloody wounds underneath. His hood had fallen back, revealing sweat-soaked brown hair tied in a loose tail.

    Pain bloomed on Vash¡¯s arms and legs. Wounds that he hadn¡¯t noticed suddenly made themselves known. None were immediately life-threatening, so he ignored them. Silence stretched except for the ragged breaths of Vash and his companions.

    <i>That can¡¯t be it</i>. Vash thought. <i>There¡¯s no way we¡¯d escape this easily </i>¡ª

    ¡°Knights!¡± a voice called out from somewhere beyond the smoke. ¡°Form ranks!¡±

    A chorus of voices said as one. ¡°<i>Huah!</i>¡±

    Vash''s heart sank as the smoke finally dissipated. Men in chainmail, with armored vambraces and greaves, crowded the hallway. They wore crimson surcoats and carried shields bearing the same device, a half-black and half-white star on a field of crimson.

    The Knights of the Hidden Star.

    From somewhere deep in Vash''s mind, something whispered. A voice that he didn''t recognize, but one that seemed to know him quite well. <i>Had you forgotten about them? Or was it something else? Interesting.</i>

 Episode 31: Whispers From The Past, part 2

    <i>What the hell are they doing here? </i>The confused thought pushed through the panic that suddenly bloomed in Vash¡¯s mind.

    The Knights of the Hidden Star advanced with a discipline the palace guards had lacked, their movements coordinated and precise. Their shields locked together, forming a tight line of protection. They carried short spears, perfect for close quarters.

    Vash knew the knights outmatched his people. The Eth Mitaan were skilled, but they were thieves and assassins, not soldiers.

    "Fall back!" Vash shouted, his voice hoarse. "Lys, cover us! Jak, Pya, Olver, to the balcony!"

    Vash turned, seeing Lys step out of cover and take aim at one knight in the front rank. There was a hiss of air over Vash¡¯s shoulder. With horror, he realized what it was, opening his mouth too late to call a warning.

    The short spear slammed into Lys¡¯ chest, the force knocking her from her feet. She crumpled and slid the last few feet; her bow falling from her lifeless fingers.

    "Lys!" Pya screamed, leaving Olver and running to her fallen friend. She cradled Lys'' head in her lap, heedless of the blood soaking into her leathers.

    Jak stopped and turned around, nodding at Vash.

    "Go!" he said. "Get the others out of here! I''ll hold them!"

    With a cocky laugh, Jak dashed towards the line of knights as they advanced like a crimson tide. ¡°All right, you bastards, let¡¯s see who can hit¡ª.¡±

    The first spear caught Jak in the throat.

    Three precise hits took Jak under the arm, just beneath the ribcage, and in the inner thigh. Jak was very still. Vash had never seen the man stay still for anything. He was always in motion, pacing or fidgeting. Now Jak hung motionless, the spears keeping him up. His blades fell from his hands with a clatter. As one, the three spears pulled back. Blood spattered the floor and the carpets. Jak slumped to the floor, a pool of dark red growing beneath him.

    <i>So many deaths, all because of your decisions.</i> The voice inside his head whispered, casually observing the carnage.

    Vash felt a scream building in his throat as he watched his friend fall, but there was no time for grief. He took a step back, then another, turning to run. A faint pull from his Core was his only warning. Vash darted to the side, a short spear cutting through the air he had just occupied. Vash ran, pushing himself harder than he ever had before.

    <i>Grab Pya, grab Olver, hope we can make it down to the lake. Wait¡­where¡¯s Olver?</i> Vash thought, skidding to a halt.

    He turned. The young thief was nowhere to be seen. He must have found a hiding place.

    The Knights of the Hidden Star spread out, breaking the shield wall. It was no longer necessary; they had their quarry trapped. The front line moved into an arc formation, forcing Vash back towards Pya. He moved in front of his friend, weapons raised against the six knights that surrounded him.

    The warriors pressed in, their spears seeking his flesh. Vash fended them off as best he could, but he was tired. His mana was almost gone. The danger-sense from his Core muffled, weak, either barely warning him in time to counter an attack or not at all. He felt the bite of steel on his arm, his leg, his side. Blood ran hot and slick down his skin.

    A spear slapped his wrist, sending his short sword spinning from his grip. Another blow, and his second blade clattered to the balcony floor.

    Rough hands seized him, forcing him to his knees. Vash stared up at the impassive faces of the Hidden Star, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His team was dead. They had wounded, disarmed, and left him helpless.

    One knight, some sort of officer judging by the plume on his helmet, looked down at Vash and then called over his shoulder. ¡°We have them in custody. All is clear, m¡¯lord.¡±

    The knights parted. Vash was amazed to see how few there were. Maybe twelve in all. I could have sworn there were a hundred.

    From the dimly lit hallway, a figure in black steel armor strode into the room. It was the one who had forced open the doors. The man was tall, with a fighter¡¯s build beneath his plate and chain. He wore a surcoat of fine material. The Hidden Star¡¯s device worked in satin or silk. The lord had a shaved head and a close-cropped black beard peppered here and there with iron gray. His dark eyes surveyed the carnage with a cold, appraising gaze.

    ¡°How many?¡±

    The officer stiffened at the soft voice of his master. ¡°Four, m¡¯lord. Two died in the breach, but we took these two alive.¡±

    ¡°Four.¡± The black armored man mused, almost to himself. He turned slowly, looking over the room with a studious eye. Suddenly, he turned and walked towards a tapestry, spurs ringing with a metallic jingle as he walked. ¡°I believe there were five.¡±

    <i>Olver</i>. Vash thought.

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    The small thief flung the tapestry aside, a throwing knife just behind it. Vash felt a thrum of mana. The man in the black armor moved faster than anyone that Vash had ever seen. One hand plucked the throwing knife from the air, the other reached out and seized Olver¡¯s throat in an iron grip. Olver thrashed and struggled, beating against the black steel gauntlet that held him. The man ignored Olver, instead looking at the throwing knife with apparent interest.

    ¡°Yes, five.¡±

    The officer looked abashed. ¡°I apologize, Baron Claedes. He must have hidden when we took the room.¡±

    The Baron looked over at his officer, no emotion on his face. ¡°No apologies necessary, Captain Nazar. These rats are good at hiding when it suits them.¡± He raised his arm, lifting Olver off his feet, dangling him in the air.

    ¡°Let him go!¡± Vash shouted. The knight holding him cuffed Vash across the face with a mailed fist. Vash tasted blood and saw stars.

    The Baron looked back at Vash with a look of idle curiosity. ¡°Why? He¡¯ll hang for his part in this little adventure, as will you all, so why delay the inevitable?¡±

    Olver kicked and struggled. Vash saw the Baron squeeze and twist his hand. A soft crack and Olver went limp, his head lolling unnaturally. The Baron looked at Olver¡¯s body for a moment, then tossed it aside like a plaything he¡¯d grown bored with.

    Vash struggled vainly against the hands holding him, but it was no use. Olver lay in a crumpled heap next to the tapestry, mask askew, limbs splayed in awkward positions.

    The Baron¡¯s eyes settled on Pya, who was still cradling Lys'' lifeless body. He crossed the room in a few long strides, his armored boots crunching on the debris. He stood over Pya and Lys, considering the tableau like a connoisseur studying a work of art. The Baron reached out, grasping Pya¡¯s mask, lifting it off her face in an almost gentle motion. Pya was beyond caring. She and Lys had been the great loves of each other¡¯s lives. Vash had envied that.

    Holding the mask up to the moonlight, the Baron considered it for a moment. ¡°Eth Mitaan. That¡¯s what you call yourselves, correct?¡±

    Tears streamed down Pya¡¯s cheeks. She trembled underneath the Baron¡¯s gaze, but remained silent.

    ¡°It means ¡®masked ones¡¯ in elvish. Well, in the Vanan dialect of elvish.¡± The Baron said, his soft voice taking on a conversational tone. ¡°Strange that you would adopt a name from the very people who ostracize you for your mixed blood.¡±

    With her hood pulled back, Pya¡¯s ears were clearly visible. She had longer points than either Lys or Jak, similar to Vash¡¯s own. Since they both had one elvish parent, the defining features were more stark than on those who had an elf further back in their ancestry.

    Pya looked up at the Baron, her eyes wide with fear and grief. "I don''t know what you''re talking about."

    Baron Claedes quirked a half smile. ¡°The race of man is not kind to those of mixed heritage, but the elves are downright brutal. Mal¡¯sodla, literally ¡®evil blood¡¯, isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    Pya did not respond. She simply stared at the Baron.

    ¡°Perhaps they¡¯re right. After tonight, I dare say that you aren¡¯t innocent victims, are you?¡± Claedes'' face hardened, the bemused air evaporated. ¡°You stole something tonight. Something important. I want it back.¡±

    <i>What is he talking about? </i>Vash thought. They were here for vengeance, for blood, not a robbery.

    The Baron reached down and grabbed Pya by the throat, hauling her to her feet. She choked and struggled in his grip, but he held her effortlessly, as if she weighed no more than Olver.

    Claedes dragged Pya to the balcony''s edge, pressing her against the stone railing. Inching her back towards the long drop. "I¡¯m going to give you a chance. Tell me where your friends took the items you stole and I will let you throw yourself on the Duke¡¯s mercy. He may decide that he¡¯s spilled enough elvish blood for now and merely make you a prisoner."

    Pya clawed at the Baron''s hand, gasping for breath. "We stole nothing," she choked out. "We were here for vengeance. For the Hollow."

    "That¡¯s what they told you?" Claedes asked, cocking his head in curiosity. ¡°And you believed them.¡±

    ¡°They¡­¡± Pya gasped. ¡°They¡­were our friends¡­it was¡­justice¡­¡±

    ¡°Then you are a trusting fool.¡± The Baron said with casual contempt. He flung her over the edge of the balcony.

    Vash lurched forward, but the other knights gripped him firmly. Pya screamed as she fell, her cry fading as she disappeared from view. The Baron watched until the sound abruptly cut off, then turned to face Vash.

    "And then there was one," he said. "The last of the Eth Mitaan''s little thieves. Tell me, boy, do you want to beg for your life? Or would you prefer to die with some shred of dignity?"

    Vash met the Baron¡¯s gaze, cold rage boiling in his veins. He thought of Jak, of Lys, of Olver and Pya. He thought of Iona and Byar, likely dead or captured. His breath felt hot and ragged beneath his own mask. The mask that was still in place.

    <i>At least I can die like an Eth Mitaan.</i>

    Vash decided in a heartbeat. He dug deep into his Core, summoning up his <i>Enhance Ability</i> Talent. He knew he would suffer mana burn for this, but he didn¡¯t care. Mana surged into his limbs, augmenting his strength and speed. Time seemed to slow. Vash burst out of the grip of the knights, throwing his arms back, his increased strength sending them sprawling to the floor. He took advantage of his sudden freedom, running as fast as he could to the open balcony in front of him.

    A flicker of anger passed over the Baron¡¯s face and Vash felt an echoing thrum of mana from the armored warrior. The Baron moved with lightning speed to intercept Vash, hand outstretched to catch him.

    But it was too late.

    Vash leaped towards the railing with all his strength, vaulting the low stone barrier and launching himself out into the open air.

    For a moment, he seemed to hang suspended, the Baron¡¯s fingers barely grazing his boot as Vash flew past. The wind rushed past his face. The greater moon hung pale in the sky, bathing the vast lake in a soft light. He could see the marshes beyond the docks, the little islands that dotted the Obrun river delta. I never noticed how beautiful this place can be.

    Then gravity took hold, and he fell.

    The sensation of weightlessness only lasted a moment. Fingers of steel closed around his ankle. Vash fell awkwardly, slamming face-first into the banister that ran along the outside of the balcony. His head swam, and he went limp.

    The next few moments were a blur. Claedes hauled him over the rail, depositing him on the marble floor like a sack of old potatoes. The knights then laid into him. Fists and boots pounded his body. Dimly, he knew the knights weren¡¯t trying to kill him. He was to be an example, a warning.

    After several blows to the head, Vash finally gave up and let himself succumb to unconsciousness. As the darkness closed in, Vash''s last thought was of Iona. Her dark hair cut short, proudly showing her pointed ears. No shame in what she was. Her eyes full of fire and life as she pulled him close.

    <i>Lord of Hunts and Hunters, keep her safe.</i>

 Episode 32: Seeing Through Shadows

    Awareness came back to Vash in stages. First, he noticed his body lying on the stone floor. He sprawled on his side, one arm stretched above him, the other lying across his midsection. Next, the groggy awareness of cold and pain. The burning pain from the slashes on his back had dulled to a kind of ache, while lying on the cold floor had done very little to help the aches and pains he had all over his body.

    He lay on the floor, breathing in deep, shaky breaths. Barely a week had passed since he had watched his team, some of his best friends in the world, die in front of him. Vash tried to push it out of his mind, focus on his current problems. But his emotions roiled inside him, like an angry hornet¡¯s nest. Each time he tried to summon up the techniques to calm his mind, his memory flashed to Baron Caedes¡¯ looming over him, casually murdering Oskar or Pya.

    <i>The Knights of the Hidden Star were there.</i> Vash thought, grabbing onto something to pull himself out of spiraling despair. <i>Why? Something about Iona and Byar stealing  from the Duke.</i>

    Back in Sathsholm, seeing Iona alive and knowing the Eth Mitaan survived, Vash felt such relief that he didn¡¯t pursue the events of that night. He knew that he should have, but Iona made it hard to think about such things. She made things feel simple, even when they weren¡¯t.

    <i>Just do what I say, Sparrow,</i> she would say,<i> and everything will be all right</i>.

    The thought almost made him want to laugh. Whenever she said that was the perfect time to worry. He sighed heavily, feeling some of the adrenaline drain away as the dream faded.

    <i>No use lying around the floor, time to face the world</i>.

    Vash opened his eyes, groggily taking in the dimly lit room. The first thing he noticed was that the iridescent orb was gone. He bolted upright, sliding awkwardly backwards and away from the altar. Eyes darting from place to place, he frantically searched the small room.

    ¡°Where is the damn thing?¡± He said, fear and irritation plain in his voice.

    Vash was relieved when nothing answered him back. He rubbed his eyes, trying to banish the grogginess that accompanied his return to consciousness. Passing out wasn¡¯t the same thing as resting.

    ¡°Maybe I imagined it.¡± Vash said, but could not make himself believe that. The visions had been too vivid, too real. He glanced around at the mosses and fungi that grew from the crevices between the stones. ¡°Or maybe something is releasing spores.¡±

    Taking out his <i>Gideon¡¯s Guide</i>, Vash returned to the pages about the Underlands.

    ¡°One way to find out.¡± He muttered, flipping to page 374.

    The map was more detailed now, not just a sketch of the river and the larger caverns. Something added several side tunnels to the main drawing, marked with helpful notes. They included not only the Scaleback camp but also the cavern of the mushroom men, and the colony of Hammerworms.

    ¡°The things from my visions.¡± Vash said, tracing over the drawing with his finger. ¡°That¡¯s¡­pretty odd.¡±

    Again, he paused, watching the page and listening intently. There was no sound, and no additional notes appeared on the page.

    ¡°Vash, you¡¯re going nuts,¡± He said to himself, trying to laugh off the strange feeling of the place. Flipping pages, he found the entry on Dungeon Cores, hoping to make sense of everything that had happened.

    The <i>Gideon¡¯s</i> entry wasn¡¯t very helpful:

    <blockquote>

    Therium crystals, exposed to tainted Underlands mana, form Dungeon Cores. A remnant from when the Great Calamity befell Orus Malcos, bringing the Shadow into the world. Therium, when exposed to the shadow, undergoes an evolution of sorts. First, it changes from its standard blue or purple coloring into a darker, duller hue. Often it either looks black or a cloudy gray. This is when Therium becomes ¡°tainted¡±, no longer storing or filtering raw mana as it does in its natural state. Rather, it now pulls on the life essence that creates mana in the first place, twisting and storing it as ¡°shadow essence¡±. It is the concentration of shadow essence that creates the entities that are commonly known as Dungeon Cores.

    <cite></cite></blockquote>

    The rest was speculation on the nature of Dungeon Cores and the conditions needed to form them. Nothing helpful to his situation, nor was there any mention of soulstones.

    ¡°May need a mage for that.¡± Vash said, closing the book and putting it back into a pouch. ¡°Can¡¯t worry about that now. At this moment, I need to find a way out of here. So let¡¯s see if the visions were true.¡±

    Leaving the little temple was an odd feeling. When Vash had first stumbled upon it in a haze of pain and exhaustion, the building felt as if it had a presence, its own energy.

    Now, as he left, it felt hollow and dark. It no longer pulled at him like it did before. Just a collection of stones in an out of the way part of the Underlands.

    ¡°Like something left.¡± Vash said, turning back one last time before leaving the small cave. He paused, considering the temple, now swallowed in shadows and mist. ¡°Or something escaped.¡±

    He shuddered at that implication.

    Following the tunnel back the way he had come, Vash noticed that the way did not seem as dark as it had before. The tunnels were still black as night, but Vash thought he could make out the shape of the surrounding rock. He walked slowly, carefully, trailing the fingertips of his right hand along the tunnel wall, and listening for the sounds of Scaleback hunters.

    Somehow, he knew he was alone in the tunnel. There were no Scalebacks nearby, though he could feel a strange pull when he thought about them. The pull was in the direction that he knew the Scaleback camp to be in. Vash stopped walking. The pull came from the direction he expected the Scalebacks to be in. He tried focusing on something else. The pull shifted as Vash thought of the mushroom men. The way suddenly became clear in his mind, like a map in his head. It was almost as though someone had drawn an invisible line on the floor and so long as Vash concentrated on the mushroom men, then he could feel that line beneath his feet.

    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    Vash thought about the way back to the river. The line shifted, presenting a forked path in his mind. One line went back to the cavern with the Scalebacks, the other followed a series of tunnels and would lead him further north, closer to the falls. When his mind drifted to the falls, Vash felt the line extend itself even further. The map in his head rapidly filled in the full trek. Instantly he knew he was roughly a day and a half from the falls. Focusing on the falls themselves and he could see them in his mind, a cascade of water tumbling several hundred feet from an opening far above. Vash could almost see the faint sunlight illuminating the wide lake that formed at the base of the falls before flowing off into the darkness.

    He blinked and shook his head, coming back to himself. The connection he seemed to have with the Underlands was disconcerting, but useful. Vash set out, determined to make the best use of his new ability.

    <hr>

    Vash walked for several hours in the deep darkness, following the map in his mind. The tunnels ran through the rock like a madman¡¯s labyrinth. At each turn, Vash trusted his intuition and followed the path that his connection to the Underlands wanted him to follow. Flashes of insight told him that the other paths lead off into the deeper levels of the Underlands or lairs of creatures far more dangerous and powerful than a few Scaleback hunters.

    Around mid-day, as far as Vash could tell in this place of eternal darkness, he finally emerged from the tunnels into a river cavern. This cavern felt like the Underlands version of a forest. Huge mushrooms, fifteen to twenty feet tall, rose like trees all around him. The ground was a mix of a soft, gray-white moss, which also ran up the ¡®trunks¡¯ of the mushroom trees and hung like ragged curtains from the tops, and pale green grass that grew to about knee-height, swaying gently even though there was no breeze.

    Glowmoss grew thicker here, coating the huge pillars of rock that hung down from the ceiling, giving everything a brighter feel. Not daylight, but something akin to the light of the greater moon when it was full. Though the mushroom-trees cast long, dark shadows, several luminescent flowers and plants grew in clusters around them.

    Everything felt strange and otherworldly, but for Vash, it was far better than creeping through the pitch-black tunnels. ¡°At least I know that my new¡­Talent, I guess, works.¡±

    Vash headed towards the river. His water bottle, damaged in the fight with the Scaleback hunter, was empty. After walking more than half a day, Vash was incredibly thirsty.

    The sound of rushing water nearby only intensified the dry feeling in his mouth.

    He weaved in-between the mushroom-trees, following the sound of water and the pull of his¡­what should he call it? Vash didn¡¯t have a clue what either the Eth Mitaan or the Wayfarers would call his newfound ability.

    <i>Dungeon Sense, maybe? It doesn¡¯t feel like a Talent. There¡¯s no formula, and if it¡¯s pulling mana from my Core, then it¡¯s an amount too small for me to notice.</i>

    ¡°Following my<i> Dungeon Sense</i>.¡± Vash said, trying out the new name. ¡°I like that. I should make a note of it.¡±

    Vash emerged from the mushroom-tree forest and found himself on the bank of the river. A wave of relief flowed over him and he kneeled in the black sand to scoop up handfuls of cold, clear water. He drank greedily until he felt like his insides were sloshing about. Then Vash sat down on a nearby rock to rest for a few moments.

    While he sat, he took out his <i>Gideon¡¯s Guide</i>, flipped to a blank page and then hunted for a nub of charcoal in his pouch, hoping to write down his thoughts on his new Dungeon Sense ability. His pouches were devoid of writing implements, however, so Vash turned back to close the book, only to see writing in the same neat hand that wrote notes in the margins.

    <blockquote>

    Dungeon Sense (passive ability)

    Rank: Iron 1

    Mana Cost: 1-3 motes per hour

    Range: Underlands, any structure that is encompassed by the Therial network of a Dungeon Core

    Description: Ability which stems from the accidental absorption of a soulstone into a living body. This ability allows the user to tap into the crystalline network of Therium, which forms the base of soulstones, heartstones, and Dungeon Cores. The user¡¯s connection allows them to ¡®map¡¯ a dungeon in their mind, as well as keep track of any living creatures or mana-based constructs also connected to the Therial network.

    Note: Dungeon Cores will actively attempt to obfuscate their network. More training and strengthening of this ability will be necessary to have any effect on more developed and powerful Cores.

    <cite></cite></blockquote>

    ¡°I thought Corwin said these things weren¡¯t enchanted.¡± Vash said, frowning down at the book. The annotations and definitions were certainly helpful, but he didn¡¯t like how well the book seemed to know him. Between the annotations and the new senses from his brush with the soulstone, Vash was feeling like he was being constantly watched. It was unnerving.

    A thought occurred to him, though. ¡°If I can track living creatures through the Underlands, I wonder if I can sense Jabez and Corwin?¡±

    Ever since the glow of their lantern had faded into the distance, Vash had felt very alone. It would be good to know that the others were at least on their way to the falls. Putting away the Gideon¡¯s Guide, Vash placed his marked hand against the ground. He didn¡¯t know if contact increased the power of the ability, but he didn¡¯t think it would hurt.

    His fingertips sank into the soft, black sand. Vash closed his eyes and fixed Jabez and Corwin in his mind. He tried to recall what it felt like when they used mana for their Talents, much the same way he would if he were using <i>Detect Magic</i> on them. Vash¡¯s mind moved sluggishly through the caverns, like he was pushing against mud or into a strong wind. Gritting his teeth, Vash tried to form a link between his <i>Dungeon Sense</i> and his Core, then released a trickle of mana through the link.

    Vash gasped involuntarily as his tiny trickle of mana flowed through a dozen new channels in his body, forming links and pathways that he hadn¡¯t expected. The resistance to his<i> Dungeon Sense</i> evaporated and Vash¡¯s mind flew through the Underlands at dizzying speed. He saw dozens of strange, terrible, and wondrous things flash past with no time to process them. Finally, an image appeared in his mind¡¯s eye: Corwin and Jabez laboring up a rocky outcropping a few hours north of where Vash sat on the opposite side of the river.

    Jabez was having difficulty with the climb from his injured shoulder. Corwin would haul his dwarf master up after him every time he made it to a new ledge. The dwarf was grousing and grumbling as they repeated the action over and over.

    ¡°This is hard enough without you complaining every time.¡± Corwin said, voice light, but Vash could tell he was getting irritated.

    Jabez grunted, scowling as Corwin reached down to give him his hand. ¡°It¡¯s undignified. If we had a healing potion, then these little rock ledges would be as easy to climb as a step-ladder.¡±

    ¡°It could be worse.¡±

    ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°I could have to carry you thrown over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes.¡± Corwin grinned.

    Jabez made a disgusted sound, but Vash could tell that the dwarf thought it was a little funny. They seemed to be doing well and in good spirits. That was a relief, at least. They hadn¡¯t run into the sort of trouble that Vash had¡­

    A twinge in Vash¡¯s <i>Dungeon Sense</i> made him shift his awareness slightly downriver from where Jabez and Corwin were struggling up another section of rock. It took him a minute or two to find what his <i>Dungeon Sense</i> was trying to tell him. Several large, dark shapes emerged from the river. Dripping with water, they unslung their spears and sniffed the air. Soon, there were a dozen of the creatures gathered on the riverbank. They were all bulls. Large, thick-scaled, and foul-tempered. One of them made a strange sound, like a bark and a cough together. The other Scalebacks turned, and the one that had spoken pointed to a bobbing light in the distance.

    Their lantern. Vash thought.

    With a chorus of low growls, the Scalebacks moved towards the light and their unsuspecting prey.

 Episode 33: A Conversation With Myself

    <b>EPISODE THIRTY-THREE:</b>

    <b>A CONVERSATION WITH MYSELF</b>

    ¡°Their <i>D</i><i>anger Sense</i> will alert them before the Scalebacks get close, right?¡± Vash said to himself, trying to shake off the feeling of dread. Through his Danger Sense, Vash saw the Scalebacks organizing themselves into three groups of four. The largest bull, a hulking, scarred creature with one cloudy, blind eye, laid out instructions to the other hunters. Vash couldn¡¯t understand the words, but he was an Eth Mitaan, a servant of Kyrinos, Lord of Hunts and Hunters, and the leader¡¯s intention was clear. The hunters would keep their distance, track the Wayfarers, and when they came to a suitable ambush location, they would spring their trap.

    <i>They¡¯re in trouble.</i>

    ¡°But Jabez is a Master Wayfarer, a seasoned adventurer with a magic hammer.¡± Vash said, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his gut.

    <i>He¡¯s wounded, badly enough that Corwin is dragging him up the side of those rock faces.</i>

    ¡°Corwin has become a damn good fighter.¡±<i>

    They¡¯re outnumbered six to one.</i>

    ¡°I¡¯m hours behind them and on the wrong side of the river. What can I do?¡± Vash snarled, annoyed that his own conscience was getting so loud.

    <i>I don¡¯t know, what CAN you do?</i>

    Vash hesitated, realizing that he wasn¡¯t sure what exactly he could do with his new Talent. Using mana had allowed him to use it at a greater distance and with specific intent. The layering trick that he had used back at the Guild Lodge, during the Gauntlet, had opened up new options for him to use and combine his Talents.

    ¡°Let¡¯s think this through.¡± Vash said, opening his eyes and looking around. He still maintained his connection to the Dungeon Sense vision, making his head swim slightly as he tried to process the images that his normal sight was giving him, and the ones from his Dungeon Sense. It was like seeing double, and Vash took a few moments to adjust.

    ¡°All right, hold the vision in your head. Maybe think of it like a memory rather than something you¡¯re actually seeing.¡± Vash told himself, fighting against the feeling of vertigo.

    Slowly, Vash pushed the vision into the background, into his thoughts rather than his eyes. He could still ¡®see¡¯ the vision, but it no longer sent waves of dizziness through him. For now, he was steady.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good first step.¡± Vash said, keeping up the self-encouragement.

    <i>No one else is going to do it down here.</i>

    ¡°Next, let¡¯s see if we can keep our connection while not knuckle-deep in mud,¡± Vash said, slowly pulling his fingers back out of the soft black mud of the riverbank. As he withdrew his fingers, he felt his hold on the <i>Dungeon Sense</i> get more tenuous. The vision in his head started to fade and lose detail. ¡°Contact seems to be necessary for this kind of connection.¡±

    <i>Is it? Or is it simply a matter of focus?</i>

    ¡°I am fucking focused!¡± Vash snapped.

    <i>Not focused, like concentration, focus like where in your body you are centering the connection. Does the connection NEED to be in your hand or can you shift it elsewhere, like your feet?</i>

    ¡°That¡¯s a good question.¡± Vash said, considering the thought. In the same way he had shifted the focus of his Dungeon Sense vision, he moved his awareness of the connection point away from the tips of his fingers.

    Slowly, the connection moved up his fingers and coalesced in his palm, which was resting on the damp sandy soil.

    <i>Now the tricky part.</i>

    Rather than shifting the awareness all along his body, which would mean pressing his whole body into the mud, Vash focused a second point of awareness on the ball of his right foot. Piece by piece, the connection drifted through the ground to Vash¡¯s foot. It was a taxing process, very much like learning to tap into his Core the first time. He was having to split his awareness and focus into several parts in order to maintain the link.

    After several tense moments, Vash felt the connection solidify in his foot. It was an interesting feeling. He felt more grounded, more aware of where he was and what was around him.

    <i>Maybe a different focus does different things?</i>

    He carefully lifted his fingers from the ground, but still maintained the connection. Standing upright, Vash rocked slightly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. It took a little practice, but soon he was shifting the link from foot to foot, smoothly maintaining the connection while lifting each foot a bare inch above the ground and then setting it back down again.

    ¡°I can walk, that¡¯s good.¡± Vash said, slowly walking to the north, following the river again. Even though he had stretched his awareness using <i>Dungeon Sense</i>, he really couldn¡¯t affect anything close to Corwin and Jabez. He had to catch up to them.

    Maintaining the connection was tricky at first. Vash kept his mind focused on shifting the link from foot to foot as he trudged along the river. He got the hang of it before long. Within an hour, he was effortlessly keeping the link while moving at a decent pace.

    <i>It¡¯s just a rhythm, like breathing.</i>

    As he walked, he checked in on the Scalebacks and the Wayfarers. Corwin and Jabez had passed through the worst of the vertical climb, and were now passing over a plateau that stretched from the river¡¯s edge and disappeared into the murky distance of the cavern. The same pale grasses that Vash was passing through carpeted the plateau growing to just above Corwin¡¯s knee.

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°An open area.¡± Vash breathed. ¡°The Scalebacks will want someplace with less visibility for their ambush.¡±

    With Corwin and Jabez ¡®safe¡¯ for the moment, Vash could concentrate on what he might actually do to help them.

    ¡°I doubt I can just shout warnings across the river.¡± Vash said, glancing over at the dark water on his right. His Dungeon Sense told him that the opposite bank was only about a hundred yards from where he stood, but it also told him that the river was teeming with creatures like the Hammerworms, and worse. The shadow essence of the Underlands could create some genuine horrors.

    <i>A good thing that only a fraction of them ever make it to the lands above.</i>

    Vash nodded in agreement. It was one thing to be told of the dangers of the shadow, to have someone preach about it on Temple Day. But it was completely different to experience those dangers for yourself.

    ¡°No wonder Wayfarers always seem so grouchy.¡± Vash said, idly wondering if he would end up that way if he continued along this path.

    <i>Perhaps, but you¡¯re only here because Iona and Byar need you for something within the Wayfarers. You¡¯re not going to make this a career.</i>

    ¡°True, this is only short term¡­¡± Vash began, then trailed off. ¡°Wait, am I talking to myself and answering?¡±

    <i>I was wondering when you¡¯d notice.</i>

    Vash stopped, feeling cold dread grip him. He remembered the old temple, the vision of the king who placed the soulstone upon his forehead and the demonic eye that lodged there afterwards. When he woke up, the soulstone was nowhere to be seen.

    <i>Don¡¯t over-think this</i>. The voice in his head said. As it did so, the tone changed. Before, it had been using a voice similar to his own. Now it shifted to a woman¡¯s voice, a pleasant alto with just a hint of huskiness. <i>I¡¯m no demon, no matter what old Telemachus thought.</i>

    ¡°Then what are you?¡± Vash asked, cautiously.

    <i>That is a very long story</i>. The voice sighed, sounding endlessly weary. <i>One we don¡¯t really have time for at the moment. Just know that I¡¯m very similar to you in most of the ways that count. I am a soul and I was trapped in that construct. I ended up in the hands of a jackass named Telemachus Mardu, a sorcerer who thought to make a kingdom for himself down here. You saw how that turned out.</i>

    Vash said nothing, too stunned to truly process what was happening. ¡°Why can I hear you?¡±

    <i>A Therial latticework</i>. The voice said proudly. <i>You absorbed a soulstone. Usually, a sorcerer uses a soulstone to yank your soul out of your body. After pummeling you for a good long while and getting you to the brink of death. You, however, absorbed a soulstone somehow and now have a nice, microscopic lattice of Therium crystals running throughout your Core and your meridians. </i>

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t help.¡± Vash said, frowning.

