ã€ŠImperial Wizard - Arcane Awakening - Book 5ã€‹


 Arcane Awakening 1 - Awakening

    Verdan¡¯s eyes flew open as he inhaled sharply and instinctively cringed from the expected pain.

    Pain that had haunted his every waking moment for what seemed like untold ages. Girding his mind, Verdan began to formulate the spell to put him back under, but something was different. There was no pain.

    Every time Verdan woke from his self-imposed slumber, he recast his spell, sending him back into the long-term stasis he''d devised. He couldn''t even remember how many times he''d cast the spell, how many years he''d slept away here in his hideaway.

    Still, there was no pain, and that made it all worth it. The sheer bliss of being pain-free was enough to make tears well in his eyes.

    A smile crept across his face as Verdan dared breathe once more, the stale air making him cough and splutter.

    ¡°Aer,¡± Verdan croaked as he made a soft throwing motion with his right hand and focused on the concept of a fresh breeze.

    Overcharging the spell a little, Verdan made sure to freshen the air, not just move it.

    Immediately, he felt a slight drain on his energy reserves as a soft breeze filled the chamber he was in, ruffling his hair and disturbing the dust around him. It was a minor spell, one that used only a single word of power and a straightforward concept, but it was still the first spell he''d been able to cast without being in agonising pain for a long, long time.

    Verdan sat up and simply breathed in the air for a few minutes, recasting the air spell every so often. For the moment, he was content to simply sit and enjoy his freedom from the curse that had driven him to this extreme solution. In truth, he hadn''t known this would work.

    The stasis spell he used was one he had created himself, but even so, it was inaccurate enough that he didn''t know how long each casting lasted. He¡¯d cast it the first time not knowing if it would be minutes, months or years that he would sleep for.

    For an average person, such an open-ended spell would be worthless. For a man suffering under a death curse of a powerful hex witch, a curse that was designed to torture the recipient until they killed themselves, open-ended oblivion had been quite appealing, really.

    Ironically, it was only due to the sadistic nature of the curse that he''d survived. If it had started at full strength, he would have never been able to finish creating the spell. Instead, it had started weak, gaining in power each day and causing more and more pain until he couldn''t take it any more.

    The whole thing had been a race against time, one that Verdan had barely won.

    Still, he¡¯d survived. That was what mattered. The first thing to check now was how long Verdan had been asleep. The war had been in full swing when Verdan had been cursed, and he couldn''t help but wonder what he would find when he emerged once more.

    It didn''t really matter to him which side won. It wasn''t like there was much difference between the two sides. One was led by a self-named Wizard-King, and the other by the latest in a line of Wizard-Emperors. One was new and different, the other as old as records began. It was more a matter of siding with friends and family than the political aspect for someone at his power level.

    Feeling a little more in control of himself, Verdan pulled himself up into a sitting position, groaning as his protesting muscles exerted themselves. A quick check over himself was enough to ensure that everything was working, just weak.

    Sighing and leaning back against the wall for a moment, Verdan simply enjoyed the lack of pain, enjoyed feeling like his mind was his own once more.

    Verdan was a simple researcher, a wizard of moderate power. He wanted to do his own thing and not be beholden to any larger powers. Hopefully, the war was over, and he could finally get a chance to claim some land somewhere and kick back for a while. The thought of relaxing and retiring from everything for a few years was an enticing one, but first, he needed to get up off the floor.

    ¡°Okay, enough woolgathering, up we go. Disir,¡± Verdan muttered to himself, pulling on the nearby wall to help him to his feet as he conjured a pale orb of light in the palm of his hand.

    The soft illumination revealed the room enough that he could look over the area that he''d slept so many years away in. It was an emergency bolt hole he''d made a few years earlier that was fifteen foot square, with a hidden entrance and some basic supplies.

    Well, a few years before his first cast of the stasis spell anyway.

    The storage box containing the supplies was actually the original recipient of the stasis spell that Verdan had used on himself. He¡¯d been working on a way to store perishable materials in the long term. Little did he know at the time that he¡¯d be using an unstable variant of it on himself.

    Shaking his head, Verdan examined the box and smiled in satisfaction. The Aether construct that had been regulating the spell was still functioning. Breaching the seal of the box, Verdan reabsorbed the Aether of the construct absently as he rummaged through its contents.

    The first thing Verdan took was a set of clothing to change into and his staff. Picking up the six-foot length of ebon wood, he put the soft orb of light he¡¯d conjured atop its end, fixing it in place with an exertion of his will.

    With the room lit up nicely, he started to get changed, shedding the loose robe he''d slept in. The new clothing wasn''t anything special, just a tunic, loose trousers and a dark green cloak with a series of pockets on the interior. His favourite cloak had been ruined by a nasty acid attack just a few days before he''d been cursed. Hardly enough time to replace it before he''d had to seal himself away.

    While it wasn''t a huge inconvenience for him, this new cloak didn''t have any sigils on the interior, leaving him without one of his primary defences. It would also be a hard one to replace. He''d have to find the same enchanter if he wanted the same effects, and even then, it wasn''t guaranteed.

    Still, the war should have ended by now. He doubted anyone would remember him. Verdan was a capable researcher and a decent wizard, but he was hardly an archmage or a prodigy.

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    Unfortunately, it was a similar situation with the staff. Verdan had broken the original one when he defeated the husband of the witch who''d cursed him. The man had been a powerful wizard himself, and though Verdan had won, it had been a closer call than he would have liked.

    He''d been cursed not long after that battle and a new staff had been the last thing on his mind. All of which meant that Verdan had only been able to store his backup staff. An annoying issue, but not a huge problem.

    This equipment was only to get him to a town or a city. Once he was back in civilisation, he could buy proper replacements.

    He had a small pouch of coins and gems in his cloak, enough to cover such an expense. It was all that was left of his life''s savings. Verdan had done a lot of theoretical research on stasis spells, but getting the time and assistance needed to create a new ritual from scratch had been expensive.

    A good mage was never out of work for long, though, so he had no concerns about getting more.

    ¡°Agora,¡± Verdan gestured to the wall with his staff, visualising a door opening as he cast the spell.

    A part of the wall that looked identical to the rest swung out and away from him, letting in both blinding sunlight and a very welcome breeze of crisp air. The light made Verdan blink blearily, and he stopped supplying the small grey orb at the top of his staff with magic, the magelight disappearing a moment later.

    Walking forward with a touch of anticipation, Verdan emerged from his chamber and found himself standing on a stone ledge halfway up the side of a cliff that overlooked the endless blue of the ocean.

    Squawking birds and the crash of waves against rock gave the whole sight a rather relaxing ambience, one only highlighted by the salty tang of the sea air.

    It was almost a picturesque location, beautiful and pristine. The problem was that it wasn''t the landscape he''d left behind.

    He''d picked a nice cliff near a small village that he¡¯d been to before, but the closest water had been a small lake. There should have been miles of landscape between this cliff and the ocean. Just how much had changed while he was asleep?

    ¡°Hefan raf,¡± Verdan intoned, using one of his favourite spells as he stepped off the edge of the cliff.

    Small bands of compressed air wrapped around his body as he slowly descended through the air, holding him aloft as he directed himself down to the narrow strip of land at the base of the cliff. The water lapped gently at the shore as his feet touched the ground, and despite the general anxiety he was feeling at the change, he couldn''t help but smile at the pleasant scene before him.

    The steady thump of the end of his staff hitting the rocky ground measured out his pace as he walked along the narrow shoreline and took the nearest path inland.

    He didn''t recognise anything around here, nothing looked the same at all, but the path he''d found seemed well-trodden. Hopefully, it would lead somewhere. The best result would be civilisation of some description, but only time would tell.

    Setting off down the path, Verdan eyed his surroundings, taking in as much as he could as he looked for any sort of landmark or similarity to what he remembered of the area. Nothing seemed quite right, though.

    Verdan was starting to wonder just how long had he slept for. Every time he''d awoken, he''d cast the stasis spell again with every iota of magic he could command, but Verdan wasn''t even certain how many times he''d done that. The whole experience was a blur.

    A pulse of dark energy from somewhere to the north pulled him out of his musings on how long his spell may have lasted.

    Dropping into a fighting stance and raising his staff defensively on instinct, Verdan extended his awareness out into his surroundings, catching a second pulse as it rippled past him. North-east.

    ¡°Damn it all,¡± Verdan cursed as he set off a jog toward the source of energy.

    Despite the time that may have passed, he was still a representative of the Grym Imperium.

    His oaths as an Imperial Wizard bound him to investigate immediately. Dark magic was a temptress that seduced even petty dabblers further into depravity than they could possibly imagine. There weren''t many duties that a wizard had to the empire, but dealing with dark magic was in the top few.

    ¡°Hast,¡± Verdan barked out as he started to pick up the pace, air whipping past him as his spell gave him more speed.

    Thankfully he''d not cast much since awakening. He could afford a small enhancement spell like this and still be able to throw some battle magic around if need be. There were benefits to being a generalist like Verdan, the main one, in this case, being that he had a wide range of spells and effects to draw on without forcing something to work.

    Two more pulses of energy washed over him as he homed in on their source, each one making his hair stand on end and unsettling him a little bit more. There was no reason to be projecting energy like this, any wizard worth his salt would do exactly as Verdan was now.

    It only invited destruction.

    The implication that they could do something like this with impunity scared Verdan. Perhaps the Imperium had long since moved away from the area, though, that would explain it. Regardless, it didn''t change his duty right now.

    Rocky cliffs and bracken gave way to a light woodland as he closed in on the source of the magic, slowing his pace to a light jog while keeping his enhancement spell active. The main focus of the spell was his speed and endurance, but there was some carry over to reaction time as well, a useful bonus when going into a potentially hostile situation alone.

    The dark magic was like a lodestone, drawing him in as the woods thickened, and he began to hear guttural chanting. The words were unknown, but the language was one he recognised as a variant on the infernal tongue. Abyssal speech mixed with dark magic usually meant ritual summoning, or sacrifice, for power or favour, sometimes both.

    Slowing down to move as stealthily as he could through the undergrowth, Verdan soon found himself at the edge of a clearing filled with a vision straight out of one of his nightmares.

    Several buildings were haphazardly constructed in the clearing, their odd angles and strange geometry marking them as something no human would build. Among the buildings were several dozen humanoid figures dancing around a central altar dominated by a blood-stained stone slab.

    Verdan didn''t need to see the fine details to know what he would see.

    This was a ritual sacrifice set up, one that he remembered well from the last time he encountered the Cyth. He''d only been an apprentice then, only able to fetch help to exterminate the creatures and rescue their captives.

    Not now, though, now he had the power to save anyone caught by these disgusting things.

    The Cyth were creatures twisted and corrupted by the foul magics they practised, the unholy creatures they worshipped granting their blessings while leaving their mark on both their soul and flesh. There were countless types of Cyth, with new variants constantly developing.

    What a Cyth worshipped and what they practised would shape the creature''s current form, granting them more power over time as their form was suffused with abyssal energy.

    Thankfully, it looked like all the creatures were Cyth Lai, with only one Cyth Bayne leading the ritual. A Bayne was a higher order of monstrosity that was capable of wielding the dark energies that filled it.

    Usually, any Bayne would hide its presence for fear of being located by anyone searching for dark magic, let alone conduct a ritual like this without at least a dozen more like it backing it up.

    A Cyth Bayne had the same magical prowess as a wizard who was finishing their apprenticeship at the imperial academy. While that was nothing to sneeze at, it was also easy prey for a squad of guardsmen with proper backup.

    Focusing on the current problem, Verdan took a moment to survey the clearing in more detail, noting the apparent age of the buildings and that only one of them had guards outside it.

    The guards were stationed off to one side, next to a dark patch of ground that could easily be an underground cell to keep prisoners. No doubt they were keeping their captives below ground and bringing them up one by one to be sacrificed.

    Given the fresh blood on the floor around the altar and the eagerness of the surrounding Cyth Lai, Verdan knew he couldn''t wait any longer.

    It was time to act.

 Arcane Ambitions (AA2) 1 - Regrouping

    Verdan Blacke, Wizard of the ancient Grym Imperium and a living relic of an earlier age, ate his breakfast with gusto. The last twenty-four hours had been a stressful, strenuous ordeal, culminating in him expending every drop of Aether at his command in an experimental spell he¡¯d put together on the fly.

    It had been a close run thing, but they¡¯d made it back to the safety of the city late last night, and Verdan had given his initial report to Lieutenant Silver. The Lieutenant was one of three officers in the city guard, and from the brief conversation Verdan had had with Kai the night before about their hunt, he was going to be a useful ally.

    Verdan had acquired quite a few associates, companions and allies since he woke up from his self-imposed stasis, but Kai was the closest of them all. The fire sorcerer had declared himself in Verdan¡¯s debt after the wizard had saved his life and had only been a boon to him ever since.

    Kai had already been awake when Verdan came downstairs; the sorcerer had settled into a routine of rising early and having his breakfast with Elliot and Henry. Elliot was an imposing mountain of a man with long red hair and a surprising amount of skill in crafting and fine detail. Verdan and the others had rescued Elliot from a life of slavery when they raided a darjee camp to rescue some captured fwyn.

    By comparison, Henry Barbeau, their resident cook, was a tall, gaunt man who had been rendered mute years ago. Thankfully, Henry was a fantastic cook, and his wife Adrienne kept the household running with the kind of easy competence that others could only dream of.

    The three were an odd group but seemed to enjoy this routine they¡¯d created. They were never talking or joking when Verdan arrived; they were always sitting in quiet but companionable silence. Then again, that wasn¡¯t that surprising when Henry couldn¡¯t speak.

    ¡°What are you planning for today?¡± Kai asked as Verdan finished eating. ¡°I don¡¯t want you travelling anywhere by yourself until we know the city is safe.¡±

    Verdan repressed a sigh, knowing from the hard look in Kai¡¯s eyes that the sorcerer would accept nothing less than capitulation. They¡¯d discussed the ambush Kai and Silver had encountered on their return. It was a concerning situation for all of them. The Weeping Death sect seemed to have been involved in the bear situation somehow, and the timing of that concerned Verdan.

    Verdan was confident in his ability to fight off an ambush of opportunity like that, but it would be foolish to take chances when it wasn¡¯t necessary. His recent underestimation of the cyth threat wasn¡¯t far from Verdan¡¯s thoughts either, making him doubt his judgement.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to speak with Commander Griffon this morning. We need a full debrief on the situation, both for the cyth and the Weeping Death Sect. You should probably be there for that anyway,¡± Verdan said, standing up and absently reaching for a staff that wasn¡¯t there.

    When he cast his experimental stasis spell, he bound it to his staff as an Aether construct to keep the effect going over time. Verdan doubted his staff had survived the aftermath of the spell, which left him in an uncomfortable position.

    Verdan¡¯s knowledge of sigils was basic at best, and though his staff had only a few carved into it, that made it rarer than gold dust in these parts. He¡¯d need to find a proper enchanter if he wanted a replacement made, which was going to be difficult.

    ¡°Very well, let¡¯s be on our way,¡± Kai said, rising to his feet and collecting his spear from where it lay propped against the wall.

    ¡°How¡¯s Tom doing?¡± Verdan asked as they set off. ¡°I didn¡¯t get a chance to check in with him last night.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s getting there,¡± Kai said, shrugging a little and sighing. ¡°He¡¯s getting better at channelling his Essence, which is boosting his recovery, but he¡¯d do well with some additional healing if you have time.¡±

    ¡°Of course, I was running low last night, but by the time all this is done, I should have more than enough to help him. As best I can, anyway,¡± Verdan said, turning his attention inward for a moment as he judged his Aether reserves. He was low, very low, but a few minor spells wouldn¡¯t be an issue.

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    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kai said, lapsing into silence for a minute before glancing over to Verdan. ¡°I heard there were some developments with Tim and Sylvie?¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Verdan made a questioning sound as he met Kai¡¯s glance. ¡°Who said that?¡±

    ¡°Gwen and I spent some time talking last night,¡± Kai said, turning his gaze away from Verdan and clearing his throat before continuing. ¡°She said that Sylvie changed forms to fight before becoming a wolf again. Did you know she was a shapeshifter?¡±

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t,¡± Verdan said, frowning heavily as he went back over his memories. He hadn¡¯t had the opportunity to talk to Tim or Gwen in any real detail, and Tim had definitely been avoiding what left Sylvie in her deep sleep. A sleep that she still showed no signs of leaving. ¡°What was the other form, human or something else?¡±

    ¡°She didn¡¯t say,¡± Kai said, a touch of concern in his voice as he looked back once more. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s to do with why she won¡¯t wake up?¡±

    ¡°Probably, yes,¡± Verdan said, thinking of the different sorts and types of shapeshifters he knew. It was a rare power, one that was Aether intensive for wizards and more often seen in magical creatures. ¡°The collar was likely inhibiting her power, keeping her in one form until we removed it. I¡¯ll need to study her again, but she may be suffering from something like Aether burn. Casting the stasis spell took me out; it could have done the same for her.¡±

    ¡°But then why hasn¡¯t she woken up?¡± Kai asked as they turned onto the street they needed.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m not sure about,¡± Verdan said with a grimace before nodding to a pair of patrolling guards as they walked past. Both guards gave Verdan a respectful nod as they went past, but their gaze lingered on Kai most of all.

    For his part, Kai seemed unaware of the extra attention or just didn¡¯t acknowledge it. It seemed that Kai¡¯s work with Lieutenant Silver had earned him some respect among the city guard. Hopefully, that would make their growing association easier.

    ¡°Tell me if you need anything gathering; some more time out of the city will be good for Tom. He still needs to master conscious control of his Essence, and that¡¯s best done through action..¡±

    ¡°I doubt I will, but a scouting expedition down to the forest where the cyth were based would be good. We need to know what the cyth are doing and how many are still there; they need to be burnt out before they can establish further,¡± Verdan said, his eyes dark as he spoke.

    ¡°Miyaka,¡± Kai said, drawing Verdan¡¯s attention back to the present. ¡°It¡¯s called Miyaka Forest. I was there hunting a rogue alchemist two years ago.¡±

    ¡°Two years?¡± Verdan asked, coming to a stop as he turned to face Kai with a frown.

    ¡°Yes, I spent nearly two weeks hunting him across the forest before I found him. Why?¡±

    ¡°A camp, miles of forest corrupted to become wyrch trees, dozens of lesser cyth lai and a cyth scerrd. That¡¯s a lot of growth in two years. If it grew naturally anyway.¡± Verdan¡¯s frown deepened as he considered what he¡¯d seen at the camp.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kai asked, cocking his head to one side with interest.

    ¡°Nothing definite, not yet. I just haven¡¯t got enough information. Still, with that growth rate, we need to go back and finish this sooner rather than later.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going to need more people for that, and the guard doesn¡¯t have anyone to spare. The mercenaries that came back were paid generously, but they won¡¯t go back without support, that¡¯s for sure.¡±

    ¡°Is there anyone else we can hire in the city?¡± Verdan asked, deferring to Kai¡¯s better knowledge of the local situation.

    ¡°Adventurers would be our best bet, but they don¡¯t come cheap,¡± Kai said with a warning tone.

    ¡°I still have some reserves left from what I got changed,¡± Verdan said softly, thinking of the gold darns he¡¯d gotten from Gregory Devro, the money changer when he first came to Hobson¡¯s Point.

    ¡°You have an estate to run as well. I wouldn¡¯t count on being able to afford both with what you have,¡± Kai said with a shake of his head.

    ¡°How much money do adventurers have?¡± Verdan asked, a small smile spreading across his face as he considered a way to cut down on their costs.

    ¡°It can vary, depending on the group. The ones this far north likely have a little spending money, but not much. Why?¡± Kai asked, his eyes narrowing as he saw the look on Verdan¡¯s face.

    ¡°What if I were to offer a temporary enchantment service for their weapons, like the ones I did for Tim and the others? With a promised refreshment of the enchantment for anyone joining us in hunting down the cyth?¡± Verdan asked, his lips twisting into a slightly evil grin as he considered what he was going to unleash on those cyth.

    It would take time and Aether to do all the enchantments, but he had those, and the payoff would be worth it.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have them throwing themselves at you to get that kind of deal, most adventurers have to pay through the nose to get even the most minor of enchanted items.¡±

    ¡°In the long run, it¡¯ll only benefit the area,¡± Verdan said with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯m not above a cheap tactic like this if it helps everyone.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait for you to explain this to Commander Griffon,¡± Kai said with a sigh and a shake of his head, gesturing for Verdan to lead the way over to the guard headquarters.

 Imperial Wizard - Oath of Duty (book3) - Setting an Example

    Verdan Blacke trained Imperial Wizard and amateur alchemist, walked through the steps of the recipe he was following one more time before adding the dried ingredients to the moonwater.

    A gentle red light filled the flask of moonwater as the herbs interacted with the fire Dryd, the reaction expanding rapidly until all of the moonwater was converted.

    ¡°Very good. It¡¯s an unusual recipe, but it works well,¡± Natalia said, giving Verdan a slight smile as she finished making her own potion.

    ¡°Learning to make Dryd manually was challenging, but it¡¯s definitely been worth it,¡± Verdan said with a nod. Dryd was a powdered substance created from the organs of Aether-infused animals and monsters. The alchemical process to produce it was quite complicated, but Verdan had found a few ways to cut corners with his magic.

    ¡°Aer,¡± Dirk¡¯s voice carried in from the other room, making Verdan shake his head. Dirk was still struggling with his pronunciation of the Words of Power.

    ¡°Not quite right, you¡¯ve got to do it with feeling,¡± Verdan called through to his apprentice. ¡°Aer. Like that.¡±

    Wind rustled through the room as Verdan spoke, but Dirk could only sigh in frustration.

    Truthfully, Verdan¡¯s young apprentice was progressing at a prodigious rate and had picked up the basic techniques of Wizardry with ease.

    Dirk was a Kranjir, a clansman of the northern provinces that lay beyond the Grey Peaks, a series of mountain ranges that cut across the continent.

    Dirk and his mother had fled the north when most of his family were killed, finding safety in Hobson¡¯s Point. Dirk¡¯s determination to learn had brought him to Verdan¡¯s attention, and Verdan had eventually taken him on.

    There were others in the city who could sense and use Aether, of that Verdan was sure, but he was testing the waters with Dirk first.

    ¡°Aer,¡± Dirk got the word right this time, and Verdan smiled as a small gust of wind blew past him. Dirk was learning fast.

    ¡°I can finish up here. Don¡¯t you have a meeting with Kai soon?¡± Natalia said as she came around the table.

    ¡°I do, and one with Gwen not long after,¡± Verdan said with a sigh, part of him wishing he could stay in the lab forever.

    ¡°Then you best go,¡± Natalia said, her head tilting back slightly as she looked up at him with a warm smile and stepped in close.

    Many of Natalia¡¯s scars were too deep and old to ever be completely removed, but they did nothing to diminish her beauty in Verdan¡¯s eyes.

    Leaning down to share a lingering kiss with her, Verdan let himself enjoy a few more moments with her before reluctantly letting go and heading off to meet with Kai.

    Verdan had been working in the old servant¡¯s quarters of the estate, so he made his way past the bulky workshop over to the mansion where Kai was waiting.

    It was an odd twist of fate that Verdan now owned the land that Natalia¡¯s family had once lived on, especially now that they had this growing relationship between them.

    It wasn¡¯t as though it was just the two of them living here, though. Gwen and her fellow Witches had bought a group of destroyed buildings nearby and had constructed a small area of their own for their Coven, but there were still seventeen people who called the estate their home.

    Ruan and Barb called out a greeting from the entrance to the estate as they saw Verdan head past.

    Ruan was the leader of Verdan¡¯s guards, a grizzled veteran with an old injury to his mouth that left him with a slur and a fierce frown.

    Barb was a mercenary from the Kranjir clans in the north. Barb bore a number of ritual scars on her face and wore her hair in a tight braid, which she claimed was traditional for her people.

    Barb had lost her left hand in Verdan¡¯s service when assassins had attacked the estate, and she now wore a finely crafted wooden one that Elliot had made for her.

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    Nodding back to the two guards, Verdan stepped inside the mansion and entered the sitting room, where Gwen and Kai were in a deep discussion.

    Verdan noted how close the two were sitting together with an amused smile. Neither of them seemed willing to make the first move, but there was definitely something between them.

    It had been six months since the defeat of the Weeping Death invasion, six months during which Verdan¡¯s relationship with Natalia had only grown.

    Kai and Gwen were good people, and Verdan wanted to see them enjoy the same happiness that he¡¯d found, but he didn¡¯t dare meddle.

    ¡°Verdan,¡± Kai straightened as he acknowledged the Wizard, subtly shifting away from Gwen as he did. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you.¡±

    ¡°Likewise, we¡¯ve been caught up with everything recently. How is the training with the guard and the Coven?¡±

    ¡°The number of Sorcerers within the city guard grows by the week, and new independent Sorcerers are still arriving now and then. Word has been spreading about the Essence Tester you designed as well. The number of guards in the city is now almost double what it was six months ago. Commander Silver is still recruiting, but they¡¯ll be seeing shortages of equipment soon enough.¡±

    ¡°I had no idea there were so many people joining the guard. It¡¯s obvious enough that the city has gotten busier since the attack, but that really puts things into perspective.¡±

    ¡°In some ways, it has been even busier for us,¡± Gwen said with a tired smile. ¡°We¡¯ve been helping other Witches create their own Covens and gain their familiars. There are at least a dozen Covens that we know of, and they are doing the same for their own areas. There¡¯s a lot still to learn, but we¡¯re doing our best.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great news,¡± Verdan said with a smile of his own. It was good to know that the Witches were reclaiming their place in society.

    The three of them spent some time discussing their plans for the next few months, both inside the city and on a larger scale.

    With the death of Elder Budaev, the Weeping Death¡¯s presence in the region has dropped steadily, and Verdan had heard little about their activities since their attempted takeover.

    By comparison, the Defiant Flame had sent an envoy with a formal apology. The Elder who had led the attack had apparently been acting without the authorisation of the Sect.

    The Elder in question, whom Verdan had discovered was named Fredran Skarv, had died at Branwen¡¯s hands, so they had little to gainsay this claim.

    Neither Verdan nor his allies were completely convinced of the Sect¡¯s innocence, but the supplies sent alongside the apology did help.

    Verdan hadn¡¯t heard much since then, but Kai had received recent communication from the Defiant Flame of a new envoy they were sending.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s likely a ploy to look at the testers. What do you think?¡± Kai asked as he passed over the letter in question.

    ¡°Probably,¡± Verdan said, skimming through the letter before nodding to himself. ¡°We¡¯ll have to be careful while they¡¯re here, but I¡¯m willing to give them the chance. I doubt they¡¯ll get a warm welcome, but if we can avoid keeping them as an enemy, we should.¡±

    ¡°I agree, but I don¡¯t like it,¡± Gwen said with a frown. ¡°The supplies they sent really helped with the aftermath, but it still feels like they¡¯re getting away with everything their people did.¡±

    ¡°I know, but we weren¡¯t in any position to do anything at the time, and we¡¯re still not now.¡±

    Gwen grimaced before reluctantly nodding her agreement.

    ¡°Anything else we need to discuss today?¡± Verdan asked, looking between the two of them for a moment before getting to his feet. ¡°Let¡¯s meet at the same time next week unless anything else happens.¡±

    With their weekly meeting over, Kai and Gwen headed off once more, leaving Verdan to head back to where he¡¯d left Dirk and see how his apprentice was getting on.

    Dirk had stopped working on casting his spell correctly by the time Verdan made it back. As Dirk¡¯s gathering spiral progressed, he would be able to practice for longer, but at the moment, it was still too small to make a difference.

    ¡°Any more progress?¡± Verdan asked as he sat down opposite Dirk.

    ¡°A little. I¡¯m starting to understand the word a bit better, and I think that seems to help,¡± Dirk said with a proud but tired smile.

    ¡°The Words of Power are as much intent as they are anything else, so the more you refine what that word means in your mind, the easier it will be,¡± Verdan said, giving Dirk a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

    Truthfully, most apprentices weren¡¯t taught any Words of Power until the end of their first year of training, and only if they could demonstrate that they had made progress with their spiral.

    Dirk¡¯s natural talent was enough that Verdan had decided to break from tradition, and the results spoke for themselves. Even though he had only taught Dirk his first word a week or two ago, he was already coming close to a basic understanding of it.

    An Arcane Lexicon would make all of this easier, but Verdan had yet to work out how to recreate one, and he had neither the time nor the opportunity to go delving into ancient ruins.

    That might all change soon, though. With the Weeping Death on the back foot and the Steel Custodians keeping to their side of the deal, Verdan felt more secure in leaving the city.

    There were a few interesting ruins in the area that Verdan was aware of, so perhaps some shorter expeditions would be possible.

    Disciple Macannan of the Steel Custodians still used Hobson¡¯s Point as his base of operations for his own expeditions. Kai had said that Macannan was in the city for the next few days, which was an opportunity for Verdan to learn some more.

    Making a mental note to do just that, Verdan turned his attention back to Dirk and began to walk him through the process of building his gathering spiral.

    Dirk was reasonably competent already, but he still struggled with splitting his attention, and that was a key skill for any Wizard.

 Imperial Wizard 4, The Southern Alliance - Chapter 1 Outside

    Verdan Blacke, Wizard of the Grym Imperium, looked at the papers strewn across his desk and sighed as he rubbed at tired eyes.

    He had slept away what seemed to have been thousands of years in his sealed cave. It had been necessary at the time; he had been losing his mind to Gloria¡¯s death curse.

    She had been an incredibly powerful Hex Witch, and without the loophole he¡¯d been able to find in the curse, he would have lost his mind to the ever increasing pain.

    The memory of that pain was dull now, muted by time and experience, but Verdan could still taste the desperation of those dark days. His teacher had toiled tirelessly alongside him, first to try and find a way to remove the curse, and then to develop the spell needed to put him in stasis.

    Verdan picked up the glass of deep amber alcohol that sat next to him and sipped it contemplatively. It had taken him time to deal with everything he¡¯d lost coming to this new time, this new place.

    Now, though, things had changed.

    Verdan¡¯s biggest question, the thing he¡¯d wrestled with since the moment he realised that Wizardry was dead in the modern world, was what to bring back.

    Verdan doubted any single Wizard had had such a golden opportunity to shape the understanding of an entire branch of magic.

    It was terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure, and he¡¯d found his own path for how to balance those two parts.

    The enchanting machine for the crossbow bolts, taking Dirk on as an apprentice, creating the device for testing people for their Sorcery aptitude. Even creating a pseudo-enchantment for Kai¡¯s spear.

    Verdan had cast each of those things out into the water, watching the ripples from them spread. This very trip to the north, in fact, had begun when Sebastian had heard about Verdan¡¯s enchanted weaponry.

    Verdan shuddered to think what would have happened without his intervention here, and he could hardly regret that it had happened.

    The diagrams on the sheets before him, however, were so far beyond that it was scarcely credible.

    Verdan had thought that he had come from the apex of Wizardry, from the heights of power, but he was wrong.

    Whatever society had designed and created both the Automaton that he¡¯d fought and the facility it was stored in were leagues past the Grym Imperium.

    Verdan had been happy in his position of knowledge, of using that deeper understanding to outwit and overpower his foes.

    This time, though, he was experiencing the other side of that knowledge gap.

    There was nothing left in the facility except what the Kranjir traitors and their allies had been using and the body of the Automaton.

    That meant that Verdan was trying to understand more about that wondrous, yet particularly complex, piece of arcane construction without anything more than what he brought with him and what he could see from its damaged remains.

    So far, he¡¯d come to several conclusions.

    Firstly, the lamp that he¡¯d been given back in Hobson¡¯s Point by Macannan, the Steel Custodian Sorcerer, used the same style of enchantment as the Automaton, the facility he¡¯d found in the ruined tower and the weapons of the Kranjir Chosen.

    The Automaton was carved with countless sigils, some of which were small and in groups, while others seemed to be a single shape that would have covered a much larger section.

    All of these sigils were inside the construct, and it was only from the battle damage it had sustained that Verdan had access to any of them.

    In return for teaching Ciaran and Maeve the basics of making a gathering spiral, Verdan had been able to examine their weapons, making note of the way they were inscribed with the different sigils.

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    The Kranjir made an effort to conceal these arcane marks with designs and decorations, but the little that Verdan could make out was exactly the same in style as the other examples he¡¯d found.

    Sipping his drink and getting up to pace the room, Verdan found himself wishing he knew more about enchantments. What he had here was an entirely different way of creating them, and seemingly on a much larger scale.

    The idea of mass-produced enchantments seemed impossible, but that was what Verdan was seeing.

    What sort of society would have such magical power at its fingertips, and what would it look like?

    The Grym Imperium had been home to countless Wizards of the three citizen races, but magic had remained a tool for them directly, not something which could be spread out amongst those without the capability of Wizardry.

    Perhaps in some ways, Verdan had a glimpse of that life with how he¡¯d been using his Aether constructs. Perhaps he was actually following the same road that his forebears had, which had eventually led to this new language of sigils.

    Verdan stopped and put his glass down, shaking his head slightly as he moved over to the window.

    Thane Donal Macstan of Clan Thrain had given Verdan this house within the Thrain Hold, the administrative centre of both the city and the Clan. It was Verdan¡¯s for as long as he was staying here, which wouldn¡¯t be much longer.

    The fight with the Gormagyr, the Automaton and the strange magic user had been four days ago, and it was time that Verdan accepted he would make no further progress in the short term.

    What he was dealing with was just too far removed from what he was used to, and from his own magic, for him to be able to pick it up quickly.

    Looking out the window at the towering peak of the Bristaen, Verdan decided that it was time to start back to Hobson¡¯s Point. He¡¯d put it off long enough as it was.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t quite that easy, and he hated the idea of leaving the Automaton remains behind, but the time had come.

    A soft knock at the door drew Verdan¡¯s attention as it opened and Barb stepped in. ¡°What is it, Barb?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a messenger for you from Keeper Macstan, shall I show him in?¡±

    ¡°Please do,¡± Verdan said, moving back to his desk and gathering the loose paper that was strewn across it. He wasn¡¯t sure what Sebastian wanted, but this might be a good excuse for him to speak with the Keeper and start the process of leaving the city.

    Barb opened the door wider and a young Kranjir girl came in and nodded respectfully to Verdan.

    Since his part in ousting the traitors within the Clan, Verdan had found himself well respected by the average person within the Clan. They still seemed to find his lack of caelin, the ritual scars that all Kranjir bore, strange, but it was nice to be appreciated.

    ¡°Wizard Blacke, Keeper Macstan invites you to dinner this evening. Wizard Mhorgain has been invited as well, as has Sorcerer Kai and Witches Gwen and Hedda. I¡¯ve been asked to wait for your response.¡±

    ¡°Please tell the Keeper that I will be happy to attend,¡± Verdan said, not bothering to ask about when or where this dinner would be. He had little doubt that someone would arrive to escort him when the time came.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± the young girl said, nodding to Verdan once more before leaving the room at a quick pace.

    ¡°Anything you need from me?¡± Barb asked with a raised brow.

    ¡°No, but spread the word informally that we¡¯ll be heading home in the next couple of days if all goes well. I¡¯ll be discussing matters with the Keeper this evening.¡±

    Barb nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her.

    Verdan finished his drink and made sure his notes were secured in the desk before casting a ward on it that would alert him if it was disturbed.

    That done, he got to his feet and grabbed his staff before heading downstairs, Barb falling in step behind him as he went.

    Verdan didn¡¯t really need any protection in the heart of a Kranjir city, especially not this one, but he had long since given up on arguing with any of his protectors.

    Well, he also paid Barb to do just this, but he liked to think that they were past such a simple transactional relationship. Likewise with the rest of the guards back at Hobson¡¯s Point.

    Verdan¡¯s mind drifted to Tim and Tom, and he wondered how the two brothers were getting along. Tim had been on a trip with Sylvie to meet with the Airta last he knew.

    Considering that their relationship seemed to be borderline taboo for the other Airta, Verdan hoped that the trip had been a bit less eventful than his own.

    Magnus Macstan, one of Verdan¡¯s Kranjir allies and self-assigned retainer, was downstairs doing some gentle stretching exercises with his arm when they went past, but he quickly grabbed his axe and joined Barb at Verdan¡¯s heels.

    Magnus had suffered a nasty arm injury in the battle with the Darjee, and then again with the Automaton.

    In fact, Verdan was pretty sure that Magnus had suffered a bad injury in every battle they¡¯d been in together. If it weren¡¯t for Verdan¡¯s healing spells, Magnus would either be dead or missing a few limbs.

    In some ways, Magnus seemed to be treating his relationship to Verdan as that of a Thearn to a Chosen.

    Chosen were the heroes of the Clans, wielders of the ancestral weapons and seemingly all instinctual users of Aether. The Thearns were volunteers who served to assist individual Chosen, giving each Clan a number of small warbands centred around a single strong individual.

    Verdan had no real issue with Magnus joining them, he¡¯d proved his worth many times over. The problem was the precedent he was setting by doing so.

    On his own, it was no issue, but combined with the situation of Verdan¡¯s apprentice, it was a thumb in the eye of some of the more stubborn Kranjir.

    Speaking of which, it was time to check in on Dirk and his growing contingent of Clan Mhorgain fighters.

 Imperial Wizard 4 and January schedule

    Hi All,

    Book 4 is now out on amazon on the link above, please take a look and have a read if you want to see the final version. If nothing else you can check out the awesome artwork we got made for it!

    I''m soldiering on through book 5 at the moment, and from the 1st of January we''ll be back to three posts a week as we dig into what''s going to happen with the rest of the Host and repercussions from the events at the end of book 4!

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    It''s all very exciting and I''m looking forward to you all reading it, I hope you enjoy it just as much!

    This will be the last post until the 1st, so have a great christmas and get some relaxation in!

    Thanks for reading,

    J

 Imperial Wizard Book 5 - AA5 1 - Aftermath I

    Verdan Blacke, Wizard of the Grym Imperium, sipped at a mug of hot tea that Barb had brought him and gently rubbed at his temples. It had been three days since the Cyth Host had been fractured and broken. Three days of hard work as they secured the area and saved as many of the injured as possible.

    Thankfully, between Verdan, Natalia, the mundane healers and the Clerics, they¡¯d been able to save far more than Verdan would have dared to hope. Not all, though, and far too many would carry the scars of this fight for the rest of their lives.

    Hopefully, they were through the worst of that now. Today was going to be about securing the area for the future.

    ¡°Here, Boss,¡± Barb said, holding out a bowl of porridge for Verdan to take. Barb was a stocky, one-handed woman with braided dark hair and the caelin of a Kranjir. A Kranjir¡¯s caelin was the collection of ritual scars that covered their face, reflecting their deeds, accomplishments and social standing.

    Barb had a few more than when she¡¯d first entered his employ, a fact that she was particularly proud of, as best he could tell.

    ¡°I told you I could do this, Barb,¡± Verdan said, giving her a stern look as he put his tea down and took the bowl. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be making multiple trips like this.¡±

    Barb gave him a stubborn look before heading back to where the cooks were set up to get her own bowl. Rubbing his face, Verdan tried to think of a way to replace her prosthetic.

    The original had been destroyed when she fought the leader of the Cyth Host, but Barb was refusing to let being one-handed again slow her down. Unfortunately, Verdan had so many things to do at the moment that he doubted he¡¯d be able to help anytime soon.

    Barb came back a few minute later with her own bowl and took a seat opposite Verdan, balancing the bowl on one knee so she could eat.

    ¡°Boss?¡± Ruan¡¯s voice drifted over the general bustle of the camp and Verdan saw the older guard working his way over to them. ¡°Disciple Morag is preparing to head through the pass.¡±

    Ruan was the second-in-command of Verdan¡¯s guards since the arrival of Captain Nikau. Ruan was a solidly built, bald man with a short braided beard and the remnants of bad scarring. Verdan had done what he could to help Ruan, even managing to remove his slur, but some of the deepest scars still lingered.

    ¡°Her timing is as good as ever,¡± Verdan said, all but inhaling his porridge and taking a big sip of his tea before getting up. Barb went to follow, but Verdan fixed her with a stern look. ¡°Stay here and rest. That¡¯s an order.¡±

    Barb nodded reluctantly and settled back down, leaving Verdan to follow Ruan up the path to the top of the ridge.

    The shattered remnants of their stand against the Cyth Host had been repaired somewhat in the last few days. They were far from as imposing as they had been when first made, but they weren¡¯t full of holes any more.

    Verdan nodded to the guards on duty as he followed Ruan through the gates and onto the eastern slope of the ridge. The ground here was pockmarked and cratered from the ferocity of the recent fighting, but there was still a workable path down to the pass.

    The largest crater stood at that entrance, the one that Verdan had intended to end the whole fight. He¡¯d concentrated the magic of dozens of people into an explosive trap, but the leader of the Steel Custodians had threatened to retreat if they didn¡¯t use it.

    In the end, she¡¯d retreated anyway, and the trap had left the elite core of the Host alive. Ella Brenn had a lot to answer for, starting with the death of Elder Dun.

    Dun had been the leader of the Eternal Wardens and a man that Verdan had quickly grown to respect. The Cyth Scerrd had killed him with a powerful attack during the final hours of the battle, leaving his second, Disciple Morag, in charge.

    Morag was a hard-faced woman with a no-nonsense and practical attitude, but she lacked Dun¡¯s authoritative presence or his leadership skills. Thankfully, Commander Silver still had overall control of the army, so the true responsibility for what happened next fell on him.

    ¡°Wizard Blacke,¡± Morag called out as she saw them approaching her group. There were several dozen Sorcerers and over a hundred Sect retainers waiting alongside her, mainly from the Eternal Wardens Sect but with a few others mixed in. ¡°Are you ready to proceed?¡±

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    ¡°Yes, is there anything you need from me before we begin?¡± Verdan asked, mentally reviewing the abysmal amount of Aether he¡¯d been able to gather over the last few days.

    He was meditating and gathering it as often as he could, but nearly all that he brought in was immediately used for one project or another.

    ¡°No, we have it in hand,¡± Morag said, giving them a nod before turning and calling out orders to get the group moving.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the point of all this, Boss?¡± Ruan asked quietly as they started into the pass. ¡°I thought we had the eastern ridge under control already?¡±

    ¡°We have a presence there, but it¡¯s far from under control,¡± Verdan said with a shake of his head. ¡°Morag is going to establish a more permanent structure to control this avenue of access. She¡¯s sent word back to the rest of her Sect back at Dresk about Elder Dun and the situation. All being well, they¡¯ll send some of their reserves to come forward. We¡¯ll leave them here as a garrison when we head west to meet up with the other army at Ramoria.¡±

    ¡°Got it, so we don¡¯t expect any fighting, then?¡±

    ¡°No, everything should be under control already. There will be Cyth in the area, but Sylvie has had her people hunting them down, so there won¡¯t be many left.¡±

    Ruan nodded his understanding, and they strode along in silence for a few minutes as Verdan considered how much had changed recently. Normally, he¡¯d have taken Barb, Pawel or Pania along with him for a trip like this.

    Now, though, Barb had lost her prosthetic, Pania was still recovering from a grievous wound and Pawel had fallen during one of the final assaults. Only four of Verdan¡¯s personal guards had died, though only a few had come through unscathed.

    It was a good thing that he lost so few, and the fact that their casualties were as low as they were was thanks to the new medallions he¡¯d been making. The medallions provided a brief surge of healing when the wearer was injured, helping stave off death until help could arrive. Perhaps one of the best things that Verdan had done, and something he was proud of.

    The medallions could only do so much, though, and Pawel¡¯s throat had been ripped out by a Cyth. He¡¯d been dead long before help could arrive, and though Verdan had been only feet away, he¡¯d been able to do nothing.

    Verdan was getting better at healing, and had developed some new spells to help, but he was far from able to save everyone.

    Pushing that train of thought aside, Verdan settled into a light meditation as they marched through the pass, using the time to recover his Aether. He wouldn¡¯t be doing much directly on this trip, so it was the perfect time to get work done on restoring his reserves.

    They passed by each of the broken fortifications in the pass one by one. Each time, the sight of the broken defences reinforced the sombre atmosphere of the group.

    Too many had died drawing the Cyth through this pass. A cold-blooded and rational accounting of it all told Verdan that it was worth it. After all, they¡¯d won. This part of the Host had been destroyed and Dresk had been saved.

    Looking at these broken lines of defence, Verdan couldn¡¯t help but see the rows of graves that had been dug in the last few days in his mind¡¯s eye. Hundreds had fallen, even with everything they could do. Just like Pawel, just like the guards he¡¯d healed and brought out here with. People he¡¯d barely even had the chance to know.

    ¡°You okay, Boss?¡± Ruan asked softly as they neared the far end of the pass.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± Verdan said, looking away from the last of the walls. ¡°I hope to never see something like this again, though.¡±

    ¡°Your lips to the god¡¯s ears,¡± Ruan said, shaking his head. ¡°I never would have imagined seeing something like this. But we did it, and part of that is thanks to you. This same army a few years ago would have lost to the Host.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t argue that my work was pivotal to our plan, but without us, Elder Vanarr would have supported the army in a different way. We aren¡¯t irreplaceable, Ruan. Nor do I want us to be.¡±

    ¡°I understand what you¡¯re saying, Boss,¡± Ruan said, stopping and turning to face Verdan with a serious expression. ¡°But you need to be honest with yourself. You helped give the city guards an edge. You brought the Kranjir, the Fwyn, the Brecan and the Airta here. Your magic set that trap and your allies were the ones to deal the killing blow. Not to mention that our presence allowed Elder Vanarr to keep as many of the Sorcerers as he did. I know you¡¯re modest, but don¡¯t fool yourself.¡±

    Verdan blinked in surprise at Ruan¡¯s stern tone. ¡°I hadn¡¯t realised that you¡¯d given it so much thought.¡±

    ¡°Kai and I spent a lot of time making sure that any guards we brought on had the right frame of mind. You¡¯re changing things, Boss, and it will only get more noticeable. Every one of your guards is here to help you do that.¡±

    Verdan arched a brow in surprise once more before nodding. He did remember Nikau mentioning his previous poor experience with Sorcerers, but he hadn¡¯t realised that it had been something shared across his guards.

    ¡°I see,¡± Verdan said eventually, taking a deep breath before nodding once more. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right, Ruan. Perhaps I¡¯ve been caught up in my own guilt over not being able to do more. Do me a favour, though.¡±

    ¡°Of course. What do you need?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m all for change, and I¡¯ll push for anything that prevents another issue like this. That said, I don¡¯t want to fight against the Sects unless I have to, so I want full cooperation with them. Understood?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Boss,¡± Ruan said crisply, bracing to attention briefly. ¡°Captain Nikau is on it, but I¡¯ll give a reminder. We¡¯re not aggressive, though, and we¡¯re not here to make matters worse. They¡¯ll realise the threat you pose one day, and when they try to stop you, we¡¯ll be there.¡±

    ¡°If it comes to that, know that you¡¯ll be armed to the teeth with the best equipment I can make,¡± Verdan said solemnly. ¡°Thank you, Ruan. I needed that talk.¡±

    ¡°Anytime, Boss,¡± Ruan said as they began to climb the slope of the eastern ridge.

