Kyle Aarons

The Kandric Saga

Chapter 31, part 2

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

Seldnat glanced over to Pike as the pair knelt in deep snow, keeping them mostly hidden from the small group of White Dragonlings. Just by the look on Pike's face, Seldnat could tell the young Garm's thoughts mirrored his own. Kandric's plan seemed really sketchy. The only difference, between him and Pike was he was positive Kandric wasn't divulging everything. He had seen Kandric do this before, but had yet to figure out why.

Meanwhile, Pike didn't have the experience nor had he spent enough time around Kandric to understand he wasn't getting the full picture. All Pike knew was what he had been told. They needed to locate the 'Big Dragon' so they could lead it to the lake, damage one of the wings, and get out of the way. The last part Kandric assured both of they would be taken care of. The how had not been explained and this bothered Pike since he could see no way they would live more than a couple of seconds after teaming up to prevent the 'Big Dragon' from being able to fly.

Furthermore, Pike was not at all thrilled with the idea of splitting the group. It was bad enough they were going to take on a Dragon, possibly two. But to split the forces against such a horribly powerful foe just seemed insane. However, Kandric was a Premier, extremely high royalty by his own hand, and even if Kandric refused to admit it, he was Alphar. This made Premier Kandric 'his Premier' and one didn't argue with such a high noble.

The other thing, and the biggest reason Pike refused to do more than ask a couple of questions and hint at not being happy about any of this was his low noble family would benefit in prestige and influence regardless of Pike's survival. As long as Pike fought hard and did his utmost, the Garm and Alphar courts would document Pike's loyalty. This meant his family would reap the rewards of his actions. Conversely, if Pike didn't serve Kandric to his fullest ability, and something bad happened to the new Premier, his family would bear the shame of Pike's failure. It was a massive burden, but one Pike saw as a once in a lifetime honor. Because of this, even as Pike watched the outline of a moderate sized White Warrior Dragon move through the trees beyond the group of Dragonlings, he forced himself to keep most of his fear in check. This didn't prevent him from tasting bile, all the while guessing the outline of the close to twenty-meter beast wasn't the 'big one'.

Since Seldnat had been careful to keep them downwind, and the wind was blowing so fiercely, Pike risked speaking in a whisper, "I do not see any captives, and certainly no one who looks to be a student."

"Same," Seldnat grumbled. "No see Kandric grand-pops none either. Jus' seven Dragon-thing and da big lizard. Me no think it be da one Kandric after none. Dumb thing be puny next ta da ones him already gunch. Me bet two a us take dat one. Us no be happy after, but us live ta see it fall."

"Are Lorthorn, Zeltoss and Jamon really going to be able to take it down?"

"Me hope. Us come helps gunch it when we hurts wing on da big lizard. But we's got to take out a couple a dem Dragon-things er Lor and Zel will be outnumber bad. Think ya can shoot one in dis wind?"

Pike pulled up his crossbow and loaded it with one of the magic-tipped bolts Duke Mathard had given him, while handing a second one to Seldnat before looking over with a nervous grin, "Sure hope so. I heard from one of my senior uncle's scouts each one of these bolts cost about five hundred silver coins to make."

Seldnat shook his head, "Me pa would drop dead if'n him hear one bolt be worth so much, den haunt da person fer tellin' him 'bout it!"

Pike couldn't help but snicker, "Just remember I was only given fifteen of these and once shot they are done, so we really do not want to miss."

"Den let get closer."

"Oh, boy… Not really what I wanted to hear, Sir Seldnat."

Seeing Pike let out long breath, Seldnat quickly covered the boy's head with his cloak. "No do dat! Dem may see heat er breath!"

Pike gulped, "Sorry, I will not do so again."

"Den you learn, dis be good. But if'n ya calls me sir one more time we's gunna have ta wrestle till me makes ya says ya never do it no more."

"But you are knighted…"

"And ya be friend. None dat sir junk from ya no more er us spar."

"Alright, alright, but in the courts and in front of the my senior uncle…"

"Den… OK… if'n ya have to. But den ya have ta knock it off again! Me jus' Seldnat, er Seld to ya!" Seldnat didn't bother to wait for a response. Instead he moved forward on his stomach, staying lower than the snow around him.

Behind him, Pike had to fight the desire to curse as he kept pushing snow down the front of his armor. Looking toward Seldnat, the young Garm couldn't figure out if the Halforc was just dealing with it and ignoring it, or he wasn't getting any snow down his chest. The way Seldnat was moving, Pike guessed the clearly good Outdoorsman was doing something slightly different to prevent getting soaked and cold, but there was nothing Pike could do but push forward. The distraction had to be made and taking down some of the Dragonlings was key to isolating the almost twenty-meter long Warrior Dragon for the others.

After a sixty-meter crawl, Seldnat motioned for Pike to slide up next to him. As soon as the Garm was at his side he pointed, "Two big Dragon-things. Us take dem first. Ya take close; da one leanin' on tree. Me get da other.

"If'n us have time, reloads and goes after one a dem smaller ones. Dem last three be tiny, pob'ly kid like we be. No bother use magic on um."

"Sure…" Pike passed over another magic bolt. "But I have these so we may as well use them on the medium ones."