    <i>Oh gods, there¡¯s not much book-learning in here, is there?</i>

    ¡°The place I grew up in didn¡¯t like part-elves learning too much.¡± Vash said, irritably. ¡°Didn¡¯t want dangerous half-breeds running around.¡±

    <i>Ugh, I know the types</i>. The voice said, a hint of disgust tinging her tone. <i>Very well, the simple version is this: because you absorbed a crystal designed specifically to link Celestial energy, your soul, and Arcane energy, mana, you now have a very solid link between yourself and anything linked to mana. That¡¯s why you¡¯ve got some new Talents like your </i>Dungeon Sense<i>, and why I could help you out in the tunnels. Then, when you touched my altar, I could ¡°hitch a ride¡±.</i>

    Vash felt his insides twisting with panic. ¡°So I have an unknown soul inside my body right now.¡±

    Thoughts of the shadow-taint, possession by Drae demons, raced through his mind.

    <i>Calm down.</i> The voice said, as soothingly as possible. <i>I told you, I¡¯m not a demon. I was a human, just a very long time ago. Also, I can¡¯t control you. That¡¯s not how this connection works. If anything, it¡¯s the other way around. I¡¯m just along for the ride. I can talk to you, see how things are working in here, but not actually affect anything. The best I¡¯ve been able to do is get your magic book to scribble out a few messages.</i>

    ¡°Magic book? What magic book?¡± Vash asked, confused.

    <i>The old green book in your pouch</i>. The voice said. <i>You didn¡¯t figure out it had an enchantment on it yet?</i>

    ¡°Corwin said they weren¡¯t enchanted.¡±

    <i>My guess is that¡¯s true for other copies, but whoever used to own this one laid a big whammy of an enchantment down on it. And boy, does it have some OPINIONS.</i>

    ¡°All right, since there¡¯s nothing I can do about this right now. I suppose we just go on as we have been?¡± Vash said, beginning to walk again, but his connection to his <i>Dungeon Sense </i>felt shakier, likely in response to his entire world just being shaken up.

    <i>Better</i>. The voice said, firmly. <i>Now that you know and have accepted that I¡¯m here, I can give you some help.</i>

    ¡°What sort of help?¡± Vash asked, suspicious.

    <i>You are a prickly one</i>. The voice said, though it had an air of friendly banter. <i>First, you don¡¯t have to keep shifting your point of contact like that. It¡¯s clever, but you¡¯re using far too much mental energy. All you have to do is expand your aura slightly and push the contact through there.</i>

    ¡°Aura?¡± Vash asked, confused.

    <i>Gods, I¡¯m going to have to teach you everything from the ground up again, aren¡¯t I? Your aura is just a field of magic that surrounds your body. It¡¯s what draws ambient mana into your body to feed your Core. You can also use it to affect the world around you at more of a distance. Try to push your awareness to the top of your skin, kind of the reverse of how you might sink into your Core.</i>

    Vash frowned, unsure, but did as the voice instructed. Reversing the method he used to connect with his Core took a few tries, eventually he felt a slight tingle all over his body, similar to gooseflesh but followed by warmth. He could feel his aura drawing in motes of magical energy and incorporating it into the thin field all around his body. The motes would then flow to the meridian lines and then down into his Core. He had often wondered how his Core replenished itself, but he had always been too busy with training how to use his Talents to really study how they worked.

    <i>We can work on that, if you like</i>. The voice said.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to get very awkward if you keep reading my thoughts.¡± Vash said.

    <i>I wouldn¡¯t worry too much about it</i>. The voice said, wearily. <i>Communicating with you takes a lot of energy. I am going to have to go rest soon and build up my strength. While I do that, you¡¯re on your own. I¡¯ll also teach you some techniques to maintain some privacy. Which, incidentally, will help you when you¡¯re dealing with mental attacks, charms, that sort of thing.</i>

    ¡°Fair enough.¡±

    <i>Why don¡¯t you see if you can get your aura to maintain your</i> Dungeon Sense<i>? Then I¡¯ll go rest and see if I can¡¯t come up with some ways to help your friends.</i>

    ¡°All right.¡± Vash said, uncertainly. He focused on his aura, pushing it out slightly, like blowing up a bubble. He was afraid it might burst if he pushed too hard. It was a strange feeling, like fingertips brushing your skin, only from about an inch away from your body. He could sense the connection with the ground, however, and centered his <i>Dungeon Sense</i> there. No matter how he walked now, he could keep a solid connection with the ground.

    Vash began walking faster. His <i>Dungeon Sense</i> did not waver. Soon, he could shift his focus away and think about other things while he walked.

    There, isn¡¯t that better?

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­interesting.¡± Vash said, still not sure how he felt about sharing his mind with a passenger like this.

    <i>This isn¡¯t a lot of fun for me either</i>. The voice said, her tone more quiet, tired. <i>Now I have to go rest for a while. Wake me up when you get closer to the Scalebacks. I have a few ideas we can try that will probably slow them down.</i>

    ¡°All right.¡± Vash said. He felt the voice recede, like a part of him falling asleep. ¡°Wait, just a moment!¡±

    The ¡®presence¡¯ of the voice returned, like a lantern being turned up for more light.

    <i>Yes?</i>

    ¡°This is going to get awkward if I keep having to call you ¡®the voice in my head¡¯, do you have a name?¡±

    The voice laughed, a lovely, musical sound. <i>My name is Cassadia. You can call me Cass.</i>

 Episode 34: A Shadowed Trail

    <b>EPISODE THIRTY-FOUR:</b>

    <b>A SHADOWED TRAIL</b>

    The march north along the river was quiet for a few hours. True to her word, Cass had gone silent. Vash didn¡¯t have a sense of where she was or what she was doing, but his thoughts were his own again. He really didn¡¯t know what to think about his ¡®passenger¡¯. Domus Enrick, the cleric of the little temple that served Durron¡¯s Ford, would often rail about the Drae, demons of the shadow, taking hold and possessing wicked souls. Enrick had a habit of counseling Vash¡¯s guardian, Sam, about the warning signs of a shadow-touched soul. This had led to several long talks about the dangers his half-blood soul was in, and the need for repentance and absolution.

    <i>Not that it would have helped</i>. Vash thought. <i>Enrick remained convinced I was shadow-touched, no matter what I did.</i>

    Sam had meant well, in his own foolish and easily manipulated way. Vash couldn¡¯t fault him too much for being afraid for the moody young boy¡¯s soul. Vash¡¯s mother, Mari, had died of the Rose Fever when he was only eight. Brother Enrick¡¯s distaste for the mixing of the races led to Mari¡¯s ostracization by the good people of Durron¡¯s Ford.

    Only Nora Walker, Corwin¡¯s mother, had any compassion for Mari. They were childhood friends, and Nora knew the entire story of how Vash came to be. Nora gave some of her sewing jobs to Mari to help with money. Vash spent many days on the Walker farm helping with a variety of chores for a copper piece here and there. Nora had been kind to him, if a bit distant. She was on the edge of polite society in Durron¡¯s Ford as well, and couldn¡¯t afford to anger the temple-going crowd.

    Corwin¡¯s father, Marcus, had died during Duke Raef¡¯s War when Corwin and Vash had been small. The surviving levies that had returned from that foolish conflict between two greedy Dukes had reported that Marcus died from an arrow to the back while fleeing. This claim of cowardice tainted the entire Walker family. Never mind that the levies who had fought for Duke Raef, the losing side of that war, and survived must have broken and run during the few brief battles. All that mattered was that these men made the accusation. After that, offers of help during planting and harvest had dried up. The stores in town stopped offering credit and refused to haggle or bargain. Enrick relegated the family to the back rows of the temple, and often preached pointed sermons about duty and courage, using the family as an example.

    When the Rose Fever swept through Durron¡¯s Ford, that distance from the rest of the village at least kept the Walkers from suffering any more tragedy. Mari Ballard, however, made a living as a seamstress and often had to go begging for work. She had caught the fever early in the pandemic, with no extra money for healing elixirs. Let alone a cleric¡¯s rite, Mari succumbed quickly.

    Brother Enrick included her in the funeral rites of several who had died from the fever. Most of the others were boat hands from the trader barges, or vagrants who contracted the fever while passing through. Vash remembered standing alone at the lip of the grave, looking down at the six or seven bodies wrapped in coarse linen shrouds. He had been distraught because he couldn¡¯t tell which one was his mother. One of gravediggers, a sullen drunkard named Hal, told him to stop sniveling because ¡°she weren¡¯t worth the tears.¡±

    That was the first time he got into trouble for attacking someone.

    Though Hal had easily fought off the eight-year-old boy, he took some nasty bite wounds and a black eye from a well-thrown stone.

    Brother Enrick placed Vash with Sam Fleischer, the town butcher. Sam was a lifelong bachelor who needed an apprentice and absolutely devoted to the temple and service to the gods. Sam hadn¡¯t been a bad sort, but he believed far too much of the venom that Brother Enrick would spew. So Sam would come home after temple and awkwardly try to save Vash¡¯s soul, either through endless chores and labor in the shop, or long, halting readings from <i>The Nine Paths</i>, the holy book of the Malconian Temple.

    Vash shook his head. It had been a long time since he¡¯d thought about Sam and the old days back in Durron¡¯s Ford. Sam had been so scared that a demon would make him shadow-touched, push him out of the warm comfort of the temple¡¯s embrace.

    ¡°He didn¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± Vash muttered. ¡°So long as he was human and didn¡¯t complain about Brother Enrick, then the temple would love him forever.¡±

    <i>That¡¯s very sad.</i> Cass¡¯ voice startled him out of his reverie.

    ¡°I thought you were resting?¡± Vash asked, startled, but trying to seem nonchalant.

    <i>It¡¯s been several hours.</i> Cass said with the impression of a mental shrug. <i>I decided to see where we were and how things were progressing.</i>

    ¡°Can¡¯t you just read my mind?¡± Vash said, trying to sound flippant, but his tone came out as worried.

    <i>I already told you it takes a lot of energy to go digging around in your mind.</i> Cass said, sounding like an annoyed parent having to explain something to a skeptical toddler. <i>Also, it¡¯s rude, and I don¡¯t want to start our partnership on the wrong foot. If you¡¯re actively thinking about something, I can get a sense of what it is. Just then, you were concentrating so hard on your past that it was the mental equivalent of shouting.</i>

    ¡°Sorry if I was too¡­loud?¡± Vash said, trying to find the right words.

    <i>Don¡¯t worry about it.</i> Cass reassured him. <i>We¡¯ll work on those exercises to block unwanted listeners soon. In the meantime, maybe just focus on the here and now.</i>

    Vash nodded. ¡°Makes sense. We¡¯ve made some good time. This side of the river is flatter and doesn¡¯t have as many obstacles. We are maybe an hour behind Corwin and Jabez at this point.¡±

    <i>And the Scalebacks?</i>

    ¡°Still following.¡± Vash said. ¡°They¡¯ve closed the gap considerably, but there seems to be some argument going on. Some of the Scalebacks want to call off the hunt and seem pretty nervous about the caverns that are coming up.¡±

    <i>They may be wandering into another tribe¡¯s territory.</i> Cass said, considering the situation. <i>Or a dangerous predator¡¯s hunting ground.</i>

    ¡°I can¡¯t really tell,¡± Vash said. He was getting more accustomed to looking at things through his Dungeon Sense. Switching between the Scalebacks and Corwin and Jabez was much easier, and he could even get some sense of the surrounding area. He was having trouble looking into the area ahead though. Every time he tried it was a dark, cloudy, blur.

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    <i>That may be a problem.</i> Cass said, giving the mental impression of a frown.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    <i>It¡¯s either an area with low connection to the rest of the ¡®dungeon¡¯ that is the Underlands, and that could be for a variety of reasons: low amounts of Therium, gaps in the network, things like that. Or, it is an area that¡¯s highly tainted by the shadow. The latter can be very dangerous.</i>

    ¡°I thought this thing only worked because of shadow-tainted Therium?¡± Vash asked, confused. ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡±

    <i>A shadow taint affects most Dungeon Hearts, but the Drae do not directly control them. So they attract the normal, fairly common monsters: Hollowmound spiders, Scalebacks, giant rats, that sort of thing. Dungeon Hearts linked to the shadow and directly controlled by the Drae are something else entirely. The creatures they can create are quite harrowing.</i>

    Vash considered this. That could have been Zakarias¡¯ intention at the Mossfen Delving. To use the soulstones to boost the connection between the delving¡¯s Dungeon Heart and the shadow itself.

    <i>I can tell you¡¯re thinking about something over there.</i> Cass said, gently. <i>Anything I can help with?</i>

    ¡°No, not right now,¡± Vash said, secretly happy that he had kept something from the voice in his head. ¡°If Jabez and Corwin are heading towards a shadow-controlled Dungeon Heart, what can we do?¡±

    Cass considered this for a moment. Vash could feel her pondering somewhere in the back of his mind. <i>Until we get closer or find a heartstone node, there¡¯s not much we can do. </i>

    ¡°Heartstones connect to the Dungeon Heart?¡± Vash asked, still unsure of how the entire process worked. Cass¡¯ description felt slightly different from the one that Corwin told him.

    <i>Yes, they act like a focal point, allowing the influence of the Core to spread.</i> Cass said. <i>Heartstones are often just highly concentrated Therium. Before taking on any taint from the shadow, they become a deep red color, which is where they get their name from</i>.

    ¡°I thought that they only formed because of a shadow taint.¡± Vash said, trying to wrap his head around everything.

    <i>There are natural heartstones.</i> Cass said. <i>But they are exceedingly rare. A mage will pay untold amounts of gold for an uncorrupted heartstone.</i>

    ¡°Why?¡±

    <i>To build a Tower of course.</i> Cass said, as if it was obvious. <i>Every mage wants a Tower to call their own, and a heartstone makes the perfect foundation.</i>

    Vash felt they were wandering pretty far afield at this point and swung his focus back onto the problem at hand. ¡°So, what can we do now?¡±

    <i>Just get closer.</i> Cass said. <i>There¡¯s a place with a stronger connection to the opposite bank up ahead. We¡¯ll be able to do more when we get there.</i>

    <hr>

    The stone arch stretched from the stalagmites that rose from the rocky shore where Vash stood and faded into the gloom of the opposite bank. It was only a thin stretch of rock, the result of hundreds, maybe thousands of years of water eroding away a larger rock face. Now, the arch was perhaps a hand-width across, and looked incredibly fragile.

    <i>You won¡¯t be able to use it to walk across, but it will give you a stronger connection if you push your </i>Dungeon Sense<i> a bit. </i>Cass said.

    It had taken longer than Vash hoped to get to this place. Massive rock outcroppings and thick forests of stalagmites had forced Vash away from the riverbank and into the mushroom forest. He had worried about moving away from the river again, but his Dungeon Sense had kept him on the right path. Cass had been silent the entire time, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He¡¯d found that so long as he didn¡¯t focus on anything too hard or attach emotion to the thoughts, then they didn¡¯t register with Cass. It was a relief that he could keep some things private without her knowing the method he was using.

    Evening was coming on. Vash could feel the glowmoss beginning to dim and close for the night. Fatigue was wearing on him. Even though <i>Dungeon Sense</i> used a negligible amount of mana, the mental strain of keeping it active was very tiring. He was afraid to let it go, that he¡¯d lose the connection, but that was what Cass told him she wanted him to do.

    <i>Your current connection routed through the soil and rock the flows underneath the river.</i> Cass said. <i>You need to form a new connection across the archway. It¡¯s a more direct path and will be easier on you, not to mention give you greater control over aspects of the dungeon on the far side.</i>

    ¡°You¡¯re sure I can get it back?¡± Vash asked, hesitant.

    <i>Positive.</i> Cass said firmly. <i>In fact, I¡¯d be willing to wager that it will be far easier this time.</i>

    Vash took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. Mentally, he loosened his grip on <i>Dungeon Sense</i> and let the connection slip away. He blinked as the mental images vanished from his mind¡¯s eye. It was like suddenly losing vision in one eye. His perspective shifted, and he blinked furiously, trying to get his eyes to focus.

    His aura also snapped back into place, suddenly contracting his connection to the world around him slightly. Vash swayed slightly on his feet, resting his hand on a rock to steady himself.

    <i>Just take a moment to center yourself.</i> Cass said. <i>Once you get more comfortable using </i>Dungeon Sense<i>, you won¡¯t have to keep it up for so long and letting it go won¡¯t be so jarring.</i>

    The shift in awareness made Vash dizzy and queasy. But he took several deep breaths and slowly the feeling faded. ¡°It would be bad if that happened during a fight.¡±

    <i>Keep working on it and the reaction won¡¯t be so severe.</i> Cass assured him. <i>Once you¡¯re ready, we can work on reestablishing the link, only this time we¡¯ll go through the span here.</i>

    Vash nodded and opened his eyes. Straightening up, he planted his feet and willed any discomfort to the back of his mind.

    <i>I¡¯m impressed. Your control is actually quite good. </i>Cass said. <i>Who taught you to do that?</i>

    Vash hesitated. He remembered Cass¡¯ voice in his dream when he relived the attack on the Duke¡¯s palace. She¡¯d seen who he¡¯d been with, his friends, the techniques they used.

    ¡°Maybe we can talk about it when we¡¯ve gotten to know each other better.¡± Vash said, carefully.

    Cass was silent for a moment. Vash felt her pull back slightly. <i>Fair enough. Let¡¯s see if we can¡¯t get your </i>Dungeon Sense<i> going again.</i>

    Vash nodded, willing his aura to expand slightly, then reaching out through his connection to the dungeon. His awareness wanted to sink down to the larger Therium deposits below the river, in places further down in the Underlands. Vash pulled himself up, seeking the thin veins that ran through the fragile stone arch. His awareness carefully wound its way through the lattice of connections, arriving on the other side within a few heartbeats.

    <i>Good, now let¡¯s find your friends.</i> Cass said.

    This time, Vash¡¯s awareness snapped almost directly to Corwin and Jabez. The two of them were setting up camp in a sheltered hollow, protected on three sides by rock. Corwin was handing some rations to Jabez. The dwarf looked tired, older, and moved like he was in a great deal of pain.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Vash wondered out loud.

    <i>I think his wound is getting worse</i>. Cass said. <i>He¡¯s favoring that side and trying to keep it away from Corwin.</i>

    Vash saw the same thing. No one had recently changed Jabez¡¯s dressing. They likely didn¡¯t have the supplies needed. The bloodstain in the center now was an unhealthy dark, almost black, color.

    ¡°That¡¯s not good.¡± Vash said. He had no love for the dwarf, but he was his connection to the Wayfarers. Vash wasn¡¯t sure what would happen if his sponsor died. Would he go back to being a wanted vagabond? Would Corwin?

    <i>Worry about one thing at a time.</i> Cass counseled. <i>Let¡¯s see if we can¡¯t find out what¡¯s ahead of them.</i>

    Vash shifted his awareness away from the camp and towards the place that was obscured. The area was still hard to see. His vision felt limited, like a fog bank where he could only see a few feet in front of him in any direction. He tried adding a little mana, pushing through the fog by force of will.

    <i>Careful.</i> Cass admonished. <i>You don¡¯t know what¡¯s in there.</i>

    Vash ignored her. The mana infusion pushed the fog away, leaving his vision dim, but unhindered. The land ahead was a twisting maze of stone columns. Something had carved them in the long past. The design reminded him of the little temple where he¡¯d found Cass. Who would have built such things all the way down there?

    <i>Oh, no,</i> Cass said, fear tightening her voice.

    ¡°What?¡± Vash asked. ¡°What is it?¡±

    <i>That¡¯s a shadow temple. </i>Cass said. <i>A place for shadow-touched to gather and commune with the Drae. I think your friends are in terrible danger.</i>

 Episode 35: Across The River

    <b>EPISODE THIRTY-FIVE:</b>

    <b>ACROSS THE RIVER</b>

    ¡°I have to get across.¡± Vash said, scanning the riverbank. His Dungeon Sense could search upriver for a considerable distance. There were no crossings that he could find within range. ¡°Maybe I can swim it. The current doesn¡¯t seem too bad. Using <i>Enhance Ability</i> I could¡­¡±

    Cass cut him off. <i>Those waters contain creatures, but you can¡¯t sense them because the water is not connected to the Therial network. Things that lurk and feed in the deep darkness. I would not advise trying to swim across.</i>

    Vash thought of the Hammerworms, and the feeling he had of something deep in those pitch-black waters. ¡°All right, you have a point. But I can¡¯t wait any longer. Corwin and Jabez are trapped between the Scalebacks and the Shadow Temple. There¡¯s no reason for the Scalebacks to wait any longer. They¡¯re going to want to attack before reaching the temple.¡±

    <i>Tonight, I¡¯d wager.</i> Cass agreed. <i>Scalebacks are night hunters.</i>

    ¡°With Jabez hurt, I don¡¯t like their chances.¡± Vash said.

    <i>You¡¯re not exactly at full capacity, either.</i> Cass said.

    Vash knew what she was talking about. He mentally blocked much of the pain from the slashes on his back, but he could still feel them back there. In the past day, the wounds had begun to burn and itch irritably. The healing magic from his Wayfarer medallion would soothe the pain temporarily, but it would always surge back when he least expected it.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Vash said.

    <i>Are you? </i>Cass prodded.

    ¡°Fine enough to help.¡± Vash countered. He considered the stone arch. The thin span of dull gray stone stretched to a peak of about twenty feet above the rushing waters below. ¡°I know you said it was too brittle for me to cross, but there must be a way to strengthen it, or move so that it doesn¡¯t collapse with me on it.¡±

    <i>If you were a wizard, there are many ways to do that.</i> Cass said, dryly. <i>But, you¡¯re not a wizard, so I don¡¯t think so.</i>

    ¡°Very helpful.¡± Vash said, irritated.

    <i>I will not lie. You¡¯ve got a very low chance of crossing on that thing. If you fall, you¡¯ve got an even lower chance of surviving to the opposite bank. Cass said. Since I currently do not have a soulstone to transfer myself into at the moment, I¡¯m not exactly sure what happens if some horrible creature from the depths makes a snack out of you.</i>

    ¡°Then think of a way to help me, because I¡¯m going to cross.¡± Vash said, stubbornly.

    <i>Gods of earth and sky, save me from fools who think they¡¯re heroes.</i> Cass said, bitterly. <i>Fine, you can¡¯t do anything to strengthen the arch, but you may minimize the chances of it collapsing underneath you as you cross. It will take concentration, so you will have to drop your </i>Dungeon Sense.

    Vash hesitated for a moment, then relented. His perception swam only slightly this time, and he was better prepared for the change in perspective and the wave of vertigo. Once he recovered, he approached the stone arch. It rose like a jagged pile of stone blocks above the river. In most place it was only as wide as his palm, though it widened in a few places higher on the arch. The weight higher up likely contributed to the instability and weakness of the lower, thinner parts of the arch.

    <i>Now, stretch out your aura like you did before. You may need to go wider this time since you¡¯ll want to connect with the whole of the stone.</i> Cass instructed, her tone no nonsense, but Vash could tell she was worried.

    With a slight effort of will, Vash could push his aura far enough to encompass the part of the stone arch directly in front of his body.

    <i>Good, now I¡¯m assuming you can perform the</i> Enhance Senses <i>Talent?</i> She asked.

    Vash nodded and summoned the framework to mind. A trickle of mana and the Talent snapped into place. Immediately, Vash could tell the difference. Through his aura, Vash could feel the structure of the stone in greater detail. He could sense which places were weak and prone to collapse, and which were stronger.

    Cass let out a mental sigh. <i>That¡¯s the best we can do with the Talents you have, I think. Unless you have some hidden in there that I don¡¯t know about.</i>

    ¡°Everything else I¡¯ve got deals with stabbing or hiding.¡± Vash said, carefully placing his foot on the first section of the arch.

    <i>Well then, just be careful.</i> Cass said.

    Vash didn¡¯t reply, just started his climb.

    It was slow, tedious work. Although the arch¡¯s angle allowed Vash to walk upright, he crouched and held on with his hands. <i>Enhanced Senses</i> let him know how fragile the structure really was as he shuffled along. The hand width of space became mere finger widths of support. A quarter of the way up the arch, Vash felt part of the stone give way beneath his boot. Stone crumbled into pebbles and shards, splashing into the dark water below. He quickly called up <i>Enhance Ability</i> to steady himself and give him greater balance as he climbed.

    Vash steadied and continued forwards, more rock crumbling as he moved. By the time he reached the top of the arch, he could feel a spider-web of cracks and weaknesses growing within the stone structure.

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    <i>Vash, I don¡¯t want to alarm you, but the arch is getting very unstable.</i> Cass said gently, like speaking to a spooked horse.

    ¡°I know.¡± Vash said through gritted teeth.

    <i>You might want to hurry.</i>

    ¡°I know!¡± Vash snapped.

    A series of splashes behind him made his blood run cold. Vash glanced over his shoulder and could see parts of the arch falling away into the water below. The larger, more fragile sections of stone were flaking away, leaving behind the thin webs of stronger stone. He could feel those thin webs weakening.

    <i>Move!</i> Cass shouted, startling Vash into action.

    Vash moved swiftly, but with all possible precision. All the while, he could hear the sharp crack of stone breaking away and the splash of falling rock hitting the water. He started to look back over his shoulder and see how bad the damage was.

    <i>Eyes front!</i> Cass said, sharply. <i>You can¡¯t do anything about what¡¯s going on back there, so focus on what¡¯s ahead.</i>

    Scrambling ahead, Vash followed her advice. He was three-quarters of the way across the arch when he felt the whole structure tremble.

    <i>Faster! Just go! </i>Cass shouted, making his skull ring with the volume of her alarm.

    Vash looked over his shoulder and saw that the half of the arch he had just traversed had collapsed into the river. The rock beneath his feet shuddered again and Vash wobbled, struggling to regain his balance.

    <i>Dammit, move!</i> Cass almost screamed. Vash felt the mental equivalent of a shove, and he darted forward. Rock crumbled beneath his feet, falling away as he stepped. More than once he lost his balance, leaping forward and pumping mana into Enhance Ability to keep himself from plummeting into the waters below.

    The far side of the river was now in sight. The riverbank was a sheer rock face that fell straight down to the river. This side of the arch was even thinner than where Vash had started. Trusting to his Talents and luck, Vash barreled to the other side. Instinct guided his foot placement, and mostly, he found stable sections of stone. But this was short-lived, a few steps from the end of the arch, and the stone fell away completely. The arch had lost all strength and collapsed in a thunderous crash into the river.

    Vash fell, pinwheeling his arms, panicking and reaching for something, anything, to grab onto.

    The water below rushed up to meet him. He could see long, ropey tentacles gliding right at the surface. Something was waiting below.

    Terrified, Vash recalled the first Talent formula that came to mind, the first one he had ever been taught.

    <i>Shadowmeld.</i>

    A sudden cold suffused Vash¡¯s body as the shadows wrapped around him. He pushed more mana into the Talent than he ever had before in a blind panic. The surrounding color winked out, and a hazy monochrome replaced it. Vash reached out with his aura, expanding it on instinct. He felt his aura <i>hook</i> onto something, like fingertips snagging a ledge. Vash pushed as much mana as possible into both <i>Shadowmeld</i> and his aura.

    Just below him, a yellow eye the size of a dinner plate, with a strange horizontal pupil, breached the water, staring at him with undisguised hunger.

    On instinct, Vash¡¯s Core <i>pulled</i> on his aura. He felt a rushing sensation of movement, the whispering touch of shadows fluttering past.

    Suddenly, color, sound, and warmth flooded back into Vash¡¯s world as the <i>Shadowmeld</i> collapsed. Vash stumbled forward, his feet striking the ground and slipping out from under him. He fell forward, trying to roll, but failing, his body hit the ground hard and he skidded across sharp gravel.

    For a moment, Vash lay there, not sure what had just happened.

    <i>Are we alive?</i> Cass asked, softly.

    ¡°I think so,¡± Vash whispered. ¡°What was that?¡±

    <i>You may have learned a new Talent.</i> Cass said, laughing. Her voice had a giddy, manic quality.

    Vash groaned, pushing himself up onto his knees. He looked around. The stone ground dropped off about ten feet behind him. Broken rocks marked the remnants of the collapsed arch. Splashing and a creaking groan came from the river.

    Vash jumped and crab-walked backwards when a black tentacle, thick as his leg, slapped onto the edge of the cliff. The flared, leaf-shaped grasping end of the tentacle felt around the top of the cliff for several moments. Then there was an irritated growl, and the tentacle sank back down to the river.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Vash whispered, horrified.

    <i>I think we¡¯re better off not knowing.</i> Cass said in the same tone.

    A pulse of mana from Vash¡¯s pouch drew him out of his shocked reverie. Vash reached in, unsurprised when his fingers found the battered pages of his <i>Gideon¡¯s Guide</i>. He pulled out the book and let it fall open. The book opened to the page opposite the definition of his <i>Dungeon Sense</i>.

    <blockquote>

    <b><u>Shadowalk

    </u></b>

    <b>Rank</b>: Iron 3

    <b>Pre-Requisite:</b> Aura Use (Iron 1)

    <b>

    Mana Cost:</b> Variable, base cost of 15 motes, increases with range. Each range band increases cost by double the previous.

    <b>Range:</b> Variable. Initial range of 10 feet, increasing mana use can expand the range in bands of 10 feet.

    <b>Description:</b> A powerful ability in the Rogue¡¯s arsenal, but dangerous to use too often. As the user gains experience working with the shadow, and their Core becomes more attuned to shadows, both natural and Drae-influenced, the user may begin to physically use the Shadow Plane for more than just obscuring themselves. Shadowalk allows the user to latch onto nearby shadows with Aura Use. Then, with sufficient mana, the user pulls themselves through the Shadow Plane to the shadow¡¯s location on the Material Plane. This transport is nearly instantaneous and does not seem to cause the same level of discomfort and disorientation as arcane spells that produce the same results.

    <b>Note:</b> Use of this Talent in an area that contains creatures connected to the Shadow Plane, such as Drae and their servitors, should be done with great caution. Creatures connected to the Shadow Plane will sense the user and the user¡¯s destination.

    <cite></cite></blockquote>

    ¡°So I just teleported?¡± Vash said, incredulous.

    <i>Impressive</i>. Cass said. <i>It¡¯s amazing what someone can do under pressure.</i>

    Vash put the <i>Gideon¡¯s Guide</i> away and staggered to his feet. He would have to look into his new Talent further once he could rest.

    If he got a chance, to rest.

    Fatigue washed over him. Vash felt a hollowness in his Core. He was running low on mana. The <i>Shadowalk </i>was over a distance of thirty feet, Vash guessed. That means he had burned around sixty motes of mana. Coupled with the other Talents he¡¯d used in the crossing, he was very close to being completely out of mana.

    ¡°Time to get moving.¡± Vash said, shaking his head. He called up his <i>Dungeon Sense</i> again, willing to spend the small amount of mana to get information about his surroundings. When the Talent snapped into place, images and impressions bombarded him.

    The huge, tentacled creature in the river was keeping close to the bank. Tentacles running along the rock, searching for the meal it had lost. A nearby colony of Hammerworms thrashed in the shallows, then dove into the water and headed upriver toward the recently lit beacon in the shadow. The Scalebacks, somewhere to the northeast from Vash, were packing up their camp hurriedly. The large, scarred bull that was their leader giving orders. Half set off in Vash¡¯s direction, the other half, under the bull¡¯s command, headed towards Jabez and Corwin¡¯s camp.

    To the north, the looming darkness of the Shadow Temple buzzed with activity. Vash¡¯s actions had woken something up, and it felt like a hive of angry hornets.

    <i>What¡¯s wrong? Your heart is racing.</i> Cass asked, concerned.

    Vash began jogging to the north, not bothering to be careful, trusting his connection to his Dungeon Sense. ¡°I think I just rang the dinner bell.¡±

 Episode 36: Hunted

    <b>EPISODE THIRTY-SIX:</b>

    <b>HUNTED</b>

    Vash set off to the northeast, towards where his <i>Dungeon </i>Sense was telling him Corwin and Jabez had made their camp. In the back of his mind, he tracked the positions of the two Scaleback hunting parties. The jumble of images was confusing and made it difficult to really grasp any information at a glance. During his early training with the Eth Mitaan, the exercises needed to access Talents required him to partition his mind. One part would focus on building and maintaining the structure of the Talent formula, while the other would interact with the physical world. It was difficult at first, but Byar had taught Vash how to distill things down to their simplest form. Rather than making the mental target of an attack, a specific person with a face, clothes, gear, and so forth, reduce them to a simple symbol for association. It was easier to keep track of a half-dozen red dots in your mind than remember the one guy with the scar, and the other with the bald head.

