Kyle Aarons

The Kandric Saga

Chapter 31, part 1

Conner, Sharris, Nake (HE 14), Tobash (HE 15) Zestolg, Ambrasia, Sarryel, Pontarious, Frenna, Dostem, other crew of Thunder Rapids + {Gilew Human HE 12, Munder Sil-Drgling HE 11, Quelrik Human HE 10, Vaskar Human HE 14, Gil-Drak Wolfling HE 13}

Conner glanced out one of the few upper floor windows of the Blazing Brook Inn, noting the sky had really opened up as night fell on the city. Large flakes of snow were coming down hard, propelled by a very strong eastern wind. While wondering why Syria was allowing such a storm in what should have been planting season, he was equally bothered by the fact the sheets of blowing snow drastically cut down on his infravison. On a normal spring night, he would have easily been able to see heat sources over two blocks away. With the current conditions, he couldn't even make out the variances in heat in the building straight across the street.

The other problem was, as with many large inns, the attic area was set up as an area for apprentices and those who worked for mostly room and board. This meant the fourth story was hot, since heat rose, and not made for comfort. There were three windows in this room all facing the main street. The other side was an identical area, but all the windows overlooked the stable area. This meant the ends of the large building had no upper windows to spot possible threats from. The ends were being covered by other members of the Thunder Rapids, but Conner doubted they were as skilled at spotting city problems as he was. At least the overall makeup of the crew was a rougher one, Conner reminded himself, so many had some decent street skills.

The bigger concern for Conner was the fact there were heat sources so large he could see them in the distance. This told him there were areas of Rolling Dale on fire. Judging by the large numbers of huge heat sources, plus the faint glow in the distance, Conner bet whole blocks of the city were burning uncontrollably. Again, this brought Conner back to the weather. The cold would make it hard on those displaced by such blazes. On the other hand, the heavy snow might be a saving grace for others, since it would certainly slow or possibly stop the flames from spreading.

The weather also told Conner something else. There were no city workers out doing any kind of care normally taken along such a major street like the Blazing Brook was along. Normally the city would have lanterns up on posts to light the streets. This was typical regardless of weather, but when snow came in, most cities would make navigation of the main streets a priority since streets didn't tend to be straight and getting lost in a large walled city was extremely easy. By lighting the main roads, people in the city would have less chance of getting confused. Another important part about having lanterns out, the main streets were normally patrolled, meaning those traveling the city at night would be much less likely to be robbed, mugged, or pickpocketed along lit streets.

The fact there was no light below, meant the city was sending a message. In simple terms, those in charge were saying, 'you are on your own'. Anyone out on the streets was at the mercy of whoever else was out and about. To Conner this meant either the city was in a state of total anarchy or the rulers were so overwhelmed with the distant fires and whatever the earlier explosion had been, they had nothing left to perform normal duties with. The other, much darker possibility was the city had fallen to Gambra and her people, and they were sending a message to the inhabitants of Rolling Dale about the new regime. If this was the case, the message was simple: 'you don't matter' with a large side of 'and we don't care'.

Conner didn't look negatively on the entire situation, though. For he saw upside to the current circumstances, at least for himself and the those helping him hold the inn. The snow made it all but impossible to sneak up on the inn, simply because moving on it would leave a trail noticeable from the upper windows. Invisibility simply wouldn't work since there was no way to eliminate the obvious footfalls in the snow. The trails would also show where the attackers came from. Conner knew Gambra would never let anyone leave a trail straight back to wherever she was operating out of.

This left only one real option for trying to take the inn back, the underground passage. However, Captain Pontarious made it perfectly clear he, and he alone, would deal with any intruders from below. To this end, he ordered the Dark Mystic apprentices Conner had locked in the cages moved up to a storage room while he and a trio of his Mystic students kept vigil on the trap door leading to the lower basement where the large Mystic lab had been. At the same time, Captain Pontarious wasted no time in bringing much of the lab to life, producing scores of small potions like the fire bursts. The really odd thing was he had those with Metal Worker guild pins melting all the easier to melt metal in the inn. They were then molding the molten metal into hollow balls with a single small hole in them.

Asking around provided no insight on what Pontarious was doing. None of the crew had seen him use hollow metal balls before. On top of the obvious fact if thrown with a potion on the inside, they wouldn't break, they were also pretty large, on order of a cantaloupe. This would make them hard to throw. In addition, he had the Metal Workers make them fairly thick, so they were also heavy. There was nothing Conner could see as to them being useful and it was taking a great deal of rest time away from the one adult and two teen Metal Workers, when everyone was pretty tired from the initial taking of the inn. It really made no sense.

Conner also worried about what the crew's thoughts were surrounding the captured Mystics. Yet, anyone who may have had reservations or complaints about them couldn't help but note Pontarious had said nothing about the plight of the youngsters in the small cages. The only thing he did, before ordering his people to stack the cages up in the storage room with the Mystic apprentices still in them, was to give each some water. The captain's lack of concern for the predicament of the captives sent a strong signal to the rest of the crew. None of the said a word about what Conner had done to them and the pleas from inside the cages were summarily ignored.

Even as these thoughts kept Conner's mind busy, he had other concerns. First and foremost was how drained many of those helping to hold the inn were. Several had chosen to attune to the sunrise, and many, like Sharris had used a great deal of magic. This meant over half the people helping to keep the inn out of Gambra's hands were almost out of magical reserves and were exhausted. If they could hold until first light, the tables would turn, but until then only a handful of those with him got a replenishment from Lunara's rising moon.

On the other hand, taking a second to look down at Sharris and a few of the other younger guilded members of the Thunder Rapids all sleeping, told him a great deal about the trust the entire crew had in their captain and surprisingly, himself. Having others trust him the way those sleeping in the room showed, was quite simply an astonishing and even scary revelation. For from the time he had first rejected Gambra's stewardship, he had entered a world where there was little trust in anyone, including those in the Wraith school controlled by Lord Anarton. Even those who trained him and the younger ones he subsequently mentored, there was always a watchful eye kept out for those holding onto life force too long or abusing the power and knowledge Lord Anarton was trusting them with.

His shifting thoughts ended as he spotted a trio of people rounding the corner at the end of the block. Two were small, one was quite tall and well built. The big being had a blanket draped over him and was using it to shelter the smaller two making it hard to really see any of them. There were two distinct things pointing to there being three under the blanket. The first and most obvious was the three sets of footprints in the snow. The second was the lumps marking heads of the two smaller beings under the blanket.

Conner fully expected the trio to angle toward the front door of the inn, but it didn't happen. The largest of the three guided the other two toward the far side of the street and picked up the pace. Conner frowned at this. For either the three were a distraction or the larger being was so afraid of the inn, he wanted to stay as well clear of it as possible. Conner quickly dismissed the three while trying to figure out what good such a minor distraction could be to Gambra.

This was also part of Lord Anarton's training. One of the first teaching points the man worked with on all knew apprentices, was never to take anything at face value. To this end, it was common for new students to find chairs with legs almost sawed through, sharp barbs on tableware, beds with holes in the middle with linen tightly pulled over to hide the hole, mugs with handles just barely attached, and a whole host of other devious little tricks. It took Conner only a couple of weeks to question everything he saw and to look past the obvious. He then had to learn to find a balance and really observe, since he found he was questioning everything and getting nothing accomplished.

To this end, he took a step back and thought about what goal the trio had if they were indeed a distraction. The most obvious answer was to draw attention toward them and away from something far more important. Much like the lessons of taking nothing at face value, Anarton had been equally good at teaching the art of distraction, and as Conner quickly learned, distraction was indeed an art form. One of the first classes the man taught was using Autospells to deflect attention away from something else. In a market, a puff of smoke would turn heads and open up pouches to those with nimble fingers. A hardy dash a salt in someone's food or drink would get a cringe and a downward turn of a head. This made grabbing some food off of the person's table almost too easy.

It took Conner only a few moments to run down a mental checklist. The trio, if they were planted, had one goal to draw gazes toward them. This meant, if indeed they were Gambra operatives, they were attempting to draw attention away from something else. But what? There were no other footprints in the snow… Then it came to him, Gambra may well want him looking down. Conner's head jerked upwards and he scanned the air. As the first few heat sources appeared over the building across the street he snorted. "Too easy…"

Still, this was a direct threat and had to be dealt with. Conner took a deep breath, "Everyone up! We have flyers coming in from the east!" He then backed off and shouted into the hall, "Everyone up, but this is not going to be Gambra's main attack. It's got to be a feint! Don't use magic unless you absolutely have to. It may well be a pawn attack to make us waste Force! Captain, keep your eye on the basement!"

"You have command up there, Conner!" Captain Pontarious' voice boomed from below. "Take out the trash if that is what it is."

Conner moved back up to the window while using his foot to flip a spear over to Sharris even as she rubbed sleep out of her eyes. He then grabbed a quiver of six javelins and tossed them over to the three teens as they all fought to shake themselves awake. "Get close to the windows but not so close they can see you. As soon as they bust through, charge and aim for center mass. If possible drive them right back out!"

Conner then took a few steps back and stood ready should there be any major problems.

Nake was first to act as one of the larger windows close to him shattered and a woman stumbled forward. He used one of the javelins to impale her and with a second shove pushed her back out the window. She fell screaming.

Next to Nake, Tobash did pretty much the same thing, only his thrust hit a man's sternum and the tip broke off.

Behind the fifteen-year-old, Dostem moved up and slammed the back of the javelin with his hand, sliding the broken weapon off the breastbone and driving the wooden stick into the man's lungs. He then spun and snapped his whip at another man who stumbled in right behind the first two. The whip wrapped around the man's neck only to get expertly pulled back, ripping skin off all the way around. The man fell choking and quaking.

Tobash wasted no time stepping forward, pulling his short sword, and plunging the tip into the man's gut.

Sharris' aim was not as good, but she still managed to shove the spear she suddenly found in her hand into the cheek of yet another man. The wound widened a great deal as the man's instincts were to grab at it, even as Sharris moved forward. The spear tip opened a wide gash from just behind the corner of the mouth and going all the way back to the ear. Even as blood poured down the man's left side, he kept the spear in one hand, while grabbing for Sharris with his other.

Conner was about to act, but Nake was closer and while one of the softer-spoken teens on the Thunder Rapids, he showed he had the same grittier side to him as the rest of the crew. Without caring about the massive amount of blood, he reached up and stuck his hand through the massive hole in the man's cheek, grabbed on to the small section between the corner of the mouth and the start of the gash and pulled back with everything he had. The result was to rip the wound open all the way, leaving nothing but a handing flap of skin all the way down the left side of the man's face. Since the teeth were fully exposed, Nake drew one of his daggers and, with a backhand, slammed the hilt into them shattering several.

Incredibly, the man remained standing, but seeing the hilt of the dagger coming in for a second shot, he spun and dove back out the window. He maintained control of whatever was allowing him to fly, so he hovered just outside the window for a second as he fought to hold his face together. It was a second too long. The last thing he saw was Nake's dagger spinning through the air. It hit him in the face. This was simply too much damage. He lost concentration and fell, crumpling into a heap on the cobblestone below.

A second wave of intruders came in through the busted windows, but the failure of the first group to gain a foothold left them in even worse circumstances than the first group. They had to come in through shattered windows into a line of defenders who were much more awake and considerably more ready. Five more fell quickly; two to Nake, one to Sharris, one to Tobash, and one to the youngest Primary Echelon girl from the Thunder Rapids, Frenna. Dostem then had to move up and eliminate a Halfling female on Frenna's side since she had opened herself up to the woman. Two other would-be attackers didn't even make it to the windows. They angled up and let the wind push them over the building.

Nake reached down and grabbed the loaded crossbow off one of the bodies, ran to the window, leaned out and fired a parting shot. The scream told the rest in the room not only had the shot been a good one, the target had been a woman. The subsequent howling about an arrow in her butt caused everyone in the room but Conner to grin and give Nake a nod.

Conner, on the other hand, took a deep breath after checking to make sure those on the other side of the inn were OK. Seeing they had not been attacked, he moved back into the room he had been keeping watch and shot Nake a glare, "Nice shooting, but you are lucky."

The fourteen-year-old cocked his head to the side with confusion, "Huh?"

"Nake," Conner stated in a harsh warning tone, "if there had been someone out there hovering just below the window he could have grabbed you and yanked you right out the window. Next time look, then take a parting shot."

The kid looked stung by the words, "Sorry…"

Conner shrugged, "Next time you will be, cause I'll knock the crap out of you for being careless and give you some chores you'll really hate. This time, well…" Conner forced himself to grin and sound a great deal less angry than he felt, "You shot her in the ass, so I'll let it slide."

He then turned totally serious again as the others snickered and both Sharris and Tobash gave Nake friendly shoves, "Now ignore the bodies. We can loot them later. I need you to pair up and spread out. They could have gotten a few on the roof and they may try to break through. Nake, Sharris, take the hall but I don't want either of you to cast unless you absolutely have to. Nake, you just got your Force back, but as a Mystic you don't have very much to play with and this is a probing attack at most. Don't waste it. Even Autospells are invaluable right now and you took out three without using any. Frenna, same for you. Keep your Mage book and Autospells in reserve. Until first light you can't have much left. Tobash, go with Frenna and check on the guards on the third floor. Dostem and I will hold this and make sure they don't try to pull up parts of the room above us to get in."

As the others did as they were told, Dostem nudged Conner, "You could have helped…"

Conner gestured toward the bodies littering the floor, "I could have, but you really should have held back and waited to see if Tobash needed help. The guy was wounded bad. Tobash should have been able to take him without you jumping in."

"Instinct."

"I get it, but you are real close to Teaching Echelon. You can't do things for students, and like it or not, they may be Primaries, but barely and need to be able to hold their own against the scrubs Gambra just sent against us. Taking the Halfling bitch, I get. I was about to take her when I saw you angling to have Frenna's side, but Tobash is a Mystic, a guilded one. If he can't handle a straight up fight with what had to have been a mundane sword, then he needs to give his primary pins back! He shouldn't need a Secondary coming to his aide, none. I mean geesh, the guy was looking down at the shaft in his chest in disbelief. Your nine-year-old should have been able to take the idiot!"

Dostem let out a long breath, "Yeah, ya' young bugger, yer right. But I help to raise him…"

"So you should wanna see him grow up, not look to others like a scared kid. I mean, come on, he's less than a year from Age of Ascension!"

"I still see a lil kid…"

"Then do something to change how you see him!"

"Like what?"

Conner smirked, "Once we get out of this, take him to a whore house and get him laid. That'll change yer view."

Dostem elbowed Conner playfully in the ribs, "Not if I get to watch, cause me's bettin' he'll have no clue what ta do!"

Conner giggled, "Then don't watch…" He then shook his head, "Never mind, I know you wouldn't be able to help it."

Before more could be said, there was a warbling whistle from down on the street. Seeing Dostem grab for a javelin, Conner held up his hand even as he bolted over to the window and gave a whistling reply.

Dostem edged up to the window and peeked down. He blinked and looked again at the strange sight below.

Conner was cautious as he looked down, but quickly smiled as he saw faces of a few he knew all too well, "Gil-Drak! How'd you find me?"

Next to the Wolfling youngster, a young Silver Dragonling held up a pair of dead Halflings, one in each claw, while a young Human boy held up a blanket in one hand and the head of a Halforc in the other. Gil-Drak grinned up, "We followed the diversion meant to focus yer attention the wrong way and took 'em while they were distracted."

Conner snickered, "Is our lord here?"

"Somewhere." Gil-Drak responded. "He gave each high Secondary a team and each group came in alone. Gilew is our team leader."

"Gilew?" Conner asked in sudden concern, "Where is he?"

Another Human boy rounded the corner dragging two bodies, one with a bolt sticking out of the center of her rear. The kid looked up, "Cleaning up after you, as usual."

Even as Conner and a couple of the other chuckled, the Dragonling spoke up, "Conner, we heard 'em talk. Them levitatorssssss were to pull ya'll up top. The main group comin' underground."

"My boss has it covered, Munder. None a us 'er following the main attack, are they?"

"Better not be," the youngest Human boy spoke up as he stepped on the throat of the guy with the ripped face, ending his moanings. "From what us hear, they be coming from the Gloom Fire Mystic Shop and our master told us to stay WAYYYYYY away from there. You and him 'er the only ones allowed to take anyone of us near there… Um, it's cold out here, Conner. Can we come in?"

Conner grinned, "Sure thing, Quelrik! But do me a favor and grab the dagger sticking out of that guy's face. It belongs to one of the kids in here."

Quelrik shrugged, reached down, and pulled out the dagger.

At the same time the Wolfling looked up, "You want their gear, Conner?"

Conner didn't hesitate, "Grab what you can while I send someone down to unbar the door, Gil-Drak." He then stared down at the oldest Human, "And Vaskar, we are secure for now. Let it go."

Without any complaint, the fourteen-year-old took a knee and released the death gift he had taken from one of the Halflings.

Conner nodded in satisfaction before giving Gilew a stern look, "Gilew, I know you are almost two years younger than Vaskar, but as team leader, it is your job to tell the others when to drop the gifting. YOU KNOW what can happen if they hold on too long. Don't let this happen again."

Gilew's eyes went wide, "Sorry, Conner, but…"

"First off, no buts, none. You are the leader. It is your job to give the command. And it hasn't been very long for you, so you should remember how hard it is to let go at first, even if the Primaries want to. They have to be watched carefully and given a chance to focus so they can let go. Second, don't worry, everyone in here knows about me. I didn't tell them, but they figured it out and they fully accept who and what we are. You'll understand more once you talk to some of them." To this end, he turned to Dostem, "Go warn the captain about the big rats coming in the sewers, then open the door! We got some help!"

***

King Wyhrem, Klandon, Count Salostar, Barron Greyhammer, Sardan, Sagell, Aster, Bayne, Benam, Quavis, Cresh, Dabaff, Gomriss

King Wyhrem, with Bayne at his side, moved up to one of the old, partially crumbling walls of the aged keep. He was flanked by Sardan and Sagell, along with Count Salostar and Baron Greyhammer. Benam and Quavis, along with several others looked on in awe from well behind, never in their lives figuring they would ever get this close to a real king, let alone have one take enough interest to get to know them by name. Yet even as King Wyhrem moved up to greet Sardan, he took a moment to get introduced to them, while at least getting the names of a couple of others. He even thanked them for helping The Watch.

Even more astonishing to Quavis, the king listened to Sardan tell him and those with him who Quavis' father was. Instead of being angry, the man showed true gratitude, giving Quavis a hug, while praising him for having the fortitude and character to go against his father and Gambra's operation. In turn this caused both the Alphar count and Garm baron to pat him on the back as they moved up the badly weathered steps. Count Salostar went so far as to dig into his pouch and hand Quavis, Benam, Cresh, and Dabaff an emerald each, as a way of saying thanks for being a trusted traveling companion of Prince Aster.

While they looked at the large supremely cut stones in their hands, Quavis did his best to focus on what the king, his king, was saying only a few meters away.

Wyhrem looked out over to the cracked battlements to the distant glow. "Am I seeing Rolling Dale?"

Sardan answered, "Yes, my King, you are. Are you sure you do not want to go down and see your son?"

"My son… Which one?"

"We cannot be certain, my King. Our best guess is we actually have Prince Klandon, while Glaster has Prince Zoldon with him. I have now seen both boys and as best as I can tell there is no way, by looking, to discern which one we have. I can also assure you neither knows who is whom. The one we have now only remember being tortured into believing his name is Zoldon, but he has better royal speech than the other and skills he would have been taught in your court, such as Dragonsteed care. I was unable to say more than a few words to your other son, but he seems to firmly believe his name is Klandon. What I did observe, however, leads me to believe he has a rougher and less refined side to him, one he would not have if he had lived in your court for most of his life."

King Wyhrem brushed a tear out of the corner of his eye with his gauntleted right hand even as he sighed, "I have done serious wrong to both for not having seen through this nefarious plot. Have you been able to figure out what the end game was supposed to be?"

"Not yet, my King. No matter what, we will though," Sardan stated with complete conviction. "I do not care how many I have to step on or gut, sooner or later someone who knows something will talk."

Without realizing he would be heard, Quavis muttered, "Not if Gambra get to them first."

Sagell shot Quavis a glare, "There is no way to eliminate all those who helped with these operations, Quavis."

"Sagell," Quavis countered, "my dad killed my best friend right under my nose and I didn't even realize it until I found out who and what he is! I am sure most of the people behind the taking of Klandon, or Zoldon, or whoever, were killed the moment they were no longer useful. Just look at what my father almost did inside your city! Also, I head Noglin was killed by Gambra, and he was the one giving my father orders. She killed him inside Junsac, the home of The Watch!"

King Wyhrem made a slashing motion with his hand to cut off any rebuke on Sagell or Sardan's part. "Quavis makes some very strong points. My Royal Healthman was part of this plot against me, and he was killed within hours of becoming a liability. Killed in my capitol city in front of dozens of witnesses, and everyone insists it was nothing more than an accident. If this Gambra can get to my Royal Healthman in the manner she did, she would have certainly removed others with intimate knowledge of what her final goal or goals were." He then turned to look at Quavis, "Young man, I am willing to stake everything I am, on you not understanding one of the reasons why both my Watch members, along with the good count and baron, are glaring at you. I also am decreeing you are not to be scolded for this slight."

Quavis looked up with total confusion, "King?"

Wyhrem snickered at the befuddlement plastered on not only Quavis but Benam as well. "Boys, you are in a circle you have never had to deal with. Your lack of etiquette is totally understandable. However, you, Quavis, have committed what some would see as a major insult to me."

Quavis' eyes went wide, "I am super sorry, King!… Um, can I ask how?"

Baron Greyhammer snickered and moved up to Quavis, "The heart of a Tundra Lion this one has! Not even afraid to ask a king what he did wrong after being told he had insulted the very king he is talking to! You, lad, will go far in this world!"

He patted the boy hard on the back, as he spoke with a wide smile, "Young one, the two boys you spoke of by name are the sons of your king. Simply calling them by name leaves out a large measure of who they are, and by doing so you leave out who their father is."

Next to Quavis, Benam nudged him as it dawned on the boy what the Garm was referring to, "Aw, dude, are you trying to get us put into stocks until we are like fifty? For us it is Prince Klandon and Prince Zoldon! By not giving them credit for being princes, you are all but saying he's not a king, let alone our king!"

Quavis quickly held up both hands as he not only realized the underlying insult to King Wyhrem, but the fact he had bossed Zoldon around several times over the past few days. If Zoldon told on him, or even told a royal guard… Zoldon could have him thrown in the deepest darkest cell the kingdom had and toss the key in an ocean somewhere! "Oh, oh, crap… um…. geesh…. shit… um… Princes, yeah, damn, I'm an idiot, but I'm not the only one to make him do chores!"

Benam looked horrified, "I… I… oh… I'm sorry! I'll never do it again!"

King Wyhrem let out a booming laugh, while moving up to give both Quavis and Benam a bear hug, "You two are welcome in my palace anytime, boys! And if you made one of my sons do some chores, it will do him good in the long run. For a good ruler needs to know how to be ruled once in a while. I assure you, my own father gave others below my birth status power over me on occasion." He then turned a great deal more serious as he let go of them and moved back to stare at the distant glow, "My kingdom is going to need more boys like these two in the coming years. Take good care of them."

Sardan responded, "I look very much forward to it, and I assure you, my King, so does Sagell."

Sagell turned a bit red in the cheeks, while sending a sharp, yet playful glare at Sardan, "My Liege, I can only second Sardan's words."