Seldnat nodded and put the second bolt in his teeth before taking careful aim, "What's dis bolt does anyhow?"

"Not sure," Pike admitted. "Duke Mathard said to aim for the center of what I wanted to kill and enjoy."

"Me move so we's straight downwind. Waits till after next big blow, den shoot. Me do same.

A couple of minutes later both boys raised up and fired. The tiger's eye gemstones right behind the Dwarven Blue Steel tip flared a moment before the bolts hit. As this happened the bolt seemed to shatter, only as each broke apart, the single bolt became seven. Seldnat's shot was dead center in the chest so the bolt he actually shot hit the Dragonling in the chest and the other six formed a near perfect circle a few centimeters out, creating a bull's-eye effect with crossbow bolts. The eyes of the Dragonling rolled up and it was dead before it fell flat on its face, further driving in the bolts into its chest.

Pike's aim wasn't quite as good. He hit just below the left shoulder, so two of the outer bolts missed, sinking into a tree behind it. But with five bolts sticking into it, the Dragonling didn't do more than let out a little gasp and stagger a couple of steps before collapsing in the snow.

Seldnat pulled up the bolt in his teeth with wide eyes even as he used his other hand and feet to quickly re-cock his crossbow, "Dis be no fair… um… almost… How me get more a dees?"

Pike was equally astonished. "I will be sure to ask my senior uncle… for both of us!"

"Yea, ya do dat! Now, me wants ta do it 'gain!"

Pike grinned as he slipped another magical bolt in his cocked crossbow, "Me too!"

Since two of Pike’s bolts missed and hit a tree, the distinct thunk sounds got the attention of all the other Dragonlings in the small camp. Further out, the Warrior Dragon hissed, "Find out what caused the sound or I swear I will feed you to Prince Weraweld!"

The next two largest Dragonlings quickly grabbed war picks and moved out away from the camp and in the general direction of the sounds. But since the impacts were near simultaneous, they didn't have much to go on. One of the called up, "Nad'bet, where are you?"

Next to Pike Seldnat realized he understood what was being said with a raised eyebrow, but didn't focus on this realization. Instead, he lightly nudged Pike, "Wonder which a us turn Nad'bit inta bolt target. Any guess?"

Pike was so focused on the one word he thought he understood, he almost missed the question, "Um, what? Oh. Sorry, ahh…. So is one of the ones we killed named Nad'bit and can you really understand what they are saying?"

"Yep, and yep again!" Seldnat pointed to the one off to the left. "Da one wit da broke horn be all you. Me take the one with da book out.”

Pike nodded as his mind focused in on the immediate threat, while his heart was still pounding in his chest over the single word he dearly hoped was something else, anything else, "Um, yeah… yes, sorry. The book carrier needs to go down. He is all yours. Um… I do not see any animals, so he is probably a Mage."

Seldnat shot Pike a frown at the sudden fear in the young Garm's eyes and in his voice, "Geesh, me'll gunch the book Dragon-thing no worry none!" Seldnat responded with an annoyed shake of his head even as he crawled forward to get a quicker and easier shot.

Pike grumbled to himself so softly he was certain he wouldn't be heard, "Did I just hear the name Weraweld? By the gods, he cannot be here… And are these guys all cocky or are they really as good as they think they are?"

Before he could dwell on his questions to himself, the Dragonling with the book got a face full of bolts and dropped like a sack of rocks. Seeing the other Dragonling turn at the sound of his partner's demise, Pike pulled up his crossbow, waited for a particularly hard gust of wind to pass, then fired. Since the Dragonling was standing still trying to locate his friend, the shot was an easy one.

All seven bolts sunk into its side. It managed three staggering steps back toward the makeshift camp while letting out a long gasping hiss of pain. It then grabbed onto a tree and slid down, while its right claw tried to pull at the cluster of bolts just below its ribcage.

Seldnat took the opportunity, while waiting for Pike, to put a regular bolt into the closest of the three smaller Dragonlings, purposefully aiming low. The bolt sunk into its upper leg and it fell screaming.

He looked back with a big grin, "Let's get dis game goin'!" He then took a deep breath and shouted, "Good Shootin' Kandric! Ya nail all four a dem dumb lizard-things! Me gots one a dem pups!"

He then turned and spoke in a hushed tone, "To da lake! Make 'em think Kandric wit us!"

Pike shoved his crossbow into his pack and started backing up quickly as the Warrior Dragon moved hastily through the woods toward them, "Premier Kandric, they got a Warrior Dragon!"

Kandric's voice came from much closer than Pike expected, but still in the direction of the frozen water's edge, "It is nothing more than a Dragonette! You can take it."

Moments after Kandric's voice pierced the storm, Zeltoss fired a crossbow from the opposite side. The bolt itself bounced off the Warrior Dragon's scales, but in doing so, caused a small vile attached to the bottom of the bolt to shatter. Suddenly the woods lit up as fire splashed over the side of the Warrior Dragon. Its roar of outrage and pain cleared snow off the trees for almost a hundred meters in all directions around it.

Seldnat watched as a second bolt followed up the first, splashing a great deal more fire over the outraged and suddenly injured beast, "Huh, us might not have ta help none. Me bummed."