    Now Vash used the same technique to simplify what he was seeing through his Dungeon Sense. In his mind, he created a mental outline of the area he could detect easily, sketching in rough outlines of obstacles. Onto this mental map he projected his targets: the Scalebacks that were heading in his direction he assigned red dots, those heading towards the camp he made into yellow diamonds, finally for his companions he gave them green squares. With a neatly organized map in his mind¡¯s eye, Vash could keep track of things far easier. The red dots were heading towards the river, the place where they had sensed his <i>Shadowalk</i>. It looked like they were heading directly for the river from where they separated from the main group of hunters. That meant that the Scalebacks hunting him would pass by to the north. Vash shifted his path slightly, making sure that the hunters and he would miss each other entirely. Likely, they would pick up his trail from the river, but he didn¡¯t want to make things easy.

    The Scalebacks heading to the Wayfarer camp maintained a steady, cautious speed. Judging by their current pace, they would reach the camp an hour or two after full-dark. To prepare for the attack, Vash was going to have to hurry.

    Spending some precious mana, Vash called up <i>Enhance Ability</i>, increasing his speed and endurance. He wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up the steady flow of mana needed for very long, but every bit of extra time counted.

    The glowmoss on the roof of the cavern faded slowly as Vash ran. The Underlands plunged into a darkness so deep that it was almost a physical presence. Vash didn¡¯t slow down. His <i>Dungeon Sense</i> allowed him to feel obstacles and place his feet correctly to avoid debris and tripping hazards. In his mental map, the red dots of the Scaleback hunters pursuing him reached the river. They did not tarry long at the river¡¯s edge, quickly figuring out what had happened and picking up Vash¡¯s trail. Hoping that his mana would hold out, Vash increased speed and angled his course towards a shorter path to the Wayfarer camp.

    Two things were currently of great concern to Vash. One, even with increasing his speed, the red-dot hunters were gaining on him. Two, the yellow-diamond hunters were getting ever closer to the Wayfarer camp.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure we¡¯re going to make it in time.¡± Vash panted.

    <i>There might be a way. Cass said, hesitantly. But you¡¯ll have to trust me.</i>

    ¡°Do I have a choice?¡±

    <i>Of course, but right now, your other options aren¡¯t looking too good.</i>

    Vash let out a grunt of frustration, darting to one side to avoid a boulder that suddenly loomed up in his <i>Dungeon Sense</i>. The rock passed slightly to his right and his sleeve brushed the rough surface as he went by.

    ¡°Tell me.¡± Vash said, relenting.

    <i>Angle to your right, you¡¯ll want to go almost directly north.</i> Cass said.

    Vash frowned. His mental map showed a jagged cliff face in that direction. ¡°Uh, Cass, that¡¯s a thirty-foot drop.¡±

    <i>Looks can be deceiving. </i>Cass replied. <i>Trust me.</i>

    Suppressing a stream of curses, Vash turned in the direction that Cass had said. Within a few minutes, he was coming dangerously close to a sheer drop-off. ¡°I¡¯m almost there, Cass. What do I do?¡±

    <i>Keep going.</i> Cass said, her voice calm and focused.

    ¡°If I keep going, I¡¯m going to run right off the side of the cliff!¡±

    <i>I know, keep going.</i>

    ¡°You¡¯re making it really hard to trust you!¡± Vash growled, but Cass was right, judging by the speed that the Scalebacks were moving, they were just as comfortable in the dark as he was, also they could move much faster than him if they wanted to.

    Vash could feel the cliff¡¯s edge rushing towards him. His <i>Danger Sense</i> was sounding all the alarm bells it could, but he ignored them. ¡°Cass¡­¡±

    <i>Get ready to jump straight ahead when I tell you.</i> Cass said, voice calm and steady.

    The edge was only a few steps away. If he didn¡¯t stop now, Vash would go right over the edge.

    <i>Don¡¯t slow down!</i>

    Vash forced himself into his place of calm, balling up all his fear and anxiety and throwing it deep into the well within.

    <i>Jump now!</i>

    Vash launc

    hed off his back foot, leaping out into the darkness. His heart hammered in his chest as he sailed through the air. After a moment of panic, he sensed a large, flat rock just beneath him. He brought his foot down, landing awkwardly, but firmly.

    <i>Keep going!</i> Cass urged before Vash could bring himself to a stop.

    Vash let his mind go blank, just following Cass¡¯ commands.

    <i>A few more steps and we¡¯re going to jump again. </i>Cass said quickly. <i>This time when you land, I want you to jump again, immediately.</i>

    In response, Vash just nodded.

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    <i>Now!</i>

    Vash pushed off his back foot again, sailing through the air. Almost immediately, his <i>Dungeon Sense</i> picked up a narrow column of stone. Vash landed atop the column, stepped through the landing, and leaped again.

    <i>Great! Now you¡¯re going to fall for a moment, when you land go into a roll to absorb the momentum, after that you should be in the clear.</i>

    After a moment of terror, Vash felt the ground come up to meet him. It was further than he expected, but not as bad as the drop from the top of the cliff. He landed hard, letting his knees buckle and pitch him into an inelegant forward roll. Bleeding off speed as he went, Vash tucked into a forward roll and came up on his feet. He stumbled a bit, then settled back into the rhythm of running. Judging by the points on his mental map, Vash had doubled the distance between himself and his pursuers. The Scalebacks weren¡¯t attempting the descent that he¡¯d just made, and were turning to the northwest, heading for a gentler slope.

    <i>Told you.</i> Cass said, smugly.

    ¡°We¡¯re not there yet,¡± Vash said, feeling his mana draining bit by bit.

    <i>We are close, though.</i> Cass said.

    Vash checked his mental map. Cass was right, they were only minutes away from the Wayfarer camp, but the yellow-diamond Scaleback hunters were that much further away. Vash guessed he had maybe a ten-minute lead on them. He just hoped it was enough time.

    <hr>

    The pinprick of light in the distance was the first sign that Vash was almost at the Wayfarer camp. At first he thought it was just his eyes playing tricks on him, but slowly the dot of light grew larger and larger. He could make out some shapes around the light, notably a half-circle of stalagmites reaching up from the stone floor.

    ¡°Almost there.¡± Vash said, breath coming in heavy gasps.

    <i>I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m going to go rest for a bit.</i> Cass said, hesitantly.

    ¡°What?¡± Vash asked, confused. ¡°But what if I need you?¡±

    <i>You can hold your own from here, I think.</i> Cass said, her voice fading into the back of Vash¡¯s mind. <i>Besides, I may be a bit difficult to explain to your friends.</i>

    ¡°Wait a minute, Cass!¡± Vash hissed, trying to keep his voice down. ¡°Cass?¡±

    Vash was alone in his thoughts once more. Cass seemed to vanish completely when she went to rest. Shaking his head, he pressed on. There were more important things to deal with at the moment.

    The glow of the alchemical lantern was visible for a sizable distance around the camp. Even set to the lowest setting, it stood out in the near absolute darkness. Getting closer, Vash could see figures around the lantern. One was curled on the ground, while the other stared out into the darkness. Judging by the sizes, the one on watch was Corwin.

    Neither figure moved much, likely they hadn¡¯t spotted him yet or heard him out in the darkness. Vash hoped the Scalebacks were also too far away to hear anything as well. Vash¡¯s mental map was having a difficult time tracking the Scalebacks, especially the group under the command of the scarred bull that was leading the entire party. The party of yellow diamonds had faded away when they turned northeast to avoid an obstacle. Either the area they were moving through was low on Therium or shadow-obscured. Either way, Vash didn¡¯t like the idea of being surprised just as he was reuniting with his companions.

    As he approached, Vash could see that Corwin was on watch and Jabez curled on the ground, wrapped in a cloak, his heavy war hammer resting just beside him. Just when he got close enough to make out details, he felt the thrum of Corwin¡¯s Core. Corwin still had <i>Detect Magic</i> up, and Vash¡¯s Core gave a small pulse in response.

    Corwin shot to his feet, drawing his sword. Vash could hear the steel ringing in the nearly absolute silence.

    ¡°Jabez!¡± Corwin said, voice hushed but still audible even at this distance. ¡°There¡¯s something out there and it¡¯s coming our way.¡±

    The dwarf rolled to his feet, slow, and with some difficulty. He hefted his war hammer one-handed and joined Corwin to stare out into the darkness. ¡°Where?¡±

    ¡°Somewhere to the southwest.¡± Corwin said. ¡°Towards the river.¡±

    ¡°Could be Scalebacks, been seeing their marks all over, surprised we hadn¡¯t stumbled onto them yet.¡± Jabez said, voice grim and tired.

    ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re on the wrong side of the river!¡± Vash called, slowing to a jog and approaching with his hands raised. ¡°There¡¯s plenty on the western side, trust me.¡±

    ¡°Vash!¡± Corwin exclaimed happily, dropping his sword to his side. ¡°What are you doing here? How did you get here?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡± Vash said, coming to a stop just inside the circle of light. His breathing came in labored gasps, even while using Enhanced Ability. ¡°I¡¯ll fill you in later, but we have to get moving.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jabez asked, taking in Vash¡¯s current state and then scanning the darkness behind him.

    ¡°Scalebacks,¡± Vash said. ¡°There¡¯s a group hunting you right now. About twelve of them. Six broke off to chase me down when I crossed the river. The others have been looking for a spot to ambush you.¡±

    Jabez scowled out in to the darkness. ¡°I knew it had been too quiet. Any idea where they are now?¡±

    Vash shook his head. ¡°I lost track of the group following you while trying to avoid the group following me.¡±

    ¡°Better get moving then.¡± Jabez said, stuffing the cloak he was using as a blanket into his empty pack. ¡°At the very least, we need to get to a more defensible position.¡±

    ¡°How far are we from the falls, do you think?¡± Corwin asked, securing his own pack and hefting it onto his shoulders.

    ¡°Hard to say,¡± Jabez grunted, awkwardly shouldering his pack, trying to avoid the wound where the Hollowmound Queen had stabbed him. Vash noticed a flash of pain on the older dwarf¡¯s face as the straps settled into place. ¡°I figured we were three days out from where we fell, but I didn¡¯t count on the amount of climbing we¡¯d have to do. We may be half a day out, or we may be a full day. Depends on the terrain ahead.¡±

    <i>He¡¯s more hurt than he¡¯s letting on</i>. Vash thought. <i>Of course, I¡¯m not in great shape either.</i>

    Corwin looked surprised when Vash stepped into the light. ¡°Nine gods, you look like hell.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been a rough couple of days.¡± Vash said, knowing that he was dirty, his clothes frayed and torn in places, and he had three deep gouges across his back.

    ¡°You¡¯re wounded.¡± Jabez noted, turning Vash slightly to look at his back.

    ¡°So are you.¡±

    Jabez gave him a sour look. ¡°Scaleback cuts can be nasty. They¡¯re not the cleanest of creatures, so those slashes might not heal so great without a dedicated healer.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Vash said. ¡°I¡¯m not bleeding at the moment. Anything else we can deal with later.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get moving, then.¡± Corwin said, sheathing his sword and tightening the straps so it wouldn¡¯t get in the way. ¡°We¡¯re in no shape to fight a couple of Scalebacks, let alone a dozen.¡±

    Jabez picked up the lantern and turned up the emitter. Pale white-gold light illuminated a space around twenty feet in diameter. Rocks, pale grasses, and stalagmite columns were all that Vash could see. Through his <i>Dungeon Sense</i>, however, the Scaleback markers had reappeared. The yellow diamonds were very close, coming from the southeast and spreading out across the open plateau that the Wayfarers had camped on. To the west, Vash could sense the red dots moving with all speed to cut off their escape along the northward path that Corwin and Jabez had been following.

    ¡°We may have to change our path a bit,¡± Vash said, trying to come up with a reason for his sudden flashes of insight that didn¡¯t involve: I absorbed a person¡¯s soul that was trapped in a creepy temple. Don¡¯t worry, she seems nice. ¡°If I were them, I¡¯d be moving to cut off our path of escape while the attack party moves into position.¡±

    Jabez hesitated, looking out into the darkness. ¡°All right, then which way do we go?¡±

    <i>If we skirt the edge of the shadow temple, then maybe the Scalebacks will back off a bit rather than risk pushing us inside. </i>

    ¡°Let¡¯s angle to the northeast.¡± Vash said. ¡°Looks like there are more rocks and rougher terrain in that direction. Maybe we can lose them.¡±

    Jabez gave Vash a quizzical look, but kept his thoughts to himself. ¡°All right, then. Vash, you take point. Lead the way.¡±

    Turning away from the other Wayfarers, Vash started off into the darkness to the northeast of the camp. He was careful not to move too far outside the ring of light from the lantern. He didn¡¯t know why, but he felt that revealing too much about his newfound Talents could invite questions he didn¡¯t want to answer.

    Setting a pace that moved them quickly away from the campsite, Vash tried to ignore Jabez¡¯s eyes boring into his back. The dwarf obviously thought something was not normal.

    <i>Just work on getting us out of here.</i> Vash thought to himself. <i>Be careful and be smart. Worry about the old dwarf¡¯s suspicions later.</i>

 Episode 37 - The Shadow Temple

    <b>EPISODE THIRTY-SEVEN:</b>

    <b>THE SHADOW TEMPLE</b>

    The strange barking-cough call of the Scalebacks echoed through the cavern. This time, it seemed to come from Vash¡¯s left. ¡°I think they¡¯re getting closer.¡±

    ¡°Maybe five or ten minutes away at the rate they¡¯re gaining.¡± Jabez said, face set in a scowl that was part frustration and part physical pain.

    The dwarf had started out strong, keeping up with the arduous pace that Vash set to keep ahead of the Scalebacks. For a time, he felt they were pulling away from the Scalebacks. The strategy of moving closer to the site of the Shadow Temple worked for a while. The Scalebacks slowed, considering their options. Vash had seen the primary group through his <i>Dungeon Sense</i>. They were snapping and hissing at the scarred bull that lead them. A fight even broke out at one point, but once the bull drew blood, all other challengers backed off.

    Things changed when the second group finally caught up. Working together, the two packs of Scalebacks effectively moved to cut off the Wayfarers, forcing them further and further to the northeast. They had backtracked several times to avoid running straight into either pack.

    After two hours of this cat-and-mouse, Jabez¡¯s stamina waned. He was moving slower, struggling on any sustained climb, and his breath was heavy and labored.

    Can¡¯t keep this up much longer. Vash thought. Either Jabez will collapse or the Scalebacks will catch us.

    His thoughts drifted to the dark presence to the northeast. The shadow temple was visible now, a collection of stone pillars that looked grown rather than carved. From this distance they could almost be mistaken for stalagmites, except for the uniform distribution and more geometric base shape. ¡®Morning¡¯ in the Underlands was dawning. Pale blue glowmoss dimly lit the uneven planes that they traveled across. The spires of the shadow temple, however, held a muted purple glow from somewhere deep within.

    Vash shuddered. Every time he looked in that direction, he could feel it pulling at him.

    <i>I would stay away from that place</i>. Cass¡¯s voice sounded muted and faraway, almost like she was whispering across a distance.

    ¡°Cass!¡± Vash whispered, happy to hear her voice.

    <i>Shh!</i> Cass hissed.

    ¡°What¡¯d you say?¡± Corwin asked, turning to Vash. The big warrior had kept his eyes glued on their trail, not wanting to be caught by surprise.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Vash said quickly. ¡°I just stubbed my toe, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Keep quiet, both of you.¡± Jabez said, his voice a low rumble. ¡°If those Scalebacks figure out exactly where we are, a stubbed toe will be the least of our problems.¡±

    <i>You don¡¯t have to speak out loud for me to hear you.</i> Cass said. <i>If you just direct your thoughts like you¡¯re talking to me, I can hear you just fine.</i>

    Vash nodded to himself. <i>We¡¯re not doing so great at the moment.</i>

    <i>I can see that. </i>Cass said dryly. <i>You¡¯re awfully close to the shadow temple. Didn¡¯t I tell you that those places were extremely dangerous?</i>

    <i>We don¡¯t have much of a choice.</i> Vash thought. <i>The Scalebacks caught up to us and have been herding us further and further away from the river. I was hoping if we just skirted the edge of the temple, we might get the Scalebacks to back off a bit.</i>

    <i>Not the worst plan, I suppose.</i> Cass said.

    <i>If you have a better idea, I¡¯m all ears.</i> Vash thought.

    <i>I wish I did.</i> Cass said. <i>Right now, the Scalebacks have you boxed in. There¡¯s no path back to the river without fighting one group or the other.</i>

    <i>And if we stop to fight, that gives the other group a chance to catch up.</i> Vash thought, wearily.

    <i>With the state of your mana and the dwarf¡¯s wounds¡­ </i>Cass sounded worried, like she didn¡¯t want to say the next bit.

    <i>I don¡¯t like our odds either.</i> Vash said. Again, he looked to the northeast, towards the menacing purple glow of the Temple. <i>How likely is it that anything is actually in there? The shadow has been on the decline for centuries.</i>

    <i>Do you really want to risk it?</i> Cass asked. She sounded worried. Vash could feel her almost trying to hide deeper in his mind.

    <i>I don¡¯t want to, but we might not have a choice.</i> Vash thought. He glanced back at Jabez and Corwin. Jabez had slowed again, and he seemed to have difficulty with both the weight of his pack and his hammer. Corwin slowed his own pace to make sure that his master didn¡¯t get left behind. Another cough-bark call echoed around them.

    <i>They¡¯re closer again. They¡¯re almost in front of us.</i>

    <i>I still think it¡¯s a bad idea.</i>

    <i>Story of my life.</i> Vash thought. <i>You should have hitched a ride with someone with a better destiny.</i>

    Vash felt Cass give him the mental equivalent of a scowl, but she didn¡¯t protest any further.

    ¡°They¡¯ve gotten in front of us,¡± Vash said, keeping his voice low. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous, but the Scalebacks don¡¯t like that place up there.¡±

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    Jabez and Corwin turned to look at the glowing forest of columns that were now almost directly east of them. Corwin made an uncomfortable face. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look ominous at all. Why should we be worried?¡±

    ¡°It at least gives us a fighting chance,¡± Vash continued. ¡°Those columns unnerve the Scalebacks, but they also give us cover.¡±

    ¡°<i>Krupka skaal!</i>¡± Jabez swore. ¡°I hate it, but you have a point. Let¡¯s head that way. With any luck, the Scalebacks will fall back and bicker a bit, give us some room to maneuver.¡±

    Corwin looked dubious, almost like he wanted to say something, but he kept it to himself.

    Waiting to get Jabez¡¯s ear alone, no doubt. Vash thought, bitterly. Turning to the east and setting a new pace, hoping that Jabez could keep up.

    <i>Don¡¯t be paranoid.</i> Cass chided. <i>They¡¯re your partners, like it or not, for now.</i>

    <i>It¡¯s the ¡®for now¡¯ that bothers me.</i>

    <hr>

    Getting closer to the shadow temple did not improve it one bit. The towering stone columns were about five feet in diameter, pitted and scarred with age, giving them a strange mix of architecture and organic growth. The purple glow coming from within the temple seemed strangely muted, like a light shining through mist. To add to the overall creepy feeling of the place, glowmoss did not grow on the cavern ceiling directly above the temple.

    Angular runes ran around the base of the columns. Vash still didn¡¯t recognize the writing, but could tell they were similar to the ones in Cass¡¯ temple.

    <i>Is that why she didn¡¯t want me to come here?</i> Vash thought, careful to keep his thoughts quiet and directed away from Cass. She had been quiet as they approached the temple. Vash hoped she had gone back to rest. For the entire walk to the temple, Cass had been a tiny ball of fear and worry in the back of his mind. He needed to focus, and having that doubt and fear whispering in his ear could be catastrophic.

    A set of steps ran up from the floor of the cavern to the top of the carved stone foundation. The pitted black stone ran the length of the temple and gave it an oddly grandiose feel, like anyone mounting those steps should feel humbled to be in this place.

    Corwin joined him at the base of the steps, Jabez close behind. All three of them stared at the temple, none wanting to be the first to step inside.

    ¡°This place just feels wrong.¡± Corwin said. ¡°The angles, shapes, they all aren¡¯t quite right. I can¡¯t can¡¯t explain it.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s shadow-touched.¡± Jabez said. He was pale and sweating, fatigue leaving dark circles under his eyes. Vash could feel a steady trickle of mana coming from Jabez, not like one of them using a major Talent, but definitely something passive.

    <i>Has he been using his mana this whole time? </i>Vash thought. <i>Healing? Or just trying to keep up?</i>

    Jabez stretched out one hand, holding his lantern aloft. The alchemical light dimmed slightly as it crossed over the first step of the temple. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how much use these are going to be in there.¡±

    Vash started to respond but a sudden coughing-bark pulled his attention. Looking out over the plain they had just crossed, Vash could see dark shapes moving at speed. ¡°The Scalebacks are here.¡±

    ¡°Damn,¡± Jabez growled, hefting his war hammer. ¡°No choice now.¡±

    Corwin looked conflicted, drawing his sword but staying in place. Not daring to take that first step.

    <i>Here goes nothing. </i>Vash thought and raised his foot to the first stone step.

    Nothing happened.

    Vash let out a breath. He didn¡¯t know what he thought would happen, but enough strange things had occurred over the past few days that it was surprising when the steps, at least, were just normal steps.

    ¡°Come on.¡± Vash said, mounting the steps and heading for the forest of columns. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving before those things catch us out here.¡±

    Corwin and Jabez hesitantly followed, taking those first few reluctant steps before gaining a kind of resigned confidence and jogging to the top of the stone foundation with Vash.

    Jabez was right about the lanterns. Once they had passed beyond the first row of columns, the lanterns dimmed to the barest of glows. Corwin exchanged a glance with Jabez before turning his lamp all the way down and hooking it to a clip on his pack. With the lanterns stowed, the only light came from the strange purple glow from somewhere within the temple.

    They walked past the first few rows of columns. At that point, they felt surrounded by the oddly organic pillars that soared into the darkness all around. Vash felt hemmed in and disoriented. The strangely regular pattern and dim purple light made him feel light-headed. He leaned one hand against a column to steady himself and felt a strange gritty texture beneath his fingers. Pulling his hand back, he looked at the fine sand that stuck to his fingers. Tiny purple crystals, small as a grain of sand and light as dust, clung to his skin before flaking off and floating to the ground.

    <i>Therium. </i>Vash thought through the haze of disorientation. <i>Finely ground¡­like Therium salts.</i>

    Back in Sathsholm, one of the Eth Mitaan¡¯s more lucrative, but distasteful, trades were in smuggling Therium salts. The fine powder of ground Therium crystals, mixed with a few other alchemical materials, was a very useful component in a great number of potions. On its own, it was also a very potent drug when inhaled or smoked. It was like inhaling raw mana. Use enough of it and you had visions, or could peer past the First Veil and see the meridians of mana in the world. Collegium mages were notorious for using the stuff. It gave you a quick burst of mana, so anyone who used mana in any way had a use for it.

    And here it is, just coating the walls of an ancient temple. Vash thought. Damn, need to clear my head. He blinked rapidly, shaking his head, trying to get his thoughts straight. Byar had taught him what to do if one crate ever broke open. Vash let his mind sink into his Core, like he would if he were about to use a Talent. He felt mana sluggishly flow through his meridians. Gradually, the disorientation faded, especially now that he knew what he was dealing with. Nearby Corwin stood gaping at the columns, jaw slack and eyes vacant. Jabez was down on his knees, taking long, shuddering breaths, his eyes squeezed shut.

    Vash approached Corwin, grabbing his arm and shaking him. The big man¡¯s head lolled for a moment, then he looked down at Vash with a confused expression.

    ¡°Therium salts.¡± Vash said. ¡°It¡¯s all over the place in here.¡±

    Corwin blinked, trying to focus. ¡°Wha-?¡±

    ¡°Just focus, like you¡¯re using a Talent.¡± Vash said. ¡°It helps convert the salts we¡¯re just sort of absorbing into usable mana.¡±

    Corwin shut his eyes and grimaced in discomfort. Vash felt a slight pulse of magic from him and felt reassured that the Corwin could cycle the extra mana and clear his head. Jabez, however, Vash wasn¡¯t sure what was wrong with him.

    Snarls and hisses drew his attention. Vash left Jabez and Corwin for a moment and moved towards the sound. The temple was disrupting his <i>Dungeon Sense</i>, and with that much free-floating Therium, he wasn¡¯t surprised. Peering out from between the columns, Vash could see the Scalebacks just beyond the stairs.

    The lizard-men paced back and forth. They snarled and snapped at one another. Now and then they would stop and stare at the columns before making another of those coughing-bark calls and going back to pacing.

    Only one of them was still. The bull with the scarred face stood in the center of the milling Scalebacks. His one clear eye burned with anger as he stared at the collection of columns. The bull scanned the columns back and forth, searching, searching.

    <i>What¡¯s he looking for?</i> Vash thought.

    As if he heard Vash¡¯s voice, the bull¡¯s head whipped to stare at him through the columns. The bull¡¯s eye glittered with anticipation and bloodlust. He let out a low, rumbling roar, raising his spear in triumph. The other Scalebacks turned to look at the bull, then followed his gaze to the columns.

    Vash felt the hungry stares of a dozen lizard-men. They turned slowly, tails making lazy undulations behind them as they stalked forward.

    They had finally found their prey.

    Now the hunt could truly begin.

 Episode 38: Hearts of Shadow

    Vash took a step back, keeping a careful eye on the approaching Scalebacks. The hunters snarled and hissed, coming right to the edge of the steps before hesitating again. A sudden tug on his Core was all the warning Vash had. Dodging sideways, the crude, but still deadly, spear of a Scaleback hunter flew past his head. The spear struck a column somewhere behind him, clattering to the stone floor.

    A Scaleback made a low growl off to Vash¡¯s left. The hunter stepped back from where he had finished his throw, then reached to the quiver on his back, pulling out another of the short, slender throwing spears.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Corwin¡¯s voice came from further in the temple.

    ¡°The Scalebacks.¡± Vash replied. ¡°Just saying hello.¡±

    The scarred bull roared, lips curling back from a mouth full of sharp, jagged teeth. The other Scalebacks huffed and growled, glancing from the bull to the temple, shuffling at the edge of the stairs. Another one threw a spear, but with the tightly packed columns and Vash¡¯s <i>Danger Sense</i>, it was easy to avoid.

    ¡°The welcome wagon doesn¡¯t sound friendly.¡± Corwin said. Vash looked back and saw him standing next to a column a row back, peeking out at the Scalebacks. ¡°Why are they just standing there?¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t like this place.¡± Vash said.

    ¡°Neither do I, but I still came inside.¡±

    <i>Maybe they know something about it we don¡¯t?</i> Vash thought.

    ¡°How¡¯s Jabez?¡± Vash said aloud.

    Corwin frowned. ¡°Still shaky. He¡¯s been having trouble ever since the fight with the Queen. I think that wound hurt him more than he¡¯s willing to admit.¡±

    ¡°Can he move?¡± Vash asked, eying the Scalebacks. They seemed to be working themselves up to something. The scarred bull darted about, getting right in the face of each of the hunters, growling and showing his teeth. Some snapped back, but most shied away or bowed their heads. The bull kept glaring up towards where Vash stood, his single yellow eye gleaming with malice. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how long we can stay here before the Scalebacks work up the nerve to come in after us.¡±

    ¡°I can move.¡± Jabez said from somewhere beyond Corwin. His voice was husky with fatigue, but he was hiding it well. Vash glanced back, seeing Jabez standing near Corwin. He stooped, like he carried a great weight on his shoulders, and his skin had a pale, sallow look. But Jabez¡¯s eyes held the same iron-hard determination that kept him alive on the Glory Road all these years. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡±

    Vash nodded further into the temple. ¡°The river curves up that way. If I¡¯m right, then whoever built this place wanted to guard the pass through these rocks. If we can get through to the other side, then we¡¯ll be back on the road to the falls.¡±

    Jabez glanced back into the temple. ¡°I don¡¯t like it. This place reeks of the shadow.¡±

    ¡°Or we take on a dozen Scalebacks.¡± Vash said. ¡°I don¡¯t like it either, but we don¡¯t have many options at this point.¡±

    Another spear clattered among the columns, punctuating Vash¡¯s point.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go before those things finally grow a spine.¡± Corwin muttered, backing away from the Scalebacks and further into the temple. Jabez followed, giving Vash a weary look of unease.

    ¡°We¡¯re putting our trust in you, Vash,¡± Jabez said. ¡°Don¡¯t make us regret it.¡±

    Vash said nothing, turning back to the Scalebacks and watching them get more and more agitated. The scarred bull was now pushing the more reluctant hunters closer to the temple. There wasn¡¯t much time before the hunt came inside.

    He backed away from the front of the temple, waiting until he was at least two rows of columns into the temple before turning to follow Corwin and Jabez.

    ¡°Stay close,¡± Corwin said. ¡°It would be easy to get separated in here.¡±

    Vash couldn¡¯t help but agree. The columns stood in neat rows towards the front of the temple, but deeper in they came in erratic patterns, springing up haphazardly to block lines of sight and confuse direction. They also took on a more organic shape. Still roughly cylindrical, the columns flared and contracted like something grown rather than carved. Flakes of purple Therium salts floated in the air, sparkling in the dim purple light that seemed to come from all around them. Vash guessed it was the Therium salts radiating so much ambient mana that gave off the glow.

    Above them, branches of stone grew out of the oddly shaped columns. They merged column to column, forming a patchwork roof of sorts. Vash didn¡¯t like it, they looked too much like the Hollowmound webs. He felt like one of the giant spiders was going to descend at any moment. His attention was so fixed on the structure above him, he almost didn¡¯t notice the way the columns and the rocks between the columns were funneling them towards the center of the temple.

    The way between the columns towards the outer edge of the Temple became blocked, choked with fallen rocks and long, rope-like cords of stone that stretched from column to column. Corwin noticed it at the same time as Vash, slowing to a stop and looking about with a deep frown.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like this,¡± Corwin said, his voice calm, but his fingers kept flexing on the hilt of his sword.

    ¡°Either we keep going and face whatever¡¯s in front of us, or we go back. We have no hope of evading the Scalebacks if we do that.¡± Vash cautioned. He had hoped to get some insights from Cass, but she had burrowed herself somewhere deep in his mind. Vash couldn¡¯t even sense where she might have gone.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen places like this before.¡± Jabez said. ¡°Even if we go back, it will keep herding us where it wants to. The only way out is forward. Just¡­stay on your guard.¡±

    Corwin frowned, unease plain on his face. Vash squared his shoulders and took point, moving past the others and threading his way past the next row of columns.

    The only way forward was to go between a particular pair of columns. Every other gap had a pile of debris blocking it, or a web of stone hanging in the way. Vash walked through the columns, keeping as alert as possible. His <i>Dungeon Sense</i> still only gave him a cloudy perception of the area, but it still registered things like movement and concentrations of mana. Ahead, the columns opened into a roughly circular open space, gaps visible between the columns to the north, east, and west.

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    Puddles of inky black water filled shallow depressions in the stone. The water was so dark it barely reflected the purple light that came from the large crystals growing out of the largest columns in the room.

    <i>Heartstones. </i>Vash thought. He could feel the mana flowing off the stones like heat from a brazier. But the mana felt strange, like dipping your hand into a pool with an oily film on the surface. They¡¯re shadow tainted.

    Vash took in the room. The space was roughly twenty feet across. Much like other areas of the temple, fallen rocks or the strange, organic stone growth blocked off certain areas or made them difficult to cross. Vash picked his way across carefully.

    ¡°Gods, this place is strange.¡± Corwin said, standing in the ¡®doorway¡¯ to the chamber. He spotted the Heartstones and a look of worry crossed his face. ¡°Are those¡­?¡±

    ¡°Heartstones.¡± Jabez said. ¡°Tainted ones, too. They aren¡¯t Dungeon Hearts yet, though, so I doubt we have much to fear from them.¡±

    ¡°This place is pretty old,¡± Vash said, looking for a clear path across the room. ¡°Why haven¡¯t they become Dungeon Hearts yet?¡±

    ¡°Not enough mana.¡± Jabez said, peering at the slowly pulsating glow of the stones. ¡°Usually they change when there¡¯s a big mana surge, like when a powerful creature dies. If the things down here instinctively avoid this place, like the Scalebacks do, then it¡¯s likely that the Heartstones haven¡¯t gotten that surge to change over.¡±

    ¡°Are they supposed to be that big?¡± Corwin asked, warily.

    Vash took a second look at the crystals. Unlike the ones in the Mossfen Delving, which were about the size of a peach, these were about the size of a large melon. Nine crystals embedded themselves in the pitted black stone of the columns. Long threads of Therium crystals snaked up and around the columns, following the flow of the stone and spreading out like a fungus. The shadowy power that obscured his <i>Dungeon Sense</i> undoubtedly originated in this place.