"Good, see to it they get the best of everything possible including training and gear, for I am not speaking in jest when I decree my palace doors will remain open to both and I would like to see a great deal more of them. They have the type of hearts I want to cultivate. Now as far as my son, no matter which one is here, he is safe. The lives of many of my people are not." He pointed to the glow shining through the driving snow, "Is Rolling Dale on fire?"

Sagell's expression darkened as she spoke with disgust in her voice, "We think parts of it is, but it has been taken from within. The gates are closed and the walls manned, but not by anyone allied to you, my Liege. We have failed you."

"No, the baron has failed me and my people. He and the leadership of Rolling Dale will be answering directly to me for this failure as soon as I have time to find and deal with them. Right now, however, there are far more important details to attend to. So, to this end, what about refugees?"

Again Sagell responded, "My Liege, it seems few were able to escape. There was a large refugee camp on the opposite side of the city, but it was hit by siege weapons just before sunset from within the city. From the smattering of reliable reports we have been able to verify, it seems those who sought refuge here from the Everone Barony were forced to scatter. Many more were cut down or captured by an armed group of soldiers from Rolling Dale as they tried to flee. From what we have been able to glean, a large detachment of Rolling Dale garrison guards moved in and took everything of value and a number of those who did not scatter quickly enough. They then moved back inside the walls with hundreds, if not thousands, of refugees and wagons of items looted from the large camp. Some reports say they even took the bodies of those they murdered, however, this has yet to be verified. At this point we do not feel we can get close enough to get eyes on what is left of the camp. Once the weather clears, we may be able to get a decent long distance look. It remains to be seen what will be discernible after the heavy snows we are getting pelted with. Are you certain you do not wish to go below where it is warm and see your son?"

King Wyhrem's whole posture told those looking one he was sickened by the news even before his words and shaking voice verified it, "Those are my people out in this storm. If they are out in this with little to nothing, their king should at least be forced to endure Syria's wrath for a bit while we come up with a way to render aide to those really suffering. The real question I have is why attack refugees? What harm were those fleeing the fighting in Everone causing?"

Sagell gave a shrugging motion, showing more frustration than she wanted to let on. "My Liege, we do not know the reason for this unprovoked action, nevertheless, we do know the provision reserves you sent to feed and clothe the refugees were some of the things the soldiers took. It very well may be they were after supplies to hold for a long siege and simply took the chance to loot valuables. Unfortunately, this is all conjecture on my part. We simply do not have any good information from within the city other than what young Quavis was able to get from the four guards. The four in the patrol Quavis got talking seemed to know there was a major problem and three of the four were worried about family should things go bad, which it seems to have done."

Wyhrem turned to look back at Quavis, "Son, between the reports I received about the bandit actions you managed to get from within the Ghoul Drool and your ability to loosen tongues of a Rolling Dale patrol you have managed to get me more information than almost anyone else. You and your good friend Benam are more than welcome to join us as we discuss this further. Besides, my son, Prince Bayne could use a friend or two to help him with his studies and have someone to play with. I would like to see if the three of you could become friends."

Seeing Sardan gesture for the boys to move up to join the rest at the wall, Quavis gulped, but quickly grabbed Benam and stepped close to the wall, realizing while it hadn't been worded as an order, Sardan clearly saw it as such. As he moved up he heard King Wyhrem ask, "What of refugees from Rolling Dale? Certainly some within the walls got out before the city was sealed."

Sardan responded, "My King, some undoubtedly did. The problem is, we have been too preoccupied with getting your son and the duke's children out and then to fully secure this keep to try to locate any stragglers. We wanted to gate in more Watch members to this keep to aid in control and security, but this has not been possible since the magical flows are so badly off. They gated in to a safe location upriver, and will hopefully be here by sunrise. This storm may well delay them, however.

"One thing to consider, when thinking about those who reside in the walls of Rolling Dale, is without Glaster casting a massive spell on the merchant gate we would have been locked in as well, so while some must have managed to get out and others were outside the walls and unable to return home, most were trapped within. In addition to how fast the city was locked down, the aforementioned flows of magic are make gating into or out of Rolling Dale impossible, so even powerful casters within the walls were trapped the moment the gates closed. I have never seen anything like the magical disruptions of the kind we face out here, and this is mild compared to what is going on closer to the city.”

"King Wyhrem," Count Salostar spoke softly, "if I may?"

"The floor is yours, good Count," Wyhrem responded while giving a gesture to the Alphar.

"The magic I feel is much like we have in areas within our lands where large wars were fought between the Mythlets and Mythlings. Think of it as a magical rift, having been caused by a tremendous expenditure of magic in a very small area in a very limited span of time. In essence, it broke the normal threads of magic creating a hole where magic is both gushing out and streaming in, as if it is trying to repair the damage done.

"According to the ancient tomes I have read, the effects in the rift points did heal over time, at least to some degree. This phenomenon took time, and even now there are areas where rift points can drain an unexpecting spell caster of all Force. In the most extreme cases these tears in magic may even turn an inexperienced spell caster into a Mundane for days, weeks or even months. The tomes suggest at first a few were even reduced to being Mundane for life because they were unable to stop the release of their magic into the rifts."

Baron Greyhammer took a deep breath, "The ancient tomes within Garm lands have similar tales, Great King. One story I had read to me as a young-one told of a teacher who rendered several of his students unconscious to prevent them from losing their magic to a magical tear caused in a battle between Kryplok and Quati. The teacher was exiled for harming a child of a powerful lord. The lord then had his child leave the court in search of his teacher who saved him from becoming Mundane. It says both were cursed to wander in search of each other and it their voices we hear calling out when the wind howls. While a child's tale, there seems to be a truth behind it; for there are a few accounts of royal children who became Mundane from getting too close to the battles between the most powerful beings during the Mythling Wars."

"But Glaster is only a Master. There is no way he could have created such a magical fold…"

"My Liege," Sagell responded once she was sure Wyhrem's voice had truly faltered, "there is no chance in this existence or the next, Glaster was able to cast the spell he did on his own. While he may have been the prompt or spark, the result… the horrifying power… It was beyond the reach of mortals and I pray it stays out of the reach of mortals for evermore. Also, while he may have been Master Echelon before the spell, I would stake my life and those of my entire lineage on Glaster being a lord now. The spell he cast on the merchant gate was at the upper reaches of Legendary, for I have seen Master Echelon spells which look more like an Autospell when compared to the… The utter devastation he wrought on the small gate and guardhouse. I am certain you will concur to his Guild rank once he gets here."

Wyhrem clenched his fist and pounded on the battlement in front of him for a few seconds, "Sagell, I want you to get with my Captain of the Guard and send out some search parties. I want any surviving refugees found, brought here and cared for. I also want anyone who was within the wall Rolling Dale within the past week brought here for questioning. We need to know what we are dealing with and why."

King Wyhrem turned his attention quickly back to Quavis, "Young man, from what I was just told and what you let slip intentionally or unintentionally, you have met this Gambra and your father worked for her and was striving to become a Dark Mage under her tutelage. What insights can you provide, even if it is only supposition?"

Quavis' eyes went wide, "King… um my King?"

Wyhrem knelt and put on a slight smile while reaching out and grasping Quavis' shoulders, "Either is fine, Quavis. Now if you can try to focus and give me whatever intuitions you may have?"

Quavis found it hard not to look over to Sardan for guidance, partially because some of the words Wyhrem were using were on the edge of his comprehension. However, with a great deal of effort he stayed focused on the man, "King, I… I um, am very afraid of what Mistress, my father's mentor, will do. To be honest, I can't say I am positive it is this Gambra, but it all fits and I saw the Halfling woman several times and spent time with her on a few of them. The name Gambra was first told to me at the Ghoul Drool, but, um…. Well, my father always called her Mistress, and I know he was very afraid of her."

"I am going to assume, as you now do, this person was or is Gambra, a name I have heard whispered in fear more than a few times. So tell me what you know."

"OK, King… Um, I know just enough to guess she will use some of those the soldiers took to twist their life forces and use what she steals from them against anyone who gets in her way. I think she'll do it in the same way I found out my father took the life spark of my best friend and used him… it… um… whatever a life spark becomes when it is taken… Um, Father used my friend’s life to prove himself to Gambra and I think may have made his book out of him too. The more I find out and hear, the worse a monster my father becomes, and the mistress was the one who gave all orders. I would bet what little I have left of Mistress being this Gambra.

"Anyway, um, King, I also am willing to bet she has a non-magical escape route. I heard her tell my father more than once he needed to always leave himself a way out should he be discovered. At the time, I thought it was to escape should some of the former Day Slaves find out where he lived, but now… Um, I mean, I think it was really to escape The Watch or city guard. Anyhow, when she was talking to my father she said she never went anywhere or did nothing without having a way out. It was like it was one of the most important things to her. For when I saw her a couple of other times, one of the first things she would ask is what was the back door. Again, I didn't realize what she meant then, cause twice there was no back door, but now, I understand she was asking for a way to escape. I am so, so sorry! I didn't know better and tell…"

"You are a boy, a very perceptive one, but to not see your father in a bad light and obey him is not something I can find any fault with. I will say again, you are both strong of character and extremely brave for the path you have chosen. Once this is over, I will see you well rewarded and I will expect to see a Watch pin on you."

Wyhrem patted Quavis on the head as he stood and turned to look at Sagell, "I see no reason to doubt Quavis' inner familiarity of this situation. If this Dark Mage witch goes nowhere and does nothing without an escape route, we need to find it. For if it can get her out, it can get a small team in to get us hard information. Should we be very fortunate, and if Sariff wishes to be on our side, we may even be able to use it to take this Gambra and make her pay tenfold for what she has done to my people."

He took one last look at the orangish-yellow light in the distance before turning away from the wall and making his way to the steps down, "Sagell, out in this storm are children now twice displaced by war. The same must be said for the adults, but at least they have a measure of wisdom to guide them in this perilous time. The children do not. Making matters worse, many were probably orphans before, and others are orphaned now. I am willing to lay a considerable wager many of the young ones who fled the refugee camp are starving, even as I move down to sit in front of a fire, eat, and find out which of my sons is here. Those children out in this storm… They are a large measure of the future of my kingdom. I decree none are to be looked at, labeled, or treated as orphans. They belong to me until I find them homes. Even if I have to order every royal guard in my kingdom to take one in as his or her own, not a single one will be reduced to orphan class because of this travesty. As of this moment, we spare nothing and no expense on finding every child out in these woods and surrounding fields before they freeze to death, even if this means we lose time in trying to retake Rolling Dale. Those who have done this will pay for the suffering they are causing in ways I have not even dreamed up yet."

Wyhrem then put his arms around Quavis and Benam, "Boys, you have traveled with my son and at this point most certainly know him better than I do. And Benam, for Quavis to see you as his new best friend, you must be cut of the same mold, but have not been given a chance to show it. Now, if you two would, please accompany me down to talk with my boy. While I do, use the cunning you have shown my Watch members to see what information you can help me unlock within him."

As soon as King Wyhrem was out of sight, Sardan looked over at Sagell with a gleam in his eyes, "Unless I am totally mistaken, our king is every bit as enamored with Quavis as you are, only in a totally different way."

Sagell's face flushed, but she still smiled, "At this rate, by the time I finally bed him, I will be taking someone with a royal title to bed."

"Have his child, and you can have the son or daughter of royalty."

Sagell's eyes arched up, "You think he is old enough to make me heavy with child?"

"He has got to be close… but I was joking!"

"I am not! As good as he looks, he would be certain to make me have a great looking kid!"

Count Salostar shook his head with a bemused and somewhat dismayed smirk, "As gorgeous as you are, you want to have what may be your only offspring with a Human child?"

The corner of her mouth turned upwards, "For you, good Count, I would not mind giving you a chance at fathering my second child."

Salostar couldn't help looking at the woman with a shocked expression, "I highly doubt my wife would approve."

"Then do not tell her. I do not mind being a side fling for a good-looking hunk of Alphar."

Seeing Salostar turn a dark red all the way to the tips of his ears, Greyhammer roared with a deep gut laugh, "Look there Count, you have a mistress on your first official outing outside our lands!"

Sardan snorted, "If I may, Baron Greyhammer, I have just the lady for you as well…"

Seeing the Garm's eyes go wide, Sagell was only too happy to press the issue, "Oh, yes, Gomriss would be only too happy to be all over our good Garm Baron!"

The Garm and Alphar motioned for Sardan and Sagell to go down in front of them before Greyhammer spoke in a hushed tone to Salostar, "I am thinking continuing to venture out of our lands may be a great deal of fun, how about you?"

***

Glaster, {Beema – 12, and Kamen – 12 Devkiln, Famira, Dorwald, Bavrim, Javarim, Zoldon, Lylan, Mylan, Glaster, Rylan Oldsurn, Chark’ash-Shunral, Perth, Jolnart, King's Judge (Judge Andreus), 5 Alphar, Protector’s Keep guards, Nolram, Tazen, Gastrom}

Glaster double-checked the camp and made sure guards were posted. The spot they were bedding down in was clearly a known and popular one judging on the amount of debris in a well-constructed fire pit. This was far from ideal, but they simply had to stop and rest. Several of the animals had been wounded and were exhausted after pulling wagons totally full of goods along with extra people. Since they had hastily abandoned one of the wagons, but had cleaned out the most valuable goods before burning it at the edge of the city, and roads were still snow covered, the animals had to work harder. Then, when they went off normal paths and into the woods, the going got even harder.

In addition to the animals, a number of the surviving guards were injured and the others were in need of a break. For those who had never experienced combat, understanding of the physical and mental toll was simply not possible. Having fought a major battle, then forced to stay alert for several hours of travel, left even the strongest men faltering to some degree.

If a good thing could be said for the current situation, the campsite was partially sheltered from the brunt of the storm by a large overhanging rock and there was a path going up the side of the ridge, so guards could be posted up top. By ringing the wagons against the ridge, a fort-like security barrier gave further safety to those inside the camp. The most important bonus to the situation was Glaster had an Expert Echelon Warrior Adept Captain of the Guard and thirty-eight healthy Protector's Keep soldiers, including three who were Teaching Echelon, and another eleven who were Secondary. This meant he held plenty of guards to fill in for caravan guards and instructors killed. Even better an additional fourteen guards had made it out, but were wounded. Between the Healthmen and magical healing, Glaster figured he could get half of them up by morning and the other half over the next couple of days. He would focus on getting the least injured up first, so he had as many healthy defenders as possible.

He also had four remaining Alphar. One had gotten him to the prince and had sacrificed himself to do so, one had been killed early on by a potion, and the others fought well at the Green Goblin. One had even taken an arrow rather than let Rylan get hit. Yet Glaster found it impossible to fully trust them. For even though the one who had threatened Kandric had died, all of them seemed to be at least in part against his most beloved student of all time. Their sudden change of behavior and loyalty had been explained but it was at best troubling and flatly odd. When he was honest with himself, he found it hard to figure out what to think about them at all. Alphar… It seemed impossible. Yet when he really thought it over, it almost made sense.

Kandric was the most special find ever, and Glaster knew no matter who he tried to replace the boy with, none would come close. He had known, and had even bedded Aster a few times. Much like Kandric, the boy was phenomenal in skills and looks, but not on the same level of Kandric. If both boys did have Alphar blood, it would explain much. However, if they were really royal born, something was simply wrong with the Alphar, for the squalor both kids had endured, one an orphanage in Junsac, and the other the Swamp Slums of Slome… some royal prick needed to first be insane, and second, badly needed to have his face rearranged by way of a monumental pounding for leaving such fantastic children in such an environment.

However, with the present circumstances Glaster needed ever able body, and the well armed and very skilled Alphar gave him extra spell casting powers, healing, and above anything else, heat vision. The one thing he made sure of was to keep Chark'ash well away from them. The Drow youngster would stay out of sight and in Glaster's wagon or tent until such time as he had a real trust in the Alphar, and even then, there was no chance he would allow them to be alone with the boy.

Chark'ash was only one of the concerns Glaster had to deal with as the camp took shape. Each of the three royal boys was assigned two of the Protector's Keep soldiers for both protection and to keep them from trying to sneak away. Glaster knew it was possible, even probable at least one of the boys would try unless he made it too difficult to even bother to attempt. He made to absolutely clear the men he put over the boys had unlimited authority over them and disobeying would lead to time in stocks in the next city, for no less than a full day and night. The looks he got from all three told Glaster there would be no challenging of the six guards.

With a perimeter set, fires going, and meals being cooked, Glaster motioned for Rylan and Perth to accompany him. He looked down at the two, "Prince Rylan, you have been badly wronged by this kingdom. While the healing I gave your hand has eliminated the signs, nothing can take away from the memory. However, I cannot allow you to kill them, at least not yet. You will have a great measure of say over them and what I do to extract a measure of vengeance for the wrongs they have done, both to you and the taint they have put on my kingdom, and thus my king. Now is not the moment for you to speak up, for tonight I deal with the wrongs done to my kingdom and my king, not you. Tomorrow, or maybe even a day or two on, more of what happens to them will rest on your shoulders."

Glaster then focused in his newest boy, "Perth, as my latest trainee, you need to see and understand there are certain lines I cannot allow to be crossed, and what happens when they are. What you tasted in the arena is nothing compared to who and what I can become and do. The most important personal creed to me is the honor of this kingdom. To harm it, is to harm our king. To understand why this is important to me, you need to know I indentured myself to our former and our current kings and pledged undying and unwavering support to King Wyhrem and his father. Over the next few days you may puke, you may even soil your loincloth, but the lesson you need to get out of this is simple. Once you cross a line with me, there are no apologies and no stepping back. The line is there, it has been crossed and until retribution is made for breaking or ignoring it, there is no such thing as pity or mercy. In this case, so many lines have been ignored and blatantly breached, I really can only inform you, what you witness tonight and in the coming days is about as malevolent as I will ever become. As you take this in, understand one other thing. While you may hate me and what I make you do, if you are loyal to me, King Wyhrem, and his lineage, you will garner the same protections as I give this kingdom."

Without allowing a response from either boy, Glaster made his way back to where Devkiln and the other four who had tricked, then badly burned, Rylan were being guarded by the captain, an Alphar, and two Protector's Keep guards. As he moved closer, it was obvious, by looks alone, two of the boys were terrified, one was resigned to things not going well, while the girl and Devkiln looked defiant and even angry.

Glaster didn't give any warning. Instead he stepped up on Devkiln, grabbed the shackled teen by his thick mop of hair, lifted him off the ground, and tossed him out away from the others and outside the sheltered area of the rocky overhang. He ignored the screams and curses as the boy fell into ever deepening snow. He then did the exact same to the girl. Glaster then glared down at the remaining three young teens, "A single word from any of you, any attempt to get pity, and you join your ringleader friend out there instead of staying out of Syria's wrath."

Seeing one of the Protector's Keep guards move to make sure the two tossed into the snow didn't go anywhere, Glaster realized they were every bit as angry as he was. This meant there would be zero mercy afforded any of the five and this gave him free reign on whatever punishments he felt justified. The problem was, he really didn't have a clear idea what would be fitting. They had burned and came close to permanently marking a boy who had done nothing to them, assaulted a fellow student, attacked a child of a higher social class, done harm to a visiting member of royalty, and worst of all had done all this in a kingdom controlled school. Each infraction was more grievous than the prior. Death was a befitting punishment, a tortuous one. However, there was more going on with Devkiln and the Orc blade, and he needed to get to the bottom of it. He also required some understanding as to why those in charge of the school would want to force out prospective future Swordsmen when the kingdom was at war. Finally, judging on the looks of the other three kids, they were not quite as complicit in the attack as Rylan believed. Still, they had helped, and thus an extreme measurement of punishment needed to he handed down and Rylan would need to have a great deal of say over what the final outcome would be.

With a truly sinister undertone in his voice Glaster turned to look at the Alphar, deciding to see how loyal he, and thus the others, was going to be. "Those two need a quick and decisive attitude adjustment. I will deal with them personally. While I do so, I need you to take care of these three." He pointed down at the three boys. "Pound a few spikes in the rock just inside this natural shelter so they are not getting snowed on. Make them high enough to keep their hands up over their heads, secure them to the stakes and strip them. Leave them in shoes, since the cold of the rocky ground will damage feet quickly. Also, I do not want the frozen breath of Syria to claim them in anyway. At the first signs of frostbite, take a torch and warm them just enough to where they will not suffer permanent harm. No burns, just warmth, and as little as possible. The bite of the air needs to become their shroud. This will take diligence all night, and well into morning. If you need to switch out, find one of your compatriots who is willing to give them as little comfort as possible, while preventing permanent harm. They can wait until morning for me to decide how much blame for the crimes against Prince Rylan and our kingdom they are going to be burdened with."

The Alphar Warrior Adept didn't even flinch at the command. "At once, Commander. Food or water?"

"Water, no food. I do not want dehydration. They need to be in decent shape for whatever Prince Rylan has in store for them once I have extracted retribution on behalf of King Wyhrem and out beloved kingdom. For the pages of at least their near futures hold a promise of great misery and despair."

Glaster then moved out into the snow. Hearing the two kids hurling insults and threats at him, many of them about someone by the name of Tregasel feeding him potions, he kicked both hard and used his foot to roll them over onto their stomachs. He waited for Devkiln to get his breath back before he put his foot on the back of the boy's head pushed it down into the snow. He ignored the thrashing as he motioned for the Protector's Keep guard to do the same to the girl. With both all but drowning in snow, he handed Perth a dagger, "Remove their clothing, all of it. If you nick them a few times, so be it. However, I do not want you putting any deep gouges in their flesh."

Glaster then pointed to some nearby trees, "Prince Rylan, find a dozen or so long, thin, flexible branches. Cut them to a length of about a meter and a half, then take them over to the cliff and beat them against the rocks until the bark is breaking off and the meat of the wood underneath is marred. If they crack or break get others. I need at least eight."

Glaster lifted his foot, nodding for the guard to do the same. He let Devkiln get decent air, but at the first hint of a word he pushed the boy's face back into the snow. At first the process happened often, since the teen had plenty of threats to direct at Perth for slicing off his clothing. The boy's tirades didn't last. After the fourth time of getting his faces smashed into the snow-covered ground until he was close to passing out, he gave up. Next to him, the girl showed considerably more defiance. She was well into the double digits of inhaling snow before she finally grew quiet.

Both kids were shivering, with teeth audibly chattering by the time Rylan came back with eleven long sticks. Confusion could be seen in his eyes as he handed them over to Glaster who took his time, running his hands down the lengths of each. After careful examination, he handed five back, "These are dented, not marred. They need more work. I will start with these six."

While Rylan moved back to the ridge face, Glaster grabbed Devkiln by his hair and moved him to the nearest large tree. "Perth, well done on the clothing, I only see a few areas of blood. Now, get rope and toss it over the thick branches."

Glaster secured Devkiln first, trying the rope to the shackles securing the boy's hands behind his back. He then pulled the rope until the boy's shoulders were almost out of joint and only Devkiln's toes were able to relieve any of the pressure. As soon as he had the girl secured in the same way, he looked over at the guard. "They are too chilled. Let us get a fire to warm them and ourselves with."

By this time both kids were sobbing in a combination of pain and cold. They could barely move and it didn't take long for their feet and toes to cramp up. The problem was, getting off their toes simply wasn't possible, since to do so increased the pressure on their shoulders, causing terrible pain.