 AA5 2 - Aftermath II

    The far side of the eastern ridge was only slightly less damaged and battle-scarred than Verdan remembered. Most of the work that had been done so far had been to establish a new fortified position rather than repairing what had been done.

    It was the right priority, but Verdan shivered as he saw how badly damaged the raised area was where he¡¯d been fighting from. Far more attacks had got through their defences than he¡¯d realised at the time.

    Turning away, Verdan focused on the new construction around the crest of the ridge. From what Morag had said of her message to Dresk, this was going to be an outpost for the Eternal Wardens.

    A threat from the east hadn¡¯t been considered in the past, but measures were being taken to ensure that they were ready the next time. A commendable attitude in Verdan¡¯s mind, though he wished they¡¯d had this position to begin with.

    Unlike the hasty construction they¡¯d used for their own defences, the work here was being moved forward methodically and with care. The five Fwyn and both Brecan were here already, having come with the initial group.

    The idea had been that they would either seal the ridge or begin construction, depending on what the situation was when they arrived.

    Now, with a new cadre of Sorcerers to assist, the building would push forward at speed. Once the reinforcements from Dresk arrived, they would be moving on, so the more they could do before then, the better.

    The last thing Verdan wanted was for them to move on to rendezvous with the other army, only for a splinter force of Cyth to breach the pass and raid the lands around Dresk.

    Morag was hard at work ensuring that wouldn¡¯t happen, however, so Verdan shaped a nearby section of rock into a passable bench and took a seat. ¡°Give me a nudge if anything happens.¡±

    ¡°You got it, Boss,¡± Ruan said, sitting beside him but keeping his axe across his legs.

    Satisfied, Verdan closed his eyes and shifted to a deeper meditation so he could work on building his spiral and gathering Aether.

    -**-

    Verdan and Ruan returned to the main camp some hours later, once it was clear that there would be no immediate response to the growing activity around the ridge. It was possible that an attack would still happen, but the exterior wall of the future outpost was complete enough that they had no need of Verdan if it did come.

    Travelling back and forth, as well as the time waiting in between, meant that most of the day was used up by the time they got back. Deciding to take an early night and start working on his next job in the morning, Verdan started back toward his wagon.

    A campfire had been set up nearby and Verdan saw Kai, Gwen and Vaijon sat around it. The Elder was explaining something to Kai, while Gwen was staring into the flames with a distant expression.

    Verdan¡¯s wagon was dark and empty, which meant Natalia was still working, so he changed direction to join them, taking a seat next to Gwen.

    Gwen was a Storm Witch, a powerful one at that, with long dark hair and bright blue eyes. Normally, she would be quick to be involved in everything that was happening, but right now, she was still recovering from the severe burns she¡¯d received.

    Exactly how she¡¯d got those burns was something that Verdan still didn¡¯t quite understand, but Gwen didn¡¯t remember, and everyone else there was dead.

    ¡°How are you feeling, Gwen? Anything I can do?¡± Verdan asked as he took his seat, eyeing the scarring that marred her face as she turned to face him. It had healed well, all things considered, but even their best efforts couldn¡¯t remove all the burn scars.

    ¡°No. Thank you, though,¡± Gwen said, shaking her head slightly. ¡°Natalia has given me a potion to dull the ache, and the rest will just be time. I¡¯m more concerned with Kai at the moment.¡±

    ¡°Is it good news, then?¡± Verdan asked, turning to look at Kai and Vaijon, who were caught up in their conversation. After the Cyth Scerrd took control of Kai¡¯s arm there was a battle for dominance over it between the two of them.

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Kai won the battle in the end, but the act of wresting control of his arm from the Cyth seemed to have been enough for him to sense his soul. Exactly what that meant, Verdan didn¡¯t know, but Vaijon had promised to see if it was enough to try to help him.

    ¡°I hope so,¡± Gwen said softly, wincing as she absently ran a hand through her hair and touched a burn. ¡°Vaijon is teaching him a simple exercise. If Kai can do that, then he should be able to heal his arm.¡±

    ¡°Now that¡¯s definitely good news,¡± Verdan said, reaching out with his Aether senses to study the two Sorcerers.

    Kai had been one of Verdan¡¯s very first allies, and had quickly become Verdan¡¯s friend and most dependable companion. He was of average build, with short brown hair and dark eyes, but his most notable feature were the countless scars that he¡¯d picked up.

    Kai had been a monster hunter for a long time, and while he was successful, he¡¯d put himself in enough bad situations to earn those scars.

    Vaijon, by comparison, was a thin, bald man with a few old burns from some previous battle and piercing grey eyes. He was also the Elder of the Disciples of Adamar, a Sect of Sorcerers who could wield their soul.

    In Verdan¡¯s terms, that meant they could also use Parada as well as Essence. Perhaps a limited form of Parada, but far more than he could do. Or that he could understand, for that matter.

    Verdan shifted his focus back to Kai as his friend frowned in concentration and waved a hand, causing a gust of wind to sweep past them all. Whatever he¡¯d been trying to do didn¡¯t seem to have worked, however, as he turned back to Vaijon with a frown.

    Verdan had been watching carefully when Kai used his Essence, but he kept what he¡¯d seen to himself. As far as he could tell, Kai hadn¡¯t wielded any Parada at all.

    Telling the Sorcerer that outright might well make things harder for him, though, so Verdan decided to simply watch and wait. No doubt it would take time for Kai to get to grips with what Vaijon wanted.

    Of course, that was assuming that Kai truly had found a connection to his soul. Verdan hoped he had, and Vaijon was the closest thing they had to an expert, but he was still concerned.

    Their army was battered, and they¡¯d lost an Elder. It was a huge loss in both leadership and raw power for the army. If Vaijon could help Kai heal his arm, though, it would give them a good positive event to focus on.

    Kai was right on the cusp of becoming an Elder if Verdan understood things correctly. He didn¡¯t have a Sect though, so perhaps that would complicate matters.

    Sorcerer politics and rankings weren¡¯t exactly Verdan¡¯s strong suit. He¡¯d leave those worries to those better equipped to deal with them.

    ¡°I think I¡¯m going to head off to get some sleep,¡± Gwen said, rising to her feet with a wince as she waved off their offers of help. ¡°I¡¯ll see you all in the morning.¡±

    ¡°I might go as well,¡± Verdan said, starting to get up when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

    ¡°Actually, could you stay for a few minutes?¡± Natalia asked quietly, looking around them anxiously before giving Verdan a pleading look. ¡°We need to talk about something.¡±

    The vague tiredness Verdan had been fighting was washed away in an instant as he saw the worry in Natalia¡¯s eyes and he quickly nodded. ¡°Of course. What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°We can leave, if that would help?¡± Vaijon glanced between the two of them, seemingly picking up on her unease as well.

    ¡°No, actually, all three of you should hear this,¡± Natalia said, taking a seat next to Verdan and slipping her hand into his as she took a deep, steadying breath.

    Natalia had been a recluse when Verdan met her, hiding herself away from the world with veils and keeping every inch of her skin covered to hide her burns. Where Vaijon¡¯s burns were old and faded, making them hard to pick out in places, Natalia¡¯s were very much evident. Even the oldest were vibrant streaks of bright red across her skin, all thanks to the fire that had almost burnt down her family¡¯s workshop.

    Verdan had helped with her wounds, bringing things to where she could breathe properly and was comfortable to be out in public. But he¡¯d always wished he could do more.

    ¡°We¡¯re listening,¡± he said softly, meeting her bright blue gaze with as much support as he could convey. He wasn¡¯t sure exactly what they were to each other, but he hated to see her this worried over anything.

    ¡°It¡¯s about Gwen,¡± Natalia said, squeezing Verdan¡¯s hand as she turned to meet Kai¡¯s gaze. ¡°The fluid nature of her burns forms a very distinctive pattern. One that I recognise from treating it in the past. It was a long time ago, but I can still see it plain as day.¡±

    ¡°You know what happened to her?¡± Kai asked intently, leaning forward as Natalia paused and looked around to see who was nearby.

    ¡°Tawel gward,¡± Verdan said softly, forming a zone of silence around them. He had a feeling that they would want to keep whatever Natalia was about to say private.

    Natalia gave Verdan a thankful look before nodding. ¡°Yes, the same thing happened to my father when he shook hands with a hostile Sorcerer. They conjured something like burning oil into his palm. It crippled his hand.¡±

    ¡°Wait, I remember you telling me about this,¡± Verdan said, furrowing his brow in thought. ¡°It was when the Defiant Flame made their first attempt to take over the city. A pair of brothers came to try and win the city over.¡±

    ¡°Yes, and my father blocked them, so the older of the two punished him for it,¡± Natalia said in a choked voice.

    ¡°Who was it. Give me a name,¡± Kai said intently, the dirt around him shifting as some of his Essence leaked out into a light breeze.

    ¡°The older brother was the same Elder who led their alliance with the Weeping Death. I realised it after the fact, but it didn¡¯t seem relevant anymore, and I wanted to forget. His name was Fredan Skarv, and his younger brother was called Kurgane.¡±

 AA5 3 - Balance

    There was a brief moment of silence as they all took in what Natalia had said before Kai growled menacingly and surged to his feet with murderous intent.

    ¡°When I find that worthless waste of a Sorcerer, he¡¯ll pay for what he¡¯s done,¡± Kai growled menacingly as he strode to where his spear was leaning against a nearby rock.

    Vaijon and Verdan had risen as well, caught up in the moment, but Vaijon was quick to get between Kai and his spear. ¡°You can¡¯t do this. Not now.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re protecting him?¡± Kai asked in a dangerous tone, his hands curling into tight fists.

    ¡°I¡¯m stopping you from breaking this army,¡± Vaijon said calmly, his hands raised to show his palms. ¡°I mean you no ill, and if what Natalia says is true, he will pay. You can¡¯t go after him now, though, not with the situation we¡¯re in.¡±

    ¡°He hurt Gwen,¡± Kai said simply. ¡°He almost killed her.¡±

    Verdan could feel the tension rising between the two and quickly moved over to rest a hand on Kai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°A few more minutes won¡¯t make a difference. Let¡¯s hear his reasoning.¡±

    Kai said nothing for a long few moments before eventually giving a slight nod and taking his seat once more. ¡°Alright. Explain.¡±

    Vaijon gave Verdan a thankful look as they both sat down. ¡°The reason why I need you to leave him alone is the Sect leadership within our branch of the army. Currently, Morag is nominally in charge, with Kurgane being her second. Morag is far from a social woman, though, so most of the Sect Sorcerers are looking to Kurgane for leadership.¡±

    ¡°Wait, that doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Verdan interjected with a frown. ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a Disciple of Adamar,¡± Vaijon said, spreading his hands as though that answered it all. Seeing that Verdan didn¡¯t understand, he glanced at Kai before explaining further. ¡°My Sect is comprised of Sorcerers from dozens of other Sects. The vast majority of our recruits come from established Sorcerers who gain the ability to sense their soul. That means we need to be able to recruit from the other Sects, so we have non-interference agreements with them all.¡±

    ¡°The Disciples stand apart from the rest, it¡¯s part of why they don¡¯t have retainers,¡± Kai added, seemingly getting a grip on his anger. ¡°They ignore Sect politics and, in return, can recruit from anywhere.¡±

    ¡°But surely you¡¯re still the most highly ranked Sorcerer within this army?¡± Verdan asked, rubbing his jaw in thought. ¡°This isn¡¯t exactly Sect politics.¡±

    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t,¡± Vaijon said with a slight nod. ¡°But I can¡¯t lead them the way that Dun could. Their traditions force them to view me as something similar to you. Powerful, yes, and to be respected, but not part of their leadership.¡±

    ¡°I fail to see how this is an issue,¡± Kai said tightly.

    ¡°The issue is that Morag isn¡¯t a leader, and if you kill Kurgane, I worry what will happen to the rest of the army. Without Dun, the Eternal Wardens are shaken. After Brenn abandoned the fight, the Steel Custodians are ashamed and the few Stormlords left are just going through the motions. The alliance between these Sects is tenuous at best. It won¡¯t take much to crack it open.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like a problem for you to deal with, Elder,¡± Kai said heatedly. ¡°What matters to me is that he almost killed Gwen. How can I rest easy when he shares a camp with us?¡±

    Kai was getting louder as he grew angrier, so Verdan poured more Aether into the silencing ward. He really didn¡¯t want anyone overhearing this.

    ¡°Not your problem?¡± Vaijon asked calmly, unphased by Kai¡¯s anger. ¡°So you would risk who knows how many innocents dying, all so you could feel better?¡±

    Kai went to speak but Vaijon kept going, talking over the other Sorcerer.

    ¡°Personally, I think Natalia is right, but her recollection is far from proof. Another member of the Sect could have similar magic, or it could be a coincidence. I don¡¯t believe it, but are you that certain it was him?¡±

    Kai grimaced and looked away, the muscles in his jaw flexing before he eventually shook his head. ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Good, then all I ask is that you hold back. If he commits another crime, I¡¯ll deal with him personally. Until then, leave him alone. I¡¯d take this as a personal favour from both of you.¡± Vaijon included Verdan with a glance, but they both knew that Kai was the real problem.

    ¡°You have my word on it,¡± Kai said, grinding out the words like they physically hurt him.

    ¡°And mine,¡± Verdan said, giving Vaijon a slight nod before turning to Natalia. ¡°If you see any other burns like those Gwen has, just let me know.¡±

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    Natalia nodded hesitantly, looking between the three of them with a worried expression. ¡°I will, but so far, she¡¯s the only one. If I¡¯d seen anything else, I¡¯d have told you straight away. I¡¯ve only waited this long because I was waiting for a chance to say something when he wouldn¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°I understand, and I think you did the right thing. What he¡¯s done will be answered for, but we need to keep everyone together,¡± Vaijon said, getting to his feet. ¡°I¡¯ll see you in the morning for more training, Kai.¡± With a nod to Verdan and Natalia, Vaijon walked off into the camp.

    ¡°I won¡¯t break my word, but the moment Kurgane steps out of line, he¡¯s dead,¡± Kai said, fixing Verdan with a hard stare. ¡°I want you to promise not to hide anything from me.¡±

    ¡°You have my word on it,¡± Verdan said softly, thinking of how angry he¡¯d be if someone hurt Natalia. He agreed with Vaijon that they needed Kurgane alive for now, but that wouldn¡¯t last forever.

    When it did, Verdan would make sure the smug Sorcerer paid for hurting his friend.

    -**-

    Kai and Vaijon continued their lessons over the next two days, with Kai making good progress in controlling his soul.

    They tried to explain it to Verdan, and the Wizard tried to emulate Kai¡¯s exercises, but to no avail.

    Still, it was interesting to watch, especially when Kai was able to successfully use his soul to blend Parada into his Essence.

    For now, that took the form of Kai gaining a fine control over who his magic affected. Verdan could shape his spells to work around someone, but it took a moment and some concentration.

    Even then, Verdan couldn¡¯t work miracles.

    With a minor amount of Parada, however, Kai could create a gust of wind that could knock over a target while not even ruffling the hair on Verdan¡¯s head.

    To make matters worse, he could do it without actually seeing where Verdan was. The intent to not harm his allies was somehow transferred to the Essence by the Parada.

    Verdan watched as Kai demonstrated again, his control over this new magic growing slowly but steadily.

    Parada really was an annoying magic.

    Kai was improving, but he was still getting to grips with using Parada, so Vaijon had brought in some assistance.

    The most common usage of Parada was with the Airta, so Vaijon had drafted Sylvie¡¯s brother to help them.

    Blane was a Draskir, a wielder of Parada that bound wolves and other animals. Blane had demonstrated how his shifting and binding worked, as well as forming a hunt with Friga, his frost wolf.

    Kai seemed to find the demonstration informative, so Vaijon had dragged in a few other Disciples of Adamar before finally convincing Tim to take part.

    Tim had joined Verdan at the same time as Kai, initially as a simple guard, but over time, his role had become more complex.

    Tim had formed some sort of mating bond with Sylvie when they rescued her from the Darjee. That bond had matured to the point where Tim had managed to manifest some Airta abilities.

    The Airta were still shocked by Tim¡¯s bond with Fenn, the ugly hound he¡¯d adopted, and by how he could call a hunt.

    Vaijon seemed to think that Tim¡¯s bond with Sylvie had given him access to his soul, and from that it had grown to give him these abilities.

    ¡°Okay, Tim, it¡¯s your turn,¡± Vaijon called out, motioning Tim forward as Kai took a break. ¡°We¡¯ll leave the Airta abilities for now and focus on the other side of things.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m happy to try,¡± Tim said, stepping out into the centre of the area they were using to train. ¡°But I don¡¯t really have a good grip on that side of things.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have that covered,¡± Vaijon said, a slight smirk touching the corner of his mouth as he signalled someone in the camp.

    Verdan turned to see who else Vaijon had roped into this, only to chuckle as a silver wolf came bounding their way.

    The wolf padded up next to Tim before shifting back into human form.

    Sylvie swept her long silver hair over her shoulder before leaning up to kiss Tim on the cheek and saunter off behind him.

    Verdan felt just as confused as Tim looked, but he quickly picked up what was happening as Sylvie artfully fell to the ground a short distance past Tim.

    ¡°Oh no, I¡¯ve fallen and hurt my leg,¡± Sylvie called out, rolling onto her side and winking at Tim. ¡°Protect me from these savages, meu drassul.¡±

    A brief gust of wind kicked up some dirt as Ruthin, another Disciple of Adamar, arrived. The wind Sorcerer had a pair of daggers drawn already and pointed one of them at Tim.

    ¡°If I get past you, I¡¯m going to stab her. If you don¡¯t want that, you¡¯re going to have to stop me.¡± Ruthin twirled his daggers and waited just long enough for Tim to draw his sword before charging forward.

    Verdan had seen how fast Ruthin could move, so he knew full well that the Sorcerer was holding back. Still, the threat of Sylvie getting hurt was enough to trigger whatever protective magic Tim had access to.

    Verdan was getting better at sensing the presence of Parada, and he could feel it now. It was building with each moment that Tim fought off the Sorcerer.

    Despite Ruthin¡¯s greater speed, Tim was holding his own against the slender Sorcerer. Verdan¡¯s former guard was moving with a level of fluid grace far beyond what he could usually do, and he was reacting instantly to anything Ruthin did.

    ¡°You see, Parada can take many forms. We each shape it in our own way, forming the magic that we will call upon later,¡± Vaijon said as they watched the demonstration.

    ¡°I think I understand,¡± Kai said with a nod. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to find how it worked, when I should be shaping it myself.¡±

    ¡°It works differently for everyone,¡± Vaijon said with a shrug. ¡°We all have our own realisations, our own paths to making it work. What matters is that you find your own.¡±

    Verdan closed his eyes and muttered a silent prayer of thanks that he was a Wizard and didn¡¯t have to deal with Parada.

    The more he learned, the more it felt like a chaotic mess where no one understood the rules.

    ¡°Elder Vaijon!¡± An Eternal Warden retainer called out as they came running their way from the camp. ¡°Commander Silver wants to see you and the Wizard as soon as possible!¡±

    ¡°Ruthin,¡± Vaijon said calmly, bringing the spar to an end as he got to his feet and shared a tense look with Verdan. ¡°Scout the area. Make sure our perimeter is secure.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Elder,¡± Ruthin said, giving a nod to Tim before whispering under his breath and rushing off with a gust of wind.

    ¡°Did the Commander say what he wanted?¡± Verdan asked the retainer as Ruthin disappeared off into the distance.

    ¡°No, Wizard Blacke. A Sorcerer of the Unbound Gale arrived shortly before he sent for you, though.¡±

 AA5 4 - Plans

    Vaijon and Verdan hurried into the pavilion Silver had set up as his main command post.

    Silver was already present, as was a ragged-looking Sorcerer in colours that Verdan recognised as the Unbound Gale.

    Not many of the air and wind Sorcerers had joined the alliance army, and Elder Vanarr had taken all of them with him when he went east.

    One being present here was either a very good thing, or a very bad one.

    ¡°Verdan, Vaijon,¡± Silver said, turning to face them with a grim expression. ¡°We¡¯ve had a message from Elder Vanarr. He has engaged the other portion of the Cyth Host.¡±

    ¡°Was it also much larger than expected?¡± Verdan asked, knowing the answer from Silver¡¯s expression. ¡°How bad was it?¡±

    ¡°Twice the size of what we fought here, approximately twenty thousand total,¡± Silver said as he tapped a finger on a folded letter that lay before him. ¡°He describes the situation they¡¯re in here, and it isn¡¯t good. You should both take a seat. I¡¯ve sent a rider for Morag as well, but she¡¯s hours away yet.¡±

    ¡°Yet you neglected to send one for me,¡± Kurgane¡¯s voice came from behind them as the Defiant Flame Sorcerer came in to join them. ¡°I thought I¡¯d see what was happening that needed these two quite so urgently.¡±

    ¡°My apologies, Disciple Skarv,¡± Silver said in a neutral voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t realise you should have been informed.¡±

    ¡°Oh yes, after all, I¡¯m at least second in command of this whole operation now.¡±

    Silver looked slightly confused, so Vaijon gave him the summary of how he stood outside of the Sects. As the two spoke, Verdan could feel Kurgane looking him over and had to actively fight the urge to snap at him.

    Verdan hadn¡¯t liked the arrogant Sorcerer from the first, and Natalia¡¯s revelation had made him dislike Kurgane all the more.

    ¡°I see,¡± Silver said as Vaijon finished explaining matters. ¡°Unfortunately, while you are second in command of the Sects, you are far lower for the overall force.¡±

    Kurgane frowned, his smile falling away. ¡°How exactly do you see that being the case?¡±

    Silver smiled blandly, but Verdan could tell that he was enjoying the chance to put the Sorcerer in his place. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve nominated Verdan as my second, then Disciple Morag as my third. Fourth should then be either yourself or one of the other leaders of the smaller allied groups. We haven¡¯t given it that much thought from that point on.¡±

    Verdan inwardly cheered the Commander on, enjoying the barely concealed outrage on Kurgane¡¯s face. It wasn¡¯t the most politic move to aggravate the Sorcerer, but Kurgane needed to learn where the boundaries were.

    Vaijon cleared his throat and gave both Silver and Kurgane a pointed look. ¡°As much as I enjoy this, shall we discuss the message?¡±

    ¡°Of course, my apologies, Elder Vaijon,¡± Silver said with a nod before turning back to the Unbound Gale Sorcerer. ¡°Do you mind summarising your own experiences?¡±

    The Sorcerer nodded before clearing his throat, looking decidedly uncomfortable with the situation. ¡°The Elder used my Sect to locate the Cyth Host, with the original intent to engage them directly. He also had us looking for advantageous areas of land to fight the Cyth, but without the Eternal Wardens, the expectation was a straight fight.¡±

    ¡°Understandable,¡± Vaijon said with a slow nod. ¡°We were lucky to find what we did, but we also had the skills and magic to improve on it. While the other army has a lot, they had little for a defensive fight.¡±

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    The Unbound Gale Sorcerer nodded. ¡°That seemed to be the Elder¡¯s assessment as well. I wasn¡¯t part of the group that located the Host, but the initial estimate put it well over the strength we anticipated. Without a fortified place to fight from, the Elder arranged a series of raids on them, to weaken the Host without a decisive action.¡±

    Verdan nodded approvingly. ¡°Mobility isn¡¯t a strength of the Cyth. While they can move quickly when needed, it would hardly be to the same degree that Sorcerers could manage.¡±

    ¡°We had some limited success,¡± the Sorcerer said, his gaze turning distant for a brief moment before he refocused on Verdan. ¡°As you said, we took full advantage of our speed to harass the Cyth. Unfortunately, they quickly learned our methods and changed the shape of their advance. Outlying groups of Cyth Lai would block out path to the core of the Host. We could either kill them and flee, or push forward but risk being bogged down.¡±

    Verdan could imagine the scenario, the tough situation and hard choices that had to be made. At least the Elder had a good core of Sorcerers to call upon, but even that great reserve of firepower would have its limits.

    ¡°What happened next?¡± Silver asked softly, prompting the Sorcerer to shift and continue.

    ¡°We kept up the attacks for a time, but eventually the Cyth forced our hand. They stopped trying to pin us down and instead began to push for the city of Gerann, and while our attacks were hurting them, we were far from stopping them. The Elder attempted a larger battle to draw them away from the city, but the Host ignored it altogether. Without the means to divert them, Elder Vanarr decided to hold the one fortified position we had and withdrew to Gerann.¡±

    Vaijon, Verdan and Silver winced as one, though Kurgane simply arched a brow questioningly. ¡°Why do you all react like that?¡±

    ¡°The Elder sacrificed his mobility, locking him into a battle with a force that was originally five times the size of his own. The raids will have reduced that, but even so, those are bad odds.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but a city¡¯s walls are strong and well defended,¡± Kurgane said, waving aside Verdan¡¯s concerns. ¡°I¡¯m sure the Elder had a plan.¡±

    ¡°Then you are a fool,¡± Vaijon said, shooting Kurgane a scathing look. ¡°Vanarr occupied the city because he was out of options. He couldn¡¯t stop them reaching the city, but neither could he allow the Host to gain access to so many innocents. If Gerann were to fall, the Host would grow far beyond what we could deal with. I¡¯d bet my favourite flask that he was having the city evacuated, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Elder,¡± the air Sorcerer said, clearly reluctant to be drawn into the argument. ¡°It began as soon as we arrived. When I left, the Host was approximately two days from the city, and it was well underway at that time.¡±

    ¡°Two days,¡± Verdan echoed, thinking of their own timings. ¡°And how long did it take you to reach us?¡±

    ¡°Three days.¡±

    ¡°Then that means the city has already been under siege for a full day,¡± Verdan said, shaking his head as he took in the state of the exhausted looking Sorcerer. ¡°You pushed to get here that fast, correct?¡±

    The Sorcerer nodded mutely and Silver motioned over to a map that was staked out on a table. ¡°I¡¯ve checked the distances. It will take us five days to reach them, accounting for the wagons.¡±

    ¡°Five days,¡± Vaijon said, rubbing the back of his head and sighing. ¡°I have to hope that the Elder can hold out for that long. Gerann is no fortress city or Enclave, though. Its defences are minor and designed more as a deterrent than a true fortification.¡±

    ¡°At least the city guard will be able to supplement the Elder¡¯s forces,¡± Verdan said, his gaze flicking to Kurgane for a moment as he remembered the siege of Hobson¡¯s Point. ¡°They can be far more effective than some would give them credit.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Silver murmured, giving Verdan a nod before clearing his throat and tapping the map once more. ¡°Regardless, we have a long way to go, and no idea of the situation as it stands. That means we need to act as though our presence will be the deciding factor. We will begin preparing to move off immediately.¡±

    ¡°What about Morag and the Eternal Wardens at the other ridge?¡± Vaijon asked.

    ¡°All being well, they¡¯ll be with us, but that will be Morag¡¯s call,¡± Silver said, spreading his hands. ¡°I won¡¯t force them to abandon this pass, not after the blood we shed claiming it. The majority of our strength is on this side, so we will move forward with that, and take the rest as it comes.¡±

    ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll go spread the word with our allies. We¡¯ll be ready to leave as soon as possible,¡± Verdan said, mentally listing who he¡¯d need to contact.

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay to go over what else we might be able to find out that isn¡¯t in the message,¡± Vaijon said, motioning for the messenger to follow him.

    Verdan nodded and excused himself, not waiting for what Kurgane might have to say or offer. Much like with what Silver did, Verdan knew this wasn¡¯t the right way to treat the proud Sorcerer, but he couldn¡¯t help it.

    A voice in the back of Verdan¡¯s mind wished that Kurgane would do something about it and give them the excuse to come down on him, but Verdan quashed it.

    The situation had changed now, they needed to be working together to make sure that the Cyth were defeated. As long as Kurgane was doing the same, Verdan would do his best to keep Kai in check.

 AA5 5 - Leaving I

    Walking away from the pavilion at the heart of the camp, the first thing Verdan did was to send a message to Gruthka, explaining the situation and letting them know he¡¯d send transportation.

    The Eternal Wardens might not come, or might not make the trip in time, but Verdan would ensure that the Fwyn weren¡¯t left behind. Especially considering that none of the Sorcerers with them could speak low imperial.

    A brief impression of confirmation came back from Gruthka, along with what he thought was Gruthka sending the Brecan back to the camp straight away.

    A good idea really, the Brecan were hardly quick movers, so it would take time for them to get back.

    That done, Verdan went back to where they¡¯d been helping Kai, only to find that everyone had already left.

    Drumming his hands, Verdan considered his options for a moment before heading over to the Airta portion of the camp.

    The organised and methodical way that the Sorcerers laid out their tents and ran their part of the camp stood in direct contrast to the Airta.

    A large cooking pit stood in the centre of their space, with several spits for roasting whatever had caught, and surrounded by a loose circle of tents.

    From how Zhalia, Blane and Sylvie were all set up near each other, Verdan had a feeling that the hierarchy within the pack had something to do with placing, but he didn¡¯t know for sure.

    Weaving between a few piles of sleeping wolves, Verdan saw Fenn sat outside Sylvie¡¯s tent, keeping careful watch over the area.

    A dozen Airta were sitting around the cooking area, some lounging in their wolf forms and others perched on makeshift seats. Seeing Verdan enter their camp, one of them got up and moved to intercept him.

    ¡°Wizard, do you need anything?¡± The Airta was a young looking man with short hair and a mangled ear that showed signs of having been partially healed.

    ¡°I was hoping to speak to Sylvie. Is she here?¡± Verdan asked, already considering alternatives if he couldn¡¯t find her.

    ¡°She was having a talk with Zhalia when I last saw her,¡± Blane said from behind him. ¡°Why?¡±

    Turning, Verdan saw Blane standing with his arms folded and a questioning look on his face.

    ¡°I need a favour,¡± Verdan said, deciding for blunt honesty. That had always been the best way forward with Blane. ¡°I need someone to get to the far ridge and bring the Fwyn back for me. They¡¯re small, and some of you are quite large, so I was hoping they could ride a couple of your brethren.¡±

    Blane frowned slightly as he studied Verdan and subtly sniffed the air. ¡°There¡¯s a problem. What is it?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going to have to leave soon, and I want the Fwyn here with us when we do,¡± Verdan said, hesitating for a brief moment before continuing. ¡°We¡¯ve had a message from the other branch of the alliance army. They need help, and we¡¯ll be moving to their aid.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Blane said, nodding slowly before whistling sharply in a quick pattern that killed all the ambient sound of the Airta camp. Blane waited a moment before raising his voice to carry through the abrupt quiet. ¡°I need three volunteers to aid the Wizard.¡±

    The Airta that had been lounging and relaxing were up and alert now, and the sleeping wolves were on their feet, shaking themselves as three Airta moved to answer the call.

    Blane wasted no time in explaining what was needed, and only a few moments later, a trio of oversized wolves were loping off up the ridge.

    ¡°Thank you, Blane,¡± Verdan said as the three wolves disappeared from view. ¡°Please pass on the news to Sylvie, I need to go speak with our allies.¡±

    Blane nodded and made for the tent that Fenn was sat outside of, leaving Verdan to change direction and head for the Kranjir.

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    -**-

    Verdan¡¯s status as a friend of the Thrain Clan meant that mere minutes after he arrived, he was sitting around a dying campfire with all four of the Chosen and Magnus.

    Ciaran and Maeve were both from Clan Thrain and were firm allies of his, while Osran was from Clan Menteith and closer to a mercenary in this situation.

    Verdan had purchased Osran¡¯s help with magical items and training, but that help would only go so far.

    The fourth Chosen was Dirk, who belonged to Clan Mhorgain but was also Verdan¡¯s apprentice. Dirk had used old traditions to become a Chosen, taking the first step on the long road to reviving his Clan.

    Magnus was the odd one out of the group, being Verdan¡¯s second apprentice but not a Chosen. Then again, with the progress he¡¯d made, Magnus could certainly become one now.

    Verdan frowned slightly as that thought occurred to him, and he wondered briefly if that would be of interest to Magnus. If it was, Verdan wouldn¡¯t stand in his way, but it would complicate matters.

    Dirk could do as he wished as his Clan followed him, but his was a unique situation and Magnus would be one of many. One of the most powerful, if Verdan had anything to do with it, but still less likely to be able to stay south.

    Shaking his head, Verdan pushed that thought aside and turned to the Chosen around the smouldering fire. ¡°Thank you for gathering so quickly. I wanted to let you know that we will be moving out soon to head to the second alliance army. They too faced a much larger Host than expected, and are in dire need of assistance. I hoped you would join us, but I understand if you must withdraw.¡±

    ¡°Of course we won¡¯t withdraw,¡± Ciaran said, scoffing at the very idea. ¡°We¡¯ve been with you this far. For as long as this threat remains, you can count on us.¡±

    Maeve nodded, giving her support, so Verdan turned to Osran questioningly. ¡°Osran?¡±

    ¡°Clan Menteith is not one to see things left unfinished,¡± Osran said after a short pause. ¡°We will fight by your side to end the threat.¡±

    Verdan was a little surprised that Osran had agreed so easily, but he was hardly going to argue with him. Turning instead to Dirk, he gave his apprentice a wry smile. ¡°I hope I can count on Clan Mhorgain as well?¡±

    Dirk chuckled and nodded. ¡°Somehow, I believe I can talk my people into it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it,¡± Verdan said, nodding to each of the other Chosen before getting to his feet. ¡°Now, however, I believe it is time to catch up with my apprentices. Let us find somewhere a bit quieter. Thank you all again for seeing this through. I won¡¯t forget it.¡±

    Dirk and Magnus had got to their feet as he spoke, so Verdan led the way away from the fires, taking his apprentices a short distance out from the camp.

    ¡°Tawel gward,¡± Verdan uttered the Words of Power for a silencing ward, filling them with Aether and binding the spell to his staff. He had become quite familiar with the spell over the last few weeks, though he wished it wasn¡¯t so necessary. ¡°So, both of you, tell me how you¡¯re getting on.¡±

    Dirk and Magnus took it in turns to describe their gathering spirals, the progress they¡¯d made and their current Aether reserves.

    Both were almost out of Aether, which wasn¡¯t surprising,  and Dirk had made more progress with his spiral, which was also not surprising.

    Dirk was talented at Aether manipulation, gifted in a way that Magnus simply wasn¡¯t. He had the strength of will to take that gift and put it to use, but Magnus went one step further.

    The sheer obstinate tenacity that Magnus had showed since Verdan had first started teaching him was impressive, and though he advanced slowly, he advanced steadily.

    Verdan doubted that Magnus would ever overtake Dirk, but he would reach far further than many of those with more talent had managed.

    Verdan was proud of them both, and if they weren¡¯t in a rush, he¡¯d take the time to teach them more Words and better prepare them. Now, though, there simply wasn¡¯t time.

    Restraining himself to a quick series of technical exercises, Verdan drew up a flat mound of stone to sit on as he watched them. They¡¯d performed well in their first large-scale battle, but he had no intention of letting them develop bad habits.

    Keeping a third of his attention on them, Verdan split the rest over to monitoring his breathing. He always had a portion of his mind maintaining his gathering spiral but now he was deliberately using the breathing technique Kai had shown him alongside it.

    There was a long way to go before it would become second nature, but Verdan could feel that he was getting better.

    Once he¡¯d mastered it, he¡¯d pass it on to his apprentices, but that was for the future. They needed their fundamentals first, before trying anything experimental.

    Time passed as they worked, only ending some time later when Vaijon entered the silencing ward. ¡°Verdan, do you have a few moments?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Verdan said, creating another seat for the Elder while dismissing his apprentices to go about their business. ¡°Good work both of you. Keep at it, and make sure to practice your low imperial as well.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master,¡± they sounded back in unison before hurrying away.

    ¡°So authoritarian,¡± Vaijon said, shaking his head with mock surprise. ¡°I never would have expected it from you.¡±

    ¡°Oh yes, I¡¯m a stern taskmaster,¡± Verdan said, rolling his eyes. Vaijon chuckled but didn¡¯t reply immediately, so Verdan took a moment to assess his Aether reserves to see how successful he¡¯d been.

    He hadn¡¯t quite managed what he could when copying Kai, but the increase was there. Small, but noticeable, and that was only over a short period of time.

    Suppressing the desire to immediately dive back into it, Verdan focused on Vaijon. ¡°So, what can I do for you?¡±

 AA5 6 - Leaving II

    The Elder grimaced and didn¡¯t reply for a few moments before sighing and rubbing his face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t think of any way to put this without potentially causing an issue. Do you mind if I¡¯m direct?¡±

    Verdan¡¯s mind raced as he tried to consider what issue Vaijon might be referring to. Catching himself, he waved for the Elder to continue. There was no sense getting too concerned just yet.

    ¡°Alright then,¡± the Elder cleared his throat before sitting up straight and adopting a more formal posture. ¡°I¡¯d like your permission to offer a place in the Disciples of Adamar to Kai.¡±

    Verdan blinked in surprise, caught completely off guard by the request. He¡¯d been expecting this to be something about Kurgane from how serious Vaijon had sounded.

    Taking Verdan¡¯s silence as anger, Vaijon held up a hand calmingly. ¡°Now, I know it¡¯s a lot to ask, but I do have some compelling reasons.¡±

    ¡°Wait, wait,¡± Verdan said, holding up his hands to cut off the Elder. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why are you asking me?¡±

    Vaijon frowned, looking just as confused as Verdan felt. ¡°I was under the impression that he¡¯d pledged himself to aiding you?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes, he did do that,¡± Verdan said, remembering back when they first met. ¡°But I¡¯d hardly attempt to control his future because of it.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Vaijon said slowly, giving Verdan an appraising look. ¡°I think that perhaps I¡¯ve been spending too much time with the Sects. Thank you for reminding me of how it should be.¡±

    Verdan chuckled despite himself. ¡°If you have any other issues that can be resolved so easily, I¡¯ll happily take them on.¡±

    Vaijon echoed his laugh before turning serious and motioning to the ward around them. ¡°This stops anyone from hearing us, correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°Good, then there¡¯s something else I want to tell you,¡± Vaijon said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. ¡°You remember the Stormlord assigned to us, Nathir?¡±

    ¡°Oh yes, I was going to give him a piece of my mind about his strength estimates, but I was told he was killed in the final fight.¡± Verdan paused, taking in the look on Vaijon¡¯s face. ¡°Or is that not correct?¡±

    ¡°As best I can tell, no, it isn¡¯t,¡± Vaijon said heavily. ¡°I was going to do the same, and like you, I thought he was dead. However, I¡¯ve had more exposure to our casualty lists than you have. When I was working through them, I noticed that a core group of the Stormlords were also missing.¡±

    ¡°They were based over at the other wall, though. Wouldn¡¯t such losses be expected?¡± Verdan asked, remembering the chaos that followed Brenn¡¯s abrupt withdrawal.

    ¡°Yes, but no bodies were found for any of them. That was enough to make me suspicious, and when I looked into it further, no one remembers seeing any of them once Macannan arrived. As best I can tell, they disappeared some time between Brenn leaving and Macannan arriving.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Verdan said, frowning in thought as he cast his mind back to the battle. He hadn¡¯t been in a position to really see anything over that side, though.

    ¡°You see why I¡¯m concerned,¡± Vaijon said softly, meeting Verdan¡¯s gaze with a grim expression. ¡°I don¡¯t like the look of this at all.¡±

    ¡°Neither do I,¡± Verdan said, considering it all for a few long moments before turning back to the Elder. ¡°With Brenn¡¯s actions as well, this is beginning to look like an orchestrated attempt to undermine us.¡±

    ¡°It is possible that we¡¯re looking at two separate incidents of cowardice,¡± Vaijon said without much conviction.

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    ¡°You don¡¯t believe that,¡± Verdan said, making it into a statement.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Vaijon shook his head with a grimace. ¡°The problem is that I have no idea what possible benefit they could have for undermining us. If we failed, the Host would have run rampant. Who knows how many people would have died before the Sects could have destroyed it?¡±

    ¡°But you can¡¯t see any other reason for two different groups from different Sects to abandon us at the same time.¡±

    ¡°No, I can¡¯t.¡± Vaijon sighed, rubbing his face again. ¡°But neither can I see an alternative when we found almost all the other bodies for those who died during the attack. There¡¯s no reason for fifteen of the twenty-five Stormlords to disappear. Especially when we have the bodies of the few that are confirmed killed.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s work on the assumption that they betrayed us, and that they had a reason to do so,¡± Verdan said after considering their options. ¡°It costs us nothing, but being wary might well save some lives.¡±

    ¡°Agreed. I¡¯ve kept this to just us for now, so I¡¯d appreciate discretion on your part.¡±

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll keep this to myself. Let me know if you learn anything else, though.¡±

    ¡°Will do,¡± Vaijon said with a nod before getting back on his feet. ¡°We¡¯re heading out shortly, you should come back to camp.¡±

    Verdan nodded and cancelled the silencing ward before getting up to head back with Vaijon. ¡°You never did tell me those reasons for recruiting Kai.¡±

    ¡°Oh, they¡¯re fairly obvious,¡± Vaijon said with a shrug. ¡°He has our special requirement completed now, and he¡¯s already a strong fighter. Give it some time and he¡¯ll be an Elder as well.¡±

    Verdan nodded, but his attention was drawn away as he saw that the Airta who¡¯d gone to fetch the Fwyn had returned.

    Breaking off from Vaijon, Verdan made his way over to join them and ensure everything was packed and ready to go.

    -**-

    The reformed caravan set off less than an hour later, heading south down the river to find a crossing point. It was a bitter realisation that their own action of destroying the bridges would slow them down, but they¡¯d had little choice.

    The good news was that they were keeping to the prospective schedule that Silver had laid out and were making good time.

    Unfortunately, the bad news was that Morag and a third of the Eternal Wardens wouldn¡¯t be joining them.

    More specifically, they would be following along after them, but only once the reinforcements from Dresk arrived to take up the garrison duties.

    Morag was staying to keep watch over it all, leaving the rest of the Eternal Wardens under the control of Vaijon, and Kurgane.

    It was clear that Vaijon was the effective leader of the Sorcerers at this point, but he lacked any official capacity to keep that role.

    Without Morag, the official responsibility fell to Kurgane.

    Hopefully, the arrogant Sorcerer would rise to the challenge, but considering what they knew now, Verdan doubted it.

    -**-

    Thankfully, the first day passed them without incident. The surviving Kranjir scouts worked alongside the Airta, whatever rivalry they¡¯d had in the past long forgotten.

    If anything, that initial rivalry had let the two groups get a good accounting of their strengths, and they played to them where possible.

    Natalia had taken control of the wagon when they got underway, leaving Verdan to sit in quiet meditation and work on both his spiral and his new breathing routine.

    When they eventually reached their camp for the day, Verdan let his tired mind slip from his meditative state and turned an eye inward to see what his progress had been.

    Comparing his progress to what he would normally manage in such a situation, Verdan nodded in satisfaction. Even with his poor mastery of this breathing technique, the difference was substantial.

    Coming to a decision, Verdan turned to Natalia as they came to a stop. ¡°Will you be alright getting everything set up on your own? I have something that needs to be done.¡±

    ¡°If you could do the fire first, that¡¯ll be fine,¡± Natalia said with a shrug. It wasn¡¯t quite as nonchalant as she was trying to appear, though.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Boss, I¡¯ll lend a hand,¡± Barb said, jogging over to join them and waving for Verdan to head off as needed.

    Wincing at her unintentional pun, Verdan muttered a few Words and quickly formed a firepit and rudimentary seating before leaving the two of them to get settled.

    Since her realisation of who Kurgane was, Natalia had been a little on edge, not that Verdan could blame her. They all knew that Barb would be able to do little to help if Kurgane acted, but having the tough Kranjir woman nearby seemed to help settle Natalia¡¯s nerves.

    Verdan, however, had settled his nerves by refreshing his protective wards on her clothes and adding more to the wagon. If someone broke in or damaged it, he¡¯d know.

    Verdan hoped he wasn¡¯t becoming paranoid, but between the threat from Kurgane and the recent demonstration of what Wizardry could do, he was feeling wary.

    It would take some time for word of what he¡¯d done to spread, but once it did, Verdan was expecting some ill-advised attempts to dispose of him.

    Power like he¡¯d demonstrated would disrupt the balance between the Sects, and more than one Sorcerer would kill to prevent that. Of that, Verdan had no doubt at all.

 AA5 7 - Training

    Banishing the dark thoughts from his mind, Verdan focused on the matter at hand as he wound his way through the slowly forming camp to find where Kai was setting up.

    Unsurprisingly, Kai and Gwen had taken spots next to each other. They weren¡¯t travelling together yet, but whatever had been keeping them apart seemed to be slowly unravelling, which was good.

    The two of them were good people, and they deserved to be happy.

    Surprisingly, Verdan saw Vaijon was also present and in a quiet discussion with Kai about something.

    ¡°Ah, it seems you¡¯re quite the popular one tonight,¡± Vaijon said with a chuckle as he spotted Verdan heading their way. ¡°Unless you¡¯re here for me?¡±

    ¡°Actually, I was hoping to steal Kai away to help me with some teaching,¡± Verdan said, glancing between the two of them. ¡°But if you¡¯re busy, I can come back tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Teaching?¡± Vaijon echoed before Kai could respond. ¡°I thought our methods were entirely different to your own?¡±

    Verdan hesitated, unsure of what to say, which only made Vaijon look all the more interested.

    Seeing Vaijon perk up, Kai cleared his throat to draw the Elder¡¯s attention. ¡°I¡¯ve been teaching Verdan some basic breathing exercises. It seems to be helping him.¡±

    ¡°Oh, how interesting,¡± Vaijon said softly, his eyes wide as he turned back to Verdan with a wide smile. ¡°Perhaps the difference is not so great if our techniques can work with yours?¡±

    ¡°The truth is that they are incredibly similar,¡± Verdan said with a slight shrug. ¡°But the difference between them is one that seems to be insurmountable. No Sorcerers seem to be able to interact with Aether, instead only having access to Essence.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I remember our initial discussion on the differences. Still, I¡¯d be interested to see all this in action, if you don¡¯t mind an additional person?¡±

    ¡°Well, I was actually coming to ask Kai if he wouldn¡¯t mind instructing Magnus and Dirk. The increase in absorption I¡¯ve seen is solid enough that I¡¯m willing to include it in their training. Hopefully, they will take to it well.¡±

    ¡°There we go then,¡± Vaijon said, making an expansive gesture to include them all. ¡°Kai can teach your apprentices, while I give you a personal lesson using my own insights. If that works for you, Verdan?¡±

    Verdan hesitated, but only briefly. The advantages here far outweighed the potential costs. ¡°I¡¯d be delighted to hear what insights you have to pass on.¡±

    ¡°Kai?¡± Vaijon turned to the other Sorcerer next, who glanced back to Gwen questioningly.

    The Witch had been watching them with a bemused expression and waved aside his questioning look. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I was going to go catch up with the other Witches, anyway.¡±

    ¡°In that case, I¡¯m willing to join as well,¡± Kai said.

    ¡°Good, good, then let¡¯s go find those apprentices.¡± Vaijon clapped his hands together excitedly before striding off toward the Kranjir section of the camp.

    Verdan and Kai exchanged amused looks before following along in the Elder¡¯s wake. For all that Vaijon was odd, he did know what he was doing, and Verdan was interested to see what else he could learn from the Elder.