    ¡°No,¡± Jabez said. ¡°This place is like an abscess, full of filth and ready to burst. It wouldn¡¯t take much to set things in motion here.¡±

    <i>I told you to stay away from here.</i> Cass¡¯ voice sounded faraway and frightened, deep in Vash¡¯s mind.

    Vash wished there had been another option. He could feel the pull of the Heartstones, their hunger and desire. They wanted him to do something, to finish what another started so long ago.

    ¡°Why so many?¡± Vash asked, fighting the urge to go to them, to embrace the power they represented.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen more than three together in one place.¡± Jabez said.

    <i>This temple was very close to becoming a great dungeon, a labyrinth of terrible power. </i>Cass said, her voice barely a whisper, as if she were afraid that the temple would hear her. <i>Each of those heartstones is from the merging of three smaller soulstones. Nine great heartstones, one for each of the Drae Lords of Shadow. Once the cascade began transforming the heartstones into Dungeon Hearts, they would absorb one another until the final Dungeon Heart formed. There are dungeons that form around such hearts to the west, beyond the mountains. Nothing like this has ever gained a foothold here in the east.</i>

    Roars and hisses, followed by the scuffling sound of bodies clashing, signaled that something was happening with the Scalebacks. Vash looked over his shoulder, but the columns obscured everything beyond a few feet. A long, agonized wail echoed over the stones. It cut off after a moment, ending with a meaty crunch.

    Silence descended like a blanket.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Corwin asked, keeping his voice low.

    In answer, a victorious roar sounded, joined by many others, then the scrabble of claws on stone.

    ¡°I think the Scalebacks have overcome their fear of this place.¡± Jabez said, wearily.

    A ripple of light passed through the web of Therium crystals. A small mote of light traveled through the web network until it joined one of the heartstones, making it shine brightly for a moment before fading back to its ambient purple glow.

    ¡°That was odd, right?¡± Vash asked, hoping that it wasn¡¯t what he thought it was.

    ¡°I think it was the Scaleback that lost that fight,¡± Jabez said. ¡°When a creature dies, its Core discharges any remaining mana.¡±

    ¡°Which that heartstone just ate,¡± Corwin said, clearly uncomfortable.

    ¡°If it takes in much more, then it might start a cascade, make a Dungeon Heart.¡± Vash said, working through the implications. ¡°We need to get out of here.¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more.¡± Jabez said. Vash felt a thrum of mana from the dwarf. Jabez stood straighter, and although the exhaustion didn¡¯t vanish from his face, it did noticeably fade. He took a confident step into the temple chamber, hammer held across his body with two hands on the haft.

    Corwin followed, holding his sword in a classic ready stance. The two of them slipped into the temple chamber. Vash hesitated for a moment, glancing behind them at where the sounds of claws on stone had not yet moved in their direction.

    <i>Maybe there¡¯s another way out?</i> Vash thought, but he knew it was a vain hope. A scaleback roared in triumph.

    ¡°They picked up our scent,¡± Jabez said. ¡°Time to move.¡±

    Vash took the hint. Drawing his short sword and dagger, he followed Jabez out into the temple chamber. Entering the chamber, Vash felt a strange pull on his Core. It felt similar to when he had first encountered Cass, only deeper, older, more powerful.

    He looked at each of the heartstones as he crossed the room. They seemed like deep, glowing eyes, watching him hungrily as he walked. Vash was so preoccupied with the heartstones that he didn¡¯t notice the puddle of oily black water in front of him.

    His foot sank into the puddle up to mid-calf. Vash let out a curse and reflexively pulled his foot up.

    It didn¡¯t move.

    Vash¡¯s foot remained dry, as if the puddle wasn¡¯t liquid at all, but some sort of viscous substance that wrapped around his boot, pulsing and constricting. He tried to pull his foot out again, but the substance held him fast. That was when it rippled and began to flow up his leg.

    As if responding to a signal, the other small puddles around the room rippled and flowed out of their depressions. They sent out tendrils of black ooze, flailing in blind hunger. One struck Corwin in the calf, wrapping around his boot with alarming speed. It flung up a pseudopod, grasping Corwin¡¯s wrist and pulling hard. Corwin gasped in alarm, suddenly tugged off balance as he nearly dropped his sword.

    Jabez¡¯s head snapped around when the ooze nearest him approached. He slammed the head of his hammer down on the pseudopod, reaching for him. The ooze splattered into tiny pieces, and the creature recoiled away from the creature that struck it. Jabez turned his attention to the ooze back to Vash and Corwin, seeing them struggle against the oozes that held them fast.

    Letting out a wordless cry of challenge, Jabez slammed his hammer down on the main body of the ooze holding Corwin. The creature splattered, droplets flung away from the main body like rock hitting a puddle. The pseudopods holding Corwin in place fell away, splashing to the rock floor and leaving black puddles of inert goo.

    ¡°Vash, give me your hand!¡± Jabez called, stepping through and holding out one solid hand to Vash.

    Sheathing his dagger, Vash reached out his free hand, fingers grasping Jabez¡¯s wrist while the dwarf grabbed onto him with a grip like iron. There was a surge of mana. Vash could almost feel Jabez¡¯s strength through their connection.

    Groaning with effort, Jabez yanked Vash out of the ooze. Vash¡¯s boot came free with a disgusting slurping sound. Staggering away, Vash stumbled forward, narrowly avoiding another puddle of ooze.

    Vash stopped short, avoiding a swipe from the ooze in front of him. <i>Where did that come from?</i>

    That¡¯s when Vash noticed the walls flowed and pulsed with movement. The black ooze ran through the grooves and open spaces on the rock pillars. Sensing prey in the chamber, the ooze was flowing down to the floor, forming black puddles on the ground.

    The oozes flowed into one another, forming larger and larger pools. As Vash watched, two large pools joined and spread across the doorway behind him. More were flowing down the walls.

    All the while, Vash could hear the roars and cries of the scalebacks. He turned, looking frantically for a way out. There were several openings in-between the columns, but they were being rapidly cut off by the oozes. Jabez and Corwin swiped and slashed at the ooze, trying to keep it at bay.

    But the ooze kept growing, expanding, flowing to cut off all escapes.

    Vash spotted one opening. A small, dark passage that went beside the largest of the heartstones. ¡°Come on, if we stay here, we¡¯ll be trapped!¡±

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Corwin called, backing up but trying to follow Vash.

    ¡°Anywhere that isn¡¯t here!¡±

 Episode 39: The Demons Eye

    <b>EPISODE 39</b>

    <b>THE DEMON''S EYE</b>

    Dashing past the largest of the heartstones, Vash felt a frigid chill pass over him. The sense of an outside presence watching him, considering if it was worth the effort to hunt and consume him.

    ¡°Can¡¯t we smash those damn things?¡± Vash snarled, slashing at a jet black pseudopod that whipped towards his leg. His dagger sliced cleanly through the tendril, sending black ooze splattering against the stones.

    ¡°Too tough.¡± Jabez said, panting as he jogged to keep up. ¡°Therium¡¯s hard as diamonds. Once it¡¯s formed a heartstone, it¡¯s even tougher. Even my hammer would take a dozen strikes to make a crack.¡±

    Of course. Why can¡¯t anything resolve easily? Vash thought, bitterly.

    He glared at the dark purple heartstone as he passed. The crystal pulsed and rippled with energy and Vash felt another tug on his Core. His head swam, suddenly, and he felt an immense pressure building in his head. It felt like a headache, only worse. The dull throbbing pain ebbed and flowed with the pulse of the heartstone¡¯s light. A feeling swept over him, amusement, and distant, a kind of haughty pleasure.

    <i>Is the damn rock feeling smug? </i>Vash thought, catching himself before he stumbled.

    <i>We need to get out of here, NOW!</i> Cass all but shouted in Vash¡¯s mind, causing a sharp stab of pain to complement the dull throbbing.

    <i>Where the hell have you been? </i>Vash thought.

    <i>Hiding from that thing! </i>Cass countered. <i>And you brought me right to it!</i>

    Vash ran as fast as he safely could into the small passageway formed by dozens of closely packed columns. The passage had barely enough width for one person to walk without difficulty. Vash took the lead, Jabez close behind, and followed up by Corwin, slashing at the tendrils of dark ooze that continued to lash out at them.

    <i>What does it want with you?</i> Vash asked. The passage was much darker than other portions of the temple, fewer Therium deposits on the pillars lead to a lessening of the purple ambient glow. It also seemed to mean a lessening of the interference with Vash¡¯s <i>Dungeon Sense. </i>His mental map pushed back the clouds in his mind, giving him some idea of where he was going. Vash tried to concentrate on figuring out his position while fighting the throbbing pain in his head.

    <i>It wants to be a Dungeon Heart.</i> Cass said, icily. <i>To do that, it needs souls. My soul looks like a roasted pig on a spit does to a hungry beggar. </i>

    As Cass spoke, Vash could feel the vast hunger from the heartstone. The sensation was animalistic, primitive, but behind it was a budding intellect just waiting for a chance to break free.

    Vash staggered, a wave of nausea and vertigo hitting him suddenly. He veered to one side, colliding with a column. Leaning against the stone for support, Vash struggled to stay upright.

    ¡°Vash!¡± Jabez called. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    <i>A demon tainted magic rock and the soul of a stranger who hitched a ride are playing hide and seek in my head</i>. Vash thought, bitterly.

    <i>I¡¯ll do what I can to lessen the heartstone¡¯s effects, but we need to get out of here as fast as we can.</i> Cass said, barely concealed terror plain in her voice.

    <i>That¡¯s what I¡¯m trying to do!</i> Vash snapped.

    Vash felt Cass recede from wherever she went to have conversations with him. A moment later, the vertigo receded, and Vash could stand upright again.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Vash said. ¡°Low mana and no rest caught up to me for a second.¡±

    Jabez grunted in acknowledgment, but Vash could almost feel the suspicious gaze of the older dwarf. ¡°Any idea where this passage goes?¡±

    ¡°North-ish,¡± Vash said, jogging forward again. The path through the columns was more like a series of gaps than a tunnel or corridor. They switch-backed upon themselves and made sudden turns in different directions. ¡°I think it opens up not too far from here.¡±

    Another grunt. Jabez was a man of few words.

    Corwin caught up to them. Streaks of black liquid ran down the shining metal of his sword. ¡°Those ooze things are still coming, but they¡¯re slow. If we keep moving, we should outrun them.¡±

    ¡°Any sign of the scalebacks?¡± Vash asked.

    Before Corwin could answer, a series of roars and piercing shrieks punctuated the silence of the temple. The noise came from behind them, accompanied by the sound of metal striking stone.

    ¡°I think the scalebacks found the oozes.¡± Corwin said. ¡°Hopefully that will slow them down.¡±

    ¡°Not for long.¡± Jabez said. ¡°They¡¯ll likely do what we did, fight them off long enough to find a way out. Which will be easier since they¡¯ll just follow our scent.¡±

    Vash tried not to think about the towering lizard-men racing along the passage behind them. If they were like other lizards and could scale the stone columns, then they would easily surround the Wayfarers.

    <i>Keep going. </i>Vash thought. <i>It can¡¯t be far now.</i>

    The Wayfarers moved as fast as they could. Vash would suffer a moment of dizziness whenever the heartstone slipped past whatever Cass was doing to protect him. Jabez was flagging, his breath ragged and labored. A trickle of dark blood stained Jabez¡¯s mail where the Hollowmound Queen punctured his armor. Vash couldn¡¯t be sure if it was just the light, but the dwarf¡¯s blood looked almost black, which couldn¡¯t be good.

    The whole time, Vash felt the oppressive eye of the heartstone on him. While he was in its domain, it could find him. In time, it would crack him open like an egg to get to what it wanted.

    <i>This was what Zakarias was trying to do.</i> Vash realized, taking a sharp turn and finding an open section of the passageway. A long, straight section running east. <i>Feed our souls to the heartstones up in that old stronghold. Make a Dungeon Heart. But why? Did the Duke know? </i>

    Vash shook his head. Too many questions to consider while running for his life. Ahead, the columns opened up again into wider spacing like the front of the temple. However, the fog of interference returned just beyond the point where they would exit the passageway. His instinct was to slow down, approach the exit with caution.

    The rest of the world did not seem to want to give him that option.

    Vash winced in pain as his headache returned with a sudden ferocity. Cass blossomed in his awareness. She felt exhausted and battered.<i> I don¡¯t think I can do much more. It¡¯s countering everything I¡¯ve thrown at it.

    </i>

    <i>Just a little bit further, Cass.</i> Vash thought.

    <i>You don¡¯t understand, Vash.</i> Cass replied, exhaustion plain in the sound of her voice.<i> If I do any more, it will find me, and I don¡¯t have the strength to fight it. I¡¯m sorry.</i>

    Cass receded, returning to her hiding place deep in Vash¡¯s mind or soul. Her retreat meant a redoubling of the heartstone¡¯s assault. Vash steeled himself against the attack, sinking deep as he could into his own Core, ignoring the pain and disorientation as much as he could.

    ¡°I don¡¯t hear the scalebacks.¡± Corwin said. ¡°Any chance they¡¯ve given up the chase?¡±

    Jabez barked a laugh. ¡°About as much as me shaving my beard.¡±

    Vash could see the edge of the temple with his <i>Dungeon Sense.</i> It wasn¡¯t far, but there were about a hundred yards of obscured temple between them and the open Underlands. ¡°Not far now, I can see the end of the of passage.¡±

    ¡°Be on your guard,¡± Jabez cautioned. ¡°Anything could be out there.¡±

    Vash jogged to a stop at the exit of the passageway. His instincts screamed at him to keep running and not to stop until he escaped this damned temple. The rational part of his mind, however, although dulled by pain and exhaustion, was wary. He¡¯d made too many mistakes in the past few days, forcing him to act quickly. He had little time, but he could take a moment before running out into the open.

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    Peering out into the dull purple gloom, Vash could see that this part of the temple was like the entryway. Wider spaced columns stood in irregular rows, Therium salts giving off a soft purple glow. Rubble and the odd stone ¡®webs¡¯ that ran from column to column blocked most of the gaps, providing one clear path.

    Vash could neither see nor sense anything amiss nearby. Hesitantly, he exited the passageway, feeling naked and exposed when he crossed into the clouded area on his mental map. The pain in his head was intense, like a white-hot needle shoved through his temple. It was more than just the pain, though; he felt as though his very soul was exposed. The heartstone was poring over everything he was or could be, and he could feel the dark intelligence behind it trying to decide what use to make of him.

    ¡°Gods, boy, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Jabez said, staring at Vash with a mix of concern and fear.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me,¡± Jabez growled. ¡°You¡¯re hurt, but I can¡¯t see any wound. So, what¡¯s going on, or do we leave you down here?¡±

    Vash cursed inwardly. ¡°Something happened up in the delving. I can¡¯t explain it in a few seconds, but it¡¯s meant that things like the heartstones are affecting me a lot. Right now, the heartstones we passed are trying to dig into my mind. I¡¯m fighting them off the best I can, but if I don¡¯t get out of here soon¡­¡±

    Jabez stared at him, face like stone. ¡°Then let¡¯s get out of here. We¡¯ll get you to a cleric as soon as we can. Corwin, take point.¡±

    ¡°I can¡ª¡° Vash started.

    ¡°You¡¯re compromised!¡± Jabez snapped, dark eyes blazing. ¡°Stay close and tell me everything going through your head.¡±

    Corwin looked uncertain, slowly passing Jabez and Vash to lead them away from the passage. He gave Vash an apologetic look, but he also kept his distance, sword at the ready.

    <i>Yeah, same to you, buddy.</i> Vash thought bitterly.

    They moved through the temple, keeping a brisk pace but on the lookout for ambush. Jabez kept close to Vash, one eye on the lookout for dangers, the other on his apprentice. Vash tried to ignore it, but bubbles of anger kept floating through his calm.

    <i>I shouldn¡¯t even be here.</i> He thought. <i>No one should. Even someone as vile as Duke Adolus wasn¡¯t foolish enough to let the shadow loose in the Alliance lands. That was the whole point of the Grand Alliance.</i>

    Something else was going on, and Vash just hoped that he survived long enough to figure out what it was.

    It was only a short, tense walk from the passageway to a more open section of columns. As they approached, Vash could see the open cavern of the Underlands beyond the columns. The sound of running water told him they weren¡¯t far from the river, either. Between them and freedom, however, was a long stretch of tiled floor.

    A mosaic pattern decorated what looked like the actual temple entrance, leading from the wider Underlands to a rough stone altar at the top of the design. Tiles with the strange, angular writing Vash had seen before formed a border around the central mosaic. From the angle he stood at, it was hard for Vash to see what the design was supposed to be, especially since it appeared to be laid out in black and white tile. Over time, the white tiles had faded to a dull gray, muddling the look of the thing.

    ¡°Careful now.¡± Jabez said, gesturing Corwin to continue on into the entrance hall.

    They moved in a loose knot, Corwin watching for danger ahead while Jabez kept an eye behind and off to the sides. Vash tried to keep a lookout, but his eye drifted back to the mosaic. Now that they were closer, Vash could make out the design better. A circle of black tiles with a rounded white bar in the center on a field of white. Strange symbols in black ringed the central circle. It occurred to Vash that it looked like an eye with a horizontal pupil, like a goat or a sheep. But something else tugged at Vash¡¯s memory, something distant he remembered from childhood. It made him think of the temple back in Durron¡¯s Ford.

    <i>That can¡¯t be it. The Temple is against everything that has to do with the shadow.</i> Vash thought. <i>Violently so.</i>

    He recalled a whipping he¡¯d received from Brother Enrick  back when he was a boy. It was one of the few times the other children invited him to play with them. They played Shadowman in the temple lichyard. The other children hid amongst the graves and gardens and he had been the ¡®Shadowman¡¯. He searched for them giddily, and when he found a hidden child, he would say:

    <i>Shadowman, Shadowman, Demon¡¯s Eye!</i>

    Then the child he found would run away shrieking:

    <i>Shadowman, Shadowman, Valoa¡¯s Light!

    Shadowman, Shadowman, Athair¡¯s Might!

    Shadowman, Shadowman, Taella¡¯s Peace!

    Shadowman, Shadowman, Demon¡¯s Eye Release!</i>

    If he caught and tagged them before they finished the rhyme, then they became Drae under his control, who helped him find other children. It was a common children¡¯s game. But when Brother Enrick came out of the temple to shoo the children away, he had rounded on Vash fiercely. Fifteen strokes with the belt and a month of penance work in the lichyard gardens. Vash had not understood at the time Enrick had been so furious. Other children played Shadowman on the temple grounds and if they got annoying, then the cleric would shoo them away, not beat them.

    Now, Vash realized, the reason for his punishment wasn¡¯t the game. The other children had convinced him to accept a mark drawn on his forehead to designate him as the Shadowman. A black eye with a horizontal open area to represent the white pupil.

    That night, while Sam tried to calm him down and tended to his wounds the best he could, he explained what that symbol meant. It was the Demon¡¯s Eye, the sigil of Noctus, the Demon Lord of the Eternal Night, the Lord of the Shadow itself.

    Vash felt a chill run through him. The signs of the other Drae were frightening enough, but few dared openly display the sign of Noctus.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Jabez asked, suspicious, then followed Vash¡¯s gaze to the mosaic. He frowned down at it for a moment, then his eyes widened. ¡°RUN!¡±

    Corwin looked back, confused, and started to turn towards Jabez. The spear that would have embedded in Corwin¡¯s throat merely grazed his cheek, leaving a bloody gash. Corwin stumbled to one side, bringing his sword up. The shadows melted off of the scaleback, exposing it as its <i>Shadowmeld </i>broke. The scaleback danced back, hissing, ready to make another attack.

    Vash felt the muted pulse of mana being used and he lashed out with his short sword. Shadows fell away in shreds and tatters, like thin paper in the wind. The scaleback clutched the side of its neck, blood staining the pale front of its body. It made a hoarse croak of pain and stumbled away from Vash, a torrent of blood flowing from its slashed artery.

    Other pulses of mana flared behind them, but Jabez shoved Vash towards the entrance. The dwarf turned back to where the other scalebacks were appearing out of the shadows. Vash felt the deep thrum of Jabez pulling mana from his Core. With both hands, he raised his hammer above his head. Blue-white lines of magic flowed through nearly invisible runes on the dark metal¡¯s surface. For a moment, the world held its breath. Then Jabez brought the hammer down in a savage arc.

    <i>¡°BALDNIRUUK!¡±</i> Jabez boomed, voice gaining a resonant, echoing quality.

    A wall of force tore across the hall. A scaleback on the edge of the area of effect flew ten feet and crashed into a column. Its body made a sickening cracking sound when it hit the stone. The scaleback crumpled to the ground, leaving an impression of shattered stone and a splatter of blood behind.

    The ones directly ahead of Jabez burst like overfilled balloons, death coming instantly. Others, further back, were knocked aside like leaves in a strong wind. When it reached the stone altar, it only staggered the last few scalebacks.

    The scaleback facing Corwin stared in confused terror at the bloody mess left behind by several of its companions. Corwin didn¡¯t hesitate. He swung his heavy bastard sword in a tight arc and cleaved through the scaleback¡¯s neck. A fountain of dark blood erupted from the creature¡¯s neck and it twitched for a moment before slumping to one side.

    Vash turned to Jabez. The dwarf stood stock still, breathing hard, eyes glazed, sweat soaking his brow.

    <i>Mana burn. </i>Vash thought. <i>He¡¯s been overextending himself.</i>

    At the far end of the hall, the remaining scalebacks, a half dozen by Vash¡¯s count, were getting to their feet.

    ¡°Corwin, help me, he¡¯s got the Burn!¡±

    Corwin rushed back, taking Jabez under one arm and half-dragged, half-carried him towards the temple entrance. Vash followed, keeping an eye on the scalebacks, trying to push down the rising pain behind his eyes. He fought his way, step by step, to the entrance of the hall.

    Just as Vash was about to take that last step out of the hall, pain coursed through every nerve in his body. He sank to his body and retched, every muscle in agony. He couldn¡¯t even form a thought, it was just an ocean of pain. Behind it all he could see that gleaming black eye, pupil a blazing white in the darkness.

    It saw him.

    It knew him.

    It wanted him.

    <i>NO!</i> Cass¡¯ voice came like a flash of lightning through his mind. The pain vanished, but left him trembling and weak.

    His mind roiled as two wills clashed within him. One vast and powerful, the other nimble and clever. They clashed again and again in Vash¡¯s mind. There was not time for speech, he just sensed an urgent plea from Cass to get out, to get away from the temple.

    Vash stumbled to his feet, swaying as he did, and trudged to where a panicked Corwin stood on the top step of the temple. ¡°Go!¡±

    Corwin struggled down the steps with Jabez, finally giving up and throwing the weakened dwarf over one shoulder. Vash staggered, step-by-step back to the edge of the temple. It felt like moving through deep water; his body fought each attempt to escape.

    He could feel the battle within his mind reaching its conclusion. Cass moved slowly. Taking wounds, Vash knew that the only way to save them both was to get out of the temple.

    <i>If we¡¯re going to die, anyway. Who cares about some Mana Burn? </i>Vash thought, reaching out with his aura. His sense of self expanded and, not far beyond the edge of the temple, he found a likely shadow. In his mind, Vash formed the pattern for <i>Shadowalk</i>. He ignored the warnings of strain and fatigue within his Core, pushing more and more mana through the pattern. Vash held on tight to that shadow and pulled.

    The sensation of movement and the fluttering of shadows around him were disorienting. Vash stumbled onto the loose soil and rock of the land beyond the temple. He felt the other presence in his mind shudder and scramble to keep hold of its place within him. Vash fought a wave of dizziness as the heartstone connection faded. He stood, panting, in the shadow of a large boulder.

    Corwin, now behind him, jogged to catch up. ¡°What, in all the gods¡¯ names, was that?¡±

    Vash shook his head. ¡°No time¡­have to go¡­¡±

    Looking unsure, Corwin nodded and carried Jabez towards the sound of the rushing river. Vash followed, pushing himself, knowing that his reserves were now empty, and he was out of tricks. A ragged burning inside told him he had done some damage to his soul. How much, he couldn¡¯t tell.

    A thought struck him. <i>Cass? Is everything all right in there?</i>

    Silence.

    <i>Cass? Can you hear me?</i>

    Vash waited, but there was no response.

    The scalebacks roared a challenge from somewhere behind him.

    Vash ran

 Episode 40: The Ascent

    <b>EPISODE 40:</b>

    <b>THE ASCENT</b>

    Vash crashed to his knees, lungs burning, legs rubbery with exhaustion. The river flowed just ahead of them, but the run had been further than Vash expected. His <i>Dungeon Sense</i> had returned after he and Corwin put some distance between themselves and the Shadow Temple. Vash was having difficulty making any sense of the images, however. His mental map had huge gaps, and their current place on it was much further north than they should be.

    <i>Maybe it¡¯s some effect of the Shadow Temple?</i> Vash thought, struggling to get his breath back. <i>Cass was right. We should never have gone there.</i>

    The voice in his head remained ominously silent, and Vash couldn¡¯t feel her anywhere. In their short time together, he¡¯d become fond of her, and strange as it was, there was some comfort in knowing that he wasn¡¯t alone.

    Corwin stopped short a few paces from Vash, and leaned against a boulder. The big man took long, controlled breaths, his face covered in a sheen of sweat. Vash could feel the thrum of continuous mana use coming off Corwin. He was likely pouring mana into Enhance Ability to keep up his strength and stamina. Jabez remained draped over one of Corwin¡¯s shoulders. Only the faint glimmer of mana coming from the dwarf gave Vash any sign that he was still alive.

    ¡°You¡­alright?¡± Vash panted from where he kneeled on the ground.

    Corwin gave him a shaky nod. He was carrying Jabez, as well as both their packs and weapons. Vash couldn¡¯t even imagine the strength that his old friend had unlocked when he became a Wayfarer. Corwin had always been strong. Life on a farm will do that to any man, but Vash had a feeling that he had only seen the barest glimmer of what Corwin was capable of.

    <i>It¡¯s strange to think of Corwin that way.</i> Vash thought. <i>He was always this big, goofy lunk. Sure, he could carry three or four fence posts without complaining, but he was gentle as a lamb. </i>

    Vash thought back to the ease with which Corwin had decapitated the scaleback back at the Shadow Temple. Then further back to the bar fight in Sathsholm. Those Red Caps hadn¡¯t been a threat to him any more than they had been to Jabez.

    <i>I may not really know him anymore.</i> Vash thought, and it unnerved him.

    The angry roar of scalebacks somewhere to the south told Vash that their brief rest was officially over. Groaning with effort, Vash got back to his feet. Everything hurt, the sticky wetness on his back told him that the scaleback slashes had reopened, and the hollow, ragged feeling surrounding his Core started to ache and burn.

    Fatigue from Mana Burn washed over him, and Vash stumbled on wobbly legs. Corwin pushed off the boulder and shuffled to Vash¡¯s side, steadying him. ¡°You have got nothing left, Vash.¡± Corwin warned. ¡°Burning your Core past its limits has serious long-term effects.¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡± Vash said, shrugging off Corwin¡¯s hand. ¡°So does a spear to the gut, which is what we¡¯re going to get if we don¡¯t keep moving.¡±

    Corwin frowned. This close, Vash could see the tracks that his sweat left in the dust and grime that coated his face. Dried blood coated Corwin¡¯s neck and soaked his tunic, but the cut seemed to have clotted before becoming too serious. ¡°Point taken. I agree we should get moving, but where in the seven hells even are we?¡±

    Vash began walking, moving towards the river again. ¡°I think we¡¯re much further along the river than we thought we¡¯d be. Maybe that old temple was some sort of shortcut.¡±

    Corwin grunted noncommittally, shifting Jabez¡¯s weight on his shoulder.

    ¡°If I¡¯m right, then there¡¯s a fairly big cavern up ahead.¡± Vash continued, letting his eyes lose focus as he consulted his mental map. Roughly an hour¡¯s walk up ahead was a circular cavern, one that formed over the centuries from a thunderous waterfall, carving into the surrounding stone. ¡°We might be able to lose the scalebacks there.¡±

    Corwin shook his head while he picked up the pace. ¡°Jabez and I dealt with a bunch of these up near Aladur. Once they get a hunt into their mind, they¡¯re single-minded, they¡¯ll track us until they, or we, drop. A hunting party like that¡­well the big scarred bull leading them is likely using this to deal with rivals or prove his dominance. We either have to get into the territory of something worse that they¡¯re afraid of, or we have to kill them.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem fair.¡± Vash said with a pained grin. ¡°I mean what with us being heroes of legend and folktales and them just being plain monsters.¡±

    Corwin chuckled. ¡°Well we have had the shit kicked out of us for the last few days. That probably helps even the odds.¡±

    ¡°Probably.¡± Vash said, voice turning grim. He reached within himself and grabbed onto part of the ragged tatters that surrounded his Core. Grimacing in discomfort, he tore off the smallest portion he could and fed it into the dim hollowness within himself. There was a brief flare of mana as his Core converted this small shred of his soul directly into motes of magical energy. Vitality flowed back into Vash¡¯s body, removing the fatigue in his legs and dampening the pain from his wounds.

    With a bitter sigh, Vash set out at a jog towards where the river bent to the northwest. He just hoped that when they reached the falls, that there was some sort of way to climb up and out.

    <hr>

    ¡°Gods, that¡¯s a long climb.¡± Corwin said, staring up at the circular cavern walls.

    A great cascade of water tumbled from somewhere high above, shrouded in clouds of mist that roiled around the cavern. A dim light was visible somewhere far above, confirming to Vash that this was their destination: Amical Falls.

    ¡°This must be what Bohdri¡¯s Cauldron looks like from below.¡± Corwin said. ¡°It¡¯s a really pretty sight in the mornings. Apprentices like to hang off the back deck of Cliffside Lodge and spit into the Cauldron for luck.¡±

    Vash gave Corwin a sidelong look.

    ¡°Apprentices do dumb stuff.¡± Corwin said, giving a one-shouldered shrug.

    Shaking his head, Vash turned back to the cavern and the problem at hand. ¡°How the hell do we climb this?¡±

    The rocky walls had many outcroppings and ledges, but there were sizeable gaps of smooth, damp stone, not ideal for free-climbing. Vash cursed the loss of his little bag of climbing tools, confiscated when the Knights of the Hidden Star took him prisoner.

    <i> Not only do we not have tools, we also have an unconscious dwarf to deal with. </i>

    Vash glanced at Jabez, still hanging over Corwin¡¯s shoulder. He hadn¡¯t stirred since he had collapsed back at the Shadow Temple. Vash idly wondered how much more Mana Burn he could suffer himself before he collapsed unconscious, like Jabez. He hoped he didn¡¯t have to find out.

    Reaching out with his <i>Dungeon Sense</i>, Vash tried to take in the cavern piece by piece, to see if he could find some pattern that he could use to escape. After a few moments of searching, he found the start of a path to the top of the cavern. A series of narrow ledges ran up the side of the cavern. Mostly, each ledge was close enough to one another that a careful person could climb all the way up into the mists several hundred feet above.

    It was the part above the mists that concerned Vash. The crystalline network that formed the dungeons of the Underlands didn¡¯t extend beyond the mists. From that point on, they would have to climb blind.

    A roar echoed behind them, far enough away that Vash didn¡¯t feel like the scalebacks were snapping at their heels, but they were still too close for comfort. ¡°We don¡¯t have time to sit around and overthink this,¡± Vash said. ¡°Can you climb while carrying him?¡±

    ¡°I can damn well try.¡± Corwin said, firmly, a flinty look in his eye that Vash recognized from their days back on the farm. Wil, Corwin¡¯s older brother, nicknamed him ¡®Ox¡¯, because if Corwin got it in his mind to do something, there was very little anyone could do to keep him from doing it.

    ¡°There might be a path over this way.¡± Vash said, indicating the lip of rock that ran around the waterfall¡¯s edge. ¡°It¡¯s pretty broken up, but I don¡¯t see us having very many other options.¡±

    Corwin peered into the misty gloom. ¡°How can you tell? I can barely see anything.¡±

    ¡°Elf eyes, I guess,¡± Vash hedged, trying to sound nonchalant. ¡°Come on, I think we can find a way up this way.¡±

    They circled the wide pool that formed at the base of the waterfall before it joined the rest of the river. From the force of the water flowing down around them, Vash judged that the falls above must join to another river up in the mountains. The sound of falling water drowned out all other noises so Vash and Corwin had to resort to hand signals. After a few false starts, Vash guided them to a low outcropping a few feet off the ground, which sloped upwards at an angle and would allow them to climb up to another ledge further up. The ledge was barely two feet across, wide enough for Vash¡¯s nimble feet, but awkward for Corwin while he carried Jabez.