Both quickly discovered the fire, which they first thought would be welcome turned out to be anything but. The fire was built far enough away to where they caught only part of the warmth, meaning they had the horrible stinging sensation associated with warming up, but it didn't stop. In addition, only half their body got any real heating and Glaster knew it. He was only too happy to rotate them to prevent their fronts or backs from freezing, but as soon as they were turned the other half got cold again. Finally, to add insult to misery, they watched as Perth fed their clothing into the fire one scrap at a time.

Glaster, Perth and the guard stayed close to the large fire, feeding it wood, while consuming a great deal of warm food and drink moving only to rotate the kids. Then, without warning, Glaster took a hot mug of water and dumped it on Devkiln's feet. The liquid was not hot enough to scald, but it was close. However, since his feet were turning blue and losing feeling from the elements, the hot water felt way hotter. He screamed at the top of his lungs as the pain registered. Glaster didn't hesitate to do the same to the girl even as he spoke to the guard, "We will have to watch their feet carefully now. The water will cool quickly and will cause very fast frostbite. Perth, it is your task to keep warm water flowing over their feet. Prince Rylan, make sure he has plenty of warm water.

Glaster moved up to the girl, grabbed her jaw and squeezed hard, "You have quite the mouth on you, so you will be first.” He picked up one of the long sticks. "You know, getting thrashed when cold is much worse than when warm." He then brought the stick down across the backs of her legs. Because they had been smacked against rocks, they broke flesh and in a few places left bits of wood imbedded in the skin. This made them considerably worse than a blow from a riding crop or normal stick. After ten hard blows he rotated her and moved over to Devkiln, "Why is the Orc blade so important?"

"My blade…"

The words were followed by a scream as the stick left a strip across Devkiln's lower legs. After ten, Glaster moved back to the girl, "Do you know why the Orc blade, my Orc blade, has such importance?"

"It's… it's magic…"

"This I know, but it does not seem to be immured more than a moderate aura. What more can you tell me?”

"Nothing!"

Glaster shrugged and brought the stick down over front of the girl's legs ten times before sidestepping back over to Devkiln, "The Orc blade is not yours, it is now mine. Do not test my patience."

Devkiln eyed the stick with terror. His delay in responding cost him as the front of his legs became Glaster's target. Even though he tried to speak, it was too late. Glaster was no longer listening.

Glaster went back over to the girl, "The blade?"

"I don't know! I don't know! It's magic! It's all I know!"

"OK, fine. I will give you a pass on the blade for now. Let us move on to the reason you helped attack a child who did nothing to you. Why?"

"Because we were told to!"

"By who?"

"Everyone…"

Glaster shook his head, "Real answers only." He then left ten more angry welts over the back of the girl's upper legs before moving back to Devkiln, "The blade is mine. Get this into your skull, for you own what you have on, nothing more, and even the flesh covering your body is at my disposal, so do not trifle with me. Now, the Orc blade, what is so important about it?"

"Father gave it to me, told me never to let it leave my side… It isn't Orc, it is Orackan, the race that all Orcs and Illorcs came from! Please…"

"There is no begging. Only answers and retribution." Glaster broke the stick after the sixth blow and grabbed another to finish the ten strokes.

Back and forth he went for over an hour. The moment one balked, gave a half answer, or asked for any kind of mercy, ten more strikes were unleashed. Finally, with knowledge of the girl a being fledgling Dark Mystic being trained by Devkiln's father, Tregasel, out of a shop called Gloom Fire, he knew she had broken. He moved on to finding who else was behind the attack on Rylan and other Swordsmen trainees. After being told the names of the several people, including the magistrate, the lead instructor, and a score of others, he moved on. He focused in on what other students were behind other such attacks, what happened to them, and finally what students refused or gave pushback to those wishing to rid the Rolling Dale School of Arms of outsiders. This gave Glaster a list he could work with. He at least knew who to track down and eliminate, and who to find and give some kind of reward.

There were still many questions, and he was certain the two teens would have given the information if they had it. The fact the girl admitted to being a Dark Mystic apprentice and using Dark Mystic potions on kids inside the school, made the possibility she was holding back other key information remote at best. The same could be said for Devkiln, who admitted to everything from splintering the wood handles of practice weapons of kids to get them to quit the academy, to putting shards of glass in their food, to forcibly handing them to adults for pleasure toys. The problem was he needed more answers, the biggest being what the endgame was. Of this the pair knew nothing of value, and they had paid for their lack of knowledge with over a score of strips on their battered flesh. All this got him was information on some of the perks and gifts they had been given for forcing kids out of the school.

Finding the magical blade was actually an ancient Orackan weapon, and very important to Devkiln's father and Gambra, was interesting, but it didn't really answer any questions either. On the other hand, he was certain if either child knew more they would have talked. To this end, he gave both children a final set of blows, these to the back. The final strikes were even more vicious, being done with fresh sticks and delivered with a back pull as the stick hit, deeply embedding splinters of wood with each strike. The girl only got eight before the final stick broke. With an annoyed sounding snarl, he glanced over at Rylan, who looked all but green, "Do I forgo the last two on this one?"

Rylan's head bobbed up and down, even as he kept his hand on Perth's shoulder. The smaller boy had become physically ill within the first few minutes, forcing the guard to keep warm water flowing over the feet of the captives.

Glaster rolled his shoulders from the exertion and tossed the remainder of the stick into the fire. He then turned to the guard, "Cut them down, get them inside the camp, and close enough to a fire to get real warmth with a ground cloth. Also provide water. There is to be no healing and no food. They stay in chains, without clothing, and get no help to remove splinters. In the morning, scrub them hard with a course cloth. It will remove most of the surface level bits of wood and clean out the wounds. I do not want then getting infected, at least not yet. Also, we need them to live for now, so after they are washed, provide a single blanket to them as long as they hold tongues. Any complaints or even requests means we start this whole process over again just to make sure I have all the information I need from them."

He then focused on Rylan, "Do me a favor and get Perth calmed, washed and fed. If he will not eat, at least get him warm cider or something. I still have a young assassin with a poisoned blade to deal with. For this night, neither of you will have any further duties to me, so get some rest. I will share my bed with Chark'ash and he will serve me for the foreseeable future since I cannot allow the Alphar access to him. This will allow both you and Perth to recoup from the horrors you have swirling in your heads. However, in the morning I need both of you up and to not to eat until after I interrogate the other three. There is no reason for either of you to lose a good breakfast should I need to be anywhere near as persuasive as I was with Devkiln and the girl…" Glaster paused and frowned, "You know with everything I got her to tell me I never bothered to inquire as to her name…"

Rylan took a deep breath, "Famira… she poured something over my hand as they all ran away. It made it tighten up into a fist. It made it hard for Tazen to treat. The guard had to dunk my hand in cold water to wash it off and cool my hand, then he pulled my fingers open just so Tazen could bandage it."

"And you are sure you do not want me to get another stick for the final two strikes?"

"No… I want to… I do not even know… But no more, at least not tonight…"

Glaster gave the boy a squeeze, as if he had forgotten everything he had just done. With Rylan in his grasp, he pointed to the three chained to the rocky face of the ridgeline, "And the names and actions of those three?"

"Dorwald is the one with the reddish hair and Bavrim is the blond. They were both in my barracks room and got moved to Devkiln's after they helped to burn my hand. They held me while Devkiln kept his hand over mine on the hot hilt of the Orackan blade. The other I do not know the name of. He was not in the Swordsman school, but trained in weapons with us. Like many of the students from other Rolling Dale schools, he was allowed to participate in the school functions, much like Famira. There were several others who had full access to the Swordsman school events. I heard the names of many given to you by Devkiln and Famira as helping drum kids out of other schools within Rolling Dale. While neither said so, I am pretty sure those who got extra status within the Swordsman school did so by getting rid of refugee students."

"While I still cannot understand why they wished to do this, it stands to reason those who helped would be given extras as a way of showing their actions were supported by those in positions of authority within the Rolling Dale training schools." Glaster paused and pointed to the last boy in the line, "How about the darker-haired boy? You say he was not part of the school, but he was in line with other students. He must be a student in Rolling Dale, correct?"

"I am pretty sure the other one was in the Shaman school. He did not really help the others. Instead he stood back and kept watch. He warned them when the guard who stopped the attack came running, but only agreed to keep watch after Devkiln and Famira threatened him with a potion of some sort. I believe he is Bavrim's brother or cousin, because Bavrim's father, Gastrom, often picked up both to take for meals. Gastrom is a Teaching Echelon Animal Adept with a trio of Great Quilled Wolverines. I guess because the Swordsman school helped all the other schools get students familiar with weapons, some were allowed to attend Swordsman school events. As I just stated, however, those who were seen often are many of the same Devkiln and Famira gave you the names of. It sounds like they got extra status for helping rid Rolling Dale of refugee students."

"Oh, I can assure you they have extra status with me as well, and it is not a status they will ever wish to be associated with! Now, I gather this Gastrom is the same one the Dark Mystic apprentice said picked up those who dropped out of the schools?"

Rylan cringed as he realized the names spilled by Famira and Devkiln were now all targets of Glaster. There was no question scores of other kids were going end up in a similar circumstance as Devkiln and he was extremely glad he was not one of them. Unfortunately, he couldn't add much to Glaster's knowledge on Gastrom or those who rang the bell to signal their desire to quit the school. "Lord Glaster, I cannot say this with any certainty, but I only know of one Gastrom. I never saw what happened to those who rang the dismissal bell at the Rolling Dale School of Arms. All I can say is, they were escorted out by guards with nothing more than basic field packs and what they were wearing. I never saw any of them again. A couple were the only friends I made my entire time in Rolling Dale, though, so I would like to find out."

"Remember to just call me Commander. I am not a lord until I test and I really do not have any desire to get bumped up in the political nonsense of the guilds by becoming one. Being a Master is bad enough. Let tonight go and do not concern yourself with any of the five who tormented you. Tomorrow we will see what the others know and try to find out what happened to the missing students and in particular any you consider friends." He gave Rylan a gentle but firm push toward the main camp. "For now, get dry and find yourself and Perth a warm spot to rest."

***

Vondum, Conth, Black Warrior Dragon Ornam, Alphar boy Cam'ris, Duke Axegrind, Hawkling Channeler, Kyltoss, Klorna, Morwar, Mokel, Princess Syrissia

Vondum entered the 'war room' within Bloody Rock with a frown. Seeing Duke Axegrind marking reports on a huge parchment map of the area in and around Bloody Rock and Slome he moved to take a closer look. He quickly noted the lines to the west had firmed up but as of yet, there wasn't any kind of a solid battle line in the deep swamp to the east. On the other hand, Black Rapids and Falcon Loft forces were starting to push down from the northwest, threatening to squeeze the large pocket of Green Dragons and cut their lines.

He looked over with a raised eyebrow and pointed to a pair of arrows coming from Falcon Loft, "Is this correct, Duke?"

"Yes. Falcon Loft has decided its mutual defense treaty with Black Rapids extends to this conflict… It is one of the reasons I have recalled you…"

Vondum cocked his head to the side, "While I may have intimate knowledge of Black Rapids, I have little to no knowledge of Falcon Loft, Duke Axegrind. The defense pact has been in place for centuries, possibly going all the way back to when both cities held out during the Mythling Wars… But not once has it been activated. What brings the Hawklings out of near total exile from the rest of the world?"

Klorna came from a back room being guarded by a pair of Garm Swordsmen. "A former Mythling did."

Vondum turned to look at Klorna with a deep frown, "What are you doing here? You were supposed to be headed up to Black Rapids with Kandric's brothers!"

Duke Axegrind moved between the two, "General Vondum, she has first hand reports, and her sighting, combined with protectors the Garm and Alphar put in place to keep an eye on Prince Darmoth and Prince Rathiter is the primary reason for your recall. It is also what has caused Falcon Loft to put its full weight into this war."

Vondum shook his head to clear it even as he looked back down at the map, "Are you saying this is not a Falcon Loft expeditionary force, but instead a major formation of Hawklings moving in from the northwest?"

A Hawkling wearing a royal crest of Falcon Loft on a leather vest with Silver Steel reinforcements came out from behind Klora. The platinum guild pins showed the Hawkling to be a Master Echelon Warrior Adept, Outdoorsman, and Channeler of Avgon. "More than a major formation, General Vondum. Those arrows you are looking at represent two full legions of our Warriors of Avgon and more are being mobilized. We gated as close as we could to here with two full battalions of Falcon Loft Guards as soon as we got confirmation."

"Confirmation? Confirmation of what?"

Both the Hawkling and Duke Axegrind looked over to Klorna.

With a deep breath Klorna, looked up at Vondum, "Frexla took Gablon, Rathiter, and Darmoth…" seeing a few Alphar and several Garm, including Duke Axegrind look at her with glares, she swallowed hard, "Sorry, make that Prince Rathiter and Prince Darmoth. Um… and Emroc too…"

"Frexla?" Vondum spit out with disbelief, "You mean one of her minions, entered our realm, actually became a solid form, and took Kandric's brothers?"

"No," an Alphar moved up from out of the back room to join Klorna, "she means exactly what she said, General. Frexla came and took them. It was not a minion, it was not one of her demon princes, it was the Bitch of Fire herself, fire whip and all. It was my duty to protect the princes, but there was nothing I could do. Frexla has them along with the caravan commander and one of the other young guards. She took them all."

"No… Are you saying we now have to contend with one of Demon Lords in the flesh?"

Duke Axegrind sighed, "So it seems."

Vondum's eyes darted around the room, looking for any hint this was all some kind of twisted joke. The problem was all eyes were looking at him for his response, and they all wore shocked and terrified looks. Vondum clenched his fists and he turned to focus on the Hawkling, "And this is why you are joining the fight?"

"Yes," the Hawkling stated emphatically. "For three reasons. First, the caravan was headed up the pass to Black Rapids. This means it was in Black Rapids’ territory and it was attacked in your… or their lands. By ages old agreement we must come to Black Rapids' aid. Second, we have divine knowledge of one of Frexla's demon princes having taken mortal form and then having been subsequently destroyed down in Rolling Dale, within the lands of King Wyhrem. We have a treaty with his kingdom as well; therefore, we have yet another requirement to join this fight. Finally, and by for the most troubling to all of us here, Avgon's last act before joining the other Mythlets in the final assault on the Mythling capitol was to lead his army, combined with Warvon and his forces, against Frexla's legions of Orackan to the north of Black Rapids and Falcon Loft. This huge battle lasted almost a week right at the edge of the Deathland Mountains. Avgon and Warvon's final victory over the Orackan prevented the fall of Falcon Loft and Black Rapids and all but wiped out the Orackan as a viable race. This forced them to seek out lower races and breed with them, giving us the Cavelings, Morg, Telfs and other cave dwelling monstrosities, while passing the Orackan banner to the Illorcs and Orcs. Frexla's return will mean she will almost certainly seek to extract revenge on both cities."

The Hawkling let this all sink in before adding, "Regardless of whether you know the history behind Black Rapids and Falcon Loft, Avgon's lead temple resides in Falcon Loft, much like Warvon's is in Black Rapids, because of this massive battle. The Great Orackan Slaughter is also why Falcon Loft and Black Rapids have the distinction and honor of being in a small handful of cities whose walls were never breached during the Mythling Wars. Since Frexla is back among the mortals, there is little doubt she will try to rally forces against both our cities. According to an Air Guardian who took over our lead priest and spoke to those of us in Avgon's temple, her anger is focused against the boy dragon slayer, Premier Kandric. It then went on to tell us our best hope was to support this child, so we are throwing the full weight of the Hawkling Empire into this. I am told Warvon's lead priest gave a similar message in his temple. Even now, from my understanding, a call has gone out to all Warvon temples for the Hunters of Warvon to assemble to fight Frexla's return."

Duke Axegrind turned to focus on Vondum, "As you can hear with your own ears, things have become a great deal more complicated, for like it or not, we now have the Demon Lords entering the fight, and Frexla seems to be focused on our Premier."

Vondum's eyebrows raised, "Does our Premier know his brothers have been taken?"

Axegrind shook his head. "Not yet. One of the reasons you are here is to help us decide who is going to tell him of this. More than a few believe you may well be the best one to do so."

Vondum stared at Axegrind with a noticeable cringe. "I hope you all realize he will put all else aside to find them and will try to confront Frexla over this, right?"

"Oh, come on. No one is going to challenge a major demon, let alone a Demon Lord!"

"If you believe this, then you do not really know Kandric. This will have to be handled with a great deal of care. It may be best to locate his instructor, Master Shaman Glaster. Maybe between the two of us and Duke Mathard…" Vondum's words trailed off. Instead of finishing the thought, he turned back to the Hawkling, "Surely the gods are not going to let a demon lord come into the mortal realm and take a mortal?"

"No, the gods will not sit idly by. They are mobilizing. However, things are far more tumultuous than simply Frexla entering our realm," the Hawkling held up his talon, so he could finish handing out the information he had been given by the Air Guardian. "Things are way more complex. For I might add, the battle is not just up here. Even as Falcon Loft forces cut into Black and Green Dragon lines up here, King Wyhrem is engaging with allies of Frexla down in Rolling Dale as well. With direct interventions from Frexla followed by those of Avgon and allied gods, other Demon Lords are sure to get involved shortly. Actually, the last piece of information I have been given, suggests Frexla was not the first to send a lead demon in to our mortal realm.

"For those of us who live up here only have to think back a scant few weeks to the storm we had roll across the Silver Spine Plateau. Those who were up here know we were first stunned by its power and even more astonished at how quickly if faded and lost punch. As we all suspected, this was not a normal storm. As it turns out, it was not even one guided by Syria or Inaxia. Instead it seems to have been directly created by Inaxia through her lead demoness, Cyronia."

One of the Alphar Ruinseekers spoke up, "As in the Mythling who froze the entire Highman Palace in the lands of Odin and killed almost all of Odin's lineage, Cyronia?"

"Your knowledge of history of the Mythling Wars is of great credit to you. Yes, the one and the same Cyronia. At the time of the storm up here, Inaxia and thus Cyronia seemed to be working for the Black Dragons, but what side of the now war between Bandurlok and Bassork, we do not yet know, may never know. But before you chew your nails to the bone hearing of Cyronia return to our realm, know she ran afoul of a power we have not yet been able to identify. For at some point during the storm, an unknown mortal took on and utterly destroyed Cyronia. How this is possible, I cannot even begin to fathom. Nonetheless, I can assure you it did indeed happen. This led to Inaxia's fall from her throne of ice and as of yet no demon has yet to claim it. The civil war within the demon realms of ice allowed Syria's minions to step in and unravel the storm with no interference. It is why the storm broke apart so quickly. But the reason behind this string of events is an unknown mortal who is owed direct favors by the gods for his or her actions."

Even as the Hawkling said this, Vondum's head fell into his hand as all the pieces fell into place.

All eyes turned to look at Vondum. When nothing was said, Duke Axegrind cleared his throat, "Something you have to add to this, General?"

Vondum's hand ran down his face, "Sure… What the hell, it is not like we all don't all but worship Kandric anyway…"

"Premier Kandric had something to do with this latest development?"

"Yeah…" Vondum tossed up his hands, "Who in the name of the nine hells do you all think killed Cyronia?"

***

Kandric, Seldnat, Pike, Lorthorn, Jamon, Lacate, Zeltoss

Kandric got to the top of the steep hill and looked around. Between the darkness and the blowing snow, his vision, even his infravision, was limited. What little he could make out told him there was some kind of very cold clearing below, possibly a frozen-over lake, and more forest. On the plus side, there was a slight rocky drop off just below him which provided a natural spot where the wind would at least partially blow over the top of them. It also had much less snow, since the wind was blowing the vast majority over the secluded spot. With a deep breath, he pulled his sword and hopped down to check the rocky face. It was relatively smooth with no caves. While this was kind of disappointing, it also meant he didn't just jump into the mouth of a creature's den. With a shrug, he quickly resheathed his blade as he looked out over the forest and down the rocky hill.

It had been several fruitless hours of searching the deep woods since stumbling on Klent and his troop. During this time, the weather had gotten progressively worse, and their luck had been nil. The other problem was Lacate was really slowing them down. The boy had even less stamina than Zeltoss had before the Dragon deaths. It had gotten so bad, Seldnat finally had enough and grabbed the boy's pack so they could make better time and not have to stop every twenty minutes. Over the prior three plus hours Seldnat had been carrying two packs but they had only had to stop for two short breaks.

Watching Lacate battle with poor endurance to keep up even without a pack, really made Kandric wonder about Mystics. Did they spend too much time in their labs playing with strange concoctions and not enough building up their bodies? This was something Glaster would never let happen to a student. For to apprentice under Glaster meant equal time strengthening body as well as mind. Glaster had often told Kandric if one put too much emphasis on one aspect of training, there would be a weakness of the whole. To this end, wood cutting, swimming in the summer, tree climbing in the winter, and long hikes became the cornerstones of keeping him physically fit when not doing weapon practice. These periods of intense physical activity were used to counter the hours upon hours of study in learning how to properly speak, read, write, keep books, learn values of trade goods, and or course spell mastery.

The interesting part of seeing Lacate struggle more with each passing step was this happened to be the first time in Kandric's life where he really saw what happened when a person spent too little time on body. He noticed some of it in Zeltoss, but at the time he figured Zel was born a bit scrawny. Truth of the matter was, Zel's arms were pretty thin, and there was no question his friend would never be as strong as most. However, Zel knew he wasn't very physically fit and since joining Kandric was actively working on it. The other huge difference was Zeltoss forced himself to drive on and not complain… much. Yes, the deaths of the Dragons had helped, but Zel continued to push himself. The same could not be said about Lacate. The kid didn't even try to force more out of himself. Instead it was up to Kandric and those with him, to motivate with everything from taunts, to threats, to a couple of times Seldnat smacking him on the back of the head and once Pike poking him in the butt with a javelin.

Lacate was totally opposite of what Kandric had grown accustomed to. For, by far, the tendency of those striving to become guilded was to focus on muscles for fighting, and not enough on the mind. While this made a person fearsome in physical combat, it made them vulnerable to deceptions and feints in the mental area of combat.

Watching Lacate stumbling through snow only up to his ankles after a few kilometers, and progressively getting more exhausted with each step, had at first been humorous. The worse it got, the more the feelings changed to annoyance and even disgust. As it became all too apparent the pampered merchant child had no real inner drive, Seldnat, and then Pike, become increasingly frustrated. So, while Seldnat finally demanded the boy's pack, Pike shoved him back and told him to stay right behind him so he could walk in a blazed trail. This had helped, but even with all the assistance, an extra break had to be taken unless they were going to physically carry the whimpering brat. At least this time everyone needed to get some food, water, rest, and warm up and the site was a good one for a sheltered camp.

Kandric let out a light whistle to signal for the others to join him even as he moved further out to check the area. Once he was convinced they were alone and not in danger, he stayed on guard, but put his back to a large tree to block the blowing snow. Once he heard Lorthorn help to lower Lacate down, then jump down to join the others, Kandric spoke up, "This is about as sheltered and safe a spot as we are likely to find tonight, guys. We will set camp here. Let us get a small fire and break out some food. I will take first watch."

Even Seldnat, who was by far the strongest of the group, gave a fist pump before he found a spot between the ledge and a large rock. The Halforc quickly dropped both packs, then slid down while grabbing some dried meat out of his gear. As the others saw this, they gratefully did the same, putting their backs to the natural barrier between themselves and the driving snow. Lorthorn was the last to do so, since he moved over to Seldnat, grabbed Lacate's equipment and tossed it to the physically exhausted and shivering boy. "Now you can grab some food. We should be done for the night, so you shouldn't over exert and puke it up like you did earlier. But before you eat, clear the snow from under you and wrap yourself in your blanket."