    -**-

    In no time at all, Vaijon had gathered up Dirk and Magnus, sent them off with Kai and had brought Verdan out to a pond that wasn¡¯t far from the camp.

    ¡°Ah, this will do nicely,¡± Vaijon said, dusting off a fallen tree before taking a seat. ¡°Please, make yourself comfortable.¡±

    Verdan drew up some stone, forming his usual seat, and settled into a loose meditation posture. ¡°Do you need me to demonstrate first?¡±

    ¡°Why not, that seems as good a place as any,¡± Vaijon said with a shrug, waving for Verdan to begin.

    Nodding, Verdan settled into his familiar routine, while also following the steady breathing rhythm that Kai had shown him. It was a simple pattern, but as he settled into it, he could feel the effect it was having on his Aether intake.

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    It was a small effect, one hardly noticeable at first, but after hours of practice, Verdan was firmly aware of it. Focusing on that effect, Verdan tried to keep it as stable as he could.

    Holding that state for several minutes, Verdan eventually released it when he heard Vaijon call his name.

    ¡°That seems stable enough for a beginner,¡± Vaijon said once Verdan¡¯s focus was back on the world around them. ¡°How are you finding its effects, anything lacking in improvement?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Verdan asked, furrowing his brow as he tried to understand what the Sorcerer was saying.

    ¡°Strength, agility, endurance, anything physical really for that matter. What increases are you feeling and what are you aiming for?¡± Vaijon asked, pausing before holding up a hand. ¡°I¡¯m assuming you¡¯ve meditated with this active for more than an hour or two, right?¡±

    ¡°I meditated for most of the day, but no, I don¡¯t feel any changes,¡± Verdan said slowly, trying to wrap his head around that revelation. ¡°Are you saying this is how Sorcerers gain their enhanced capabilities?¡±

    ¡°It is the long, slow and boring way to do it, yes,¡± Vaijon said, peering  intently at Verdan. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t feel any physical changes? Even a basic technique like that should be doing something.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s related to being a Sorcerer, rather than a Wizard,¡± Verdan said absently as he considered the issue. ¡°Kai didn¡¯t mention anything, so I didn¡¯t realise.¡±

    ¡°He was most likely forbidden to tell anyone. Sect secrets and all that,¡± Vaijon said with a shrug. ¡°Different techniques focus on different benefits. I know a few I was going to offer if they suited your preferences. Now, though, I¡¯m a bit lost for how to proceed.¡±

    ¡°Do you have anything that doesn¡¯t target the body?¡± Verdan asked hopefully, wondering if there was something more esoteric that might work for him. Any kind of benefit or advantage would be more than welcome at this point.

    ¡°Not how it works I¡¯m afraid,¡± Vaijon said absently, his attention clearly elsewhere. ¡°How puzzling. The basic technique doesn¡¯t do much, but it should do something after this much time.¡±

    They both sat in thought for a few minutes, trying to grasp the best way to help Verdan advance.

    ¡°What about a technique that focuses on large amounts of Aether or Essence movement?¡± Verdan asked eventually, deciding to stick with what was easiest.

    Some sort of improvement would be nice, but settling for more Aether was hardly a problem.

    ¡°Actually, I think I do,¡± Vaijon said slowly, a grin spreading across his face. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t, but one of my brethren does. An older method, one less popular now as it focuses on providing Essence in large quantities but gives very little physical improvement. Given that you can¡¯t do the second part, it should fit what you need nicely.¡±

    "I¡¯d definitely be interested in that,¡± Verdan said with growing excitement. If that new technique was even slightly more effective than the one he had now, it would have a dramatic effect on his capabilities.

    ¡°Good, good, I do have one request, though,¡± Vaijon said, flashing Verdan a hungry smile. ¡°Teach me this gathering spiral method.¡±

    Verdan hesitated, weighing the benefits again. He¡¯d taught Kai and some of the Hobson¡¯s Point Sorcerers the basics, but they¡¯d failed to progress beyond the basic formation of the spiral and split their focus.

    This could be a good opportunity to get a fresh view on what the block was, and if it was possible to be overcome.

    ¡°Well?¡± Vaijon asked after a few moments.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Verdan said, deciding to do it, but give Vaijon less instruction than he had with the other Sorcerers. ¡°I¡¯d ask you to keep it to yourself for the time being, though.¡±

    ¡°Done and done,¡± Vaijon said, his grin widening as he smoothly rose from where he was sat. ¡°I¡¯ll have the technique for you tomorrow evening. Could we start your training now?¡±

    Verdan nodded and waved a hand, drawing up a second stone seat for Vaijon. ¡°Okay, so first I need you to manipulate your Aether that hasn¡¯t been converted and form a single thread that runs throughout your body in a spiral. The end should be the very core of your being, which will then fill with Aether.¡±

    Vaijon nodded as he sat back down and closed his eyes to follow Verdan¡¯s instructions.

    Verdan could feel a little of what was happening with his Aether senses, but Vaijon was already quite suffused with magic, making it difficult to pick out any small changes.

    Sitting back and focusing on his own meditation, Verdan kept a small part of his attention on Vaijon, but kept the guidance light.

    ¡°I think I have it,¡± Vaijon said after a few minutes of working at it. ¡°Now what?¡±

    ¡°Keep it going. Does it feel like it¡¯s increasing your Essence at all?¡±

    ¡°Marginally, yes, it does,¡± Vaijon said, keeping the process going for a few more moments before stopping. ¡°I see the issue now. You keep this going at all times, don¡¯t you.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the core of being a Wizard.¡±

    ¡°I see. The problem for Sorcerers then is that we have to focus on our elements to actively cultivate Essence. That means focus and intent, which is impossible to do subconsciously. As far as I¡¯m aware, anyway.¡±

    Verdan felt himself relax slightly as Vaijon explained the problem. It sounded like the spiral would still help them, but he didn¡¯t have to worry about Sorcerers gaining the full benefit. They¡¯d clearly been too focused on the split concentration aspect when testing it before, and not on the mechanics of the process.

    As much as Verdan wanted to help his allies progress, this was good news. Essence had an inherent aspect, and so it took less to create a spell for Sorcerers than it did for Wizards.

    Verdan had greater reserves and replenishment, which far outweighed that advantage, but this might well have changed that.

    ¡°I admit that it¡¯s disappointing that I can¡¯t do the full technique,¡± Vaijon said, drawing Verdan out of his thoughts. ¡°Still, this will be a clear benefit. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you found a part of it useful,¡± Verdan said as he got back to his feet. ¡°Let me know if you have any questions.¡±

 AA5 8 - Official

    Leaving Vaijon to his practice, Verdan made his way over to where Magnus and Dirk were learning their breathing technique from Kai.

    Taking a seat nearby, Verdan carried on working on his own spiral until they were done. Sending the two Kranjir off to get some food and rest, Verdan motioned for Kai to hold back and quickly created a silencing ward.

    ¡°I take it there were some developments with Vaijon, then?¡± Kai asked, gesturing to the barrier around them.

    ¡°Not entirely, but he identified a root problem with using the spiral. The flow of Aether is increased, but the conversion to Essence requires your attention and intent.¡±

    ¡°That makes sense,¡± Kai said with a slow nod. ¡°Once we established I couldn¡¯t split my focus I didn¡¯t progress with it. It sounds like that might have been a mistake, though.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll have to form it from scratch each time, but it might help.¡±

    ¡°Would you mind giving me some guidance on the process again?¡± Kai asked, sinking gracefully back down onto the ground as Verdan nodded.

    Conjuring yet another seat for himself, Verdan went through the steps again, helping Kai form a new spiral. Having done it before, the process was relatively straightforward and Verdan was heading back into the camp in short order.

    The impromptu training session had taken enough time that the camp had been all but fully established by the time Verdan was heading back through.

    A gathering seemed to be happening amid the Sect area that Verdan was passing through, so he paused to listen in and see what was happening.

    A group of around thirty Sorcerers had gathered and were having a loud discussion about deployment of resources and the amount of retainers still present.

    ¡°Quiet down,¡± Kurgane¡¯s voice cut through the noise as the Sorcerer made himself known. ¡°As Elder Vaijon isn¡¯t eligible, I¡¯ll be taking responsibility of our group. The good Commander has a lot on his plate, so if you have any issues or concerns, come to me directly. I will ensure that everything is dealt with.¡±

    The group settled down as Kurgane took control, and Verdan slipped away, not wanting to get involved or be spotted.

    On the surface, that all seemed good and well-intentioned, but Verdan had his doubts. It was a fine line between shifting the burden away and shifting the power away.

    If it was anyone else, Verdan would give them the benefit of the doubt, but Kurgane was a snake in the grass. No, he was definitely laying the groundwork for something.

    For now, though, there wasn¡¯t much Verdan could do about it.

    -**-

    The second day of travelling began much the same way as the first, and the scouts fanned out ahead of them as they pushed on as quickly as was safe.

    It was a tough balancing act that Silver was left with. If they went too slow, then they would arrive too late to do anything, and potentially be caught up against a much stronger foe.

    If they went too fast, however, they risked ambushes and blundering into dangerous situations. They needed to get there quickly, but they needed to be in one piece at the end of it and ready to fight.

    In an effort to make contact with Elder Vanarr and see what the situation was, Silver also sent the Unbound Gale messenger on ahead.

    It was a risky journey for the Sorcerer, but they needed more information.

    Several hours passed and the sun was high in the sky when Cullan came riding up to their wagon atop Ava, his oversized horse, with a second mount trailing behind him.

    Cullan was an Idrisyr, a descendant of Idris, one of the last giants. Idris had managed to alter her descendants to make them closer to human-sized, but even so, Cullan was just over seven feet tall and had a powerful build.

    Apart from the powerful build, which all Idrisyr shared, they also seemed to all have red hair and green eyes. In Cullan¡¯s case, that also included a well-kept red beard to match his long hair.

    Cullan had been badly hurt during the last fight, but his natural durability had kept him mostly intact, and with some minor healing from his sister Branwen, he was doing fine.

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    Natalia had shaken Verdan out of meditation when she saw the huge man riding over, and Verdan moved out to the front to greet him.

    To Verdan¡¯s surprise, Cullan was wearing his scale mail rather than the usual loose shirt that he favoured. That, combined with the second steed, gave Verdan an idea of what was coming.

    ¡°I hope you¡¯re ready for some fun,¡± Cullan called out as he drew up alongside them and threw Verdan the reins of the other horse.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Verdan caught the reins, but made no immediate move to leave the wagon. ¡°What did you have in mind?¡±

    ¡°Lukas wants us to move forward and investigate some tracks that the Pathfinder found. One of her scouts is waiting at the head of the column.¡±

    ¡°Why us?¡± Verdan asked, but Cullan simply shrugged and patted the huge two-handed greatsword that sat snugly across his back.

    ¡°Perhaps he wanted some heavy hitters without too many people being involved.¡±

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s go talk to that scout then,¡± Verdan said, hopping down from the wagon and swinging up onto the horse in a mostly graceful move.

    Then again, the amused look that Cullan was giving him told Verdan it was probably less graceful than he¡¯d hoped.

    Sighing to himself, Verdan urged his horse on as the two of them sped up to make their way to the front of the caravan. There wasn¡¯t much for him to do while they were underway beyond meditating and occasional detection spells. Still, he¡¯d used everything that he¡¯d stored up in the final battle, and he was far from replenished.

    Assessing his reserves, Verdan was confident that he could manage a few smaller engagements. After how powerful that Cyth Scerrd had been, though, he was wary of what might be present in the rest of the Host.

    Reaching the front of the caravan, Verdan saw one of the Pathfinder¡¯s scouts waiting for them. Galstar had brought a small group of veteran scouts with her when she came south alongside the other Kranjir.

    Between the dozen or more battles that had taken place in the last fortnight, almost half of those scouts had fallen.

    ¡°Wizard, Cullan,¡± the grizzled scout said, giving them both almost imperceptible nods as he urged his horse into a canter. ¡°I¡¯ll lead you to the Pathfinder. She¡¯ll explain the situation.¡±

    Sharing a look, the two of them followed after the scout as he led them down the trail the caravan was following.

    Being away from the main group, Verdan had his detection spells running on a more frequent basis and was watching their surroundings carefully.

    Even so, he didn¡¯t see the Airta waiting for them until the large wolves padded out of the undergrowth.

    Giving a very human nod, which was always odd to see a wolf do, one of the wolves turned and left the trail, quickly picking up speed.

    ¡°Follow me, this might get a bit tight,¡± the scout called to them in a low voice as he followed after the wolf, Verdan and Cullan trailing along behind him.

    The flat and easy path of the trail was quickly replaced by uneven terrain and Verdan began to regret not spending more time in the saddle. This was far from his natural habitat, and he was certain he¡¯d have bruises in the morning.

    After what was a surprisingly long ride, the wolf leading them began to slow down, eventually coming to a stop halfway up a forested hill.

    To Verdan¡¯s surprise, the wolf scratched something into the dirt and the scout nodded, dismounting and waving Verdan and Cullan forward. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here with the horses. while you head up the hill. Our friend here will guide you to the pathfinder.¡±

    Verdan nodded and swung down from his horse with a wince. Passing the reins over to the scout, he muttered a healing spell and sighed in relief.

    ¡°I¡¯m fairly sure that¡¯s cheating, Wizard,¡± Cullan said, his deep voice tinged with amusement as they followed the wolf further up the hill.

    ¡°Says the man who could probably knock out a horse if he tried,¡± Verdan said, rolling his eyes at the big Idrisyr.

    ¡°I¡¯m not apologising,¡± Cullan said, flexing a bicep that was the size of Verdan¡¯s head. ¡°Besides, I work hard to keep looking this good.¡±

    The Airta leading them growled softly and stopped, giving them both a pointed look before covering the last stretch to the crest of the hill.

    Pathfinder Galstar, Sylvie and Blane were crouched among a thicket of old trees, along with a dozen assorted Airta and Kranjir scouts.

    ¡°Verdan, good to see you made it,¡± Galstar said softly as she saw them approach.

    Elspeth Galstar was the Pathfinder that the Thane had sent with them. She was a short woman with cropped dark hair and an aura of quiet competence that Verdan respected.

    Her cousin Anag was far more boisterous, but that was why she got along so well with Jarn, one of the other Thrain Chosen.

    ¡°Pathfinder, Sylvie, Blane,¡± Verdan said, nodding tightly to each of them as he crouched down next to them. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°And why did you need me?¡± Cullan asked, getting as low as he could, which wasn¡¯t really that low, considering how large he was.

    ¡°We¡¯ve come across a strange group, I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re doing, but they have a mixed group of Sorcerers and others,¡± the Pathfinder said, motioning to their north-east. ¡°Take a look, but carefully.¡±

    Curious, Verdan did as she suggested and slowly moved over to the edge of the stand of trees they were in. Peering down beyond it, he saw a second hill across from them, though it was much smaller.

    Outcroppings of rock covered the other hill, and there was what looked like a cave set at its base.

    Camping outside of that cave was the group that the Pathfinder had mentioned. There were at least four Sorcerers that Verdan could see, all from different Sects, alongside two dozen people in nondescript clothing.

    Each of those two dozen was armed and armoured to a reasonable degree, but the uniformity of it all made Verdan think they weren¡¯t Sect retainers.

    If they were, than a single Sect had put this together, but if they had, he¡¯d expect the retainers to be dressed accordingly.

    Verdan was about to move back to the others when another group came out of the cave, led by a woman in dark robes. The woman announced something before stepping aside as half of the non-Sorcerers hurried past her into the cave.

    There was something about the woman that seemed familiar, but it wasn¡¯t until she shifted that he saw the wand that she¡¯d been holding.

    Reaching out with his Aether senses, Verdan could feel the magic around that wand. A familiar kind of magic.

 AA5 9 - Unknown I

    Moving back to the others with a grim expression, Verdan relayed what he¡¯d seen, and more importantly, what it meant.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Sylvie asked, her expression grim as she surveyed the small group they had with them.

    ¡°It is the same style, I¡¯m sure of it. Whoever that is down there is either part of the same group or is being supplied by the orchestrator of the troubles we encountered in the north. The man who spoke of a pact with the Gormagyr and commanded the traitors wielded similar artifacts.¡±

    Cullan bristled as Verdan spoke of the Idrisyr¡¯s twisted cousins. ¡°We must deal with this.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t know anything of what they¡¯re doing,¡± the Pathfinder said, holding up a hand as Cullan started to reply. ¡°I¡¯m simply saying that we need more information. What are they doing in that cave and why, for instance.¡±

    ¡°How do you propose we gain that information?¡± Verdan asked, taking control of the conversation before Cullan could demand an immediate attack. ¡°For that matter, why did you call us out here?¡±

    ¡°We called you here as we could tell there was something strange happening,¡± Sylvie said before the Pathfinder could answer. Pausing for a moment, she gave a quiet order to Blane, who nodded and hurried off. ¡°I will recall my people in the local area to help deal with this, but there are more of them than I like. The truth is that we can¡¯t know more until we engage with them on some level. Now that the two of you are here, we¡¯ll prepare to do that.¡±

    ¡°A surprise attack would let us deal with the Sorcerers first,¡± the Pathfinder said, quickly sketching out a simple map in the dirt with the end of her bow. ¡°We could station people here and here, ready for a swift attack. I¡¯d originally wanted you here as backup before contacting them, but with what you¡¯ve said, I think conflict is inevitable.¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Verdan said heavily. ¡°We can¡¯t risk the caravan by letting them leave. That said, I¡¯d like the chance to talk to them before we attack. There is a chance I¡¯m wrong, and I¡¯d prefer to not add any more innocent blood to my hands.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± the Pathfinder said, sharing a brief look with Sylvie. ¡°You can take the lead, and we¡¯ll support you as best we can.¡±

    ¡°If we can wait, we¡¯ll have more support from the rest of my pack, though,¡± Sylvie said, gesturing to the rest of the group hidden among the trees. ¡°We¡¯re outnumbered at the moment, and don¡¯t know what surprises they might have waiting for us.¡±

    ¡°Agreed, let¡¯s keep an eye on things for now. If the situation changes, though, we may need to act early.¡±

    Sylvie nodded and gave out some quiet orders, sending her people off into the undergrowth. The Pathfinder did the same with the Kranjir, though they stayed nearby and simply readied their bows.

    Carefully moving back to where he could see the odd group, Verdan watched them carefully, trying to get a read on what strengths and capabilities they had.

    He recognised three of the four Sects represented by the Sorcerers he could see. The Defiant Flame, the Weeping Death and the Stormlords.

    Frowning, Verdan focused on the Stormlord Sorcerer, realising abruptly that he recognised the man. He¡¯d been one of the less vocal Sorcerers with Nathir.

    Verdan¡¯s mind raced with the implications as he stared at the Sorcerer, wondering how exactly he¡¯d come to be here. He must have been part of the group that had disappeared, as Verdan hadn¡¯t heard about any other desertions or people going missing.

    Verdan frowned as he realised that the chances of them being able to resolve this peacefully were all but nonexistent. Whoever these people were, he doubted they were working to the same goals as the rest of them.

    Verdan was tempted to try and take the Sorcerer alive, but as the only spellcaster on their side, he¡¯d need to act decisively. Once the battle started, it would be his job to take out any casters they had, while also protecting his allies.

    There was also the woman in charge to consider. The wand she held meant she might also be carrying artifacts that allowed her to cast spells of her own. The man Verdan had fought in the north had been able to create shields and conjure darts of force, but the artifacts he¡¯d used had shattered on his death.

    ¡°Wizard,¡± Sylvie whispered, crawling over next to him and making a subtle gesture toward the cave entrance.

    Following her gesture, Verdan watched with astonishment as the people who¡¯d gone inside began to reappear carrying small bundles that were placed into a trio of crates.

    ¡°There¡¯s a wagon nearby that they hid,¡± Sylvie whispered, seeing Verdan¡¯s confusion. ¡°Any idea what all that is?¡±

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    From what Verdan could see of the bundles, they were books, sheafs of paper and small metal objects. That alone was enough to make Verdan suspicious, but when one of them came out holding a broken metal globe, Verdan knew for definite.

    ¡°They are plundering an ancient ruin. The cave must link through to somewhere,¡± Verdan explained as quietly as he could. ¡°We can¡¯t let them take all of this. Nothing good will come of it.¡±

    If it were anyone else, Verdan wouldn¡¯t object quite so much, but he¡¯d seen what these people had tried to do with such knowledge already.

    A bird trilled in the distance and Sylvie echoed the sound back before making a different bird call a moment later. Waiting for a moment, she glanced over at Verdan and gave him a nod. ¡°We¡¯re ready to go on your mark.¡±

    Taking a deep breath, Verdan glanced back to see that Cullan had taken the chance to quietly don his scale mail and was kneeling partially behind a tree.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be ready,¡± Cullan said in a quiet rumble, patting the sword he was holding.

    Verdan took a last steadying breath before getting slowly to his feet and walking forward from their hiding spot, a shielding spell on his lips.

    ¡°Hail the camp!¡±

    The organised activity below came to an abrupt stop as Verdan called out, and all four Sorcerers started as they turned to face him.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± The Defiant Flame Sorcerer shouted, conjuring a spear of flames in on hand. ¡°Identify yourself!¡±

    The unknown and Weeping Death Sorcerer reacted in a similar way, but the Stormlord Sorcerer recognised Verdan immediately and began to slowly back away.

    ¡°Stand your ground,¡± the woman in charge appeared at the mouth of the cave and gave the Stormlord a harsh look before turning to look up at Verdan. ¡°I believe my companion asked you to identify yourself. If you do not do so in the next five seconds, we will treat you as hostile.¡±

    ¡°My name is Verdan Blacke,¡± Verdan said, carefully making no quick motions. ¡°Indagnium.¡±

    The word was what Staran had called out to begin the attack, and Verdan had long thought there was more to it than that. It had had the ring of a battlecry rather than a code.

    From how the woman froze in place when he said it, he had a feeling he was on the right track.

    ¡°Impossible,¡± the Stormlord¡¯s shaky voice rang out in the abrupt silence that followed Verdan¡¯s statement. ¡°He¡¯s the Wizard. He can¡¯t be one of us!¡±

    ¡°Silence, fool!¡± The woman snapped at the Sorcerer, not turning from Verdan. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you think you know, but do not test me. We have no desire to fight you, but we will defend our interests.¡±

    Verdan¡¯s eyes flicked from the woman to the Sorcerer as he gestured calmly to the crates. ¡°I wish I could believe you, but the last time I met one of your group, he was working alongside the Goramgyr to corrupt an ancient artifact. I can¡¯t let you take those and risk a similar event.¡±

    ¡°Zoisam,¡± the woman¡¯s eyes narrowed as her hand slowly slipped to a pocket in her robes. ¡°Did you kill him?¡±

    Verdan felt the tension in the air thicken and prepared two spells as he smiled down at her. ¡°I crushed him, like I will crush any Annwae-worshipping scum that I come across.¡±

    The woman snarled and pulled a long wand from her robes, bringing it up to release an empowered dart of Aether aimed at Verdan¡¯s chest.

    At the same time, two of the Sorcerers attacked, sending a flaming spear and a dart of poison at him.

    ¡°Ast,¡± Verdan snapped out the Word of power as he conjured a shield of blue Aether to intercept their attacks, even as he pointed his staff at the Defiant Flame Sorcerer. ¡°Grym rew drae.¡±

    Ice crystalised in the air around the Wizard, forming over a dozen thick spikes of ice that shot down at the Sorcerer. Fire leapt out from the man¡¯s hands to form a shield, but it collapsed after the first six spikes, and the rest carried on unimpeded.

    Verdan was already turning away as the first Sorcerer fell to the ground. ¡°Grym thanr laif.¡±

    A thick lance of flames roared out this time, overwhelming the defence of the Weeping Death Sorcerer and burning a hole into his chest.

    Chaos reigned across the area as the Kranjir popped up and took precise shots at their chosen targets, dropping several of the non-Sorcerers before Verdan had even launched his ice.

    At the same time, the Airta were howling and bursting from cover to bring the fight to the enemy in a more visceral manner.

    Caught flat-footed by the scale of the attack, the defenders nonetheless rose to the challenge. The guards moved to protect the woman and defend the artifacts while the Stormlord launched a frenzied series of attacks at Verdan.

    The fourth Sorcerer, however, joined the guards in resisting the Airta. Stone and earth rose from the ground to form a suit of armour around him, much like the Eternal Wardens would.

    Unlike them, however, this Sorcerer¡¯s armour held rocky spikes, and he formed studded rock gauntlets with which to fight.

    The Airta would struggle to penetrate that kind of defence, but before Verdan could act, Cullan sprinted past and hurled himself out from the top of the hill.

    The Idrisyr crashed down into the forming guards, crushing one of them under him as he hit the ground. A second died a moment later as Cullan¡¯s greatsword swung out in a flat arc that cut through flesh, bone and metal without care.

    Crying out in rage, the armoured Sorcerer leapt forwards to punch Cullan, only to get a huge boot to the chest that knocked him out of the air.

    The Sorcerer landed ungainly on the floor, and barely got to his feet before Cullan plunged his greatsword down into his chest.

    Left out of position and panicked by Cullan¡¯s bloody entrance, the guards were overrun by the Airta and dragged down to be ripped apart.

    Blasts of Aether shot out from the woman¡¯s wand again and again as she tried to assist her allies, but Verdan created a domed shield around her, locking her in place.

    A caster would find a way to breach it or use their abilities to bypass it, but she relied on whatever power her items provided. That made her predictable.

    Catching a blast of lightning with a different shield, Verdan pointed his staff at the Stormlord. ¡°Garreg macha challyn.¡±

    The Stormlord jumped back in alarm, right into the large stone hand that Verdan had conjured from the cave wall. Fingers the size of arms curled around the panicked man, crushing him just enough to keep him prisoner.

    ¡°Hefan,¡± Verdan said softly, stepping off from the top of the hill to walk down invisible steps made of compressed air that formed under his feet.

    Ignoring the struggling woman, who was still trying to breach his shielding spell. Verdan fixed the Stormlord with a hard look as the last of the guards were torn apart by the Airta. ¡°Tell me everything you know, or I throw you to the wolves.¡±

 AA5 10 - Unknown II

    The Stormlord stared at Verdan in horror, his mouth working soundlessly until Verdan made the hand holding him tighten its grip.

    ¡°Stop, please!¡± The Sorcerer cried out hoarsely. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything, just don¡¯t kill me.¡±

    ¡°You fool, you¡¯ll die either way, try to have some dignity,¡± the woman snapped at him, having given up on breaking out of the shield Verdan had placed over her.

    ¡°I swear on my magic that I will let you live if you speak truthfully and honestly,¡± Verdan said calmly, letting the hand loosen its grip on the man slightly. ¡°That goes for both of you.¡±

    ¡°Save your pity, Wizard,¡± the woman said with a sneer. ¡°Your whole world is burning around you, and you don¡¯t even know it yet.¡±

    Verdan turned to silence her before cursing as she dropped a small, empty vial to the ground and grinned savagely at him. ¡°Too slow, you¡¯ll get nothing from me.¡±

    Verdan released his shield as he raced toward her, but whatever she had taken was as quick as it was lethal, and she was dead before he¡¯d taken his third step.

    Grimacing, Verdan turned back to the pale-faced Sorcerer that he had captive. ¡°If I release you, are you going to be stupid?¡±

    ¡°No, no, I¡¯ve seen what you can do,¡± the Sorcerer said, his eyes flicking between Verdan, Cullan and the Airta.

    ¡°Alright then,¡± Verdan said, releasing the man before withdrawing his spell and letting the hand crumble away. ¡°Start talking. I know you were with Nathir, so how did you get here?¡±

    The man stammered for a moment before getting himself under control. ¡°It began about a year ago. Nathir recruited me into a branch of the Sect that focused on controlling the area around the city. He and a few others had been approached by the Brotherhood and had been taking bribes.¡±

    ¡°The Brotherhood?¡± Verdan asked, arching one brow.

    ¡°The Brotherhood of Indagnum,¡± the Sorcerer said hesitantly. ¡°They wanted us turn a blind eye to some areas, and we did. We took their money, their potions, and we did as we were told. You have to believe me that I didn¡¯t know all of this would happen, though!¡±

    ¡°You deliberately turned your back on your responsibilities,¡± Verdan said coldly. ¡°Your intent was and is irrelevant. What matters is your actions. At some point, you realised what was happening, and you went along with it.¡±

    ¡°We were already in so deep,¡± the Sorcerer pleaded for Verdan to understand. ¡°We were just ignoring an area, and then the Cyth were there and Nathir got us out of the way. The Brotherhood took care of us, and they gave us the information to pass on as scouts. I realised they were downplaying the threat to slow the response, but what could I do about it?¡±

    ¡°You could have faced up to your duty,¡± Verdan said, shaking his head. ¡°You could have escaped and warned people. You could have done anything, but you didn¡¯t. Now, where is Nathir?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, they split us up and mixed us in with other Sorcerers. When we left to come here I saw at least three other groups this size, as well as a larger one being readied. I don¡¯t know any more than that.¡±

    ¡°I believe you,¡± Verdan said reluctantly. ¡°However, I can¡¯t just let you roam free or warn the Brotherhood that we know about them. You¡¯ll be coming back with me as my prisoner. Silver will want to question you.¡±

    ¡°No, please, just let me go. You¡¯ll never see me again. I¡¯ll just disappear. Please don¡¯t take me with you. They¡¯ll find out and take me.¡± The Sorcerer shuddered, his eyes wide with fear. ¡°You don¡¯t know what they do to people who betray them!¡±

    Verdan¡¯s expression hardened, and he went to cast a restraining spell, but the Sorcerer saw the look in his eyes and acted first. A gale of wind and lightning spewed forth from the Sorcerer, crashing into Verdan¡¯s shield.

    The fear and anger filling the Sorcerer had given him enough strength to endanger those around them. Verdan could contain it, but he didn¡¯t have the presence of mind to do so and attack at the same time.

    A flash of steel cut through the wild attack as Cullan charged in and a moment later, the Sorcerer fell limply to the ground.

    ¡°Are you okay, Cullan?¡± Verdan asked, moving over with a healing spell at the ready, just in case some of that spell had hit the big man.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± Cullan said, waving off his concern. ¡°A shame about it ending like this, though. I was hoping we could bring him with us.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but if he was so scared of this Brotherhood, then it would never have worked. It takes precision and preparation to imprison hostile magic users, neither of which we could manage on the fly.¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Cullan said before casting his eyes over the windswept and scorched entrance to the cave. ¡°You certainly didn¡¯t pull your punches, which isn¡¯t your usual style.¡±

    ¡°I might not have known what they were called, but I knew what this Brotherhood was. Traitors. Far beyond anything else we¡¯ve seen, they have betrayed everything and everyone they know.¡±

    ¡°A strong stance to take,¡± Cullan said neutrally. ¡°Most people would focus on their betrayal of the alliance and the Sects as a whole.¡±

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    ¡°Then they would be wrong,¡± Verdan said, running a hand through his hair before turning to face the Idrisyr. ¡°They are clearly working with the Darjee, and the Gormagyr. I¡¯d say they were working with the Cyth as well, but I¡¯m not sure that is entirely possible. They are certainly taking advantage of them, though. They are actively working with Annwae-worshipping monsters, if they don¡¯t worship the dark gods themselves. You know this, and I know it.¡±

    ¡°Branwen told me you were more aware of the greater stakes than most, but I hadn¡¯t really taken that in,¡± Cullan said, giving Verdan a slow nod. ¡°It is good to know that you see the scope of the problem. We should inform Lukas, though.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already sent two riders back with news,¡± the Pathfinder said, joining them alongside Sylvie and Blane.

    ¡°I¡¯ve released most of my pack back to their scouting duties as well,¡± Sylvie said, eyeing the boxes with interest. ¡°What exactly were they trying to take?¡±

    Walking over, Verdan righted one of the crates that had been knocked over and poked through the contents before shrugging. ¡°It looks like they were taking everything they could. There¡¯s reports, broken artifacts, chunks of metal. Nothing I¡¯d say was worth this effort, but then I know what I¡¯m looking for.¡±

    ¡°So you think they were going for quantity over quality,¡± Sylvie asked, looking over some of the other crates. ¡°There isn¡¯t that much here. Should we check what else is inside?¡±

    Verdan went to nod before pausing as he realised he hadn¡¯t cleared the interior to check for other enemies. Seeing his expression, Sylvie chuckled and shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I had two of mine sweep the insides carefully while you were talking to Cullan. We got them all.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Sylvie,¡± Verdan said, a little embarrassed by the slip up on his part. ¡°Let¡¯s head in and see what we find. Let me just check the woman first, though.¡±

    Stepping over to the dead woman who¡¯d apparently been in charge of this little expedition, he patted her down and searched for whatever she might have been carrying on her.

    As he¡¯d seen with the man in the north, the rings, pendant and wand she¡¯d been using had all broken on her death. The activation wand was still intact, however, and Verdan quickly stashed it away on his person.

    The small amount of Aethite it held would be most useful for one of his projects. Exactly which, he didn¡¯t know, but the possibility of experimenting more with the new Sigils was exciting.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head inside,¡± Verdan said, stepping away from the body and starting into the cave mouth as he conjured a light and attached it to the top of his staff.

    The interior began as natural rock, but quickly shifted into the familiar worked stone of the other ancient ruins that Verdan had been inside. A few holes in the wall showed where light crystals had been kept in the past, and Verdan was about to walk past when he frowned.

    The crystals used for the lights were common, but he hadn¡¯t really given them any thought since he learned more about how this all worked. They must work on the same system of Sigils that he¡¯d learned from the other ancient remnants that he¡¯d found.

    That meant they were channelling a large amount of Aether with little apparent issue. They also, if he remembered right, were mostly clear with small traces of blue and white in their core. Which also fit the description of Aethite.

    Verdan had asked the Brecan about finding Aethite, but they had no access to places like this, so of course it wouldn¡¯t have come up. Cursing himself for a fool, Verdan hurried on, quickly finding himself in front of what he recognsied as an exterior door.

    The door was already open and wooden wedges had been driven in to keep it that way, so Verdan stepped inside, glancing around as he did to work out what this ruin had once been.

    Long storage racks sat against each wall, though most of them stood empty, with only a few damaged metal crates remaining. Those crates had been grouped together in the centre and seemed to have been what the Brotherhood was looting.

    Frowning, Verdan moved on into the ruin, finding several doors that led out into a larger storage area, a residence and an office. The office and residence had scattered belongings here and there, but the storage area was empty.

    With how uneven the looting had been, Verdan was fairly sure that the storage part had been taken before the ruin was closed up for the last time.

    ¡°Hardly a treasure trove,¡± Cullan remarked, eyeing the small pile of loot in the centre of the main room. ¡°Some of this might be useful, I suppose, but it seems a lot of effort.¡±

    Verdan nodded absently as he returned to the office area. There was no light in here, but there were five settings on the ceiling that still held their crystals. ¡°Cullan, could you come grab these for me?¡±

    The Idrisyr was tall enough that he struggled in areas like this, so reaching up to take the crystals from their setting was hardly an imposition. Taking the first one from him as it was passed over, Verdan ran some Aether through the crystal and grinned as it lit up.

    Looking carefully, he could see Sigils were carved into the top and bottom of the crystal, right in the sections that would be concealed by the setting. The surface area of the item taken by the Sigils helped determine the strength of the effect, so Verdan wasn¡¯t surprised to see that each of the five crystals looked essentially identical.

    Interestingly, that extended to the colouration of the crystals, though they were slightly different to the one that he¡¯d used for Magnus¡¯s arm.

    What mattered, though, was that they were in working order, and were clearly Aethite. Unfortunately, that meant that the tower outside of Hobson¡¯s Point had enough Aethite on hand to keep him in material for some time. It was right there, and he¡¯d not realised.

    Closing his eyes, Verdan stifled the urge to break something and resolved to gather as much of the valuable material as he could from this point on.

    ¡°So, what was the point of gathering all this, do you think?¡± Sylvie asked as they regrouped outside. ¡°They seem to know as much about these artifacts as you do, and you weren¡¯t particularly excited by them. So why send a group here?¡±

    Verdan considered the question for a few moments. She did have a point. This was a risky trip for a collection of artifacts that could be useful, but might well be nothing but old scrap.

    ¡°Did you say there was a wagon nearby?¡± Verdan asked, eyeing the crates that had been set out. ¡°Were there crates in it already?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but all empty. Another half-dozen I think.¡±

    ¡°Then I know why,¡± Verdan said, turning back to the others. ¡°The Sorcerer mentioned other groups, so they must be hitting as many of these places as they can in a short space of time.¡±

    ¡°But why?¡± The Pathfinder asked, cocking her head to one side. ¡°Surely this will only make their actions easier to see.¡±

    ¡°Not in the middle of a Cyth invasion, and not when they¡¯ve undermined it all,¡± Cullan said with clear disgust. ¡°They¡¯re sweeping in now before the Cyth corrupt it all and taking what they can. No one has the resources or time to try and stop some looters right now.¡±

    ¡°Exactly, but it¡¯ll still be noticeable. That means that whatever they¡¯re doing, they¡¯re not as concerned about hiding anymore. Which is concerning.¡±

    Cullan nodded before glancing up at the position of the sun and gesturing back up the hill. ¡°We should head back. Pathfinder, can you arrange for the wagon to be brought back to the caravan?¡±

    Galstar nodded and set about her work while Sylvie and Blane volunteered to guide Verdan and Cullan back. This had ended up being a lot more than expected, and Silver needed to be warned.

 AA5 11 - Command

    They gave Commander Silver a quick rundown of what they had found when they returned, but it was big enough that a full meeting was warranted. Verdan would have preferred to keep things between them, especially with how sure that Sorcerer had been that he¡¯d be taken if brought back.

    It was possible that more traitors were scattered amongst the rest of the alliance force, but weeding them out was going to be all but impossible. Thankfully, that was more Silver¡¯s headache than Verdan¡¯s.

    More than ever, Verdan was thankful that he wasn¡¯t the one in charge of this mess.

    Thankfully, the rest of the day¡¯s travel went smoothly, and there were no further sightings of unknown groups, or of anyone for that matter. Word had long since spread about what was happening, and anyone who could leave was long gone.

    At least, Verdan hoped they were.

    ¡°Wizard Blacke?¡± One of the Hobson¡¯s Point guards came over as they were setting up for the evening. ¡°Commander Silver asks that you join him for a general meeting in an hours time.¡±

    Verdan nodded, thanking the guard before sending him on his way.

    ¡°Is everything okay?¡± Natalia asked from where she had set up her travel kit. She¡¯d found some ingredients during the day¡¯s travel and was going to use what she had to make some fresh potions. They wouldn¡¯t be much, but their stocks were non-existent after the last battle.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be about that group we saw,¡± Verdan said with a grimace. It was important that they all understood what was happening, but he wasn¡¯t looking forward to dealing with Kurgane.

    It was hard to keep things civil, and the last thing Verdan wanted was for the Sorcerer to realise that they knew who had injured Gwen. If he did, he¡¯d likely try to do something about it.

    As it was, Verdan¡¯s hope was that the attack on Gwen had been a spur of the moment flash of pettiness against someone he disliked. If so, he might well stay on the level for however long this alliance stayed together.

    Which would make dealing with him all the sweeter at the end of it.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like that look,¡± Natalia said, putting down her tools to come and sit next to him. ¡°Don¡¯t get too caught up in all this, alright?¡±

    ¡°I will, it¡¯s just difficult,¡± Verdan said softly, rubbing his face. ¡°Normally, I could just deal with the anger and move on, but it¡¯s hard to process when the source of it is just swanning around.¡±

    ¡°I understand, and I¡¯m amazed Kai hasn¡¯t acted yet,¡± Natalia said, absently rubbing at her scars. ¡°I¡¯ll admit that it bothers me as well, but like Vaijon said, we have to wait.¡±

    Verdan nodded with a heavy sigh. ¡°You¡¯re right. I just don¡¯t like it.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll manage,¡± Natalia said, kissing his cheek. ¡°Just focus on what your priority is. Speaking of which, I¡¯m going to get back to work, okay?¡±

    Feeling a little better, Verdan pulled her in for a kiss before settling in to do a short session of Aether gathering. By starting strong in that fight with the Brotherhood, Verdan had actually saved Aether. The breathing technique that he was weaving into his existing method was making a substantial difference as well.

    Closing his eyes, Verdan focused on cycling his Aether through the spiral as he painstakingly added a new layer to the outside. This was his twentieth spiral, so each new layer took quite a while. It would take maybe twenty minutes to finish this one.

    That number would only go up as he fleshed out this spiral, so he needed to take what time he could, whenever he could find it.

    -**-

    Verdan managed to fit in a second layer before he was disturbed by excited chatter from throughout the camp. Updating his mental model and shifting control back to his subconscious, Verdan grabbed his staff and went to investigate.

    He¡¯d barely made it ten paces when a guard came running to let him know that the meeting was starting, and that Morag had arrived with the Eternal Wardens.

    Thanking the guard, Verdan hurried off to the centre of the camp, meeting up with Vaijon and Kai along the way.

    ¡°I heard that Morag has caught up, do you know how many she¡¯s brought?¡± Verdan asked as he joined the two Sorcerers.

    ¡°Everyone we left behind along with a further hundred retainers, a dozen Sorcerers and the supply train to match,¡± Vaijon said, flashing Verdan a grin. ¡°Exactly what we needed right about now.¡±

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    ¡°They must have left not long after us to catch up so soon,¡± Kai said thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s quite the gesture for the Sect to send reinforcements as well.¡±

    ¡°We saved their city. I imagine they are feeling quite generous at the moment,¡± Verdan said with a soft laugh. ¡°Still, this is more than I was hoping for.¡±

    Vaijon nodded, his smile fading into something more serious. ¡°Especially as we have no idea of the scale of what we¡¯re going up against.¡±

    With those grim words ringing in their ears, they stepped into the pavilion that had been set up at the centre of the camp. Silver, Cullan, Ciaran, Bastian and Kurgane were already present, and the air was tense as Verdan and the others took seats around the map table.

    Bastian turned to Verdan with a nod, and a subtle gesture that implied he wanted to talk later.

    Bastian was a tall, lean man with dark hair and perpetual stubble. The most noticeable thing about him, though, was that one of his eyes was a bright, vibrant blue and the other steel grey.

    He was also the leader of the Clerics that were with them, and perhaps even the leader of all the remaining Clerics, as far as Verdan knew.

    As the only Cleric with two gods that Verdan had ever encountered, Bastian was a powerful and dedicated warrior.

    ¡°Disciple Morag will be with us in a moment, so we will hold for her before discussing our situation,¡± Silver said once they were seated. ¡°Is there anyone else we should have here?¡±

    ¡°I will be passing on anything Witch related to Gwen,¡± Kai said in a neutral tone, his eyes fixed on Silver. Having just been dealing with his own anger about that issue, Verdan quickly cleared his throat to draw attention away from his friend.

    ¡°I will be doing the same for the Airta. Sylvie is running a scouting mission along the path ahead of us at the moment. She¡¯ll return in an hour or two and can update us on what to expect tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Excellent,¡± Silver said before pausing as Morag stepped inside. The Sorcerer looked tired and was dirt-stained from travelling hard to catch them, but seemed more at ease than last Verdan had spoken with her.

    ¡°Apologies for the delay, but I¡¯m glad we caught up with you so soon,¡± Morag said, taking a seat and nodding to them all in greeting.

    ¡°We¡¯re equally glad to have you,¡± Silver said. ¡°How was the situation at the new fortification when you left?¡±

    ¡°The Sect sent several hundred retainers and fifty Sorcerers to occupy it and expand on what we started,¡± Morag said with a proud smile. ¡°A portion of that was detailed to join the alliance once I reported the situation. It is all that can be spared at this time.¡±

    ¡°Any reinforcements are gratefully received,¡± Silver said, glancing at Kurgane briefly before continuing. ¡°I¡¯ll ask that you receive updates on everything so that you can resume your role as leader of the Sect forces.¡±

    ¡°Are you unsatisfied with my performance, Commander?¡± Kurgane asked before Morag could answer. ¡°Have the Sect forces fallen into disarray when I wasn¡¯t looking?¡±

    ¡°No, Disciple Skarv, you have done an adequate job so far,¡± Silver said with a bland smile.

    ¡°Then, as Disciple Morag and I are of equivalent rank, would it not be easier for the duties to sit with myself?¡± Kurgane asked, sitting back with a relaxed posture. ¡°I¡¯m sure Disciple Morag is tired from her journey and needs rest. It would be unfair to expect her to pick up smoothly from here, and we can ill afford any disruption to our schedule.¡±

    To Verdan¡¯s surprise, Morag nodded. ¡°I agree, Commander. Time is of the utmost importance right now.¡±

    Verdan cursed silently as he realised that they¡¯d never told Morag about their suspicions. Mainly because they didn¡¯t know her that well, though her grief over Dun¡¯s death hadn¡¯t helped.

    ¡°In that case, we will remain as we are,¡± Silver said smoothly, though Verdan had known him long enough to catch the tension in his jaw that showed his frustration. ¡°With that done. Verdan, could you update us on the Brotherhood situation?¡±

    ¡°Of course, for those of you who aren¡¯t aware, the Brotherhood of Indagnum is a coalition of members that draws from at least five different Sects, as well as having deep ties to alchemy. They are also tightly connected to the Darjee, Gormagyr and Cyth, and if the information we¡¯ve received is correct, they could be responsible for this Host.¡±

    The room was silent as they took in what Verdan had said, with Morag and Kurgane both looking shocked at his blunt statement.

    A distant portion of Verdan was slightly disappointed that Kurgane looked genuinely shocked at this news. He¡¯d been hoping he was a Brotherhood agent as a good excuse to deal with him without causing issues.

    Carrying on to explain what they¡¯d found and what their captured Stormlord had said, Verdan referred to Vaijon to discuss Nathir¡¯s disappearance. Now was the time to put everything on the table.

    ¡°So what proof do you have of all this?¡± Kurgane asked once Verdan was done with his report. ¡°The word of a coward? Could he not have been making this up as a means to deflect blame?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Verdan said reluctantly. ¡°But the items the woman in charge used were identical to those on the man we encountered in the north, and they reacted to the use of the word Indagnum. I¡¯m inclined to believe him.¡±

    ¡°I can attest to what we saw in the north,¡± Ciaran said, seeing that Kurgane wasn¡¯t fully convinced. ¡°Everything is as the Wizard has said.¡±

    ¡°And I can attest to what we saw today,¡± Cullan said. ¡°It went exactly as he¡¯s said.¡±

    ¡°Interesting that your closest allies are those who back you up about the existence of a conspiracy that puts Sorcerers in a bad light,¡± Kurgane remarked with a sneer.

    ¡°Enough,¡± Silver cut in before anyone could respond. ¡°Disciple Skarv, keep it civil. Wizard Blacke has provided sufficient evidence that this Brotherhood exists by my reckoning. The truth about them may differ, but we will take precautions, nonetheless.¡±

    Kurgane nodded with a tight smile and they moved on to what they could do to protect against any potential betrayal. A difficult question to answer, but they did their best.

    ¡°Verdan, a moment if you would,¡± Bastian said once the meeting was over.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Verdan said, motioning for Bastian to walk with him.