Even though Pike was all but running, pumping his small Dwarven legs as fast as he could safely move them through the snow, he glanced over, "Knight or not, Seldnat, you all are a little crazy!"

"Only little?" Seldnat asked with a smirk so large it totally exposed one of his small tusks. "If'n so, me need ta does better!"

"Oh, by the gods, I am going to die with a group of lunatic kids! Brandall will never let me in!"

"Oh," Seldnat openly laughed, "him no want none a us none! Him worry us go der and takes over!"

"Brandall, he is only talking for himself, not me!"

"Ya wit us, ya be one a us!" Seldnat snickered.

Before more could be said, a huge roar came from overhead in Dragon, "Peradem, stop crying and kill the underlings before I rip your damned throat out for being totally incompetent! Your father should be ashamed to have fertilized you! I will deal with the two creatures trying to run away under me, then find this so-called Premier and dismember him!"

Pike turned at the sound and saw the massive eighty-eight meter long Dragon diving down through the blizzard like it was a calm day. As soon as he saw the gilded golden glowing blades on the tips of the horns he soiled his loincloth while diving, "Oh, by the gods, it is Prince Weraweld! Seldnat, GET DOWN!"

Before the massive Dragon could complete its dive on the two kids, five fire darts shot up from the edge of the lake. Four dissipated harmlessly as they slammed into Weraweld's magic defiance, but one managed to get through, burning a single scale on the side of its neck. "You marked me! How dare you?"

"Oh, shut your Dragonette snout, or come get some!" Kandric shouted out, while backing up to get between two huge rocks only a couple of meters from the edge of the iced-over lake.

"How dare you insult me child!" Weraweld snarled while sending and massive glob of frozen mucus at Seldnat, only to see the Halforc roll out of the way. Still, the massive Dragon had the satisfaction of watching the glob shatter and send bits and pieces into the boy. "I will be back to pull you out of your Black Dragon scale armor by your tusks and eat you like an hors d’oeuvre, child!"

Seldnat rolled over and put a hand up to a trickle of blood coming down his neck. Seeing the massive creature flying off into the storm he sat up and looked over the armor noting it wasn't even marred by the gigantic loogie, but several spots of exposed and cloth covered skin oozed blood. "Dat be nasty. It spit on me!"

"Be happy it missed, but hate to tell you… It was not just spit."

"Awwww! Ya not have ta tell me dat none! Super nasty!" Seldnat stood while drawing his Staff Spear and changing it over to a spear. "Dat damn thing gots to pay fer makin' me pulls forzen bits a what it jut hacked up out a me!" He started to move toward the edge of the lake, but paused as he realized Pike was moving slow, "Ya OK?"

"Ahhh, kind of messed my loincloth…"

"No worry none. Don't think me had no clean one after me see Blathamort none. Stick round us, ya gets used ta it. But ya got ta live with messy ass fer now. Kandric be countin' on us!"

"Gross, but yeah…"

Even as they picked up the pace, Seldnat looked over, "Um, Pike, what be a… um… hor… horderve?"

"Fancy pre-meal snack."

"Me be insalt… um insult… ya knows what me mean."

"Insulted?"

"Yea, dat be da word! Me be insulted! Me no snack and no way me be fancy!"

Down at the lake Kandric dodged around the massive stones as Weraweld made a diving pass. He couldn't help but note the massive Dragon had been strong enough to physically push one of the gigantic boulders over a meter and a half with its back foot. Realizing he had been extremely lucky to not get squished by the rock, he decided he needed to give himself more room and stay far enough away to not get flattened. "What, you afraid to land and take me on?"

"I can stay up here all night, Dragon Killer!"

"Huh, really?" Kandric once again dove and rolled while hearing the two stones smash into each other as Weraweld swooped down and used his back legs to kick them toward Kandric. Kandric stood and knocked some snow off his cloak, "There must have been some chicken in the egg you came out of!"

A guttural roar erupted from Weraweld as it made its next pass, unleashing the full fury of its glacial breath.

Kandric pulled up his Frozen Flame and pumped Force into it. The ruby and sapphire runes shimmered brightly, and the arctic winds parted around Kandric, clearing the snow all the way to the ground in two half fans on either side of him out to over twenty-five meters while also coating the ground in solid ice.

"Oh… Oh…" Kandric shouted, "Disgusting! Even your flatulence is ice cold!"

"My flatulence? MY FLATULENCE!" Weraweld screamed in total indignation! "How dare you talk about my breath in such words!"

"Wow!" Kandric called out as loudly as he could, "Even worse! Your breath smells like ass! What did you do; eat an Ogre and leave it stuck in your teeth to rot?"

Weraweld spun in the air and came down right at the rock in front of Kandric, slamming into it with everything it could muster. This pushed it over half a dozen meters and once again came very close to crushing Kandric, but also forced it to land.

This is exactly what Kandric had been waiting for. He waved his hand and spoke a trio of Shamanistic phrases. Moments later a pair of dimensional doors opened. One right in front of Seldnat and Pike, the other directly over Weraweld's back. "Seld, jump in now!"