Kandric looked back with a shake of his head, "Lacate, until you can start serving me as agreed, the duration of your servitude will not start. So, if you want it to start now, you can clear the ground for us and go gather some wood before you eat and rest. If not, say you understand and agree your time has yet to start. If you do agree to more time, you can rest."

Lacate blew on his fingers to warm them. "Please Kandric… I just need…"

"You need to be an indentured servant doing as you are told, or give yourself to me for more time. Otherwise you do not eat, for if you do not serve, there is no reason for me to feed you."

Lacate set out a slight sob, "How much more time?"

At this both Seldnat and Pike exchanged disgusted glances while Jamon stood, shook his head, and started clearing snow by grabbing a couple of branches, wrapping a piece of old cloth around each, stretching the sticks and fabric out with tied cross braced sticks and pushed what little snow was in the natural shelter out.

Off to the side, Zeltoss frowned deeply, but moved out of the shelter and started kicking at the ground. It didn't take him long to find enough dead wood to at least get a small fire going.

Kandric didn't even look at Lacate, knowing if he had said anything similar to Glaster after first taking the man up on the offer of work and servitude for training, the man would have smacked him with a switch and would not have stopped until the requested duty was done, then followed it up with other punishments. "Lacate, either get up and help or give yourself to me for another full moon!"

Lacate let out a short sob, "OK…"

"OK? OK what?" Kandric demanded while guessing with utter contempt what the boy really meant.

"You have me for an extra moon… Just let me rest and eat… please…"

While the others all looked at each other in near shock over this, Lorthorn pushed his Lava Hammer up to the small pile of wood and sent a slight jolt of his inner Force into the weapon. It glowed for an instant before the wood burst into flames. "Lacate, move close to the fire, strip down, and put on dry clothing out of your pack…"

"No," Kandric stated harshly.

"No? But, Kandric, he fell at least a dozen times and is soaked…"

"Oh, he can strip down, dry his wet clothing, and get warm, but there is no need for him to get dressed in anything. He will be sleeping with me tonight."

Lacate eyes went wide, "But…"

"You belong to me, Lacate. You just gave yourself to me for an extra moon in exchange for not setting the camp while getting some rest and food. You may rest and eat now and finish the night with me after my time on watch."

"You're not being fair!"

At this Pike stood, pulled one of his javelins, pointed at Lacate, and snarled, "Kid, if you ever said something so stupid around my father, or worse, around Duke Mathard, your butt would end up red and warmed enough to melt what little snow is in this shelter! You are an indentured servant, one step away from a slave! Actually, the first two moons you gave yourself over with slave rights, which means you are currently owned."

Pike's voice dripped with contempt as he shouted in Lacate's face, spraying it with some spittle, while putting the point of the javelin to the boy's throat, "Furthermore, once the indentured servitude starts, you have no rights other than base food and remittance of what was agreed to in the contract. You did a very poor job in this, since you did nothing to secure yourself to any rights not limited to, but including clothing, rest, and shelter. What Premier Kandric offered you was minimum indentured rights of a copper a week. In addition, he agreed to see you are fully taken care of for the duration, see you are trained, progress some in your Mystic field, and to heal you of the injuries you had sustained when we found you in chains. He gave you the healing, so you are now in your time as a slave. However, once you are done with this time as his property, all he has to do is take care of you, have you progress some, and end up getting trained. Progress some, and getting trained are by default one and the same. How he takes care of you was not spelled out. So, as long as our Premier does you no permanent, non-reversible bodily harm, you are alive and more trained than you are now at the end, and have a hundred and four copper coins in a pouch, plus some kind of lab equipment, he can do whatever he wants with and to you!"

"Right now, your failure to follow through with clearing the camp of snow and gathering wood could be seen as a contract breach, and Premier Kandric could legally enslave you permanently! Instead he let you bargain for an extra month of service to him in an exchange. He is giving you exactly what you asked for, rest and food, while having no camp set-up duties. He decides what you wear and when you wear it, not you, so if he decrees you are to remain without clothing, then you will do so until he changes his mind. You should consider yourself lucky he is allowing you a blanket, for the gear you couldn't even carry is not yours. It is his."

"No…"

Pike grabbed Lacate's jaw and squeezed, "No? Did you not give yourself to him?"

The moment Lacate tried to grab at the hand on his face, Jamon moved up and grabbed both of the boy's hands. "You were handed to me to train, and I guess it starts now. You try to fight either of us and I will be forced to punch you or, if Kandric says it's ok, even whip you. And trust me, you don't want me to break out my whip. I was forced to get very good at it and I did so on a close family friend. You're neither family, close, nor friend."

Lacate found it painful to move his jaw, but seeing Jamon patting the whip at his side, his eyes went wide and he shook with fear. He also stopped trying to resist.

Pike's voice dripped with anger as he glared at Lacate, "Now, answer. Did you give yourself to Premier Kandric?"

Lacate tried to nod but couldn't, so he managed to get out an, "Uh, huh."

"Then by default what you have belongs to our Premier as well," Pike stated coldly. "You should know, you are very lucky he is giving you anything. Many of the slaves and long time indentured servants in the Garm and Alphar lands don't get much, if any, clothing. It is considered a waste of money to clothe someone who is nothing more than property. In my household, we have two slaves. Both wear waist cloths outside and nothing inside except at meals. They wear a long shirt when eating at any table. We also have a slave footlocker for extras when it is very cold. At those times, they are given coat, boots or whatever is needed while doing work outside so they are not damaged by Syria. What we have tonight is not very cold, at least not to those of us from the area of Winter Creek, so the fire and possibly a long shirt would be all our slaves would get in this kind of weather.

"None of this really mattes to you, I know. It should, however, give you an idea of the kindness of your current master. Right now, you need to concern yourself with your future. Our Premier is taking first watch, which is your rest time. Once his shift is done, so is your rest. Thus your duties resume. Tonight those duties include but may not be limited to, sleeping with him. It matters to none of us, including you, why. Whether he is doing this for his enjoyment, your warmth, or both is up to him and him alone and you have no say in the matter. Just understand, you will do what he wants no matter what it is. For remember he fell multiple Dragons. You are barely a trainable Human…" Pike stopped and looked back over at Jamon, "No insult intended, my new friend."

Jamon smiled, "I'm above barely trainable, so you're fine."

At this Seldnat, Lorthorn, and Zeltoss all snickered and nodded.

Pike still reached out and patted Jamon on the shoulder before refocusing on Lacate, "As I was saying, our Premier killed Dragons, so you really do not want to find out what he can do to the likes of you. Also, in case you have not yet taken note, all of us fully support Premier Kandric and will do to you whatever he decrees, even if it is me holding you while Jamon demonstrates to us how good he is with his whip. If he happens to slip and nick me, all I can say is I have felt worse. Regardless, everyone in this camp will make you do exactly what Premier Kandric wants you to do without any question, feelings of guilt, or remorse for you. Therefore, you will sleep with… or maybe not sleep, but still share our Premier's bed tonight and whatever else he demands of you going forward."

"Thank you Pike," Kandric responded. "I am mostly concerned with warmth tonight… Mostly…"

Kandric turned to look at the entire group still sporting a smirk on his face, knowing the look would eat at Lacate and cause him extra dread. To this end, he spoke to Jamon, "Make sure he is clean. You know I do not want may bed soiled by the unclean body of another. I would also like for you to show him how to properly warm water to wash me. I am sure this is a duty you will only be too happy to teach him properly, so you do not have to do so much longer."

Jamon had to fight hard to not let out a sigh of relief. "I will make sure of it."

Kandric again sent a smirk at Lacate before glancing around at all the others, "While this is nothing more than a suggestion, I feel it would be in the better interest of all of you to bed with someone else. For there is nothing in this storm telling my Outdoorsman side it wants to let go and Syria's spirits are telling me to expect more of what we are dealing with through at least this time tomorrow. While it is not bitterly cold, the snow is wet, heavy and it will not warm enough tomorrow to do more than melt a little, which will only make it wetter and heavier to trudge through. Also, with leaves just starting to fan out on the trees, the weight of the snow is greater on them now than during the dead of winter. We can expect broken branches and even fallen trees to happen as well. All of us will have to keep our eyes open for dangers above and buried hazards on the ground as we press on. If you thought this evening was bad travel, tomorrow will be much worse. This means we all need as much rest as possible and getting sleep while warm is much easier than when cold."

Zeltoss moved to gaze down the rocky slope, "At least we have food, water, and a fire. What about the scattered students from Slome?"

"We will do them no good if we are tired and miss picking up on signs of them, or worse, getting ourselves hurt from pressing on too hard," Pike answered. "Even on a ship in a gale-tossed sea for days, crews have to be given breaks from patching cracked hulls and bailing water. A rotation must be made, giving everyone a chance to rest. A captain who pushes too hard will lose crew, and a short-handed ship is in as much or even greater danger than one where not everyone is fixing storm damage and tossing water over the side."

Kandric noticeably shivered, "While I thank you for a good answer, Pike, you could have found another… any other… example. For if there is one thing in this world I do not want to face, you just told us what it is. I am even happier I have Lacate in my bed tonight, for even hearing about a storm-tossed ship will give me nightmares!"

"Sorry, Premier," Pike gulped. "I am a Sailor. It is what I know and have been through."

Lorthorn couldn't help but giggle, "Don't worry, Pike. He isn't mad at you. But honestly, I can't help myself! Here we are with a kid who by his own hand is a powerful lord controlling a massive army, all but owns a city and the lands around it, and when he sees Dragons only wants to kill or make friends with them! Yet, he has nightmares over a ship on a stormy sea. Does anyone else see this as, like, totally backwards?"

While Kandric's face flushed with some embarrassment, everyone, even Lacate, cracked a smile and nodded.

***

Yarnay (9yo Druid Gem Channel: Tallis- Klandon's WB), Sibler (9yo Mystic Sailor-Lylan's WB), Kaznal (9yo War Adpt Outdoors Channel: Avgon Mylan's WB), Tazen (14yo Swordsman Health), Dario (13 yo War Adpt Leather Gem), Alkoris (13 HAE Halfelf War Adpt Lock Outdoors), Tyndall (15 yo Mage, Outdoors, Woodworker)

Tazen woke to the sounds of muttering. Even as he blinked and tried to wake himself up fully, his hand found the pummel of the magical short sword and drew it just enough to provide a light amber glow from around the hilt.

Only a couple of meters away Dario glanced back from edge of the small branch leading off the main sewer system. "Relax, Taz, it's jus' one a them little guys talkin' in his sleep. It started 'bout an hour ago, but was real soft. He just started ta get a little louder."

"Well, if it is loud enough to wake me up, it could be heard by others…" Tazen responded as he moved at a crouch down the offshoot passage they had found a few hours prior. Once he got to Dario, who was hanging back just far enough to not be seen by heat vision if someone looked down the main sewer passage, he edged by. He then stayed at where the offshoot intersected with the main sewer just long enough to look and listen both directions then backed off and knelt next to his friend "Anything?"

"Other than a few rats and a couple of the biggest bugs I've ever seen, naw. Right after ya finally crashed, I think me heard a scream, but it was hard ta be sure and it was kind-a… ah… echoy sound. So it could-a been somethin' else. You can sheath the blade, there is still some flickering comin' from a fire from around the grate just down the way." Dario pointed, "Once yer eyes adjust you'll be able to see enough to make out shapes and outlines."

Tazen dropped the blade fully back into its sheath, "What about the kid with the book I took down before I found you?"

"A few moans; nothing more. You must-a hit him real hard."

"I did, twice. But he has a book. Well, I have it, but I took it off him, so he must be a spell-tosser. You ever see him before?"

"Naw, but I bet he's older than us. He's not much bigger than we is, but he has real hair startin' to grow on his upper lip, so he's got to be older than me, probably older than you. No guild pins on him?"

"I didn't find any and I checked him pretty careful like. All I found was the book pouch, street blade, and sling. He didn't even have a coin pouch or travel pack. He must live in the city."

Dario shrugged, "Well, if he spent any time practicing weapon skills at the school, it was probably with those about to reach ascension age. He didn't have no animals, did he?"

"Nope, and neither did the woman he was with. I grabbed what is left of her book after it fell apart. Turned out to be thirty-eight pages, but six are messed up."

"They still might be worth some coin, Taz."

"Oh, I kept them, but this is the first time I have actually seen a spell book die with its caster, so while I know what we were taught about how some of the pages would be damaged and others might crumble, I was never able to really picture it. It's kind of creepy. There were nine other pages that just fell apart in my hands when I tried to grab them, so she had huge spell book."

"Not as many as Master Kormundle has…"

At this Tazen snickered lightly, "I bet the whole reason the Master of the Mage school walks over with a hunched back is how big of a book he carries! He must have way over two hundred pages in that beast!"

Dario nodded, "The book and all the magic junk he carries must weigh more than the gear we carry, fer sure! But I'd sure never want to find out what he can do with all those pages. He's the only one I ever saw my Warrior Adept teachers really scared of."

"Which is kind of funny, cause I have never seen him cast more than an Autospell."

"Me neither, but he has a few I'd like ta learn. I watched him clean one a his student's cloaks with a spell. Me thought it was a real one and asked, but was told by the girl it was just a Cleanse Autospell. Many a us also saw him point at a Swordsman kid in one of the lower classes who was picking on one of his students. A second later the kid sneezed and blasted all sorts of snot out-a his nose."

Further back in the small offshoot, passage Yarnay stood and moved up to the older boys, "I heard you talking. The spell is a learned Autospell called a Booger Burst. I can show you…"

Dario waved his hands back and forth, "No, no thanks… I saw what it did to the kid."

"But I could teach it to you."

"Not quite able ta do the learned Autospells yet, kid. I'm a Warrior Adept, so I needs ta get to Primary to be able to do the bigger Autospells. I'm close, but prob not for 'nother six moons er so before I can put on Primary guild pins and start learnin' the better Autospells." Dario then pointed to the sleeping form of Alkoris, "When he wakes up you can teach him some. He ain't passed Primary yet, but he can cast the learned Autospells. He knows three er four of em, so he's Primary fer sure."

Seeing Yarnay shrug and wipe at his eyes, Tazen grinned even as he reached out and patted Yarnay, "I can't cast nothing, but I'd like to see your Booger Burst one of these days. But shouldn't you be sleeping?"

"I cannot. I keep having really weird dreams."

"The spell our commander cast was nasty, huh?"

"Yes, but the dreams are not about the spell or even all the dead we saw when we helped you get all the stuff off the dead… Um, I am a Tallis Channeler Adept… I know we needed the packs and weapons… um, but I do not know if we should have taken their clothing…"

Dario looked over, even as Tazen pulled the smaller boy down in front of him and wrapped his arms around him, "Kid, Tallis is about life, and we needed the armor and junk off em ta live. Me can't see yer goddess givin' us no grief over what we done. We left em decent fer their meeting with Brandal, or whatever god er demon will take em into the next realm."

Feeling Yarnay slouch into him, Tazen lightly stroked the boy's hair, "Dario's right, Yarnay. We needed the armor, the cloaks, the coats, all of it. You all didn't really think out what you were doing when you pretended to be the others. You should have at least taken your gear and some food. But, Dario's right. We didn't strip them down all the way like those looters were doing. We left them with loincloths and undershirts. It is enough respect for the dead. Now if we was in your palace or wherever you live, then leaving them with more is totally the right thing to do. But you have to understand, in battle, pillaging of the dead, taking their gear and armor is totally acceptable. I can't see Tallis or any other god saying it isn't. We all fought the battle in front of the Green Goblin and we won, so those spoils were ours to take."

Dario pointed back down the tunnel to the tied-up kid, "Just look at what Taz did fer the kid who tried ta take you all. He didn't kill him, none. He even wrapped up his head. You need ta look at what Tallis likes, not what she might not."

"But Tazen killed the woman with the young man by stabbing her in the back, then slicing her throat…"

"Because she was trying to take you, and she had a big spell book," Tazen reminded Yarnay. "I really didn't think I'd be able to take her down head-on, so I took her out the easiest and safest way I could. She didn't suffer none, either. I cut her throat clean and fast after sticking my dagger in her kidney. There's a lot a people who would a left her there bleeding out, or made her talk, give her spells up, and made her talk about her ring too."

"What ring?" Dario all but demanded to know.

"I also grabbed this ring off of her." Tazen reached into his pouch and tossed over a large and well-crafted silver ring with a large chunk of Amber for a stone.

Dario pulled up the Dagger of Light and slightly twisted the handle so he could get just enough light to see it. The first thing he was struck by was in the middle of the smooth orangish-gold stone was a huge spider. While it was somewhat distorted by the amber around it, the spider appeared to have mostly a black body with a bluish tinge on the legs and an enormous red head with huge fangs. "Aw, man, how wicked!"

"Yeah, but be careful and don't put it on. It has some weird marking inside the band and those three tiny bits of light blue gemstone on the back glimmer, but just barely. It has to be pretty much totally dark to see."

Dario looked at the inside of the ring band then covered up his head with his hooded cloak so he could see the minute shine. He handed it back with a shake of his head, "Magic for sure, but it's super wicked lookin'. Maybe the kid ya took down will know what it does."

"Maybe, but I don't know if I'll trust him even if he tells me. He and the woman this came off of was trying to take the three little kids with me."

"Good point, and one thing we's all been told like a thousand times is ta never use nothin' magic till you know what it does, how to get it workin', and how to make it stop doin' whatever it does."

Tazen took the ring back from Dario and slipped it back into his pouch, "I'm awake now. You may as well go crash for a bit."

Dario looked down the small sewer tunnel, "With all the talkin' the little guy is doin'? Not like I'll be gettin a wink with all his yappin'."

"Just think of it as snoring in the barracks."

"Snornin' I can deals with, talkin'… naw. Reminds me a all them homesick kids when me first came ta the school almost fiver summers back."

"Oh, come on you were one of em! Don't forget I was assigned to yer barracks as your intro student."

"Yeah, and you were a mean bastard too!"

"Got extra points and lessons for every one of you I made cry during intro moon. It's what got me bumped up to a bronze chain shirt and a Dwarven Steel primary weapon. But I remember you cryin' and don't say you didn't!”

"Oh, I did, but not cause I was homesick 'er nothin'! My old man lost his shop and almost sold me and my sister ta pay off Master Treg. I just got lucky I had me a Teacher and had new Trainin' guild pins. The city paid Master Treg for me and stuck me in the school. I'm indentured ta be garrison fer six summers after me gets my Primary pins. Not sure how, now, though."

Yarnay spoke up, "If you get us out of the city and back to our commander, I will make sure your servitude is removed."

Dario cocked his head to the side, "Um, kid not sayin' yer not lyin' er nothin', but them papers me had to sign with me old Teacher, was done in the city keep. It be signed by the earl who paid off Master Treg with a big ass pouch a coin and signed over me sister to Treg to take away the rest of me father's debt. Now, I willin' ta bet you know an earl is big noble-type, but ya gots to understands Master Treg is one a the highest and most feared men in Rolling Dale, if not the whole stupid Barony. Ain't no one gettin' me out a that contract, and I ain't wantin' ta break it and be handed over to Master Treg… We all pretty much know him be a Dark Mystic… No, no way I'm goin' ta break contract and be handed ta Master Treg as no slave!"

Tazen put a finger up to Yarnay's lips, to prevent the boy from saying too much. He then shot a smirk over to Dario, "Dar, if there is anyone, anywhere, who could care less who or what signed the contract with you, it would be my commander. But, even he ain't rat piss compared to the father of the boy Yarnay is indentured to. You help me get Yarnay, Kaznal and Sibler safely out of here, I'm telling you what Yarnay just told you is true, more than true, it is guaranteed."

Dario let out a long breath as he stared at Tazen, "You sure 'bout this?"

"Oh, yeah, more than sure."

Dario chewed on his lip for a few seconds, "OK, fine, I'll try ta help, but we's nothin' more than two Primaries, me a high Trainin' and these three who be at best step 2 Trainees?"

Suddenly Kaznal, who had been the one talking in his sleep sat up. As he did, he turned his head in an impossible way, to where it was looking at them, even though his back was to them and focused on Dario, "Oh, young Warrior, ye of little faith…"

Dario and Tazen started to draw weapons, only to have Yarnay suddenly become extremely strong and fast. The younger boy's hands slashed out knocking both older boys’ hands off weapons while he spoke in a female voice, "Stay your hands boys, and listen. There is a battle you are now part of, willing or unwilling, and it is being joined. Frexla has broken the Oath of the Immortals and has entered your realm. This has unfettered the hands of the gods and you are with two of our masters' Channeler apprentices."

Both Tazen and Dario tried to break the sudden holds on their wrists, but it was like trying to pry off steel shackles. The small boy's handholds were unbreakable.

Down the passage Kaznal stood, but it was by no means a normal way to do so. He literally floated off the ground, spun in mid-air and glided close to the near panicked teens, while his head returned to a normal position, "Calm ye racing hearts boys; let this message be heard. You are guardians of one of my Adepts, and the call is going out for all Warriors of Avgon! Because you guard this young form, the calls goes forth to you as well. Join the growing fight, now! For what the rupture point can take, it can also give. Focus on it, feed on it, and find the inner power within and feel it harden!"

Yarnay, still with a female voice, and now brightly glowing, golden eyes, took over, "Yes! Feel the power of Tallis reach in and help you feed off the point of rupture. Allow Tallis to remold your inner spark! Rise up, defend my mistress' apprentice, spread the word, the chains holding back the gods have been unshackled. Frexla and Ixania must pay for their encroachments into the land of mortals. Let your hands help in this task!"

Without warning, the eyes of both younger boys flared and a powerful wave of magic burst outward, illuminating the entire sewer for dozens of meters. Cockroaches and other bugs were violently tossed back well away from the entire group while rats and mice let out what sounded to be terrified squeaks and scurried away. A moment later all was calm, save for Yarnay having fallen sound asleep on Tazen and Kaznal standing in the passage wobbling.

It took some effort for Dario to break Yarnay's handhold on his wrist, but he did so, jumped up and moved over to Kaznal, catching the boy before he crumpled into the ground. "Taz, what in the…"

Off to the side Alkoris sat up, "Wow! I suddenly feel really good! What did you do Tazen?”

Directly across from Alkoris, Sibler blinked, "Is it sunup already? My Force just refreshed like I am super full or something…"

The teen captive also rolled over, "What happened… where am I? Why am I tied up?"

Tazen kept a firm hold on Yarnay, with the hand still clenched in Yarnay's grasp. He blinked out some spots in his eyes, while rubbing his other hand down his face, "Oh, man, what a… I feel all tingly and… I… Oh, geesh! I think I just became Secondary!"

Dario carefully lowered Kaznal to the ground while taking a knee, "If I'm not Primary, I'll eat the bronze chain I'm wearing! What just happened?"

Kaznal's eyes fluttered for a second before popping open, "An Avgon Gust Spirit just happened."

In Tazen's lap, Yarnay finally let go of the teen's wrist as he spoke, "And a Tallis Breath Spirit as well. I feel really dizzy."

A strange breeze blew through the normally stagnate sewer tunnel bringing with it a whispering voice, "Take a few hours to adjust to the added lifesparks you have been given, but do not linger. Join the fight, while staying well clear of where the magical barriers between realms has ripped. Even now, agents of Lormantia, with the aid of Kryplok, are gaining a strong foothold. Find your way out of this village and let others know what is happening within these walls. If ye need help to find escape, seek out the brothers of Premier Kandric, for they can render aid."