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    Step by step, they made their way slowly and painstakingly up from ledge to ledge. They were making headway, but it was taking far longer than Vash hoped. While Vash could walk lightly along the outcroppings and ledges, Corwin had to shuffle along, keeping as much of himself against the rock wall as possible. Moving to a different ledge was a complicated affair involving handing off the unconscious Jabez long enough for Corwin to clamber to the next ledge then resettle the dwarf on Corwin¡¯s shoulder.

    Vash could feel the time they had gained on the Scalebacks leaking away like sand in a broken hourglass. He kept scanning the ledges behind them and the ground below, looking for any sign of the bloodthirsty lizard-men. So far nothing had caught up with them, but as they climbed the ground became more obscured by the mists from the falls. The erratic placement of Therium crystals in the rock gave Vash¡¯s <i>Dungeon Sense</i> an incomplete view of the cavern.

    <i>Just keep moving</i>. Vash thought, coming to a new ledge, this one at about shoulder height. He grabbed the edge and pulled himself up in a single, fluid motion. Turning back, he kneeled down on the surprisingly wide three-foot ledge to help pull Jabez up so that Corwin could climb.

    Corwin was pulling himself up, boots scrabbling as he fought for purchase on the wet stone, when Vash felt it. The low thrum of <i>Danger Sense</i>. It wasn¡¯t the sudden tug that warned of an arrow flying at you or a sword stabbing for your heart. This was the low, irritating buzz of enemies in the area. Vash scanned the cavern, looking for the dark, lithe shapes of the scalebacks.

    There was nothing below them, just the dim blue light of glowmoss and the roiling white of the mists.

    Vash stiffened. <i>Nothing below.</i>

    He turned slowly, looking above him into the shadows that clung to the walls, avoiding the shaft of weak sunlight that shone from above. Irritated, Vash scowled at every shadow that buzzed his <i>Danger Sense</i>. It felt like mosquitoes whining in your ear. A constant bother that distracted him from what he was doing.

    Corwin got to his feet, let out a huff of effort, then bent to pick up Jabez.

    The flash of <i>Danger Sense</i> that Vash felt was almost like a hammer blow to his chest. Acting on instinct, Vash grabbed both Corwin and Jabez and hauled them back with all his strength. Corwin was overbalanced and toppled over, crashing to the ground beside Vash. Jabez rolled and hung halfway out over the side of the ledge. Vash grabbed Jabez by the straps of his pack and pulled. The dwarf didn¡¯t move any further over the edge, but he also didn¡¯t flop back the way he came either.

    ¡°Vash! What the ¡ª .¡± Corwin began, but he was cut off when a dark shape slammed into the wall beside him, shattering stone and raining pebbles down on his boots.

    The Hammerworm pulled back, the solid mass it used for its pummeling attack retracting from the creature¡¯s ¡®head¡¯. The glistening black mass of its body was only discernible from the shadows now that it moved. With a strange, ethereal grace, the front half of the worm¡¯s body lifted from the rock and it lazily moved in the air, like a snake searching for prey.

    ¡°Dear gods, what the hell is that?¡± Corwin sputtered, pushing back away from the Hammerworm.

    ¡°A nasty creature that eats scalebacks for breakfast.¡± Vash grunted, still pulling back on Jabez and feeling his grip weakening. ¡°Give me a hand here, will you?¡±

    Never taking his eyes from the worm, Corwin leaned over and grasped Jabez by another strap, pulling him easily back onto the stone ledge.

    Sensing movement, the worm whipped around towards the prone Wayfarers. The creature¡¯s head expanded, becoming a pale gray as the hard ¡®hammer¡¯ in its body pushed into position. With a sudden flick of its body, the worm struck, lashing out at where they lay on the ledge.

    Corwin pulled Jabez back while he slid along the stones away from the strike. It was awkward, but it got the job done. Vash didn¡¯t have time to move backwards, instead he rolled to one side, falling off the ledge just as the worm¡¯s head slammed into the stone. His hand shot out and grabbed hold of the ledge, stopping his fall but leaving him dangling a hundred feet above the cavern floor. Instantly, Vash could feel his fingers slipping on the wet rock. Not only that, but the worm¡¯s strike sent deep fissures through the ledge. Vash felt the rock he held onto crack and shift beneath his fingers.

    Vash made an inarticulate sound of effort and brought his other hand up, looking for a place to grip. His fingers scrabbled against wet, smooth stone. The rock beneath his other hand shifted again. He cursed his luck as the rock and most of the front half of the ledge broke free and fell.

    A grip like iron closed around his wrist. Vash looked up. Corwin lay on the ledge, arm outstretched as far as it would go to stop Vash from falling. A look of strain was plain on Corwin¡¯s face. Vash felt a thrum of mana. Veins stood out on Corwin¡¯s neck as he dragged himself up to kneeling and then lifted Vash over the side of the ledge.

    Vash rolled away from the edge, giving himself as much space as possible from the prospect of plummeting to his death. He looked back to where the Hammerworm was again weaving the front of its body in the air, searching for targets.

    ¡°We have to get out of here.¡± Vash hissed, scrambling away from the crumbling ledge.

    Corwin nodded in agreement, turning towards the next set of ledges. Vash saw Corwin¡¯s face go pale, his eyes wide. He felt the low-thrum of his <i>Danger Sense </i>and turned slowly. All along the walls, shadows were detaching themselves from overhangs or crevices in the rock. The worms felt their way along the walls, moving towards the commotion.

    ¡°Now what?¡± Corwin asked.

    Vash took a moment to consider. Now would be a great time for Jabez to wake up, or for Cass to pipe up with a helpful idea.

    Jabez remained unmoving.

    No voice spoke in Vash¡¯s head.

    ¡°Is there any of that dwarvish swill left in Jabez¡¯s flask?¡± Vash asked, looking at the remaining ledges before the roiling wall of mist about a hundred feet above them.

    ¡°C¡¯mon, there must be something we can do. Beside just give up and start drinking.¡± Corwin said.

    Vash rolled his eyes. ¡°No, I need the Therium salts for the mana. My Core is out and I¡¯ll need at least something to pull this off.¡±

    Corwin looked dubious, but he reached into Jabez¡¯s belt pouch and withdrew the bottle of Tonuraak Brandy. At first it looked like the bottle was empty, but luckily there was barely a swallow¡¯s worth of the amber liquor in the bottom. He handed to Vash.

    Without a word, Vash unstoppered the bottle and drank the dregs. Sandy sediment from the bottom of the bottle filled his mouth with grit and a bitter aftertaste. Vash swallowed it down with a grimace. He handed the bottle back to Corwin and waited. After a moment, Vash felt the bloom of mana in his Core. It was faint and hollow, but there was something there to use.

    Vash got to his feet. ¡°You and Jabez follow as fast as you can. I¡¯m going to try to clear the way.¡±

    Corwin looked confused, but Vash didn¡¯t stop to explain. In rapid succession he summoned <i>Enhanced Ability</i>, pushing it to his strength and agility, then he called up <i>Dancer¡¯s Precision</i>, instantly feeling his balance shift.

    <i>I fear no Shadow, for I am Shadow</i>

    Vash leaped over Corwin¡¯s prone form, landing with impossible precision on one of the few stones that had not tumbled into the abyss below. Drawing his blades, Vash slashed the worm in two quick strokes. A pair of long gashes leaked a viscous clear fluid and the worm recoiled.

    <i>I fear no death, for I am death</i>

    Wheeling, Vash leaped again, landing back where he had just stood, then immediately leaping to the next ledge. This one was thin, barely a foot across. Vash dashed across it like a wide boulevard. He felt the worm react behind him and slither along the wall towards him, following the expended mana.

    <i>Now my hunt begins</i>

    Other Hammerworms were taking notice, slithering towards him. Vash kept moving. He knew he was on a ticking clock. The boost of mana wouldn¡¯t last long. Behind him Corwin watched, stunned while the worms made a beeline for Vash.

    <i>Get moving, big man, they won¡¯t chase me forever.</i>

    A worm¡¯s hammer slammed down in front of Vash, smashing the stones in front of him, then reared back for another attack. Vash skidded to a halt, struck out with his short sword, cutting through the worm¡¯s rubbery body before it could retract its hammer. The solid mass went spinning into the darkness, followed by a gush of clear goo.

    Vash spotted a ledge above him. He jumped, one foot coming down on the back of the worm he just ¡®decapitated¡¯ and used it to vault further up.

    The worm fell off the wall and tumbled down the shaft, disappearing into the mists below. Vash tossed his dagger into his other hand and reached up to grab the edge of the ledge above him. With a grunt of effort he pulled himself up and rolled onto the ledge. He could feel the telltale fatigue growing, as well as the ragged edges of his soul beginning to burn within him.

    <i>This was a bad idea</i>. He lamented, but he had no other choice. With a quick kick of his legs he vaulted up to a standing position. Checking over his shoulder to make sure that the worms were still following, Vash took off again. He was close to the edge of the wall of mists, the damp air soaking his clothes and plastering his hair to his scalp.

    Vash ran up one ledge, then the next, always making sure that the worms were following. He rose through the layer of mist and was suddenly completely blinded. The thick mists blocked all sight, and his <i>Dungeon Sense</i> evaporated once he crossed its threshold.

    <i>No lattice for me to see through</i>. Vash thought.

    Out of the blinding gray fog he saw shadowy shapes. The worms were lashing out all around. It was like a frenzy. They would loom out of the mist and lash out. Vash would have a bare heartbeat to react.

    Eventually his luck ran out.

    His mana ran out without warning. <i>Enhance Ability</i> and <i>Dancer¡¯s Precision</i> winked out. He stumbled, caught himself, continued to run, but the wet rocks were unstable and he slipped. Falling forward, a worm loomed out of the mist in front of him. Vash tried to dodge, to move out of the way, but the hammer caught him full in the stomach and sent him flying. The world spun, a gray haze, then the mists parted and a brilliant blue sky appeared above him. The sun so bright it seared his eyes.

    Vash landed in a soft blanket of grass and leaves. He rolled, finally coming to a stop at the bottom of a tall oak tree. Breathing hard, Vash lay for a moment, stunned. Then he saw the worm crest the edge of the hole. It flopped onto the ground, slithering about and searching for its escaped meal. With dreadful certainty, it moved towards where Vash lay.

    Unable to do anything more than lie there and dread the inevitable, Vash watched the worm slither towards him. It reared back, hammer forming for a killing blow. Vash resisted the impulse to close his eyes.

    The <i>whistle-shriek</i> of an arrow pierced the silence. It punched through the worm, erupting out the other side and leaving a massive hole through the creature. The worm wobbled, not sure what was happening. More arrows flew, slicing through the creature with deadly precision. It wobbled for a moment, then collapsed to one side, leaking fluid and slowly deflating.

    Soft footsteps caught Vash¡¯s attention and he looked up at the approaching figure. It was an elf, dressed in soft leathers with a hood up and obscuring their face. But Vash could see the tell-tale glow of a true-blooded elf¡¯s eyes. This one¡¯s were a pale lavender, a strange color that he hadn¡¯t seen on a Vanan before. She pulled back her hood enough for him to see her face. The elf was bone-white, with ash-colored hair. Like all elves she had an ethereal beauty, but her features weren¡¯t as sharp as a Vanan, at least any that Vash had met.

    ¡°Well now.¡± The elf said, quirking one ash eyebrow curiously. ¡°That is probably the strangest way to visit Amical Falls that I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±

 Episode 41: A Warm Welcome

    <b>EPISODE 41:</b>

    <b>A WARM WELCOME</b>

    The indistinct murmur of voices intruded on the fuzzy warmth of deep sleep that surrounded Vash like a thick blanket. There were two voices, one deep and masculine, the other softer and feminine. Vash groaned and nuzzled deeper into the soft pillow under his head, pulling the blanket further up over his shoulders, enjoying the rare feeling of being somewhere warm, soft, and secure.

    <i>Or is it?</i> A flash of paranoia ignited in Vash¡¯s mind.

    He wasn¡¯t sure where he was or who the people in the room with him were. Slowly, reluctantly, he opened his eyes a crack. The room was dimly lit, with a shaft of morning sunshine showing between half-drawn curtains. It wasn¡¯t a small room, but it felt cozy. Directly across from Vash was another single-person bed. Even in the dim light, Vash recognized the occupant.

    Eyes closed, stripped of armor, tunic, and leathers, Jabez seemed smaller. The dwarf was bare-chested, the thick hair on his arms and chest was an iron gray, much like the streaks in his beard. His body had the hard muscles of a fighter, but was more wiry than Vash had expected. Layers of armor and a dwarf¡¯s natural physique made Jabez seem stockier than he really was.

    Bandages wrapped around Jabez¡¯s shoulder and a small crystal floated in the air above his head. Vash peered at it groggily, not understanding what was happening or where this place was. As his mind came more awake, pain blossomed in a variety of places on Vash¡¯s body. The gash on his shoulder from the Hollowmound spider attack burned slightly, as did the scaleback slashes on his back. The wounds felt tight, as if someone had pulled the skin together.

    <i>Someone stitched me up.</i> Vash thought.

    He sank slowly into his Core, feeling for how much damage he suffered from the Mana Burn. To his surprise, the ragged soul pieces were already knitting themselves together around his refilled Core. Mana flowed through his meridians like a gentle brook. Connected to his Core, Vash could almost feel his body repairing itself, his Wayfarer medallion sending out gentle pulses of healing energy.

    Groggily, Vash turned towards the voices. His bed was one of many in a row, it turned out. On his other side, sitting on an empty bed, was Corwin. The big man had also doffed his armor and gear. He looked clean and comfortable in a fresh shirt and trousers. Vash also realized that this was the first time in a while that he had seen Corwin without his sword.

    <i>Strange how quickly you become used to a thing.</i> Vash mused.

    Standing next to Corwin was a slender young woman. She was comely, with a quiet, reserved demeanor, though Vash couldn¡¯t help but notice that she give Corwin an encouraging smile as they talked. Her blonde hair pulled back into a single braid and secured with a length of leather cord. The woman wore the simple white and brown robes of a Temple novitiate. A dull iron wheel with nine spokes hung on a cord around her neck.

    ¡° ¡ª At this point it¡¯s just simple exhaustion.¡± The woman said, continuing her conversation with Corwin. She kept her voice low to avoid disturbing the sleeping patients. ¡°Your friend had several wounds that the Guild Marker was keeping from getting infected, but too much longer, and even that magic would have worn away. From what I hear about the Underlands, any wound can become septic, or worse, in a matter of hours, from the things down there. I¡¯m honestly quite surprised he fared as well as he did.¡±

    ¡°Vash has always been tough.¡± Corwin said, a note of affection in his voice. ¡°Ever since we were kids. Never gave up, no matter how hard it got. He¡¯s a fighter. I always admired that about him.¡±

    A spark of embarrassment flared in Vash, but he tamped it down. <i>He always was a trusting lunk. </i>

    ¡°Your master, on the other hand,¡± the young cleric continued. ¡°Is a more complicated issue. When you brought him out of the Underlands, he had severe Mana Burn. It was a miracle he survived. The fabric of his spirit basically shredded from overuse. Between the Hollowmound poison and the wounds he suffered, Master Jabez was running a series of Major Talents on a nearly constant basis. Even for someone young and healthy, that would be an incredible strain. With him being a Dahr, that makes things even more complicated.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡± Corwin asked, concern clear in his voice.

    ¡°The Elder Blood ¡ª the Dahr and the Vanan ¡ª have problems with anything kind of damage to their spirit. They don¡¯t heal it quite as well as others, like a human, might.¡± The cleric said. ¡°Their spirits are more rigid, brittle, the scars they form are thicker and don¡¯t handle mana as well. So, right now his body is trying to move mana through his meridians to heal damage to his body, but its being impeded by the state of his spirit. Sister Clea has done all she can at this point, as a Chosen of Taella. That¡¯s not insignificant.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Sister¡­¡± Corwin broke off, his brow furrowed, obviously searching for the Cleric¡¯s name.

    Vash saw the disappointment flicker in her eyes, even though her kind smile remained in place. ¡°Sera. But I¡¯m not a full Sister yet, just a novice.¡±

    Sera touched the nine-spoked wheel gently. Vash thought he saw a second flicker of disappointment there. <i>That¡¯s a sore point, apparently.</i>

    A soft chime sounded somewhere above him. Sera and Corwin turned to look in Vash¡¯s direction. Sera looked relieved at the interruption. She looked at something above his head and then down at his face, giving Vash a surprised smile. ¡°Oh good! It seems your friend is awake.¡±

    Corwin startled, then broke into a broad grin, immediately kneeling at Vash¡¯s bedside. ¡°Hey! How are you feeling?¡±

    Vash blinked slowly, then propped himself up on his elbows with some effort. ¡°Like I just spent a week being pummeled in the Underlands.¡±

    Corwin gave a short laugh. ¡°It wasn¡¯t over three days.¡±

    ¡°Feels like more.¡± Vash grumbled. As he sat up, he almost hit his head on the small floating crystal. It shone a bright green, in contrast to the crystal that hovered above Jabez in the other bed, which shone a pale yellow. ¡°What happened? Last thing I remember was some elf girl shooting one of the Hammerworms.¡±

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    ¡°That would be Morwen.¡± Sera said. ¡°She brought you in after you passed out.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s embarrassing.¡± Vash said, looking around for his clothes.

    ¡°With the amount of Mana Burn you sustained I¡¯m surprised you could stay conscious as long as you did.¡± Sera said, maneuvering around Corwin and lifting a hand to the green crystal, mumbling something to herself which caused the crystal to chime again in a different tone. ¡°She was quite impressed.¡±

    ¡°A part-blood impressing a Vanan, will wonders never cease.¡± Vash said, sarcastically.

    Sera looked down at him. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t let her hear you say that. Morwen is no more Vanan than you are. She¡¯s a Naeleshi, came down from Nosraval with Master Rowan about five years back.¡±

    ¡°Naeleshi? A shadow elf? I thought they were a myth.¡± Vash said, incredulous. The Eth Mitaan had talked little about the other families of elves in the world. He knew that the Kaeleshi in Vinya-Easain were a kind of cousins to the Vanan, wilder and more in tune with the natural world. The Naeleshi were even rarer and more mysterious. Supposedly, they lived in small enclaves in the far north, in the deep forests of Nosraval and Kundaraak. Intensely secretive, they were more legend than fact, according to Byar.

    ¡°Morwen¡¯s not fond of that title either.¡± Sera cautioned. ¡°And she¡¯s very real. Nice enough, but a bit stand-offish.¡±

    Vash shook his head and sat up. ¡°I guess my gambit worked, Corwin?¡±

    Corwin nodded. ¡°It was touch and go for a while. Most of the worms followed you since you were drawing so much attention to yourself. A few stayed behind, thinking we¡¯d be an easier meal. Had to climb while fending them off. Wasn¡¯t easy, but definitely easier than trying to do it with a dozen of those things attacking. They cleared out when we reached the big mist cloud, saw nothing past that point.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a ward there.¡± Sera said, looking over several bottles on the table next to Vash¡¯s bed. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to keep everything tainted by the shadow from crossing that point. There are a few gaps, which is why folk like Morwen keep watch when they¡¯re able.¡±

    ¡°So, what happens now?¡± Vash asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

    Corwin¡¯s smile faltered a bit, and he glanced over at where Jabez lay. ¡°Now, we get you some fresh clothes and we go talk to the Lodgemaster.¡±

    <hr>

    The off-white shirt and gray trousers that Sera gave Vash were comfortable and fit relatively well. He felt a little self-conscious stepping outside without his armor and weapons. Corwin said that they were being mended and cleaned and they¡¯d get them back in a few days. Vash couldn¡¯t help but think that the Guild had confiscated their gear until they got some answers.

    The infirmary was a small plaster-and-wood building, one of a small group that surrounded the distinctive octagon of a temple. It sat on a small hill overlooking the chaotic groups of buildings clustered around the Amica River. At the very edge of the village, Vash could see a sheer drop off and the thunderous cascading waterfall that gave the place its name.

    Perched on the very edge of the cliff was a boxy building that Vash was coming to recognize as a Wayfarer Guild Lodge.

    ¡°It¡¯s pretty impressive,¡± Corwin said, taking in the village with some obvious pride. ¡°Amical Falls and Samson¡¯s Rest are really the only places that are really <i>ours</i>, y¡¯know.¡±

    Vash nodded, but kept his thoughts to himself. He had only been a Wayfarer for about a week and had some serious doubts that other members of the Guild would be as accepting as Corwin. In fact, without Jabez standing for him, Vash had a feeling that his chances of remaining a Wayfarer after the debacle of the ¡®quest¡¯ laid out by Duke Adolus were quite slim.

    From the worried look on Corwin¡¯s face, Vash would bet that he was having the same thoughts.

    ¡°So, the Masters here aren¡¯t like the ones in Sathsholm.¡± Corwin said as they crossed the open village square. People of all sorts crossed in front of them. Vash had never seen so many adventurers in one place, not even in Traveler¡¯s Row. ¡°They¡¯re some of the most experienced and skilled in the Guild. Most are on the short list for becoming a Grandmaster of their particular school. So, mind your manners.¡±

    ¡°Who, me?¡± Vash said, making a show of wounded pride. ¡°I¡¯m a delight, never caused a problem in my life.¡±

    Corwin shot him a sour look. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about. They¡¯re going to have a lot of questions about what happened in Mossfen, and with Zakarias. Without Jabez to speak for us, both of us being Vagabonds, and you being a¡­well, being a¡­¡±

    ¡°Assassin sentenced to death by one of the most powerful men in Galadon?¡± Vash said, mildly.

    ¡°Yeah, that.¡± Corwin said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll behave.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    They walked across the village square in silence. The Lodge building stood at the top of the square, in a place that was difficult to miss. The first thing that struck Vash about the Lodge was that it was a very old building. Unlike most of the other buildings that he could see, it was stone. The irregular blocks forming the Lodge¡¯s walls, though pitted and darkened by age, still appeared solid. Great double-doors made of oak stood open as they approached the building.

    Inside was like a bustling tavern. Adventurers of every stripe gathered around tables, looking over gear or laying out maps. Several large boards of jobs, quests, and other tasks stood behind a long wooden counter. Harried-looking clerks took notes, verified Guild Markers, and paid out rewards.

    After the quiet front room of the Sathsholm Lodge, this one took Vash by surprise.

    ¡°Can I help you boys?¡± A middle-aged halfling woman asked from a table near the door.

    ¡°Corwin Walker and Vash Ballard to see the Lodgemaster. He told us to come see him as soon as Vash was able.¡± Corwin said in a deferential tone. It was the same tone he used when trying to get out of trouble with the town constable back in Durron¡¯s Ford.

    <i>How bad is this going to get? </i>Vash wondered as the halfling woman nodded gravely and beckoned them to follow her.

    The back halls of the Lodge were like the ones in Sathsholm: training rooms, archives, storage, and offices. The office that the halfling lead them to, however, was very different.

    The room seemed to fill a double purpose. It was both the Lodgemaster¡¯s office, and a kind of meeting hall. A long conference table stood in the middle of the room, in front of several long picture windows. The Lodge had a breathtaking view of the falls and the lands beyond. Rolling hills, thick with forests, lay between steep-sloped mountains. In the far distance, Vash thought he could make out the meandering path through the forests that was this section of the Glory Road.

    Vash was so distracted by the view that it took him a few minutes to realize that they weren¡¯t alone in the room. At the far end was a heavy desk and several high-backed chairs. Behind the desk sat a tall man with dark gray hair. He was broad shouldered and thick with the look of muscles that had gone unused for too long. The Lodgemaster looked up with a frown as they entered the room, his eyes moving from the figure in the chair to the newcomers.

    ¡°Corwin Walker and Vash Ballard, as requested by Master Sallik.¡± The halfling woman said.

    Master Sallik nodded, the lines of his face deepening into a frown. ¡°Thank you, Miss Fewroot. That will be all.¡±

    The halfling woman gave a polite curtsy and bustled out of the room, closing the heavy wooden door behind her.

    Sallik regarded Corwin and Vash for a long moment. ¡°Corwin, how is Jabez doing?¡±

    ¡°Still unconscious, Master.¡± Corwin said, with a polite half-bow. ¡°The clerics in the infirmary aren¡¯t sure when or if he will waken.¡±

    Heaving a sigh, Sallik glanced at his other visitor, discomfort plain on the older man¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s¡­most unfortunate.¡±

    <i>What¡¯s going on here?</i> Vash thought.

    The figure in the other chair rose. Even from behind, Vash recognized the stocky build and thinning black hair. His colors had changed, though. No longer wearing the gray and green of the Duke, Jacen Glauch wore a crimson surcoat emblazoned with half-black and half-white star.

    ¡°Vash,¡± Glauch said with an unpleasant smile. ¡°How delighted I am to see you again.¡±

 Episode 42: The Politics of Persuasion

    <b>Episode 42:</b>

    <b>The Politics Of Persuasion</b>

    It took everything Vash had not to flinch when he laid eyes on the Inquisitor. ¡°Captain Glauch, I wish I could say it was a pleasure.¡±

    Glauch¡¯s lips twitched into an unpleasant smile. ¡°I see you remain as charming as ever.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a delight.¡± Vash said, trying to keep the snarl out of his voice. ¡°To my friends.¡±

    ¡°Ah yes,¡± Glauch said and then made a show of looking at Corwin, then past them to scan the empty room beyond. ¡°I see your big friend, but I don¡¯t see the dwarf, the Master Wayfarer who took responsibility for you when he pulled you out of our prison.¡±

    Vash didn¡¯t miss the pointed language. Glauch was speaking to Sallick more than he was verbally sparring with him. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be up and around in no time. Though I¡¯m confused, are you still an Inquisitor in Duke Sath¡¯s service?¡± Vash pointedly looked Glauch¡¯s new surcoat up and down. ¡°If so, his Grace might wonder why you are wearing the colors of another organization entirely.¡±

    Corwin shot Vash a frown.

    <i>I know I¡¯m not behaving</i>. Vash thought. <i>But circumstances changed. Just hang on for a moment</i>.

    Glauch ran a hand over his new uniform with a pleased expression. ¡°I¡¯ve received a promotion, you might say. Knighted by Baron Claedes himself into the Order of the Hidden Star. The Duke has taken a shine to the Order and become its official patron in Galadon. My duties have expanded beyond simply the pursuit of the Duke¡¯s enemies. Now I am charged to bring justice to the agents of the shadow, and those who give them aid and comfort.¡±

    ¡°Congratulations,¡± Vash said. ¡°Doesn¡¯t explain why the hell you¡¯re here, though.¡±

    ¡°The Duke was expecting his friend Zakarias back in Sathsholm three days after you left the city.¡± Glauch said. ¡°When he did not arrive on time, his Grace became concerned. As I was already heading north to join the Order in Greenstone Crossing, he asked if I would check in here to see if the Wayfarers had heard any news of your little band. What a surprise it was when you came crawling out of the depths of the Underlands just as I arrived.¡±

    ¡°That was why I hoped that Master Jabez had recovered enough to speak with us,¡± Sallick said, regarding everyone in his office with an uncomfortable glare. ¡°To explain a few things.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯d be happy to clear up any misunderstandings.¡± Corwin said, trying to smooth things over. ¡°It has been a rough week, and the last thing we want is any more trouble.¡±

    ¡°An interesting turn of phrase.¡± Glauch said, turning to regard Corwin. ¡°Any more trouble. What trouble are you referring to?¡±

    <i>Don¡¯t give him an opening.</i> Vash thought, trying to will Corwin to keep his mouth shut. Every gang in Sathsholm knew that talking to the Inquisition was just asking for trouble. Every word you volunteered gave them another handhold to twist and rephrase into a damning statement.

    Corwin¡¯s eyes flicked to Sallick, then to Vash, before returning to Glauch. He had always been honest to a fault, and confronting authorities had never been his strong suit. ¡°As you know, the quest that the Duke assigned us did not go as planned.¡±

    ¡°I did not know that,¡± Glauch said, voice tinged with an air of concern. ¡°Please elaborate. What went wrong?¡±

    Sallick looked annoyed that Glauch was taking over the conversation, but made no move to stop him or interrupt. Vash was sensing an ambush.

    ¡°The ruin was an active dungeon.¡± Corwin said. ¡°The client, Zakarias, ignored Master Jabez¡¯s concerns, insisting that the creatures we faced were merely nuisance monsters drawn to a convenient lair.¡±

    ¡°What kind of creatures did you find?¡± Sallick asked.

    <i>Why is that important?</i> Vash thought.

    ¡°It was a Hollowmound Spider infestation.¡± Corwin said. ¡°A complete nest. The venom of a Hollowmound Queen inflicted Master Jabez¡¯s wound. Not only that, but the upper level had at least one Class 1 trap, and a Class 3 trap. We did not do a thorough sweep of the level because the client was insistent on pressing on to the lowest level.¡±

    Sallick frowned at this information. ¡°Was this in the formal quest proposal that his Grace presented to the Guild?¡±

    ¡°I am not sure,¡± Glauch said, shrugging slightly, as if this was not of any concern. ¡°Duke Adolus and Scholar Zacharias kept the details of the formal proposal to themselves. As you know, the Duke is a collector of pre-Malconian antiquities. It was my understanding that the Scholar proposed to retrieve a few items for the Duke¡¯s collection while studying the ruin.¡±

    ¡°What was Zakarias intending to study down there, anyway?¡± Vash asked, putting some bite into his voice.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure he mentioned it at one point, but scholarly pursuits aren¡¯t really my specialty.¡± Glauch said. Vash thought he caught a glint of excitement in the man¡¯s eye. ¡°Speaking of the Scholar, where is he now? No one at Mossfen Hold saw him return.¡±

    <i>Should have guessed that would come up</i>. Vash thought. He struggled to think of a way to explain what happened in the Queen¡¯s lair. There was no way to tell if Sallick would believe the truth. Even if he did, would anyone else? Two apprentices emerge unharmed from a delve into the Underlands after losing their client and his companions? Oh, and their Master is also in a coma with extensive damage to his spirit.

    Vash wondered if they started building the gallows already.

    ¡°We lost track of him when the dungeon became unstable.¡± Corwin said. ¡°The lowest level of the dungeon collapsed into the Underlands, taking myself, Vash, and Master Jabez with it. We did not see Scholar Zacharias after that.¡±

    ¡°Unstable?¡± Sallick asked, sitting up straighter, concern on his face. ¡°What happened?¡±

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Corwin hesitated, weighing his words. ¡°Master Sallick, I regret to inform you and Captain Glauch¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sir Jacen.¡± Glauch interrupted.

    Corwin glanced at him, confused.

    ¡°They knighted me.¡± Glauch continued. ¡°My correct title is Sir Jacen, or Knight Captain Glauch, if you want to get truly formal.¡±

    ¡°I regret to inform you and Sir Jacen,¡± Corwin said, emphasizing Glauch¡¯s title, ¡°that the delve into the ruin was likely an attempt by an agent of the shadow to form a Dungeon Heart in an Alliance kingdom.¡±

    Sallick inhaled sharply. Glauch simply stared at Corwin, face impassive. Vash looked at each man, trying to gauge what had just happened.

    ¡°That¡­is a serious accusation, apprentice.¡± Sallick said, carefully.

    ¡°Especially against a known associate of a Duke of Galadon.¡± Glauch said, the glint of anticipation returning to his eye. ¡°You have proof of this, of course?¡±

    Corwin looked defiant, but shook his head. ¡°Only my word.¡±

    Glauch¡¯s smile was truly unpleasant. ¡°Your word. Is that worth something that I¡¯m not aware of?¡±

    ¡°Knight Captain!¡± Sallick snapped. ¡°Corwin is a member of this Guild. I won¡¯t have his honor impugned without cause.¡±

    <i>Here it comes</i>. Vash thought. Subconsciously, he felt the brand on his left forearm itch, like it did every time his status as a Vagabond came up.

    ¡°You know that both of these men are branded Vagabonds, aren¡¯t you?¡± Glauch asked, giving Sallick a look of theatrical confusion. ¡°Branded for assault and murder on the King¡¯s tax collectors. Only spared the noose because they weren¡¯t the ringleaders, just ignorant followers.¡±

    Sallick looked at Vash and Corwin, anger and suspicion flaring in his eyes. ¡°I was not aware of that. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. However, when the Vagabond Law is invoked, the apprentice and the Master are not required to inform anyone else in the Guild.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s foolish.¡± Glauch sniffed.

    ¡°Regardless, it¡¯s our tradition,¡± Sallick continued. ¡°With that in mind, do you have any evidence that contradicts their version of events, Knight Captain?¡±

    Vash tried hard to suppress a grin at the startled expression on Glauch¡¯s face.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean, Master Sallick.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any evidence that this Scholar was not trying to establish a Dungeon Heart?¡± Sallick said.