Seldnat didn't even blink at the strange maroon colored rift floating in front of him. He reached over, grabbed Pike by the shoulder, and jumped in. A split second later he tumbled out of the other hole; this one more of a purplish orange. The pair landed hard on Weraweld's back. At the same time, Seldnat felt cold like he had never felt before as the saliva in his mouth started to ice over. However, he also had been told what to do and where to strike. With fingers starting to freeze, he slammed his Staff Spear, with the spear tip down, into the last scale over the wing bone where it hooked into the scales of the back. He then pulled back with everything he had, opening up a gap. The instant the unprotected bone became visible, Pike moved up and brought the magical axe he had borrowed from Seldnat down on the hollow bone, using the back pick-like end, rupturing the bone with a single shot.

This allowed Seldnat to pull a dagger and slam it into the hollowed out spot. He then yanked out his Staff Spear, grabbed Pike by the back of his collar and jumped off.

Both kids were then batted in mid-air by Weraweld's massive tail, even as it screamed in pain and tried to use its back claw to pull at where the dagger had gone in, but it was wedged in, under the scales in a place it could not hope to reach. At the same time, the massive Dragon tried to stretch out its wings to take back to the air, but instead retched in agony as the dagger buried under the scale and in its hollow bone split the bone open further.

This gave Kandric a few precious seconds to cast a Wind Wall, but used his spirit enhanced knowledge of spells to form it into a funnel with a long slide like formation at the far end. Both Seldnat and Pike entered the funnel and were deposited over a hundred meters away into deep snow. Both boys were coated with ice and seriously hurt from the tail whip, but very much alive. Just to make sure the Dragon stayed focused on him, he sent five more fire darts into it, getting past Weraweld's Magic Defiance with two.

Kandric backed off toward the lake, but pulled up yet another spell. He pushed his hand into the snow until he found ground and sent the energy into it. Even as he then jumped up and backed up onto the ice, a faint golden glow appeared under the snow where Pike and Seldnat shivered and moaned in pain.

Kandric shot Weraweld a nasty look and backed up further onto the lake while summoning another spell.

By this time Weraweld had managed to mostly fold the badly damaged wing onto the side of his body and shook his massive head in rage. "Where do you think you are going!"

"Too fat and lazy to run after me?"

Still in a great deal of pain, Weraweld launched itself forward only to see Kandric float upward and get pushed back rapidly by the wind. "Pathetic! Stand your ground child!"

Kandric lowered himself down on the ice, well out of lunge range of the massive Dragon prince, "What? Are you afraid to chase me out onto the ice?"

An evil smirk appeared at the corners of the wounded beast's lips and it suddenly charged.

At the same time this happened, Kandric had a smirk of his own on his lips. He shot upward and back fast.

Weraweld got a running start and jumped, narrowly missing Kandric with a tremendous bite attempt. He fell back on the ice hard even as Kandric floated back down. The Dragon glared at Kandric while cringing at the extra pain the fall had caused inside his wing. However, there was no way he was going to show just how much discomfort he was in. The other thing was, he was certain the little boy in the Black Dragon armor had made a major tactical error. To this end, it snorted, "What? You thought I would fall through the ice, child? Oh, silly boy! I freeze any body of water I step on deep enough to walk on it!"

"No, no I did not think the ice would crack. In fact, I was counting on you freezing it deeper." Kandric countered as he hovered just off the surface of the ice and waved his hands in a back and forth motion, twirling his thumbs, and speaking a very long Shamanistic spell.

Weraweld lunged again, only this time his back legs sunk into the ice and he didn't get fully off the surface. This caused his attempted jump to totally fail. His chin slammed down onto the ice and sunk in deeply enough to make it hard to pull his head out of the ice. Once it got its face out of the ice, it shook its head to clear some of the stars it was seeing while shouting, "What!?! What is this?"

Kandric's lips twisted up and his eyes gleamed, "Have you not heard of the Shaman spell 'Hard Water'?"

"Yes!" Weraweld shouted while trying to pull his back legs out of the ice only to find his front legs had started to sink in as well, "Hard Water make the surface of water hard enough to walk on! But this…"

"Ah, this… this is along the same lines, Prince. Only this is Soft Ice… Consider it the opposite of Hard Water. It is a little trick I learned from some friends of mine… Well, truthfully, they did not teach me this. I taught it to myself after learning how to modify a multitude of other Shaman spells. So while they did not tutor me in the exact incantations of making ice soft, they deserve full credit for teaching me there is a world beyond the perceived spell casting abilities us mortals tend to lock ourselves into. This is just one of many small tricks I have learned or taught myself."

Deep in the forest hundreds of meters from the lake's shore, Zeltoss fired his last bolt tipped with the 'Fire Splash' potion he had. The Warrior Dragon spun its head and let out a massive freezing breath only to see Lorthorn spin in front Zeltoss, hold up a hammer with one hand, while putting his other on Zeltoss' shoulder. The hammer took on a cracked rock appearance with the rock being black and the cracks glowing red. The intense heat could be felt for an instant before the breath hit it and rolled off a dome of super warm air.

"Garm Lava Hammer!" It snarled with a great deal of fear. "One of these years we will find the Garm making those and kill them all!"