Dario looked around, "Who?"

Tazen responded, "A student of my commander, Dar. But I have no idea where they are, who they are, or how to find them. All I do know is I suddenly feel great and as soon as Kaznal and Yarnay are up to it, we need to see what is going on, then get out of here so we can get my commander a report… Um, unless you want to tell whatever just did all this no?"

"Uh, uh!" Dario stated. "First off I don't want ta have what just happened taken back none, and second, the little guy damn near broke my arm. I ain't about to do nothing ta bring back whatever took him over and have it be mad at me!"

***

Conner, Sharris, Nake (HE 14), Tobash (HE 15) Zestolg, Ambrasia, Sarryel, Pontarious, Frenna, Dostem, Other Thunder Rapids Crew + {Gilew Human HE 12, Munder Sil-Drgling HE 11, Quelrik Human HE 10, Vaskar Human HE 14, Gil-Drak Wolfling HE 13}, Gagan

Conner verified the upper levels of the inn were secure before he made his way down the stairs. He let out humor-filled snort at seeing half a dozen men and women of the Thunder Rapids all basically blocking anything past the entryway, while eyeing the five youths from Anarton's farm. With a shake of his head he pushed his way past Ambrasia and moved up to Gilew. He didn't hesitate to wrap his arm around the slightly younger boy, "Great to see you! How many are in the city?"

Gilew returned the hug, "Almost everyone, there is just a handful back at the base. Our lord made most of us break into five man teams. Each team had to infiltrate on their own."

Conner quickly moved to the others giving each a hug, saving Vaskar for the last. He pulled the older boy tight while whispering, "You should have enough control to not have to take a knee to let the gifting go, my friend."

The teen nodded as Conner took a step back, "I tried, but the magic flow…"

"Don't let the twists and turns of the magic confuse you, Vaskar. This is no different than when I worked with you on the Isle of Cyclopes the last time, right by one of the rupture points."

Quelrik, the youngest of the students in the group shuddered, "I was Mundane for three days after I cast there the first time, and a day and a half the second time!"

Conner reached over and ruffled Quelrik's mop of brown hair, "You were warned by both our lord and me, you were too young, didn't know enough about your own magic, and had too much natural talent to try. It is pretty much the same here, but what we have here is a new rupture. This mean all spells have to be cast with concentration and focus in mind, not speed and power. Don't let your spells get out of control and if we find out where the rupture point is, stay away."

Gilew responded, "It's not far from the eastern wall in a merchant area. We felt it as we went by. I have warned them all, and we are not going anywhere close."

"Good, and good to know. So you got in on the east side?"

"Not far from the Eastern wall," Gil-Drak snorted. "Someone made a mess of one of the merchant gates. Looks like it got hit with a siege weapon, er something. Anyway, the guards were forcing a whole bunch of peasants to wall up the damage. We walked up, grabbed some of the rubble and handed it to the masons, then went right on in. The guards figured we were getting more rock, so they didn't even look. Once out of sight, we slipped into an alley. One guard came looking, and Mundar ripped his throat out and we buried him in some trash. It was stupid easy."

"While all the yappin' be interestin' and all," the voice of Gagan came from the back of the inn, "how about's ya all make small talk later! We've got movement below!"

Conner glanced over to Dostem, "Take the others back up top in case this is a secondary feint…"

Gilew shook his head, "No, we heard them talking, the main attack is going to be from under."

"It's Gambra's people we are talking about, Gil. It would not be above them to lie to underlings to further enhance the main thrust of the attack."

"I know… But, the Halforc was supposed to break in the back door as secondary diversion. He was a Teaching Echelon Mystic and both Halflings were Secondary Echelon Warrior Adept Lockmasters with poisoned blades. It took Mundar breathing on them for us to be able to take them so easy."

"Good to know, but we still need to be careful," Conner warned. "Frenna, Tobash, Zestolg, go with Dostem. Keep the other guards upstairs on their toes." He then shot his fellow Wraith Sect Warriors a smirk, "How about joining the welcoming committee for the sewer rat infestation?"

Quelrik adjusted his Eagle Sect Warrior wristbands, "Sounds like fun."

Gilew nudged Quelric, "This is why I took you so early in the team picks."

Conner looked over as he made his way to the room with the cellar door, "You picked your teams?"

"Our lord kept some of the lower Secondary Echelons back, and assigned them to us, so I have Gil-Drak by assignment, but for the others we took turns, each turn was done with alternating who picked first."

"And you took Quel early?"

"Second pick, after Mundar. Everyone was wondering why I took him when there were several higher ranked and older kids still available…"

"By order of the picks I knew I would be one of the first two for the last pick, so I knew I wouldn't have to select Relicam or Sardor, but by taking a Primary step 1 and a Primary step 2 for my first two picks, I guessed right about being given first selection for the final round. Since Vaskar was still there, he was an easy pick. I have the youngest Human Equivalent team, but…"

"No need to defend your choices. You selected a very good team, and getting Gil-Drak for your number two is a huge bonus…" Conner paused as he saw four of the crew standing well back while Sharris' father, Kansnor held up a shield. At the same time, one of the young Mystics held onto the loop of the trap door, ready to pull it up. In Pontarious' hands were two of the metal balls he had the Metal Workers make. Both had a piece of twisted cloth poking up out of the small hole.

Pontarious looked over with an evil looking grin, "Oh, well, I have been wanting to meet some of Conner's friends. Welcome, boys."

All five of Lord Anarton's students stopped and cocked their heads to one degree or the other at seeing such an odd sight. Gil-Drak was first to speak, "Um, sir, are you just going to let them come into the basement?"

"Indeed I am."

"But we could stop them down in the sewers, and they would never get into the inn!"

"Oh, young man, they will not be getting into the inn. The cellar, sure, the inn… Not a chance!"

Gilew moved closer and looked down at the cellar door, "But they'll send up pawns in waves. We will be hard pressed to hold them all back. Then they will send in the bigger and better ones…"

"Son," Pontarious stated with a confident grin, "we will not be seeing their first wave, or even their second."

Quelrik glanced over at Conner who only shrugged, but didn't look even slightly concerned, then moved forward as well. "There are fifteen of us… We can hold the stairs or ladder for quite a while, but…"

Before more could be said, the sounds of the lower secret trap door shattering could be heard. Quelrik's eyes went wide and he started to take a step back, only to have Pontarious grab his shoulder, "Young one, you wouldn't happen to know the Spark Autospell, by chance? I have used up a great deal of Force making potions and other concoctions this eve."

The ten-year-old looked at the kind-looking man staring at him with some befuddlement, "Um, yes, sir…"

"Good!" Pontarious praised while gently giving the boy a reassuring squeeze, "Then how about you do me a favor and put a spark right on the end of this for me?" With a free finger on his right hand, he pointed to the twisted cloth coming out of the large metal ball in his left hand.

"Um, sure…" Quelrik pointed his finger and sent out a Spark Autospell while nervously glancing down at the cellar door. The sounds of people below became louder, even as the end of the cloth took the spark and started to sizzle. It then burned downward with a cracking-popping sound.

"Very nice. Now take a step back, son."

Pontarious eyed the cloth closely for another couple of seconds, then nodded at Mystic girl. The girl yanked back the door while Kansnor moved up with his shield. He slammed the first person at the top of the steps in the face, knocking the man back into the others trying to climb up behind him, then held the shield to block a trio of crossbow bolts and two potions.

At the same time Pontarious dropped the ball down into the cellar while giving a nod to the Mystic girl.

The girl quickly slammed the door down with everything she had, catching four fingers of a hand that was trying to pull himself up. Even as this left four severed fingertips on the ground floor of the inn, Pontarious spun, grabbed Quelrik, wrapped the boy in a hug while flipping his robe around both him and the boy while taking a knee.

A moment later a tremendous glass and wood shattering blast erupted from the cellar, violently flipping the door up and open, and sending a massive cloud of smoke and debris up from below. Pontarious let the rain of bits of cloth, parts of weapons, body parts, and blood fall back to the floor while he wiggled a finger from his free hand in his ear, "Oh, I think I made these a bit too hot! Oh, well…" He stood, pulling up Quelrik as he did so, then held out his other hand with the second metal ball, "Another spark if you would, dear boy?"

The boy was too astonished to do anything other than comply. A moment later the cloth poking out of the top of the second ball started hissing and popping. Pontarious waited a couple of seconds before dropping it down into the cellar, then used his foot to close what was left of the door. He once again flipped his cloak around Quelrik, but this time he moved a few steps further away from the passage leading down before taking a knee, protectively pulling the boy down with him.

Everyone else in the room had seen enough. To a person they all scrambled away from the cellar door, knelt down and put hands and arms over themselves, while whose with shields crouched with shields up. Three seconds later there was a second thunderous roar. This time the trap door in the floor ripped off its hinges and embedded into the ceiling, while the whole building seemed to shake. A few seconds later all was quiet, save for everyone's ears ringing and several people coughing.

Pontarious was the first to stand, pulling Quelrik up as he did so. He kept one arm protectively around the totally shocked and stunned child. He made his way into the other room, grabbed two more metal balls and moved back to the hole in the floor. From below there was sounds of someone whimpering and a couple others moaning, but nothing more. With a shrug, he put the two balls down on a badly blood splattered counter and ruffled Quelrik's hair. "Thank you, son. You did great."

Pontarious then glanced over at an awestruck Gilew with a totally satisfied smile, "See, son, pawn problem solved! So much for wave one and two…" He glanced back at the steps going down, "And probably three."

Spotting Conner staring at him with his jaw hanging down, he shot the boy a smirk, "I did mention a really good Mystic can learn how to use something called Blast Powder, did I not?"

Conner let out a 'pfft' sound and shook his head. Before more could be said, two more rustling sounds could be heard coming from below. Only this time it was hisses and a hauntingly hollow sounding voice saying, "Feed on the dead later my pets There is living above!"

"Undead!" Gilew snarled as he moved forward, "Quel, get behind us!"

Pontarious frowned deeply even as he slid around the corner.

A few moments later the head of a humanoid creature with grayish-green skin, a blackened forked tongue, yellow eyes, and a few matted clumps a hair still attached to it head appeared. Gil-Drak extended his paw-like hand, while making an twirling motion with his pinky and thumb. An instant later a golden-green ray shot out, hit the vile looking creature and caused it to scream with a hiss, even as it put up its clawed hands to its melting face and fell back down the steps. "Ghouls, and they are not new! Back off unless you have magic or silver weapons!"

Well back from Conner, Gil-Drak and Gilew, Pontarious moved back up to a clearly fearful Quelrik and held up another large ball, only this was forged out of silver, "My boy, another spark if you would?"

Quelrik nodded with a quivering lip, stuck out his finger and lit the cloth.

Pontarious moved forward, "Boys, back off."

Gilew looked over his shoulder, "You need silver!"

"One melted candle holder incoming!"

"Oh, for the love of the gods…" Gagan snarled, "Just make sure you hit the hole!"

"Hey, I haven't had any for a while, but my aim is still pretty good!" Pontarious fired back as he lobbed the large silver ball. True to his words his aim was fine. It dropped down the square hole in the floor, even as everyone in the room scattered to find some cover. A few seconds later the building shook yet again, followed by an unearthly scream and dozens of hate-filled hisses.

As the latest round of smoke and dust cleared and partially see-through cloaked creature floated up out of the cellar with dozens of holes in its form, "You…" it weakly spoke with a hollow sounding voice… "you destroyed my entire horde…"

Right behind the horribly wounded entity, a female Gnome staggered up the steps. She wore a dark purple cloak with Master Echelon Mage pins. She glared at Pontarious who eyed the undead floating creature with utter distain. "How dare you wear the cloak of Master Tregasel! I will transform you into…"

Conner's eyes narrowed as he recognized Gambra's second in command, "Master Ta-tara, you have come to the wrong inn and you will do nothing to anyone in it!"

"Conner… Oh, how Gambra will reward me for falling you!" The Gnome spoke in utter delight. She looked over at the floating form, "Wegalem, take the child before you and I will release what Life spark I hold of yours!"

As the floating figure moved right at Conner, Gilew spoke with terror in his voice from behind Pontarious, "Conner, that is a wraith! Back off before it drains…."

Conner stepped up, pushing Pontarious back as the words of the priestess suddenly returned to him, You have tasted the powers of death, but this is not enough to join the coming battle, you must go further, stop playing with it. Instead, embrace it and learn to exhaust it in single bursts. The effect will be the same for you will not wake the dead, but you will find the power generated by such releases devastating to even the most terrifying of foes.

Without warning, and much to the bewilderment and astonishment of the badly wounded wraith, Conner plunged his hand into the center mass of the undead creature. He cringed at the foul taste that suddenly entered his mouth, but focused on the wraith's link to not life, but the power of death within. He pulled his hand back, revealing a bubbling dark mass. Everyone within the inn could feel the hate dripping off the glob even as the wraith let out pitiful howl of total anguish.

The wraith lost its incorporeal form and fell to the floor with a thud. Moments later the body of a Human man, with a hole where his heart should have been reached out toward the mass in Conner's hand as if trying to take it back.

Conner ignored this. Instead he focused and the totally confused Gnome Dark Wraith Mage, "Ta-Tara, you know how to take life, but there is a lesson you did not get. When you don't release the death gifting, part of your life spark is required to keep the link open. But death festers on it. However, this is yours, so by all means, take it back!"

Conner then raised his hand and blew the nasty pulsing black blob in Ta-Tara's direction.

While she had no real understanding of what was going on, she was terrified, for Conner had just done something she didn't think possible. To this end she stuck her arm up to block the shifting, pulsating mass, but as soon it hit her, it attached like a living leach.

She screamed in both horror and terrible pain, as the sickening hunk of undead first took a massive bite, then spread out, first covering her hand like a light sucking skin. It then moved down the arm, onto the chest and continued to spread out over her abdomen, lower body, other arm, then moved up her neck. With each passing moment, her screams became more shrill as agony and anguish was heaped on top of one another in ever increasing amounts.

Conner moved forward and stared at her with zero remorse, "What? You don't like what all those you have stolen and kept the life gift of are doing to you? Did you ever wonder what happened to the bits and pieces of life you ripped out of living things with your dark spells went?

"Well, let me explain so you will understand this is not about me, it is about all those you have so permanently wronged. This is justice for them. And, yes, I will get a massive amount of fulfillment out of what is being done to you and even some pleasure at knowing your fate, still this is not about me."

"What! What have you done?" The Gnome managed to scream out before crumpling to the floor, while trying to swat at the extra skin of death all but covering her.

"You wish to know?" Conner asked with a snort, "Fine, let me explain as best as I can. I highly doubt you've ever wondered what becomes of the little bits and pieces of life you steal every time you cast a Dark Spell or hold on and play with the life gift too long. Now you get to find out. For as you can now feel, those pieces of life didn't just disappear. The physical bodies here withered some with each casting and each theft, but the bits remain in the land of the dead. Each and every one of them know your life spark, and want… need… a chance to live again or become whole. To those chunks of life, your life spark inside an undead creature is a gateway to this ream, but it only went to a dead entity, sending them back to the land of the dead. However, I have pulled your life spark out and gave it back to you along with the link to the land of the dead. This opened a doorway and gives every bit and morsel of life a pathway directly to you. Even now, each Dark Mage spell in your book is linked to you and is being eaten, and with it your tie to the magic within those spells.

"But your misery does not end there, for you made the wraith, and therefore, your life spark is behind the undead, every undead, it made. I am willing to bet this is not the only one, either, so in addition to those you directly stole from, all those of your undead pets prevented from dying naturally are feeding on you as well. How many people and creatures are feeding on you, Ta-Tara? Dozens, Hundreds? Thousands?" Conner's smile was one of total malice, "My bet would be on the later. It will be days or even weeks before they are done with you. You will be left many years aged with no magic within; a Mundane hag with blighted and blistered skin, and surely no voice since you will have screamed yourself into silence long before all the scraps of life finish with you."

Conner grabbed her by the hair, drug her down the steps coated with gore and tossed her down into the flowing water in the passage below the cellar. He came back up and spoke with a note of grim satisfaction, "And now, I believe the scales have become in balance for Ta-Tara."

Way in the back of the room Gagan gulped, "Captain… while your mojo is scary as all nine hells combined, it ain't got nothin' to Conner’s!"

***

King Wyhrem, Klandon, Count Salostar, Baron Greyhammer, Sardan, Sagell, Aster, Bayne, Benam, Quavis, Cresh, Dabaff, Gomriss, Pocet, Captain of the Guard.

Aster looked up as the main door leading into the central keep of the old fortress opened. While he had seen King Wyhrem once, from a distance, the sight of his king coming right at him caused his heart to speed up. He quickly jumped up and pulled down on his leather vest, then started to reach for his axe, but stopped, not knowing what would be considered proper.

Much to his credit, King Wyhrem saw this and motioned for Aster to secure his weapons. "Young one, if you are here with my Watch, you have not only a right, but a duty to be armed."

Aster tried to say something but found his voice was stuck in the back of his throat. He also realized he needed to do something, being in front of a king, but had no clue what it was. To this end he dropped down to a knee even as he secured his axe.

Sardan snickered, "My king, this very well may be a first, for it seems Aster is without words!"

King Wyhrem smile warmly, "Oh, so this is the Aster I have heard so much about. It is a pleasure to meet you while also thanking you for your service to the Junsac Watch."

"Ah… Ah… um, thank you my King… Um…" Suddenly Aster stopped speaking as Bayne entered the room. He stared at the boy for a few uneasy seconds with wide eyes, focusing only his sole attention on the kid. Wyhrem, Sardan and Sagell all noticed this and glanced over their shoulders. The look on Bayne mirrored Aster's.

Before anyone else could speak, Count Salostar moved up and gave a bow, "Great King, if I may once again interject?"

Wyhrem glanced back and forth between the two boys while speaking, "If there is a reason for this sudden uncomfortable feeling between my new son and my esteemed Watch member, please enlighten us."

"King Wyhrem, your Watch member is known to us as well, for he is the elder twin brother of Prince Bayne!"

"My brother?" both asked in unison.

Baron Greyhammer spoke, "Yes, my Princes, Prince Aster, meet your brother Prince Bayne."

Aster spoke slowly even as Bayne moved closer, "I can feel a power in you… a Dragon… many Dragons…"

"Me killed one… but… I feel same in you."

"I killed one, Son. Not me." King Wyhrem stated firmly while moving forward to put his hand steadfastly on Bayne's shoulder.

Bayne looked back, "Sorry, Pa… um, Father… I killed one?"

"Yes, much better and you will be speaking like the high noble you are in no time if you continue to follow my words," Wyhrem praised the youngster.

"Father?" Aster asked in total confusion.

"I took him in as my own after he saved my life, Aster."

Aster's lips turned up slightly, "I am happy for you Prince Bayne… Do you know of our birth parents?"

Seeing Bayne shake his head, Aster let out a sigh.

Wyhrem gestured toward Salostar and Greyhammer, "I believe they can tell you more, son."

Aster eyed the Garm and Alphar for a second, "It doesn't matter. At least I found another brother…"

"Aster," Wyhrem spoke after a few seconds of awkward silence, "you are welcome into my palace…"

Aster managed a thin smile, "Thank you my King, but I am not a palace-type person. Even the free rooms in The Watch hall is more fancy than I like."

Sardan couldn't help but snicker, "He is being very honest, Highness. Aster prefers a forge or being out in the woods. When he gets an inn room, it is in the rougher sections of towns unless we all but demand he stay somewhere nicer."

"Waste of money. I can sleep almost anywhere…"

At this, Wyhrem laughed even as those around him cringed at the possible insult of saying living in a palace was a waste of money. Wyhrem clearly didn't take it as such as he reached out and patted Aster on the shoulder hard, "A sensible lad with a great deal of fortitude! I am liking you more by the moment, Aster." Still chuckling, he reached out and ruffled Aster's hair, "You are still more than welcome to visit my son, your brother, any time. If you prefer, you can sleep in the barracks."

Aster didn't pick up on the looks he was getting from the others, "Thank you, my King, I really don't need a special place to sleep." He then mumbled, "It's waking up in a strange place…"

King Wyhrem nodded, "Waking up in a strange bed is not easy, I fully understand. However, I owe you more than a bed, so if you would like a place near my palace as your own, it can be arranged with a simple command from me."

"My King, I don't see how you owe me anything…"

"Oh, come now, my young Watch member. I do indeed owe you, as a king and more importantly as a father. For I am told it is you and one of your pets who found one of my sons wandering the streets of Junsac in the middle of a storm not unlike the one Syria is pounding us with right now."

Aster looked back pointed over to Shade, "It was all him. If it wasn't for Shade, I wouldn't have noticed."

Wyhrem knelt, while motioning for Shade to come over. He was careful, but still reached out and ran his hand down the coat of the animal. "Believe me, I thank him as well. However, once you did notice, you took action. From what I hear you tended my son all night, not knowing who he was. In addition, you fought an arena battle for him which could have ended your life. For me, as a father far more than a king, what you did for a child you did not know, sends shivers down my spine. There are thousands, upon thousands, of men and women in this kingdom, but it was a boy… you Aster, who stepped up to defended an unknown child, risking your life multiple times to do so."

"I'm a member of The Watch, defending Junsac, the barony, and your kingdom as a whole is part of our pledge. He was in our territory. He needed help, and someone had harmed him. I could not stand by while any of it was going on. But I'm not the one who issued the arena challenge. Pocet did. All I did was jump in and fight with him."

"Aster," Wyhrem spoke with a firm voice, "my advisors have given more than enough information to know you are trying mightily to discount your involvement. While I will be equally thankful to this Pocet, you had to agree for the challenge to go forth. It was your work as a Healthman and the refusal to accept pay, not Pocet's challenge, which forced the arena match. It is also you who took possession of my child without enacting a slave clause over him. By rule of the arena, it was a right you had. Instead you just took possession. This means, again as a father, I owe you. For the stigma of being a slave is not something I can simply get rid of by decree. I can eliminate the title and free a slave, yes. However, as I am sure you know, once a slave always a slave, and you had legal right, because you did not know the boy you fought for to get the papers.

"All you have to do is realize countless members of The Watch were in attendance and saw my son, yet not one of them identified him as such. Certainly this was because he was not known to be missing, was in rags, had long hair, was in poor health, and had been badly tormented. However, I can name five who had met Klandon, who were in attendance, yet did not see him for who he is. You simply did not worry about his birthright. For you, he was not a slave and therefore a free being. You kept him free even though, from my understanding from my new Royal Healthman, the work you performed could have easily been charged to hundreds of silver coins."

Seeing King Wyhrem reaching for a large pouch being held up by his Captain of the Guard, Aster held up his hand, "My King, I didn't seek payment then, and I sure will not now. I did what was needed for a boy who was in need. I would do so again. But the real problem, those who really hurt your son… um, our prince, are still out there. This is not done until I find who did him so much harm and crush them."

Wyhrem still took the huge bulging pouch, grabbed Aster's hand, and pushed it firmly into Aster's fingers. "While I love your attitude and fully agree, Aster; as your king, I decree you do not have the right to refuse payment for services rendered to my son. Therefore, unless you wish to break one of my royal decrees, you will take this. Now, if you would be so kind as to direct me to this Pocet?"

Aster felt the weight of what he considered a small sack, and looked up with deference in his eyes, "As you command, my King. Pocet is in the back room with two of my slaves and who we believe is Prince Klandon, but he thinks his name is Zoldon, and we have been calling him Zoldon since one of my slaves got him to open up and start talking."