    They¡¯d moved barely two steps when Ciaran came walking briskly over. ¡°Verdan, could you spare a few moments?¡±

    ¡°Ah, I was just about to have a discussion with Bastian,¡± Verdan said, glancing between the two of them.

    ¡°I can wait, as long as the Chosen doesn¡¯t mind my hearing what he wants to discuss?¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Ciaran said, giving the Cleric a respectful nod.

    ¡°In that case, let¡¯s take a walk,¡± Verdan said, carrying on once more before looking at Ciaran. ¡°What is it you need?¡±

 AA5 12 - Threat

    ¡°I wanted to discuss what you said in your report,¡± Ciaran said. ¡°About this Brotherhood of Indagnum and their involvement in what we faced in the north.¡±

    Verdan motioned for him to continue. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what I can, but I don¡¯t know much more than I mentioned to you.¡±

    ¡°So you do know more, then,¡± Ciaran said, the corner of his mouth twitching up into a smile as Verdan hesitated. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to stick to what you can share. Starting with how confident you are that this Brotherhood orchestrated the attack on my people?¡±

    ¡°As confident as I can be without having direct witnesses,¡± Verdan said, taking a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing. ¡°The person in charge had the same equipment in both cases. Equipment I¡¯ve never seen before or anywhere else. She also referred to him as Zoisam when I spoke of killing him.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Ciaran said, falling silent for a few moments before looking back at Verdan. ¡°We are already with you until the destruction of the Host, but if you see any opportunity for us to weaken or combat this Brotherhood, we will support you. That position will become more official once we can report back to our Clans. For now, though, I will spread the word among the other Chosen.¡±

    ¡°If it comes to it, I¡¯ll be glad of your support,¡± Verdan said as Ciaran dropped back to head for the Kranjir section of the camp. Once he was sure they were alone, he turned back to Bastian. ¡°So, what was it you wanted to discuss?¡±

    ¡°Almost the same thing, actually,¡± Bastian said, keeping his voice quiet. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard the name of this organisation before, but I¡¯ve caught glimpses of them. I¡¯ve had a theory for a long time that someone was actively working against us. Now, I think we finally know who.¡±

    ¡°You think they are Annwae worshippers?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, or they are just using them as a means to destabilise things. Either way, there¡¯s been one too many coincidences in recent years, and I thought you should be aware of that.¡±

    ¡°Consider me informed and on the lookout,¡± Verdan said. ¡°My concern, though, is that if they¡¯re operating in the far north and working with these Cyth, then what else are they doing?¡±

    ¡°That is exactly the question that is worrying me,¡± Bastian said, shaking his head. ¡°I also wonder how deep their connections go into some of these Sects and what exactly keeps that going.¡±

    ¡°I think that we won¡¯t know more until we can capture one of them, or find wherever they¡¯ve hidden themselves,¡± Verdan said, sighing slightly. ¡°Unfortunately, they just aren¡¯t the priority right now, or else I¡¯d try to track them down.¡±

    ¡°We can only deal with the problems in front of us,¡± Bastian said, patting Verdan on the back. ¡°Get some sleep. We¡¯ve got a long few days ahead of us.¡±

    -**-

    The caravan got underway slightly later the next day, a delay that they could ill afford, but a necessary one. With Morag and the Eternal Wardens joining them, they needed to restructure and reassess, which took time.

    Ideally, it would have been done the night before, but their reinforcements had travelled hard to reach them and had needed their rest.

    Thankfully, the hard working people who managed their logistics got everything done in as little time as possible, and they were underway only an hour late.

    The delay also gave Verdan time to work on the new breathing method he¡¯d learnt from Vaijon. The Elder had found him after he¡¯d spoken with Bastian the night before and had shown him enough that Verdan was able to shift to the new style.

    Not being able to get the physical benefits of these techniques was a shame, but the new style was certainly more effective than the old one at raw Aether movement, which was exactly what Verdan needed.

    The potential for incorporating this technique into his spiral was staggering, and Verdan felt sick at the thought of how much more Aether he could have had if he¡¯d known sooner.

    Crushing his errant thoughts, Verdan kept his focus on what he was doing. If he could get the two techniques working smoothly together over the next few days, he¡¯d have a real advantage ready to deal with whatever was coming.

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    -**-

    ¡°Verdan?¡± Natalia¡¯s voice dragged Verdan out of the deep meditative state he¡¯d been in and he blinked at the bright light before moving up to join her at the front.

    ¡°Yes?¡± Verdan glanced around to see what she might have called him forward for, only to spot a familiar figure riding alongside their wagon with a spare mount.

    ¡°You have a visitor,¡± Natalia said, shaking her head. ¡°It never stops, does it?¡±

    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t,¡± Verdan said with a long sigh. ¡°Is it important, Val?¡±

    ¡°Oh no, not at all,¡± Val said, flashing him a brilliant smile. ¡°I just thought you might need a ride to stretch your legs a bit.¡±

    Val was an air and water Sorcerer, one of the first that Verdan had met when he woke up from his curse. Their relationship had been strained at first when she immediately abandoned him, but since then they¡¯d come to an understanding and she¡¯d proved quite useful.

    Between her bronzed skin and long brown hair that she kept in a ponytail, Val stood out from the blonde southerners and dark-haired northerners. Apparently, she was from the Southern Reaches, which included a peninsula that hadn¡¯t existed during the days of the Grym Imperium.

    One day, Verdan hoped to head down there and take a look, but the southern end of the continent was firmly under the control of the Sorcerer Sects. Until that changed, he doubted he¡¯d risk the trip.

    With her air magic and naturally shifty ways, Val filled somewhat of an intelligence gathering role within their group. While her demeanour seemed perfectly at ease, Verdan had a feeling that this was a conversation that he couldn¡¯t afford to ignore.

    Turning back to Natalia, Verdan gave her a weary look. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±

    Dropping down from the wagon, Verdan swung up onto the horse and followed Val out to the edge of the caravan while she told him about an experiment she was doing about transferring force through compressed water.

    It was actually quite interesting, but he caught her checking around them to see who was nearby, so he was reasonably confident it was just a cover.

    ¡°Actually,¡± Verdan said, interrupting her. ¡°I had done a similar experiment recently, but with some key differences. Let me just put up some security measures and then we¡¯ll discuss it. Tawel gward.¡±

    Val gave him a crooked smile as the silencing ward swept over them. ¡°Have you actually been working on it?¡±

    ¡°No, but it felt like a reasonable excuse,¡± Verdan said with a wry smile that quickly faded. ¡°Now, how about you tell me what you really wanted to talk about?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s always a pleasure to work with people who understand,¡± Val said, her smile widening briefly. ¡°In short, we might have an issue with Disciple Skarv. Though, from the look on your face, you don¡¯t seem shocked by that.¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s safe to say that I expect the worst from our dear friend Kurgane,¡± Verdan said with enough bite to get Val¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Well, just what has he done to get that kind of reaction?¡±

    Verdan cleared his throat pointedly. ¡°How about you tell me what brought him to your attention first?¡±

    ¡°Well, he¡¯s not at all a fan of non-Sorcerers being in anything close to power. That includes you and the Witches, by the way. Especially the Witches, he really doesn¡¯t like them. Oddly, though, he goes out of his way to never badmouth Gwen. To the point that it¡¯s noticeable.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Verdan said thoughtfully. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve been spending quite a bit of time monitoring him?¡±

    Val shrugged and nodded. ¡°Ever since he took over on the Sorcerer side of things I¡¯ve been watching. He likes to have large gatherings of Sorcerers in the evening, some of which I¡¯ve attended, some of which I¡¯ve listened to from afar. They started off innocuous, but they¡¯re getting somewhat pointed now.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡± Verdan asked with a sinking feeling in his gut.

    ¡°Well, he¡¯s not criticising Commander Silver, just like he doesn¡¯t badmouth Gwen, but he¡¯s talked a lot about how only Sorcerers can lead other Sorcerers effectively. He¡¯s an ambitious one, and he¡¯s building up a platform to try and take control away from Silver. At least, that¡¯s where he seems to be going, I could be wrong.¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think you are,¡± Verdan said, pinching the bridge of his nose for a few moments before exhaling and turning back to Val. ¡°So, what you should also know is this¡­.¡±

    Val listened intently as Verdan lay out what they knew about Kurgane, both past and present, and how Vaijon had asked them to hold off to keep everything stable.

    ¡°I see,¡± Val said once Verdan had finished. ¡°This is a thornier issue than I expected. Elder Vaijon is right about the leadership, though. Morag could take control back if she tried, but he¡¯s actually keeping everyone organised and moving smoothly. She doesn¡¯t strike me as a political animal either, so he¡¯d eat her alive if she tried to play that game with him.¡±

    ¡°Which is a problem,¡± Verdan said with a sigh. ¡°It would be much easier if he was incompetent.¡±

    ¡°No, he¡¯s been annoyingly useful actually,¡± Val said, explaining more at his questioning look. ¡°The administration part is fairly easy, we¡¯ve only been on the road a few days. He¡¯s also been addressing issues between Sorcerers as well, mediating things and generally just being the leader they need.¡±

    ¡°We should have just killed him straight away,¡± Verdan said darkly. ¡°We¡¯ve given him a chance to get his hooks into it all now.¡±

    ¡°I could take care of it if you need me to,¡± Val said, tapping the side of her neck. ¡°I could make it look like an accident, or as close as is needed.¡±

    Verdan was tempted, very tempted, but he shook his head. ¡°No, the reasons we agreed to before still stand. Keep watch, though. If he does make a play for power, I want to shut it down immediately.¡±

    ¡°You got it,¡± Val said, giving him a cheery wave as he dropped the ward and they rode back to rejoin Natalia.

 AA5 13 - Tracks

    Verdan passed on the information he¡¯d got from Val to both Vaijon and Silver that evening, making sure to use his magic to ensure the conversations were private.

    The last thing they needed was for Kurgane to somehow realise they were on to him and force a confrontation. That would defeat the whole point of this.

    Both of the other men agreed that it was a threat and that they would take steps to deal with it, but Verdan had his doubts. They were on the outside of the Sects, even Vaijon was distanced from them.

    If Kurgane was going to focus on gaining the support of the rank and file Sorcerer, there was little they could do to combat that, and definitely not while on the road.

    Fortunately, a distraction came on the morning of the fourth day when the Unbound Gale messenger they¡¯d sent ahead returned. They couldn¡¯t afford to stop, so a key few gathered at Silver¡¯s wagon to learn what they were walking into.

    It was an awkward way to hold a meeting, but they managed as best they could. Whatever news the scout brought would shape their approach to the coming fight.

    Unfortunately, the news was far from good. The walls of Gerann had been breached.

    The Cyth had broken through the city¡¯s defences and had been in the process of destroying everything within when the scout arrived. They could only hope that the Elder had managed to evacuate as many people as possible before the inevitable.

    Anyone left alive after the initial conquest of the city would be captured and transformed into Cyth. Even the dead wouldn¡¯t be spared the corrupting touch of Malfease, their bodies used as raw materials to construct fresh horrors out of the innocent captives.

    ¡°We must assume that the city, and all within it, are lost,¡± Silver said heavily, his words silencing the mutters the scout¡¯s report had brought.

    ¡°If I may, Commander,¡± the scout said before Silver could continue. ¡°That might not be entirely true.¡±

    Silver arched a brow and motioned for the man to continue. ¡°Explain.¡±

    ¡°The walls had fallen and there was fighting in the city, but the Host itself withdrew. As an estimate, I¡¯d say that maybe a fifth of its strength was left to pacify the city while the rest left.¡±

    ¡°Left?¡± Vaijon echoed with a frown. ¡°Where did they go?¡±

    ¡°They were heading north,¡± the scout said. ¡°Retracing their path to the city.¡±

    ¡°How many were left?¡± Verdan asked loudly as he tried to keep them on course.

    ¡°Eight to nine thousand, with another two to three left in the city. The fields outside the city are drenched in ichor and blood, but even so, the Elder was only able to kill half of the Host.¡±

    ¡°Even with the right position, we would struggle to hold against those numbers,¡± Vaijon said, turning to Silver. ¡°We defeated more than that the first time, but we lost a third of our people doing it. Even with ideal terrain and time to prepare, we would be in danger of being overrun.¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Silver said, raising a hand for silence. ¡°We¡¯ll proceed to the city as fast as we can. We will deal with whatever Cyth remain there and take stock of the situation. That is our priority.¡±

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    ¡°What of the Host?¡± Kurgane asked with a hint of challenge.

    ¡°Pathfinder Galstar, Sylvie, could you push your people out into a wider net around us and send a detachment to find the Host¡¯s trail?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll track them down,¡± Sylvie said with a nod that the Pathfinder echoed.

    ¡°Good. Once we know where they¡¯re heading, we can move accordingly.¡±

    Kurgane frowned, seemingly unhappy with that, but had nothing else to say, so the meeting came to an end and they all quickly dispersed. There wasn¡¯t much they could do right now, but word had to be spread, just in case.

    The Host might have started heading north, but it could easily have changed direction, and that meant they all needed to be ready to act at a moment¡¯s notice.

    -**-

    Thankfully, there was no sign of any Cyth nearby by the time they camped for the evening, and their scouts reported no activity in the area at all.

    Despite that, Silver made sure that the night watch was double, and that the camp was set in as defensible a location as they could find. The area was thick with old woodlands, but anything larger than a raiding party would be easily spotted.

    From what Verdan had heard, the area around Gerann was known for its rolling hills and plentiful woodlands, so they could expect more of the same right up to the city.

    As best they could tell, they were a mere four hours away from the city now, which meant some hard decisions were needed for the morning.

    A detached force could cover that ground in half the time, but that would also leave the caravan exposed. They¡¯d been quite fortunate to avoid any issues beyond the brief encounter with the Brotherhood, but the danger would only rise as they drew closer.

    Verdan had worked with Silver enough now to know that the Commander would likely send a small but powerful group forward. They would be small enough to evade if necessary, but pack enough magical power to hold their own.

    That meant him, and probably Cullan. Maybe Gwen depending on who else he was considering. In the end, though, it would be Silver¡¯s decision.

    -**-

    It was just after dawn when Verdan was woken by one of the guards and directed to get his things and head over to the central pavilion. Just as he¡¯d expected, they were sending a detachment forward to gather information and test the waters.

    As he¡¯d expected, Silver had also brought in Vaijon, Gwen, Kai and Ciaran to discuss what he had planned.

    ¡°The aim is to determine how much of a presence the Cyth have in the area,¡± Silver said as they gathered around a map that was spread out on the table. It was hand drawn and somewhat suspect, but it was the best they could get for the moment. ¡°If there is fighting ongoing within the city, engage as you see fit, but send a rider back to us with estimates once you do so. We will be several hours behind you, so you¡¯ll be on your own if anything goes wrong, understood?¡±

    Verdan nodded as he looked over the map and inspected the terrain. It looked like the land in the city¡¯s immediate vicinity was flat, which would make them easy to spot. Then again, it would also make it easy to see what they were getting into.

    ¡°Who will be leading the detachment?¡± Vaijon asked, bringing Verdan¡¯s attention away from the map.

    ¡°You were my first pick,¡± Silver said, arching a brow at the Elder. ¡°If that isn¡¯t a problem?¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Vaijon said, flashing the commander a grin. ¡°I can keep this lot in line.¡±

    ¡°Good, I¡¯ve had twenty of our horses brought forward. Select the rest of your number and set off as soon as you can. We have no idea what the battle within the city looks like, and time may well be of the essence.¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Vaijon said, his expression turning serious as he shared a nod with Silver before turning to the rest of them. ¡°Alright, we have limited space, so who are we bringing?¡±

    ¡°Hedda and Macha should come, between the three of us we can cover almost everything,¡± Gwen said firmly, the determined look in her eyes daring anyone to say different.

    Magical healing had let Gwen heal from her injuries in comparatively no time at all. She still bore the scars of what Kurgane had done, but she was more than that, and Verdan was confident that she could handle this.

    ¡°A few of my people should come as well,¡± Vaijon said, frowning in thought. ¡°We could fill the rest of the slots with your warriors, Chosen Macstan, if that suits you?¡±

    Ciaran quickly did a headcount and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll have Padraig bring our best riders. We¡¯ll be ready to go shortly.¡±

    Padraig was Ciaran¡¯s Blade, an honorary position given to the most well-respected of the Chosen¡¯s Thearns. Considering the standard of bravery and skill that Verdan had seen among those Kranjir, that said a lot about Padraig¡¯s exploits.

    ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s get everyone together. It¡¯s time to see what we¡¯re dealing with.¡± Vaijon called out, clapping his hands together before heading back towards the section of the camp that held the rest of the Disciples of Adamar.

 AA5 14 - Gerann I

    An hour later, Verdan and the rest of the detachment were in sight of the city and riding hard.

    Gerann was a sprawling city with a reasonable sized stone wall protecting it. A few towers were dotted here and there along it, but it was far from a fortified city. The immediate area outside of the walls was dominated by fields and farms, with logging camps set up at the edge of the surrounding woods.

    Now, though, Verdan could see smoke trailing up from the interior of the city and the edge of where the walls had been broken and breached at the northern end.

    ¡°Verdan!¡± Gwen shouted, drawing his attention over to a farmhouse they were going to pass by and the dozen Cyth that were boiling out of it as they spotted them.

    No doubt all the farmhouses and homes outside the city would be rife with the enemy, but it still hit Verdan hard as he realised that these were freshly turned Cyth.

    They¡¯d likely been scavenging or sourcing materials for whichever creature had been left in charge of this part of the Host. As bad as it was, this was actually a good sign. If the Cyth were scavenging out here, it hopefully meant that the interior was still being contested.

    ¡°Thanr bel,¡± Verdan called out, creating a condensed pellet of flames that he sent shooting out to strike the central Cyth in the group. As soon as the pellet struck the creature, it shattered, releasing a ball of flames that charred and burnt the Cyth.

    A few of the creatures survived the initial blast, but were quickly cut down as Padraig and a trio of Thearns broke off from the main group as they rode past.

    Ciaran¡¯s Thearns were well trained veterans and some of the best warriors the Clans could offer, at least in Verdan¡¯s opinion. They reminded him somewhat of the guardsmen he¡¯d worked with back in the Imperium. They were less regimented, of course, but no less disciplined or skilled.

    For a mission like this, he could ask for no better support.

    ¡°We¡¯ll head straight for the breach,¡± Vaijon called back as Padraig and the others caught back up to them. ¡°If there are Cyth present we either deal with them and take it, or draw some off to deal with in isolation. Verdan, Gwen, coordinate for the opening strike once we have eyes on them.¡±

    Verdan caught Vaijon¡¯s gaze and gave him a firm nod before shifting his place in their formation to be next to Kai and Gwen. ¡°Do you want to lead, or should I?¡±

    Gwen laughed and gestured to the sky over the city, which was already starting to darken as clouds began to form. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got it.¡±

    Nodding, Verdan let Gwen take the lead. If she had time to work with the local weather, she would have far more endurance for protracted fights. It was somewhat ironic that a slow and steady approach worked best for a Storm Witch, but the end result was more than worth it.

    They passed two more groups of Cyth as they closed with the breach in the wall. The first was in a livestock barn they passed, but the second was a roaming group.

    The presence of the roaming Cyth fed into Verdan¡¯s hopes that the city was still resisting.

    Verdan roasted both groups of Cyth with fireballs as they swept past, slowing their pace as little as possible. The longer they spent outside and in the open, the more of these groups they might attract.

    While that wasn¡¯t necessarily an issue, it wasn¡¯t what they were here to do.

    Pushing on, they finally reached the right angle to see the breach itself. Hundreds, if not thousands, of bodies were strewn around the collapsed section of wall, with a veritable mound of them right at the entrance.

    Even from here, Verdan could tell that the Cyth had paid heavily to make use of that breach, but it was no doubt a price they¡¯d paid without hesitation.

    There wasn¡¯t any activity around the breach at the moment, so Vaijon took them straight in, the hooves of their horses crushing the dead Cyth as they rode through the battlefield.

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    The rubble of the breach was too much for their horses to manage, so Vaijon had them come to a stop and dismount, giving Verdan chance to really take it in.

    The wall was six or seven feet thick, and twenty or so high. Enough to stop a casual assault but not nearly enough to hold back the determind efforts of a group of Cyth Dregg.

    Looking at the area around the breach, Verdan could see giant fist-shaped impacts in the stonework and large ragged sections where the living siege engines of the Cyth had ripped into the wall with their bare hands.

    While the average Cyth Lai was roughly human sized but bestial and corrupt in appearance, a Cyth Dregg was often ten to fifteen feet tall with much thicker hide and the raw strength to break through whatever was in their way.

    Such advanced Cyth took a lot more to create and only really appeared when a Host was gathered. Something that anyone with experience fighting them was thankful for.

    Looking past the breach, Verdan saw the remnants of a fierce fight inside the city. Buildings had been smashed apart and a several huge corpses showed where the Cyth Dregg had been brought down.

    Impressively, one of them seemed to have been beheaded, while another had a large hole bored through its chest. That kind of damage to something as steeped in abyssal energy as a Cyth Dregg would have taken strong magic.

    Hopefully, this was a sign that both the Defiant Flame Elder and Elder Vanarr had survived the initial chaos of the Cyth making it into the city.

    ¡°Macha, can you survey the area?¡± Vaijon asked as they spread out to secure the house-sized section of collapsed wall.

    ¡°On it,¡± Macha said, reaching up to pull a long crow feather from her messy hair. Macha was a Bloodline Witch, which meant her powers deviated from the predictable norms. In her case, she had the ability to create crow feathers that could then be used to create conjured crows.

    The slender Kranjir Witch had a gleam in her eyes as she converted the feather into a sleek black crow with a small flash of Aether, drawing out another feather as it hopped onto her shoulder.

    Compared to Gwen¡¯s storm magic, Macha was far from a combat Witch, but the versatility of her crows was incredibly useful. Especially in a dangerous situation like this.

    ¡°Verdan?¡± Hedda called out softly as Macha created a third crow and sent them flying up to circle the area. ¡°Can you sense that?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Verdan asked, moving over to Hedda¡¯s side with a questioning look.

    Like Macha, Hedda was a Kranjir Witch, but she¡¯d been living in Hobson¡¯s Point when Verdan first arrived. She¡¯d also been the first Hex Witch he¡¯d met since he¡¯d been forced to kill Gloria, the Witch who¡¯d placed the powerful curse on him that started all this.

    It had taken Verdan time to get past that, but he was pleased with how natural their teamwork was now. Between the two of them, they could deal with most enemies.

    ¡°I can feel the Aether shifting within the city. Not much, but almost like ripples reaching out to us.¡± Hedda frowned, closing her eyes as she focused on what she was sensing.

    Verdan reached out with his Aether senses, but as a Hex Witch, Hedda¡¯s control and sensitivity to the ambient Aether was beyond his own. Like Gwen, she¡¯d flourished once she¡¯d gained her familiar, and was almost as powerful as Gloria had been.

    Pushing aside the painful memory, Verdan focused on what he could sense and eventually nodded. ¡°I can feel the faintest echo of it. Well done, Hedda.¡±

    The Witch nodded with a slight smile and reached up to stroke her sparrowhawk familiar. ¡°I could try to use Sgian to narrow down the area?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea, actually,¡± Verdan said, drumming his fingers on his staff for a moment before turning to Vaijon. ¡°Hedda can sense fighting within the city. It looks like some Sorcerers are still alive. She can try to lead us there, but we¡¯ve no idea what we¡¯ll find. For all we know, it could be a handful of survivors or a pitched battle.¡±

    ¡°I can see signs of battle from further into the city,¡± Macha said, her crows cawing above them. ¡°I could try to send me crows in for more, but if they get too close, they¡¯ll be destroyed by any Cyth Baynes.¡±

    ¡°Then we need to move closer, and quickly,¡± Vaijon said, eyeing the surrounding rubble with a frown. ¡°Dorn, could you clear this up?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Elder,¡± one of the Disciples of Adamar who¡¯d come with them stepped forward, his robes flowing loosely as he gestured at the large amount of rubble.

    Dorn was a short, thin man with a bald head and deep brown eyes. A far from intimidating man on the face of it, but he had a solid presence to him that belied his small stature.

    As the Sorcerer¡¯s hand came up, Verdan saw the edge of a cestus made from what looked like stone wrapped around his wrist and knuckles. Intrigued, Verdan watched as the rubble around them shuddered before flowing aside to form two large piles, leaving the way into the city clear.

    ¡°We will split up,¡± Vaijon said as Dorn cleared the path. ¡°Ciaran and his Thearns will stay with myself and the rest of the Disciples to secure this area. In the meantime, the rest of you will head in and see what the situation is. If you get in trouble, fall back to us here and we¡¯ll prepare for a quick exit.¡±

    ¡°I will create some barriers, so only approach from the centre,¡± Dorn said, pointing to the main path deeper into the city.

    ¡°Elder, I should go with them as well,¡± Ruthin said, tapping the daggers on his belt. ¡°I¡¯m best used offensively and can always relay information back here if needed.¡±

    Vaijon hesitated before nodding. ¡°Agreed. Now, get moving.¡±

 AA5 15 - Gerann II

    With Vaijon and the others staying back, that left Verdan, the three Witches, Kai, Ruthin and Cullan. It was quite the concentration of power, so between them, they had little to fear in a straight fight with any bands of Cyth they came across.

    Ambushes and surprise attacks were still very much a possibility, though, especially where the Cyth were involved.

    ¡°I¡¯ll lead the way,¡± Cullan said, hefting his greatsword with a savage grin. ¡°Just tell me the way to go.¡±

    ¡°Straight ahead,¡± Hedda said, cocking her head to one side as though listening to something distant. ¡°Slightly to the right, but mostly straight.¡±

    Cullan nodded and set off at a loping jog, his scale mail rattling with each heavy footfall. Subtlety wasn¡¯t exactly Cullan¡¯s strong suit, but he¡¯d rip through any Cyth they found.

    Gwen went next in their group¡¯s order, followed by Hedda, Kai, Macha and Verdan, with Ruthin trailing along at the rear. With only a few dedicated fighters, they would keep them spread out, just in case.

    Verdan, Gwen and Hedda could manage if it came down to close quarters fighting, but he doubted the same could be said for Macha. Keeping her between him and Kai meant at least one of them could stay close and look after her.

    Cullan kept his pace as they advanced down the street, avoiding the scattered bodies and debris that littered it. As best Verdan could tell there had been a fighting retreat of some sort through here.

    The majority of the dead were Cyth, which was encouraging, but that changed as they reached a crossroads.

    Crude stone barriers had been raised to block the Cyth, forming a fortified area for the defenders to fight from. Whatever had come here had broken through, however, and most of those walls were little more than broken debris.

    A braying cry came from off to one side as Cullan stepped into the crossroads, but Gwen was quick to lift a hand and call down a bolt of lightning on whatever had made the sound.

    By the time Verdan got there, all he saw was a handful of charred Cyth adding to the old corpses already present.

    ¡°Which way?¡± Cullan asked, gesturing to the different paths into the city.

    ¡°Roughly that way,¡± Hedda said, pointing in between two of the paths. Glancing at Macha she gestured to the crows overhead. ¡°What can you see, Macha?¡±

    ¡°Give me a moment, I¡¯ll see what I can find,¡± Macha said, closing her eyes to better commune with her crows.

    Verdan left the two Witches to identify their way forward, instead looking over the damage to the city and wishing they¡¯d been able to get here sooner.

    ¡°I think the evacuation worked well,¡± Kai said, moving over to join him as he nodded to a burnt out building to their right. ¡°Lots of collateral damage, but no sign of civilians being run down or dragged out. All the dead I¡¯ve seen have been city guards or from the Sects.¡±

    ¡°I hope you¡¯re right,¡± Verdan said softly. He started to say more before freezing as a distant bellow of pain echoed across the city. ¡°Cyth Dregg.¡±

    ¡°Someone is still fighting, that¡¯s for sure,¡± Kai said, turning back to Macha and Hedda. ¡°Which way?¡±

    ¡°This way, and take the second turning to the left,¡± Macha said, gesturing to the righthand path. ¡°I can¡¯t get any closer as there¡¯s a band of Cyth there. They¡¯re quite spread out, so I didn¡¯t get a good count, but I saw two Cyth Baynes. I also saw at least four Cyth Dregg in the distance, but I¡¯m having to keep my birds low to stop the Baynes from attacking them.¡±

    Verdan frowned as he considered how best to deal with the Cyth. Their biggest danger was being overwhelmed in a mass charge, but he had an idea to help with that.

    ¡°Macha, how far away are they?¡± Verdan asked, eyeing the rubble around them with growing enthusiasm.

    ¡°Not far, a few turns away for the closest Cyth. The Dregg are much further, and at least two are fighting, so we should be able to deal with the closest group without them joining in.¡±

    ¡°Good. Ruthin, could you see how many you can draw back to us here?¡± Verdan asked, gathering his Aether as he looked over to the agile Sorcerer.

    ¡°Now?¡± Ruthin asked, arching a brow questioningly before shrugging at Verdan¡¯s nod. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be back with some guests.¡±

    ¡°Alright, Verdan, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Cullan asked as Ruthin raced off to harass the Cyth.

    ¡°This is a reasonable defensive point, so we should take advantage of it,¡± Verdan said, nodding to the partially broken walls. ¡°Also, I can do this. Garreg dyn challyn.¡±

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    The loose rubble shifted and rumbled as it flowed together under the guidance of Verdan¡¯s spell. Within moments it had been transformed into a humanoid figure the same size as Cullan and armed with a tower shield of stone and a thick stone spear.

    It wasn¡¯t as powerful a construct as some of the others that Verdan had created, but that meant that it was less of a cost for him to create and maintain it.

    The trade off was that it would be easier to damage, but Verdan could always infuse it with Aether if needed.

    ¡°Ah, not a bad plan, and clearly modelled off the peak of physical perfection,¡± Cullan said in a sage voice as he stood next to the stone construct and gave it a once over.

    Verdan had to admit that there was something to what Cullan was saying, the construct did look vaguely similar. Then again, Cullan was one of the strongest and most imposing fighters Verdan knew, so it made sense that his subconscious would reflect that onto the construct.

    ¡°Alright, Macha, Hedda, stay in the centre. Cullan, you work with the construct, and I¡¯ll cover the flanks with Gwen. Verdan, I¡¯ll leave your assignment to you,¡± Kai said, getting everyone into position, ready for the fight to come.

    Verdan nodded absently as he assessed the drain of maintaining the construct. It wasn¡¯t a spell he used often, but it was far from his least efficient. As it stood, the construct was draining more Aether from him than he was gathering with his spiral, though with the introduction of his new breathing technique, that gap was far less than it had been.

    In fact, he was fairly confident that once he¡¯d practiced both the spell and the breathing technique more, he could support one of these constructs indefinitely even without increasing his gathering spiral.

    The possibility of having multiple active constructs like this was alluring, and the numbers possible would only grow as Verdan thought of other ways to reduce their Aether upkeep.

    A memory of the Sigil-inscribed Automaton flickered through Verdan¡¯s mind and he froze in place, his eyes widening as he felt a shiver run down his spine.

    Was he retracing the steps of some ancient Wizard? Was he following the same path to go from a realisation like this to the eventual production of something like the Automaton?

    Then again, if he knew what the final product looked like, why not skip a few steps?

    Grabbing a piece of broken masonry, Verdan fixed the Sigil for Aether gathering in his mind. ¡°Sia.¡±

    The stone in his hand shifted as the Sigil was formed by the spell, its proportions defined by the image he¡¯d held mentally. Keeping the spell active, Verdan formed two more Sigils, filling the piece of stone he held.

    As soon as the Sigils were in place he stretched out with his Aether senses and  watched as a slight trickle of Aether fed into them. The amount was negligible thanks to the material the Sigils were carved into, but it was there.

    Trying to calm his pounding heart, Verdan dropped the stone and hurried over to the construct. ¡°Sia.¡±

    One by one, he carved Sigils into the construct, filling its torso and head with them. He could hear the distant braying calls of the Cyth as they chased after Ruthin, but he kept his mind calm and his focus on the task at hand.

    More than half of the object needed to have Sigils for them to work, Verdan knew that much, but the exact ratio he was unsure of. Battle damage would disable some Sigils as well, so he kept going until the last moment before the Cyth arrived.

    ¡°Verdan!¡± Kai¡¯s warning shout came right as Verdan stepped away from his construct and turned to face the oncoming pack of Cyth. There was almost thirty of them chasing after Ruthin, and he could see more coming round the corner in the distance.

    ¡°Thanr bel!¡± Verdan conjured a tightly compressed mote of flames and threw it into the midst of the Cyth. The explosion as it shattered tore through the bestial creatures, killing several outright and badly burning many more.

    Ruthin breezed past Cullan and the construct a moment later, with the closest Cyth a dozen steps behind.

    "Gwth,¡± Verdan made a sweeping motion with his staff, sending a ripple of force along the ground at knee height. The front ranks of the Cyth struck the spell head on and tripped heavily, only to be crushed beneath the cloven feet of their comrades.

    The second row barely registered the death of their allies and instead howled and brayed as they threw themselves at Cullan and the stone construct.

    Wood-like clubs shaped from the abyssal Wyrchwood hammered down at the stone shield of Verdan¡¯s construct, only for their wielders to be impaled on a stone spear as thick as their arm.

    A lunge into a shield bash knocked the Cyth back as the construct withdrew its spear before stabbing again and again. Verdan¡¯s meagre martial training did its best to guide its movements, but the real threat to the Cyth was Cullan.

    The thick scales of Cullan¡¯s armour blunted and deflected a dozen attacks in the first few moments of the fight as the Idrisyr focused fully on slaughtering his foes. A few claws and spiked weapons caught exposed flesh as Cullan swept through them, drawing blood from the big man.

    In return, however, Cullan smashed into their formation like a crimson thunderbolt, his greatsword humming through the air as he put every ounce of strength into swinging it that he had.

    Black blood sprayed across the fight as each swing of his blade tore Cyth apart, leaving them in pieces behind him as he forged onward.

    ¡°Thanr!¡± Verdan called out, levelling his staff at Cullan¡¯s back and releasing a gout of flames that charred burnt any Cyth that tried to outflank him.

    Cullan¡¯s sister Branwen had been able to withstand the direct assault of a Defiant Flame Elder, so Verdan was sure that a little fire here would be fine.

    A flicker of dark green and black from beyond the flames caught Verdan¡¯s eye as a Cyth Bayne revealed itself with a concentrated lance of Malfease.

    Verdan¡¯s hand rose, a shielding spell on his lips, only to pause as his construct stepped sideways to block the attack. Verdan could feel the spell infusing the construct shudder from the strike, but the steady flow of Aether from both him and the Sigils was enough to keep it moving.

    A blinding flash of light came from the rough direction of the Cyth Bayne, followed by the thunderous roar of the growing storm overhead as Gwen made her displeasure known.

    Verdan held spells at the ready as Cullan and the construct finished off the remaining Cyth, eventually letting the Aether fade as the construct impaled a wolf-faced Cyth through the heart.

    Up to this point, he¡¯d been using these constructs in emergencies or against overwhelming force as a delaying tactic. Now, seeing it fighting alongside Cullan, Verdan realised just how much potential it held.

 AA5 16 - Gerann III

    ¡°Everyone okay?¡± Kai called out as he cleaned off his spear. A few Cyth had tried to go around the sides of their impromptu defensive point, but they¡¯d fared equally as poorly as those at the front.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Cullan said, wiping off some of the black blood that was dripping from him. ¡°A few scratches, but nothing much. My new friend here definitely helped as well.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it,¡± Verdan said, hurrying over to check the construct for damage. A few sections of the stone were cracked, but by and large, it had come through unscathed.

    Verdan¡¯s eyes lingered on a Sigil that sat amid one of these cracks, but the Sigil itself was intact. A coincidence, perhaps, but something to watch for.

    With the fighting over, Verdan took a moment to assess the Aether drain of the construct while the others gathered to push on. The Sigils he¡¯d added provided only a small amount of Aether. The poor quality of material would allow nothing else. Still, there were enough of them across its body to cover a small amount of its upkeep. Quantity over quality, but that just meant there was more potential for a higher quality construct in the future.

    ¡°Any issues?¡± Kai asked softly, drawing Verdan from his thoughts and back to the matter at hand. ¡°We¡¯re going to push forward as Ruthin said that was most of the Cyth he saw.¡±

    ¡°Understood, and no issues, actually. In fact, it went surprisingly well,¡± Verdan said, stepping back from the construct and ordering it to the front of the group as they began to retrace Ruthin¡¯s path. ¡°It isn¡¯t as strong as some of my past attempts, but my growing familiarity with the spell seems to be bringing out more autonomy.¡±

    In truth, while the construct physically resembled Cullan, it acted like one of the Imperial guards that Verdan had worked with. Exactly how those two things would blend together would be interesting to watch.

    ¡°I see. Well, let¡¯s put it to good use, then,¡± Kai said, rolling his shoulder absently as they turned the corner.

    Kai¡¯s work with Vaijon was promising, and they had made progress as Kai reported things. That was still a long way from Kai¡¯s arm being fully healed, however, and Verdan could see that weighing on his friend.

    Thankfully, Verdan doubted anything weaker than a Cyth Scerrd had the strength to influence it, which meant they should be fine.

    ¡°Which way from here?¡± Cullan called back to the Witches right as a trio of Cyth came rushing out of a side alley.

    Verdan¡¯s construct reacted immediately, its stone spear catching one of the Cyth in the chest even as the other two fell with daggers in their hearts.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad he¡¯s on our side,¡± Kai muttered as Ruthin went to retrieve his blades.

    Verdan nodded emphatically. He¡¯d seen little more than a flicker of movement from the wind Sorcerer, and both of those blades had hit precisely where they were meant to.

    ¡°Straight ahead and then we turn right. There¡¯s more Cyth there, but we¡¯re drawing close to one of the pockets of fighting that I can see,¡± Macha said, glancing around anxiously. ¡°There should have been a few dozen more Cyth and another Bayne as well.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll watch for them as we move,¡± Kai said firmly, giving Cullan a nod. ¡°Let¡¯s pick up the pace.¡±

    -**-

    Verdan heard the sound of battle from nearby as they crushed the latest band of Cyth that they¡¯d happened across. This was the third since the initial fight, and each one had been larger than the last.

    Wherever the bulk of the Cyth were, they were drawing close.

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    Verdan¡¯s construct was still holding up well, and its presence had let him assist with only a minimum of additional spellcasting. If it survived the next fight or two, he wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it had actually saved him Aether overall.

    A cry of pain echoed through the abandoned streets of the city, followed by the eager cries of the Cyth. Whatever was happening wasn¡¯t going well for the defenders.

    Ordering his construct forward, Verdan hurried along in its wake, leaving the remaining Cyth to his allies. There were still a few left, but it sounded like the situation was urgent.

    The sounds were coming from a large and partially burnt out building that looked like it had already seen a fair amount of fighting.

    Verdan¡¯s construct strode in through the broken doorway at the front of the building, breaking some charred wood away in the process.

    A handful of dead Cyth lay inside the building, along with a pair of humans wearing battered armour who were past the point of saving.

    The building shook as something exploded above them and Verdan cursed as he rushed for the stairs, his construct leading the way and taking two steps up before its foot went through the damaged wood.

    Grimacing, Verdan left it behind as he hurried onward, alarmed by the smoke that was starting to creep down into the stairwell.

    A screeching sound came from somewhere above him and Verdan rushed up the last few steps to find a burning Cyth racing his way.

    ¡°Gwth!¡± Verdan sent the Cyth through the wall with a blast of force that crushed its chest and stopped its pained shrieking.

    A wave of heat washed over Verdan as flames immolated a section of the corridor he¡¯d entered, burning a second Cyth to death.

    ¡°Ast,¡± Verdan snapped, conjuring a shield as he hurried forward.

    The corridor was lined with broken doors and small pieces of flaming debris, but Verdan¡¯s focus stayed on the room at the end where the flames had come from.

    He was moments from reaching it when a Cyth stumbled clear, bleeding badly from a deep cut to its chest. A tight thrust of Aether took it in the side of the head a moment later, and it fell limply to the ground right as Verdan reached the doorway.

    An injured guard with a bloody sword braced when he saw movement but quickly relaxed as he realised that Verdan wasn¡¯t another Cyth.

    The interior of the room was chaotic and broken, with another two dead Cyth, as well as a pair of dead guards and an injured Sorcerer in red robes.

    ¡°Step aside,¡± Verdan said firmly, moving the guard to one side so he could approach the Sorcerer.

    The injured man looked up at Verdan with a pained expression, one hand half-raised while the other pressed against a deep wound in his side.

    ¡°Let me help,¡± Verdan said softly, taking a knee in a position where he could see both of them. He doubted they would attack him, but neither looked to be in good shape and people made poor decisions when in these situations.

    The Sorcerer hesitated for a moment, his eyes flicking to Verdan¡¯s staff, before his hand dropped down and he gave a weak nod.

    ¡°Iacha.¡± Verdan reached out to briefly touch the Sorcerer¡¯s shoulder as he sent a pulse of healing Aether into him. He would examine him further once the situation was stable, but that spell would at least keep him alive.

    Getting to his feet, Verdan did the same for the injured guard before moving back to the doorway as he heard movement in the corridor.

    ¡°Verdan?¡± Ruthin called out as he moved down the corridor with daggers in hand, being careful to skirt past the parts that were still burning.

    ¡°Over here,¡± Verdan said, stepping fully into view before gesturing at the flames. ¡°Wyr.¡±

    Steam billowed out from the fire as Verdan drenched the area with water. The air was still smoky, though, so Verdan wanted to get the two survivors outside quickly.

    ¡°The others have secured the street, but there¡¯s a Cyth Bayne nearby,¡± Ruthin said quietly as he moved over to join him. ¡°It hasn¡¯t attacked yet, but has driven Macha¡¯s crows back. Kai thinks it is waiting for more Cyth to arrive.¡±

    Verdan nodded and turned to the injured guard, who he just now realised was wearing the colours of the Defiant Flame Sect, albeit with a liberal application of soot and dirt. Not a guard after all, then, but a Sect retainer.

    ¡°Is there anyone else nearby we need to look for?¡±

    ¡°No, Lord Sorcerer.¡± The retainer was pale-faced and looked overwhelmed by everything that had happened. ¡°We were sent out to try and scout for other survivors, but one of the roving packs caught our trail. More will come soon, though.¡±

    ¡°Understood. Can you carry him?¡± Verdan asked, gesturing to the Sorcerer, who had passed out since Verdan healed him.

    The retainer nodded mechanically before hesitating and looking at Verdan and Ruthin for permission.

    ¡°Let me rephrase that,¡± Verdan said, meeting the man¡¯s gaze and speaking firmly. ¡°Pick him up and follow us.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Lord Sorcerer,¡± the retainer said, bracing to attention and doing just that.

    Verdan instinctively wanted to correct him, to deny that he was a Sorcerer, but now wasn¡¯t the time. Clear command was needed right now.

    Thunder rolled outside and Verdan shared a worried look with Ruthin before hurrying to the stairs. That had been close, too close.

 AA5 17 - Gerann IV

    Verdan¡¯s construct was waiting patiently downstairs for them, and Verdan briefly regretted making its armament a part of it. Letting it carry the wounded Sorcerer would have been useful right about now.

    Instead, they had a wounded retainer struggling to bear the burden, and from what Verdan could see as they stepped back outside, the situation hadn¡¯t calmed down.

    ¡°Verdan, we either need to push forward or pull back,¡± Kai called out as he cut down a pair of Cyth Lai. ¡°The fighting is drawing them here, and we don¡¯t have the numbers to handle it.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Verdan said, directing his construct to go and hunt down the Cyth before turning to the retainer. ¡°Where are the rest of you hiding, and can you get us there?¡±

    The retainer hesitated before giving a shaky nod. ¡°There¡¯s a group of connected tunnels under the city. The Elder has us using them to draw the Cyth into smaller fights where we aren¡¯t so heavily outnumbered.¡±

    Verdan perked up at the mention of an Elder but waved for the man to continue. ¡°That¡¯s good, but can you get us there?¡±

    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s an entry not too far away, but if we bring the Cyth there¡­¡± The retainer trailed off with a worried look but Verdan waved away his concern.

    ¡°If it comes to that, I¡¯ll collapse the entrance myself,¡± Verdan said firmly. He had no intention of risking however many survivors were in hiding.

    ¡°What about Elder Vaijon?¡± Ruthin asked before Verdan could do anything further. ¡°He needs to know what¡¯s going on so we can report back to the Commander.¡±

    ¡°We need to link up with the survivors. They¡¯ll have injured that I can save,¡± Verdan said with a shake of his head. ¡°I have to push forward, and I think Vaijon would agree.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take the word back to the Elder,¡± Ruthin said, flashing Verdan a crooked smile. ¡°It isn¡¯t like the Cyth can catch me if I put my mind to it.¡±

    ¡°True enough,¡± Verdan said, with a short laugh at the idea. He¡¯d seen how fast Ruthin could move, even without magic.

    ¡°I trust this little conversation has been enough to give us a path forward?¡± Kai asked, walking over to join them as he flicked away the blood on his spear. ¡°Gwen managed to get the Bayne, so we have a moment of peace. We need to use it before more of them arrive.¡±

    ¡°Agreed. Ruthin will head back to update Vaijon while we move forward to join the survivors and see what the situation is.¡±

    Kai looked like he wanted to argue, but they both knew there wasn¡¯t time and a few moments later Ruthin was on the way while they followed after the retainer.

    Hedda took the injured Sorcerer from the retainer in an effort to get them moving more quickly and they wove their way through a few side alleys with growing urgency.

    Hunting calls from the Cyth echoed all around them, though the vast majority came from where they¡¯d been fighting.

    ¡°This way, quickly,¡± the retainer said, hurrying toward a weathered, squat building with thick stone walls. A thick wooden door stood in their way, but the retainer simply ran up and pulled on a hidden latch that made the door swing open.

    ¡°We were told how to open it in case of emergency,¡± the man said in response to Verdan¡¯s questioning look. ¡°The city guards taught us everything they know about these tunnels. We must hurry, though, the Cyth could be here any moment.¡±

    Cullan shrugged and led the way inside, the rest of them following him in as the retainer closed and locked the door behind them.

    ¡°Not exactly what I expected,¡± Kai said in a dry tone as they looked around what seemed to be a long-forgotten warehouse with connected offices.

    ¡°Come on, the tunnel is this way,¡± the retainer said, hurrying past them with an anxious expression as he glanced at the unconscious Sorcerer Hedda was carrying.

    Both of them seemed better than when Verdan had found them, but they needed rest and time to recover. Hopefully, once they got to the rest of the survivors, they would get the chance for both.

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    The entrance to the tunnel turned out to be a fake wall in one of the offices, which concealed a steep set of stairs leading down into darkness.

    ¡°Disir,¡± Verdan said, cupping his hand to place a light atop his staff. ¡°I will light the way. There¡¯s no need for torches.¡±

    Their guide managed a wan smile but didn¡¯t start down the stairs, instead looking back at the entrance to the warehouse area with a worried look.

    ¡°Are you concerned that they¡¯ll find this entrance?¡± Verdan asked gently, realising that the man was at his wit¡¯s end.