"Maybe your kind will," Lorthorn responded in perfect Dragon tongue. "You will not be there to see it, however."

Zeltoss stood and whispered, "I'm out and he isn't as badly hurt as I had hoped or expected."

"But he is hurt and we are not. All things considered, we are doing far better than I expected." He then shouted out, "Jamon, you OK?"

Jamon's voice came out from some thick underbrush slightly to the left and mostly behind the Warrior Dragon. "I finished off the wounded Dragonling and dropped one of the others. It's still breathing, but down. I lost the third one, though."

"Follow its footprints and kill it!" Lorthorn shouted.

"How? I have no idea what footprints belong to who and there is all sorts of footprints out here!”

"Don't worry about it then. I sure wouldn't be able to track one thing with all the foot trails in the snow around there." Zeltoss spoke up, "Just kill the one you fell and give us a hand if you can, but keep your eyes open. The third young one couldn't have gotten far!"

The Dragon looked back by turning its head over its right shoulder and looking in the direction of the voice, "Yes, pup come help. I could use a small snack. It would be easier on you if you would give yourself up for a quick bite before Prince Weraweld gets over here. Those are his hatchlings you are murdering!”

"Murdering? You all started this by taking kids from our school! We are not murderers, we are rescuers!" Zeltoss shouted back, while loading a normal bolt in his crossbow. Noticing the look he was getting, he shrugged, "It ain't going to do much, but he's too cold to get close to!"

Lorthorn frowned even as he backed up into heavier trees pulling Zeltoss as he did so. This gave them decent protection, since the density of the foliage he was moving into was packed in enough to where the Warrior Dagon had to move forward and smash at the trees to pursue. This gave both Lorthorn and Zeltoss the ability to move faster than the Dragon could.

The Warrior Dragon pushed its front right shoulder into one of the trees causing it to crack, but it couldn't quite break it. "You can consider yourselves whatever you want, but to my prince, you are a murderer and he is the only one out here who matters." It paused and backed off before lunging forward with its front feet off the ground. It then used its powerful back legs to leap and drive its weight into the tree, breaking it. With an opening, he shoved his head in and snapped at Zeltoss, only to growl in frustration as Lorthorn pulled the less agile boy back in the nick of time. "You cannot stay in there forever, boys. Sooner rather than later, Prince Weraweld will slaughter those you are with, including the Great Dragon Killer pup, and he will and help me extract you two."

"It sounded to me like he expected you to be able to handle us," Lorthorn fired back. "I sure look forward to you having to explain why you couldn't come through. With any luck, he will carry out his threat and rip your throat out for us."

A deep-throated growl rolled out of the depths of its throat as it lunged at the next tree with everything it had, snapping it like a twig and forcing both Zeltoss and Lorthorn to dive to avoid getting hit by pieces of it as the branches shattered as they hit limbs of other trees. Both boys ended up being showered in bits and chunks of wood and were left with multiple bleeding spots.

The Dragon gave something akin to a victory snort as its back feet slammed back into the ground with enough force to cause both boys to bounce a little. "Oh, I smell blood! Not feeling so safe now, are you?"

Zeltoss fired his crossbow and watched as it harmlessly bounced off the Dragon's neck scales even as Lorthorn scrambled back to his feet, grabbed Zeltoss by his right foot and dragged him behind the next line of trees. "This is not going well."

"No, no it's not." Zeltoss fully agreed while reloading his crossbow, knowing it was all but pointless to do so.

Lorthorn pulled a particularly large splinter out of Zeltoss' chin, then turned and pointed to one just behind his left ear. He winced as Zeltoss extracted it, but otherwise stayed focused on the Dragon. It was then he noticed a very faint heat source off to the side of the Dragon. The problem was, the cold radiating off the massive creature was messing with his heat vision, so he couldn't make out who or what it was.

The Dragon snorted, "Oh, no pompous comments left, boys? Have you lost your bravado at long last?”

"No." Lorthorn stated with an annoyed voice. "Just waiting for Premier Kandric to show up and gut you like an iguana."

"Iguana?" the Dragon asked with total indignation, then hacked up a frozen glob and sent it into the tree right in front of Lorthorn.

Lorthorn looked over at Zeltoss with wide eyes as the tree partially split from the impact. Neither boy wanted to find out what a second Dragon hack-up would do to the tree they were counting on for some degree of protection so they moved to a different one.

Zeltoss looked over with a great deal of concern, "We are going to have to try to take it head on, aren't we?"

"I was kind of hoping Seld would come and help by now, but guess the heat source out there is only Jamon…" Lorthorn whispered even as he let out long uneasy sigh, "So, like it or not, I guess we'll have to try to take it face to face. Let's try to make it mad so it knocks over another tree. It might let us get close enough to hit it with my hammer and your mace."

Zeltoss had a look of nervous bemusement on his face as he took in a deep breath. "My turn…" He then moved so the Dragon could see him for an instant before disappearing behind a decent sized maple right on the edge of the dense line of trees. "Hey, lizard lips you getting tired yet, cause I think we can keep this up for hours."

The Dragon snorted, "Tired? I can keep this up for days, not hours!"