    ¡°Of course not.¡± Glauch said, testily. ¡°But the implication that a friend of his Grace would be an agent of the shadow is simply insulting. An anointed peer of Galadon should not be subjected to such baseless accusations.¡±

    ¡°Like when you accused all the part-elves in Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow of colluding with demons?¡± Vash said, surprised at the steadiness of his own voice. ¡°Then burned them out and shot the survivors with crossbows?¡±

    ¡°An overreaction.¡± Glauch said. ¡°His Grace has already struggled to make amends for that, now that he has dealt with the cult that first raised his suspicions.¡±

    A hot wave of anger flared in Vash¡¯s chest. Corwin put a calming hand on Vash¡¯s shoulder. His powerful grip heavily implying that he was ready to hold Vash back, should it come to that.

    ¡°No one is accusing his Grace of anything. I can¡¯t discount the word of my Wayfarers, though, no matter their background.¡± Sallik said. ¡°If Master Jabez was awake and able to verify his apprentice¡¯s claims, that would lend more weight.¡±

    ¡°He isn¡¯t, so we¡¯re back at an impasse.¡± Glauch said, voice firm. ¡°My demand still stands.¡±

    ¡°What demand?¡± Corwin asked. ¡°What¡¯s he talking about?¡±

    Sallik glared at Glauch, obviously not enjoying being put in this position. ¡°He arrived just before Vash awakened. The Knight Captain is claiming that since you lost your client and failed the quest set by Duke Adolus, that you and Jabez have not lived up to your end of the bargain. The Knight Captain made a <i>demand</i> on behalf of the Duke to have Vash removed from the Wayfarers Guild and returned to the Duke to face punishment.¡±

    Vash glared at Glauch, fingers itching for his blades. The self-satisfied smirk on Glauch¡¯s face told him that the man would welcome the attack.

    ¡°Oh¡­OH!¡± Corwin said, eyes suddenly brightening.

    ¡°What?¡± Vash asked, confused why this would be exciting.

    ¡°Master Sallik, I may owe you a drink.¡± Corwin said, grinning.

    Sallik made an exasperated face. ¡°And I would accept it, if the conditions were <i>correct</i><i></i>, and done in the <i>right manner</i>.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about, Sallik?¡± Glauch said, irritated, trying to understand what was going on.

    ¡°Master Sallik, although he is the ranking Wayfarer here, and Master of the Lodge does not have the authority to drum anyone out of the Wayfarers.¡± Corwin said with a broad smile. ¡°We¡¯re not like a noble court. Since you¡¯ve asked to have Vash released from the Wayfarers, then we can formally request a hearing from the Council of Masters.¡±

    ¡°What foolishness is this?¡± Glauch asked, confused that his victory seemed to crumble.

    ¡°Gods, it took you two long enough.¡± Sallik said, digging through the papers on his desk. ¡°I thought I was going to have to resort to pantomime.¡±

    ¡°Sallik, tell me what¡¯s going on right now!¡± Glauch said angrily.

    ¡°Guild law, a member in good standing, one Apprentice Level 4 Corwin Walker, requests a hearing from the Council of Masters. One ranking master from each of the five schools of the Wayfarers hears their case and votes whether to release Apprentice Level 1 Liellovash ¡®Vash¡¯ Ballard from the Guild. Simple majority rules.¡± Sallik scribbled something on a sheet of paper, then stamped his seal onto the bottom with a flourish. ¡°We¡¯ll set the hearing for mid-morning tomorrow. Even the Delvers will be awake by then.¡±

    Sallik reached out and handed the page to Corwin, who snatched it like a royal pardon.

    ¡°Let me see if I¡¯m understanding the situation correctly.¡± Glauch said, voice tight with repressed anger. ¡°I present you with a legitimate order from the Duke, upon whose land your Lodge currently stands. Instead of complying quickly and eagerly, you are going to take a vote?¡±

    ¡°We are doing you the courtesy of entertaining your <i>request.</i>¡± Sallik snapped. ¡°The Wayfarers are under the jurisdiction of the Grand Alliance. Your Duke knows that. That¡¯s why he sent a¡­valued courtier to speak on his behalf. It wouldn¡¯t do to get back to the other Alliance nations that one ambitious Duke overstepped their authority for a simple grudge, would it?¡±

    Glauch stared down at Sallik for a moment, his face stone still. Vash couldn¡¯t tell if the man was processing this information or simply filled with too much rage to react. ¡°This hearing? It¡¯s binding?¡±

    ¡°It is.¡±

    ¡°And a simple majority decides?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°Do you get a vote, Master Sellick?¡±

    ¡°I am a neutral arbiter in this matter.¡±

    Glauch¡¯s lips twitched into a not-quite smile. ¡°Then I shall see you all tomorrow at mid-morning.¡±

    Vash watched as Glauch made a stiff half-bow to Master Sellick and then strode from the room, letting the heavy wooden door slam shut behind him.

    ¡°I suppose that could have gone worse.¡± Sellick said, after Glauch had left. ¡°Not much worse, but I¡¯ll take any win at the moment.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re telling the truth, Master Sellick.¡± Corwin said. ¡°Something was terribly wrong with that quest. I¡¯m not entirely sure what Duke Adolus¡¯ involvement was, but if he knew about any of it, I don¡¯t want to think about what it means.¡±

    ¡°He knew.¡± Vash said, still watching the door. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what he was planning, but he knew what Zacharias was going to do.¡±

    Sellick rubbed his eyes with the heels of his palms. ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter right now. For now, you need to worry about getting at least three masters to vote in your favor.¡±

    ¡°Is that going to be a problem?¡± Corwin asked, confused.

    ¡°Let me guess, you¡¯ve mostly been out on the Glory Road? Spend little time in Lodges?¡± Sellick asked Corwin.

    ¡°Master Jabez says he prefers to be on the road, doing the work.¡±

    ¡°Jabez hates politics.¡± Sellick said. ¡°With good reason. Getting Wayfarers to do anything is like herding cats. Getting them to agree on something like this¡­some are going to see this as an opportunity to settle scores or make a statement, still others are going to see this as a chance to advance the standing of their own school.¡±

    Vash suddenly had a sinking feeling deep in his gut.

    Sellick caught Vash¡¯s eye. ¡°My advice? Promise them anything. Beg, borrow, and steal, just get those three votes. But watch your back, you¡¯ve got a target on it now.¡±

 Episode 43: Wayward Wayfarers

    <b>EPISODE 43:</b>

    <b>WAYWARD WAYFARERS</b>

    ¡°Gods, this just keeps getting worse.¡± Vash muttered as they left the Lodge.

    Wayfarers streamed around them in a near-constant flow. Most of them wore better gear than Vash had seen outside of one of the Grand Orders. Ornate armors, weapons with gold or silver accents and filigree on scabbards and weapons belts. There were exceptions, though, down on their heels adventurers covered in travel stains carrying plain, but well-maintained weapons. A few spared them curious glances as they passed. Coming to the Lodge in everyday clothes seemed to be an oddity.

    ¡°We¡¯re not beaten yet,¡± Corwin said, firmly. ¡°But we have some work to do.¡±

    ¡°I wish I had your confidence,¡± Vash said. ¡°I just don¡¯t see this working out. Glauch has made me his pet project, it seems. Add to the fact that he¡¯s now a Knight of the Hidden Star¡­it just doesn¡¯t look good.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of the Order of the Hidden Star, but just in terms of ¡®give them a wide berth, boy¡¯ advice from Jabez.¡± Corwin said.

    ¡°They¡¯re fanatics.¡± Vash said, following Corwin as they crossed the village square, leaving the bustle of the Lodge behind. ¡°Absolutely obsessed with rooting out the shadow and those that they see as allies of Draenos.¡±

    Corwin snorted. ¡°Then they¡¯d be of better use up at the Palisade Pass. Plenty of shadow servants to fight up there.¡±

    ¡°Their motto is<i> ¡®the hidden star burns brightest in shadow¡¯</i>; apparently, that means unseen things pose the greatest threat. So they go looking for these ¡®hidden stars¡¯. They are especially suspicious of any organization that holds to the Old Gods.¡± Vash said, trying not to let his scowl become too obvious. ¡°One of their leaders, Baron Ulric Claedes, takes special pride in wiping out elven worshipers of Kyrinos. He was the one that killed my friends back in Sathsholm.¡±

    Corwin took in this information with a slow nod. Vash could tell that he was itching to ask more, to pry into all the hows and whys of the Eth Mitaan. Instead, Corwin simply let it go. It reminded Vash of how they used to talk back in Durron¡¯s Ford. Vash would rant about his clashes with Brother Enrick or troubles with other villagers, and Corwin would just take it all in, letting Vash work his way through his feelings before making any comments.

    <i>That was why it hurt so much when he left me behind.</i> Vash thought. <i>All for some girl we¡¯ll likely never see again.</i>

    ¡°So long as he¡¯s in Amical Falls, he has to play by Guild rules.¡± Corwin said, finally. He gestured for Vash to follow him as he crossed to a small building tucked into the corner of the square. ¡°So that means we have a chance. We just have to make a good impression on the Masters of the five Schools.¡±

    Vash glanced at the small, plain, wood and plaster building they were heading towards. ¡°Are they in there?¡±

    Corwin looked confused, then laughed. ¡°Gods no, that¡¯s <i>Footsore Phaella¡¯s </i>she makes the best sandwiches in town. We need to work on our strategy, and I¡¯m hungry.¡±

    ¡°Can we afford to eat out?¡± Vash asked. He remembered seeing something in the Gideon¡¯s Guide about the Lodges providing meals to adventurers who were passing through. <i>Best not to spend too much coin, especially since we¡¯re not getting paid for the Mossfen job.</i>

    ¡°It¡¯s just a sandwich.¡± Corwin said. ¡°Besides, Phaella gives me a discount.¡±

    Corwin pushed open the door to the small sandwich shop, setting the little bell to tinkling as he did. The shop was about half the size of a common tavern, with a small kitchenette behind a long counter. A few two-top and four-top tables stood against the wall beneath a brightly painted mural of halfling travelers in colorful jackets. A white-haired halfling woman popped up from beneath the counter and hopped up onto something to bring herself to just about shoulder height, rather than only coming to Vash¡¯s breastbone.

    The woman ¡ª Phaella, Vash guessed ¡ª gave Corwin a wide smile. ¡°If it isn¡¯t Corwin Walker, come wandering through my door again looking for scraps!¡±

    ¡°Hi Phaella.¡± Corwin said, giving his best lopsided grin.

    ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®hi Phaella¡¯ me, lean down so I can give you a hug, you damn giant!¡± Phaella said with mock severity.

    Corwin laughed and did as she asked, letting the halfling woman throw her arms around his neck and give him a fierce hug and peck on the cheek. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again.¡±

    ¡°You and Jabez didn¡¯t stop in the last time you came south.¡± Phaella said, reaching for a small loaf of bread as Corwin straightened up. She deftly sliced the bread in half and set it down on the cutting board before pulling a few pots and trays closer to her work surface. ¡°Don¡¯t know if I should be offended.¡±

    Corwin shook his head, watching her work. ¡°We bypassed Amical Falls on the way down. Had some urgent business in Sathsholm.¡±

    ¡°I heard about that,¡± Phaella said, looking up at Vash. ¡°This one part of that business?¡±

    ¡°He was, now he¡¯s one of us,¡± Corwin said with a proud grin. ¡°Phaella, meet Vash Ballard, Jabez¡¯s newest apprentice, and an old friend of mine.¡±

    Phaella gave Vash an appraising look while she spread a dark yellow mustard over the bread. ¡°Nice to meet you, Vash. Any friend of this walking mountain is welcome in my shop.¡±

    Vash nodded back, politely. ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t he polite!¡± Phaella said, giving Vash a wry smile. ¡°You could teach this one a few manners.¡±

    Vash couldn¡¯t help but let slip a small smile. ¡°That may be a lost cause, ma¡¯am.¡±

    Phaella laughed, a high giggle that belonged on a girl, not a white-haired older woman. Vash found it delightful. With a few deft movements, Phaella assembled a monstrosity of a sandwich, piled high with at least three different meats, slices of cheese, onions, peppers, lettuce, and bright red tomato. With a flourish, she combined the two halves of the sandwich and then sliced it across the middle before placing the whole thing on a wooden plate and shoving it across to Corwin.

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    ¡°There you go,¡± Phaella said with a note of pride. ¡°Now, am I making one for Vash, or are you boys going to split it?¡±

    ¡°He can have his own.¡± Corwin said with a contemptuous snort. ¡°This is barely enough for me.¡±

    Behind him, Vash heard the tinkle of the door¡¯s bell. He resisted the urge to spin around and cover his back, not wanting to be rude to Phaella.

    ¡°Coin or Task, love?¡± Phaella asked in Corwin¡¯s direction, reaching for another loaf.

    Corwin winced. ¡°Task?¡±

    Phaella gave him a gentle smile and patted his hand. ¡°Well, you can take care of the rats in the cellar. We always have the rats in the cellar.¡±

    Corwin took a seat at the counter, pausing as he lifted his sandwich. ¡°How big are they this time?¡±

    Phaella held her hands about two feet apart. ¡°Roughly this big.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s got to be something down there pulling them in, or warping regular rats.¡± Corwin said, shaking his head.

    ¡°If you figure it out, let me know.¡± Phaella said, slicing the bread for Vash¡¯s sandwich.

    There was a sharp bark of laughter behind Vash. ¡°Asking Corwin Walker something about Dungeoncraft is like trying to teach mathematics to a pig. A damn waste of time!¡±

    This elicited a few laughs from the people standing behind Vash. He turned and looked over his shoulder. Behind him stood a group of three Wayfarers. The one who had spoken was a tall man, muscular, with the bright blonde hair and pale blue eyes common to Noldren. He wore a shirt of well-oiled chain-mail and leather cuirass. The hilt of a great sword rose above his right shoulder, and he seemed like the type that would have the strength to wield it. A copper-haired Vanan elf stood just behind the Noldren. Her eyes glowed a dim blue in the muted light indoors. She wore soft green leathers and carried a longbow of gleaming dark wood slung over one shoulder. Rounding out the trio was an olive-skinned man with coloring more akin to Corwin¡¯s. He had curly black hair that he kept cut into a short cap. He wore a loose dark blue shirt, and a finely tailored gray vest with tassets that fell to mid-thigh. In one hand, he carried a walking stick made from a glossy, dark wood. The stick reached mid-chest and had several strange runes etched into it, with the runes then filled with gold.

    The trio had the look of professionals, and well-paid professionals at that. Vash glanced back at Corwin, who had gone still, eyes fixed on the blonde warrior who lead this little group.

    <i>There¡¯s some history here.</i> Vash thought.

    ¡°Kurt.¡± Corwin nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were in town.¡±

    ¡°Just passing through.¡± The blonde one, Kurt, said. ¡°Heading north to check out the Obrun River Valley, just like everyone else. Heard there were some prime opportunities along the way, though just in case the Valley turns out to be not worth our time. Had to stop in for one of Phaella¡¯s specialties, though.¡±

    Kurt gave Phaella a wide smile, which Phaella returned, politely. Vash noticed that neither of their smiles reached their eyes. He turned back to Phaella, watching her make his sandwich.

    The halfling woman nodded, like she was done with the interruption. ¡°Now, you, my friend, don¡¯t strike me as having anywhere near the appetite of our Corwin here.¡±

    ¡°I usually make do with less.¡± Vash conceded.

    ¡°A good way to live.¡± Phaella nodded, assembling a leaner version of the sandwich she had fixed Corwin.

    Kurt made a derisive noise. ¡°Just an excuse for not working hard enough. Or being too foolish to recognize opportunities.¡±

    Phaella shot Kurt a warning glance. ¡°Moderation isn¡¯t a vice, in my experience.¡±

    ¡°It is when you use it as an excuse for your failures.¡± Kurt said, the tone of his voice making his distaste of the idea clear. ¡°Take this one¡¯s master as an example. Master Jabez isn¡¯t poor because he only takes jobs that help the common folk and avoids more lucrative dungeon delves for some higher moral purpose. No, he avoids dungeon delves because he¡¯s afraid. Everyone knows about Drakestone Keep, and everyone knows to avoid Jabez Ironbiter when a dungeon quest comes up on the board.¡±

    Corwin slowly put his sandwich back down on his plate, then rose from his seat. Corwin stood eye to eye with Kurt. They were nearly a match in height.

    ¡°Apologize.¡± Corwin said, in a calm, firm voice.

    ¡°I think he means it, Kurt.¡± The Vanan woman said, a tinge of mocking laughter in her voice. ¡°Watch out, he may be angry.¡±

    ¡°You know what, Valys? I think you¡¯re right.¡± Kurt said, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. ¡°Are you angry, little Vagabond?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯ve got a problem, Baumkanf,¡± Phaella said from where she was putting the finishing touches on Vash¡¯s sandwich. ¡°Then you can take it outside. I don¡¯t want any fighting in here.¡±

    Kurt gave the halfling a derisive look. ¡°Or what?¡±

    Phaella didn¡¯t even look up, simply reached into one of the many boxes on her counter and withdrew a small metal cube, roughly four inches on a side. She placed the cube in front of her. Vash could see that it was actually a series of cubes fit together in a cunning, intricate configuration. Unfamiliar runes decorated the sides of the cubes. Vash could feel a low thrum of mana radiating from it, like a coil ready to spring.

    ¡°A tinker¡¯s toy?¡± Kurt asked, still full of bravado, but Phaella¡¯s calm demeanor obviously unsettled him.

    Kurt¡¯s other companion, the curly-haired youth with the walking stick, blinked and took a sudden step back. ¡°Ah¡­Kurt?¡±

    ¡°What, Ollie?¡± Kurt snapped, irritable.

    ¡°I think we should respect Mistress Phaella¡¯s wishes.¡± Ollie said, not taking his eyes off the cube.

    ¡°What, why?¡± Kurt asked, confused.

    ¡°That¡¯s an evocation cube.¡± Ollie said.

    Phaella looked up and smiled. She pressed on one rune. The cube made a soft <i>click</i>, then whirred as unseen gears started spinning. The smaller cubes shifted position and reconfigured the structure of the object into something completely different. Vash felt the temperature drop noticeably.

    ¡°I usually use it for refrigeration.¡± Phaella said, conversationally. Then she took a thick slice of beef and touched it to one side of the cube¡¯s new configuration. The meat froze solid within the space of a heartbeat. Phaella then dropped the slice to the counter. It shattered like glass. ¡°But it has other settings.¡±

    Kurt looked at the device, then back up at Corwin. ¡°On second thought, I¡¯m not all that hungry.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a shame.¡± Phaella said, handing the finished sandwich to Vash. ¡°Come back anytime.¡±

    ¡°No, that won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Kurt said, lifting his chin. ¡°We¡¯ll be heading out sometime tomorrow, anyway. Riding up to Greenstone Crossing with the Knights of the Hidden Star. Protecting an important caravan, from what I hear.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s nice.¡± Phaella said, pleasant as always.

    Annoyed that his casual bragging did not get the response he wanted, Kurt turned on his heel and headed towards the door. He paused just before leaving. ¡°I heard that Master Jabez took some injuries, that there¡¯s doubt that he will recover. Master Logan wanted me to tell you that his offer still stands, and that you know his price.¡±

    ¡°You can tell <i>Master Logan</i> that he can go to hell.¡± Corwin said, face flushed with anger.

    Kurt flashed a satisfied grin over his shoulder, then swept out dramatically. Valys and Ollie followed with no further dramatics.

    Phaella muttered a command word, and the cube reshaped itself back to its base state. The cold ceased and the room quickly warmed again.

    ¡°What was that all about?¡± Vash asked, confused.

    ¡°Kurt and I have a history.¡± Corwin said, gathering up his sandwich and moving towards the door. ¡°Phaella, can I owe you that rat duty?¡±

    The halfling waved him away. ¡°I¡¯ll put it on your tab.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Corwin said. ¡°C¡¯mon Vash, grab what you want and let¡¯s get going.¡±

    Vash grabbed his sandwich, confused. ¡°Where are we going?¡±

    ¡°No time for strategy.¡± Corwin said. ¡°If Logan Lackhand is in town, then we need to go see the Master of the Blades and plead our case before he muddies the waters.¡±

    ¡°Who is he?¡±

    Corwin paused, hand on the doorknob. ¡°He¡¯s trouble.¡±

 Episode 44: Brittle Steel

    <b>Episode 44:</b>

    <b>Brittle Steel</b>

    Vash juggled his sandwich as he tried to follow Corwin¡¯s determined pace. He finally managed a bite halfway across the village square.

    <i>Gods, that¡¯s good. </i>Vash thought, suppressing a moan of pleasure. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time he had food that was fresh and of good quality. <i>Probably back at Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow, in the temple.</i>

    Shoving down the wave of memories and the painful feelings that followed, Vash hurried his steps to catch up to Corwin. The big fighter was methodically devouring his sandwich as he walked. From his stone-faced demeanor, Vash doubted he even tasted it.

    ¡°So, are you going to tell me about these Wayfarer schools, or do I have to guess?¡± Vash asked, pausing for another bite. ¡°If I have to guess, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s going to go well.¡±

    Corwin shook his head, trying to clear away whatever thoughts were bothering him. ¡°Sorry, Kurt always gets under my skin. The Schools are where you go for training within the Guild.¡±

    ¡°Combat arts, weaponry, damage reduction Talents, all of that falls under the School of Blades.¡± Corwin pointed to a set of low buildings just up the hill. ¡°Master Casimir Stahl runs them here in Amical Falls. Stahl is a bit of a stick in the mud, and he¡¯s never really liked me, mostly because he¡¯s never liked Jabez. So his vote is likely to fall on the ¡®no¡¯ side. But he is a stickler for the rules and doesn¡¯t like folks outside the Guild pushing us around. So, there¡¯s a slim chance there.¡±

    ¡°Dungeoncraft, stealth, evasion, your basic rogue stuff is in the School of Delvers.¡± Corwin continued, pointing to a collection of small wooden houses on the eastern side of the village. ¡°Master Lin Buckbael runs that side of things. She¡¯s friendly enough, but from what I hear, she runs a tight crew. Guild Delvers have little patience for fools, very professional folk. Lin has a soft spot for outcasts and Vagabonds, though. So, we have a good chance with her.¡±

    ¡°Religion, blessings, healing arts, and purification Talents go to the School of the Wayward Path.¡± Corwin said, waving back towards the infirmary and the stone buildings that surrounded it. Now that Vash looked at them, several had the telltale octagonal shape of Pantheon temples.

    ¡°Sister Clea leads them, right?¡± Vash asked, taking another bite from his sandwich.

    Corwin shook his head. ¡°Sister Clea is in charge of the infirmary and the healers. The School itself is led by Brother Orban. He¡¯s an Athairian, and a hard-ass.¡±

    Vash¡¯s lip twisted in distaste. Followers of Athair, Lord of the Pantheon and Father of the Temple, were sticklers for the letter of the law and not the spirit. They were capable administrators, but they could be difficult and rigid.

    ¡°So what are the chances that this Brother Orban is sympathetic to the plight of Vagabonds and assassins?¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°Slim.¡± Corwin admitted. ¡°But it¡¯s worth a try.¡±

    Vash nodded, popping the last of his sandwich into his mouth while Corwin continued to educate him.

    ¡°Knowledge based Talents, and anything having to do with magic is in the School of the Broken Tower.¡± Corwin pointed to a hilltop structure on the far side of the temple buildings. It was a tapered, four-sided stone building that looked to be well-maintained. Vash opened his mouth to remark on this, but Corwin cut him off. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me why they call it the School of the Broken Tower. I¡¯ve asked, and they told me to mind my own business. Mages are pretty rare in the Guild, since most of them prefer to work with the Collegium Arcanum, but we have some pretty good spell-slingers. The Broken Tower is a rotating duty, and right now I think it¡¯s being manned by Master Astinak. I don¡¯t know much about him, to be honest.¡±

    ¡°Then there¡¯s the folk who like to spend all their time outdoors, rangers, beast-masters, druids, they are part of the School of the Wyld.¡± Corwin said, pointing to a thick knot of trees clustered around a timber cabin on the western edge of town. ¡°No one can really puzzle out what the School of the Wyld is going to do at any point in time. Between you and me, they have a tendency to¡­enjoy certain natural substances a bit too much.¡±

    Vash frowned. His experience with Vanan Rangers colored his opinions on the profession. ¡°Any idea who we¡¯d be talking to over there?¡±

    ¡°Normally it would be Master Heggin.¡± Corwin said. ¡°He¡¯s a druid and communing with the trees seems to be his main pass-time. But, Master Rowan came south a few weeks ago, so that complicates matters.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°Rowan would be a Grandmaster if he was willing to put down roots in Orus Solas.¡± Corwin said. ¡°But he likes the field too much. So, he¡¯s the ranking master at the School of the Wyld. If he wanted to, he could take the vote in Heggin¡¯s place.¡±

    ¡°Is that something we want?¡± Vash asked. He didn¡¯t like all these variables.

    ¡°Maybe?¡± Corwin said, wolfing down the last of his sandwich. ¡°He and Jabez know each other from way back in the day. Whether that¡¯s a good thing¡­¡±

    Corwin gave an expansive shrug.

    ¡°Is there anyone who likes Jabez?¡± Vash asked, rubbing his eyes.

    ¡°Oh sure,¡± Corwin said. ¡°But he¡¯s an acquired taste and takes a while to get used to. Most folk don¡¯t stick around that long.¡±

    Vash nodded, taking this in. <i>My future depends on how well liked an irascible dwarf is among his peers. I hate being this flat-footed all the time.</i>

    Brooding in silence, Vash barely noticed that they had arrived at the squat stone buildings that Corwin had pointed out as the School of the Blades. There were seven buildings, each with wide double-doors that were thrown wide open to the warm, sunny day. Vash recognized the fighting squares staked out around the buildings. White stone, rather than chalk powder or sticks, marked the squares. A few men and women were sparring in the squares, wooden training swords making a staccato clack-clack sound. Vash spotted a line of apprentices watching a grizzled warrior in shirtsleeves going through a sword form in a grassy yard on the edge of the compound.

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    Vash thought he recognized the first few motions of the sword form. An aggressive style used by Skjal mercenaries, good for the heavy weapons that they favored.

    <i>It¡¯s slow, though. </i>Vash thought. <i>Needs too much wind-up to generate power</i>.

    A pulse of mana vibrated in Vash¡¯s Core, causing him to look again. The master teaching the lesson used a Talent to increase his strength. The sword form became much quicker and lighter, but still would deliver devastating power to the target.

    Corwin glanced over at what Vash was staring at. ¡°It¡¯s a pretty good trick, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Vash nodded, not wanting to admit how dead he would be against a ¡®trick¡¯ like that.

    ¡°C¡¯mon, Master Stahl likes to hold court in the central practice yard on days like this.¡± Corwin said, angling around the first of the stone buildings.

    Vash followed in silence, taking in the various warriors who were training in the yard. They were fast, fluid, and strong. Several were off in one part of the yard, smashing boulders into pebbles using great hammers. Another group lifted the great rocks from a pile on one side of the yard and carried them to the group with the hammers. It took Vash a minute to realize what was bothering him about what these people were doing.

    <i>I can¡¯t feel any mana being used. This is their base strength.</i>

    ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± Vash said quietly. ¡°They shouldn¡¯t be able to do that.¡±

    Corwin looked over at him. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°They aren¡¯t using Talents for that, are they?¡± Vash asked, tilting his head toward the training warriors.

    ¡°No, of course not. Why would they?¡± Corwin said, looking slightly confused.

    Vash looked dubiously at a tall human with a slender, wiry build. He lifted a boulder with a slight grunt of effort, but then carried it easily across the yard with no great strain.

    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Corwin said, understanding blooming on his face. ¡°They¡¯ve all locked mana into their strength attribute. It gives them a permanent boost to their base strength.¡±

    ¡°You can do that?¡± Vash asked, surprised.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you learn that from your teacher?¡± Corwin asked, concerned.

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t even know it was possible.¡±

    Corwin frowned. ¡°It¡¯s something we¡¯re taught as we progress. Some Talents require a certain base attribute. Almost all the Talents taught in the School of the Blades require us to have a high strength attribute.¡±

    Vash wanted to ask more, but he could see they were coming up to the central yard. A knot of warriors in a diverse collection of armor milled around a line of benches in the shade of the largest of the school¡¯s buildings.

    At the center of this knot was a middle-aged man with iron gray hair, shot through with streaks of white. His weathered face showed several scars. One, a long, puckered line from brow line to chin, stood out starkly on his weathered face. The man wore a scratched and dented breastplate over a heavy leather jerkin and a thick, dark iron chain hanging around his neck. Vash guessed that this was Casimir Stahl, judging by the way the other warrior Wayfarers clustered around him.

    As the knot parted, Vash could sense Corwin tense up next to him. Next to Stahl stood a lithe, muscular man in a scale-mail hauberk. The man had sharp features like a hawk, dark, glittering eyes, and thick black hair tied back in a long braid that hung to his shoulders. His defining feature, however, was his left hand, which ended in a sharp-edged hook. The hook¡¯s gold plating concealed a steel inner edge, obviously sharpened to a razor¡¯s edge. It glinted wickedly in the morning sunlight.

    <i>Logan Lackhand, I believe</i>. Vash thought as they approached. Stahl was laughing at something that Logan said, as were the other fighters gathered around the two masters.

    ¡° ¡ª they said they were down to the dregs of their life force, running on nothing but prayers and luck.¡± Logan said, his voice a gruff baritone. ¡°You would think that with Jabez¡¯s history, he would have prepared better for an expedition into the Underlands. No supplies and a pair of unprepared apprentices. I just know that, had it been me, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten us in that situation.¡±

    There were murmurs of agreement from the others, including Master Stahl.

    <i>This doesn¡¯t look hopeful</i>. Vash thought, careful to keep a step back from Corwin. <i>It would be better if I didn¡¯t call more attention to myself than necessary.</i>

    ¡°What situation would that be, Master Logan?¡± Corwin called out as they neared the group. ¡°Really, I¡¯m quite eager to hear your advice, since you know all about what happened.¡±

    Heads swiveled in their direction. Some looked guilty, others were simply curious. Stahl favored the two new arrivals with a tight-lipped frown. Logan smiled wolfishly, his eyes sharp with a predatory gleam.

    ¡°Corwin!¡± Logan said, like he was greeting an old friend. ¡°Wonderful to see you again, my boy. How long has it been?¡±

    ¡°Highstone, six months ago.¡± Corwin said. ¡°When Jabez and I had that run in with the Knights of the Gryphon. Someone told them we had been smuggling elemental cores out of the sky islands. Of course we hadn¡¯t, but you try telling enraged fanatics riding half-bird, half-lions that they made a mistake.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes, bad bit of business, that,¡± Logan said, shaking his head ruefully. ¡°I don¡¯t recall if they ever caught the person responsible.¡±

    Corwin gave Logan a tight-lipped smile. ¡°You know, I heard nothing more about it after we left. One of those mysteries, I suppose.¡±

    Vash sighed inwardly. <i>There¡¯s a</i> lot <i>of history here. Thanks, Corwin, for dragging me into it.</i>

    Stahl cleared his throat and stepped towards Vash and Corwin. ¡°As much as I hate to interrupt old comrades catching up, I think these two young men are here for a reason?¡±

    Vash kept his features schooled, but inside he was fuming. <i>He already knows why we¡¯re here. This little bonding session isn¡¯t what it seems. </i>He glanced over at Corwin, who was giving Master Stahl a deferential half-bow. <i>Careful, Corwin.</i>

    ¡°You¡¯re both Master Jabez Ironbiter¡¯s apprentices, correct?¡± Stahl said, his deep voice had the scratchy rasp that came from barking commands through noisy melee¡¯s. ¡°Got roped into that nasty business down in Sathsholm? That was a cluster of poor decisions from start to finish.¡±

    Stahl shook his head, like the thought was something irritating him. Finally, his slate-gray eyes alighted on Vash and his face turned stony.

    ¡°We are, Master.¡± Corwin said, with the right measure of respect. ¡°We¡¯ve met before, I¡¯m Corwin Walker. Let me introduce my friend, Vash Ballard.¡±

    Stahl gave Corwin a quick, dismissive look. ¡°I remember.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d hoped we could have a private word?¡± Corwin continued, though he sounded less sure of himself.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Stahl said with a dismissive wave of one hand. ¡°We¡¯ve all heard about Sir Jacen Glauch¡¯s <i>request</i> to the Council.¡±

    ¡°I was hoping,¡± Corwin continued. ¡°That we might convince you to lend us your support tomorrow.¡±

    Stahl barked a laugh. ¡°Why would I do that?¡±

    ¡°After hearing our story,¡± Corwin pressed on, undeterred. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll take our side and see why this is just persecution on Sir Jacen¡¯s part.¡±

    Vash tried to suppress a wince.