    The retainer nodded jerkily so Verdan muttered a spell and shaped the stone floor, dragging it up to seal the entrance completely.

    The Cyth could break through it with enough time and effort, but unless they had a reason to, they were more likely to focus their efforts elsewhere.

    ¡°Satisfied?¡± Verdan asked the retainer, who nodded once more before hurrying down the stairs, only to pause as he reached the edge of Verdan¡¯s light.

    Adding a touch more Aether to the spell, Verdan followed suit and made his way down the stairs, his spell letting them take in the old stonework and worn stairs.

    These tunnels were old, but they¡¯d seen a lot of use, which made Verdan wonder what they were for. Gerann was known for its lumber and the growing number of farms around it, neither of which seemed to need tunnels.

    There had to be something fairly substantial under the city to accommodate the survivors, so perhaps they¡¯d know more once they reached it.

    The stairs soon levelled off into a gently sloping passage, one that looked even older than the stairs if Verdan had to guess. The stonework was cracked and broken in more than a few spots, and the few repairs that he could see weren¡¯t much better.

    Intrigued, Verdan followed after the retainer as they started down the passage.

    ¡°This is why I hate going underground,¡± Cullan complained after only a few minutes of walking. The big Idrisyr was having to hunch down heavily to walk through the tunnel, but there wasn¡¯t much Verdan could do about that. His construct was having the same issue, but that wouldn¡¯t be an issue unless they had to fight.

    Thankfully, the passage they were in was large enough that the rest of them had no issue, but that wasn¡¯t too surprising with how human-centric everything was these days.

    Then again, if this had been built back in the Imperium, it would likely have been made by a team of Brecan and Fwyn. That meant the whole thing would have been scaled for the Brecan, so Cullan would have been fine.

    Verdan shook off his thoughts as they pushed on, walking for several minutes before he saw a light up ahead in the tunnel.

    Only a moment after Verdan saw the light he heard voices echoing down the tunnel. There was some alarm at first, but it quickly faded, which made sense. After all, if they were a raiding group of Cyth, they¡¯d hardly be carrying a light to guide the way.

    A glance at their guide told Verdan that he had much the same opinion, but Verdan made sure to keep a shield spell at the ready, just in case.

    As they drew closer, Verdan could see that the passage they were in opened out into a large room, which was the source of the light. Barricades had been set up at the opening, though they seemed to be made from a hodgepodge of materials.

    ¡°Disciple Alda?¡± A voice called out as they approached the barricade, and Verdan saw someone step up to the edge of the barricade and peer in their direction before quickly pulling back out of sight.

    The retainer looked between the unconscious Sorcerer and Verdan with a worried expression, seemingly unwilling to answer on behalf of the unconscious man.

    ¡°He¡¯s been incapacitated,¡± Verdan called back. ¡°I¡¯ve healed him, so he¡¯s stable, but he should have a healer look him over.¡±

    ¡°Is the entrance secure?¡± The same voice called out again after a few moments.

    ¡°It is, I sealed it myself.¡± Verdan replied, waiting a few feet from the barricade.

    A low murmur echoed out from the chamber before a pair of burly guards moved into view and dragged a section of the barricade to one side.

    A hawkish looking man with a ripped guard¡¯s uniform stepped into view and waved them forward. ¡°Are you more survivors from the alliance army?¡±

    ¡°In a way, yes,¡± Verdan said, starting to head forward until Kai pulled him back and took the lead.

    ¡°Then you¡¯re lucky you came across the Disicple, this is the last safe place in the city,¡± the guard said, moving aside as they filtered past him and into the larger area.

    The chamber was a mix between a guard post and a storage room, with a ceiling was high enough that Cullan and the construct didn¡¯t have to hunch down, which was something.

    There were five guards present in total, and from the bedrolls and tables set up to one side, it looked like they were sleeping in here.

    ¡°They rescued us from the Cyth,¡± the retainer said, speaking up in a calmer voice now they were back in what seemed to be comparative safety.

    ¡°The others?¡± The guard in charge asked, grimacing as the retainer shook his head. ¡°Curse the Cyth for what they¡¯ve done. Still, if you¡¯re ready, I¡¯ll take you to the Elder to debrief.¡±

    ¡°Elder Vanarr?¡± Verdan asked quickly. ¡°Is he still alive?¡±

    ¡°I thought you were part of the alliance army?¡± The guard asked, frowning as he glanced between them, his eyes resting briefly on Verdan¡¯s construct. ¡°I don¡¯t remember seeing anything like that during the defence. Which Sect are you with?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not with any of the Sects, we¡¯re from the other half of the army. Think of us as scouts to see what the situation is, which is why we need to see the Elder as soon as possible.¡±

    Verdan hadn¡¯t wanted to reveal so much upfront, more in the interest of keeping things calm than anything, but better that than suspicion.

    ¡°The other half of the army,¡± the guard repeated in a whisper, his eyes going wide. ¡°You mean reinforcements are coming?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but keep that quiet. I need to speak to the Elder first and see what the situation is. We don¡¯t want to get hopes up and then find that driving the Cyth out will take longer than expected.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Lord Sorcerer,¡± the guard said, bracing to attention with a bright-eyed look. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you to the Elder immediately!¡±

 AA5 18 - Vanarr

    It grated against Verdan¡¯s nerves to be addressed as a ¡®Lord Sorcerer¡¯, not only because he was a Wizard, but because it reeked of the worst Sect practices that he¡¯d become aware of.

    As before, though, he swallowed his displeasure and simply nodded. ¡°Could you have someone take the Disciple to the healers while we head to the Elder?¡±

    ¡°If I may, Lord Sorcerer,¡± the retainer who¡¯d been their guide spoke up with a surprisingly strong voice. ¡°I will take him. He is my charge, and his health is my responsibility.¡±

    Verdan nodded. ¡°Very well, I see no issue there. I¡¯d ask the same of you that I did of everyone else, however.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Lord Sorcerer,¡± the retainer said with a formal nod. ¡°I will keep what I¡¯ve seen and heard to myself, as you¡¯ve asked.¡±

    Verdan cleared his throat, feeling uncomfortable with this kind of deference. It felt unearned, and left a bad taste in his mouth.

    ¡°Perhaps we should head for the Elder?¡± Kai said into the silence, prompting Hedda to pass over the Sorcerer, who looked like he was slowly coming around.

    Verdan had no desire to waste time discussing all this again, so he hurried things along as they left the guardpost. The sooner they got to Vanarr, the better.

    The passage leading out from the guardpost was larger than the first, which Cullan was particularly pleased about, and quickly branched off into a small network of tunnels. Lanterns hung intermittently on the walls, lighting their path, so Verdan dismissed his spell to save the Aether.

    ¡°How big is it down here?¡± Verdan asked their new guide as he led them down one of the turnings.

    ¡°These are old shelters from past Risings, so there¡¯s enough space for most of the city if needed,¡± the guard said, his voice trailing off as his expression tightened. ¡°We are barely at half capacity.¡±

    ¡°We were told there was an evacuation,¡± Verdan said softly, wondering just how bad things had been here.

    ¡°There was, and those who couldn¡¯t leave in time were brought here,¡± the guard said as he led them into a cavernous chamber. It was easily four or five times the size of Verdan¡¯s estate back in Hobson¡¯s Point, but most of its size came from its depth.

    They¡¯d emerged onto what seemed to be the top layer of a large crossroads, which had a large excavated space in the centre that was crisscrossed with pathways between other passages.

    Verdan stopped and stared for a long moment, realising that when the guard had said this place could hold most of the city, he hadn¡¯t been exaggerating.

    This room alone was an incredible investment in labour, whether magical or mundane, which made the easy access of that hidden tunnel all the stranger.

    No doubt its secret nature was its main defence, but after that the only thing they¡¯d seen was a makeshift barricade and a handful of people.

    The idea of the bloodshed that would follow if any Cyth got down here sent a shiver down Verdan¡¯s spine.

    ¡°This way, we need to cross over and then head down a floor,¡± their guide said, stepping out onto a bridge that spanned the open space.

    Verdan eyed the bridge, looking for any sign of instability, but it seemed naturally formed. That meant magic, either to build the bridge or carve out the space, and hopefully also meant it was safe to use.

    ¡°I might wait here,¡± Cullan said, eyeing the bridge with concern. ¡°It might be best if your new pet does the same.¡±

    ¡°You might have a point,¡± Verdan said, ordering the construct to wait by the wall where it would be out of the way. ¡°Try to stay out of trouble.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± Cullan pointed at himself with an exaggerated look of surprise before chuckling and waving for them to carry on. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, don¡¯t worry.¡±

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    Verdan rolled his eyes at the big man but left it at that, instead turning to follow their guide across the arching bridge that spanned the top layer of the hub.

    The bridge had a low wall along the edge for safety, but it was far from the most secure Verdan had felt, and he let out a sigh as they got to the far side.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you get used to it,¡± the guard said, flashing Verdan a crooked smile before leading them over to a set of spiral stairs that led down to the next layer.

    As they descended and ventured further into the tunnels, they started to see more people moving around. Many were civilians sheltering from the threat above, but Verdan also spotted groups of alliance fighters and local guards.

    Many bore bandages or the signs of partially healed injuries, some of which were bad enough that he would have balked at assigning them to patrols.

    If those walking around were in this shape, it boded poorly for the level of care available. The healers under Silver¡¯s command would have their work cut out for them when they got here.

    Eventually, the guard brought them to a large chamber that was bustling with Sorcerers, retainers and guards. A number of other tunnels led off from the room, and Verdan got the impression that this was the heart of the ongoing resistance to the Cyth.

    ¡°The Elder will be in the centre of it all,¡± their guide said, pointing out a dense cluster of people in the middle of the room. ¡°It looks like something¡¯s going on, so you might need to wait a few minutes.¡±

    ¡°Not a problem. Thank you for your help,¡± Verdan said, nodding to the guard before moving closer to that central group.

    Without Cullan and Verdan¡¯s construct, they weren¡¯t quite as visually out of place as before, but they didn¡¯t exactly blend in either. None of them wore Sect colours, and Macha¡¯s wild and feathered hairstyle was far from normal for a Sorcerer.

    A Defiant Flame Sorcerer at the edge of the group saw them approaching and glanced over briefly before turning back with a shocked expression. ¡°Wizard Blacke?¡±

    Verdan didn¡¯t recognise him, but then he supposed that he was somewhat more memorable for the Defiant Flame Sect.

    ¡°Greetings, we¡¯re here to speak with the Elder,¡± Verdan said, pitching his voice to carry as he came to a halt and planted the end of his staff firmly down on the stone with a heavy thud.

    The general clamour of the room faded, and the tight group in front of them dispersed to reveal a large chair and a stone table with a map pinned in place.

    A Steel Custodian stood by the chair, her hand on the hilt of a sword as she ran her gaze over their group. After a moment, she nodded and leaned down to whoever was in the chair before beckoning them forward.

    Taking the invitation, Verdan walked through the group to the table, finally laying eyes on the Elder as he did.

    Elder Vanarr was a tall, grey-haired man with a close-cut beard, a scarred face and a missing right ear. That much hadn¡¯t changed.

    Last time Verdan had seen him, the Elder had been wearing a detailed prosthetic in place of his right hand and had been a healthy, powerful man.

    The man sat in the chair before him, though, was little more than a shadow of the man he¡¯d last seen. The prosthetic was gone and the powerful build was nowhere to be seen, instead replaced by sunken cheeks, hooded eyes and an aura of weariness.

    ¡°Wizard Blacke,¡± Vanarr said in a raspy voice, lifting his hand in greeting as he motioned for them to come closer. ¡°I hope your presence here is good news?¡±

    Vanarr¡¯s voice grew faint as he spoke, ending in little more than a whisper that echoed through the now silent chamber.

    ¡°I hope it does, but it can wait a few moments. May I be blunt?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how I would stop you,¡± Vanarr said with a thin chuckle that ended in a wet cough which left blood on his hand.

    ¡°You¡¯re in no shape to be holding a meeting. Why are you here and not recuperating? For that matter, what happened to you?¡±

    The Steel Custodian standing by Vanarr¡¯s side cleared her throat and gave Vanarr a pointed look, but the Elder waved aside her silent recrimination and focused on Verdan.

    ¡°I fought the Cyth Scerrd leading the Host. It was powerful, far beyond what I expected, and used my desire to protect my people against me. In blocking an attack that would have killed others, it was able to wound me severely. I was able to retreat, but nothing we¡¯ve done has been able to heal the wound.¡± Vanarr paused to cough once more before baring his bloodied teeth in a rictus grin. ¡°I decided I would rather die doing my job than in my sleep.¡±

    ¡°May I examine you?¡± Verdan asked, even as he reached out to do what examinations he could at a distance. ¡°This looks like rapid corruption, which I¡¯ve had experience with.¡±

    While he kept his tone confident, Verdan was more worried internally. He could sense no Malfease around the Elder, which was surprising. He¡¯d have expected the wound to be festering with abyssal energy to have caused this amount of change.

    ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I know that I¡¯m dying,¡± Vanarr said with a slight shrug. ¡°We should focus on what matters right now. I have enough strength to continue.¡±

    The Sorcerer at the Elder¡¯s side frowned, but said nothing. Verdan, however, wasn¡¯t going to let the Elder throw aside his chance of healing regardless of how noble he was trying to be.

    Eyeing the surrounding people and how uncomfortable they were with the situation, Verdan cleared his throat to gather their attention.

    ¡°Is there anyone who would rather discuss our next plans rather than giving me ten minutes to attempt to help the Elder?¡± Verdan slowly looked them over, making his thoughts clear on the matter. After a long few beats of silence, he turned back to Vanarr. ¡°My apologies, Elder. It seems you¡¯ve been outvoted.¡±

 AA5 19 - Explanation

    Vanarr sighed and shook his head before waving his hand. ¡°Very well. You all know what to do. We¡¯ll reconvene in thirty minutes.¡±

    The surrounding Sorcerers nodded and moved away, breaking off into small groups that included the retainers and guards who¡¯d been present. The Steel Custodian stood by Vanarr¡¯s chair stayed where she was, however, and kept her hand on her blade.

    ¡°Alright, Wizard,¡± Vanarr said in a tired voice. ¡°Let¡¯s get on with it.¡±

    Verdan nodded and moved over to the Elder. ¡°I need to see the wound.¡±

    Vanarr nodded and began to laboriously remove the breastplate of his armour. His missing hand made the process awkward, however, and the other Sorcerer had to help him up and assist with the fastenings.

    Once the breastplate was free, Vanarr lifted the front of his tunic high enough to reveal his side, and the awful wound he¡¯d taken. It looked like some sort of terrible mix between a bruise, a puncture wound and an infected cut.

    ¡°The Elder has been taking healing potions daily,¡± the assisting Sorcerer said when she saw Verdan¡¯s reaction. ¡°They have helped heal part of it, but other areas have resisted their efforts. The end result has been unpleasant for him.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Ada,¡± Vanarr said dryly. ¡°I¡¯m sure he can see that for himself.¡±

    ¡°Have you been assisting him in administering the potions?¡± Verdan asked, ignoring Vanarr.

    ¡°I have, and I¡¯ve tried to add more to the parts that have resisted the potions, but it hasn¡¯t helped.¡±

    ¡°Ada has become my new right hand in recent days,¡± Vanarr said, lifting his right arm to show the stump where the prosthetic had been. ¡°She will be in control of the alliance forces here when I die.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s hold off on such grim proclamations for the moment,¡± Verdan said, reaching out to lay a hand on Vanarr¡¯s side, next to the wound. ¡°Please do your best not to resist my examination.¡±

    Vanarr grunted, which Verdan took as a sign of agreement and slowly began to project his Aether senses into the Elder. Theoretically, this was the same process he¡¯d used for Natalia and for Kai when working on them.

    The difference, however, was that Natalia had no innate magic to resist him, and Kai had both trusted him and wanted to be healed. Vanarr, however, was resistant to what was happening and was only somewhat familiar with Verdan.

    Thankfully, while there was some resistance from the Elder¡¯s Essence initially, it quickly faded and Verdan was able to assess the situation properly.

    Unsurprisingly, it was bad.

    ¡°What exactly did it hit you with?" Verdan asked, feeling the edges of a hard core of Malfease within the Elder. ¡°A weapon or a spell?¡±

    ¡°A spell I think,¡± Vanarr said, wincing a little.

    ¡°It was a spell, but incredibly concentrated and slow. It was only the Elder¡¯s desire to protect our people that stopped him evading it,¡± Ada said with a mix of pride and worry.

    ¡°I see,¡± Verdan said absently as he finished his examination. ¡°Well, whatever it was, it would have killed anyone with less raw power than an Elder. That much I know for certain.¡±

    ¡°Can you heal it?¡± Kai asked, rubbing absently at his arm. ¡°Or is it soul damage like mine?¡±

    ¡°No, this is more like what happened to Sylvie and Gwen, but yes, I think I can help,¡± Verdan said, removing his hand and meeting the Elder¡¯s gaze. ¡°You have a core of incredibly concentrated Malfease within you. It feels almost solid with how concentrated it is, and it is rapidly corrupting your body. Anyone struck by this who doesn¡¯t immediately die would be swiftly corrupted to become a Cyth themselves.¡±

    ¡°I admit, I had my suspicions about the effect, and have made arrangements for if it began to take hold of my mind,¡± Vanarr said, taking his seat once more with a grunt. ¡°But you think you can help?¡±

    ¡°I can stop the spread, and give your body time to fight back,¡± Verdan said softly. ¡°If I had got here sooner, I could do more, but it has spread too far inside you for my magic. You need a Cleric now, only Exeon will be able to burn the corruption out from your body.¡±

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    ¡°I understand,¡± Vanarr said, his voice momentarily regaining some of its previous strength. ¡°Do what you can for now.¡±

    ¡°Grym iacha nercreth,¡± Verdan said, reaching out to rest a hand on Vanarr as he cast the spell and infused the Elder with healing Aether.

    Having the opportunity to easily locate the source of the issue meant that Verdan could tweak his visualisation somewhat and focus the spell where it could do the most good. In this case, that meant providing a barrier between the Malfease and the Elder¡¯s Essence.

    The more that Verdan could preserve the Elder¡¯s strength, the better.

    While that protection and healing was the main goal of the spell, Verdan also made sure to split off some of the Aether to strengthen and heal the key parts of the Elder¡¯s body.

    It was one of the more complex healing spells Verdan had attempted, but it went surprisingly smoothly. Almost immediately, Vanarr looked healthier, with colour in his cheeks and a more relaxed expression.

    ¡°Thank you, Verdan,¡± Vanarr said, leaning back into his chair with a sigh. ¡°Just alleviating the pain for a little while will be nice, but I can tell you did more than that.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but don¡¯t forget what I said,¡± Verdan was quick to remind the Elder. ¡°This is a temporary solution. You need healing from a Cleric.¡±

    Truthfully, Verdan felt he had a decent chance of managing it himself if he tried, but dealing with this much Malfease would be difficult. Slowing it down was one thing, but destroying it was another, and Verdan didn¡¯t want to risk it.

    If no help came, then things would be different, but for now, he¡¯d leave it to the Clerics.

    ¡°Your warning is heard and understood,¡± Vanarr said with an absent wave of his hand. ¡°Now, however, we need to discuss more important matters. Give me a rundown of what has happened since we last spoke.¡±

    Verdan nodded and went to do just that before pausing as he realised just how much had happened since he last saw Vanarr.

    Not the least of which was Brenn¡¯s betrayal. Verdan had no idea how Vanarr was going to take that.

    ¡°Tawel gward,¡± Verdan said quietly as he cast a silencing ward and bound it to his staff.

    ¡°Relax Ada,¡± Vanarr said, holding up a hand as the other Sorcerer tensed. ¡°I believe the Wizard is simply making sure we aren¡¯t overheard.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Verdan said with a nod. ¡°Sorry, I should have warned you.¡±

    ¡°All is forgiven,¡± Vanarr said before leaning forward with an intent look. ¡°Now, what exactly has happened?¡±

    Sharing a worried look with Kai, Verdan launched into his explanation, starting with Gwen and the others riding forward to secure the river.

    Gwen chimed in with details as needed, filling in the blanks for Vanarr when he asked questions.

    From there, they spoke of the ridge, of their initial defence and their retreat through the pass.

    Verdan hesitated only briefly when they reached Brenn¡¯s betrayal, doing his best to give the Elder only the facts as they had been witnessed.

    To Verdan¡¯s surprise, Vanarr asked no questions about that, and they forged on, detailing the final battle with the Host and the Cyth Scerrd controlling it.

    ¡°Should I stop for questions?¡± Verdan asked, unsure of what to do, but Vanarr simply waved for him to continue.

    ¡°Let us go through to the end, and then I will ask questions.¡±

    Verdan nodded and carried on, detailing their encounter with the Brotherhood and what they¡¯d learned from it.

    He was careful to watch Vanarr¡¯s reaction for that particular part of his report, and sure enough, Verdan saw a flicker of recognition when he mentioned the name.

    From what Verdan had seen of the Steel Custodian Elder, Vanarr was far from a member of this Brotherhood. In his position within one of the more active Sects, however, Vanarr likely had access to a lot of information that the others didn¡¯t.

    Making a mental note to come back to that with the Elder at a later time, Verdan carried on to their arrival in the city and their rescue of the scouting group.

    ¡°Well,¡± Vanarr said once Verdan had finally reached the end of his summary. ¡°You¡¯ve set one of my biggest worries at ease. After seeing the size of this Host, I¡¯d worried that the same thing had happened to you. Thankfully, you managed to deal with it better than we did.¡±

    Kai frowned at the bitter note in the Elder¡¯s voice and tapped the base of his spear onto the stone floor. ¡°We were lucky with the terrain and chokepoints we could establish. You had the larger force and the harder objective, don¡¯t diminish what your people have achieved here.¡±

    Ada bristled, but Vanarr cut off whatever she was about to say. ¡°You¡¯re right. My people have performed beyond my expectations. I just wish that such heroics had been enough.¡±

    A heavy silence fell over them for a long few moments before Vanarr cleared his throat. ¡°Well, let us focus on what is important. We have reinforcements coming, but we are on the brink of discovery. There is only so much we can do to keep the Cyth distracted, and soon they¡¯ll realise where we are. When they do, we¡¯ll have a hard fight ahead of us.¡±

    ¡°Commander Silver is only hours away from entering the city,¡± Gwen said, moving closer now that Verdan had brought the Elder up to speed. ¡°Will that not be enough?¡±

    ¡°I hope it is, but we¡¯ve had two close calls within the last day,¡± Vanarr said, gesturing to the map on the table. ¡°I was going over our response plan for the next one when you arrived. Now that I know more, let¡¯s bring back my people and update it.¡±

    Verdan nodded and dispelled the silence ward as Ada stepped away to call back those who¡¯d been at the briefing.

    ¡°Oh, and Verdan,¡± Vanarr said, turning to meet Verdan¡¯s gaze with a grim expression. ¡°We should continue our conversation after this meeting. I have some more questions about your report.¡±

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m happy to help,¡± Verdan said, taking a step back as the Sorcerers began to filter back into the room.

 AA5 20 - Detail

    Verdan listened closely as Vanarr took control of the meeting and organised his remaining forces to the best of his ability

    Despite his injuries and failing health, Vanarr seemed to have a complete grasp of the disposition of his remaining forces. Readiness, position, capability, Vanarr seemed to know and understand it all.

    It was an impressive thing to watch, and Verdan could see why the Elder was so well respected by other Sorcerers.

    ¡°Finally, I have some good news for you all,¡± Vanarr said as he brought the meeting to a close. ¡°Commander Silver and the rest of the alliance army is less than a day away from us. Once they arrive, we will finally be in a position to take back the city. I know I¡¯ve asked a lot of you all already, but our reinforcements are coming. All we have to do is hold on.¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t let you down, Elder,¡± a Steel Custodian said, bracing to attention.

    ¡°I know you won¡¯t, none of you will,¡± Vanarr said, the conviction in his voice straightening more than a few backs among those listening. ¡°That¡¯s all for now. I¡¯ll confer with the Wizard on our next moves, so send a runner to my room if anything changes. Dismissed.¡±

    The assembled Sorcerers, guards and retainers quickly dispersed back to their duties, leaving Vanarr to beckon Verdan and his companions closer.

    ¡°Ada, please find food and lodging for our friends. Verdan, if you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll take a few more minutes of your time.¡±

    ¡°Of course, not a problem,¡± Verdan said, following Vanarr off to one side as the rest of his group went with the other Sorcerer.

    Vanarr¡¯s room wasn¡¯t far from the large room the briefing had been held in, which wasn¡¯t too surprising. Verdan doubted the elder could have been doing much walking around with his wound as corrupted as it had been.

    The door to Vanarr¡¯s room was made of a lacquered wood that seemed to be part of the original construction, and the rest of the room was much the same.

    ¡°Please, take a seat,¡± Vanarr said, waving to a table and chairs that were off to one side before moving over to a shaped stone chair. The shaped stone didn¡¯t match the rest of the room, but then Verdan doubted the other furniture could really hold the Elder and his armour.

    ¡°Does that ever get comfortable?¡± Verdan asked, the question slipping out as Vanarr took his seat. ¡°Wearing armour all the time, I mean.¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± the Elder said with a chuckle. ¡°We make do, and of course those of us with the right magic do better than most. Still, if we can¡¯t tolerate some discomfort, how can we have the dedication to see our mission through?¡±

    Verdan nodded, not quite sure he completely followed that logic, but willing to accept it. ¡°So, what did you want to talk about?¡±

    ¡°The Storm Witch¡¯s injury, the Stormlords and Disciples Brenn and Macannan,¡± Vanarr said simply. Verdan blinked in surprise at the blunt statement, and the Elder chuckled. ¡°I have little effort to spare at the moment, so being direct seems the best choice.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s not waste any time,¡± Verdan said, clamping down on the nervous roiling in his gut. ¡°Ask away.¡±

    Vanarr nodded, and seemed to consider his words for a moment before speaking. ¡°We¡¯ll go in that order, then. The Storm Witch¡¯s injury was not from the Cyth, that much is obvious. What happened?¡±

    Verdan considered being indirect in his answer, but the Elder had asked for bluntness, and Verdan was sick of dancing around this issue.

    ¡°Kurgane took an opportunity during the chaos for petty revenge. He killed several people and left Gwen badly injured.¡±

    ¡°Is he dead?¡± Vanarr asked calmly.

    ¡°No. Vaijon interceded and asked us to keep him alive. With the loss of Elder Dun, he was afraid of losing leadership with the Sorcerers.¡±

    ¡°I see. A political choice, but not one many people could agree with.¡±

    ¡°We did what was required,¡± Verdan said calmly, doing his best to fight down the rising anger that came from any thought of Gwen¡¯s injury. ¡°I don¡¯t think Gwen remembers, and we¡¯ve done our best to keep it contained for now. Once this is over, though¡­.¡±

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    ¡°Do you have sufficient proof?¡± Vanarr asked before Verdan could give voice to how thoroughly he wished to kill Kurgane.

    ¡°Natalia recognises the style of burn from when Kurgane and his brother menaced Hobson¡¯s Point in the past. They crippled her father¡¯s hand at the time. We have no witnesses, though.¡±

    ¡°Natalia?¡±

    ¡°My partner, she¡¯s an alchemist travelling with us,¡± Verdan said, absently realising he¡¯d never really defined what his relationship with Natalia actually was.

    They hardly seemed to get time to themselves, so what moments they did have were spent enjoying each others company, not on such discussions.

    Still, he should change that, if only to let her know how much she meant to him.

    ¡°In that case, rest assured that I agree with her,¡± Vanarr said with a look of disgust. ¡°Such injuries do match with Disciple Skarv¡¯s abilities. My personal judgement of the man is that he is capable of such betrayal as well. I will not oppose any action you take when the times comes.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I doubt I¡¯ll take any action,¡± Verdan said, chuckling to himself. ¡°As soon as we stop holding Kai back, he will deal with it himself.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate Kurgane. He is as powerful as he is petty.¡±

    From what Verdan had seen, that was quite the warning.

    Nodding that he understood, Verdan cleared his throat and moved on. ¡°You wanted to know about the Stormlords next?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I felt that some parts of your explanation were missing.¡±

    ¡°I may have glossed over some parts,¡± Verdan said, frowning slightly as he reviewed what he¡¯d told the Elder already. ¡°The only other thing was about corruption in their ranks from the Brotherhood, which seems to be the cause of all this.¡±

    Vanarr waved a hand for Verdan to continue, so he began to recount everything they¡¯d learned from their prisoner.

    The Elder listened quietly until Verdan was done. ¡°I see. This bodes poorly for us all. I¡¯ve come across mention of this Brotherhood in the past, but never so clearly.¡±

    ¡°My opinion is that they orchestrated all of this, but I have no idea why,¡± Verdan said with a frustrated grimace. Part of him had been hoping that Vanarr could shed some light on it all.

    ¡°It does seem that way,¡± the Elder said, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully before shaking his head. ¡°We can only deal with the problems before us. Once the Cyth have been destroyed, however, I will be giving this Brotherhood my full attention.¡±

    Verdan felt Vanarr¡¯s grim promise echo within him and nodded. ¡°You¡¯ll have my support, and I have little doubt that Bastian and the rest of the Clerics will also want to hunt them down.¡±

    ¡°Good. For now, though, go get some rest. Ada should be back and waiting outside by now, so send her in on your way,¡± Vanarr said, waving his hand at the door. ¡°We have an escape tunnel available that I will use to send runners to both Elder Vaijon and Commander Silver. I¡¯ll send for you once I hear back from them.¡±

    Verdan nodded, getting to his feet and heading back out into the passage. As Vanarr had predicted, Ada was waiting patiently nearby, though she hurried over once Verdan emerged.

    ¡°Before you go, I wanted to thank you for pushing him to accept healing,¡± Ada said, bowing slightly to the Wizard. ¡°The Elder is the heart of our Sect, and without him I worry that we¡¯d lose our way.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad that I could help,¡± Verdan said, returning the bow awkwardly. ¡°The Elder is an impressive man.¡±

    Ada nodded and Verdan thought she was going to bow again before she turned to give him directions to where his companions were resting.

    Thanking her, Verdan set off in the direction she¡¯d pointed him, his thoughts dwelling on what the Brotherhood was up to.

    Vanarr was right that they could ill afford to split their focus, but Verdan worried that ignoring the Brotherhood played right into whatever they were doing.

    Worrying over the same issue was getting him nowhere, though, so Verdan deliberately put it to the back of his mind as he arrived at the small chamber that they¡¯d been assigned to.

    To his surprise, Cullan was there as well, and was reclining on a stone bench with a mischevious grin.

    ¡°Sorry Verdan, your new pet wouldn¡¯t come with me so I¡¯ve had to leave it behind,¡± the Idrisyr said, giving the Wizard a look of exaggerated innocence as he continued. ¡°I forgot to keep track of directions when a guard helped guide me here as well, so I can¡¯t even go back to help you find it. So sorry about that.¡±

    Sighing, Verdan shot the big man a withering look before giving Kai a subtle nod and motioning to the door. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Kai and I will find someone to help me get it here.¡±

    Kai gave him a questioning look but simply nodded and followed Verdan back out into the dimly lit tunnel. Thankfully, the three Witches were caught up in a discussion about Familiars, so weren¡¯t paying much attention to them.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kai asked once they were away from the room. ¡°You seem unsettled.¡±

    ¡°When I spoke with Vanarr he asked about Gwen¡¯s burns,¡± Verdan said after casting a quick silencing ward. ¡°He agreed that it matches Kurgane¡¯s magic, and warned me that he is more powerful than we might otherwise think.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s arrogant and overconfident,¡± Kai said flatly. ¡°I will use that to kill him when the time comes, but I will not underestimate him, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Verdan paused for a moment, not quite sure what to say to that. On the one hand, he was happy that Kai was at least taking it seriously, but the fervour in Kai¡¯s voice was concerning.

    ¡°Is that all you wanted to discuss?¡±

    ¡°No, I actually wanted to suggest that we tell Gwen. We¡¯ve not really discussed anything with her, but with more confirmation about the magic, I think we should tell her.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s wise?¡± Kai asked, arching a brow questioningly.

    ¡°Not really, which is why I wanted your opinion.¡±

    Kai nodded thoughtfully and fell quiet for a few long moments before nodding. ¡°I think you¡¯re right, she deserves to know. It isn¡¯t right for us to make that decision for her.¡±

    ¡°Vaijon won¡¯t like it,¡± Verdan said, wincing as he imagined some of the potential consequences of telling Gwen.

    Kai shrugged. ¡°Vanarr is here now, so it isn¡¯t like Kurgane is the highest ranking Sorcerer anymore.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, we¡¯ll tell her once the city is secure.¡± Verdan nodded, happy that they¡¯d come to a decision.

 AA5 21 - Threat

    It took Verdan a little while to find the right route to get his construct over to join the rest of them. It turned out that there were several of the large hubs around the underground network, but there was also a more lengthy tunnel that circumvented them.

    Whoever had designed all of this had been careful to plan for damage and had placed in several redundancies. It was impressive work.

    Unfortunately, Verdan barely had time to sit down after making it back before a runner arrived from Elder Vanarr.

    The Cyth were getting very close to an entrance that couldn¡¯t be easily blocked, and the Elder was pulling together a strike force.

    Unsurprisingly, Vanarr wanted them to be a part of it.

    Turning to the others, Verdan held one hand up questioningly.

    ¡°We¡¯re with you,¡± Gwen said, getting to her feet as she spoke. ¡°These people have done enough already, if we can help, we should.¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Verdan said, glad they were of the same mind. Turning back to the runner, he gestured off into the distance. ¡°We don¡¯t know our way around, so you¡¯ll have to guide us to wherever the Elder is gathering people.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± the runner said, looking relieved that they¡¯d agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll show you the way.¡±

    -**-

    The mustering point for the Elder¡¯s strike force turned out to be a large storage space that was partially filled with sacks of dried food.

    Even as Sorcerers and guards were gathering and preparing for battle, civilian refugees were helping to cart the food deeper into the tunnels.

    ¡°This storage area connects to a half-dozen access points,¡± their guide said as he saw Verdan watching the process. ¡°So it¡¯s been an easy place to keep things together.¡±

    ¡°It also makes it a critical position to hold,¡± Kai said softly, gesturing to the far wall of the large chamber, which held a trio of tunnels. Each tunnel had a pile of crates and wooden slats next to it, ready for emergency barricades.

    Verdan remembered Vanarr¡¯s warning of how bad things would be if the Cyth got into the tunnels. If a key area like this was being threatened, that explained the large response.

    ¡°Wizard Blacke, thank you for coming,¡± Ada said, emerging from the group to greet them, a trio of other Steel Custodians at her back. ¡°I appreciate that you¡¯ve only just arrived, but we need as much help as we can muster.¡±

    ¡°Of course, what¡¯s the situation?¡±

    ¡°A band of Cyth caught wind of one of our scavenging groups and was able to track them back to a tunnel entrance. We have groups on hand to deal with that, but even though those Cyth were killed, more were drawn to the area.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re worried this new group will find the entrance?¡±

    ¡°We were hoping that they¡¯d give up the search, but instead the Cyth have concentrated in the area. At this point, it is only a matter of time.¡±

    ¡°How many Cyth are we talking about?¡± Kai asked, looking over the rest of the assembled force with a frown. ¡°How many more defenders are coming as well?¡±

    ¡°We have around thirteen hundred people, but that includes everyone with any training, even the walking wounded. I have two hundred here, and more are on the way, but we¡¯re looking at hundreds of Cyth, with maybe two to three thousand still in the city.¡±

    Verdan did his best to hide his wince at how many people were left who could fight. Vanarr¡¯s portion of the alliance army had been around four thousand strong when it left.

    Ada was including the city guard in her numbers, which sent a chill down Verdan¡¯s spine. So many people had died here, more than they¡¯d even had in the north.

    ¡°We can do a lot, but if the Cyth are coming in force, will this be enough?¡± Gwen asked, glancing at the ceiling with a frown. ¡°For that matter, I¡¯m not sure how much help I¡¯ll be down here. I¡¯ll need to be closer to the surface to really use my magic.¡±

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    ¡°I believe we can hold the Cyth off with your aid. There are quite a few Sorcerers still combat capable, and the Elder has faith in your ability to help us.¡±

    ¡°How many could you kill if you used as much power as you could as quickly as you could?¡± Verdan asked Gwen thoughtfully.

    ¡°Several hundred, maybe more, it depends on how tightly packed they are and how many Cyth Bayne are there to protect them.¡±

    Verdan nodded and turned back to Ada. ¡°We have an opportunity here. Commander Silver is coming and Elder Vaijon is in position nearby. If we take the fight to the Cyth, it will draw them together, allowing us to destroy them all as a single group.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate your enthusiasm, but my people are weary,¡± Ada said, pitching her voice low enough to keep her words from carrying. ¡°We can hold the line, but what you¡¯re asking might be too much.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want a full assault, just get us to the surface and hold that entrance. We can do our part from there,¡± Verdan said before turning to Macha. ¡°Can you see where the rest of the army is and how close they are?¡±

    ¡°Not from down here,¡± Macha said with obvious reluctance. ¡°My crows are all destroyed or decayed. I¡¯ll need to get to the surface to conjure new ones. Once I do, it won¡¯t take long to find out, though.¡±

    ¡°The decision is yours,¡± Verdan said, turning back to Ada. ¡°But if the Cyth are breaking in anyway, why not take the fight to them?¡±

    Ada was silent for a few long moments before she slowly nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m onboard. We¡¯ll head forward with what we have now, and I¡¯ll leave some of my people here to direct reinforcements through to us as they arrive.¡±

    ¡°What about other entrances?¡± One of the accompanying Sorcerers asked.

    ¡°We¡¯ll send two squads to each one. Enough to keep watch and report if anything goes wrong. Ideally, the Cyth will be drawn toward the fighting and miss the other tunnels.¡±

    ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll get them moving now,¡± the Sorcerer said, bracing to attention before hurrying away and calling out orders.

    ¡°Is there anything you need before we do this?¡± Ada asked, turning back to Verdan. ¡°We don¡¯t have much, but if there¡¯s anything specific, I can send a runner for it.¡±

    Verdan glanced over at the others before confirming that they were good to go.

    ¡°In that case,¡± Ada said as metal flowed down into her hand and formed a helmet that she slipped on. ¡°Follow me.¡±

    It was easy to forget that the Steel Custodians were just as much Sorcerers as any other Sect. They just happened to wear heavy armour.

    While Ada led them toward one of the far tunnels, the other Steel Custodians that had accompanied her spread the word of what was happening.

    By the time they reached the entrance, the strike force that Vanarr had called together was ready to move.

    Verdan could see the determination in the eyes of those present, but the atmosphere around them was concerning.

    These were the survivors of a brutal series of battles, and from their grim expressions, they had little expectation of surviving the coming fight.

    Their dedication and drive was impressive, but Verdan had no intention of allowing that to happen. He knew he couldn¡¯t save them all, but he¡¯d do his best.

    Taking a deep breath, Verdan cleared his mind and focused on the coming fight. Most of the potential plans he had would depend on their surroundings, but he could prepare a few spells that would work regardless of what they found.

    ¡°This tunnel leads up to a small warehouse, which is centrally placed in the eastern part of the city,¡± Ada said as they made their way up the sloping tunnel. ¡°There are a few other nearby entrances, but this is the main one. Ideally, the warehouse will be empty, but we won¡¯t know for sure until we get there.¡±

    ¡°Not a problem, I¡¯ll deal with that,¡± Cullan said, flashing them a grin as he trudged along. ¡°Anything to get out of these tunnels and stretch. My people weren¡¯t made for this kind of thing.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, Cullan and Kai can clear the area while the rest of us work to establish defences and prepare for the Cyth,¡± Verdan said, absently wishing that he had some of the Fwyn or Brecan with them.

    Then again, the Brecan could well be around the city already. They travelled slowly, but could go for weeks without sleep.

    Deciding it was worth a try, Verdan put a hand on the wall and sent out a pulse of Aether with a request for help. If any Brecan were nearby, hopefully they would respond.

    ¡°If any large stone people come out of the walls, don¡¯t panic, they¡¯re on our side,¡± Verdan said, getting confused looks from the Sorcerers in response.

    Amusingly, though the retainers and guards also had no idea what he was talking about, they just went with it. No doubt they were used to odd magics by this point.

    ¡°The entrance isn¡¯t far now, we should come across the guards soon,¡± Ada said a few moments later as the passage began to bend to the left.

    As with the rest of the underground network, the passage was lined with flickering torches that drove back the darkness and dimly lit the surroundings.

    As best Verdan could tell, the torches were burning something other than wood. There just wasn¡¯t enough smoke for this much wood being burnt, not to mention how he¡¯d yet to see anyone replacing the torches.

    Whatever was being burnt was long-lasting, which was interesting.

    His attention on the torches, Verdan only caught the edge of the subtle glimmer of pale wood in the light as something moved in the shadows.

    Ada held up her free hand as she drew her sword, but Verdan was already lifting his hand to point at the movement. ¡°Disir bel.¡±

    Three glowing orbs of light formed around Verdan¡¯s hand and shot out into the darkness, striking the wall and ceiling in the area he¡¯d pointed.

    Each orb was a minor light spell in itself, and the three together illuminated the passage for twenty paces in each direction, revealing the things hidden in the shadows.

    Three long-limbed creatures formed of pale wood with an oddly bone-like texture clung to the walls of the passage and screeched in anger at the sudden light.

    ¡°Wyrchwrought!¡± Verdan shouted the warning as the trio of monsters charged forward in a blur.

 AA5 22 - Assault I

    Wyrchwrought. A corrupt creature formed from the abyssal Wyrchwood and the remains of other creatures. They were hardy, fast moving creatures which had a jerky unnatural gait.

    ¡°Thanr laif!¡± Verdan roared out the spell as he conjured a thick lance of flames that blasted into the closest of the creatures.

    Flames enveloped the monster, and it fell from the wall it had been clinging to with a screech of pain. Even as Verdan began casting a second spell to ensure it was dead, Cullan and Ada engaged the other two monsters.

    Cullan was still a little hunched from being in the tunnel, and his movements lacked their usual grace, but he was able to drive the Wyrchwrought back with wide swings of his blade.

    Ada, however, became a blur as she crashed directly into her foe, throwing it back several steps. Chasing after it, her sword elongated into some sort of long spear that was thrust through the Wyrchwrought¡¯s chest before it could recover.

    The spear shifted again as Ada withdrew it, shifting into a heavy bladed axe that she used to cleave the monster¡¯s head from its shoulders with disturbing ease.

    Turning back to Cullan, Verdan saw that Kai had rushed forward to aid the Idrisyr and their foe was dead, impaled on Kai¡¯s spear.

    The whole fight had taken mere moments, and all three of the dangerous creatures had been killed without any injury.

    ¡°The guards are dead or incapacitated,¡± Ada announced, her weapon flowing like liquid to resume its initial shape. ¡°We must move forward with haste.¡±

    ¡°Agreed, I¡¯ll light our path,¡± Verdan said, holding his staff up as he bound a light spell to its tip. The time for subtlety was past now, if the Wyrchwrought were creeping around the tunnels, then the rest of the Cyth weren¡¯t far behind.

    ¡°Steel Custodians, to the front!¡± Ada called out, her voice carrying through the passage. ¡°Hit them hard, push them back and secure the warehouse!¡±

    A low rumble echoed back from the rest of her Sect as a small group of Sorcerers moved to the fore at Ada¡¯s call.

    They began to move forward again, though at a quicker pace than before, and Verdan noticed that of all the Steel Custodians, only one clanked and clattered in their armour.

    Hearing the comparison made Verdan realise how little noise most of the Steel Custodians made, despite their armour. Some made almost no sound at all, like Ada, which made the noisy Sorcerer an oddity.

    Verdan noted that the man had an oversized longbow in hand as well, whereas most of the other Steel Custodians fought in close combat.

    Pushing the thoughts aside, Verdan focused on the path ahead as they reached a familiar set of stairs. This was the entrance to the warehouse, and unlike the set they¡¯d user earlier, the guard post for these was right at their base.

    Much like before, the guard post was a decent sized chamber that interrupted the passage to the stairs. Unlike before, however, this one held Cyth Lai.

    Humanoid in form but with exaggerated bestial features, Cyth Lai lacked a unified appearance, but were the most numerous of the Cyth.

    There were a dozen of the corrupt creatures in the room, with three more dragging the mauled bodies of the defeated defenders up the stairs.

    A dark fate awaited anyone who was captured by the Cyth. Death was a far cleaner alternative to the corruption and transformation that their captives would undergo.

    The sickening reality of the Cyth was that the creatures before them could once have been friends and allies. Brave defenders of the city turned into the very scourge that destroyed it.

    ¡°Aer torr,¡± Verdan said with a sharp wave of his hand that released an arc of condensed air which flew forward to slice into the furthest of the Cyth, removing its leg at the knee.

    The Cyth screamed in rage and pain as it tumbled down the stairs, knocking down its comrades.

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    ¡°Steel and fury!¡± Ada cried out, charging forward, the others of her Sect echoing the call as they raced behind her.

    The Cyth in the guard post rushed to meet the oncoming Sorcerers but were bowled aside by their heavily armoured attackers.

    The dozen Cyth that had been present were cut down in short order. They were simply no match for the battle-hardened Sorcerers in such small numbers.

    ¡°Forward, to the warehouse!¡± Ada called out, leading from the front as she raced up the blood-slicked stairs with her sword at the ready.

    Verdan hurried along with the others, pausing only long enough to be sure that someone was dragging the survivors to safety. From the state they were in, he didn¡¯t hold out much hope, but they had to try to save them.

    It hurt to rush by them and do nothing, but Verdan¡¯s magic would be needed all the more when the true fight began. Inaction there could cost dozens of lives, not just three.

    It was the cruel arithmetic of battle, he could only save so many, he could only do so much.

    A cry of surprise came from the top of the stairs as Ada burst out into the warehouse. The cry ended as soon as it began, only to be followed by braying calls from dozens of throats.

    Rushing up the last few steps, Verdan raced through the shattered remnants of the secret door and took in the raging battle around the entrance.

    What had once been a warehouse was now a ruin, with broken walls, a smashed roof and piles of debris.

    A hundred or more Cyth Lai were clustered around the building and the nearby street, along with at least a dozen Wyrchwrought and a pair of Cyth Dregg.

    Cyth Dregg were the largest and most physically imposing of the Cyth. The Dregg resembled their lesser Lai brethren, but stood anywhere from ten to fifteen feet tall and were incredibly strong and durable.

    Both of the Dregg present had thick, coarse fur and a set of heavy antlers which had grown into twisted shapes.

    One of them was ripping down a building across the street, its huge fists punching right through the stonework, whilst the other was stomping toward Ada.

    A single strike from a Dregg could kill a normal man, and while Ada was no doubt tough enough to withstand such a blow, it was still a dangerous fight.

    ¡°Gwth!¡± Verdan turned to the side and sent out a blast of force that knocked a cluster of Cyth back, giving space for the defenders to spread out.

    The same space meant that the Witches could move out into the open and engage the Cyth. Thunder rolled in the distance as a storm began to gather and the cawing of crows filled the air as Macha began to conjure her flock.