"Typical Dragonette, all haughty talk…"

Before Zeltoss could say more the Dragon leapt high, using its wings to propel itself into the higher part of the tree, "I am a Warrior!"

Even as the weight of the beast uprooted the whole maple and pushed it back forcing Zeltoss to dive and roll, Jamon sprinted over from his hiding spot, looked up, judged where the back feet were going to come down and put the two war picks he had taken off the bodies of the larger Dragonlings Seldnat and Pike had killed. He took just enough time to make sure both picks had their points up and did a quick adjustment to them as the back feet came back to earth. He then dove as far away as he could.

The Dragon didn't even notice movement below. Instead it started to prepare another ball of phlegm to send at the boy who was scrambling to get away from the toppling tree. This all changed in an instant as both its back paws came directly down on the spikes of the war picks. Its massive weight drove them through its immense hardened paw pads and into the meat and bones of its feet.

It screamed in horrified agony.

This not only caused it to fall off onto its side, it also opened up its neck since it was craning back and wailing.

While Lorthorn had no clue what had happened, there was no question in his mind the shriek and subsequent reaction could not have been faked. No one or nothing could make such a pained and tortured screech without reason and need. He rushed forward, pushed more Force into the Lava Hammer and swung with everything he had at a bulging spot on the neck which he took for an Adam's apple. The intense heat of the hammer shattered the white scales and cut off the ear-piercing cry in midstream. Not wanting to take any chances, and really needing the sound to stop for his own sake, he hit the Dragon's neck a second time.

This was followed up by Zeltoss, who much like Lorthorn, had no idea what had just happened but was equally sure the Dragon was not putting on some kind of ploy. It wasn't just in distress, something caused it to be in complete anguish. Since the creature was thrashing around wildly and for some reason didn't seem to be able to stand, Zeltoss pulled his Mace of the Dead back over his head with both hands and slammed it down into the side of the Dragon's jaw. When it didn't even try to snap or bite at him, but instead attempted to jerk away and curl into a protective ball, he stepped forward, following the head and hit it over and over again, not even trying to aim. It was too big of a target to miss anyway.

Lorthorn was doing pretty much the same. Except he concentrated on the neck. After nearly five minutes the Warrior Dragon convulsed and gave up its life in a blast of Dragon Death.

Jamon stood up from behind one of the trees the beast had toppled, brushed himself off, and grinned. "Not much different than stepping on nails for us, huh?"

Over in the middle of the lake, and feeling its belly sinking into the ice, Weraweld tried again to pull itself out, only to sink in further. With desperation in its eyes, it sucked in a vast quantity of air and exhaled another icy breath. Once again it watched as Kandric's blade flared and caused its breath to split around the boy. At the same time the bone chilling exhale did nothing to stop or even slow its downward movement into the ice. "You… You cannot do this! I am a prince!"

"And this means what to me? Now where are my students?"

"I sensed your presence, the Dragon Death Gifting in you, and knew you were close! Because of this I had your grandfather pull them back. I will give you the location if you let me out!"

"Not a chance. I will just have find them and kill any of your kind helping my grandfather. Besides, I have it from a very good authority you have taken down several Silvers. They are my allies. Letting you live, even to spare the life of some of my students, would be turning my back on others who have given me allegiance. This I cannot do and expect them to remain loyal to me or me to myself. No, Prince. You are going nowhere."

Weraweld spit out another huge ball of frozen phlegm, narrowly missing Kandric.

Kandric's eyes went wide, "Nice try, however, even if I die you are going down!"

By this time half of Weraweld's chest was in the ice. It made one attempt to stretch out it wings to pull itself out by flying, but instead screamed in pain as the bone along its wing split open further. "You deserve nothing! You tricked me!"

"You deceived yourself," Kandric responded with no remorse in his voice. "You ignored and disregarded those I have already taken the lives of with the help of my friends. You looked down on me and the abilities of my friends when you should have at least had a little respect. You are the arrogant one. You actually thought I was naive enough to think you would fall through the ice. Do you really think so little of other races to think we are so ignorant?"

Weraweld twisted and shook with all his might. Each jerk only hastened his downward movement. Just as his back disappeared below the ice, leaving only his head and neck sticking out, there was a small explosion in the form of a bright white ball of magic deep into the woods. The magic cascaded outwards rolling over most of the lake.

Kandric smiled as he felt a slight renewal of Force and some refreshing of sore muscles from trudging through the snow. "And there, Prince, just went your Warrior Dragon. Any thought you may have had of getting assistance from him seems to have gone up in a large plume of White Dragon death."

Seeing both Seldnat and Pike stand and shake their heads after getting a Dragon Death healing, Kandric shouted out, "Guys! Stay there! I put you on Allied Ground. It will protect you and help to warm you back up. I will heal you shortly!"

"Me think us pretty good all da sudden!" Seldnat called out.

"Good, no. Better yes." Pike verified. My chest still hurts and I am dizzy.

"Dizzy comes from the power of the Dragon death. Just stay there and keep warm or go check on Lor, Zel and Jamon! Whatever you do stay off the lake ice! I really have no idea how big of an area this spell works on!"