    Stahl regarded Corwin coldly for a moment. ¡°Do you know how much work the Dukes of Galadon give to the Guild? Not to mention the Lodges we maintain in their towns and cities? To accuse a peer of such actions¡­¡±

    He trailed off, but Vash could hear the anger rising in his voice.

    Corwin obviously could as well, since he stopped talking and simply stared at Master Stahl.

    ¡°I warned Jabez, the first time he brought you to Amical Falls,¡± Stahl said, his voice hard. ¡°Told him that the Vagabond Law was an archaic practice, best left to legends and bard¡¯s songs. Now he¡¯s taken in not only one Vagabond, but a second, and that second is an unrepentant murderer. I don¡¯t know what you think a Wayfarer is, Corwin Walker, but in the Guild I joined all those years ago, that¡ª¡± Stahl pointed at Vash. ¡°¡ªis the enemy. Not some pet project to assuage your guilty conscience.¡±

    Silence hung over the yard. Corwin stood stock-still next to Vash, hands balled into fists.

    Vash reached out and put a hand on Corwin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s go. There¡¯s nothing we can do here.¡±

    Stahl said nothing as Corwin and Vash turned to go. Every eye in the yard watching them retreat from the Master of Blades.

    ¡°Before you go¡­¡± Logan said as they walked away.

    Vash looked back over one shoulder. Corwin stopped, but he didn¡¯t look back.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re going to lose your Wayfarer status tomorrow, I¡¯d advise you to run tonight.¡± Logan said, in a tone like an old friend giving heartfelt advice. ¡°But if you run, remember, I¡¯ll be hunting you.¡±

    Logan¡¯s smile stayed with Vash long after he walked away.

 Episode 45: Adventuring Should Be Fun

    <b>EPISODE 45:</b>

    <b>ADVENTURING SHOULD BE FUN</b>

    ¡°That arrogant, pig-headed son of a motherless whore!¡± Corwin swore as they walked away from the School of Blades. Vash noticed a few heads turning in their direction as they passed. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was from the torrent of swears that Corwin was letting loose, or that news was getting around about their troubles with Sir Jacen.

    Standing in the wide doorway of one of the school¡¯s buildings, Vash noticed Kurt making conversation with a few other Wayfarers. Kurt looked earnest and made emphatic gestures as he spoke in low tones with the others, whose faces grew more and more concerned.

    <i>I¡¯m sure that has nothing to do with us.</i> Vash thought, trying not to stare.

    Kurt looked up, just as they were almost past. The look of grim sorrow and slight shake of his head that he gave them told Vash everything he needed to know. When the others turned to look, their faces stony, Vash tried to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

    ¡°It¡¯s just one vote.¡± Vash said. ¡°Besides, you had little hope of getting Stahl on our side, anyway.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Corwin conceded. ¡°But I expected to have more of a conversation before he refused to help us.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t worry about that now,¡± Vash said, studiously not looking back at Kurt and his audience. ¡°We have four more schools to visit, and we just need three votes.¡±

    Corwin nodded. ¡°The School of Delvers should be our next stop. Assuming we¡¯re still Wayfarers tomorrow, you¡¯ll need to meet Master Lin anyway.¡±

    ¡°What can you tell me about her?¡± Vash asked as they turned to the eastern side of the village and the ramshackle collection of wooden buildings built into the sides of the hill.

    Corwin took a moment to think about it, looking down at his boots as they walked. ¡°She¡¯s a halfling, so she presents a pretty friendly face to the world. I¡¯ve never met a bitter or snide halfling, but underneath all those smiles and pleasantries, I¡¯ve known a few that would stab you in the kneecap for an insult that you didn¡¯t even know you made.¡±

    Nodding, Vash remembered the Hollow Hill Boys back in Sathsholm. They were a halfling gang that shared Ragpicker¡¯s Hollow with the Eth Mitaan. Byar had never enjoyed dealing with them because you couldn¡¯t tell where you stood. Friend or foe got the same courtesy and pleasantness until the knives came out, of course.

    ¡°I¡¯ve met some halflings like that,¡± Vash said. ¡°It¡¯s unnerving when they turn on you.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s always been nice to me, and seems to like Jabez well enough. That¡¯s a plus.¡± Corwin said, lowering his voice as they approached the enclave of the Delvers.

    The wooden structures appeared to be just facades dug into the side of the hill. Vash noted where the doors and windows stood. It was enough to give him a rough idea of the layout inside.

    <i>No straight lines from door to door. </i>Vash thought. <i>Means there¡¯s at least a few turns on the other side of each of those doors. Corners and dead ends, makes it easier to control an enemy trying to invade your space.</i>

    A young man with a jet-black topknot and the sides of his head shaved lounged by the center-most door on the hill. He watched Corwin and Vash approach with an air of casual curiosity. Vash¡¯s Core pulsed a muted warning, his <i>Danger Sense</i> alerting him to the two other men and one woman. The three others sat or stood near crates or in the corners near the School doors. Each was perfectly hidden from sight if one approached the front door from the village square. But they were anything but suspicious, just looking like they were working or sitting some place inconspicuous.

    <i>Reminds me of Iona¡¯s street lessons.</i> Vash thought, giving them each a casual glance, but nothing overt. <i>Best way to hide is in plain sight, just don¡¯t be worth looking at.</i>

    The youth with the topknot held up a hand when Corwin and Vash were about ten feet from the door. ¡°That¡¯s far enough, big man. Delvers only past this point.¡± He said, sounding incredibly bored. The youth eyed Vash speculatively. ¡°You¡¯re one of the Masked Ones?¡±

    ¡°Eth Mitaan.¡± Vash said, keeping his tone neutral.

    The youth shrugged. ¡°Same thing, right?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly.¡± Vash said, trying not to let the irritation show in his voice.

    A slight smile quirked on the young man¡¯s lips. ¡°Come on then, Lin wants to see you.¡±

    Vash looked over at Corwin, not sure what he was supposed to do. ¡°What about Corwin?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine out here.¡± Corwin said, finding a seat on a nearby supply crate. ¡°Just don¡¯t take too long. We¡¯ve got three others to visit after this.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll have him right back out. No worries, big man.¡± Topknot said, grinning broadly. With a flourish, he stepped forward and opened the door beside him, giving a mock bow.

    Vash hesitated at the doorway, but his <i>Danger Sense</i> didn¡¯t go off. Cautious, but casual, he stepped across the threshold into the entryway. Topknot followed him in and shut the door behind them. With a series of deft flicks and twists, Topknot locked the door. Vash took a moment to look at the complicated locking mechanism.

    <i>That¡¯s quite a lock</i>. Vash thought. Looks like pattern tumblers. <i>Even from this side, I wouldn¡¯t be able to open it without knowing the correct order to turn the knobs.</i>

    Topknot followed his gaze and smiled. ¡°Can never be too careful. I heard that there are thieves out there.¡±

    Vash smiled weakly at the joke. Topknot didn¡¯t seem to take offense, simply brushed past and lead Vash down the corridor. After a few turns, they came to another door. Topknot opened it easily. Beyond was a staircase leading down into a dimly lit tunnel under the hill.

    ¡°Lin¡¯s down in the Tombs,¡± Topknot explained. ¡°It¡¯s where we do most of our training. One mechanism broke, and she¡¯s the only one who knows how to repair it. She didn¡¯t want to make you wait so¡­¡±

    Another flourish, and Topknot gestured to the stairs down, looking at Vash expectantly.

    Vash resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the theatricality and started down the stairs. It was no surprise at all when, by the time he reached the third step down, he heard the door click shut. The hinges were well-oiled and the door barely made a sound when it swung closed.

    <i>Sometimes I really hate how annoying rogues can be. </i>Vash thought and continued his descent.

    The stairs went down about twenty feet and opened onto a broad antechamber. Stone pillars with decorative friezes stood every five feet in the thirty-foot wide room. Beyond the pillars was a long chamber, about a hundred feet from the antechamber to a raised dais at the far end.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    In-between stood several fountains and statuary. A flagstone path wound its way throughout the room, branching off and coming back together around stone planters with a variety of strange plants growing in them. Mage lights hung from chains embedded in the ceiling, giving off a warm yellow-white glow. The light was bright enough to see by, but left many shadows throughout the ¡®garden¡¯.

    At the far end, on the dais, a halfling woman kneeled in front of a half-disassembled clockwork mechanism. She had taken it out of a large box on her right. Vash could see the glint of gears and springs.

    <i>Some sort of control box?</i>

    The halfling woman looked up and peered past everything to look at the entryway. ¡°Someone over there?¡±

    Vash took a step forward and stood next to one of the stone pillars. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am. My name is Vash Ballard, and I was hoping to have a word with you?¡±

    The halfling woman, Vash guessed this was Lin, cocked her head to one side and made a face. She was small, like all halflings, though it was hard to guess her height while she kneeled on the ground. Her honey-blonde hair was bound up in a messy bun, and her face had the crow¡¯s feet and laugh-lines of late middle-age.

    Vash didn¡¯t know how halflings aged, so late middle-age could be anywhere from mid-forties to a century or more.

    ¡°I have to say, Vash, you picked a pretty awkward time to muck up the works.¡± Lin said, reaching for a slender tool on a leather roll on her other side and getting back to work on the clockwork.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to muck anything up.¡± Vash said. ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t know there was anything to muck up.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s always something to muck up.¡± Lin sighed, tightening something deep inside the mechanism in front of her. ¡°But that¡¯s neither here nor there. Right now we have to figure out what we¡¯re going to do and how we¡¯re going to do it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure how much you know of my situation.¡± Vash began descending the steps into the garden. There were three low granite steps that led to the flagstone path. Vash almost stepped off the last one when his<i> Danger Sense</i> gave him a low pulse of warning. He stood with his foot hovering in mid-air, considering the flagstone below his boot.

    ¡°I know you left a huge clusterfuck back in Sathsholm.¡± Lin said, not looking up. ¡°You and your friends pissed off both the human gentry and the Vanan elves at the same time. That takes talent.¡±

    Vash moved his foot over to the next flagstone over and the<i> Danger Sense </i>faded. He stepped down onto the flagstone path.

    <i>A school for delvers and rogues,</i> he thought, looking at the plants for the first time. <i>Noctroot, that¡¯s a powerful sedative, makes knockout drops. Mordis¡¯ Bells, crush those into a vial with neutral spirits and you¡¯ve got a poison that will drop a draft horse.</i>

    Vash hesitated before speaking again, gambling that Lin would prefer the straight truth over excuses. ¡°That¡¯s true. It was a mess from the start. Though it wasn¡¯t just our mess.¡±

    Lin grunted in agreement, squinting at some part she couldn¡¯t quite see. ¡°I heard about that, too. Duke Adolus is listening to the wrong folk again. We hoped his father would steer him away from his less savory pursuits. Unfortunately, Duke Oskar died of dysentery during that squabble out east. Strange how quick he went.¡±

    Carefully, Vash moved to step forward again. <i>Danger Sense</i> flared, loud and clear this time. There was something dangerous, very close by. Vash glanced up at Lin. She was elbow-deep in the mechanism, trying to get a small part to fit correctly.

    <i>I hope she doesn¡¯t mind me spending a little mana.</i>

    Quieting his mind, Vash summoned the formula for<i> Detect Traps</i>. The formula snapped into place and Vash felt a quick pulse of mana flow into the structure. One by one, flagstones took on a reddish glow. Within moments, nearly half the stones on the path ahead of Vash warned of a trap trigger.

    ¡°See anything interesting?¡± Lin asked without looking up.

    ¡°A lot of paranoia?¡± Vash said, trying to find a pattern in the stones.

    ¡°Ha! I mean, it¡¯s true, but this isn¡¯t some sort of sanctuary. It¡¯s a training room. Trust me, there are far worse places than this up in the deep forest or buried under some of the really old mountains.¡± Lin said, finally fitting the pieces she wanted back together with a satisfying click.

    Vash walked lightly on the stones not ringed with an angry red glow. As he walked, he noticed the easy pattern to the safe stones. <i>A few times across and I¡¯d have this memorized.</i>

    ¡°Now, I¡¯m not all that concerned with your life before you took your Guild Mark. Most of us have some history we¡¯d rather remained history. Especially us Delvers.¡± Lin continued, fitting pieces back into place. ¡°What I am concerned with is what happened on this half-baked quest that Adolus and his lackeys dreamed up.¡±

    While Vash picked his way through the trap-filled room, he told the Master Delver as much of his tale as possible. He didn¡¯t mention absorbing soulstones, including one from a person trapped in the Underlands for an untold amount of time. When he got to the part about the Shadow Temple, she looked up from her work and looked at him, appearing startled that he¡¯d made it as far as he had across the room.

    ¡°The big ruin with all the columns? About two miles from the river if you¡¯re traveling upstream?¡± She asked. Her startlingly blue eyes were very serious.

    ¡°I think so.¡± Vash nodded. He¡¯d just had to hop over three sections and was now balancing on one foot next to a potted plan. ¡°I didn¡¯t really make a map.¡±

    That was a bit of a lie. Using his<i> Dungeon Sense</i>, he had imprinted a fairly detailed map of his journey in his memory. Even now he could close his eyes and see any place that he had been in the Underlands.

    Lin frowned. ¡°That¡¯s not good. We¡¯ve avoided that ruin for a while, ever since I was an apprentice, anyway. But it¡¯s always been dormant. No Heartstones, even the Therium in that area absorbed little mana. Most creatures seemed to avoid it, and that was good enough for us.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been down there?¡± Vash asked, incredulous.

    ¡°We send an expedition down every year or so.¡± Lin nodded, lifting the clockwork contraption and settling it gently into the control chest. ¡°Clear some of the more troublesome monsters. Make sure that no dungeons are forming beneath our feet. If that temple is active, though¡­¡±

    Lin broke off, thinking hard. She closed up the control chest and flipped a few switches. A sudden whirring sound began under Vash¡¯s feet. He felt the flagstones shifting, the trapped stones forming into a new pattern.

    Vash swore and jumped to the nearest clear stone.

    ¡°And you said this Zakarias was a servant of Rasu?¡± Lin said, idly flicking more switches and turning knobs,

    ¡°That¡¯s what the Hollowmound Queen said, that he was a Champion of Rasu.¡± Vash said, searching out another clear stone. The safe stones were moving back the way he came, and the other side of the room was filling up with trapped ones.

    <i>Danger Sense</i> flared in Vash¡¯s Core, urging him to move to his right. Vash glanced rightward, seeing the last safe stone was at least ten feet away. Pushing a quick pulse of mana, Vash summoned <i>Enhance Ability</i>. He leaped for the safe stone just as a clockwork click sounded from a statue nearby. The statue, a handsome bronze statue of a warrior in the late Malconian style, twisted using unseen clockwork, and slashed his bronze sword through the empty air Vash had recently occupied.

    ¡°Rasu is the demon lord of corruption. The Defiler of the Flesh, he¡¯s called.¡± Lin said, halfway talking to herself while she twisted a knob.

    The stone Vash stood on suddenly lurched to the left. Vash pumped more mana into <i>Enhance Ability</i>, shifting it to his agility. Even then it was blind luck he kept his balance. When the stone moved close to one of the garden beds, Vash took a chance and jumped into the soft dirt.

    ¡°A nasty character.¡± Lin continued, either ignoring Vash¡¯s distress or genuinely distracted by her own thoughts. ¡°I don¡¯t like the idea of someone that tainted by the shadow being so close to Duke Adolus.¡±

    Vash¡¯s <i>Danger Sense</i> pulsed. He turned to see a plant with a large seed pod behind him. The leaves around the pod peeled back, revealing mottled green plant flesh. Vash recoiled as the plant¡¯s pod opened, revealing multiple rows of thorns that the plant was using as teeth. He turned and ran, making a desperate leap for the dais. The plant made a hollow <i>thwump</i> behind him as it snapped its pod, missing by a hair¡¯s breadth.

    Vash landed on the dais, but only just barely. The toes of his boots landed on the very edge. He struggled to keep his balance, but felt his Talent fall apart.

    The sea of red stones directly below him filled Vash with icy dread.

    Suddenly, as he toppled backwards, a firm hand grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him forward onto a more stable footing.

    ¡°The Duke sends one of his men up here, gives him a knighthood because he knows we won¡¯t mess with the gentry, all while supporting and funding a shadow-tainted¡­who knows what.¡± Lin said, continuing her own train of thought while Vash fought to catch his breath. ¡°And Sallick forces us to get involved with this Council vote. It¡¯s smart. Annoying, but smart.¡±

    ¡°I came here¡­to ask for your support.¡± Vash said, struggling to get his breath back.

    ¡°Hm?¡± Lin said, distracted. ¡°What? Oh, in the Council? Of course, I¡¯m not sending anyone back to Adolus while he¡¯s mucking about with demon lords. At the very least, it¡¯s bad for business.¡±

    Vash stared at the halfling for a moment. ¡°Then¡­then why¡­¡± He waved at the room behind him. ¡°I thought this was some sort of test!¡±

    ¡°That?¡± Lin asked, looking back at the rapidly changing room. ¡°Oh no, I was just repairing the control system. I didn¡¯t stop you because you looked like you were having fun.¡±

    ¡°Fun?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Lin said seriously. ¡°Adventuring is supposed to be fun, Vash.¡±

 Episode 46: Penance For The Pathless

    <b>EPISODE 46: </b>

    <b>PENANCE FOR THE PATHLESS</b>

    ¡°That¡¯s one for us!¡± Corwin said, excitedly. ¡°Progress, eh?¡±

    Vash gave him a look as Topknot closed the large wooden door to the School behind him. ¡°Puts us at one and one. I don¡¯t think stalemates work out in our favor.¡±

    ¡°Gotta keep up the optimism.¡± Corwin said, clapping him on the shoulder.

    ¡°Optimism?¡± Vash asked, deadpan. ¡°When the next place on the list is a Temple of the Grand Pantheon?¡±

    ¡°It may end up differently here.¡± Corwin said, but his smile faltered a bit. ¡°Besides, the School of the Wayward Path isn¡¯t technically under the direction of the Grand Pantheon. They¡¯re a lot more egalitarian. The patron god of Wayfarers is Rasander, and he¡¯s in the Lesser Pantheon, so there are voices from that side of things, too.¡±

    ¡°How many voices?¡±

    ¡°One.¡± Corwin conceded. ¡°But Edda is an old friend of Jabez¡¯s. She won¡¯t let you down¡­I think.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re filling me with confidence.¡± Vash said, dryly.

    ¡°Just keep an open mind and don¡¯t go in there glowering like you¡¯re about to piss in their baptismal font.¡± Corwin said, as they made their way back towards the cluster of buildings near the infirmary.

    Vash bristled. ¡°I never did anything like that.¡±

    ¡°It was a joke.¡±

    ¡°You have the luxury of joking about it.¡± Vash said. ¡°Brother Enrick blamed every child with a broken bone, livestock illness, or drought on the sin of ¡®mixed blood¡¯. Made working in the shop the next day a real treat.¡±

    ¡°Enrick was an ass,¡± Corwin agreed. ¡°A dangerous one, too. My brother Wil was putting together a petition to the Bishop in Vuln to have him replaced with someone more responsive to the village¡¯s needs. Well, he was before¡­¡±

    Corwin faltered, looking guilty.

    ¡°Only took, what, fifteen years?¡± Vash said bitterly. ¡°After our little indiscretion, I wonder how far that petition got.¡±

    Corwin looked away, and they walked in silence.

    Vash felt a wave of guilt. The Walker family had also suffered under Brother Enrick¡¯s rather pointed views on blood purity. Corwin¡¯s father, Marcus, had been an elani, an ethnic group descended from the Malconians. That was where Corwin got his olive skin, dark hair, and almost black eyes. His mother, Nora, was a baedan like most Galadonians, descendants of a mix of Skjal raiders and mainlanders who populated eastern Solaria and Nosraval. The Walker family only settled in Durron¡¯s Ford a generation or so ago, with no extended family or deep roots in the community. Brother Enrick used them as convenient targets as well, especially after Marcus died and Wil got hurt.

    <i>That¡¯s how we became friends.</i> Vash thought. <i>Fighting off the same bullies. Before Kat, before Nyx, before the whole damned mess.</i>

    Shaking his head, Vash tried to put the thought out of his mind. There was plenty of time to ruminate on the past later.

    They crossed the village square, which by this time of day was becoming a bustling center of commerce. Pack mules, ponies, and hardy mountain horses stood at hitching posts, placidly accepting the heavy saddlebags being secured to their backs. Adventurers of every size, shape, and heritage crisscrossed the small square. They called out to one another, laughed, argued, and did all the normal activities of a village center. The only difference that Vash could see was the increased amount of weapons and armor on display.

    The fighters were easy to spot. Chainmail, breastplates, heavy swords and axes marked them as surely as a sign around their necks. Rogues were a little more circumspect, but as they were adventurers and not criminal gangs, the standard combination of daggers and short swords were on display. Peppered throughout the crowd was a sight that Vash had rarely seen. Mages and clerics in adventure gear. The wizards wore loose clothing that allowed them to move and cast easier, but were far more practical than the long robes of Collegium mages that Vash was used to seeing in Sathsholm. Most carried thick wooden staves, intricately carved with spell runes and other sigaldry. The clerics were nearly indistinguishable from the fighters. The same weapons, same armor, but they all wore some token of their chosen deity. Failing that, they wore tabards with the iron wheel of the Great Pantheon.

    ¡°Master Ballard!¡± A familiar voice piped from nearby.

    Vash looked around, confused, wondering who would know him in this place. Finally, he spotted a halfling with an impressive mustache waving enthusiastically from where he stood next to a sullen-looking pony. ¡°Silas? What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Just a quick stop before we venture into the wilds.¡± Silas said, crossing to Vash. ¡°There are few beds or taverns for quite some time after Amical Falls. Not to mention we¡¯ll likely have to hire on a few Wayfarer guides and guards. Safest way to travel on the old ¡®Glory Road¡¯, eh?¡±

    Vash couldn¡¯t help smiling. Silas¡¯ enthusiasm was infectious. ¡°Well, good luck with that. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find what you need. It seems like there¡¯s more than enough to choose from here.¡±

    Silas sighed, ¡°True, but most of these aren¡¯t looking for caravan work. Wayfarers make their money from quests and dungeons. I¡¯m hoping we can find a few heading to try their luck in Thorpe and can convince them to earn some coin on the journey.¡±

    ¡°Thorpe?¡± Corwin asked. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of the place.¡±

    ¡°Apparently, it¡¯s the only proper town in the Obrun River Valley.¡± Silas said. ¡°Dwermothrax apparently tolerated the settlement so long as the folk left proper tithes. From what I hear, there was a meadow up near Drakenvult ¡ª Dwermothrax¡¯s old lair ¡ª where shepherds would leave a few sheep each. So long as that meadow was never empty, Dwermothrax left Thorpe alone. Now, with the dragon dead, it¡¯s primed to be a boomtown. Everyone is going to want to get in on that action. Speaking of which, if you lads are looking for a job, I¡¯d be more than happy to have you and Master Jabez along for the journey.¡±

    ¡°We will have to see, Master Quartercall.¡± Corwin said, carefully. ¡°Jabez took some wounds on our last job and is currently recuperating. As for myself and Vash, we have some Guild business to attend to before we can accept any new contracts.¡±

    ¡°Say no more.¡± Silas said. ¡°But I will be in town for a few more days with the rest of the caravan. Come find me if you change your mind.¡±

    With a jaunty salute, Silas turned back to where a pair of other halflings were securing bundles to his pony. He gave them several brisk commands in the lilting brogue of of the halfling tongue while making wild gestures for emphasis.

    ¡°He seems to be everywhere on this trip.¡± Vash commented as they continued up towards the cluster of temple buildings.

    ¡°Not that strange on the Glory Road.¡± Corwin said. ¡°You end up traveling in the same circles for a time. People cluster together since traveling alone is a good way to get robbed or end up in the belly of some creature.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s that dangerous?¡±

    ¡°Can be.¡± Corwin said. ¡°It¡¯s the very edge of civilization. On the other side of these mountains are lands sworn to the shadow. Things come up through the Underlands, or spawn along the lines of power laid into the mountains themselves. Since it¡¯s dangerous, it attracts people with nowhere else to go, or those who are looking for fortune and glory. So, you get bandit lords, mad sorcerers, shadow cults, things that the<i> civilized </i>world has pushed out.¡±

    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    Vash mulled this over as they approached the main temple. He had known that adventuring was dangerous business, but the realization that everything they had been through in the last week was not completely abnormal gave him some pause.

    Passing through the simple, but well-crafted, temple doors brought his attention back to the here-and-now. The temple itself was an eight-sided room with doors in the north, south, west, and east. The emblem of one of the nine gods of the Great Pantheon stood on each wall. Vash glanced around, spotting the Flame of Valoa, goddess of Light and purification on the eastern wall, with her opposite, the Skull of Mordis, god of Death, on the western. North was the Owl of Ophea, goddess of Wisdom, while the southern entrance had the two-headed coin of Olom, god of fate. The center of the temple had an octagonal pulpit with an iron wheel hanging directly above it, emblazoned on both sides of the wheel was an iron crown, signifying Athair, the Lord of the Pantheon.

    A small group had gathered around the pulpit. Vash recognized Sera, the novice who had tended him and Jabez back at the infirmary. An older woman with gray streaks in her dark brown hair stood beside her.

    <i>That must be Sister Clea.</i> Vash thought.

    A plump woman in a simple brown robe stood next to a towering man in a starched red and white tunic. The woman seemed uncomfortable, while the man had a grim set to his face. An orc, green-skinned and heavy-tusked, stood apart from the others. He carried a hammer that came up to his chest when he rested the haft on the ground. Even further from the group was an elderly halfling woman in a travel-stained gambeson. She chewed the stem of a long pipe and looked irritated that she wasn¡¯t smoking it. Standing behind her was a tall young woman with close-cropped black hair, wearing a similar gambeson to the halfling woman and holding an iron-banded quarterstaff loosely in the crook of one arm.

    All eyes flicked to Vash and Corwin as they entered. Vash felt the stares like a sudden weight being pressed down upon him. He felt anxious and guilty, though he¡¯d done nothing but walk into the room.

    Sister Clea leaned over to Sera and whispered a few words. Sera nodded and hastened over to meet Vash and Corwin. ¡°Well, you two certainly get around. It¡¯s barely been two hours since you left the infirmary and already the village is buzzing about the Council tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, one of the Duke¡¯s men isn¡¯t happy with the quality of our service.¡± Corwin said, giving her a wry smile. ¡°We were hoping to talk to the Master of the School, to see if we could convince him to give us his support.¡±

    Sera¡¯s own smile slipped a bit, and she glanced back at the gathering by the pulpit. ¡°That¡¯s not quite how things work here. The ranking masters get a say in what Brother Orban supports in the Council. We¡¯re lucky that we have many of the ranking masters in town to provide their insight.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll say it¡¯s quite a gathering.¡± Vash said, glancing over at the clerics who were muttering among themselves. Most were pointedly not looking in their direction.

    ¡°You are welcome to stay and listen to the discussion.¡± Sera said, nervous. ¡°But don¡¯t speak unless someone directly asks you a question. No outbursts. Brother Orban is particular about decorum.¡±

    <i>One of those.</i> Vash groaned inwardly.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be on our best behavior.¡± Corwin said.

    Sera smiled. ¡°Great, you can have a seat. Brother Orban should be here any moment.¡±

    The thunderous creak of a pair of great wooden doors startled them. A stocky man in his mid-forties strode through the northern door and down the aisle to the gathering at the pulpit. He had light brown hair that covered the first streaks of gray well. From his movements, Vash guessed that the man¡¯s stockiness was from muscles that had gone to fat. And from the possessive way he strode into the temple and up to the pulpit, Vash felt certain that this was Brother Orban.

    Orban looked down at where Vash and Corwin stood, cold blue eyes evaluating them and dismissing them just as quickly. ¡°All right, let¡¯s get this foolishness over with. I, Orban Androv, Brother of the Order of Athair, and Master of the School of the Wayward Path, convene this meeting of the ranking masters regarding the vote put forth by Lodgemaster Sallik for tomorrow morning. All present make yourselves known.¡±

    ¡°Sister Clea, Order of Taella, Master of Healers.¡± The slender older woman said. Her voice was soft, but carried well.

    ¡°Sister Lyra, Order of Ellana, Master of Bounty.¡± The plump woman in the brown robe said. Although she declared herself forcefully enough, her body language spoke volumes of awkward discomfort.

    The grim man in the red and white tunic stood straighter before speaking. ¡°Brother Sammel, Order of Valoa, Master of Purifiers.¡±

    Next was the orc, who rumbled in a surprisingly gentle voice. ¡°Brother Thark, Order of Ramah, Master of Battle.¡±

    They all looked at the elderly halfling, who seemed bored with the whole proceeding. ¡°My turn? Edda Jorgunsdotter, Chosen of Rasander, Speaker for the Pathless.¡±

    Orban frowned briefly at Edda, then nodded to the young woman who stood behind her. ¡°And your novice?¡±

    ¡°Novice?¡± Edda cocked her head in confusion, then looked behind her. ¡°Oh, you mean Charity? She¡¯s no novice. She¡¯s a paladin of the wandering path.¡±

    A paladin? Vash thought, surprised. Those are rare, especially ones unclaimed by a god.

    The tall young woman gave a slight nod of deference to Brother Orban.

    ¡°Welcome, Paladin Charity.¡± Orban said, hiding an aggrieved tone in polite formality. ¡°Sister Clea, we already know your novice, Sera.¡±

    Sera made a half-bow to Brother Orban, keeping her eyes lowered.

    Orban then turned his gaze on Vash and Corwin. ¡°Then there¡¯s the two of you. Corwin I have met in passing, but the other one is new to me. I hear you are also an apprentice to Master Jabez?¡±

    It took Vash a moment to realize that this was a question. ¡°Oh, ah, yes. Yes, I am.¡±

    ¡°That you came to the Wayfarers in an¡­unorthodox manner.¡± Orban said, a slight frown creasing his lips.

    ¡°You could say that,¡± Vash said.

    ¡°Not only are you a branded Vagabond.¡± Orban continued, the frown getting deeper with each word. ¡°But also a criminal and a cultist of the Hunter¡¯s god, Kyrinos?¡±

    Vash maintained a blank expression, trying not to let his true feelings surface. ¡°I am a member of the Eth Mitaan.¡±

    This caused a few mutters among the gathered masters. Some knew what the Eth Mitaan were, others were clearly clueless. Thark, the orc, looked grim and turned to stare at Vash.

    <i>It¡¯s the Vanan you should be pissed off at, orc.</i> Vash thought.<i> And they don¡¯t even like me.</i>

    ¡°Kyrinos was one of the Sundered.¡± Sammel, the Valoan, said. His expression was one of extreme distaste. ¡°A broken husk of a god.¡±

    Thark grunted in agreement. ¡°Pathless and vile. His followers hunted my kind for sport.¡±

    Vash opened his mouth to speak, but the sharp gaze of Brother Orban gave him pause. <i>I¡¯ll play the game. Be the meek little heretic.</i>

    Edda cleared her throat. ¡°Regardless of the boy¡¯s spiritual pedigree, this is more a matter of secular law. He was offered a pardon for pledging himself to the Wayfarers. Now Sath wants to renege on that deal.¡±

    ¡°A deal that was contingent on completing a quest of the Duke¡¯s choosing.¡± Orban said.

    ¡°A quest which he failed to complete.¡± Sammel said.

    Clea frowned at this accusation. ¡°According to Wayfarer Apprentice Corwin, the subject of the quest betrayed them and attempted to take their lives. Guild Law does not rule betrayal as a ¡®failure¡¯ in the completion of a quest.¡±

    ¡°Nor does it rule it a success.¡± Thark countered, his deep-set eyes taking on a reddish tone as his temper rose.

    ¡°Then they should assign him another quest.¡± Lyra suggested, relieved to have thought of a solution.

    Orban shook his head. ¡°The Guild gave the Eth Mitaan a chance to prove himself. He did not succeed. Therefore, he failed. I am not inclined to get into semantics with these matters. I feel he should return to Sathsholm to answer for his actions.¡±

    ¡°As do I.¡± Sammel said firmly.

    ¡°It is only fitting.¡± Thark said.

    ¡°And we¡¯re doing this without his master present?¡± Clea asked, reproach clear in her voice.

    ¡°Would the word of Jabez Ironbiter really make a difference?¡± Orban said reproachfully.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to tell him you said that when he wakes up.¡± Edda said, gnawing on the stem of her pipe.