Wyhrem scratched his chin, "He is with slave children?”

"My King…" Sardan started to say only to get a hand in his face.

"I was asking Aster, Sardan. Stay your beak."

Aster looked up again, only this time he was somewhat annoyed and it showed in his eyes and voice, "My King, as I just told you they are the ones who got him to talk. At the time I didn't know who he was, but I did know he needed a friend or two. I ordered my slaves, who are close to whatever prince we have, in age, to befriend him. Once we found out who he probably is, I also made it clear to them, they were… are to treat him as a free child, while doing what they could to get him to tell us more. They have done a good job and the prince has even played with them a little, something he wouldn't do before. He was too afraid to even talk until they got him going. Right now, the prince is the only living link we have to whoever or whatever is behind this whole thing. We needed and still need more information out of him if I am ever going to find and destroy who did this. Yes, I did this for who turned out to be your son, but who he is didn't matter to me. I did it for him and to find out who badly needs my axe upside their heads. This, I will not apologize for."

While eyes all around Wyhrem went wide, King Wyhrem nodded, reached down and pulled Aster up. "You, young man, are certainly welcome and even expected to be a regular visitor to my palace. I could use more like you from my advisors, all the way down to those who command my smallest town garrisons. Should you ever want to take me up on my offer to lead a smaller community in preparation for bigger and grander tasks, you have but to ask. Now let us go see my son and the slave boys he is befriending. If they are truly seen as his friends, I will pay you whatever your asking price is, free them, and they can join me and my son as servants and playmates in my palace."

Wyhrem shot Sardan a hard glare as he walked by, "If you had a problem with my son playing with slaves, you should have tried to rectify it as soon as you found out. Since you did not, I believe anything you have to say on the matter has already been said by action, or in this case inaction. Because of this, I will defer to the judgment of the child who saved my son's life."

***

Kandric, Seldnat, Pike, Lorthorn, Jamon, Lacate, Zeltoss

Lorthorn used a large tree to block the wind and snow as much as possible as he took his turn on guard for the small camp. Looked over his shoulder and realized it would take a total fluke for anyone to find it even if they knew the general location. For, as usual, Kandric had used his phenomenal Outdoorsman skills to make it all but invisible. Kandric had everyone pulled the cloths for their tents over the boulders and braced up the edges with a few quickly cut branches making a cave-like structure.

The small fire in the back was blocked by another cloth, so even looking right at the spot with heat vision, there was only a tiny plume of heat rolling upwards, but even this was made more diffuse by the way Kandric anchored the edges of the 'roof' so most areas were well secured, but there were a half dozen spots where gaps had been left. This allowed the heat and smoke to move up, but in several locations instead of one. The end result was each vent released only part of the heat and smoke. The cold wind quickly eliminated both. While someone downwind would certainly smell some smoke, locating where it was coming from would be nearly impossible.

Lorthorn stuck his hands inside his winter cloak to warm them as he moved to verify the top of the rocky ridge was secure before moving back to find another good windbreak for a couple of minutes. He had seen snow storms before, but never one this late in the season and it gave him the creeps. In addition to the snow falling in huge, wet, wind-driven flakes blocking both normal and , the howling of the wind, combined with the cracking and popping of trees, as limbs gave under the onslaught, drastically cut down on hearing.

After nearly an hour and a half, and him badly needing to get warm, Lorthorn made one last walk around the entire perimeter of the camp before waking Seldnat. He was just starting to pull the flap of the cloth structure back to enter when his ears picked up on an odd sound. It sounded like someone calling out, only it was not a normal yell, nor did the voice sound panicked as if someone was lost. He stopped dead in his tracks, pulled the hood of his cloak down and cocked his head to the sides so his ear would not fill with snow, but was still basically listening in the direction of the wind.

After several seconds of nothing Lorthorn shrugged, figuring he had heard a strange whistling of the storm. He reached out for the flap of fabric only to hear it again. "It's got to be wind," he muttered. But instead of dismissing it altogether, he moved his hand down to the Lava Hammer at his belt, slid in the shelter and nudged Jamon and Seldnat, who had been sharing a bed roll for warmth. "Guys, I think I am hearing something…"

Seldnat reached out and grabbed his Staff Spear while nudging Jamon, "Me knows ya got good ears. So do yer pet. Now get yer butt up and goes and hears somethin'."

Jamon rolled out of the side of the bed roll, reached back and grabbed his cloak from under him, and pulled it on. He shoved his feet into his boots and quickly accepted his light mace and whip from Lorthorn, who kept looking back to the entrance with some nervousness. While there was a hard chill to the air, the shelter wasn't horrible. This combined with the trick Kandric taught him about sleeping with his clothing off but with him, so they stayed warm, helped a great deal. He pulled up his hood and quickly followed Lorthorn out into the storm even as Seldnat pulled on armor as quietly as possible.

Off to the side, Zeltoss let out a yawn and looked over, "Problem, or shift change, Seld?"

"Not sure, none. Keep restin', but stays wake fer a bit. Lor 'll tell ya in'f ya needs ta gets up real soon like."

Zeltoss carefully rolled out from the bedroll he was sharing with Pike, so he didn't wake the Garm boy, then slid over, "Here, let me help with your armor."

"Me can get it," Seldnat grumbled.

"Yeah, I know, but if I help you will be in it faster and if there is a problem, you are the one I want beating the crap out of whatever it is." Zeltoss pulled the buckle tight for Seldnat while adding, "This way I don't have to."

"Year gettin' good at it, Zel," Seldnat snickered softly, "but the next big nasty, me'll jus' watch."

"Why?" Zeltoss asked tersely, "You're better at it."

"Ya jus' answer yer own question, Zel. Ya need da practice. If'n it be a real big nasty, me'll step in ta help." Seldnat answered even as Zeltoss helped adjust the shoulder armor, then pulled down on the straps to make it extremely secure. "Thanks fer the help; us'll let ya know if'n we needs help."

Seldnat pushed the bottom of the flap open so most of the trapped heat stayed in and slid out. Once clear, he knelt even as he spotted Lorthorn and Jamon. Both were nodding to each other and pointing right into the wind. Once he was sure he wasn't going to distract them from hearing what he couldn't he stood and moved up, "What's we got?"

"Not sure, but it…" Lorthorn stopped as he heard it again. Seeing Jamon nod and Jamon's Winged Bobcat, Glide, look directly into the snow, he focused back on Seldnat. "Someone or something is calling out, but we can't make it out. The storm is pushing the sound toward us, so it's coming from over there somewhere." He pointed directly into the gale.

"Wind like dis could really mess up where da sounds be comin' from," Seldnat warned. "Lor, ya OK ta stay on watch fer a bit more?"

"Yeah, sure. Um, what are you going to do?"

"Me's gunna take Jamon and the kitty inta dis mess. Him and Glide hear gooder, kind-a like you. Me'll use him and his kitty's ear and do's some scoutin'."

"Then get him armored up. I'm telling you there is something out there."

Seldnat nodded, "Ya help Jamon. Get's warm fer a few. Me'll take watch here."

A few minutes passed before Lorthorn and Jamon re-emerged into the storm. This time Jamon was fully armed, armored, and in warm clothing. Jamon looked over to Seldnat, "Anything more?"

"Orc hearin' no good, ya ought's ta know dat. Nose good, but me gets nothin' in all this Syria throwin' a fit." He jerked his head, "Come on, Jamon. Let's see if'n der be an Orc fer ya ta beat up on. We need's ta get ya to silver pins er gooder!"

Fifteen minutes later and kneeling to take a break from the snow slashing into their faces, Glide suddenly hissed. Even as Jamon's hand went down to calm his pet, he caught the sound. It was someone calling out Kandric, and it was being done in a very taunting way. "OH, KAAAANNNDRRRICCC. I have one of your Human striplings! OH KAAANNNDRRRICCC!"

Jamon looked over to Seldnat who had his hand on his spear, but clearly didn't hear the words being carried on the wind. "Seldnat, someone is calling out Kandric and says he has one of the students."

Seldnat frowned deeply, "Can ya tells how many?"

"One voice, male. It's all I can get… There it is again!"

Seldnat's nose crinkled up as he did his utmost to hear. After a couple of seconds, he shook his head. "Stupid Orc side, no can hear nothin'." He growled deeply, "Ya willin' ta go wake da others, but leave Glide? Him can hear and warn me case me miss 'em."

Jamon kissed his Winged Bobcat on the nose even as he cringed. He didn't want to lose another pet, but he sure didn't want to see Seldnat get hurt. "OK, but take care of him, please."

"Nothin' hurtin' Glide if'n me can helps it none."

Jamon took a breath, "Glide guard Seldnat. Stay close to him."

The Winged Bobcat cocked its head to the side as if trying to figure out why Jamon was telling it to stay. After a second command, it hissed lightly but moved up to Seldnat's side. Even then it looked back as Jamon followed his footsteps back to the camp.

Seldnat took a knee, "Don't ya worry's none, Glide. Ya jus' let me know where's dem fools be. Me'll take care a dem and gets whoever they holdin'."

Jamon pushed back through the snow, happy they hadn't been gone very long, for even in the brief time he had been gone, the trail was being covered by wind driven snow and drifts. He didn’t realize Seldnat had chosen the path they took, to do this very thing, to prevent easy discovery, but it didn't matter. All he cared about was he managed to make it back before all traces of their short trek vanished.

Even as Lorthorn spotted him and moved to make sure he was OK, Jamon took a breath of relief.

Lorthorn's eyes searched into the snow, "Where's Seld?"

"Sill out there with Glide," Jamon stated while trying to catch his breath. "Someone's calling out Kandric and says they have one of the students. He told me to come back and get you all"

"Oh, really?" Lorthorn's eyes narrowed. "Yes, go wake Kandric. Let's see what he says, but if he wants my vote; it is to go kill someone and get whoever they have back."

Jamon nodded, even as he moved into the shelter, "Kandric, we have a problem."

Even as all the other moved and Pike and Zeltoss grabbed weapons, Kandric sat up and looked over, "Something found us in this storm?"

"No, but someone is looking for you and is calling you out. It sounds like they have one of the students, too."

Kandric pushed Lacate away, "Not for long! Where are they?"

"Hard to tell, Kandric. Kind of in the direction the wind is coming from. I can’t tell. Seldnat is out there with Glide, trying to figure it out, though."

Kandric's eyes narrowed, "Where is Lor?"

"On guard…"

"No! Neither of them should be out there, not alone. If something is out in this, they are big, bad and mean. Go get Seld and tell him to come back while I try to find out who or what we are going to send to meet Brandall tonight."

Jamon let out a long breath and hung his head, but didn't argue. Instead he moved back out into the blizzard and followed his footsteps for a second time.

Kandric glanced over at Lacate who was grabbing for his cloak, "Did I say you could get dressed?"

Seeing the boy cringe and drop the edge of the cloak, Kandric smirked. "You dress me as a good chamber boy, Lacate, then you get nothing, nothing at all. Had you first offered to dress me, then asked, I may have said yes, but you do not do what you want without permission. Also, just so you know, I should be sending you out in this mess, not Jamon, but Seldnat is too important to me to risk the message not getting to him. Now get my clothing and help me dress."

As soon as Kandric was in clothing and armor, he pointed at the burned down fire, "Now, Lacate, get some more wood and re-stoke the fire. Once you do, get a meal going. We are going to need it. If you get us fed, I may let you get dressed until we bed down again."

Kandric then focused on Zeltoss, who was getting his last armor straps tightened by Pike, "Zel, join Lor on watch.

"Pike, I want you by me. I need to take a trip into the Spirit Realms, but keep an eye on Lacate. He is to put nothing on until we all eat and he does nothing other than tend the fire and cook. He tries to eat or drink, pop him… hard. He is in his time as a slave and slaves eat after free people do." Not bothering to see if his orders were going to be followed, he put his back to a rock, put his hands around his sword, and closed his eyes.

Lacate saw Pike glare at him so he didn't even reach for his cloak again. Never in his life had he been so embarrassed and helpless, but there was nothing he could do, and he was quite certain the small Garm boy would knock him into next week, or back into last week, if he so much as did anything other then exactly what he was told. Or worse, ask to take him to bed when Kandric didn't want him. All he could hope was whoever was brave enough to call out Kandric would be able to take them all out so he could escape… Even as this thought came, Lacate realized it was a stupid one. Chances were good it would be someone like Moba. At least Kandric wasn't viscious, yet… Even if Kandric and the others were taken out, and he escaped, it wouldn't benefit him, and Lacate quickly figured this out.

Where was he going to go in a storm like this when they were in the middle of the wilderness? He wouldn't be able to make a shelter one one-hundreth what Kandric had done and once any food ran out, then what? He wiped a tear off his cheek as he realized what he wanted, in reality, was for Kandric and the others to win so he could survive… survive to be a servant, a bedding boy, a living toy… Even as he blew on the embers to light the fresh wood, he wondered why he ever thought it had been a good idea and fun to pick on Kandric back in Slome. He also couldn't help but wonder why Kandric didn't just wipe the cobblestone with him and his older brother the first time they teased him and prevented him from getting work.

Lacate paused and got his breath back before blowing on the remnants of the fire, once again trying without success, trying to get the wood he put on them to ignite. The very fact he could not get glowing embers to start a fire reminded him just how badly he needed Kandric. It was not fair in the slightest to need someone who had such total control over him and took pleasure out of using him. Helplessly, he back off coughing, just long enough to get his breath back before he put his face close to the campfire and blew again.

While Pike kept careful watch on Lacate, Kandric slipped into the Spirit Realm. He quickly found both the mist and wind spirits he had befriended close by. Before they could call on more powerful one to teach yet another spell, Kandric held up his hand, "Guys, I hate to ask for help, but I need it if you are willing."

"You have but to ask, Kandric." The mist spirit stated.

At the same time the wind spirit spun, "Yes, ask. We have gained much by being your friend. We have both learned much from our elders and are much better because of it. We are even accepted by each other's elders, so I may even become able to be a fledgling storm spirit."

"And me a geyser spirit." the mist spirit responded with glee. "We will no longer be minor and looked down on."

"Whoever or whatever is looking down on you is also looking down on me. Tell them as much and the next time I slide in for a talk have them come discuss it with me."

The wind spirit nervously giggled before moving over to the fire and sending a swirl of wind around it, brightening the hot embers and igniting the wood, forcing Lacate to fall back on his butt while staring at the fire with wide eyes. It giggled, "Now the near Mundane can feed you."

Kandric chuckled, "Thanks, but next time no singeing his hair. As it is, I am going to make him grow it out, so I have some to play with in bed. Besides, no one looks good without eyebrows."

The wind spirit swirled around the small fire causing it to flare a second time before backing off, "Your servant needs to learn how to stack wood so it burns better, but if you want him with long hair, I will be careful to blow it back next time."

"With a bit of warning I can dampen it as well and keep eyelashes and eyebrows safe," the mist spirit joined in. "However, I do not see may spirits willing to confront you, Kandric."

"Yes, he is correct." The wind spirit stated while making the flames dance around the shelter in whatever direction Lacate moved just to make him more nervous than he already was. "It is probably not going to happen. Most are afraid of you, even some of the great spirits. Between the Dragon kills and what you have done in Spirit Realms, you are a considered beyond a mortal, but word has come to us one of your brothers has made his mark in the realms of Kryplok and Brandall in a way not seen since the Mythling Wars, so your line is quite simply not one most outside the Mortal Realms want to trifle with. Those who have and will are by far the exceptions."

Kandric watched Lacate have to continuously move away from the fire, over and over with an ever-growing smirk, "While I love your humor, it is not allowing him to cook for us."

"So I can mess with him some other time?"

"As long as he is not in my bed or directly trying to serve, by all means, have fun. But right now, I am told there is someone out in this mess trying to call me out. Any chance you can safely find out who or what and see if it or them have one of my Slome students?"

The two spirits spoke in unison, "Be right back!"

Kandric spent a couple of minutes learning yet another spell, this time from a rather cranky and old magma spirit, before returning back to his body. He glanced over at Lacate who was putting meat on a small pan and cautiously trying to warm it while eyeing the fire suspiciously. He couldn't help himself, "Come on, Lacate, get cooking already, the fire is very small and poorly stacked. It is not going to bite you."

"But it keeps blowing toward me!"

Kandric had to force any trace of a smile off his face and he stared at the nude boy, "How? I sheltered this place from the storm, and I sure do not feel any breeze at the moment."

"But…"

"I guess you do not want any clothing until we move out again. Whatever."

Next to Kandric Pike leaned close even as Lacate bit back a sob and wiped at a few new tears, "It did seem to jump at him a few times."

"I know it did. The more I use lack of clothing as a punishment, the easier it will be for him to accept what he turned himself into. Until he stops tightening up every time I touch him or trying to edge away, he will not make a good bedmate, and he is. I am not sure how you feel about this, but regardless of what he wants or likes, he is going to be my primary chamber servant until he works himself out of his servitude with me. In addition, I am going to make sure everyone in Slome knows it."

"He gave himself to you, so what you do with him is none of my concern. One thing if certain, his usefulness as anything but a house servant is extremely limited. Maybe we can change him, but right now he is more of a liability than he is of use. Having a cook, and a camp hand is outweighed by how much he slows us and the fact we have to protect him from others as well as himself. I had no idea people outside of Garm and Alphar lands could have so little backbone. In Winter Creek, a child like him would be declared non-child by nobles and discarded by the peasants to fend for themselves or possibly even sold to a brothel. For the luckiest, life would be as a very low-level man or woman servant getting food and a robe, while tending to young or elderly until death. For most, the wilds of the lands shrouding the empire would claim them. A crippled, malformed, or badly injured child is held in higher regard than one like Lacate. At least their lack of use has reason and is in no way their fault. Charity is given when needed, but it is not acceptable for a being with a working body and mind to depend on others. There is always work and pay, even if it be removing waste dirt and rocks from mines or pulling wagons of trash and waste out of settlements. A sewer cleaner has more standing than one such as Lacate." Pike snorted, "In some ways thieves and brigands garner more respect, for at least they are willing to take risks."

"Those with wealth often have children who never have to learn basic skills. The family pays for what is needed. It is not the same in Garm lands?"

"No, every child, no matter what family or wealth is expected to make a name for him or herself. Every Mundane Garm and Alphar noble I know of must serve as a hand for the military for sixty moons; those of us who are not Mundane must apprentice out and serve thirty moons. While I am far from age of ascension, it was better to ask to get my thirty moons out of the way than go home when my ship was in port to a father who found extra work for me around the estate since I was not working or being useful. Trust me, serving as a runner and having to work in the ranks as a gopher is infinitely better than the tasks Father found for me while I was in port.

"Even our guild rankings are different than yours. In Garm and Alphar lands I am considered to not even be truly guilded. I am a schoolboy, in preparation for training. Your Primary Echelon is our Training level. Your Secondary, we call Proficient, and it is not until we reach Proficient we are considered to have advanced enough to be worthy to the Empire. One of the reasons I was so astonished to be given the opportunity to be your Garm counterpart is more about me only being Preparation Status, than being assigned to counterpart such a high noble."

"I am not a noble…"

"Kandric, you are self-made royalty. Your heritage is below what you obtained without any help from your family. This puts you on a king or emperor platform no matter what land people are from. The last time we had this in the Mortal Realm was probably the Highman Warlord Greysac!"

"Oh, come on, no way should you even mention me with him. He was quite possibly the greatest warrior king of all time, even the gods and demons feared him! The Demon Lords even sent their pawns into the Mortal Realms in an attempt to ruin him. All it did was make him mad. He fought back, killed a few powerful demons, and rebuilt. His name is all over our maps to this day!" Kandric stated while waving his hands in front of himself. "But enough about me, what would happen if a high merchant child in your lands acted like Lacate? What if a parent used wealth to keep him as comfortable as Lacate has been up till a few short weeks ago?"

Pike shook his head, "The merchant would be scoffed and would lose most customers, if not all of them. No one would take the merchant seriously ever again. We live in dangerous lands and must keep others out; so all see at least one major combat, most two or three, even our Mundane. Those who break, cannot keep up with the formations, or fail to serve honorably are given a very small stipends if their families can afford one, and are removed from the house lines, permanently. They then find work or… well there is no real tolerance for an able-bodied beggar."

Before more could be said, the air grew noticeably more humid. Kandric held up his hand to stop Pike. A moment later his body slumped and he re-entered the Spirit Realms.

In the Mortal Realm Pike watched Kandric's body go limp. With a shake of his head, he glanced over at Lacate who was watching with confusion. "He slid into the Spirit Realms."

"But I thought only the best could and it took time, right?"

Pike looked over at Kandric, then back at Lacate, "I have seen extremely powerful Shamen inside their spirit lodges who could not do in an hour what Premier Kandric can do in seconds, Lacate. This is not some strange fluke, either. For this is the second time in half the time of an hourglass he has done it and he does so effortlessly. You may want to keep this in mind as you serve him, for he is probably powerful enough to take your spirit with him and strand you there. I have heard of such things, but only a handful are rumored to have such powers. After seeing this, I am willing to bet Kandric is in said handful. Therefore, the next time you shrink back from his touch, procrastinate in washing him, dressing him, or pull away from him, consider he can almost certainly do things with not only your body, but your spirit. You gave yourself to him, and thus he controls the physical such as clothing, eating, rest, and even your body. Unfortunately, you gave yourself over to someone who also has control over your spirit. On this I can only go on what I have heard. However, I can tell you it is widely believed and accepted most Shaman are considered to be outsiders and encroachers when they venture into the spirit lands. They are tolerated, barely. I cannot imagine how the immortals view non-Shamen mortals who are pulled into the spirit lands, nor do I ever want to find out. Now, while you consider this, get us a meal. For I am betting our Premier is about to find out who we are going to have to go kill for even suggesting harm to one of his students."

Kandric could tell by the way both spirits were acting, the news was not going to be good. With a deep breath he braced for bad news, "I can tell by the looks and actions both of you are not really wanting to tell me what is out here with us. Just do me a favor and tell me if whoever or whatever has one of my students."

"One of yours and one from the other Slome School, plus two we do not recognize, but close to your equivalent age." The wind spirit spoke with trepidation.

"I will take this as good news, since I have yet to find one since separating from the small party led by the Swordsman Klent. Now, you may as well give me the bad news, for you both must know I am going to go after whatever has my student."

"Kandric," the mist spirit stated softly, "the two boys are being held by your grandfather."

At this Kandric blinked, "What? How? Surely Duke Mathard would not let him…" Kandric's voice stopped as he saw both seem to diminish in intensity, as if they were cringing. "He is not with Duke Mathard, is he?"

"No." The wind spirit whispered. "It appears he defected. One of the reasons it took us so long is we tried to find others who know or saw what happened, but they all seem to not want to talk. We believe there is something else going on as well, and we are not privy to it. I guess we are not seen as strong or important enough."

"One thing at a time, my friends," Kandric all but demanded. "Let us focus on the problem at hand first. I gather by your nervousness; my grandfather is not alone?"

"No," the wind spirit stated, then backed off and let the mist spirit take over.

"Kandric, he is holding the two boys you know with the assistance of several White Dragonlings and a Warrior Dragon. Before you shrug at this, they are being backed up by Prince Weraweld."

The name meant nothing to Kandric and it showed as he turned up both hands and spoke in total befuddlement, "Who?"