Fifteen minutes later Kandric watched as the ice settled over Weraweld's eyes and most of his snout. At this point the Great Dragon stopped sinking, leaving nothing but a little of the front of his mouth and nose exposed. Kandric waited for several more minutes. "Huh, either my spell does not go to the bottom or you are standing on it with your back legs. Either way… There is no reason to keep the ice soft."

Kandric waved his hands. The surface became smooth and glasslike for a couple of minutes before snow started stick on it again. He carefully lowered himself down and tested the surface. It was rock hard. He moved up to the snout and looked down seeing the open eyes of Weraweld staring back up at him with helpless terror. With a rush of anger, he smacked the exposed snout hard with the flat of his Frozen Flame blade. "For hurting at least one of my students… I hope you can hear me, Prince. Now do not go anywhere. I will be back."

He then half ran, half slid, across the lake toward Seldnat and Pike knowing it would be all but impossible to use his spell to fly against the driving snow. By the time he got to where they were, they had moved deeper into the woods.

It was a simple matter to track them to where Lorthorn and Zeltoss were congratulating Jamon on the sneaky use of the war picks. It took only a minute or so for Kandric to figure out what had happened. He moved around to the side of the dead Warrior Dragon and examined the back paws. He couldn't help but wince at the snapped off wooden handles and only a trace of the picks sticking out of the bottom of the paws. "Well done, my friend! From now till the end of time you can say you were key in bringing down a Dragon and I can feel it gifted you. I will do everything I can to get you armor made of this one and it sure sounds like both Zel and Lor are giving you the real credit for the kill, so I will as well."

Jamon couldn't help but continue to smile, "Thanks!"

At the same time Zeltoss followed Lorthorn's lead in grabbing handfuls of snow so he could wipe of some of the Dragon blood and scale splatter off his face, weapon and armor.

Off to the side Seldnat rolled his eyes, "Ain't no fair. Me still no gets to gunch no Dragon while ya all gets ta wipe da goo of it off ya!"

Kandric moved over and reached up to put his arm over Seldnat's shoulder, "Without you, I would have never beat the Dragon prince in the middle of the lake…" He then looked over to Jamon and Pike. "Speaking of which, you two pull off the armor on a couple of the Dragonlings and fill them with snow."

Jamon shrugged and moved in the direction of one of the young Dragonlings he had killed.

At the same time Pike cocked his head to the side, "I will do as you command, of course, but why?"

"Because!" Kandric all but shouted with glee, "You two get to finish off the big guy!"

"What?" Jamon and Pike shouted at the same time.

"Ya left it breathin'?" Seldnat asked with sudden concern.

"Oh, do not worry, guys. I just want to make sure Jamon and Pike get to finish it. Besides, Seld, you are the one who said we have to send Pike back in at least silver guild pins."

"Yea, ya right. Still, no fair none. Lor, Zel, and Jamon gots ta beats the crud out a dis one. Me jus' spear and dagger da big one!"

"I will be good if the single pick strike I gave is all I will ever have to do to any Dragon!"

"No such luck, Pike," Kandric grinned. "Lor, Seld make them some torches so they can melt snow in the chain armor.”

"Melt snow?" Jamon asked.

"You will see, my friend. Come."

Lorthorn looked over at Kandric, "One of the little Dragonlings got away. Don't you think we should try to track it?"

"Once we get done with the prince we will pick up its trail and hope it leads us to where ever Prince Weraweld sent my grandfather with my students. We will then kill all those holding them."

Kandric lead the group out to the middle of the lake, and pointed to the almost snow covered snout. "Pike, Jamon, you will have to do this quickly. It is still radiating a great deal of cold and I used up too much Force to place a protection spell around you. Fill chain armor with snow, melt it with torches, and pour it over the exposed parts until it is totally covered in ice."

Pike moved up close enough to brush off some of the snow and look into the ice. "He should have frozen the water solid! How did you get him to break through?"

"He did not break through. He sunk. I have a spell to make ice soft, kind of like quicksand. I will show you all some other time when I have more Force and the snow isn't pelting you all."

"Yea! Gets dis done. Me think Kandric need ta have Lacate cooks us more bacon and warm up! Me gots heals for me broke ribs from gettin' batted wit dis one tail, but me still froze me mouth bein' on top a da big lizard! Me needs warm!"

Kandric stood back and watched as Pike and Jamon took turns melting snow, then running back to get away from the cold the Dragon was radiating. It took several trips since a great deal of the water froze before they could dump it over the protruding snout, but finally an icy cap too thick for Weraweld to snort off formed. The two added a few more coats of water just to be sure, then they all backed off just outside of the intense cold radiating off of the ice-locked Dragon.

Kandric cast five Autospells, giving each of the others an umbrella over them to at least protect against the slashing snow of the raging blizzard.

After nearly ten minutes and really starting to shiver, Lorthorn looked over, "So how long can a Dragon hold its breath?"

Seconds later a massive eruption of white-colored magic blossomed outward from the snout, knocking all six kids flat and shoving them across the ice faster than any had ever moved. It took only seconds for them to get pushed well up onto the shoreline. Amazingly enough, the incredibly powerful magical discharge did nothing to the iced over lake, giving testament as to how solid it was.