    A flash of green and black drew Verdan¡¯s attention to the side as a pair of Cyth Baynes made themselves known.

    Cyth Baynes were the spellcasters of the Cyth Host, less powerful than a Scerrd, but a little stronger than the average Sorcerer.

    The pair commanding this group had sent a flurry of abyssal darts streaking toward the Steel Custodians supporting Ada, but Hedda was ready for them.

    Of the three Witches with them, Hedda¡¯s magic was the least visually impressive. She was a Hex Witch, giving her power over curses and incredible control over the ambient Aether of the world.

    Her curses could be seen here and there, redirecting force and sapping energy. One particular Cyth had the misfortune of striking a guard while under her full attention.

    Every ounce of force from the Cyth¡¯s blow was stolen and redirected to the side of its knee, snapping it out of joint and leaving the Cyth vulnerable to its intended victim.

    For all that her curses were powerful, Hedda¡¯s true contribution came from using her control over the Aether around them. She could lock down an area and fight for control over its Aether when contesting a Wizard or Sorcerer.

    When fighting a Cyth Bayne, however, she brought the Aether to life and crushed the Malfease within their spells.

    The two Cyth Baynes had sent over a dozen projectiles streaking toward the Sorcerers, and every one of them faded and vanished before they even got halfway to their target.

    Confused, the Cyth spellcasters barely had time to react before a bolt of lightning struck down at them from the storm above. The same magic that had crushed their attacks prevented them from creating any shields, and the fury of the storm claimed two more lives.

    While the Witches dealt with the leadership of the Cyth, Cullan and Kai had moved to help Ada with the Cyth Dregg.

    The huge Cyth was powerful and strong, but so were each of its opponents. Cullan was several feet shorter than the creature, but the strength of his ancestors was packed into his, comparatively, small frame.

    All it took was one misstep on the Dregg¡¯s part and Cullan¡¯s greatsword removed its left arm, hewing through flesh and bone with ease.

    As the huge beast staggered and roared with pain, Ada and Kai swarmed in at its flanks. Ada¡¯s weapon became a barbed spear that she dug into its leg, while Kai¡¯s punched up through the jaw of the beast as it fell to its knees.

    For a single moment, it looked like the Dregg would somehow shake off its injuries and keep fighting, and then a huge arrow of twisted metal plunged into its eye.

    Following the shot back, Verdan saw the noisy Sorcerer from earlier had strung his bow and was conjuring metal arrows with his Essence. Each one then sprang out of the bow with the same strength as Verdan had seen Branwen use.

    It was an impressive display of raw power matched with precision, and Verdan reminded himself once again to never underestimate Sorcerers.

    ¡°Push them!¡± Ada shouted as the Cyth Dregg fell to the ground. ¡°Secure the warehouse!¡±

    The emerging defenders redoubled their efforts and as more and more of them arrived, they began to make more headway against the Cyth.

    Verdan dispatched his construct to assist in taking down the second Dregg, but its aid was hardly needed.

    Barely a few minutes after Ada had led the way out of the tunnel, they had secured what was left of the warehouse.

    From the echoing sounds that came from every direction around them, this particular fight was just beginning.

 AA5 23 - Assault II

    With the shattered remnants of the warehouse secure, Verdan knew that now was the moment to prepare.

    Whatever they could do to make this place defensible had to happen now. Once the next wave of Cyth arrived, he seriously doubted there would be any more time to rest.

    The problem, though, was what to do.

    ¡°Verdan?¡± Gwen called out from behind him and Verdan glanced back to see the Witch pointing back at the stairwell they¡¯d come out from.

    Glancing that way, Verdan saw a Sorcerer lead a handful of Sect retainers up out of the tunnel and head toward Ada for orders.

    What mattered, though, was the pair of Brecan standing next to it, staring right back at him.

    The Brecan were a race of peaceful four-armed humanoids with rock-like skin and a powerful tie to earth magic. The shortest one that Verdan had ever met was seven feet tall and half again as broad as Cullan.

    Like all Brecan, the pair before him had squat heads with pronounced jaws, but had no mouths and their eyes had a crystalline look to them.

    These two both had blue crystals for their eyes, and looked similar enough that they might have been related. If that was even a thing for Brecan, Verdan didn¡¯t know.

    The Fwyn partnered with the Brecan for many things, so Verdan usually communicated through them. The Brecan were just too far removed from humans for Verdan to really understand them.

    Realising that he was just standing there, Verdan cleared his throat. ¡°Hello, are you here because of my request for help?¡±

    One of the Brecan nodded slightly, its unblinking and unfathomable gaze boring into Verdan. It was no wonder that some people couldn¡¯t handle dealing with the odd creatures.

    ¡°Okay, thank you for coming. We are going to be defending this place against the Cyth. Anything you can do to reinforce it, make it more defensible or otherwise help us would be welcomed.¡± Verdan made sure to keep his expression welcoming.

    The Brecan were pacifists through and through. The best way to deal with them was to keep everything on an even keel.

    If they became worried about the Cyth, or about danger in general, they would likely flee.

    The Brecan nodded again before turning to share a look with his companion. Distantly, Verdan could feel the Aether rippling as the two creatures conversed.

    Unfortunately, he lacked the ability to do anything more than call for help, so he had no idea what they were saying.

    Thankfully, the Brecan were experts at this sort of thing, and neither needed nor wanted any feedback from him on how to do such a straightforward request.

    Building something that would be suitable for other races was one thing, but solid walls and fortifications played to the Brecan¡¯s strengths.

    The closer of the two immediately turned and moved toward a large pile of rubble with great ponderous steps, one hand coming up as its Aether surged and the rubble began to break down.

    Anything made of wood or metal tumbled aside as the stone was broken up and reformed into huge blocks. One by one, the Brecan picked them up and stacked them to the side.

    As it worked, its companion moved to the rear of the warehouse and began to do the same to two smaller piles.

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    At first, Verdan was confused why they were going about it this way, but he quickly realised that the tunnels were the issue. The Brecan couldn¡¯t draw out too much of the stone from the ground below them without weakening the tunnels and potentially causing a collapse.

    While they could potentially conjure the stone from raw Aether, it would break down over time without Aether infusions.

    Aether-conjured material was never quite as resistant to corruption either, so the resulting walls would be weaker to the Cyth.

    Unfortunately, doing things this way meant that the slow-moving Brecan were now a limiting factor. They didn¡¯t have long to prepare for the next attack, and at this rate, all they¡¯d have to show would be piles of stone blocks.

    ¡°Garreg macha challyn,¡± Verdan said, focusing his intent as he drew up the stone and formed a man-sized construct in the shape of a hand.

    Walls and fortifications might be a problem, but a few spells wouldn¡¯t change the integrity of the earth enough to matter.

    Directing the hand, Verdan had it move the stone blocks for the Brecan, allowing him to focus elsewhere.

    With the Brecan¡¯s full focus on creating the blocks, the rubble was swiftly broken down, and the blocks moved over to the closest wall.

    Verdan¡¯s conjured hand would place the blocks while the Brecan merged them into the wall, while also reinforcing and repairing much of the damage.

    ¡°Come on, people, don¡¯t just stand around,¡± Cullan called out as he jogged to the rear of the warehouse to help the other Brecan.

    A dozen nearby Sect retainers and guards joined in, along with a pair of Sorcerers. Together, they quickly got the stone blocks into position.

    As more people joined in, they started simply putting rubble next to the walls, with the Brecan shifting their focus from making blocks to merging the rubble directly into the wall.

    Rapid progress was made, and in no time the walls around the rear of the building were rebuilt and reinforced.

    The front, however, was still a broken mess, and was also where the fighting would be heaviest. Even now, the first Cyth were arriving and charging in to engage the defenders.

    Dozens were arriving each moment, and the flood of monstrous foes was only building.

    For now, though, the defenders were standing tall and holding them back. The little that remained of the warehouse¡¯s front wall was used to its fullest to anchor their defensive lines.

    Fire, lightning and howling winds ripped into the Cyth as they threw themselves at the humans, uncaring of death or injury.

    Verdan sent his construct forward, using its natural durability to provide cover and protection to the people around it.

    The Cyth would break it down slowly, but not quickly enough to save themselves.

    A bright flash of abyssal energy cut through the air as a Cyth Bayne arrived and used a lesser version of the beam attack that had killed Elder Dun.

    Hedda cursed and shifted her focus from cursing the attackers, stopping the next attack from landing at all.

    A heartbeat later, the storm overhead spoke its fury, with lightning crashing down to immolate the enemy spellcaster.

    Through it all, Verdan was maintaining a steady deluge of fireballs into the Cyth ranks, breaking them apart and killing dozens.

    Unlike when they broke the last Cyth Host, though, their defences here weren¡¯t strong enough.

    Thankfully, the Brecan hadn¡¯t left and were now working on creating a fortification in the middle of the warehouse.

    Once done, it would form two raised platforms with a gap in the centre. The Cyth would be funnelled to the centre, where the numbers advantage would mean little.

    Some would claim the outside, of course, but that would be manageable.

    Verdan kept his conjured hand feeding the Brecan rubble to help their building process, but Cullan and the other volunteers rushed to join the fray.

    For a few moments, things seemed to be going well. The Cyth weren¡¯t able to break through, and though they were taking casualties, the stream of reinforcements was more than enough to replace them.

    Then the Cyth Dregg arrived.

    Five of the hulking brutes rounded the corner at a run, and behind them came a thick mass of Cyth Laisera.

    Cyth Laisera were old Cyth Lai that had grown strong and corrupt, with armour made of Wyrchwood and weapons dripping in abyssal energy.

    This was a strike force intended to smash their lines, and unless they acted fast, it would do just that.

    Lifting his staff to conjure a spell, Verdan froze as he saw a trio of Cyth Bayne emerge from hiding places in the buildings opposite the warehouse, alongside a mass of Cyth Lai.

    Movement out of the corner of Verdan¡¯s eye drew his gaze up to where a dozen Wyrchwrought were climbing stealthily down the side walls of the building from the broken roof.

    This was no mass of uncoordinated Cyth, intent on killing them all. No, this was a directed assault, one with a keen mind behind it that had brought together each part of the assault at just the right time.

    There was only one creature that could give a Host this kind of tactical control. A Cyth Scerrd.

 AA5 24 - Transformed

    Verdan¡¯s hesitation shattered at the thought and adrenaline coursed through his veins as he turned his spell on the Wyrchwrought.

    ¡°Grym thanr bel!¡± A bead of concentrated flame blossomed on the tip of his staff before streaking out to strike one of the nightmarish assassins, burning it to pieces and blasting the others away.

    ¡°Gwen, there¡¯s a Cyth Scerrrd!¡± Verdan bellowed as he sent a volley of air blades to kill a surviving Wyrchwrought. ¡°Kill the casters!¡±

    Gwen cursed and lifted a hand toward the storm, right as the three Baynes unleashed a barrage of abyssal darts.

    Hedda let out a cry as she fought to block them, and Verdan felt his grip on his Aether tremble from the sheer amount that slammed in to block the attack.

    In a miraculous display of power, not a single dart made it through.

    As soon as Hedda relaxed, though, a new figure stepped out into view, and sent three balls of abyssal fire screaming towards them, one after the other.

    Caught off guard, Hedda managed to block one of the balls, and a second shattered on a shield conjured by Sorcerers, but the third landed amid a group of Sect retainers.

    Screams of anguish ripped through the air as a dozen defenders and half as many Cyth were burnt to death, opening a hole in their lines that the Cyth poured into.

    Unable to turn away as he destroyed the last of the Wyrchwrought, Verdan cursed the Cyth as the firm defensive line began to unravel.

    As the last of the corrupt constructs died to his attacks, none of them succeeding in killing even a single defender, Verdan turned back to the rest of the battle.

    The Dregg were closing fast, though two of them had been blasted and destroyed by Gwen¡¯s lightning. The Cyth Scerrd was conjuring more attacks as well, and the Baynes were supporting it.

    ¡°Grym ast,¡± Verdan snapped, conjuring a shield to block the enemy spells, even as Hedda fought to block them.

    Cullan and Kai were fighting to contain the breach, and Macha¡¯s crows were harassing the Baynes, so Verdan turned his focus to the Dregg.

    The Brecan had finished creating the two platforms and had retreated below ground, so Verdan sent both his constructs out to meet the charging Cyth.

    The Cyth Lai battered and ripped at them, but both of his constructs survived long enough to collide with two of the three surviving Dregg.

    The conjured hand grabbed at its target¡¯s leg, pulling it off balance and tumbling to the ground. The Cyth Laisera behind it swarmed the hand, smashing it to pieces a moment later, but its job was done.

    The warrior construct had greater effect, bracing itself in the path of the Dregg and driving its spear up into the creature¡¯s heart. Mortally wounded, the giant Cyth smashed the construct aside, fracturing and breaking its shield.

    More Cyth Laisera surged onto the construct, breaking it apart, but not before it claimed several more lives.

    The fifth and final Cyth Dregg smashed into their lines, striking out as it did and crushing several of the defenders.

    Ada and her companions tried to engage it immediately, but the mass of Cyth Laisera flowed around its legs and slammed into the reeling defenders.

    A dozen brave fighters were slaughtered in moments as Cyth rolled right over them.

    ¡°Grym thanr laif!¡± Verdan roared out, sending a thick lance of flames down at the Dregg and burning deep into its body.

    The brute staggered back under the spell, only to scream once more as a long metal arrow sank into its eye.

    Half-blind and badly burnt, the Dregg barely even saw the flash of lightning that killed it.

    ¡°Back, fall back!¡± Ada was shouting as she and the other Steel Custodians tried to keep some semblance of control over the situation.

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    A lance of Malfease ripped through Verdan¡¯s shield, catching a Defiant Flame Sorcerer and killing him instantly.

    Cursing, Verdan conjured a fresh shield and glanced over to see Hedda¡¯s pale features as she struggled to hold back the Cyth Scerrd.

    Macha¡¯s crows had blinded two of the Cyth Baynes, and Gwen had blasted the third, but even so, they were struggling to hold on.

    The Cyth Scerrd was throwing out masses of abyssal energy, far more than the last one they¡¯d fought.

    ¡°Thanr laif!¡± Verdan shouted, channelling his shield with one hand to keep it up while pointing his staff with the other.

    A lance of flames tore through the air to strike the Cyth Scerrd, catching it in the shoulder and drawingg out a scream of pain.

    An angry gesture conjured a shield of Malfease to protect it, but from the way it was hunched over, the blast had hurt it.

    More importantly, it wasn¡¯t healing.

    The other one they¡¯d fought had been incredibly hard to kill, with stupendous regenerative abilities. This one, however, seemed to be all about its offensive spells.

    In fact, there was something familiar about its form. The Scerrd was tall with long sweeping horns and a lithe build. It had little muscle, and its hands were human-like, without even claws to defend itself with.

    Something tattered was handing around its shoulders, though, some sort of red fabric.

    A knot of ice formed in Verdan¡¯s gut as he realised who this Cyth had been. He¡¯d seen her before, back when they¡¯d first met Vanarr.

    This was what had become of the Defiant Flame Elder.

    The Cyth was taller than the Elder had been, but it was likely that she had been the baseline for the transformation, and a number of other Sorcerers had been added.

    Verdan didn¡¯t fully understand the Cyth process, nor did he want to.

    The problem was that they had too many retainers and guards, and not enough casters. If he and Gwen focused on killing the Scerrd, then the Cyth would overwhelm their allies.

    Hundreds of Cyth had died already in the battle, but the street outside the warehouse was filled with more of them.

    Thankfully, no more Dregg were present, but what was already here was bad enough.

    Wincing as he blocked yet another heavy volley from the Scerrd, Verdan sent an empowered fire lance back at it.

    The Scerrd¡¯s shield flickered but held.

    Cursing, Verdan slammed his staff down onto the ground. ¡°Garreg bel!¡±

    Two boulders of rubble and stone rose from the ground, flying up into the air and toward his opponent. Abyssal shields were better against energy than physical objects, and if the Scerrd was still learning, this could crush it.

    Unfortunately, the corrupted Elder clearly knew enough to recognise the weakness, and sent blasts of Malfease to break apart the spells.

    Some fragments rained down on the monster, but the shield that sheltered it was more than strong enough to deal with them.

    Verdan¡¯s gaze flicked back down to the melee in the broken warehouse as a Steel Custodian was dragged down by the Cyth and ripped apart.

    The defenders were slowly pulling back and using the newly built platforms to stymie the flow of Cyth, but it was a messy, blood-soaked affair.

    ¡°Rew bel,¡± Verdan muttered, conjuring several orbs of ice before throwing them down into the mix. He made sure to aim just in front of the furthest defenders, so the ice formed a crescent beyond them.

    More than a few Cyth slipped and fell as the ice spread along the ground, but Verdan waited until they were packed onto it before casting his second spell. ¡°Sia rew drae!¡±

    Dozens of icicles shot up from the thin layer of ice, impaling and maiming any Cyth close enough.

    ¡°Go now, back!¡± Cullan roared as the Cyth struggled with the latest obstacle. The Idrisyr was right at the front of the battle, and was bleeding from dozens of small injuries, but he still made sure he was the last one to retreat behind the platforms.

    Even now, the Cyth were trying to scale the smooth surface of the platforms, but Ada was already sending some of her people to guard the edges.

    This was as good a defensive position as they¡¯d get, but it didn¡¯t solve the problem of the Scerrd.

    As if to punctuate his thoughts, the Scerrd unleashed another withering volley of abyssal magic. This time, however it concentrated its magic on just one section of Verdan¡¯s shield.

    A dozen of the flaming orbs it was conjuring struck the shield one after another. Verdan was already shifting his Aether to reinforce that section, but he was too slow.

    Three of the orbs slipped through, one of them flickering out of existence as Hedda crushed it. The other two struck the left platform, blasting huge chunks from its surface and immolating several defenders.

    The Cyth roared their approval and surged forward, eager to use the broken section as an easier way up.

    ¡°I had worried that there was another of these things in the city.¡± A familiar voice asked from beside him and Verdan whirled to see Elder Vanarr standing strong before him. ¡°If I break the shield, can you kill it?¡±

    The Elder was armed with a halberd and armoured in thick steel plate armour, with a helmet under his arm and a pair of Steel Custodians at his back. Even his missing prosthetic was back in place, in the form of a thick gauntlet with ridged knuckles.

    Both of the Elder¡¯s supporters were fully equipped as well, and their expressions were fierce as they watched for threats.

    Verdan¡¯s mind raced as he considered how bad it was for the Elder to be here. The man was far from healed, and any more corruption entering him could dramatically worsen his condition.

    Then again, the Cyth were overwhelming them. It was a battle of attrition now, and they lacked the numbers to win.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Verdan said eventually. ¡°If you can breach it, I can kill it.¡±

    ¡°Then prepare yourself, Wizard,¡± the Elder said, his helmet melting and flowing up to reform on his head. ¡°I have enough strength to break it, but I must rely on you to finish the deed.¡±

 AA5 25 - Steel and Fury

    Verdan nodded jerkily as Vanarr stepped away, staggered by the trust and responsibility that the Elder was placing on him.

    ¡°Defenders of Gerann!¡± Vanarr¡¯s voice boomed throughout the warehouse, drawing cheers from those not fighting as they saw the Elder among them. ¡°This is our moment to drive the Cyth away. Hold your ground, fight hard and we will cleanse this city! For Gerann! Steel and fury!¡±

    A rousing cheer came from the defenders as they surged against the Cyth with renewed hope. They may not have all cheered the same words, but they were unified in purpose.

    Ada and the other Steel Custodians holding the front line reacted the strongest, their Essence surging as they crushed the Cyth before them with powerful blows.

    For a moment, Verdan wondered how Vanarr would reach the Scerrd, and then the Elder burst into motion, sprinting forward.

    The two bodyguards matched the Elder¡¯s movement, and a handful of other Steel Custodians that were nearby joined in as they sprinted to the edge of the closest platform and leapt into the air.

    Essence enhanced speed and power sent them high into the air before crashing down amid the Cyth like an avalanche of steel.

    Realising the Elder¡¯s intent, Verdan rushed to get a better angle before pulling deeply on his Aether. ¡°Aer tymest torr!¡±

    A howling wind swept down from Verdan, one that was made up of countless blades of air, each shrieking as they swept down and through the Cyth.

    Black ichor sprayed far and wide as the deadly wind cut through a large section of the Cyth, giving the Sorcerers room to move.

    Elder Vanarr led the way, moving in a blur as he demonstrated the height of what a metal Sorcerer could achieve.

    The Elder¡¯s halberd would flick out with incredibly speed, hewing a Cyth in two before shifting into a different weapon as he pulled it close to attack a nearby enemy.

    The Elder¡¯s control over his weapon was inspiring to watch, and from the moment he landed, it was never completely in any one form.

    Roaring defiantly, the Elder was cutting his way steadily toward the Cyth Scerrd, his companions guarding his flanks.

    The steel armour of the Sorcerer was strong and impressive, but even the basest of the Cyth had abyssal energy in their claws and weapons.

    Wounds caused by the Cyth would fester and corrupt if left untreated, and that same effect allowed them to wear down the armour and defences of their foes.

    The walls and fortifications they¡¯d built throughout the pass to stop the Cyth had fallen so quickly in part due to this effect.

    Currently, it was slowly happening to the platform Verdan was stood on, but it was also happening to the armour the Sorcerers wore.

    Claws screeched on armour as the Cyth threw themselves at the Sorcerer, drenching them with black ichor as they died.

    The stronger Sorcerers kept their armour infused with Essence, repelling the corruption, but the weaker of their comrades either couldn¡¯t, or were too tired.

    The first Sorcerer fell twenty paces from where they¡¯d landed, his vambrace shattering beneath the teeth of a Cyth Lai. The exposed flesh was quickly seized by another of the monsters, and the man was dragged away to be ripped apart.

    Another fell a few paces later, her Essence failing her as a Cyth Laisera caved in her breastplate with a Wyrchwood club.

    One by one, they fell, and Verdan watched, bearing witness to their sacrifice as he gathered his Aether.

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    They were dying to make this opening, and he silently vowed that he would not waste it.

    Thunder rumbled overhead and lightning streaked with gold tore down from the sky above, annihilating swathes of the Cyth and striking the Scerrd¡¯s shield repeatedly.

    The monstrous spellcaster staggered beneath the weight of Gwen¡¯s attack, but its shield held. Thankfully, the attacks kept it from focusing on the approaching Elder, leaving him only the Host to worry about.

    Every Cyth in the city must have been present now, all thronging together in a swarm that would slaughter every last human in the tunnels below.

    Struggling against Gwen¡¯s relentless assault, the Scerrd let out a frustrated scream and pointed at Elder Vanarr.

    As one, every Cyth present hurled themselves at the Elder, with even the blind Cyth Baynes doing their best to strike him with their magic.

    They all failed.

    Vanarr¡¯s armour was black with the sheer volume of ichor, and he was down to just a handful of allies, but he was through it all.

    Verdan could feel the Essence burst from the old Sorcerer as he leapt forward, his weapon shaping itself into a huge axe that began to glow with power.

    Verdan drew his Aether up, holding it as a dense ball, ready to empower a spell.

    The shining edge of the Elder¡¯s axe struck the Cyth¡¯s shield, and for a brief moment, Verdan thought it would rebuff the attack and knock Vanarr back.

    Then, with a scream of pain from the Cyth Scerrd, the shield shattered to pieces and the vulnerable caster began to flee towards cover.

    ¡°Grym theriad drae ceis,¡± Verdan intoned the spell, recreating a brutal battle magic that he¡¯d once seen in the Imperium.

    A dozen tight spikes of flame shot out from Verdan¡¯s staff, cutting through the air swiftly as they flew toward the fleeing Cyth.

    The monster went to dodge aside, but the spikes curved through the air and struck it before it could act further.

    The Cyth erupted into flames as each spike bored into its flesh, burning brightly all the while.

    A final vengeful blast of Malfease came from the creature¡¯s hands as it died, aimed directly at Elder Vanarr.

    The Elder was on one knee and breathing heavily, unable to dodge, but one of his companions was able to lunge between the two and catch the blast on their shield.

    The Sorcerer rocked back from the hit, but kept their feet, robbing the Scerrd of its vengeance as the creature was immolated and destroyed.

    As much as Verdan wanted to consider the battle won, the Cyth still numbered in the hundreds, and Elder Vanarr was far from safety.

    Gripping his staff firmly, Verdan called out fresh Words of power as he unleashed a series of fireballs into the Cyth.

    Right now, they were disorganised and reeling from the death of their leader. This was their chance to do as much damage as possible.

    Their casualties were mounting, though, and Ada had abandoned their more defensive position to lead a counter-attack and push the Cyth back.

    No doubt she was eager to reach the Elder, but Verdan wasn¡¯t sure they had enough people left to do it.

    Light glinted off of several flying objects as they fell among the Cyth, and Verdan had only a moment to realise they were glass bottles before they struck the ground.

    As each bottle shattered, whether from striking a Cyth or the ground, it exploded with flame and force. Any nearby Cyth were badly burnt and thrown back by the shockwave the explosion caused, spreading further injury and chaos.

    In the wake of the explosions there was a loud cracking sound as the ground split beneath a group of Cyth, dropping them into a small hole. A moment later, the ground returned to its previous position, burying the Cyth in the blink of an eye.

    ¡°For the Clans!¡± A familiar battlecry rang out from the street as Ciaran and the rest of the Kranjir charged into the Cyth, Vaijon and the other Disciples of Adamar right alongside them.

    Each of the odd Sorcerers was individually powerful, even if it was expressed in an odd way, and the small group swiftly cut their way to Elder Vanarr.

    The sight of reinforcements, even as few as these, was enough to galvanise the defenders, and they took the fight to the Cyth with fresh energy.

    Macha¡¯s crows had finished off the remaining Cyth Bayne, and Gwen¡¯s lightning was striking at any large concentrations of the monsters.

    Leaderless and beset from all sides, the Cyth were slowly destroyed. It wasn¡¯t a bloodless affair, despite their best efforts. Even with the loss of their magical support, the Cyth were brutal fighters.

    Eventually, though, the last of the Cyth was cut down by one of the surviving city guards, and the battle was over.

    Hundreds of Cyth had died assaulting their position, filling both the street and warehouse with their bodies and covering what seemed to be every surface with their black ichor.

    Verdan¡¯s work was far from done, however, and as soon as the last monster fell he made for the Elder. There were others who were wounded and needed healing, but potions and healers were being summoned for them.

    He was the only one who could try to help the Elder, and from how pallid Vanarr was looking, he needed that help. Badly.

    ¡°What are you feeling?¡± Verdan asked, thankful that Vanarr had already removed his helmet as he placed a finger against the Elder¡¯s neck.

    It wasn¡¯t as good as putting a hand on or next to the wound, but it was close enough.

    Letting his magic flow into the Elder as best it could, Verdan directed it down toward the wound, only to find traces of Malfease far earlier than expected.

    The Elder¡¯s exertion had weakened him enough that the corruption was spreading.

 AA5 26 - Reclaimed

    ¡°How bad is it?¡± Vanarr asked in a steady voice, showing no sign of the considerable pain he must be in.

    ¡°Bad,¡± Verdan said simply, taking his hand away from the Elder¡¯s neck with a frown. ¡°How hard did you have to push yourself to do all that?¡±

    ¡°Far more so than I would normally,¡± Vanarr said, grimacing as he shifted his weight and leaned on his halberd. ¡°That creature was powerful, and nothing short of my best efforts would have been enough.¡±

    ¡°True, and that was with a comparatively small Host,¡± Verdan said, shivering slightly as he considered how powerful the Scerrd would have become if the city had fallen.

    With time, a third Host would have been set loose to ravage the land. It was easy to see how quickly the Cyth could spread like this, each major victory giving rise to a whole new threat.

    Shaking the dark vision away, Verdan went to urge the Elder to head back into the tunnels for a more thorough examination, but paused as he saw Vaijon and Ciaran heading their way.

    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, Calear,¡± Vaijon said with a grin, holding out his hand to the older Sorcerer.

    ¡°Glad you got here when you did,¡± Vanarr said with a chuckle that became a wet cough. ¡°We¡¯d got the leader, but after so many fights, my people are exhausted.¡±

    ¡°Happy to help, as always,¡± Vaijon said with a grin, though Verdan could see some the tension in the bald Sorcerer¡¯s face. ¡°We¡¯ll clear the area, you stand your folks down. Silver is at the outskirts of the city now, so I¡¯ll send Ruthin to give him an update.¡±

    ¡°Yes, perhaps some rest is in order,¡± Verdan said, giving Vanarr a pointed look.

    ¡°Thank you, Vaijon,¡± Vanarr said, looking abruptly very tired as he turned to head back toward the tunnel entrance. ¡°Once Commander Silver is here, we should gather to discuss our next steps.¡±

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll let him know,¡± Vaijon said, motioning subtly for Verdan to wait. Once the other Elder was far enough away, Vaijon turned to Verdan with a worried look in his eyes. ¡°Is Vanarr alright?¡±

    ¡°Honestly, no, he isn¡¯t,¡± Verdan said, running a hand through his hair. ¡°He needs a Cleric, and he needs one soon. Could you ask Ruthin to pass that on to Silver?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll get him on his way now,¡± Vaijon said, looking around for the slender air Sorcerer before waving him over.

    ¡°Good, and in the meantime, I¡¯ll do everything I can to keep him alive.¡±

    -**-

    The corruption within the Elder had spread swiftly. As best as Verdan could guess, the Elder had used a large amount of Essence very quickly.

    In part, that was thanks to the powerful magic he¡¯d used, but it was also to ensure that he could perform as normal, despite his wounds.

    Unfortunately, the rapid drop in Essence meant that there was little resistance against the corruption, and it had quickly spread.

    The spell Verdan had cast earlier had been intended to supplement Vanarr¡¯s existing defences, not replace them, and so had been entirely too little to make a difference.

    The two of them were in the Elder¡¯s chambers now, and Vanarr was sat topless as Verdan did his best to limit the damage done.

    Already, black lines were showing against the Elder¡¯s skin as the corruption took hold.

    ¡°Iacha nercreth,¡± Verdan said, resting a hand on the Elder¡¯s chest as he sent a stream of healing and strengthening Aether towards the other man¡¯s organs.

    ¡°Verdan?¡± Bastian¡¯s voice came from the doorway as the Cleric appeared, Lorcan and Branwen at his side. ¡°We got your message and came as fast as we could.¡±

    ¡°Good, I need your help. The Elder has been struck by some sort of highly aggressive corruption. I¡¯ve kept it contained as best I can, but its spread far more than I like.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Bastian said, his eyes gleaming with an inner light as he channelled the power of his gods. ¡°We¡¯ll do what we can.¡±

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    ¡°You can leave him with us, Verdan,¡± Branwen said solemnly, reaching out to rest a heavy hand on Verdan¡¯s shoulder reassuringly.

    Much like her brother, Branwen seemed to struggle a little with the corridors, but she was a few inches shorter than Cullan, which made all the difference.

    Like both her brothers, she was tall and powerfully built, she wore her long red hair in a tight braid, however, and had deep green eyes.

    Lorcan, by comparison, was marginally taller than Branwen but kept his hair short and his eyes were a paler green.

    Physically, Lorcan looked quite similar to Cullan, though his hair was short, but the personalities of the two couldn¡¯t be further apart.

    Where Cullan was boisterous and loud, Lorcan was quiet and reserved. They were both equally good at what they did, however, and Verdan knew it.

    Relief swept through Verdan as he left the Elder¡¯s room. He¡¯d been out of his depth there, and when someone¡¯s life was on the line, it was all the worse.

    The Clerics had it all in hand, now, which meant it was time for Verdan to rest.

    -**-

    Commander Silver and the rest of the alliance army took on the role of securing the city while the surviving defenders stood down and rested.

    Unfortunately, time stood still for none of them, and Verdan managed only an hour or two of rest before he was called to a meeting.

    Vanarr, Silver and Vaijon were the only people present when Verdan entered the small room which had been commandeered.

    The other three men were sitting around a table with a familiar map of the area spread out on top. A fourth chair sat between Silver and Vaijon, which Vanarr waved Verdan over to.

    The Elder looked a lot healthier, even after only a couple of hours, though that only put him back to the state he¡¯d been in prior to that fight.

    ¡°We seem to be a few people short of the full group,¡± Verdan said, leaning his staff against the wall before taking the offered seat.

    ¡°Yes, but my concern was that if we invited too many people, then we¡¯d have to include those we¡¯d rather want left out.¡± Vanarr¡¯s tone was pointed and Verdan didn¡¯t need to think hard to know who he was talking about.

    ¡°Gward tafel,¡± Verdan said softly, casting a silencing ward around the room. ¡°There, I¡¯ve taken steps against listeners as well.¡±

    ¡°Good, now, let¡¯s get down to business. Silver and Vaijon have been updating me on everything, but there¡¯s something you need to know as well.¡± Vanarr gestured to Silver, who cleared his throat.

    ¡°Pathfinder Galstar sent a detachment to find the Hosts¡¯s tracks from where it left the city and determine where they¡¯re heading. That detachment has returned and tracked them this far.¡± Silver reached out to tap a finger on the map. ¡°They¡¯re heading north, retracing their path here. The detachment followed the new tracks for a time, and the Cyth stuck exclusively to the same path.¡±

    ¡°So they¡¯re heading back to Ramoria, then?¡± Verdan asked, studying the map thoughtfully.

    ¡°It seems that way, but I don¡¯t like it,¡± Silver said with clear frustration. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why they¡¯d retrace their steps. They¡¯d limit their opportunities to find new prey and cause more damage.¡±

    ¡°True,¡± Verdan said with a thoughtful nod. ¡°That is usually their only goal, but we¡¯ve seen a bit more forethought from this Host. Perhaps they¡¯re going somewhere else, and the paths just line up correctly?¡±

    ¡°That would be easier to know if we knew the precise way they¡¯d got here, but a lot of that is guesswork still,¡± Vaijon said, rubbing his jaw as he considered the map. ¡°There¡¯s no alternative but to go after them, really.¡±

    ¡°Chasing Cyth,¡± Verdan said with a grimace. ¡°That feels like it can only end badly.¡±

    ¡°True, but what else can we do?¡± Vaijon asked, spreading his hands palms up.

    ¡°Not much,¡± Verdan said bitterly. ¡°I don¡¯t like it, but you¡¯re right.¡±

    Vaijon nodded, the look he gave Verdan telling him that the Elder hated all of this just as much as he did.

    ¡°So,¡± Verdan said, shifting tack now that he knew they were heading out after the Cyth. ¡°When do we leave, and how many are coming with us?¡±

    ¡°We leave in the morning,¡± Silver said, looking just as unhappy about that as Verdan was about their plan. ¡°It¡¯s too late to do much now, and our people need their rest. Despite that, the Cyth have a headstart, and this will only build on it.¡±

    ¡°My people are in no shape to march today,¡± Vanarr said firmly, but Silver was quick to lift his hands.

    ¡°I understand, and I agree, I just don¡¯t like it.¡±

    ¡°That does seem to be the theme of this meeting,¡± Verdan said with a mirthless chuckle.

    ¡°Oh just wait, it gets better. Tell him, Calear,¡± Vaijon said, motioning for the other Elder to talk.

    Vanarr gave Vaijon a withering look before clearing his throat and turning to Verdan. ¡°Bastian and the other Clerics examined my wound and agree that it is some of the worst corruption they¡¯ve seen. They believe it can be healed, but one of them needs to stay with me, and I must rest and not march on with the rest of you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right, I don¡¯t like that either, but it does make sense,¡± Verdan said with a sigh, leaning back in his chair as he rubbed his face. ¡°We¡¯ll be sorry to leave you behind, that¡¯s for sure.¡±

    ¡°Just wait, you¡¯ve not got to the worst part yet,¡± Vaijon said, his face alight with a somewhat manic smile.

    Verdan frowned, unsure what the Sorcerer meant, but noting the displeased look in Silver¡¯s eyes.

    What Vaijon was referring to registered with Verdan a moment later and he groaned. ¡°Kurgane is going to be second in command still, ins¡¯t he?¡±

    ¡°Elder Natrix died in the siege, and her body was used to create the Cyth Scerrd we defeated earlier today,¡± Vanarr said heavily. ¡°With Elder Dun lost to us as well, that leaves little in the way of leadership. I will be sending Ada with you, but Kurgane will have a better claim on the role.¡±

    Verdan shook his head despairingly. ¡°Kai will not be pleased, I can say that for sure.¡±

    ¡°Then tell him this from me,¡± Vanarr said, leaning forward intently. ¡°If Kurgane steps out of line, he has my full support to remedy the problem. I will not tolerate treachery within our ranks.¡±

 AA5 27 - Unified

    When the following morning dawned, the city had a completely different feeling to it.

    Though much of the initial fighting had been taken on by Ciaran and his Thearns, the true cleansing of the city had been done by Sylvie and her people.

    The Airta had an acute sense of smell and were expert hunters, making them the best candidates for the job.

    Gerann was a decent sized city, and there weren¡¯t many Airta, but they rose to the challenge without complaint.

    As Verdan walked through the city, he could almost feel the difference. There were no howls and hunting cries from the Cyth, no echoing screams from some poor soul being found.

    Instead, he could see the people of the city flooding back out of their hiding places to try and take stock of what was left of the city.

    It would be a long road for the city to reach its former state, but with enough will and determination, anything was possible.

    Turning his attention from the city, Verdan ran his gaze across the assembled alliance army. This was the true army now, made up of nearly all of the survivors of both forces.

    A select few Sorcerers and a small group of retainers would be staying behind with Elder Vanarr to protect the city, but the vast majority were joining them.

    Ada was bringing around a thousand people with her, which was far more than Verdan had expected. Still, it was barely a quarter of the original army that had marched with Elder Vanarr.

    The morale of the survivors was hanging on by a thread, but the recent victory was doing a lot to keep them moving. Still, a defeat or even a protracted battle might well shatter their resolve.

    Verdan had seen it before.

    Thankfully, the morale of the alliance wasn¡¯t Verdan¡¯s responsibility and he quite happily left it to Silver and the others.

    Assuming that they did manage to reforge the army into something cohesive, they were in a much better position to take the fight to the Host.

    The thousand survivors brought their total to two thousand five hundred total. The estimates Vanarr¡¯s people had given them called the remaining host at around eight to nine thousand, not even four to one.

    On the face of it, those odds were terrible, but the vast bulk of the Host was Cyth Lai. A decently-trained guard could take on a Cyth Lai, and if well-equipped and supported, could take on several.

    Sorcerers, however, could account for far more, and were far more numerous than the Cyth Baynes, Dregg and Wyrchwrought that they opposed.

    Of course, if their lines broke against the sheer weight of the Cyth, then none of those calculations mattered.

    They needed to act as one, to become a cohesive force that could finish this conflict once and for all.

    Right now, though, they weren¡¯t there.

    Rubbing his face, Verdan cast it all aside as he made his way back to his wagon, finding both of his apprentices there, helping Natalia.

    ¡°Verdan!¡± Natalia¡¯s warm smile and open arms eased away the growing anxiety Verdan felt over everything.

    Releasing her reluctantly, Verdan turned to Magnus and Dirk. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you both, especially because I have a task for you.¡±

    ¡°Master?¡± Dirk cocked his head to one said curiously, while Magnus simply waited patiently for more details.

    ¡°Garreg sia,¡± Verdan said, infusing his words with Aether as he drew up two tablets of stone and shaped the Aether gathering Sigil onto them. ¡°I need you both to study this Sigil and be ready to help me carve it. It doesn¡¯t matter if you use magic or carve it by hand, but it must be precise. This is important, and will be good practice for your precision in general.¡±

    The two Kranjir nodded, picking up the tablets and eyeing the Sigil speculatively before glancing at each other.

    ¡°We¡¯re due to leave soon,¡± Verdan said, waving to the bustle of the camp as everything was packed up. ¡°So you¡¯d best head back, but this is important. Very important.¡±

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    ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ve got some time to rest, or do you have more business to take care of?¡± Natalia asked as the two apprentices hurried off. ¡°I¡¯ve packed most of my supplies away, but I was going to do some general preparation while we waited. That can wait if you¡¯ve got some time, though.¡±

    Verdan nodded, more than happy to take a few minutes to relax with Natalia. It had been a stressful few weeks, and he knew he had to grab such moments where he could.

    ¡°Verdan, do you have a moment?¡± Auger called out as he approached the wagon, interrupting the moment.

    Sergeant Auger was a hawkish man with piercing, pale blue eyes and light brown hair that was kept cut short. Unlike a lot of the guards, he was a thin, slight man, though he had a wiry strength to him.

    Auger was also the head of the Hobson¡¯s Point special division in their guard force, which was how they classified their Sorcerers.

    ¡°Of course, Sergeant,¡± Verdan called back before sharing an amused look with Natalia. ¡°Sorry, maybe when we¡¯re on the road?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Natalia said, pulling him close for a kiss before waving him off. ¡°Go, I doubt the Sergeant is here for something minor.¡±

    Auger had stopped a short distance away, giving them a private moment as he waited patiently. Nodding in thanks to the Sorcerer, Verdan walked over to join him. ¡°So, what do you need?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve got a bit of a problem, and not one that we¡¯re prepared for,¡± Auger said, giving Verdan a grim look. ¡°I think it¡¯s best if I take you to the Commander.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Verdan said, frowning as he mentally ran through everything that should be happening for them to get underway. Nothing was jumping out as a problem that would match Auger¡¯s level of concern. ¡°Is there anything else you can tell me? What sort of problem is it?¡±

    ¡°The worst kind,¡± Auger said, pausing before continuing with a look of distaste. ¡°Logistics.¡±

    Verdan winced, understanding why Auger looked so concerned now. He also had a creeping suspicion of what the problem actually was.

    If he was right, then he wasn¡¯t sure what he could do to help.

    Auger led Verdan through the bustling camp, not to the front where Silver would normally be, but to the rear. The supply wagons were back here, and Verdan could see a large group had gathered by one of the largest.

    Commander Silver was talking with what looked like the quartermasters of each individual group within the alliance, along with the wagoneers and cooks.

    A dangerous group to upset, all things considered.

    ¡°Commander,¡± Auger called out, lifting a hand to catch Silver¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s take a few minutes to think about everything,¡± Silver said, pitching his voice to cut through the chatter of the large group. ¡°I¡¯ll confer with Wizard Blacke, and then we¡¯ll come to a decision.¡±

    Verdan tried not to wince as the large group took Silver at his word and broke off into smaller knots of people. Apparently, they trusted that he¡¯d help sort out whatever was happening.

    That kind of trust was nice to have, but it was also a lot of pressure.

    ¡°Verdan, thank you for coming so quickly,¡± Silver said as he walked over to them, looking relieved that he¡¯d escaped the group. ¡°Good work in the city as well, I had a meeting with the Elder and he had nothing but praise for you and your people.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to pass it on,¡± Verdan said before gesturing to the group that Silver had been talking with. ¡°What exactly seems to be the problem here?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re aware, but we lost some of our logistical capacity during the final battle with the Host.¡±

    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t aware,¡± Verdan said, though he wasn¡¯t that surprised. There had been a lot of dangerous magic flying around during that fight, not to mention those dangerous abyssal lances the Scerrd had been using.

    ¡°As it happens, we lost close to half of our capacity, one way or another. A good number of wagons took damage, and we lacked the capacity to repair everything in time for our abrupt exit.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Verdan said, realising that this wasn¡¯t at all what he¡¯d thought it was. He¡¯d half expected Silver to ask him to somehow source enough food for everyone, but this was more complicated. ¡°An unfortunate side effect of our haste, but nothing you could have predicted.¡±

    ¡°A view that I wished more people shared,¡± Silver said flatly before sighing and shaking his head. ¡°Regardless of the blame being throw around, the problem we have now is that we lack the raw capacity to carry enough supplies for our expanded numbers. I certainly wasn¡¯t expecting quite so many to join us, another lapse on any part, so this issue has hit us at the last minute.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Verdan said once more, eyeing their surroundings and noting how little was happening around the supply wagons in comparison to the rest of the camp. ¡°What do you need from me?¡±

    ¡°Ideally, and idea to make all this work,¡± Silver said, flashing Verdan a strained smile. ¡°If you¡¯ve got any miracles to work, now is the time.¡±

    ¡°Is it space or weight that¡¯s the problem?¡± Verdan asked, running through what Words he knew and how they could be used.

    ¡°Space, I think,¡± Silver said, hesitating before nodding firmly. ¡°Let me check, wait here.¡±

    Verdan nodded absently, running over some of the spells he knew for floating, wondering if they might help.

    ¡°Ah, I see the good Commander has roped you into this mess as well,¡± Vaijon¡¯s slightly mocking tone broke into Verdan¡¯s thoughts as the Elder strolled over to join them.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised he asked you,¡± Verdan said, arching one brow at the bald Socerer. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have thought your magic would be suited to something like this at all.¡±

    ¡°Oh it isn¡¯t,¡± Vaijon said with a crooked smile. ¡°Unfortunately, your versatility has given the Commander some unrealistic expectations of what magic users can do.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I do apologise,¡± Verdan said flatly, making the Elder chuckle.

    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯ve come up with anything?¡± Vaijon asked, glancing over to where Silver was heading back towards them. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that construct of yours was destroyed in the fight; we could have used it as a packmule.¡±

    Verdan froze as Vaijon laughed to himself, his mind racing as he reconsidered his preconceptions about what exactly he could do with his magic.

    An Aether construct on the wagons would drain him dry by the time they caught up to the Cyth, but the construct had been almost Aether neutral.

    Slowly, a smile started to spread over Verdan¡¯s face and he clapped Vaijon on the back. ¡°An excellent suggestion, thank you.¡±

 AA5 28 - Labour

    Verdan enjoyed Vaijon¡¯s confused expression for the few moments it took for Silver to join them.

    ¡°I¡¯ve checked with our quartermasters, and space is what they need. Bulk is the issue rather than the weight of what we¡¯re taking on,¡± Silver said, glancing between Verdan and Vaijon with a curious expression. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Elder Vaijon just gave me an excellent suggestion for how to resolve the issue,¡± Verdan said, giving Vaijon a pleasant smile. ¡°He really does have a great knowledge base. You should have him advise you more often.¡±

    The bald Elder made a choking sound and shot Verdan a betrayed look, while Silver simply arched one brow questioningly. ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Oh yes,¡± Verdan said, ignoring the sputtering Elder as he focused on the Commander. ¡°I imagine that any livestock in the city are long gone, one way or another, but are there any wagons we could commandeer?¡±

    ¡°That was raised earlier, and we¡¯ve sent some locals to find out, but how would we pull them?¡± Silver asked, shaking his head slightly. ¡°I did consider asking the Pathfinder for the use of her mounts, but losing her scouts would be dangerous. I don¡¯t think that would be enough, anyway.¡±

    ¡°I very much agree on that front,¡± Verdan said firmly. ¡°This is not the time to be losing scouts at all. For the rest, though, how many more wagons do we actually need?¡±

    Silver was quiet for a few moments as he mulled over the question. ¡°From everything they¡¯ve said, we could manage with six, but it would limit our range. Eight would be better and ten would give us enough to manage all the essentials.¡±

    ¡°Understood. Hopefully, there is enough in the city that we can get all ten. I¡¯ll work to that goal anyway, and we can adjust from there.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll see what news has been brought back from the city,¡± Silver said, nodding to them both before heading off, Auger following along behind him.