The wind spirit let out enough air to blow a few items around the shelter and accidentally fan the flames, forcing Lacate to jump back, while looking around wildly. This was ignored by all three in the Spirit Realms, "Kandric, Prince Weraweld is considered the front runner to be the next king of the White Dragons. It is believed he has mated with all four known White Great females over the last thirty years, which is all but unheard of, but he really is as scary as they come. He is on par with the most powerful of the Greats, and has the size of King Blathamort. He is nowhere near as old, though, so he is not slowed with age."

The mist spirit seemed to shrink inward. "Prince Weraweld has taken out two Great Silvers, at least five True Silvers, and probably a score of Silver Warriors."

Kandric's eyes narrowed, "So not only has he helped to take my student, he is a major enemy of one of my allies. He needs to die."

"Kandric," the wind spirit stated with a great deal of concern, "we guessed you would say this. However, this is not like the others. You have no surprise. Prince Weraweld knows who you are, what you are, and is very much ready to take you on."

A sly smirk crossed Kandric's lips, "Tell me, is the big clearing down the hill from us a lake, and if so how big and deep?"

"It is a very large lake." the wind spirit responded. "How deep I cannot tell you."

The mist spirit spread out some, "Give me a few moments. I will be back."

A minute later it returned, "The edges are shallow. The middle is deep, dozens of meters, but uneven. It has many massive rocks on the bottom. The entirety of the surface is frozen to a depth of a third of a meter. You cannot be thinking of trying to lure Prince Weraweld out onto the lake… Are you?"

"I most certainly am. First I need to know if my assumptions are correct. Will he radiate enough cold to not break the ice?"

"He will be able to walk across it and freeze it deep and hard enough to where his claws will barely scratch the surface," the wind spirit confirmed. "If you go out there, he will have you in the open."

"Which is exactly what gives me an advantage."

Both spirits pushed well back from Kandric, "Huh?"

"Ah, my good and loyal friends, gather a few of the others and place bets on this, offer yourself as servants if I lose, and demand power if I win. I promise I will do my utmost not to disappoint you."

"If we do this we cannot help," the mist spirit warned.

"I understand. I already have a plan… I just need to figure out one thing. Stick around while I go talk to Pike. I will be right back."

Kandric's eyes snapped open and his quickly turned to look at Pike, startling both the Garm and Lacate.

"Premier," Pike spoke, "you just took a decade of my life away… and the flames are…"

"Oh, probably my windy friend. He is a bit nervous."

Lacate gulped, "There are spirits here?"

"Of course there are!" Kandric remarked offhandedly. "They are friends and are close by most of the time. Nothing to concern yourself with. Now get a meal finished. We have a large blob of nasty frost to deal with and I would prefer to do so with a decent meal in me."

Kandric quickly turned his attention back to Pike, "Duke Mathard told me almost all Winter Creek Garm are taught how to fight White Dragons. Is this correct?"

"From my first day of combat training, yes… Um, why?"

Kandric debated on how much to tell Pike. Part of him wanted to give out all the information, but if Prince Weraweld was as well known as it sounded, chances were good it would terrify his new friend. To this end he stuck with basic facts and downplayed the true nature of the coming fight. "It seems the person holding my student and three others has the help of a large White lizard and few smaller White kind."

"A real Dragon? Not Dragonlings?"

Seeing Kandric nod, Pike gulped, "As in like a Warrior Dragon?"

"At least, yes." Kandric stated without feeling too badly. After all he had been told there was a Warrior Dragon out there too. "Does it matter if it is a Warrior Dragon or a bigger one, though?"

Even as Pike stared at him in semi-disbelief at the question, Lacate answered, "You're serious? There is a real Dragon out there and you are going to go after it? Are you insane?"

"Probably," Kandric grinned. "Come on Lacate, you cannot tell me you do not want to see a Dragon…"

"I did!" Lacate sputtered out with horror. "It was gigantic, Green, and had claws almost as long as I am tall! It opened the passage to get us here!"

"Oh, yeah, right…" Kandric shrugged, "But, Lacate, it was Green, this one is White. I bet they look totally different!"

Pike shook off some of his stupor as he looked over with wide eyes as it dawned on him Kandric was dead set on taking on a White Dragon, "We have to study Dragons, and yes they do look different than Greens. Greens have long twisting horns and really long wings that have claw-like hooks along the front edges where they fold. Whites have a much more sleek head, sharp horns pointed forward, and their wings are shorter and wider. The front edges of the wings are grooved and flex. We were told in our first class this allows them to fly in storms, since they can wiggle the entire length of their wings and break off built up ice."

"All White Dragons, regardless of size, have these wings?" Kandric asked with a great deal of interest.

"From what we have been taught yes… Um, why?"

"Is there a weakness we can target on the wing?"

Pike sputtered and coughed, "Yes… But… NO! We will have to purposefully get right up on it to strike, Kandric!"

"Geesh, Pike, give me a little credit. I guessed as much."

"Ahhh…." Pike shook his head, "I… oh, for the love of Brandall, take me in even though I am about to die a stupid death… Um, can you at least tell me why you want to get close enough to strike at the wing of a Dragon, when it will not do any real damage and seriously anger it?"

"An angry foe is a careless one. Besides, taking away its ability to fly, even for a short span is the final key to my plan. And yes, I know getting up close and personal is pretty much going to be required. Where is your sense of adventure?"

Pike and Lacate exchanged duplicate looks of dread even as both lost their ability to coherently think, let alone talk.

"Hey, Pike, come back to me, buddy."

It took a few more seconds for Pike to recover his wits enough to speak, "Very well, Kandric, I will tell you and even help. However, if we live… very big if… you owe me an adventure on my terms!"

Kandric rubbed his chin as he stared at the Sailor guild pins with a great deal of foreboding, "Fine, bargained well and done, my friend. But if I am going to put myself in your hands for what I can only guess is going to be a very unpleasant ship ride, you are going to help me take out a wing… or two."

"Two?" Pike eyed Kandric suspiciously, "Two, huh? Oh, why not. It is not like I am likely to live through the first wing anyway."

"Wing? What wing?" Seldnat demanded to know as he pushed through the flap. He quickly stopped and sniffed, "Don't bother, none. Me smell bacon!" Without another word he moved up and nudged Lacate hard, "No spillin' da grease! Be good ta dip me bread in!"

Pike couldn't help but nervously giggle, "Food first?"

"No!" Seldnat all but shouted, "Bacon!" Without saying anything more he shaved of a long piece of wood from a branch in the pile, speared one of the cooking strips and held it up to cool just a little. He then held it up while cocking his head way back, letting the drips of grease drip directly into his mouth. He then bit off pieces before skewering a second piece and duplicating the process, "Ya wants me ta guard, ya feeds me like this, ya gots a guard fer life!"

Pike couldn't help but snicker. "I bet I could get some of the Garm to invite you over with an attitude like you are showing."

"Me'll even show up fer bacon." Seldnat put down two more hunks, then broke out some travel bread. He dipped the edge into the pan, ignoring the hot splatters, tore off a huge chunk with his teeth, and all but inhaled it. "Oh, yea! Now what’s me hearin' 'bout a wing?"

Lacate pointed over to Kandric, "Dragon wing."

"Ya mean me gets ta do somethin' this time?" Seldnat asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I need a couple volunteers to damage its wing," Kandric verified. "Pike is one. I need one more."

"It be 'bout time me gets ta join in. Me done nothin' wit them stupid lizards up ta now!"

"Then you and Pike get to hurt the big one for me."

"Der be more than one?"

"Two, but the other is small."

"Me no gunna argue none, Kandric, but if'n ya wants one a us ta take on the small without yer help…"

"I would prefer you help take the wing on the big one, then you can go play with the small one, Seldnat. I have a plan, but it will take quick hard strikes and then moving fast to get out. I was kind of thinking Lor and Zel could keep the smaller one busy with Jamon's help. But you will have to join them right after you hit the wing, because I am going to be real busy with the big guy."

Lacate looked over, "What about me?"

"You stay here, keep the place warm and have another meal ready for us. We are going to need it."

***

Vondum, Conth, Black Warrior Dragon Ornam, Alphar boy Cam'ris, Duke Axegrind, Hawkling Channeler, Vondum, Kyltoss, Klorna, Morwar, Mokel, Princess Syrissia

Vondum stared at the Mythling Gate Stone with a shake of his head. While the idea of being gated to some distant spot by magic was simply not among the things Vondum felt should ever be done, at least the last time he had used the stone, Kandric had activated it, and he had total confidence in Kandric's abilities. Even more important, Kandric joined him. This time he was trusting an unknown Alphar woman, who was simply opening the gate and walking away. In his way of thinking a single miss-casting, or in the case mispronunciation of spoken rune, could send him somewhere he had no desire to be, like in the middle of an ocean or even a hundred meters up in the air. Making matters worse, there would be no way of knowing for sure until it was too late.

Since there was nothing he could do about it, and he had to agree with the Alphar and Garm commanders about Kandric needing a strong and trusted face or three to tell him about his brothers, he patiently waited for the woman to do her thing. At least there was some Alphar princess joining them, so he bet the woman playing with the green pyramid was going to be very careful. With nothing better to do, he glanced over at Ornam and spoke in Dragon tongue, "My last trip through was bitterly cold and we are going to be jumping into a snowstorm from what I have been told. Are you sure you wish to join us?"

"I would be sorely remiss in not taking an opportunity to meet this Premier Kandric, supposed killer of my king, Vondum. If everything we believe is true about this young Shaman, his name will go down in legend! How could I now miss a chance to say I met him?"

Vondum smiled and patted the Warrior Dragon hard on the side, "It is good to have you around me again, Ornam."

"Likewise." the Warrior Dragon smiled while nudging Conth forward with his left front foot. "Stay awake, young rider. We will find a time to rest once our mission is complete."

Vondum switched to the Northman tongue as he sent a nasty glare at Conth, "There will be little rest for him if he doesn't straighten himself up. He has not been awake even a full cycle of the sun and moon yet. By the time I am done with him in my tent, he will really need rest!"

Ornam glanced down at Conth and spoke to him with thought, Now is the time, boy. Release your fear. Get angry. Deal with what you know is coming and I will take you as my rider.

Conth closed his eyes as he fought the desire not to puke from pure fear, but he also knew this might be his only chance to get out from under Vondum. To this end he clenched his fists and turned toward Vondum, "You're going to take me, so stop threatening me, and just do it already!"

Those gathered around the gate stone all turned their heads to observe even as Vondum's eyes narrowed, "Are you telling me what to do, boy?"

A slight smirk appeared on the upper edge of Ornam's mouth opposite of Vondum so the man could not see it. Do not back down. It is now or never. Besides, the line has been crossed; if you crumple to him now, he will make a long and painful example of you for finding the fortitude to speak up.

It took everything Conth had to not fall to his knees and try to apologize. At the same time, he really wondered why the Dragon didn't help him by pulling away some of the fear he had wracking his very core. After a few moments, however, he realized he was on his own with Vondum. While this suddenly seemed like a really bad idea, beyond bad, he also realized Ornam was correct. He had stepped over the line and it was either stand his ground now or have Vondum's boot on his back for the rest of his life. His Mindmaster ability also told him a bit of insight as to the threatening posture of Vondum. While the man was furious, there was a tiny amount of hope within the bubbling anger. For even as Vondum put on his most intimidating and threatening face, a small fraction of him hoped the boy in front of him had finally found a spine.

The problem was, this same intuition also told Conth he was going to pay for this, and it would be brutal. What was done, was done, and there was no doubt he would pay for speaking out. With this knowledge in hand, he tossed aside the fear and went for broke. He stepped up to meet Vondum and forced himself to look into the man's eyes. "I can't tell you what to do, and you know it. You had me give you my word. I would be whatever you wanted, but I am done with being threatened! Do what you are going to do, kill me, whatever, but I'm done falling all over the place every time you hold taking me to bed over my head. Each time, I hand over more of my self-respect, and I am done with it!"

While there was no outward sign of joy out of Vondum as he grabbed the front of Conth's shirt and lifted him off the ground with a single hand and held him high, Conth detected a glimmer of warmth within the man. It was a feeling of… it took a few seconds for Conth's mind to really figure it out, but finally the word came… It was a feeling of respect. It was the same one Vondum had when dealing with Kandric and to a lesser extent even Jamon. It was then it dawned on Conth who the real Vondum was. He was a man who had no admiration for anything or anyone until those around him gave him a reason to see them as something other than a weak, spineless, worthless hunk of meat to be stepped on. For in the man's eyes, everyone and everything was nothing more than tools to be used and abused until they proved otherwise.

This had been what the time in the forges in the Black Dragon land had taught him. Most kids came in and folded. They were weak and worthless. A few, very few, were like Vondum. They toughed it out. Those were the ones who were something more. Becoming an enforcer only heightened this belief. The vast majority crumpled under his torment. Those who dealt with it and persevered were worthy. Few who entered to get 'free training' made it out as free and trained beings, but those who did had Vondum's respect.

Life after the forge was no different. The strong didn't let fear or adversity cripple them. The rest were nothing to Vondum and never would be. It was this code, developed in the depths of the Black Dragon underground forges, which lead to him turning his back on his younger brother. In Vondum, his brother had betrayed himself by succumbing to fear and thus deserved whatever happened. Quite simply, there was nothing there to admire, and in Vondum this trumped all else.

This insight allowed Conth a deeper glimpse into Vondum's mind and led to the reason Jamon was treated so differently by Vondum. Quite simply, Jamon had earned a slight amount of respect by making the forced walk back to Vondum's camp. This gave his cousin a chance to earn more. In this Jamon had come through. The slave training, and the beat down he had gotten at the hands of Jamon, followed by the whipping… All of it had earned Jamon more respect from Vondum while the massive man only held Conth in more distain. Up till now Conth realized he had done nothing to earn a shred of anything but loathing of his weak will. All Conth's attempts to placate the man had done the exact opposite. Each time he had a chance to show Vondum something, he had failed. He could have tried to go after Jamon, even if he got pummeled a second time. Doing so would have sent a message. He could have tried to stand up to the whipping, too. Sure he would have failed, but there was also a chance Vondum would have stopped it early. For he suddenly saw it in the man's thoughts. Vondum had stayed right outside, waiting to see if Jamon would balk or if Conth would try to stand up and take it. When neither happened, Jamon improved in Vondum's eyes, while Conth fell even further.

It was twisted, but it was a deep code of honor within Vondum. As all these pieces fell into place, Conth saw, or at least understood one more thing. Vondum would indeed take him. It would be awful, it would be brutal, but if Conth could force himself to endure it and bravely deal with the next time or three, the man would tire of him… no, tire was not the right word. Vondum would find him worthy enough to let go, to free him of his servitude. The hard part would be to stand tall and accept it when Vondum came back for a second, third and every time after until he had climbed up high enough on the ladder Vondum measured people with. Once Conth climbed high enough, Vondum would see him as… Conth wasn't sure of the word, but he would be free of the man's wrath and therefore, be free.

Once Conth figured this out, he also understood there was hope for pretty much everyone Vondum looked down on. Even the poor boy back at Vondum's camp could do the exact same thing, but probably never would. The kid would never crawl out from under the boot of oppression. In Vondum's mind, the kid deserved what he was getting and even after decades of turning the kid into a young boy over and over, there was still this tiny sliver of hope the kid would eventually do what Conth had just done and say 'enough'.

Conth was so wrapped up into this deeper understanding of the man holding him, it took him a few seconds to realize the man was shaking him violently.

"Tell me you are sorry, Conth! Tell me you take it all back, you pathetic little whelp!"

"No!"

The shaking stopped and Vondum pulled Conth's face right up to his own, "No? Did you just tell me no?"

"I did! You want me to do something, fine. I gave my word I would. I will be whatever you want. But I'm done cowering to you. Do you hear me? I'm done!"

A slight grin appeared on Vondum's face even as he tossed Conth to the ground hard and drew his blade, "How about I kill you?"

Conth eyed the blade for a few seconds. He came close to breaking down and begging for his life. The problem was, he knew if he did, he would basically be ending any chance of being free and thus having a real life. Death may well be better. He then thought back to the claw hovering ever so close to his eye. What was the point of being afraid of being killed when the man could do it now, an hour from now, a year from now, or fifty years from now, after turning him back into a little kid for the tenth time? His life was over if he stayed under the man's control. "Then kill me. I can't stop you, and you know it. Living like this isn't really living anyway!"

As suddenly as the blade appeared it was resheathed, "Killing you is a waste, boy. You have use as a bed warmer and are worth coin to me. Get your scrawny hide up and get ready to go. Another word out of you until I say you can speak will get you lips smacked clean off your face!"

Vondum turned back toward the gate, "Come on, get us down to Kandric before I change my mind and gut this little cretin!"

Even as all eyes slowly turned away from Conth, Ornam sent a message, Very well done, boy. Your torment is not done, but the first step is the biggest. The braver you are in the coming days will do much to determine how long it takes for Vondum to offer you to me for coin. I will free you and make you my rider and together we will become a pair and in no time be the ones spreading terror instead of you being afraid.

Seconds later Vondum reached over and put his arm around Cam'ris, "There, my new squire, is how to handle fear. I believe my slave just found his spine. Time will tell, but he very well may have just started down the road to freedom."

"You are not angry at him?"

"Should I be?"

"He spoke back to you."

"He did, but it was not something I forbade until just a moment ago. If he says a single word until I let him speak again, I will punish him dearly. However, he kept his loyalty to me. He said he would do as he was told. This is what a slave is to do. However, he has little use as a cowering whelp. His fear was crippling to him. Your first real lesson under my tutelage has just been given. Fear nothing, ever."

"Fear can be healthy, though…"

"No, fear is debilitating. When facing a superior foe, you need to respect its power and ability. The second you fear it; it has you beat. So, to fully answer your question, Respect, yes. Fear, no."

Cam'ris reached down and scratched the head of his new Tundra Wolf with one hand and patted the side of Blue Streak with his other even as he looked up at Vondum, "So at what point is it acceptable to flee a lost fight or fall back against a superior force?"

"Very good questions. Both have the same answer."

"What is it?"

"Over the next several years of squiring for me, you need to find and give me the answer… not in words, but in deeds. For until you do, you will not be released from my side to move on as an adult in this world you are about to fully enter. Until then, there will be extreme consequences to you for letting any fear drive your actions or reactions to anything we do or any opponents we face. Fear is for the weak, and you, my fine lad, are anything but. However, should I find any trace of weakness in you, it is my job, my duty, as your chosen mentor, to stamp it out. And believe me, my fine looking boy, I will stomp hard should it become necessary."

He then turned back to look at Klorna, "Make sure Cam'ris and Conth get through, but send them late. I want to make sure the way is clear or at least any threats are engaged before they join us." Without further comment, he stepped toward the portal as it opened, determined to be the first one through.

Klorna moved up to Cam'ris' side, "I'm betting you’re having second thoughts about agreeing to squire for him, huh?"

"Even if I was, I think I just found out I am not allowed to show any fear of it. Therefore, I must respectfully answer no to your enquiry."

Klorna snickered, "Very good answer, lad. Very good indeed! I'm betting Kandric will like ya!"

Vondum ignored what was being said behind him. His only concern was to secure the way for those behind him. He stepped out into the wind driven snow with only the briefest of pauses. A half dozen Garm and an equal number of Alphar moved forward, but he still stepped forward undaunted. "Halt your advances and summon Duke Mathard! I am escorting Princess Syrissia, and will make the snow run red should you make a single threatening move toward her!"

Vondum was followed by Ornam, the Hawkling Channeler of Avgon, Klytoss, a Garm officer, and Princess Syrissia. They were then joined by Mokel, and Morwar. Klorna gave it a couple of seconds, "Boys, get yer hides through before Vondum get mad at me.” She then quickly followed.

Klorna stepped out into a horrible storm, but the weather was secondary to the massive camp, although massive was not really the proper words for it. The war camp all but surrounded a large lake, and while the snow drastically cut back on her vision, lit torches, camp fires, streaming banners and tents of all shapes and sizes could be seen in every direction as far as she could make out. The faint glimmer of more distant fires told her what she could see was a sliver of what she was in the middle of.

Mathard appeared out of the blowing snow wearing only armor and a light cloak. He didn't even have gloves on and his lower arms only had Dwarven Blue Steel guards, with no protection under or over them. While his beard had ice hanging off of it, he didn't look even remotely cold. "Princess, it is an honor to welcome you to the war camp. General Vondum, thank you for your steadfast protection of our esteemed princess!"

"My duty needs no mention, Duke Mathard, but I thank you for your words nonetheless. I believe we need to go speak to Premier Kandric while the good princess gets acclimated."

"As soon as we find him…"

"He is not in the war camp?"

"No. He took his core group out to scout in hopes of finding some of his students before the furies of Syria fully moved in. At least this far south, it is only wind and snow, with little cold."

Vondum snickered as he noticed several turn and stare at Mathard in disbelief, including the Warrior Dragon, Ornam. "My good Duke, while you may find this balmy, many in my entourage do not, at least not yet. In addition to the less than optimal conditions, the Gate Stone passage is not exactly what anyone can call comfortable. Is there a place they can settle in while we try to figure out how to locate our Premier in this mess?"

Once Vondum got a nod out of Mathard and the Duke motioned for the group to follow, Vondum turned sharply, "Cam'ris, Conth, you are with me. Neither of you are to leave my side until I decide exactly what I am going to do with Conth. Cam'ris, should Conth utter any words, you are to punish him… violently…"

***

Yarnay (9yo Druid Gem Channel: Tallis- Klandon's WB), Sibler (9yo Mystic Sailor- Lylan's WB), Kaznal (9yo War Adpt Outdoors Channel:Avgon Mylan's WB), Tazen (14yo Swordsman Health), Dario (13 yo War Adpt Leather Gem), Alkoris (13 HAE Halfelf War Adpt Lock Outdoors), Tyndall (15yo Mage woodworker/outdoors); Guardman Vit, Corporal Klug +2 guardsmen

Tazen woke to the sounds of water dripping down in the main sewer tunnel. In the dark it was impossible to make out anything, so he moved down to the only bit of light he could see. After a few seconds, his eyes adjusted enough to make out Alkoris, who had been totally healed during the strange possession of Kaznal and Yarnay. Because of this, his good friend could take a stint on guard duty. Before he could say anything, he noticed a great deal of water running down the main passage. "How long has this been going on?"

"Last couple of hours and getting worse," Alkoris responded. "I popped up top to take a look while Dario kept lookout. It is snowing like Inaxia herself is above Rolling Dale. The only good thing about it is I was able to go back into the rubble and secure some more gear." He pointed back down the small passage. "I got full school packs for all three of the small ones and a better one for me. I even grabbed a pack off a street thug I had to take down. It's for the tied-up kid, since I didn't know what you were planning on doing with him. Besides, it was there and I had to kill him or he would have continued to try to follow me back here.

"I didn't do more than give them a quick check, but they have all the standard stuff, plus a couple of weapons. Even the thug’s pack has a decent gear set. So we all have bedrolls and school cloaks now. I wish they would have handed out winter ones, but no one could have expected this kind of blow when we should be deep into planting time."

"Good work, but speaking of planting time, what about food?"

"The packs each have two days and a water skin. The meat shop is a rubble heap, and there is too much activity close to the Green Goblin for me to try to raid it. I did manage to dig some bread out of what is left of the bakery. It's got some bits of stone and wood in lots of it, so if we are going to eat the loaves I managed to scrounge up, we'll have to be careful. I did find some pastries under the bread though, so we'll have a good breakfast."

"And how many did you eat before thinking of the rest of us?"