    ¡°Lyra, think rationally about this,¡± Clea said, turning to the plump, motherly cleric. ¡°This is happening too fast, too recklessly. We would never even think of such actions with normal members.¡±

    ¡°But he¡¯s not a normal member.¡± Lyra said, looking at both Sammel and Orban for confirmation and support. ¡°He¡¯s a criminal who used a loophole.¡±

    ¡°We aren¡¯t supposed to judge based on the past¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t agree.¡± Lyra interrupted, shaking her head. ¡°If we ignored a member¡¯s past, then we are just giving them license to do it again. Besides, I¡¯ve heard of this Eth Mitaan. They aren¡¯t just thieves and bullies, they¡¯re murderers. I can¡¯t, in good conscience, allow him to continue in the Wayfarers. It would upend the balance we¡¯re trying to create here.¡±

    ¡°Balance, what a joke.¡± Edda chuckled.

    ¡°You¡¯re lucky we let you speak here, pathless.¡± Lyra said with surprising venom.

    Vash glanced over at Corwin. The color had drained from the big man¡¯s face. Obviously, this wasn¡¯t what he¡¯d expected.

    <i>Sorry to burst your bubble, Corwin. </i>

    Without a word, Vash got to his feet and turned to leave.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t dismissed you, apprentice!¡± Orban said, voice a whip-crack.

    Vash stopped and turned to look at Orban. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought you were busy yelling at each other about how awful I was. Do I need to be here for that?¡±

    ¡°Ungrateful whelp.¡± Sammel growled.

    ¡°It sounds like you had already made up your minds before I even came here.¡± Vash said. ¡°Since you obviously will not support me, I have others I need to speak to.¡±

    Vash turned and stalked out of the room, leaving a clamor of voices behind him.

 Episode 47: Magic Words

    <b>EPISODE 47:</b>

    <b>MAGIC WORDS</b>

    ¡°Vash, wait!¡± A voice called from behind him. Vash was so busy angrily striding away from the temple that he didn¡¯t recognize it at first. The voice was female, and that was surprising.

    <i>Cass? </i>Vash thought, casting the question into the part of himself where he had last felt his ¡®passenger¡¯. He had been afraid to prod that part of himself, not sure what he would find.

    <i>Did I just imagine her?</i> Vash thought. The Underlands had been several days of trauma on top of the debacle at the Mossfen Delving. It wasn¡¯t unheard of for people¡¯s minds to create fantasies to protect themselves from further pain.

    Taking a quick mental inventory of the state of his spirit, Vash found the node that he thought of as ¡®Cass¡¯.

    <i>There¡¯s certainly something there.</i> Vash thought, his stride slowing. <i>Is it her, or just what¡¯s left?</i>

    Vash sent a tentative brush of mana to the node and felt it briefly stir. Nothing like consciousness, but it was <i>something.</i> He was so focused on his inward self that he jumped in surprise when a hand lightly touched his arm.

    Sera, the novice working with Sister Clea, let out a cry of surprise and stepped back. ¡°Sorry! You just looked so angry and then you stopped and wouldn¡¯t answer¡­¡±

    Vash blinked, shaking his head to clear it of flashes of memory from the Underlands. ¡°It¡¯s fine, you surprised me, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Over her shoulder, Vash could see Corwin rushing to catch up. Edda, the halfling cleric, and Charity, her paladin companion, weren¡¯t far behind.

    <i>Drawn a bit of a crowd.</i> Vash thought.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry about all of that.¡± Sera said, clearly upset. ¡°You, Corwin, and Jabez have been through so much already and for Master Orban to spring that sham of a vote on you¡­It really makes me furious.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m used to it from Athairians.¡± Vash said, not bothering to hide the bitterness in his voice.

    ¡°Most don¡¯t become petty tyrants.¡± Edda said, getting in range to hear Vash and Sera. ¡°But then they usually have a stronger Ellanian to balance them out. Lyra¡¯s a kind soul, but she¡¯s got the backbone of a wet sponge. Strength and compassion are supposed to work together. But when you have a hard-ass like Orban, then strength seems to bowl everything else over.¡±

    ¡°Master Orban isn¡¯t normally so hasty, though.¡± The paladin, Charity, said. Her voice was softer than Vash expected. Most paladins that Vash had met were more bombastic. They had personalities that took up all the air in the room. Charity had a tendency to fade into the background, which was surprising.

    ¡°Politics is all jammed up in this.¡± Edda frowned, her wizened face gaining more wrinkles. ¡°I¡¯ve warned Jabez more times than I can count that he needs to keep a low profile. Damned <i>Hahz-Dahr</i> can¡¯t help poking his head into nooses wherever he goes.¡±

    ¡°You know Jabez?¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°Aye, known him since he was a pup just earning his Guild marker. More stubborn than a herd of mules, but he¡¯s got a good heart.¡± Edda said.

    ¡°Edda helped me when I was facing my Gauntlet in Samson¡¯s Rest.¡± Corwin said. ¡°We even traveled with her a few times.¡±

    ¡°Getting to be a real family reunion.¡± Vash said. ¡°Edda, Logan Lackhand¡­¡±

    ¡°Ugh, I¡¯d heard he was in town.¡± Edda made a face. ¡°I was hoping they were mistaken. The last thing you need is Logan sticking that golden hook of his into everything.¡±

    ¡°Too late.¡± Corwin said with a wince. ¡°He¡¯s already talked Master Stahl into voting against us.¡±

    ¡°Damn.¡± Edda said. ¡°I was hoping to head up there next and put in a good word. Where does the vote stand as of now?¡±

    Corwin looked away. ¡°Two against, one for. We still haven¡¯t spoken with the Broken Tower or the Speakers for the Wyld.¡±

    ¡°Try the Tower first.¡± Edda suggested. ¡°Master Astinak¡¯s a bit of an opportunist. If he thinks the vote is swinging against you, then he¡¯ll vote that way just to stay part of the ¡®in¡¯ crowd.¡±

    ¡°What about the rangers?¡± Vash asked. ¡°One of Logan¡¯s apprentices looked like a ranger, a Vanan elf as well. Should we let them get ahead of us?¡±

    Edda shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not just rangers in the grove. You¡¯ve also got alchemists and druids. Right now, Master Heggin leads the Speakers, and just getting him to acknowledge the physical plane is a challenge. You have some time.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Edda.¡± Corwin said, with genuine warmth in his tone.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Edda said, waving off any other gratitudes. ¡°Jabez has been in my corner more times than I can count. Least I can do is make sure that things don¡¯t get screwed up while he recovers. Speaking of which, how is he faring?¡±

    Sera blinked as all eyes turned to her. She blushed briefly in embarrassment, then put on a professional face. ¡°Not much has changed since this morning. He¡¯s recovering, but it¡¯s a slow process. The mana burn was extensive, and forming new connections in a dwarf¡¯s spirit weave is difficult.¡±

    Edda nodded, putting the stem of her pipe back in her mouth while she thought. ¡°I may have a few things we can try. If Master Clea is open to some help?¡±

    ¡°I think she¡¯d welcome it, to be honest.¡± Sera said with a relieved smile. ¡°Dwarves, halflings, and gnomes have such different structures. Not just from a physical standpoint, but metaphysical as well. The meridians are all different, and I already mentioned their spirit weaves.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m well aware of that.¡± Edda said, gesturing to her own halfling body.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Sera said, blushing again. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the infirmary. Master Clea is likely heading that way.¡±

    Edda gestured for Sera to lead the way and the two of them headed back towards the infirmary. Charity followed behind them, then stopped, turning to regard Vash for a long moment. ¡°I have had experience dealing with members of the Eth Mitaan before. It was not pleasant.¡±

    Vash felt a sudden tension between himself, Corwin, and this paladin. Charity seemed, at first glance, to be a shy young woman who just wanted to stay out of the way. He was quickly coming to recognize that dismissing Charity this way would be a mistake. She was tall, but she hid it through posture, keeping her head down and her shoulders slightly slumped. This also hid her broad, muscular shoulders and back. The way she carried the heavy-banded staff in one hand spoke to a great deal of hidden strength. Charity had yet to tap into her Core, but Vash felt certain that she had one that was deep and that she had a large well of mana when she needed it.

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°We aren¡¯t the most sociable group.¡± Vash said, cautiously.

    <i>If she had a run-in with another Eth Mitaan group and lived to tell the tale, then she isn¡¯t one to be taken lightly.</i> Vash thought.

    Charity nodded, accepting what Vash had said without comment. ¡°They were, however, honorable in my experience. Not causing more harm than necessary to achieve their goals. I may not agree with those goals, but I can respect the way they conducted themselves.¡±

    Vash wasn¡¯t sure what to do with this information, so he just nodded.

    ¡°I hope you remain a Wayfarer.¡± Charity said. ¡°For what that¡¯s worth.¡±

    She paused for a moment, letting the silence hang between the three of them. When no more seemed forthcoming, Charity turned and walked back towards the temple.

    ¡°Paladins are so strange.¡± Corwin said once she was out of earshot. ¡°Never know if they¡¯re about to tell a joke or split your head open.¡±

    ¡°At least she seems on our side for the moment.¡± Vash said. ¡°I¡¯ll take strange help over no help.¡±

    Corwin made a shrug and started towards the hill that housed the so-called Broken Tower. ¡°Speaking of help. Let¡¯s go see if we can get the mages on board.¡±

    <hr>

    The tower stood on the top of one of the high hills that ringed the town of Amical Falls. As Vash completed the climb, he could see how the surrounding hills and mountains formed a shallow bowl for the small but bustling adventurer¡¯s village. The Amica river flowed past the town, then cascaded over the drop-off beside Cliffside Lodge. Mist shrouded the bottom of the cliff, but Vash knew the waters fell into another series of pools, one of which emptied into the depths of the Underlands. He shuddered, thinking of dodging the Hammerworms in his desperate climb.

    <i>It¡¯s so much worse down there than I ever imagined. </i>Vash thought. <i>I don¡¯t know if they¡¯re taking it seriously enough up here. A few wards and some guards? Is that even enough to get out a warning?</i>

    Beyond, the Amica flowed into the distance, eventually joining the Great Obrun, carving its way through the heart of the mountains. All he could see were mountains, river, and trees. The only sign of people was the village directly below him. That felt like a tiny speck of civilization in the vast wilderness.

    While he gazed out over the valley below, Corwin joined him at the top of the hill, facing the other direction. A slight sheen of sweat shone on Corwin¡¯s brow, but he didn¡¯t appear winded. Corwin¡¯s brows furrowed in confusion as he looked behind Vash. ¡°All right, now that¡¯s just strange.¡±

    Vash turned, looking at the tower behind him for the first time. The hilltop was roughly flat, with a scattering of tall stones, smooth and weathered from age and exposure. Small trees grew in thin copses around the edge of the hill, leaving the center open for the tower itself. The building looked like the other towers that Vash had seen in Sathsholm. It was a circle fifty feet in diameter, made of the same pale gray stone as the ones that dotted the top of the hill. The joinery looked old, but in good repair. From first glance, Vash didn¡¯t see any of the telltale marks of a wizard¡¯s tower. The stone didn¡¯t shine in the sunlight, keeping itself magically clean. It appeared to be constructed with standard masonry, not the thin, almost invisible technique used by wizards when they wanted to show off. Ivy and moss grew in places, but the plant life wasn¡¯t over sized or a strange color.

    <i>Everything seems fairly normal. Even the doors and windows¡­ </i>Vash blinked when he finally noticed.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the door?¡±

    ¡°I was wondering the same thing.¡± Corwin said, hands on his hips, giving the tower a confused look.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you been here before?¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°To Amical Falls, yes.¡± Corwin said. ¡°No one really comes up to the Tower unless they¡¯re a wizard or they really need something. Jabez doesn¡¯t like wizards all that much, so we never came up here. If we needed something magical, most of the time we just dealt with the wizards down at the Lodge.¡±

    Vash approached cautiously, peering as far as he could around the side of the tower. ¡°Maybe the door is on the other side?¡±

    ¡°Anything¡¯s possible.¡± Corwin shrugged, moving in the opposite direction.

    They circled the tower¡¯s base, keeping a careful twenty feet of distance. After a few moments, they joined one another on the far side of the tower.

    ¡°Nothing?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± Corwin said, shaking his head.

    ¡°Should we go down to the lodge and see if anyone knows how to get in?¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°Maybe there¡¯s a secret password. What¡¯s the elvish word for ¡®friend¡¯?¡± Corwin said.

    ¡°<i>Vi¡¯ren?</i>¡± Vash said, perplexed.

    Corwin looked at the tower expectantly.

    Nothing happened.

    ¡°What was that about?¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°It worked in this one story I read,¡± Corwin said, sheepishly. ¡°It was worth a try.¡±

    ¡°Why would a human wizard¡¯s tower respond to elvish?¡± Vash asked, thoroughly confused.

    ¡°In the story it wasn¡¯t a wizard¡¯s tower, it was a dwarvish mine.¡± Corwin mumbled, walking away.

    ¡°That¡¯s even more confusing!¡± Vash exclaimed. He was getting a headache.

    ¡°I just thought it was worth a try, that¡¯s all.¡± Corwin said, defensive.

    ¡°Maybe we can call it a ¡®pretty, pretty lady¡¯ in Old Malconian.¡± Vash said, trying to keep a straight face.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t helping.¡±

    ¡°Or a ¡®very naughty boy¡¯ in whatever the halflings call their language.¡±

    ¡°Galsic.¡± said a woman¡¯s voice from behind him. ¡°<i>Boa chayl ath anya</i>.¡±

    Vash turned to face the newcomer, seeing a woman about his age standing at the top of the path and giving him a bemused look. She had an average build and looked like she spent long hours walking like most members of the Wayfarers. Her skin was a dark, tawny brown, while her eyes were a lighter amber color. Her thick, curly hair was plaited into tight braids that ran close to her scalp and had small, colorful beads threaded into them.

    ¡°Did that help?¡± The newcomer asked, a slight curve of a smile touching her lips.

    ¡°Probably not.¡± Vash said, feeling a blush touch his cheeks. ¡°I was just giving my friend a hard time about believing old bard¡¯s tales.¡±

    This time the woman gave him a full smile, warm and lovely and causing her eyes to crinkle at the corners. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t discount old bard¡¯s tales out of hand. I can¡¯t tell you how many of those old stories have led to some amazing discoveries.¡±

    ¡°Told you it was worth a try,¡± Corwin muttered.

    ¡°You still haven¡¯t said what it was you were trying to accomplish.¡± The woman said, moving past Vash and approaching the tower. As she passed, Vash got a good look at her gear. She wore traveling clothes, heavy enough to protect from the elements, but loosely fitted so they didn¡¯t impede movement. A heavy belt stuffed with pouches hung about her waist, and she wore a writing satchel at one hip. Vash could just see the corner of a thick tome among the pages stuffed haphazardly inside the satchel.

    ¡°We¡¯re looking for a way into the tower.¡± Vash explained. ¡°I need to talk to Master Astinak.¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡± she said, brightly. ¡°<i>The Lost Mine of Palandar</i>!¡±

    Corwin turned, a cheery grin on his face. ¡°You¡¯ve read it?¡±

    ¡°It was one of my favorites when I was younger.¡± She said, nodding enthusiastically. ¡°When the heroes saved Barhold the Blue from the evil sorcerer, the Spider, I knew right then that I wanted to be an adventurer.¡±

    ¡°I always loved the goblin ambush in the beginning.¡± Corwin said, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. ¡°Though I have to say that real goblins are far more dangerous.¡±

    ¡°True.¡± The woman said. ¡°And real wizards don¡¯t use simple code phrases to protect their towers. You have to be attuned to the tower¡¯s Core before it lets you inside, or bear credentials that let you pass.¡±

    ¡°How do we get credentials?¡± Vash asked, looking at the blank base of the tower with growing annoyance.

    ¡°Being a wizard helps.¡± She said with a shrug. Moving with a calm confidence, the woman approached the base of the tower and scanned the stone blocks at eye level. After a moment of searching, she seemed to find what she was looking for. She dug out her Guild marker from within her shirt, then leaned forward and pressed it against a weathered carving.

    For a moment, nothing happened. Then a faint chime rang out from beneath the woman¡¯s hand. The sound of rock scraping against rock followed. Vash watched in amazement as the stones retracted or rotated out of the way, leaving a door-sized opening in the tower¡¯s base.

    ¡°There we go.¡± She said, with an air of satisfaction. As she tucked her medallion back into her shirt, Vash spotted a copper band encircling her right wrist. It wasn¡¯t a bracelet, since it moved and flowed with her skin. The band looked like the metal was a part of her skin, like a tattoo.

    ¡°That was very cool,¡± Corwin said. ¡°I love seeing real magic. Well, real magic that¡¯s not trying to kill me. I¡¯m Corwin, by the way, and that¡¯s Vash.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Galia. Nice to meet you both.¡± She said, giving them a brief nod but not extending her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve got business with Master Astinak as well. Shall we go find him together?¡±

 Episode 48: Master of the Broken Tower

    <b>EPISODE 48:</b>

    <b>MASTER OF THE BROKEN TOWER</b>

    The air tingled as Vash passed through the irregular archway in the tower¡¯s base. It was almost like passing through a curtain of mana. The very air was thick with the currents of magic. Vash felt his Core thrumming in sympathy at the magic that just this room contained.

    <i>I knew wizardry was a step up from our Talents, but I didn¡¯t know it was</i> that <i>much of a step up.</i> Vash thought, taking in the room.

    The central chamber was twenty feet across, warmly lit with mage-lamps at regular intervals. Thick carpets covered the plain stone floors. The carpets had vibrant colors and intricate designs, far beyond the skills of an ordinary weaver. They also didn¡¯t show any wear or dirt, as though they were brand new. A few clusters of high-backed chairs, upholstered with a rich dark brown leather and looking comfortably stuffed, stood near high bookshelves that were absolutely crammed with thick tomes. The entire place smelled of old leather, oil, and books.

    Vash was so taken by the entry room that he jumped when he heard the stones scraping back into place behind him. He turned in time to see the last few blocks rotating back into position, leaving the wall smooth and complete, without a hint of a door or any other entryway.

    ¡°It does that automatically,¡± Galia said. ¡°Most wizards would forget and leave the door open to anything that wanted to wander in off the street.¡±

    ¡°Are mages normally that careless?¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°Mmmmm¡­more preoccupied.¡± Galia said, making a face and searching for the right word. ¡°A lot of us are too busy contemplating the construction of the metaphysical sphere to notice that we¡¯ve burned our toast. Wizards can get obsessive over details. We love problems, but that means we focus on the problem to the exclusion of everything else. It¡¯s hard to find a balance.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve known a few mages like that.¡± Corwin nodded. ¡°One almost walked into a nest of dire rats because he thought he saw some early Malconian writing on a dungeon wall.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like about half of us,¡± Galia said, flashing Corwin an amiable smile.

    ¡°What about the other half?¡± Vash asked.

    ¡°Ambitious, driven, sometimes dangerous.¡± Galia answered, seriously. ¡°We have a drive to know things. That can lead down some very dark paths, if it¡¯s not tempered with wisdom and a bit of humility.¡±

    ¡°And what kind, would you say, is Master Astinak?¡± Vash asked, looking at a staircase that lead up from a doorway in the far wall.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never met him.¡± Galia said, shaking her head. ¡°In fact, this is my first time in Amical Falls. My home base is Harper¡¯s Crossing.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re from up in the Rampart Mountains?¡± Corwin asked, suddenly lighting up with curiosity. ¡°I heard it¡¯s far more dangerous up north, being that close to the Palisade Pass.¡±

    Galia shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t really think so. The Pass itself is so well defended that nothing gets through to Bastion or the western marches. You¡¯ll get the occasional Gnoll pack that struggles through the mountains or finds a path through the Underlands. By the time we find them, they¡¯re starving and turning on each other.¡±

    ¡°Still, there are some amazing old dungeons up there.¡± Corwin said wistfully. ¡°I¡¯d love to try my hand at the upper levels of Howler¡¯s Hole.¡±

    ¡°Good luck with that.¡± Galia said with a huff of annoyance. ¡°The Great Orders have been closing down access to the known dungeon complexes. Even the ones without a shadow taint.¡±

    ¡°Really, why?¡± Corwin asked with a note of disappointment.

    ¡°You¡¯d have to ask the Masters.¡± Galia said. ¡°I¡¯m just an apprentice. They don¡¯t tell me anything.¡±

    ¡°Maybe we can talk about this later.¡± Vash interrupted, feeling time slipping away.

    ¡°Right, sorry.¡± Corwin said. ¡°So I¡¯m guessing Master Astinak is up at the top of the tower?¡±

    ¡°The Master¡¯s chamber is usually up at the top.¡± Galia agreed. ¡°But it depends on the Master and the tower. Only way to find out is to climb.¡±

    Vash nodded, starting towards the staircase. ¡°Well, thank you for your help, Galia. I appreciate it.¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re still going to my help, Vash.¡± Galia called.

    Stopping at the arched doorway that led to the stairwell, Vash eyed the opening suspiciously. ¡°Why? What¡¯s going to happen?¡±

    ¡°Wizard towers are tricky.¡± Galia said. ¡°Climb to the second floor. We¡¯ll meet you there and you¡¯ll see.¡±

    Vash looked back at her, trying to keep his expression neutral, but his doubt was clear on his face. Carefully, he stepped into the stairwell. Then, keeping an eye out for trouble, he climbed.

    The stairway wound around the inside wall of the tower, within a narrow passage that only allowed for one person at a time on the stairs.

    <i>I wonder what happens if someone has to go down the stairs at the same time?</i> Vash mused. Then another thought struck him. <i>We have seen no one except ourselves and Galia since we got to the tower. All the other Schools have at least a few Wayfarers hanging around. Where are all the wizards?</i>

    Around the next turn, Vash could see another opening into the center of the tower. He put away his questions for the moment and jogged up the last few steps. Turning into the doorway, he saw¡­the room he just left.

    Galia smiled and gave him a little wave. Corwin looked as confused as Vash felt. Frowning, Vash turned to look back down the stairs. Behind him was just the flagstone floor, solid and unbroken.

    ¡°I just climbed at least two storeys.¡± Vash said.

    Galia nodded. ¡°You probably went around the tower about twice. Then the stairs dumped you back here.¡±

    ¡°You knew that was going to happen?¡±

    She shrugged, the beads in her hair clacking softly. ¡°It¡¯s a fairly common defense in wizard towers. We call it a Kellover Switchback, though it was likely in use way before Myr Kellover wrote it down. It¡¯s pretty useful for keeping out uninvited guests. But, it¡¯s fairly easy to get past it. We¡¯ll all go up this time, and when you do, keep your eyes closed. Count twenty steps from the bottom and you should be on the next floor.¡±

    Vash gave the stairs a hard look, as if daring them to make a fool out of him again. He re-entered the passageway and closed his eyes. Keeping one hand on the stone wall, Vash counted each step as he climbed. When he reached twenty, he felt his fingertips brushing over a smooth, wooden surface.

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    Opening his eyes, Vash saw a heavy wooden door. Brass fixtures bound the door to the stone wall, and the wood had a rich, dark red stain. A bronze plaque hung at eye-height. Vash saw that the Malconian <i>aeph</i> rune was etched into the metal. He knew that the <i>aeph</i> rune was often used in place of the letter ¡®a¡¯ in Common Speech, though that use wasn¡¯t entirely correct.

    ¡°A for Astinak, I¡¯m guessing.¡± Vash said.

    ¡°Not exactly subtle.¡± Galia said, coming to a stop on the stair just below him. Just beyond her, Vash could see Corwin carefully climbing the stairs with his eyes closed. Vash couldn¡¯t help but grin at the big man gingerly making his way up stair by stair.

    ¡°I think you can open your eyes now, Corwin.¡± Vash said.

    Corwin stopped and did so. The relief on his face almost made Vash burst out laughing. Rather than embarrass him, Vash turned back to the door. ¡°Should we knock?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d advise it.¡± Galia said. ¡°It¡¯s usually not a good idea to barge into the office of a high-ranking wizard unannounced.¡±

    Vash lifted his hand, but before he could rap his knuckles on the wood, the door made a soft <i>click</i> and swung open silently on well-oiled hinges.

    Galia snorted in annoyance. ¡°Well, that¡¯s showy. What¡¯s next, card tricks?¡±

    ¡°I am a very busy man, and I don¡¯t have time to debate with an apprentice about how I choose to open my door.¡± A voice said from the room beyond. He had the cultured accent of Solaria or Oxthera, but the quick, staccato phrasing of a long time spent in Galadon. ¡°Please, don¡¯t stand in my door gawking. Either come in or go away, your choice.¡±

    Vash stepped into the room, feeling another tingle of magic pass over him. Glancing at the door frame, he noticed several designs worked in brass and inlaid into the wood. On a second look, he felt the slight thrum of mana from them fading as he moved away.

    <i>Wards</i>, Vash thought, <i>maybe a warning or looking for weapons</i>.

    The room¡¯s layout was very similar to the one on the entry floor. Thick, colorful carpets covered the stone floor. Tasteful tapestries hung on the walls next to brass sconces with mage lamps emitting warm hued light. An extensive set of bookshelves ran along the far wall, every inch crammed with heavy tomes or scroll cases. On either side of the bookshelves were a pair of floor to ceiling windows, currently open to let in the late afternoon breeze. Vash noted that the view through the window was significantly higher than the distance he had just climbed.

    <i>Wizards</i>. Vash thought darkly. Though he used magic through his Talents, Vash knew that the power wielded by a true wizard was something they wrote about in legends.

    Vash turned to look at the opposite side of the tower. A heavy wooden desk sat beneath a tapestry depicting the interconnected disciplines of magic: two concentric circles with a triangle touching three points of the outer circle. Iona had tried to walk Vash through the theory behind the diagram, but Vash just remembered something about the cycle of life and death, also something about energy not being destroyed but taking different forms.

    Behind the desk, quill pen scratching over a sheet of paper, sat a man in his early forties. His skin was a pale, almost sallow color, and deep shadows darkened his brown eyes. The man wore a skullcap that covered any hair that he may have had, but the wispy beard that he wore was a dull brown with a few errant gray hairs throughout. He wore a dark gray robe with purple trim on his wide sleeves and around the edge of his mantle. Beneath, he wore a purple undertunic that clung to his skinny arms and bunched around the wrists of his thin hands.

    Master Astinak glanced up for a moment before gesturing them to approach the desk. Vash crossed to the desk, noting that there were no chairs laid out for guests. Once they were all inside, the door swung closed and latched itself with a soft click.

    ¡°Creepy.¡± Corwin muttered, giving the door a look of distrust.

    ¡°Efficient.¡± Astinak corrected. ¡°If I had to get up to open the door for every visitor, I¡¯d be up and down all day long. This way I can keep working and you can let me know why you¡¯re here to bother me.¡±

    Vash took a deep breath. ¡°We¡¯re sorry to interrupt your work. But I wanted a chance to talk to you about your vote on the Master¡¯s Council tomorrow morning.¡±

    Astinak didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Yes, what about it?¡±

    ¡°It concerns my future with the Wayfarers.¡± Vash said, trying to keep his phrasing polite. ¡°I was hoping to talk to you about my situation and hopefully get you to vote in my favor.¡±

    Galia looked up sharply. ¡°You¡¯re the Vagabond? The one who came up through the Underlands?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Vash said, trying to school his expression.

    ¡°Huh,¡± Galia said, giving Vash an appraising look. ¡°You don¡¯t look like an assassin hell-bent on overthrowing the kingdom.¡±

    ¡°Looks can be deceiving.¡± Astinak said, glancing up at Galia. ¡°And who are you?¡±

    ¡°Galia Amneris.¡± Galia said, holding herself straighter. ¡°Magus of the First Circle.¡±

    Astinak quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Amneris?¡±

    Galia nodded and looked uncomfortable. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s my father.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Astinak said, putting his pen down and sitting up in his chair. ¡°Collegium trained?¡±

    ¡°I grew up on the grounds of Osterlan, does that count?¡± Galia asked.

    Astinak remained silent, staring at her.

    ¡°I did not receive formal training from the Collegium, no. I had basic instruction from my father until I came of age.¡± Galia said, her voice taking on a tight, formal edge. ¡°After that, I joined the Wayfarers and the School of the Broken Tower in Harper¡¯s Crossing.¡±

    Astinak frowned and gave her a sharp look. ¡°You? The daughter of Garrett Amneris? You¡¯re a hedge wizard?¡±

    ¡°I am the equivalent of a First Circle Magus of the Collegium.¡± Galia said, not breaking eye contact with Astinak. ¡°As outlined in both the guidelines laid down by the Collegium and the Guild of Wayfarers.¡±

    Astinak¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°And what is it you want?¡±

    ¡°My master sent me to ask permission to access your archives.¡± Galia said, reaching into one of her many pouches and producing a tightly folded letter sealed with a dark blue blob of wax. ¡°We¡¯re looking for any reports from Waystation Forty-Two.¡±

    ¡°Forty-Two?¡± Astinak asked, confusion plain on his face. He cracked the seal on the letter and unfolded it. ¡°That place was closed down fifty years ago.¡±

    ¡°Yes, and now that Dwermothrax is dead, the reports from the Wayfarers who frequented that area would be very helpful.¡± Galia said, providing some context. ¡°For instance, why Dwermothrax left it alone for nearly a century and then one day attacked without warning?¡±

    ¡°Who knows why dragons do anything?¡± Astinak said, scanning the letter. ¡°But if you want to go poking through a century of reports, be my guest. They¡¯re in the second sub-basement.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Master Astinak.¡± Galia said with a slight bow of her head and shoulders.

    Astinak grunted and tossed the letter on a pile on one side of his desk. Then he turned to Vash and gave him a deep frown. ¡°You don¡¯t know the first thing about the School of the Broken Tower, do you? You barely know anything about the Wayfarers. Now you come up here and ask for my help.¡±

    Vash glanced at Corwin, but he looked as bewildered as Vash felt. Beside him, Galia stiffened slightly.

    <i>There¡¯s something going on here.</i> Vash thought, and it felt unpleasantly familiar.

    ¡°The Broken Tower.¡± Astinak said, making a gesture to encompass the building they were currently in. ¡°It came out of the Mage Wars. Wizard fighting wizard over secrets, artifacts, books, anything about magic that they could get their hands on. Rogue mages nearly broke the world with greed and arrogance. In the end, it was only the rise of the Silent King in the west that spurred wizards to end their personal conflicts and work together for the greater good.¡±

    <i>Why is he telling me this?</i> Vash wondered while Astinak continued to pontificate.

    ¡°After the defeat of the Silent King, the Archmages feared the Mage Wars would begin again. So, they established the Collegium. A place to not only train new mages, but control the use of those ancient secrets.¡± Astinak said, his lip curling slightly in distaste. This was a sore spot, apparently. ¡°But those wise Archmages forgot wizards loved secrets, and hated having those secrets kept from them. There was a schism in the Collegium. Those who followed the Archmages and adhered to the principle of the Great Mystery they formed the Towers of Osterlan and controlled the Collegium. Those who thought that magic was a gift to be given to the world, well, they formed a ¡®Broken Tower¡¯ and partnered with the newly formed Wayfarer¡¯s Guild.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a fascinating tale, but I¡­¡± Vash began, but Astinak held up a hand to stop him.

    ¡°I¡¯m not finished.¡± Astinak said. ¡°So, the Broken Tower sought knowledge wherever it could. It especially looked for ways to combat the shadow, as they knew they had not defeated it forever. Eventually they approached the elves to share what knowledge they had of the Drae, the Sorcerer Lords, the Silent King. The Broken Tower was, politely, told to go pound sand. The elves do not share their mysteries.¡±

    Vash felt a familiar sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

    <i>Here we go again.</i>

    ¡°Then, one night, someone broke into the Broken Tower¡¯s greatest storehouse and research center.¡± Astinak said, steepling his fingers in front of him on the desk. ¡°They took irreplaceable tomes, several great artifacts, and they killed two of our best researchers. Then they set fire to our archives. The notes and journals of hundreds of mages, all destroyed in a few hours. It took us years to figure out who had committed this heinous act against us. In the end, all we found was reference to a cult within the Vanan elves. The <i>Taleuc ko¡¯Sul eth Mitaan</i>, the ¡®wearers of the sheltering mask¡¯. Fanatics even among the elves. Commonly known as the Eth Mitaan, or the Masked Ones.¡±

    It was hard for Vash to maintain his gaze with Master Astinak, but he did it anyway.

    <i>Don¡¯t let him see your fear.</i>

    ¡°No, Hunter of the First Mask, Vash Ballard.¡± Astinak said, coldly. ¡°I will not be supporting you in the Master¡¯s Council tomorrow.¡±<b></b>