    Verdan realised that he hadn¡¯t actually explained what he was going to do, and the Commander hadn¡¯t asked. He¡¯d simply trusted that Verdan knew what he was about.

    ¡°Well, now you¡¯ve had your fun, do you need any help?¡± Vaijon asked, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

    ¡°Do you know where Gruthka and the other Fwyn are?¡±

    ¡°Last I saw, they weren¡¯t far from here. I can lead you that way?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind,¡± Verdan said, his focus already drifting to the upcoming project. ¡°Hmm, that earth Sorcerer from before, is he any good at shaping?¡±

    ¡°As good as any Sorcerer,¡± Vaijon said with a shrug. ¡°His focus is more on fighting other earth users, but I can send for him if that would help?¡±

    ¡°Actually, could you ask Morag if she has any particularly good shapers?¡± Verdan asked, realising that he hadn¡¯t even considered the Eternal Wardens. ¡°I need talent in shaping, rather than brute force. This will be about precision more than anything.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask,¡± Vaijon said, pointing off toward the Airta section of the camp. ¡°The Fwyn were over there last I saw, so I¡¯ll leave that to you.¡±

    Verdan thanked him before splitting off and heading for the Airta. On the face of it, it seemed odd for the Fwyn to be with the Airta.

    On a fundamental level, the Fwyn were a prey species, while the Airta were predators to their core.

    Verdan knew why they were there, though. The Airta weren¡¯t human, and with so many new faces joining the army, the Fwyn wanted somewhere safe.

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    Anyone who had fought the Host in the north likely had a good opinion of the Fwyn, or at least had some respect for them. Verdan hoped that was true, because if it wasn¡¯t, he despaired for ever bringing them all back together.

    Shaking off the dark thoughts, Verdan raised a hand in greeting to the first Airta he came across and asked where the Fwyn were.

    The Airta gave him some rough directions before carrying on lounging against a piece of rubble, leaving Verdan to head on alone.

    Thankfully, the directions were easy enough to follow, and in short order, Verdan found Gruthka and the other Fwyn.

    ¡°Verdan, do you need us?¡± Gruthka asked in low imperial as Verdan approached them.

    ¡°Potentially, yes,¡± Verdan said with a slight shrug. ¡°Perhaps the Brecan as well, but what I¡¯m asking for might be too complex. I know they don¡¯t fully understand spoken languages.¡±

    ¡°We can help translate,¡± Gruthka said, mirroring Verdan¡¯s shrug. ¡°Shall I call them?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, please do,¡± Verdan said, gesturing off to one side at an open stretch of ground. ¡°I¡¯ll get started over there, come join me when you can.¡±

    Gruthka nodded, and Verdan could feel the Fwyn sending out pulses of Aether into the ground as he walked away.

    His plan was deceptively simple at first glance. If they could get wagons from the city, but not the horses to pull them, then they needed a replacement for the horses.

    Vaijon¡¯s comment about his construct had given Verdan the idea, but he¡¯d already been thinking about something similar when he saw his apprentices.

    The construct he¡¯d made had been simple, but had been far more effective than if Verdan had cast a few more spells instead.

    The prospect of what he could do with better materials and more time was enthralling, and Verdan itched to do just that.

    For now, though, he was going to see just what his limits were with this magic.

    ¡°Garreg sia,¡± Verdan intoned, calling up stone from the ground, shaping it as he did. The stone slowly formed into a horse-like shape, but it was far from perfect.

    The spell he used normally was imbued with the concept of a warrior, but Verdan lacked the right Word to do the same for a draught animal.

    Instead, he was going to shape it himself, and then animate it once it was complete.

    ¡°Garreg sia,¡± Verdan said, recasting the spell as he called up more stone, fleshing out the construct and improving it somewhat.

    ¡°Is that a horse?¡± Gruthka asked as he walked over to join Verdan, Dru and Aeva trailing along behind him.

    ¡°It¡¯s meant to be, but I¡¯ve not done quite as good a job as I¡¯d hoped,¡± Verdan said, eyeing the crude attempt with a frown.

    ¡°It does have four legs,¡± Gruthka offered with a high-pitched laugh that made Verdan roll his eyes with a smile.

    ¡°Could you improve it?¡± Verdan asked, glancing over at the Fwyn questioningly.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Gruthka said, looking offended that Verdan even asked the question. ¡°Is this what you wanted the Brecan for?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I thought their skill with earth would be useful,¡± Verdan said, realising even as he spoke the words aloud that it wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°But they won¡¯t be, will they?¡±

    ¡°Not for this,¡± Gruthka said with a shake of his head. ¡°Not enough straight lines and edges for them. They can provide the stone for it, though.¡±

    Relieved that he hadn¡¯t asked them to call on the Brecan for nothing, Verdan stepped back while Gruthka and Aeva got to work.

    Finishing the first horse didn¡¯t take long, and once Verdan explained that they needed at least a dozen, they began work on the second.

    A pair of Brecan arrived to assist them not long after the second horse was started, and Dru acted as the middle man for the two groups.

    Dru¡¯s rot magic wouldn¡¯t be of any use here, so instead, he helped by guiding the Brecan to prepare large boulders for the other two Fwyn.

    They were just finishing up the third horse when Vaijon returned with Morag in tow. The Eternal Warden looked over the stone horses with a critical eye as Verdan explained what they were doing.

    ¡°This level of detail is unacceptable, these joints will rub and cause damage over time. They need to be smoother,¡± Morag said, picking apart Verdan¡¯s design as she looked over the first one they¡¯d made.

    ¡°Can you fix it?¡± Verdan asked, getting the same look in return that he¡¯d had from Gruthka.

    Holding his hands up in surrender, Verdan went back to his own task as they settled into a rhythm of sorts.

    Verdan created the base shape, then the Fwyn refined and improved it, adding in details and making it more lifelike. Once they were done, Morag would go over each one with a surprisingly light and deft touch, turning statues into potential constructs.

    A runner from Commander Silver came to inform them that nine wagons had been claimed, and to ask how his task was progressing.

    Verdan upped the number they were trying for to eighteen and sent back word to the Commander that they should be ready by noon.

    A delayed start was better than leaving everything behind, but Verdan could feel the pressure building.

    Finishing the final horse, Verdan took a moment to regret his self-enforced ban on energy spells before sending Dru to find Magnus and Dirk.

    Hopefully, they¡¯d put the last hour or so to good use.

 AA5 29 - Automation

    Somewhat predictably, neither apprentice felt like they had enough of a grip on the Sigil to be carving it into the constructs.

    Verdan couldn¡¯t really blame them for that, but it did mean that he was doing it all on his own. None of the horses were huge, but that was still a lot of surface area to carve.

    ¡°Sia,¡± Verdan said softly, placing his hand onto the stone and focusing on the Sigil he¡¯d memorised. The stone beneath his hand shifted as it formed the Sigil, and as he ran his hand along the statue¡¯s flank, more and more Sigils were formed.

    This was using more Aether than he¡¯d like, but Verdan didn¡¯t really have too many options.

    Carving and checking the first horse took over half an hour, which meant they had three more to get the other seventeen done.

    At this pace, that was impossible.

    Fortunately, the constructs didn¡¯t need to be fully carved to work. It would just take more Aether to keep them running without the Sigils.

    That meant it was time to test this whole idea properly.

    ¡°Garreg challyn,¡± Verdan called out, filling the Words with Aether as he focused on the visualisation and intent he¡¯d been preparing in the back of his mind since he¡¯d first had the idea.

    Dust fell from the horse construct as Aether poured into it, and under Verdan¡¯s direction, the construct took several steps forward.

    The construct¡¯s gait was uneven at first, but after watching it for a few minutes, Verdan was able to reform his visualisation of the spell and recast it on the construct.

    Immediately, the construct¡¯s gait smoothed out, and it seemed far more lifelike than before. He¡¯d need to do further work on it, but this was a good start.

    ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t sure you could do it, but that¡¯s impressive,¡± Vaijon said, eyeing the stone horse with surprise. ¡°How much can it pull?¡±

    ¡°More than a normal horse,¡± Verdan said with a slight shrug. ¡°Beyond that, it will depend on how much Aether I¡¯m willing to push into it. The Sigils I have planned should be enough for what we need with only a minor top up from me.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯ll be able to do that for all eighteen?¡± Vaijon asked, gesturing to the small herd of constructs that they were making.

    ¡°For now, yes,¡± Verdan said, with only a minor amount of hesitation. ¡°It uses a lot less Aether than my combat construct, so my Aether intake will support a few. The rest I¡¯ll be able to manage with meditation and active gathering.¡±

    ¡°A short term solution, then,¡± Vaijon said, giving Verdan a flat look when the Wizard went to argue.

    ¡°Essentially, yes,¡± Verdan said, somewhat begrudgingly. ¡°With better materials and more practice, I could do more. This is about the limit of what I can manage at the moment.¡±

    ¡°And how far can they go from you?¡± Vaijon asked thoughtfully. ¡°If there is a limit at all, of course.¡±

    ¡°There isn¡¯t a limit as such,¡± Verdan said, thinking how to best convey the constraints of this method. ¡°There are two issues to consider. The first is that the further they go from me, the more Aether they will drain. The second is that I command them directly, so keeping them nearby is important for changing their orders to fit the situation.¡±

    ¡°Ah, a shame. Is there anything I can do to help here?¡± Vaijon asked, lifting one hand and conjuring a momentary flicker of fire. ¡°I can provide Essence, as I did with that trap you created.¡±

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    ¡°Honestly, I wish that you could,¡± Verdan said, the raw longing in his voice making Vaijon chuckle. ¡°But that was a controlled explosion, simple and direct. This, however, is far more complex. Aether is all that can be introduced safely. Perhaps stone or earth based Essence, but I¡¯m not willing to risk it.¡±

    ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll update the commander and have some of my people drag those wagons over here. That feels like the least we can do.¡±

    Verdan nodded thankfully, already moving over to the next statue to start working on its Sigils. Time was of the Essence, and he¡¯d had as much of a break as he¡¯d allow himself.

    -**-

    True to his word, Vaijon had the wagons delivered to their working area, but even with that, Verdan didn¡¯t finish all the horses in time.

    Eventually, he had to stop working on the Sigils and instead get them all animated and hooked up to the wagons.

    The drain on his Aether from all eighteen constructs was substantial, even with six of them bearing Aether-gathering Sigils, but it was manageable.

    Wide-eyed labourers watched as Verdan brought the nine wagons over to join the rest of the supply train. His control was a little ragged in places, but he¡¯d have plenty of time to practice over the next few days.

    ¡°Alright people, less gawking!¡± One of the more senior labourers shouted, cajoling everyone into action as they loaded up the new wagons with everything the army needed.

    ¡°I have to admit,¡± Silver said, coming over to join Verdan as the last crates were squeezed in. ¡°I¡¯m impressed. This certainly wasn¡¯t an option I even considered.¡±

    ¡°Necessity leads us to some interesting new places,¡± Verdan said, feeling more than a little proud of what he¡¯d created.

    ¡°Well, we¡¯ve lost time, but thanks to you, we¡¯ve not lost people. When we end this threat, it will be that much easier thanks to you.¡±

    Verdan murmured his thanks as Silver left him to his thoughts.

    This field of construct creation was enthralling, and Verdan found himself wishing he¡¯d been there during the time when the Automaton had been created.

    What he was doing now was a mere shadow of such a complex and sophisticated undertaking, but he loved it.

    Most Wizards specialised in one thing or another, but Verdan had always been a generalist. He¡¯d delved into some more exotic magics when working with his old teacher, but even those hadn¡¯t inspired him like this.

    Since that first time he¡¯d created a construct, Verdan had been turning to this kind of magic more and more. Hands of animated earth, soldier constructs, and now labour constructs.

    The possibilities called to him, and Verdan longed to spend time experimenting and refining the visualisations he¡¯d created.

    Soon.

    They just had to deal with this last Cyth Host, and then there would be time to rest.

    Taking a deep breath, Verdan let it out slowly as the labourers finished stocking the wagons.

    Sending out new instructions with a pulse of Aether, he watched as the two horse constructs drawing each wagon started forward at a slow walk.

    Shouted orders and questions rang out as the rest of the caravan did the same. They were finally underway, but the Cyth had far more of a headstart than Verdan was comfortable with.

    Still, all they could do was press on, and hope that they wouldn¡¯t be too late to stop any more atrocities.

    -**-

    Once they were underway, everything settled into place.

    Verdan had to change where his wagon was placed in the overall group, but that was a minor change, all things considered.

    ¡°So, why do we get the real horses, and everyone else gets the fancy constructs?¡± Natalia asked as Gerann faded away behind them.

    ¡°Because if my spell fails, or if they are disrupted somehow, we¡¯ll still be fine,¡± Verdan said, cracking open one eye to share an amused look with her.

    He was sitting at the front with Natalia, but almost all of his focus was on actively working his gathering spiral.

    The spiral was always passively working, thanks to the ability Wizards held to partition their minds, but this was different.

    By bringing the spiral into focus and giving it his direct attention, Verdan could drastically increase its output.

    It left him unable to do much of anything else, and it was mentally tiring, but it was also quite effective.

    Unfortunately, with all these new constructs slowly but steadily draining him dry, Verdan had little option but to spend at least a few hours like this.

    ¡°There,¡± he said, his voice husky as he realised how dry his throat had become. ¡°That should be enough to last until the morning, as long as I get enough done.¡±

    ¡°Enough of what?¡± Natalia asked, looking a little concerned.

    ¡°Sigils,¡± Verdan said as he cracked his neck and stretched. He¡¯d made the mistake of doing all that while sat in a slightly awkward position.

    An amateur mistake on his part, brought on by his urge to quickly gather as much Aether as he could.

    ¡°Is there anything I can do to help?¡±

    ¡°No, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got Dirk and Magnus learning the Sigil, so they should be able to help with tomorrow¡¯s Sigil work.¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow, but won¡¯t you be finishing them tonight?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, but I can¡¯t spend all evening working on them. It depends on how quickly I can work through them.¡±

    Natalia nodded, but Verdan could see the worried look in her eyes. She understood enough that she didn¡¯t ask him to try and slow down or pace himself, though.

    They simply didn¡¯t have the time for that.

 AA5 30 - Shortcut

    Silver had them push on for as long as the light held out, before eventually bringing them to a stop for a hasty camp.

    Without light to work by, they didn¡¯t set up properly, instead simply making do for the evening.

    Verdan doubted that anyone would be particularly comfortable, but it helped them claw back some of their lost time.

    They couldn¡¯t do this too many times without wearing people down, but it was a useful tool for the Commander.

    Of course, Verdan did cheat somewhat. His light spells meant that they could set up a little better than the rest, even without the advantage of a wagon to just the two of them.

    He made sure to leave a globe of light stuck to the roof of the interior when he clambered out, giving Natalia the light she needed as she set up her travelling kit.

    A hefty portion of their healing supplies had been used up when they got to Gerann, but the scouts were still foraging for Natalia and the other alchemists.

    A Cyth Host had passed through this area, so there wasn¡¯t much to be gathered and harvested, but what they did have would be used to its utmost.

    Making his way through the camp, Verdan wound his way over to where the closest of his constructs were standing.

    Unlike the rest of the horses, his creations were still wearing their harnesses and had simply stopped moving when he¡¯d given the order.

    Checking over the first, Verdan looked for any sign that it wasn¡¯t performing to the degree he¡¯d anticipated. Thankfully, though, everything looked good.

    Moving on, Verdan checked the whole group, being careful not to skip over anything. These constructs were simply too important to leave anything to chance.

    Once he was satisfied, he got to work adding to the Sigils of the last one he¡¯d worked on.

    A small globe of light hovered over Verdan¡¯s shoulder as he shaped the side of the next horse, forming Aether-gathering Sigils one after the other.

    Eventually, the minimum threshold for activation was hit and the whole suite of Sigils began to draw in Aether.

    Casting an eye over his own magic, Verdan saw a small dip in the Aether being drawn from his core.

    It wasn¡¯t much now, but when they started moving tomorrow, it would make a lot more of a difference.

    Dusting his hands off, Verdan moved on to the next construct.

    -**-

    They broke camp early the next day, hurrying onward as soon as possible.

    Verdan had inscribed two more of the horses the night before, the benefits of which he now enjoyed.

    He¡¯d do the same tonight, though hopefully with some assistance, and in no time, all eighteen would be finished.

    Lost in his thoughts and absorbed in mental calculations of Aether expenditure, Verdan didn¡¯t hear the messenger that Silver had sent until Natalia gave him a nudge.

    Sitting upright and blinking blearily, Verdan apologised to the guard and asked them to repeat the message.

    ¡°The Commander has asked that you ride ahead to join him,¡± the guard said, patting the horse he¡¯d rode over on. ¡°The scouts have news of the direction the Cyth have taken.¡±

    Nodding, Verdan grabbed his staff before dropping down from the wagon. The guard dismounted at the same time, letting them change over so Verdan could ride on ahead.

    Several other riders were heading forward as well, and Verdan spotted a few familiar faces. It seemed this was going to be an official meeting.

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    No wonder the guard had had to give Verdan his mount. To have this many people riding on ahead would be all the spare mounts they had.

    Following the trail of people, Verdan rode on for several minutes before coming to a large, flat rock on the side of the trail.

    The trail itself was a mass of churned dirt from the passage of thousands of creatures, mixed in with blackened, dead trees and rotting vegetation.

    The corruption of so much Malfease passing through the area had spread beyond the physical trail itself, leaving a widespread impact on the land around them.

    Turning back to the stone, Verdan eyed the gathering of people clustered around it, noting that they represented most of the groups within the alliance.

    A few guards were nearby, helping to both keep a watch on the area and help with the horses of the new arrivals.

    Passing the reins of his steed over, Verdan dropped down and approached the rock, which had one of the ever-present maps of the area stretched out over it.

    ¡°Verdan, thank you for coming so quickly,¡± Silver said from where he stood next to the rock. ¡°We¡¯ve ridden ahead so we could spend a few minutes discussing this while the rest of the caravan catches up. Everyone else should be here in a few moments.¡±

    Verdan nodded, repeating the gesture to Vaijon, Ada and Morag, who were stood close by Silver.

    Ciaran, Tim and Sylvie were present as well, alongside Cullan, Branwen and Bastian.

    Kai, Gwen, Hedda and a few others arrived next, with Augur and Val being among the last to make an appearance.

    Last, and most certainly least in Verdan¡¯s opinion, Kurgane joined them. The Defiant Flame Sorcerer seemed to almost be taking his time, making them all wait for him.

    Despite that, he had a cheerful smile and a pleasant demeanour as he walked over to stand opposite Silver.

    Auger, who¡¯d been standing there already, was forced to step aside for the other Sorcerer, and Verdan saw a flicker of a frown cross Silver¡¯s face.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s everyone,¡± Silver called out, cutting through the noise of the little conversations that were happening. ¡°I¡¯ve gathered all of the leaders of our combat groups together, as you can see. The reason why, is that Disciple Bessem has found an opportunity for us.¡±

    Silver gestured to Ada, who cleared her throat and stepped forward to tap a part of the map. ¡°This is where we are, and this is the path the Cyth have been taking. It follows a somewhat disused path that leads from Gerann up to Ramoria.¡±

    Ada moved her finger along a slightly curved path to the north-east, skirting by what looked like two small lakes with a long strip of land in between.

    ¡°If the Cyth continue along this path, then they will pass by these lake, which happen to house an old watchtower and some ruined fortifications. If we were to divert from the path we are following and go this way instead.¡±

    Ada returned to the starting point and instead went due east before sharply to the north.

    ¡°Then we can cut off two days of travel with ease. Perhaps even more if we push ourselves. As it stands, we are perhaps two days behind the Cyth, depending on their speed. This gives us an opportunity.¡±

    Murmuring broke out among the group as they all realised just what this meant. If they could get ahead of the Cyth, then they could stop all of this before another city was destroyed.

    ¡°How sure are you that they have gone this way?¡± Kurgane asked in what seemed to be a reasonable tone. ¡°And this shortcut, have you travelled that way with wagons before?¡±

    Both were reasonable questions, but Verdan was certain that they were an attempt to cut Ada down, rather than help the alliance.

    After all, if Ada¡¯s plan led to a dramatic victory, where was Kurgane¡¯s glory?

    Verdan frowned slightly, wondering if he was being perhaps a little too critical of the other man.

    Glancing over at Gwen, Verdan¡¯s eyes traced the horrific burns she¡¯d taken, and he had to work to suppress his anger.

    No, he knew better. Kurgane was a snake, just one who was very good at appearing harmless.

    Kai shifted, his eyes meeting Verdan¡¯s, and the Wizard knew full well that a similar thought was going through his friend¡¯s mind.

    They hadn¡¯t had the talk with Gwen yet about what had happened to her, but that needed to happen soon.

    ¡°Pathfinder Galstar and Sylvie have been working with their people to track the Host,¡± Ada said, her reply drawing Verdan back to the conversation. ¡°So far, they¡¯ve traced them to here, and the Cyth seem to be sticking entirely to their previous path.¡±

    Ada tapped a point on the map that was halfway between them and the two lakes.

    ¡°As to the shortcut, I¡¯ve not travelled that way with heavy loads, but there shouldn¡¯t be anything that would pose a problem.¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t,¡± Kurgane echoed flatly. ¡°How reassuring.¡±

    Ada bristled but didn¡¯t respond directly, instead speaking to them as a group. ¡°The only problem we face is that if we turn away, and the Cyth aren¡¯t retracing their steps, we lose any chance of catching them.¡±

    ¡°How likely is that?¡± Kai asked with a slight frown. ¡°I thought the Pathfinder was tracking them quite easily?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true, but we have some concerns,¡± Ada said, somewhat hesitantly.

    ¡°Concerns?¡± Kai echoed, his frown deepening.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t normal behaviour for Cyth,¡± Verdan said before Ada could respond. ¡°They don¡¯t retrace their steps like this. They live to despoil and ravage, but look around us.¡±

    ¡°Despoiled and ravaged greenery,¡± Kurgane said, scoffing slightly. ¡°Exactly as you said, so what exactly is your point?¡±

    ¡°My point is that this would have been in this state to begin with, so why come back this way? Why not go somewhere new which they could turn into this?¡±

    ¡°That is exactly our concern,¡± Ada said, nodding in Verdan¡¯s direction. ¡°And if we can¡¯t answer that question, then we risk losing either the chance to cut them off, or the chance to catch them at all.¡±

 AA5 31 - Fork

    ¡°One of those risks is far greater than the other,¡± Cullan said, his deep voice taking on the serious tone that he only seldom used. ¡°For my own part, I would rather take the route we can be sure of, and avoid the risk of losing them altogether.¡±

    ¡°Which is precisely why we¡¯re having this conversation,¡± Silver said. ¡°To make sure that we come to an agreement on this. The dangers and risks are great, so I want us to be sure that we are acting as one.¡±

    Kurgane muttered something that sounded insulting, but didn¡¯t push matters when Silver gave him a quelling look.

    Verdan could feel that Silver was about to push for a vote, but there was something about this that was bothering him.

    Discarding his preconceptions, Verdan listed out what he knew.

    The Cyth lived only to despoil and destroy.

    Each Host had been heading straight for the nearest city, and more accurately than he would have expected.

    The Brotherhood were involved in all this, just like they¡¯d been involved in the schemes he¡¯d come up against in the north.

    From a description that Vanarr had given him, Verdan was confident that the Cyth Scerrd he¡¯d fought outside of Hobson¡¯s Point was in command of this Host.

    It was less certain, but Verdan was confident that the Brotherhood were using all this chaos as an opportunity to do something.

    Finally, and most importantly, it made no sense for the Cyth to backtrack, not when they¡¯d shown such great knowledge of where their targets were.

    Unless, that was all they¡¯d known. Unless they¡¯d been given targets and sent out to cause chaos and destruction to hide a greater scheme.

    ¡°The Cyth are retracing their steps because they¡¯re looking for something specific,¡± Verdan said, speaking his realisation aloud right as Silver was about to continue.

    ¡°That would explain why they aren¡¯t roving the area,¡± Ada said musingly, eyeing the map consideringly. ¡°But what would interest them enough to act out of character?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re clearly returning to Ramoria to finish off the defenders,¡± Kurgane said with just as much confidence as Verdan. ¡°The rumours that Ramoria has fallen are just that. Our Stormlord brethren are no doubt fighting for their lives. If this Host gets back, they will be crushed.¡±

    The surrounding group murmured and shifted at the proclamation, while Verdan and a few key others stared at Kurgane in abject disbelief.

    They hadn¡¯t spread the knowledge of the corruption within the Stormlord Sect, mainly to keep morale high, but Kurgan knew full well what the situation was.

    ¡°We should move to take this shortcut as quickly as we can, then,¡± Morag said decisively, and Verdan saw a few people nodding along with her.

    Verdan winced, his mind working furiously as he tried to think of a way to argue against this. He knew that the Cyth weren¡¯t heading back, that just made no sense with creatures like these.

    Then again, he¡¯d said the same thing about the backtracking. There was a chance he was wrong.

    Pushing that thought to one side, Verdan leaned forward to stare at the map. If the Cyth weren¡¯t going back to Ramoria, then where were they going?

    That thought echoed in Verdan¡¯s mind as he followed the path they¡¯d be taking, but there was nothing there that would warrant any interest.

    Past those two lakes, there were villages and other settlements that might have been bypassed the first time, but until then, the only thing of note was that the path split off into two.

    Out of curiosity, Verdan followed that other path, realising as he did that it cut almost directly west. There were a few impediments to travel going west, but this particular path ran right past all of them.

    In fact, Verdan recalled crossing it on the way to Gerann in the first place.

    ¡°Where does this path go?¡± Verdan asked Ada, interrupting a discussion about where to send their scouts.

    ¡°It goes all the way to the coast, I think,¡± Ada said after a moment of thought. ¡°That¡¯s right, it crosses the Imperial Line and then keeps on going until it skirts between Hobson¡¯s Point and some forest. I¡¯ve only taken it once or twice.¡±

    ¡°Miyaka Forest,¡± Verdan said with dawning horror, looking up sharply. Kai and Gwen caught the motion and looked over, their own faces paling as Verdan repeated the name.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be what it wants, surely?¡± Gwen asked, though she sounded far from convinced.

    ¡°It would explain its direction,¡± Kai said with a grimace.

    ¡°What exactly are you all talking about?¡± Ada asked, looking between them with a confused look.

    ¡°I¡¯m saying that I think I know what their target is,¡± Verdan said, his voice carrying throughout the group and cutting off a number of small arguments.

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    ¡°Please, explain,¡± Silver said, gesturing for Verdan to continue.

    ¡°I believe that, much like we¡¯ve seen before, the Cyth are acting as agents of chaos to cover actions from the Brotherhood. We¡¯ve seen evidence that they had fed the Stormlords incorrect information in order to let this problem grow far beyond what it should have.¡±

    ¡°Do you have proof of that?¡± Kurgane interjected, folding his arms and adopting a dismissive pose.

    ¡°Only from the confession of one of the traitors who abandoned us during our final battle. A betrayal that cost the life of many valiant Steel Custodians as they fought to make it right.¡±

    Ada¡¯s expression tightened, and Verdan wondered if she¡¯d known Macannan personally.

    Thinking of the fallen warrior left a pang of regret in Verdan¡¯s gut. He wished the affable Sorcerer was here now, a staunch ally among the Sorcerers was exactly what he needed.

    ¡°We will wait to argue or question until the end,¡± Silver said before Kurgane could reply, giving the Sorcerer a hard look until he nodded slightly. Turning back to Verdan, the Commander made a subtle motion for him to continue.

    ¡°Thank you, Commander,¡± Verdan said before tapping on the symbol for Gerann on the map. ¡°The direct route the Cyth have taken to both Gerann and Dresk makes me believe that they were targeting these cities on behalf of the Brotherhood. Then, with the city destroyed, the Cyth Scerrd for this Host has moved on to its next target. Miyaka Forest.¡±

    ¡°You mentioned that forest before,¡± Ada said. ¡°What is the relevance here?¡±

    ¡°Prior to all this, a Cyth Scerrd was attempting to corrupt Miyaka Forest. I understand the forest is steeped in magic, so it was likely an effort on its part to access that magic and corrupt it. We drove the creature away, but from what Elder Vanarr describes, it is in control of this Host.¡±

    ¡°So you think it will return and finish the job,¡± Ada said, looking down at the map thoughtfully.

    ¡°How sure are you that it¡¯s the same creature, Verdan?¡± Kai asked, voicing the question that Verdan could see building in those around him.

    ¡°Absolutely certain,¡± Verdan said firmly, trying to project as much confidence into his words as he could. ¡°The creature was a corrupted Maevir, and wielded a bone staff. Exactly as Vanarr described his opponent.¡±

    ¡°Concerning, very concerning,¡± Silver said softly, his gaze falling to the map between them. ¡°If you¡¯re right, then our shortcut is pointless, we would be going the wrong way.¡±

    ¡°And what if he¡¯s not?¡± Kurgane asked sharply, taking a step forward as he lifted a hand to point at the map. ¡°That shortcut is our only way to stop this Host from reaching Ramoria. The only way to save our brethren. This nonsense about a forest is just that, the ramblings of a man desperate to make this about him!¡±

    ¡°Pathfinder Galstar,¡± Silver¡¯s voice rang out in a commanding tone. ¡°Can you say with certainty where the Host is going?¡±

    ¡°No, I cannot,¡± Galstar said.

    ¡°Then we cannot risk the shortcut,¡± Silver said, his tone making it clear that he would brook no dissent. ¡°If they head west and we go east, we will lose any chance of catching them. It is an unacceptable risk, especially when we are the only force in the region that can deal with the Host.¡±

    ¡°How convenient,¡± Kurgane said, his voice thick with disdain. ¡°How convenient that your pet Wizard has suggested this, giving you an excuse to avoid the shortcut and save Ramoria. You betray the alliance we¡¯ve all agreed to, and I won¡¯t stand idly by any longer.¡±

    ¡°I have made my reasons clear, and though I happen to agree with Verdan¡¯s reasoning, he does not act at my request. I understand that you would prefer to take the chance and cut the Host off, but the risk is too high.¡±

    ¡°The risk is too high, but only when it is for non-Sorcerers,¡± Kurgane said, curling his lip at Silver. ¡°You hate Sorcerers, and this is finally a way that you can strike back. Will a city of innocents dying for your vengeance be enough?¡±

    ¡°You are out of line, Disciple Skarv,¡± Silver snapped angrily. The Commander was a restrained man, not given to bursts of emotion, but Verdan could see the true anger in his eyes. Kurgane had crossed a line with those accusations, and they all knew it.

    ¡°Hah, you simply don¡¯t like being called out on your own disgusting actions,¡± Kurgane said, waving aside Silver¡¯s anger with an idle gesture.

    ¡°I think you¡¯ve done enough talking,¡± Cullan said, his deep voice holding a gravelly undertone as he turned toward Kurgane. ¡°Why don¡¯t you and I go have a private conversation.¡±

    The big Idrisyr took a single, heavy step towards Kurgane, every inch of his body exuding a menacing aura.

    Kurgane took an involuntary step back before standing his ground and sneering at Cullan. ¡°I don¡¯t have the time to waste on you. I invoke my right of challenge, and I demand that we address it immediately.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you wish to do this, Disciple Skarv?¡± Vaijon asked, his voice cold and unfeeling.

    ¡°I do. The time has come for this alliance to do what it was meant to do!¡± Kurgane lifted his chin as he made the declaration, but he didn¡¯t seem to realise how little support he was getting.

    Commander Silver might not be a Sorcerer, but he was well-respected by everyone else present. Even those who thought it was right for a Sorcerer to lead them would be foolish to back Kurgane¡¯s mad accusations.

    This was exactly the sort of thing that could split them all apart, right when they needed to be as unified as possible.

    ¡°Commander, as you are not a Sorcerer, I shall explain,¡± Vaijon said, his voice a touch warmer as he spoke to Silver. ¡°The rite of challenge allows for a leader of any Sect within the alliance to duel the leadership of the alliance if they believe they have strayed from the mission. In this case, by accusing you of abandoning Ramoria and prejudice against Sorcerers. Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°I do. What are the terms of the duel?¡± Silver asked calmly.

    ¡°As the challenger, Disciple Skarv may set the terms.¡±

    ¡°To the death,¡± Kurgane said without hesitation, flashing Silver a smug smile.

    ¡°Commander Silver, do you wish for any restriction on magic or weaponry that can be used?¡± Vaijon asked in a formal tone.

    ¡°I do not,¡± Silver said levelly, something in his bearing telling Verdan that the Commander had a plan of some sort.

    If Verdan could realise that, he was sure that Kurgane did, but, to his surprise, Kurgane didn¡¯t seem worried in the slightest. Something which didn¡¯t bode well for the Commander.

    ¡°Very well,¡± Vaijon said, the ice in his voice belying the hate in his eyes as he stared at Kurgane. This was everything the Elder had wanted to avoid. ¡°The terms will be to the death, with no restriction on magic or weaponry. Commander Silver, you may elect a champion to fight on your behalf, but they must not be from any other Sect within the alliance than your own to prevent Sect infighting.¡±

    ¡°They must also be a Sorcerer,¡± Kurgane said, his smug expression only growing as he saw Verdan¡¯s frown. ¡°I¡¯m afraid the Wizard doesn¡¯t count.¡±

    Verdan realised that Kurgane was expecting the Commander to be relying on Verdan¡¯s support for victory. Silver¡¯s expression didn¡¯t so much as flicker, though, which told Verdan that Kurgane had missed the mark.

    ¡°Verdan might not qualify, but I do,¡± Kai said, cutting off anything else Kurgane had to say. The Defiant Flame Sorcerer looked a little uncertain now, and Kai turned to Silver with an eager look in his eye. ¡°Please allow me the privilege of fighting on your behalf.¡±

    ¡°I gratefully accept your offer,¡± Silver said, the slightest hint of a smile touching his lips. Ignoring Kurgane completely as the Sorcerer tried to say something about Kai not being eligible, he turned to Vaijon. ¡°I believe we are ready.¡±

 AA5 32 - Culmination (Kai)

    Kai waited with agonising patience as Vaijon went through the motions of preparing the duel. Kurgane had been initially angry that he couldn¡¯t fight the Commander, but was now pacing back and forth.

    Kai allowed himself a small smile as he contemplated how far this must be from what Kurgane had planned. It had been foolish for him to forget that there were unbound Sorcerers present.

    When Vanarr had first given the Commander control over their force, Kai had taken him aside and promised his support for exactly this situation. He¡¯d seen the questioning look in Silver¡¯s eye when the challenge had been issued and had given the Commander a discreet nod.

    Kai felt honour-bound to defend the Commander, especially after all they¡¯d been through together. The fact that it was Kurgane that he would be killing simply made it all the sweeter.

    Still, it had been a risk for Silver to ask for no restrictions. Augur or one of the other Hobson¡¯s Point Sorcerers could also have stepped in, but they lacked the experience and power to face someone like Kurgane.

    For all that Kurgane was treacherous and opportunistic, he was also not far from becoming an Elder. Fortunately, Kai was himself at the very brink of that threshold in power.

    Of the four disciplines a Sorcerer could learn, Kai could Augment, Manipulate and Enhance, but he had yet to master Projection. He was close, though, he could feel it.

    Endless hours of practice had brought him to the cusp of that progression in both of the elements he could call upon. He just needed a flash of inspiration to get him there.

    No doubt Kurgane was in a similar position, but Kai did have one further advantage, one that Kurgane had unknowingly allowed.

    Everyone knew that Vaijon had been training him, but only a handful of people knew why. If Kurgane had known, he¡¯d have restricted the magic portion of the challenge to being Essence only.

    Then again, he hadn¡¯t expected Kai to be involved at all, so perhaps not. Still, unrestricted magic was a pointless declaration from a Sorcerer attempting to fight a normal man.

    It was all arrogant posturing on Kurgane¡¯s part. He reminded Kai of the scum who had taken his sister, and Kai was looking forward to doing to Kurgane what he¡¯d done to the others.

    ¡°The duel arena is ready,¡± Vaijon called out from where he¡¯d been supervising the preparation of the fighting area. ¡°Disciples, please approach.¡±

    A circle of cleared space roughly sixty paces across was bounded by a half-dozen Disciples of Adamar. They would ensure that the two fighters remained within the circle until the challenge was done.

    The distant sound of the approaching caravan told Kai that they had little time to waste on all this. They needed to keep moving if they were to stop the Cyth Scerrd from reading Miyaka Forest.

    Kai didn¡¯t even have the beginnings of an idea about what the foul things had planned there, but it could only end badly for everyone else.

    Besides, he¡¯d missed out on fighting it last time thanks to the Weeping Death and their stupidity, he refused to let Kurgane do the same now.

    Pushing any thought of what might come after the duel aside, Kai walked over to the prepared circle and stepped inside.

    ¡°Good luck,¡± Ruthin, one of the Sorcerers maintaining the circle, said softly as Kai passed him by.

    Kai gave the other man a subtle nod before grounding his spear and focusing on his opponent.

    Kurgane was neither tall nor powerfully built, so in a purely physical confrontation, Kai was confident that he would win.

    No contest between Sorcerers was purely physical, though, and Kai had no real knowledge of Kurgane¡¯s fighting style.

    He knew that the other man¡¯s magic took the form of a liquid in some cases and was fire-based, but that was all.

    ¡°Disciple Skarv, this is your last opportunity to retract your challenge. Do you wish to proceed?¡± Vaijon asked, his voice carrying through the silence that surrounded them.

    There was no sound now, not even from whispered conversations. Everyone was watching, waiting for violence that would soon commence.

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    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s time that I put this amateur in his place,¡± Kurgane said, sneering at Kai as he drew a long, slender blade that had been sheathed at his side.

    ¡°Very well,¡± Vaijon said, backing away to the edge of the circle. ¡°Begin!¡±

    Kai drew on the fire and wind Essence within him, drawing the fire out into his body as he called out to the air around him with the wind.

    Strength, speed and power surged through Kai as his Essence went to work, while at the same time, a gust of wind struck out at Kurgane.

    ¡°A wind Sorcerer?¡± Kurgane said as he braced for the gust, the wind failing to do more than push him a half-step backwards. ¡°Pathetic, even by the low standards of your kind.¡±

    Kai heard Ruthin bristle behind him at the insult, but his attention was instead on the fact that Kurgane didn¡¯t know what sort of Sorcerer he was.

    Kai had assumed that they shared the same rough knowledge of each other, that wind blast had been intended to misdirect any attempts at a quick attack. Kurgane had taken it as a genuine attempt, however, which was perfect.

    He knew how he was going to win this.

    ¡°Is that all you have?¡± Kurgane taunted as he slowly closed the distance between them, Essence welling up inside him.

    ¡°It is all I need,¡± Kai said calmly, matching Kurgane¡¯s steady closure as he held his spear at the ready. He had to bait out some attacks first, while relying on his wind and spear alone.

    ¡°Is that what you think?¡± Kurgane¡¯s mocking laughter rang out as a vast amount of Essence focused in his free hand. ¡°Let me show you true Sorcery.¡±

    The buildup of Essence that Kai could sense swiftly peaked as Kurgane made a throwing motion and a javelin of brightly glowing liquid formed in his hand before flying out in Kai¡¯s direction.

    Kai dodged to the side, the fire he¡¯d called on earlier granting him the speed he needed to avoid whatever Kurgane had conjured.

    The projectile sailed past Kai, striking the ground and exploding in a spray of whatever it was made of.

    Even at a distance, Kai could feel the heat coming from the attack and steam rose from where some of it had landed in a small puddle.

    ¡°Good, good!¡± Kurgane called out, giving Kai a mocking round of applause, even as he formed a second javelin and threw it at Kai. ¡°Don¡¯t die too quickly, I want to see the hope fade in your eyes.¡±

    Kai dodged the incoming attack with ease, drawing lightly on his Essence to ensure that the power circulating through him was topped up.

    With the second attack, Kai realised that Kurgane was conjuring some sort of mix between burning oil and molten rock. It seemed to be purely made of flames, but it behaved a little like both. That meant it was purely conjured by his Essence, which played into Kai¡¯s plan.

    The average Sorcerer wouldn¡¯t recognise the difference, but Kai had been fighting monsters for years, and he¡¯d earned his knowledge the hard way.

    Circling Kurgane, Kai waited patiently until the other Sorcerer was conjuring his third javelin before lunging forward and attacking with both wind and spear in concert.

    The javelin broke as the wind smashed into it, but Kurgane only laughed as it reformed into a gauntlet while he dodged Kai¡¯s attack.

    Half of the conjured fire was lost in reforming the attack, but Kurgane didn¡¯t seem to care as he closed the distance, slashing with his sword before trying to grapple Kai with his burning fist.

    Kai caught the blade on his spear and swayed aside from the grab before stabbing down with the haft of his weapon to hit the inside of Kurgane¡¯s knee.

    The spike at the base of his spear punched into the Sorcerer¡¯s flesh, though it missed the joint, and Kurgane staggered back with a shout of pain.

    The fiery gauntlet changed again, losing some of its size as it did, into a large dagger that Kurgane threw at Kai as he tried to gain some distance.

    A gust of wind knocked the dagger aside without Kai even breaking stride and he kept up the pressure on Kurgane. Again and again he stabbed out with his spear, using small concentrated gusts of wind to unbalance the other man at key moments and disrupt his fiery creations.

    Bleeding from both arms and limping badly, Kurgane¡¯s smile had slipped, but the malice in his gaze had only grown as Kai turned up the pressure.

    Creating a sword of liquid flame, Kurgane tried to regain his advantage and drive Kai back, striking at both Kai¡¯s head and chest at once.

    Kai saw the attacks coming and pulled heavily on the speed and agility of the fire coursing through him. Kurgane was using a fire enhancement as well, but it was strength and aggression based, typical of the Defiant Flame.

    Fire was so much more than that. It was unchained, unbound and could move in the blink of an eye.

    Holding onto that understanding, Kai slipped past the flaming blade that was coming at him and swayed beneath the other. He was too close for the spear of his spear, but as he slid past Kurgane, Kai whipped up the end and smashed it into the arrogant Sorcerer¡¯s nose.

    Blood sprayed out, but Kai saw the flaming blade flicker as it shifted to an unformed mass.

    Leaping away with as much speed as he could muster, Kai felt the flames at his back as Kurgane roared in frustration and pain.

    The ground between them burned with Kurgane¡¯s anger, his carefully formed construct abandoned in the face of a wild spray of fire.

    Blood oozed from Kurgane¡¯s broken nose, but he reached into his robes and pulled out a familiar potion. Dropping his sword, Kurgane held up his hand up to send a wide spray of fire at Kai to keep him back.

    Judging the distance, Kai saved his Essence and simply backed up, letting the attack waste itself, but also letting it buy Kurgane the time he needed to drink the healing potion.

    Watching Kai with a mix of wariness and hate, Kurgane reached up and cracked his nose back into position as the potion went to work. A few of the injuries remained visible, but the pain was numbed and the bleeding stopped. A high quality potion by all standards.

    ¡°There, much better,¡± Kurgane said, tossing the empty bottle aside. ¡°I took that from a nice little workshop I visited. Such a shame, but it burnt down not long after I was there.¡±

    Kai eyed the distinctive blue tint of the glass bottle that had been cast aside, remembering Natalia¡¯s description of the fire that killed her family.

    ¡°You bring death and pain wherever you go,¡± Kai said, walking carefully forward to avoid the lingering fire on the ground around him. ¡°It is time to end that.¡±

 AA5 33 - Vengeance (Kai)

    With Kurgane still somewhat injured despite the potion, now was the time for Kai to press the advantage.

    Racing forward, he drew heavily on his wind Essence, hitting Kurgane with several heavy gusts that rocked him back and kept him off balance.

    More wind Essence flowed into Kai¡¯s spear as he lunged forward, aiming to impale Kurgane through the chest.

    The other Sorcerer paled and scrambled aside, but the wind Essence Kai had fed into his spear had formed a secondary blade around the point. The metal missed, but the the wind drew blood.

    Cursing, Kurgane conjured fire in both hands and hurled it at Kai from close range.

    Diving into a roll to avoid the worst of it, Kai hissed in pain as some of the flames caught his back. He could have quashed them with his new technique, but he needed to avoid Kurgane realising what he could do.

    Instead, Kai bore the pain as he dodged a secondary deluge of flames, finally destroying the burning Essence with a tight gust of wind that flared his robes.

    Cold air flowed over the burnt skin of his back where the fire had burnt through his robes. Moving normally hurt, but Kai kept his expression calm, denying Kurgane the satisfaction of seeing his pain.

    ¡°You¡¯re good. I¡¯ll grant you that much,¡± Kurgane said, conjuring yet more flames. ¡°But in the face of this kind of power, being good with a spear simply isn¡¯t enough.¡±

    Kai said nothing, simply channelling his fire Essence along his back to ease the burn he¡¯d taken. It wasn¡¯t as good as healing magic, but it would numb the pain and help things along.

    Taking in as much of the circle as he could without taking his eyes off of Kurgane, Kai realised that a good third of the ground was smouldering now.

    Kurgane had an impressive amount of Essence, and was spending it liberally, empowering even his wildest attacks with enough to have their effects linger.

    A good tactic against fast moving enemies, as even a small hit would burn badly, as Kai had felt. In this case, however, it played into what Kai had planned.

    They were close now, Kai just needed a little more fire on the ground and for Kurgane to be a little weaker.

    Drawing up a powerful wind blast, Kai charged right at Kurgane, waiting right until the other Sorcerer attacked before releasing his own Essence.

    A rough javelin flew at Kai, liquid flame dripping from its shoddy construction, only to be broken and swept off course by the concentrated blast that Kai had prepared.

    Racing past the explosion of flames from the shattered javelin, Kai¡¯s eyes went wide as he realised that Kurgane had a second attack prepared in his other hand.

    Flames roared as a gout of liquid fire rained down on where Kai had been standing a split second earlier, most of it missing him as he threw himself to one side.

    Burning pain seared down Kai¡¯s side as the part he¡¯d been unable to dodge burnt through his robes and started to sear into his flesh.

    Running fire Essence through the area to deal with the burns, Kai kept moving. More fire landed where he¡¯d been a moment later as Kurgane kept up the offensive, forcing Kai to push himself to keep ahead of the deadly attacks.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t seem bothered about the workshop burning,¡± Kurgane said, grinning savagely despite the sweat dripping from him as he conjured vast amounts of Essence. ¡°So let me make things a bit more personal. I was the one who burnt the pretty Witch¡¯s face to teach her to respect her betters. Well, not so pretty anymore, is she?¡±

    Rage raced through Kai as Kurgane admitted his crime, rage that only grew as he saw the smug look on the Sorcerer¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for what you did, to her, and to all your other victims!¡±

    Kai had been leaning heavily on his wind Essence, using far more of it than he would normally as he hid his other element. Drawing on it again, Kai felt his anger  mould the blast as he released it at Kurgane.

    To his shock, Kai watched as a loose blade of air, much like Kai had seen Verdan use, emerged rather than a formless blast.