"Hey there's enough to everyone, even the trussed-up kid… So yeah, I had a few while I waited for a patrol to go by… um, and another while waiting for the thug to figure out I lost him…" Alkoris grinned for a moment before turning serious again. "Once we go through what we have, the bread is about all we are going to have left unless we want to risk trying to buy some in another part of the city…"

"No way. We were told to get out of the city… actually the village, but hey, I am not going to argue with whatever was in Yarnay and Kaznal. Besides, the bread, with rocks, splinters, and anything else, is probably better than what they fed out on the camp last summer."

"I can't argue a bit, that porridge crap was flatly nasty."

Tazen shuddered at the thought, "Yeah, but any food is better than none. Which I'm pretty sure was what the whole idea of feeding us whatever they served us, for five straight days, two meals a day. After two days, even the dumbest realized it was eat it or starve… still, yuck! Anyhow, we'll hold off on the bread, but spitting out some wood and stone is better than going hungry."

Tazen paused and looked around, "OK, so… how come there is so much water down there and none up here? And how do we get out of the city, Alkoris?"

"I bet you already guessed, but I checked the tunnel we are in. It is real long and ends with a tube going up and the top is sealed. Probably an old chamber pot dump spot…"

"Ewww, really? We are in a chamber pot dump tube?"

"Hasn't been used for a real long time, Taz. Besides, other than keeping the streets from flooding, what do you think the sewers are used for?"

"Ohhhh, I need a bath…"

"We all do, but look on the plus side. We are real lucky with a tube this long there ain't dozens of dump tubes leading up and being used. It's actually real odd there ain't many more up tubes off this one. Even better, with all the water running down here, most of the chamber pot leftovers is getting washed away."

"Just stop! At this rate, I'll never be able to eat anything we brought down here! How do we get out of here?"

"My suggestion?"

"Yeah! You are the Lockmaster and resident robber guild member. If anyone can get us out, it will be you."

Alkoris let out a sigh as he looked down the main passage, "The water is getting deeper and running faster than it was even a few minutes ago. It's too dangerous to try to wade through it. The way out up the way is way too close to the Green Goblin and the troops there. While I have no idea where we'll end up, I'd say the best bet is for you to boost me up the tube at the end of this passage. I'll shimmy up and try to break the cap. If it looks like it goes anywhere at all, I'll toss down the rope and you all can climb up. If we can make it to the docks, I can show you how the guild gets merchandise in and out of the city. It's a good a way out as any."

"And if you can't break through the cap on the tube or it goes into some long sealed off space or something?"

"One thing at a time. Like what are we going to do with the tied-up spell thrower?"

Tazen ran his hand over his hair, "I have no idea. Part of me wishes I had just killed him, but I ain't no murderer. Another part says to leave him, but the things inside of Yarnay and Kaznal healed him, just like they healed you. This makes me think they want him to join us."

"It would have been nice if they had said so."

Tazen nodded, "Yeah, but I never seem to be so lucky."

"Well, whatever you are going to do, I'd say you got about an hour, two at most, to decide."

"Why?"

"Because by then, as long as the snow keeps falling like it is, the water is going to start coming up into this tunnel. You leave him tied up, you may as well cut his throat, cause he will drown if you don't cut him loose and either have him join us or let him go."

"Damn, Alkoris, you are really full of good news tonight!"

"Hey, I got the kids packs!"

Tazen smacked his forehead, "Why me?"

"From what I heard from one of them kids, you volunteered to come after 'em and keep them protected."

"I did, and I still can't quite figure out why… How safe do you think it would be to get us some light going so we can all see and get organized?"

"We're pretty secure at this point. If anything sees it, we'll hear them coming through the water."

"Good, turn the handle on the light dagger and get the others up and in gear. We need to take everything we managed to grab. As soon as they are ready, we'll move up the tunnel and hope it leads to a way out."

"What are you going to do?"

"Talk to the spell thrower and try to decide if I am going to trust him or not."

"No way am I just going to just trust him none, no matter what he tells ya."

"Good, cause if I do let him join, I need you to be ready to stick a knife in his back the second he goes against us."

Tazen waited until the dagger illuminated the passage around him before moving over to the older teen. As he looked at the kid, he could see nothing but fear looking back at him. "Don't go pissing yerself. I'm not wanting to hurt you. But when I pull the gag down, if you try to cast on me I'll knock your ass out… again… Understood?"

Seeing the teen nod, he reached out and pulled down the cloth wrapped around the back of his head and stuffed into his mouth. "So let's start out real simple. What's your name and how old are you?"

The teen gratefully sucked in some air for a few seconds before answering, "Tyndall, I turned fifteen just over two moons ago… Can I get some water?"

Tazen looked back over his shoulder. Seeing Sibler getting up, he pointed to the water skin, "Hey, is it full?"

"Almost. I took a couple of drinks before I went to sleep after Yarnay and Kaznal stopped speaking in weird voices… I feel really strong and I think I know more about being a Mystic and about sailing, too."

"I think we were all given something, Sibler. I just hope it doesn't fade or whatever. Now toss me your skin and get armored up. The water is rising and we need to get out of here."

Tyndall let Tazen pour a few gulps of water into his mouth before nodding in gratitude. He stayed silent, not wanting to anger the younger, but clearly much stronger boy in front of him.

"So, Ty, you don't mind me calling you Ty for now do you?"

Tyndall shook his head even as he responded, "No, Ty is fine."

"Good. So Ty… give me something to go on here. You and the wench tried to take my little friends. Then, the second I take out the book witch, you turn and run. I take you down, drag you into the sewers, and all the sudden the gods or spirits heal you at the same time they heal me, my friends, and give us more power or whatever happened. I don't know what to think."

"I don't really know what you are asking…"

"Good, cause neither do I, not really. Can you explain what you were doing with the witch and going to do to my little buddies?"

"There was a reward. Mistress Naralis told me it would be easy to take them and collect. This is the first time she has taken me out to directly help her…"

"So she is… was what?"

"Bounty hunter."

"So she was or wasn't working for Master Treg?"

"I'm sorry. I don't know who that is."

"Then you are not from here…"

"For the last half moon, yes. Before was Eaglecrest, Salt Hill, Raven's Crossing, Night Water, Torrent Hills…"

Tazen held up a hand to stop the teen. "And you were her apprentice?"

"Basically, yes."

"Basically?"

"Um, yeah… I am really not a very good Mage. To be honest I am not really good at much of anything other than wood working and carving. I'm skinny, weaker than most, small, not very fast or quick and well, yeah, I pretty much suck at everything other than wood. I mean I'm not like completely useless, I can hunt, fish and track, so I'm not bad outdoors… But, yeah, I'm pretty much a nobody. Even now I fail about one of every five spells I try. So no, she never formally accepted me. I am not guilded, never have been, but she did teach me almost everything I know as far as magic and tracking. So overall I was very lucky she took interest in me and was willing to teach me and take care of me. She is really all I have known for the past seven years. Until Naralis, my life was going nowhere. No Mage was willing to take me on back in Thunder Bay. I was considered too low a caste, weak, clumsy, not enough natural magic, talent poor, unworthy, magic limited… I heard it all. And I tried to find someone, anyone, to teach me from the first time I popped the stable master at the inn I was working in with a dusty Autospell after he hit me with a riding crop for the hundredth time."

"And the one I took out, Naralis, she agreed to teach you?"

"Kind of… Um, she saw me in the inn cleaning up. I have always been small and weak, so I couldn't reach the top shelves to dust. But I also figured out I could sometimes get lucky and dust them with a Autospell. The night she came in, I failed the first time, but got it on the second. When I turned around, all happy about not getting in trouble for not getting the top shelf clean, she was there eyeing me.

"The next morn, I came down to start cleaning duties like always, but she was there talking with the innkeep. She gave him a dozen silver and told me I was coming with her."

"You were a slave?"

"No, orphan… The innkeep gave me room and board for work. It is the only home I remember. I don't even know how I ended up in the inn. My first memories are me scrubbing the inn floor, sleeping in the upper loft of the stable, getting free leftovers from breakfast and dinner and giving hay and oats to the visiting horses."

"But he couldn't sell you…"

"If I'd have said no, he would have handed me over to the stable master and I wouldn't have been able to sit for days and my hands bloody from the riding crop. I really didn't have any choice but to go, but she said she'd show me more magic. She was the only one… so… We then left Thunder Bay at first light in her cart. The next stop for more than a night was Gritty Wind, on the edge of the Wastelands of Odin. Talk about a scary place… There was no way I wanted anything to do with it, so it was try to run away or stay with her… and, well an orphan in Gritty Wind with no ties… nothing good there… so yeah, stay with her was the only real choice. After a moon in Gritty Wind, she managed to take out a bandit and got a large reward while she also kept some of the bandit's loot. It also gave her information on who she was really after. We set out again and I found myself in Scorpion Falls, if possible, even more scary than Gritty Wind. Do you know undead actually come wandering out of the desert a couple of times per week there?

"It's stupid scary when the town bell rings and dozens of warriors spill out to go kill some random Skeleton, Zombie, or whatever. Anyway, I found out in Scorpion Falls why she had taken me. She rented me out to a small brigand group…" Seeing the return look Tyndall nodded, "Yeah, that kind of rent out… I guess she knew in advance what the leader liked, and I was about as perfect as they came. But what I didn't know was it was all for a distraction. She waited for the leader to take me for the night, then struck. She took out the junior thugs without many spells, and then came after the big guy with all sorts of magic. As soon as she collected her bounty in Scorpion Falls, she offered to let me go, or I could stick with her and learn and train. It was staying in a place where undead were wandering into town and scorpions are pretty much all over, or stick with her. Again, not really much of a choice. After a few more jobs, I was not only used to her, I pretty much was dependant on her for everything. She never paid me, never let me have any coins, and only bought me things when I needed them. Even now there is only two changes clothing for me in her cart, along with extra set of boots, and a lighter cloak. All I really have… um, had… was my spell book.

"If I wanted food, shelter and clothing I had to do what she wanted. When she needed me, used me for distractions, even if it was to bump into someone or throw a rock through a window, she rewarded me with little things, like teaching me a new Autospell. Most of the spells she taught me were to help distract others, so she could strike, but at least I learned more magic and how to control it.

"About a year and a half ago, she once again fully rented me out, this time to a small local warlord in the Isles of Morden. It was awful. But after a few nights she slipped in and eliminated all his guards, then came into his hut and knocked him out with a spell. She broke his back in a way to where he couldn't walk, or even use anything from the waist down and walked away leaving him pulling himself along the ground with his hands screaming at her. Another warlord paid her with a big chest and we went back to the mainland. In return for the treasure she got, she took me to a back-alley magic vender in Port Azure and got me my very own spell book and four pages. From there it was more of the same. Each town she went after a reward offered for someone or something. It was amazing how quickly she found new jobs to take on, but she always had a next stop. She would collect the fee for the mission and move again. She would work with me on the road, and in the towns I would tend to her Dragonsteed, keep up the camp or room she rented, and if she found out it would help her, I was handed over for some coin and she would come get me when the target was fully distracted with me. Then we would do it all over again. I finally cast my first book spell four moons ago, but I am still not guilded. She said I was still too unpredictable to allow to guild. But as with every successful mission, she taught me a new Autospell. If I had to be a distraction, it was a new learned Autospell, or if I really helped, like being rented out, she gave me a new spell page. I guess I'm getting kind of old, though, since I've only gotten a few more pages since she got me my book."

Tazen scratched at his head for several seconds, debating or what he should do or say. Finally he figured he would just ask the most direct question he could come up with, "So your loyalties are where?"

"I am not sure I have ever had reason to be loyal to anyone. I mean, I was dedicated to Naralis, but I had to be if I wanted to eat, get clothing, have a bed to sleep in… and I did owe her for teaching me magic, but real loyalty… never. Not to anyone."

Tazen blinked and stared for a second. The answer was about as honest as he had ever heard out of anyone's mouth, while also being about the saddest as well. After a few more seconds of debate, Tazen pulled his blade and sliced the ropes keeping Tyndall's hands secured behind his back, then cut the ropes keeping the teen's arms tight to his chest. Without bothering to watch the older kid, he moved back to his pack and pulled out the kid's spell book and shoulder pouch. He stared at it for a few seconds as he held an internal debate. Finally, he moved back over to Tyndall. "I'm about to give you a chance to decide if you want to start being loyal to others or go your own way. If you stick with us, Ty, you have a chance to make some real friends. You help us, we help you. If we manage to get out of the city, and we get lucky enough to find him, I'll do my best to convince my commander to let you stay with us. It's the best offer I can make at the moment. If not, you are welcome to go out on your own. My friend Alkoris managed to get you a pack. I don't know what's in it, but it's yours. If you want to take off on your own, you may want to wait till we get out of the city, though, since it sounds like you'd do better in the wilderness than in a city, especially Rolling Dale as it now is."

Tyndall all but hugged the book while slipping the pouch for it over his shoulder, "What do I have to do to be a friend?"

"You know…" Tazen stopped as he saw the confusion and even fear in the young Mage's eyes. "What? you have never had a friend?"

"Mistress Naralis never let me. I mean, I played with kids in many places for a few hours, but she never allowed me to get to know any for more than a day or two. Normally didn't fit in anyway. Like I said, I'm not very good at much of anything."

Tazen scrunched his nose and raised an eyebrow, "Dude, what do you mean you're not good at much? You're a freaking Mage!"

"Not really. I'm not very good and have never been guilded…"

"Who the hell cares about how good you are or if you are a member of the guild or not? You can cast spells, real spells, off real spell pages, for Salem's sake!"

"But I mess up about one out of every five times…"

"So what?" Tazen tossed his hands up in frustration. "All I hear is, hey, I'm a Mage who casts spells out of my book right four out of five times! Do you know how many Mundanes would love to be able to cast one spell, even and a single Autospell? Besides, if you can really cast a book spell, you can get guilded with no problem!"

"I have no money. I have never been allowed to have a single coin."

"Ty, if you help us get out of here with your magic, I'll pay to get you guilded. There is a Mage Guild Hall in Gnarled Oak half a day's ride to the east…"

"I don't know how to ride."

"But you said you tended a Dragonsteed and fed horses."

"Yeah, I did. I love them, but I have never been on one. I know how to drive a cart, though."

"So we'll either find a cart or we'll walk. But I give you my word, I'll pay for your guild test if you help me get the little kids out of here."

"Um, sure. What do you want me to do?"

"Help protect them. If you are good at using magic to create distractions, then do it and me or Alkoris will finish them off. It's not like stabbing someone in the back or kidney to protect them three little guys bothers me."

"So I noticed… Um… sure. I'll help you." Tyndall stood and started to work out the kinks from being tied up for so long. "Hey, can I get something to eat… and um… I'm not really good with it, but can I have my blade back?"

Dario looked over, "Kid, ain't no one good with no street sword. What arms is ya good with?"

"Mistress Naralis only gave me a few basic lessons with most hand weapons, but worked with me a lot on my blade… well her blade, but she's been letting me carry it for several moons now…"

Dario pulled the street sword Tyndall had been carrying, slashed the air a few times, then spun it in one hand. "Gots the balance of a lead club. Ain't worth half the coin I bet ya could gets in a street market fer it…" With a shake of his head he slid it back in its sheath and tossed it back on his own pack. He then moved over to the gear Alkoris and scrounged, "You little guys, all a ya gots arms ya seem pretty happy with. Any of ya mind if we gives Ty one a these blades?"

Kaznal looked over to the bronze light sword, a trio of short blades, commonly referred to as hip swords, and one of a pair of gladiator swords Dario put down in the middle of the tunnel. "We have only practiced with those kinds of blades a few times. None of us are very good with them, but I would like to learn how to use them better at some point."

Seeing the other two boys nod in agreement, Dario smiled. "Once we gets out of here I bet Taz, me and Alk, will all help ya learn 'em right. Till then, let's give him one a these." When no one argued, he held up two smaller swords, "Which one, Ty?”

"Um… the lighter one…"

Tazen reached over and grabbed Tyndall's arm and squeezed. He sent Dario a cringing look even as he responded for the older teen, "Give him one of the hip swords, Dario. It's a bit heavier than a light sword, but more like his street blade. Besides the other two need practice to use them the way they were designed to be used. Rig it for him to wear the same way as his street blade, so he knows how to pull it while Alkoris and me get the little guys geared up."

Ten minutes later Alkoris got a boost up to the tube, put his back on one side and his feet on the other. It took him over five minutes of exhaustive work to move up the twelve meters and another five to break the old sealed stone cap with a hammer while keeping himself braced. Finally, he pulled himself out over the lip of the tube and looked around.

He already guessed wherever he was coming up was abandoned, because the noise of him breaking the cap would have certainly drawn the attention of anyone, but where he found himself was almost ideal. It was on old basement with two score of rotting bed frames, each with an armor and weapon stand. A few stands still had weapons and armor, but they were badly degraded with time. Most were empty. Along one wall, stone stairs led up to a metal bound door with an old large keyhole lock. Even without examining it, Alkoris knew it wouldn't take long to pick it. With a sigh, he dropped the rope he had secured around his shoulder. "Long forgotten barracks with stairs. Not sure where it's going to take us, but we have a way out. Come on up."

Tazen grabbed the end of the rope and motioned for Yarnay to go first. "Drop your pack. I'll stay down and tie off the packs so you can all pull them up."

Kaznal quickly spoke up, "You will not need to. The man you call commander made us climb with packs full of rocks or sand at least twice a week since he took over our training, Tazen."

"Nice," Dario stated with a great deal of praise even as Yarnay started pulling himself up the rope. The boy had to pause once, but managed to make it up. He gratefully accepted a hand from Alkoris, fell on his back, and took several deep breaths.

Kaznal was next up. Since he was wearing the female Dwarven Steel armor, he almost didn't make it, but Alkoris told him just to hold on, then pulled him up the last couple of meters. Once his hands were in sight, Yarnay moved up and helped pull him over the lip of the tube.

While this was going on, Tyndall looked over at the others nervously, "Guys… I'm not sure I can…"

Dario shot the teen a frown. "Go without your pack. We'll pull it up."

"Yeah," Sibler spoke up. "It will be easy. You are tall enough to put your back against one side and your feet against the other like Alkoris did. With the rope, you can pull with your arms while using your feet to walk up."

Tazen moved up, "Come on, Ty, you can go next. I'll boost you up so you're almost in the tunnel."

It took almost ten minutes, since Tyndall had to take four long breaks, but finally he managed to disappear from view. Sibler spoke to Tazen with a whisper, "There is no way the commander is going to want him around…"

"I know, Sibler. I know."

"But you told him…"

"Yeah… One thing at a time. First we need to find out if we can trust him and second we have to get beyond the walls of Rolling Dale. If we do both, I'll worry about figuring out a way to keep him with us. Now go show him up and get up there."

Sibler grinned as he quickly made his way up without stopping for even a short break.

Dario glanced over to Tazen, "Gotta give 'em some credit. Yer little guys got some grit."

"Yeah, but once you meet the commander you'll get why. But you're right. They’re tougher than most and they risked their butts to get others out of the city, so I am going to do everything I can to keep them safe. Now stop talking and start climbing."

Fifteen meters later, Alkoris picked the lock and pushed the door open only to find themselves in a long forgotten storeroom full of rotting wooden barrels stocked with long neglected crossbow bolts, a couple of score of crossbows with strings so old they broke with a touch, along with racks of rusty daggers, swords, maces, hammers, and other weapons. Another rack held bronze weapons, long green with age and no care.

Alkoris stayed in the middle of the room, "Oh, way too much iron. Even worse, rusty iron. I need to get out of here!"

Kaznal moved up to the door on the left wall and pulled. It didn't budge. "It is stuck or locked, and I do not see a keyhole."

Tazen moved up and tried. He was able to get the door to wiggle enough to break some of the rust off the very old hinges, but something was holding the door shut. "Not stuck, must be locked. Alkoris, all you buddy."

Using the Dagger of Light, Alkoris moved up. "He's right. No keyhole from this side. Think you can break it down, Taz?"

"Looks thick, but maybe…"

Seeing Dario move over to where a few old war hammers were, Tyndall spoke up while pulling out his spell book, "Hold up."

Dario put the hammer down, "You got a spell to help or something?"

"As long as it isn't magic and I don't mess up the casting, yeah."

Tazen extended his arm while gesturing to the door. "All yours. I wasn't looking forward to making a whole lot of noise anyway.”

With the light from the dagger, Tyndall carefully read the spell page and followed the movements with his left hand. After nearly half a minute, muddy brown tendrils erupted from the middle of his hand and slid around the cracks in the door. It took almost two more minutes, but finally there was a series of clicks and the door swung inward a few centimeters.

Dario moved up and patted Tyndall on the back, "Nice!"

"I don't want to hear you say you're not a good Mage ever again, Ty! You're awesome."

"Until I screw up a spell…"

"Everyone messes up once in a while," Sibler joined in, "but you just passed a Primary Guild test. And I am with Dario. Very nice."

"You're getting me out of here," Alkoris praised the teen, "so, I really owe you."

Tazen moved up to the door while holding a finger to his lips, but still took a moment to pat Tyndall on the back. He pulled the door open and found it led to a lantern lit passage with an arched ceiling. "We got light, which means we also have people around."

Dario followed with a fighting axe in his hand. "Where is we?"

Alkoris moved into the hall and looked both directions, then back at the door. "No idea, but this door is a secret one, and judging on what's below, it's been long forgotten. Since the passage is well lit, we need to do whatever we can to blend in."

Tazen shot his friend a sideways glance, "I'm open to suggestions."

"As the guild master used to say, 'when cornered, use what you got and pretend you belong.’"

"And how do ya think we're pullin' off being down in a lower hall, when none a us know where we be?" Dario asked.

At this Tyndall moved up, "Mistress Naralis did it all the time. You got us these cloaks with patches. What are they for?"

"Standard Swordsman School cloaks," Tazen answered. "Warrior Adepts trained there too, but we still just called it the Swordsman School. Most of the packs we have are also from the school."

"So we'll put on the cloaks and look like we are supposed to be here. If anyone asks, say we took a wrong turn and are trying to figure out how to get to… um… Can't be too long till sunup, so breakfast?"

Alkoris snickered, "Good a plan as any. I say we run with it."

Kaznal looked over with total confusion, "So we do not try to hide or anything?"

"The chances of us avoiding everyone is next to impossible, kid." Alkoris stated. "By not hiding and walking around out in the open, no one would expect us to be anything but who we say. With any luck, they'll scold us for being somewhere where we were not supposed to be and show us the way out. If not, and they start to take or lead us to a boss or someone, distract them. I will try to kill them soft and quiet."

Seeing Tazen nod in reluctant agreement, Sibler shrugged. "I bet back at the palace the guards would never think any group of kids in local school cloaks they found walking around in the open was trying to do anything wrong. They would escort them out and warn them never to do it again."

"Then keep their eyes open in case they did it again…" Yarnay added. "Then they would get into real trouble."

"Everyone, switch to having your gear over your cloaks like how we go out into the field." Tazen spoke with authority, "Alkoris, you take the lead and do the talking. The rest of you all, follow and no matter what act like we are supposed to be here. If things start to go bad, Alkoris, call me… call me Dorwald. He is with the commander, so he isn't around and I know enough about him to pretend to be him to those who don't know either of us… At least long enough to give you time to kill whoever is giving us the problems."

Alkoris quickly agreed, "Good a plan as I could come up with. I'm going to keep trying to find ways up until we can see out a window or something. Once we get bearings we'll figure a way out of the city."

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