    The abrupt change caught Kurgane by surprise as well, but he managed to conjure some flames to catch the worst of the attack.

    Stillness settled over the duelling circle for a moment as Kai realised what had just happened and Kurgane caught his breath.

    Kai had shaped that attack, and though his anger had guided him that first time, he could feel how he did it. That meant he¡¯d finally learnt how to use Projection.

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    He¡¯d been working around it by manipulating the air around them, but this would make everything easier.

    The shock of what he¡¯d done had swept over Kai¡¯s anger, and as he watched Kurgane gather up Essence for another large attack, he felt it settle into cold determination.

    Kurgane was tiring fast, and his projected attacks were becoming loose and shaky, which meant the time had come for Kai to end this.

    ¡°Time to die!¡± Kurgane shouted as he pushed both hands toward Kai, releasing a vast wave of liquid flame.

    Steadying himself as the fire raced toward him, Kai called on his fire Essence but held it at the ready. At the same time, Kai reached down into the core of his being for the strange magic that Vaijon had shown him.

    Parada to some, soul magic to others.

    Focusing his intent, Kai faced the oncoming flames and whispered to that magic. ¡°By my will alone.¡±

    The words resonated with something within Kai, and magic poured forth from his core, weaving itself into the fire Essence he had at the ready.

    A bare instant before the flames overtook Kai, he held one hand out and made a grasping motion. In an instant, Kai¡¯s Essence punched out into the flames, driving Kurgane¡¯s influence out and subsuming the rest for Kai.

    A wave of tiredness struck Kai as he wielded the power of his soul directly, but he kept his focus on the task at hand.

    All around Kai a deluge of liquid flame poured down onto the ground, burning everywhere he could have fled to.

    The section that would have hit him directly, however, had been drawn down into Kai¡¯s hand, forming a thick gauntlet.

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Kurgane staggered back, his eyes wide as he clutched at his head. ¡°What did you do?¡±

    Kai exerted his will on the captured Essence, reshaping the liquid into a javelin before hurling it back at Kurgane. Wind Essence swept along in its path, speeding it forward too fast for the Sorcerer to dodge.

    The javelin caught Kurgane in the arm and shattered, spraying him with liquid flame that burnt right through his robes.

    Kai sprinted forward in the wake of his attack, flooding his body with Essence as he closed the distance in a blur.

    Much like Kai, Kurgane had quenched the burning flames with more Essence. Looking back up to see Kai closing in, Kurgane cursed and threw himself back as he conjured a wild spray of flames.

    A wild attack was harder for Kai to influence, so he reluctantly dodged to one side, grabbing a portion of Kurgane¡¯s attack as he did.

    Forming an air blade, Kai fed the liquid flame into it before launching the whole thing at Kurgane. The pressurised air condensed and concentrated the liquid fire, making the whole thing into a delayed explosion that was hurtling right at Kurgane¡¯s face.

    Realising the danger, the other Sorcerer creating a thick shield of fire to blunt the attack, only to have his control contested over a part of it.

    Kai had practiced this with Vaijon and knew that he could only take control from a Sorcerer a few times before they learned how to resist the effect. After that, he could still manage it, but it was much harder.

    Right now, Kurgane had no idea how to fight back and Kai ripped control of his shield away, collapsing the centre to let his attack through.

    The tightly compacted fire struck Kurgane¡¯s chest, the wind carrying it drawing blood as it cut slightly into the Sorcerer¡¯s flesh and broke apart.

    The moment the pressure faded the fire exploded out, blasting Kurgane from his feet and burning his chest and face badly.

    Kai raced forward, drawing on the agility of fire and the freedom of the wind to avoid the countless pools of burning liquid that Kurgane had scattered all around them.

    Reaching the battered Sorcerer, Kai lunged forward and drove his knee into Kurgane¡¯s face as he tried to rise.

    Kurgane fell back with a satisfying crunch and a cry of pain as his nose broke once more. One hand rose up as he started to channel Essence, but Kai¡¯s spear was already moving and he rammed it down into Kurgane¡¯s chest.

    Disbelief, fear and shock mixed in with the pain on Kurgane¡¯s face as he coughed out blood. Glaring up at Kai, the fear turned to anger, and he started to speak before Kai cast an air blade through his throat.

    Pulling his spear free, Kai waited just long enough to ensure that Kurgane was truly dead before stepping back and nodding to Vaijon.

    The Elder walked over and examined Kurgane¡¯s body before giving Kai a satisfied nod. ¡°As arbiter, I officially declare you the victor. As a fellow Sorcerer, I thank you for doing what I could not.¡±

    ¡°What happened to your fear of the strife this might bring?¡± Kai asked, leaning on his spear as he caught his breath. His side and back were badly burnt, but he¡¯d come through that in good shape.

    There was a deep exhaustion within him, though. He¡¯d need time to recover from wielding his soul directly.

    ¡°I think the price of keeping him alive might well have been more costly in the end,¡± Vaijon said, glancing down at the dead Sorcerer with a look of contempt. ¡°A quick death was more than he deserved. The fool was taunting you directly, but we heard him just as clearly.¡±

    Kai nodded before hefting his spear and turning back to the crowd who¡¯d gathered to watch. Moving that way, he saw Verdan and Gwen step forward to meet him.

    ¡°Iacha,¡± Verdan said, reaching out to rest a hand on Kai¡¯s shoulder.

    A wave of cooling energy swept through Kai, numbing the pain and starting him on the road to being healed.

    Kai gave the Wizard a nod of thanks before turning to Gwen, unsure of just what he¡¯d see in her eyes. She¡¯d surely heard what Kurgane had declared, after all. Would she be angry? Disappointed?

    ¡°Verdan told me that you knew, that you were going to tell me soon yourselves,¡± Gwen said, reaching up to cup his cheek. ¡°Thank you for deciding to trust me, even if he never gave you the chance to.¡±

    Kai looked down into her eyes and found nothing but concern and worry for him. Relief swept through him as he heard her words, and Kai realised just how much he¡¯d hated keeping this from her.

    Keeping things separate had felt natural in the past, but perhaps that time was gone. Gwen was a powerful woman in her own right.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t get to tell you,¡± Kai said softly, reaching up with his free hand to place his hand over her own. ¡°I couldn¡¯t let him cause any more trouble, though. It was all I could do to not challenge him until now.¡±

    ¡°I understand, and I¡¯m impressed,¡± Gwen said, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. ¡°If someone had hurt you, I don¡¯t think I could held off, even if I was asked to. You might not have noticed, but I can get a little angry.¡±

    Kai chuckled at the understatement and leaned in, ignoring the pain from his burns as he kissed her soundly.

    Verdan muttered something about making sure the horses were okay and hurried off, but Kai barely even noticed.

 AA5 34 - West

    Verdan watched with mixed feelings as the Disciples of Adamar carried Kurgane¡¯s body off to be buried. The caravan was almost caught up with them, and there was no time to waste, so Vaijon had decided to simply bury him and move on.

    Considering their original worries over what would happen when Kurgane died, that seemed a strange choice to Verdan. Vaijon insisted that it wouldn¡¯t be an issue, though, and that all the burials and mourning for those lost would be held once they¡¯d won.

    Regardless, it wasn¡¯t Verdan¡¯s decision to make. What mattered was that Kai had come through more or less in one piece, and that meant that Silver remained in command.

    That also meant that they would be staying on their current path and not trying to use the shortcut. It would take them another day or so to reach the turning west, at which point they¡¯d know for certain if Verdan was right.

    For his part, Verdan had no doubt that he was right, there was just too much that didn¡¯t add up otherwise. Still, it would be a weight off of his mind when they had the evidence in front of them.

    Sighing, Verdan looked over the burnt duelling circle and shook his head. It was such a waste. For all that Kurgane had deserved everything that had happened, his magic would have been far more useful against the Cyth.

    ¡°Worrying about something?¡± Vaijon asked, walking over to join him.

    ¡°Reflecting on how much more we could do if we just stopped fighting each other,¡± Verdan said, staring off into the distance as he thought back to the civil war he¡¯d experienced. This was only a shadow of what he¡¯d seen back then.

    ¡°True, which is part of why my Sect exists,¡± Vaijon said, tapping one finger against a vial on his belt in an absent motion. ¡°We¡¯re neutral, which gives us the room to act in this way. I¡¯d have preferred to fight on Silver¡¯s behalf myself, but we do too much good with our neutrality to risk it.¡±

    Verdan nodded, thinking of who else could arbitrate a fight between Sorcerers and coming up with only a handful of ideas.

    Taking a deep breath, Verdan pushed all that aside and turned to the Elder. ¡°Kai used his Parada at the end. It was a powerful ability, can we rely on all your people being able to do the same?¡±

    ¡°Soul magic, Parada as you call it, is variable. The first and foremost teaching of Adamar was that we should only strive to define our own power. He said that seeking to define the powers of others on their behalf would only lead to frustration.¡±

    ¡°Hah, he wasn¡¯t wrong there,¡± Verdan said, smiling slightly as he remembered the countless Wizards who¡¯d driven themselves half-mad trying to quantify Parada. ¡°So that is all Kai, then?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but it will grow in time. We all have our sett powers, but they are far from restrictive. My own magic breathes stability into my creations, allowing me to prepare before fights. When I first realised what I could do, I saw no path forward.¡±

    ¡°I doubt Kai has that issue,¡± Verdan said, gesturing with one hand to the burnt battlefield.

    ¡°No, but I suppose what I¡¯m saying is that there will be potential for him to learn new ways to use it. Regardless, we¡¯ll be there to help him learn. Especially now.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Vaijon frowned, seemingly confused by the question, but after a moment his expression cleared. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I forget that you aren¡¯t a Sorcerer. Kai demonstrated Projection when he created those shaped air attacks. They were more than a clever use of Manipulation.¡±

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    Verdan thought back on what he¡¯d seen for a moment before nodding. ¡°True, I can agree with that, but what does that mean?¡±

    ¡°It means that Kai is a dual-element Elder now, like me. There aren¡¯t many of us, so any Sect with compatible teachings will want him.¡±

    ¡°Including the Disciples of Adamar?¡± Verdan asked, arching a brow in Vaijon¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± the Elder said with a sly smile. ¡°I had already offered him a position, thanks to his use of his soul. Now, though, I should be able to offer more.¡±

    ¡°Well, I hope you find some common ground. It would be good to see more of a reliable Sect up here.¡±

    ¡°We should talk more about that once this is over,¡± Vaijon said, glancing meaningfully over at the remains of the duel. ¡°I think my Sect having a presence within your city would be good for all involved.¡±

    Verdan nodded before glancing over to the approaching wagons and the rest of the army marching alongside them. ¡°A discussion for another time.¡±

    Vaijon nodded and moved off to take care of some other business, leaving Verdan to walk back to his wagon.

    Silver¡¯s people would take care of the horses that had been used, which left Verdan with a task he was dreading.

    He had to tell Natalia that Kurgane was dead, and he had to tell her what he¡¯d heard when Kurgane pulled out the potion.

    It sounded like Kurgane had deliberately caused the fire that killed Natalia¡¯s family. No doubt she¡¯d had her suspicions, but Verdan doubted that this would be a pleasant conversation.

    Jogging over to their wagon, he swung up onto the side and placed his staff into its usual resting spot before taking his seat next to Natalia.

    ¡°So, what was all that about?¡± The alchemist asked, keeping a rough watch on the trail ahead as she glanced over at Verdan.

    ¡°We needed to make a decision about how to proceed, and then Kurgane used that as an excuse to challenge Silver for leadership of the alliance.¡±

    ¡°Gods above, what happened?¡± Natalia¡¯s eyes were wide as she reached for a nearby satchel. ¡°Does anyone need healing?¡±

    ¡°No, no healing needed,¡± Verdan said, hesitating for a moment before pulling out the blue tinted bottle that Kurgane had thrown aside. It had survived the final clash between the two Sorcerers, so he¡¯d taken it.

    ¡°That bottle¡­¡± Natalia froze as she stared at the blue glass. ¡°That looks almost like what we used to have, back before the fire.¡±

    ¡°I think it might be,¡± Verdan said gently, passing her the bottle as he explained exactly what had happened.

    -**-

    ¡°So he¡¯s dead then,¡± Natalia said softly, her gaze turning distant as she stared out ahead of them. ¡°I can hardly believe it.¡±

    ¡°I watched them take away his body myself, he won¡¯t be hurting anyone again.¡±

    ¡°It just seems so strange.¡± Natalia¡¯s voice was faint, and Verdan had to strain to hear everything. ¡°I was so scared that he would do something. That he would try to hurt one of us, and now he¡¯s just gone. Just like that.¡±

    Shifting as close as he could, Verdan wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. There wasn¡¯t anything he could say, but he could be there for her.

    ¡°I¡¯d always known that something happened that day, my father was too careful for it to have been an accident. Not one as bad as that. Even so, I never dreamed that it would be something so petty, so pointless. It just doesn¡¯t make sense.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve not spoken much about them,¡± Verdan said softly. ¡°What were they like?¡±

    The question seemed to draw her out of her reverie, and Natalia began to speak, telling Verdan stories from when her childhood and before the city began to struggle.

    -**-

    They stopped late in the evening, having pushed as far as they could during the day. Even with everything going on, they still needed to try and make up their time catching the Cyth.

    Fortunately, the extra time gave Natalia chance to talk about her family and her life growing up in Hobson¡¯s Point. It had been good for her to get it all off her chest, and she¡¯d seemed tired but rejuvenated when she went to bed.

    Unfortunately, Verdan¡¯s work hadn¡¯t finished quite yet. When Natalia turned in, he¡¯d instead gone to find Dirk and Magnus before heading to the horse constructs and working on their Sigils.

    Verdan¡¯s apprentices had been working on the Sigil he gave them, and surprisingly, Magnus had made more progress than Dirk.

    Verdan felt a little ashamed of how surprised he¡¯d been at that, but he was used to Dirk being the exemplary Wizard and taking to everything with ease. In this case, though, Dirk was making average progress while Magnus was leaping forward.

    Magnus still struggled with projecting his spells past his body, an oddly similar issue to what Kai had been struggling with, but if he took to Sigils well, that wouldn¡¯t matter.

    ¡°Here, you work on this next set,¡± Verdan said, gesturing to the final grouping of Sigils along the construct¡¯s back. ¡°Dirk, watch carefully. I want you to be doing the same tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master,¡± the two Kranjir said in unison, Magnus moving forward with a fine chisel to work on the horse while Dirk looked on with clear envy.

    Hiding his smile, Verdan moved on to the next horse and got to work. He¡¯d check Magnus¡¯s Sigils once they were done, but hopefully, they¡¯d be able to speed this process up.

 AA5 35 - Forked

    Verdan went straight back to his wagon once they were done for the evening, which meant he missed any gathering that was held in Kurgane¡¯s honour.

    Not that he¡¯d want to have been there, and he¡¯d be shocked if many people went. After all, the Sorcerer had burnt more than a few bridges at the end with his accusations.

    There was also the fact that they¡¯d only just left Gerann, which meant that Elder Vanarr¡¯s tacit endorsement of Silver remaining in charge was still fresh.

    When the next day dawned and they got back on the road, Verdan could tell that the news of what had happened had fully circulated through those present.

    The atmosphere within the alliance had changed. It was a subtle thing, something that was felt more than saw, but it was there.

    Kurgane¡¯s death had brought the unwieldy nature of so many different groups working together to the fore. It had shone a light over the cracks in their unity, and Verdan wasn¡¯t sure they¡¯d get back to where they¡¯d once been.

    It was tempting to take his usual position of thanking any benevolent deity that he wasn¡¯t in charge, but this issue was more serious. They needed to be unified and acting as one when the fight came. That was as much a part of how they would win as anything else.

    The Cyth acted as one, they were ruthless, pragmatic and relentless. If the alliance arrived as anything other than a dauntless coalition, they would struggle to overcome that.

    If the issue were with one of Verdan¡¯s allies, he would be in more of a position to act, to do something. As it was, though, the Sorcerers seemed to be the root of the new tension.

    When they stopped that evening, Silver held a brief meeting to update everyone on the scouting reports. Galstar¡¯s people had finally reached the fork in the path ahead, and they¡¯d confirmed that Verdan had been right.

    All the signs showed that a large group had turned west, heading on the long road that lead to Hobson¡¯s Point and Miyaka Forest.

    Relief swept through Verdan at the confirmation, but there was an immediate awkward moment when the Defiant Flame representative knew nothing of what they were discussing.

    Kurgane¡¯s replacement was a young-looking man with a somewhat wide-eyed and nervous disposition. He also seemed to be completely unaware of any of the longer term plans.

    Verdan cursed Kurgane¡¯s memory as they tried to catch up the young Disciple. It was clear that without their Elder, Kurgane had been their next best leader.

    With him gone, they had a problem.

    It also didn¡¯t help matters that the Defiant Flame were avoiding Kai in an obvious way. They seemed terrified of him, but Verdan couldn¡¯t blame them. They¡¯d watched Kai take control of the flames of one of their most powerful Disciples.

    If he could do that to them, he could do worse to the average Sorcerer.

    Once the meeting finally ended, Verdan immediately sought out his apprentices and went to continue their work on the horses.

    With his previous work checked and approved, Magnus got straight to work, while Dirk had his first attempt at creating the Sigils directly.

    To Verdan¡¯s amusement, Dirk¡¯s attempt was passably average, whereas Magnus was still improving. It seemed he¡¯d found something where his ever impressive apprentice would struggle after all.

    Despite that, the three of them together finally finished the last of the Sigils, and Verdan was able to sigh in relief as he considered his Aether usage compared to what it had been when they first left.

    ¡°Alright, both of you can head off. Keep practicing, though, I¡¯ve got some plans we need to work on before we catch up with the Cyth.¡± Verdan waved off the two young Kranjir before heading back to his wagon.

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    -**-

    The next day, they reached the fork in the road. The path they¡¯d been following went north-east, and followed the original trail of destruction of corruption that the Cyth had left in their wake.

    The western path, however, now bore a much fresher version of that same devestation. It wasn¡¯t quite as wide, though, which Verdan put down to their losses.

    After all, the Cyth must have taken some serious losses against Vanarr before even reaching the city, let alone breaking into it or the several thousand that were left behind.

    Some of those left behind were likely newly transformed Cyth, but in such a comparatively short amount of time, there couldn¡¯t have been too many.

    ¡°He really did die for nothing, didn¡¯t he,¡± Natalia said softly as they turned to follow the western road.

    Verdan realised who she was talking about and shook his head. ¡°I doubt he really cared. This was just an excuse to take control. That it would damn thousands to a horrifying doom was never a consideration.¡±

    ¡°May the Annwae feast on his soul,¡± Natalia said angrily. Verdan said nothing, leaving her to work through her anger, until she finally spoke up a few minutes later. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll catch them?¡±

    Verdan could hear the worry in her voice, but he knew she deserved a real answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I hope so, but the Cyth move quickly. If they slow down for some reason, though, we will close the gap.¡±

    ¡°So for our home to be saved, we have to hope that they encounter some poor village and get distracted slaughtering its inhabitants.¡± Natalia¡¯s voice was bitter, but Verdan had no words of consolation.

    After all, she was right.

    They sat in silence for a time, each lost in their own thoughts, before Verdan shook himself. He couldn¡¯t afford to dwell on anything right now. This was his last opportunity to prepare for what was coming.

    The Cyth Scerrd they¡¯d fought so far had been powerful, but young. The one they were chasing was much older, which meant it would have grown into its power.

    To make matters worse, the potential power of a corrupted Maevir was far beyond that of an Elder Sorcerer. Verdan¡¯s only hope right now was that the monster hadn¡¯t been able to grow into all that potential.

    If it had, he wasn¡¯t sure they could kill it.

    -**-

    When they stopped for the evening, Verdan got to work on the next stage of his plan. The draw from the horses wasn¡¯t that much now that they had the Sigils carved into them, which had led him to his new idea.

    Finding his apprentices and the Fwyn, Verdan got to work creating a new warrior construct. It would be the same size as last time, but this time he wanted to give it more functionality.

    The key part of the idea was to create a working humanoid construct that would be covered in Aether-gathering Sigils. They could then arm and armour the construct separately, and use different Sigils for the equipment.

    Verdan would have liked to say the idea was his own, but he¡¯d simply spent a lot of time thinking on how the Automaton was constructed. What he was doing was still a long way from such a beautiful and complex piece of Wizardry, but it was a start.

    ¡°Well, Wizard, I didn¡¯t know you cared,¡± Cullan said, strolling up as Verdan and the other shaped the construct¡¯s base form. ¡°I go for a simple stroll and I find you building an effigy in my honour.¡±

    Verdan rolled his eyes at the big Idrisyr. ¡°Oh yes, I¡¯ll be sure to dedicate it in your name. I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯ve seen Disciple Morag anywhere?¡±

    ¡°I think I saw her around somewhere,¡± Cullan said, gesturing in the vague direction he¡¯d come from. ¡°What do you need her for? I imagine you have enough help here as it is.¡±

    ¡°Well, she helped us with the horses,¡± Verdan said, taking a step back and letting the others take over. ¡°She created joints for them to move with, which seems to have lowered the cost of having them move around. I was hoping she¡¯d do the same here.¡±

    ¡°I see, so this is another labour construct?¡±

    ¡°Actually, no, this is an attempt at something better,¡± Verdan said, explaining the principle of what he was trying to do to the Idrisyr.

    ¡°I see, and what will you use for the armour?¡± Cullan asked with an unusually thoughtful look.

    ¡°For now, rock,¡± Verdan said with a slight shrug. ¡°We don¡¯t really have anything else that would work. I¡¯d prefer metal, but we¡¯ll need a smith for that.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, there is an alternative I can offer. It would be too heavy for a normal person, but perhaps workable for your creation,¡± Cullan said, running his eyes over what they were making.

    ¡°And what would that be?¡± Verdan asked, some of his tiredness fading as he realised Cullan was here to offer more than light-hearted mockery.

    ¡°Ceramic armour. Thick and heavy enough to resist powerful blows, and made with a special recipe to enhance it even further. It would be expensive, and perhaps you would still need some metal, but I could arrange a test.¡±

    ¡°Special how?¡± Cullan had Verdan¡¯s full attention now, the Wizard¡¯s mind racing as he considered the implications.

    Ceramic armour would be heavy, very heavy. Still, if it was further fortified with magic, it could very well give Verdan¡¯s construct the protection needed to go toe-to-toe with a Cyth Dregg.

    ¡°I won¡¯t give out trade secrets quite yet. Once this is all done, we¡¯ll talk more. For now, why don¡¯t I go find Morag for you?¡±

    Verdan nodded, his eyes narrowing as he watched Cullan walk away. He definitely wanted to try out that armour, but there was something off about the way Cullan had spoken about it.

    Shaking his head, Verdan pushed it all aside and got back to work. If they could get Morag to work on the joints, they¡¯d at least have the fundamental work done by the end of the day.

 AA5 36 - Smoke

    True to his word, Cullan returned with Morag a few minutes later and, to Verdan¡¯s surprise, the stern Eternal Warden immediately agreed to help them.

    He¡¯d expected to need to barter with her, especially after she¡¯d helped with the construct horses. Instead, she seemed more interested in the opportunity to work on a new project and quickly got to work reshaping the joints.

    Verdan hadn¡¯t really given much thought to her changes last time, but the efficiency of the constructs was slightly better than he¡¯d expected. After some thought, he¡¯d confirmed it was down to the joints working more naturally and needing less Aether to make it work.

    In some ways, it was probably linked to the visualisation he was using as well. He¡¯d based them on real horses, after all, which weren¡¯t all one solid piece.

    With that in mind, all three of them were watching carefully as Morag showed what she was doing. She seemed quite knowledgeable on the subject, but eventually she¡¯d be leaving.

    Once she did, Verdan would need someone else to do this part, or have the knowledge himself.

    A few hours later, they were well into the evening and a little past the point that Verdan had wanted to stop, but the construct was done.

    Right now, it was simply a humanoid construct with nothing special about it beyond its joints and clearly defined hands. Tomorrow, he¡¯d have Magnus and Dirk carving the Aether-gathering Sigils into it, and then they¡¯d work on the rest.

    Verdan had no idea if it would be ready for when they fought the Cyth, but it was at least partially operational now. Even if they were to fight tomorrow, he was confident that he could make a difference with what they¡¯d made.

    That¡¯s what it came down to in the end, the ability to save lives and make a difference. Verdan wanted a champion of his own, someone who could help hold the line and hold back the most dangerous of the Cyth.

    A Wizard¡¯s greatest weakness was being caught unprepared, and Verdan¡¯s newest creation would help prevent just that.

    With the last joint done, Morag yawned and bid them a goodnight before heading off to get some sleep.

    ¡°Anything else you need from us, Master?¡± Dirk asked, rubbing one eye while trying to look perky and ready for more.

    ¡°Not tonight,¡± Verdan said, waving them off. ¡°Go get some sleep. We¡¯ll finish it tomorrow.¡±

    Nodding and yawning, the two stumbled off into the dark, leaving Verdan to make his way back alone.  His thoughts about having a champion circled back to the front of his mind and he frowned slightly.

    The raw capability of the construct would be dependant on the spell he used to create it. The horses were only a minor draw because they were a comparatively minor spell. They would also be broken apart by Cyth Lai in mere moments in a fight.

    If he was going to really build something exceptional, he needed a better spell as well. Something that would lay the foundation for what he wanted to build.

    His mind whirling with potential spells and visualisations, Verdan crawled into his bedroll and let sleep claim him.

    -**-

    The morning saw Verdan casting the basic spell he¡¯d used on the horses to get his newest construct moving. It was far from what he wanted to have for the final version, but it would do for now.

    ¡°It looks fearsome, even without weapons,¡± Natalia said, eyeing the seven-foot tall stone construct as it strode along beside their wagon.

    ¡°It is,¡± Verdan said, eyeing the rough features that they¡¯d shaped into the stone. Morag had added key areas of definition to make it seem more human-like and shaped its face to seem almost like a blank mask that it wore. ¡°We¡¯ll be doing more to it, though. Especially once we can work on its equipment.¡±

    ¡°At least weaponry won¡¯t be a problem,¡± Natalia said with a chuckle, turning her attention back to the path ahead of them.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Verdan cocked his head to one side slightly, not quite following.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s the same size as Cullan, right? I assumed that you did that so it could use one of his spare weapons. Or did you have something else in mind?¡±

    ¡°I actually hadn¡¯t even considered that,¡± Verdan said, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. He¡¯d been planning a giant stone spear, just like before, but something designed to be a weapon would be far better.

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    Resolving to talk to Cullan about it at some point, Verdan stretched his back before settling into a comfortable position and starting to meditate.

    They were travelling fast and wouldn¡¯t be stopping for anything short of an emergency, so he might as well get some more work done to prepare himself.

    With the work he¡¯d already managed on the road so far, he¡¯d finished his twentieth spiral and was a third of the way through the next one.

    Dangerous missions like this truly did help focus the mind, and he was making good progress because of it. A few more months and he might have reached the previous peak of his strength.

    Holding on to that encouraging thought, Verdan got to work.

    -**-

    A few hours later, he was jostled free of his meditative state by a worried-looking Natalia.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Verdan sat up, blinking as he went through the familiar process of shifting his gathering spiral back to the partitioned section of his mind.

    ¡°Look, over there,¡± Natalia pointed off in the distance, just to one side of where they were heading.

    A plume of smoke was visible above the trees. It was thick and concentrated, making it too big to be campfire or something equally small. Unfortunately, that didn¡¯t leave many good options.

    Unsurprisingly, he could see some of their mounted scouts breaking off from their protective screen of the caravan to go investigate.

    Ordinarily, he¡¯d be worried that losing any of their screen would be incredibly dangerous, but he doubted this was a Cyth ambush. It wasn¡¯t their style.

    Even as he dismissed the potential threat, Verdan realised that he was forgetting about the Brotherhood. They were no doubt active in the area, and while he didn¡¯t consider it likely that they would the alliance directly, some sabotage would be more in line with what he¡¯d seen so far.

    Instead of going back to his meditation, Verdan waited and kept a vigilant watch on their surroundings until the scouts returned.

    The Pathfinder conferred with the returned riders before the scouts returned to their positions and things returned to normal.

    Satisfied that whatever had happened hadn¡¯t been an immediate threat, Verdan returned to his meditation.

    Natalia¡¯s gasp of shock drew him back out of his work some time later, and he realised that they had drawn level with the smoke, which had faded down to only a slight plume.

    Following Natalia¡¯s gaze, Verdan saw that the trees lining the road had been cut back to give space for a small settlement. It had been little more than an inn with some outbuildings and a stables, or at least, that was his best guess.

    The burnt ruins of the buildings were still smouldering from whatever had happened, but the smoke they¡¯d seen had been from a pyre built at the edge of the cleared space.

    A dozen survivors were waiting by the side of the road, carrying everything they had left on their backs. None of them had escaped without injury, but two of them looked to be on their last legs.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get my potions,¡± Natalia said, passing the reins to Verdan as she slipped into the rear of the wagon. Returning a few moments later, she passed a small satchel to him. ¡°Don¡¯t use your magic unless you have to. Rely on my potions to do the work.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Verdan said with a nod, grabbing his staff and dropping down from the wagon to head over to the waiting survivors.

    Silver and Galstar were already on the way as well, the Commander giving Verdan a nod and a subtle gesture as he moved to speak to the leader of the group.

    Understanding the Commander¡¯s intent, Verdan went to the worst of the wounded first, pulling out a pair of viscous potions. These were some of Natalia¡¯s recent work, and while they weren¡¯t as palatable as what she made with her lab, they were just as strong.

    ¡°Here, drink these,¡± Verdan said, passing each of them a vial. ¡°I¡¯m Verdan.¡±

    Now that he was up close, Verdan could see that both of the survivors with the worst injuries were two men in their late thirties. Oddly, they both seemed to lack some of the shock in the eyes of the others.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± the closer of the men said, uncorking the potion and knocking it back in a practiced motion. ¡°I¡¯m Alden, this is my brother, Neld. Gods bless you for your aid, Verdan.¡±

    Alden and Neld were both dark-haired men with a clear Kranjir heritage and were wearing mismatched clothing.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad we could help,¡± Verdan said, passing the satchel to one of the other survivors with instructions to deal out the potions. ¡°What happened here?¡±

    ¡°Damn Cyth is what happened,¡± Neld said in a gravelly voice, grimacing with distaste as he spoke. ¡°Gods-cursed things followed us all the way out here.¡±

    ¡°Followed you?¡± Verdan said, glancing between them questioningly.

    ¡°We used to live in Ramoria,¡± Alden said, giving his brother a quelling look. ¡°There were rumours of Cyth up there, and once we realised they were real, we left. What we saw here was beyond that, though. I¡¯ve never seen so many monsters in one place.¡±

    ¡°How did you survive?¡±

    ¡°Sheer luck,¡± Alden said, shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°Only a small group broke off from the main group, but they were enough to slaughter everyone. A fire broke out as they were finishing people off and that gave us enough cover to get the last few out the back and run. For whatever reason, they didn¡¯t chase us past the treeline.¡±

    ¡°They didn¡¯t want to slow down,¡± Verdan said, his last hope of catching the Cyth on the road slowly withering. It seemed the leader of the Host knew it was being chased, or at least it knew that time was limited.

    ¡°The riders told us to gather here and that you¡¯d give food and water,¡± Alden said, bringing Verdan¡¯s attention back to him. ¡°But is it true that you¡¯re hunting them down?¡±

    ¡°We are. We know where they¡¯re going and we¡¯ll do our best to stop them before they get there.¡±

    ¡°In that case, we¡¯d like to come with you,¡± Alden said firmly, already looking healthier as the potion did its work. ¡°We used our spears to brace the doors of the inn and hold the Cyth back, but if you¡¯ve got weapons, we¡¯ll use them. We¡¯ve had training and know how to fight.¡±

    Verdan considered them both for a moment before nodding and pointing over to where Nikau and the rest of his guards were marching. ¡°Captain Nikau is over there. Head to him and explain the situation, give my name. I¡¯ll bring you along as part of my people, which will mean weapons and armour for you both, as well as food and shelter on the way. I can¡¯t promise much more than that, though.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all we need,¡± Alden said, getting to his feet and holding a hand out to Verdan for a firm handshake. ¡°We just want to help. We owe everyone that much.¡±

    Verdan nodded, though his instincts were telling him that there was something more to this than they were saying.

 AA5 37 - Blood

    The rest of the survivors confirmed Alden and Neld¡¯s story, much to the concern of everyone involved.

    Knowing that the Cyth were pushing on at speed, they had no time at all to waste, so rations were passed over to the survivors and they were told to head south.

    ¡°Do you think they know about us, or that they¡¯re simply hurrying?¡± Verdan asked Silver as they returned to the caravan.

    ¡°A week ago, I¡¯d have said that if they knew we were here, they¡¯d turn and attack us,¡± Silver said after a moment of thought.

    ¡°And now?¡±

    ¡°Now, I don¡¯t know.¡± Silver shook his head with a grimace. ¡°If it truly is the same creature you fought all that time ago, then we know it doesn¡¯t act normally.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Verdan asked, his brow furrowing a little.

    ¡°I can¡¯t envision the first Host we fought being able to create a corrupt stronghold so close to Hobson¡¯s Point without raiding the nearby villages.¡±

    Verdan¡¯s frown deepened as he recalled what Silver was saying. The Cyth had made an outpost at the edge of the forest, and they¡¯d raided several merchant caravans, but not much more than that.

    They¡¯d been focused on the forest to an extent that went beyond normal Cyth behaviour. Now, seeing that the Cyth had let people escape rather than risk slowing down the Host, he wondered if they were seeing that all again.

    ¡°Regardless, our duty is the same,¡± Silver said as they caught up to Verdan¡¯s wagon. ¡°We will chase the Host down and bring it to action. I have faith in our ability to win such a battle, even if it isn¡¯t weighted in our favour.¡±

    Verdan nodded grimly, he knew all too well what such a battle would entail. He also knew what the Cyth would do to Hobson¡¯s Point given the chance.

    The thought of seeing the city in ruins after they¡¯d spilled so much blood protecting it left a sick feeling in Verdan¡¯s gut.

    Meeting Silver¡¯s gaze, Verdan nodded again, making sure that the Commander knew that he had Verdan¡¯s full support.

    -**-

    Thankfully, they encountered no more signs of destruction by the time they stopped for the night. Most of the mercantile traffic went north to south, rather than east to west, so this road was a little-used one.

    Such a small thing, but it would save the lives of any merchants in the area, unless they were truly unlucky.

    Magnus and Dirk arrived not long after they stopped, and Verdan waved them over to get started on the construct before heading off to find Nikau.

    The Captain of his guard was arranging for the setup of their camp and for a proper introduction of their two newest companions when Verdan arrived.

    ¡°Take over, Sergeant,¡± Nikau said to Ruan when he saw Verdan. Lifting a hand to catch the Wizard¡¯s attention he crossed over to meet him. ¡°Verdan, do you have a moment?¡±

    ¡°I was on my way to see you actually,¡± Verdan said, coming to a stop as he realised that Nikau wanted some privacy. ¡°Is anything wrong?¡±

    ¡°Not as such, but I wanted to talk about your two new recruits,¡± Nikau said, pitching his voice low enough to keep his words between the two of them. ¡°I¡¯ve worked with a lot of people, and I¡¯ve spent enough time around Sorcerers to recognise people trained as retainers.¡±

    ¡°Retainers¡­¡± Verdan frowned, remembering the mismatched clothing the brothers had been wearing. ¡°Do you think they¡¯re spies for a Sect?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to think right now,¡± Nikau said, running a hand through his greying hair and sighing. ¡°They seem dedicated and are eager to prove themselves, but this isn¡¯t exactly the right situation to get to know people.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Verdan said, looking up at the darkening sky and mulling over the problem for a few moments. ¡°Very well, work with them as best you can for now. Keep an eye on things, though, and tell me if they make any strange moves.¡±

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    ¡°Understood,¡± Nikau said with a nod. ¡°What was it you were coming to ask me about?¡±

    ¡°Actually, I was coming to see if you¡¯d learnt anything from our new arrivals,¡± Verdan said with a slight shrug. ¡°With that out of the way, though, is there anything you need from me?¡±

    Nikau considered the question for a few moments before shaking his head. ¡°We have everything we need. More equipment being enchanted would be good, but I understand that the process draws on your personal strength.¡±

    ¡°It does, but if we have the opportunity and I have the capacity, I will do what I can.¡±

    ¡°My thanks,¡± Nikau said, glancing back to where Ruan was organising the camp. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else?¡±

    ¡°No, that was all,¡± Verdan said, turning back to head for where his apprentices were hard at work. He¡¯d thought there was something off about the two newcomers, but he hadn¡¯t expected them to be Sect retainers.

    The comment one of them had made about owing everyone seemed even more out of place now, and Verdan wondered just what had happened to lead them to that inn.

    A suspicious person would link their lucky survival, apparent Sect affiliation and the Brotherhood being active nearby, but Verdan felt like that was too much of a stretch.

    Besides, the Darjee and the Gormagyr were evil creatures like the Cyth, but they weren¡¯t ruled by their instincts to the same degree.

    The idea of someone being able to directly control the Cyth to somehow slip spies into the alliance was laughable.

    Unless all of the survivors had been planted there to corroborate that story, of course. That was a step too far, though, even for rampant suspicion. Verdan had seen the lingering fear in their eyes.

    Whatever else might have happened, the story about their lucky escape was real.

    Shaking off his suspicions, Verdan went to see how much Magnus had improved on his Sigil work. If they could get it all done this evening, he could finish the day by recasting the animation spell on it.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand how you can remember the shape so clearly,¡± Dirk was saying as Verdan rejoined them.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I used to do a lot of wood carving  though,¡± Magnus said absently, hos focus on the tool in his hand as he slowly carved another Sigil into their creation.

    ¡°Let this be a good learning moment for you, Dirk,¡± Verdan said, waiting until Magnus had finished the Sigil before speaking.

    Both of the Kranjir started in surprise before exchanging embarrassed glances. They¡¯d been too caught up in what they were doing to hear him at all.

    ¡°What do you mean, Master?¡± Dirk asked, taking a step back as Magnus got back to work.

    ¡°Being a Wizard takes stubborn determination and the will to push beyond your limits,¡± Verdan said, a slightly crooked smile touching his lips for a moment. ¡°That isn¡¯t always to our benefit, but if you want to become a powerful Wizard, it¡¯s a requirement. Magnus struggles with many of the things you can do naturally, but he pushes on with grit and determination.¡±

    ¡°And now there¡¯s something he¡¯s better at,¡± Dirk said,  a stubborn look entering his eyes as he nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right, Master. This is an opportunity for me to improve. If I can master this, I can master anything.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t quite the message Verdan had wanted to convey, but it was close enough. Dirk would find his own way, though, one way or another.

    Every Wizard eventually found a Word or a concept that they didn¡¯t mesh well with. Verdan lacked the raw battle spells that many of his brethren could wield, spells that could wither enemies in the blink of an eye or slaughter entire regiments.

    Instead, he focused on controlling the battlefield and using a few key elemental spells like his fireball. It wasn¡¯t as impressive, but his way was to support his allies rather than do it all himself.

    Right now, Dirk was trying to be everything, but once he found his speciality, he¡¯d focus down. A wry smile graced Verdan¡¯s face as he remembered his own excitement at realising the depth of possibilities with constructs.

    Hopefully, Dirk would find his way more quickly than Verdan had.

    Magnus straightened and stretched, rubbing the back of his neck before moving on to the next part of the construct. With that spot free, Verdan stepped in to examine the Sigils and ensure that it was all correct.

    Bit by bit, they worked their way through the Sigils, until, finally, it was done.

    ¡°Magnificent,¡± Magnus said, his eyes bright with pride as he looked over the construct. Every inch of it featured Sigils, a process that had taken hours of work from all three of them.

    Now, though, Verdan could feel his connection to the construct and the minute amount of Aether it drew on. With better materials, it would have no Aether drain at all when at rest.

    Combat would be different, but that was to be expected.

    ¡°Will you recreate it now, Master?¡± Dirk asked, gesturing to the construct. ¡°Redo the spell I mean, you mentioned creating it with a more powerful one.¡±

    ¡°No, not yet,¡± Verdan said, falling silent for a few moments before nodding firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t have the visualisation ready. We¡¯ll work on the armour over the next few nights and then see.¡±

    From the reports of their scouts and the survivors, they were almost two full days behind the Cyth, but it would take them a week and a bit to cross all the way back to Hobson¡¯s Point.

    They¡¯d be almost retracing their steps from this point. The original gathering of the alliance had been to the north of where they currently were.

    They were moving much more quickly now than they had been on the way to the gathering, so Verdan estimated it would be nine days.

    Even with the relentless drain of their march, that gave him time to finish his visualisation. He didn¡¯t want this new construct to just be a better version of the old one, he wanted it to be something new, something more.

    Sending the two young Kranjir off to rest, Verdan did his best to follow his own advice. The looming battle weighed heavily on his mind, though, and what sleep he managed was shallow at best.

 AA5 38 - Darkness

    The next two days blended seamlessly together into a mess of hard work, meditation and the occasional moment of pain.

    In the evenings, Dirk, Magnus and Verdan worked with the Fwyn and Cullan to form thick plates of rock which they then shaped into a layered section of armour that was attached to the new construct.

    Holes were bored between the Sigils that Magnus had made, allowing for connecting struts of rock to connect armour and construct. It would also allow for easy repairs or replacement, or at least, that was the idea.

    Cullan provided a surprising amount of expertise to the effort, and he showed that while Elliot was the crafter of the family, he still knew some things.

    The project was coming together, and in the process was giving Verdan and the others something to distract themselves with. The spectre of the final showdown with the Cyth loomed large in all their minds now.

    Silver was trying to keep the alliance army moving as one and focused on their goal, but the stress of the recent battles, losses and internal conflicts was taking its toll.

    They were still moving at speed, but the camp wasn¡¯t being set up or broken down with quite the same alacrity that it had when they first left Gerann.

    As they finished their evening of work, Verdan found himself walking out into the darkness, haunted by the destruction they¡¯d seen during the day¡¯s travel.

    Their scouts had found a pair of farms, both of which had been ravaged and their inhabitants either killed or captured.

    Added to that had been the remnants of some travellers they¡¯d come across, and a merchant wagon. Both sites had been blood-stained and messy, with no way for them to know exactly what had happened.

    Verdan¡¯s imagination was more than up to the task, however, and he felt ill imagining the terror those people must have felt when they saw the Host bearing down on them.

    ¡°Enough,¡± Verdan said softly, clearing his mind with an act of will before driving his staff down into the loamy soil. ¡°Canfo gward.¡±

    Attaching the Aether construct to the staff, Verdan sank down into a meditative pose, relying on the spell to warn him of anything that might approach while he was busy.

    Since he¡¯d had the idea of the new construct he¡¯d wanted to create a better spell for it, but the visualisation just wouldn¡¯t settle. He couldn¡¯t find the right Words to fit what he wanted, and he couldn¡¯t define what he wanted well enough to find the Words.

    A circular issue, but one that had left him frustrated.

    It was only when he¡¯d looked at the nearly finished construct this evening that he¡¯d realised the problem. He was trying to twist what he already had to the point that it would be something new.

    What he needed was a new Word, and that meant opening his mind and meditating on the issue. He was still new to this way of learning, but the stories he¡¯d read always said that pressure helped.

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    A calm and relaxed mind was allowed for a steady and measured examination of concepts, but the drive to do more was just as important.

    Doing his best to occupy both states of mind at once, Verdan focused again on his spell and what he wanted from it. What he wanted it to be.

    It was hard to know how long he spent out there, but the moon was high in the sky when Verdan eventually came to a stop.

    He was tired, and he hadn¡¯t come to any conclusions, but there was a certain clarity to his thoughts now. He¡¯d gained something from the process, he was sure of that.

    The Imperium¡¯s answer had been for Wizards to use an Arcane Lexicon whenever they wanted a new Word, but as he sat in the cool night air, Verdan couldn¡¯t help but feel that it was disconnected.

    An Arcane Lexicon was a powerful tool, but it was also a crutch, and it was only now that he realised it. A small part of his mind whispered that it might have held him back as well.

    If he¡¯d been meditating like this from the start, he might have found his way to construct-making a lot sooner.

    Then again, back in the Imperium none of these skills would have been as useful.

    Rubbing his face, Verdan decided to leave such musings for another time. He was too tired to ponder the advantages and drawbacks of living in an advanced wizarding society.

    Getting to his feet with a grunt, Verdan dispelled the ward on his staff and pulled it free. Turning, he was about to head back when he saw the edge of a figure in the moonlight.

    Peering closer, Verdan realised it was the outline of a man leaning against a tree. He was barely thirty feet away from Verdan, with a second form laying motionless at his feet.

    Verdan¡¯s initial surprise faded to relief as he realised it was Blane. The stocky Airta was staring off into the trees with a frown on his face, but he glanced over at Verdan as the Wizard walked over.

    Friga lay at Kai¡¯s feet, but she too was watching the dark woods intently. The little Verdan knew of canine behaviour told him she was ill at ease, but he wasn¡¯t sure why. The night was quiet and still, which was why he¡¯d come out in the first place.

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep?¡± Verdan asked, posting up against a nearby tree.

    Blane grunted and shook his head, glancing briefly at Verdan again before returning to his watch. ¡°We can feel something.¡±

    ¡°You and the rest of the Airta?¡± Verdan guessed, feeling a chill run down his spine. Friga¡¯s wariness with Blane¡¯s tense posture was at odds with the peaceful night.

    ¡°Not everyone, just the Draskir,¡± Blane said, pitching his voice low. ¡°Those of us who are most in touch with our cousins.¡±

    Verdan gripped his staff more tightly as he followed suit and looked out into the darkness. ¡°What can you feel?¡±

    ¡°Rage,¡± Blane said, barely loud enough for Verdan to hear him. A decent noise echoed through the trees, and for a moment Verdan thought it was an echoing scream.

    ¡°Do you know what is causing it?¡± Verdan asked, shifting uncomfortably.

    ¡°No,¡± Blane said, his frown building. ¡°It is close enough to Fraktiri for us to feel it, but not close enough for us to know it. Despite that, we can feel its rage, its pain, its hatred.¡±

    The dark woods felt far from the peaceful place that Verdan had originally seen them as, and he abruptly longed for the warmth of his wagon and the comforting security it brought.

    Blane turned slightly, seemingly sensing Verdan¡¯s unease. ¡°You should go back and make sure not to stray any further. We Draskir will stand watch until dawn, but we are few and the woods are deep.¡±

    For a brief moment, Verdan thought that Blane was joking, that this was all an elaborate prank. Then he saw how deadly serious the Airta was and simply nodded. ¡°I will, and thank you.¡±

    Blane nodded silently, turning back to his vigil.

    The darkness pressed in around Verdan as he walked back to the alliance camp.

    Few people were still awake at this time, and the camp was cold and still for the most part. An unfortunate few stood watch at the edges, though, and a patrol nodded his way as they walked past.

    Verdan wondered just what the Draskir could sense out there that they thought an entirely other line of defence was needed.

    Whatever it was, Verdan was glad he hadn¡¯t run into it in the dead of night.