Even as Kandric started to stand, he realized he had been Death Gifted yet again, and it had been a massive one. He stayed on a knee as he adjusted to having his Force fully refreshed. Finally, with a long exhale, he stood, shook off the snow, let his head clear some, and reached down to help Pike to his feet. He then looked over at Lorthorn, "Oh, to answer your questions, I would say about a quarter of an hour glass. How about you?"

***

God's viewing room

Rovnar shot Golan a dirty look as the Dwarven god of craftsmanship, elbowed him.

Before anything could be said, Veldora, Halfling goddess of farming, moved over to the viewing portal and spun it backwards, "Again?"

Golan let out a deep throated chuckle, "Our sticky-fingered friend, here, is looking more and more like a squire boy in comparison to Kandric! Another high royal Great to add to his list! If I remember correctly, Rovnar, you only had one royal among your kills…"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I didn't have the help we have given him…"

Veldora watched Weraweld's death, then spun it back to view how it came to be. After several seconds, she looked over at the Halfling god of mischief and thievery, "I see no help on this, and I certainly show no help on Blathamort…"

"Oh come on!" Rovnar complained. "He had friends with him! His Halforc buddy and the little Garm dude crippled the wing!"

"True," Vaneuben spoke as he watched the death with an approving nod. "However, my pouch pilfering little friend, this makes a True and three Greats with Kandric taking the lead in all. Oh, and then there is the minor White his underlings took out with zero help from him. Leadership is something to be admired as well as proficiency, and in this he makes you look like a junior school boy getting a bad grade!"

***

{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, 4 Alphar, Protector’s Keep guards}

Glaster could not sleep. There was simply too much anger and confusion within him to do so. Even taking Chark'ash to bed, and breaking the young teen in, could not push what had transpired over the last several hours. The questions were too many and the answers all but non-existent. How had a major trade city been so totally undermined to where it could be taken from within? Where was The Watch, the Royal Guards, the lower nobles, the magistrates, and even the rank and file city guardsmen?

Then there was the prince, or princes. What did any of this have to do with a nine-year-old boy, or two of them. Which one had been damaged worse? Was there a prince capable of being 'Crown Prince' after all they had been through? What would the fallout from all of this do to the kingdom, to King Wyhrem, to the other royal houses?

Next and while not so important in Glaster's devotion to Wyhrem and the kingdom as a whole, was Kandric. Were the Alphar telling him the truth? Was Kandric really some kind of Alphar lord? Had his beloved Halfelf helped to fell a real Dragon? If the words of the Alphar were true, how did all this tie into a massed army of Alphar and Garm under the leadership of a kid? Why was it down in the middle of King Wyhrem's lands? How would the king react if it all was true?

Then there was the message from the gods. They told him to join the fight down in Everone, not Rolling Dale. How could they have been this wrong? On a complete sidenote, was it possible for Aster to really be a half-brother of Kandric? The two had crossed paths half a dozen times over the past few years. On two occasions Glaster had enjoyed one in the morning and the other the same night. He could also recall three other times where he had rented the services of Aster because he had paid extra for Protector's Keep to give Kandric training and schooling for multiple days. During the four-week training sessions, Kandric had stayed at Protector’s Keep, so Glaster had made long term arrangements for Aster's company. At the time, Master Lannet had made it clear Aster was important to him, and was every bit as gifted as Kandric. Even as he thought about this he couldn't help but lightly stroke Chark'ash's back while smiling. Aster had indeed turned out to be very talented, both as an Animal Adept as well as a young bed partner.

Truth of the matter was, it made sense the two were related. The really odd part is how close had they come to each other, and may have even met, yet had no clue they were related. However, in fairness to both, they didn't look much alike. In fact, Aster was a much more physical and sculpted child than Kandric could ever hope to be. On the flip side, when it came to agility, quickness, grace, and flexibility, Kandric had Aster beat hands down. Yet with all their differences, the one thing both had were the eyes of deep determination and innate intelligence. While the eyes were not the same color, what was right behind them was certainly made of the same stuff.

Feeling Chark'ash slide away from him, Glaster's thoughts came to a halt. He popped the young Drow on the butt, "You do not pull away from me while being enjoyed, understood?"

There was a deep breath followed by the boy sliding right back into Glaster's side. After a few moments of silence, a clearly unhappy voice responded, "Sorry, Commander. I am just very tired…"

"You can learn to rest or even sleep under my touch, Chark'ash, or shall I call you Prince Shunral?"

The Drow prince did his utmost to keep his voice free of the loathing he was really feeling. "I would prefer, Chark, or Chark'ash, to keep my full identity from being widely known, However, you bought my servitude from where I had been indentured, so you may call me whatever you wish. If you insist on calling me prince, and using my name, other Conclave members would see it as a serious dishonor to not call me by my full name, Prince Chark'ash-Shunral."

"Very well, I do mean no dishonor to you or your race. I am not one of the mindless who see a race and feel abhorrence. Therefore, should I find a need or have a desire to call you by title I will always use your full name. I also understand your desire to keep your status hidden, especially with Alphar returning from whatever exile they imposed on themselves. Because of this, I will leave how I address you in your hands. Would you prefer Chark'ash or Chark?"

"Chark is more familiar to me, since if Chark'ash was ever used it was combined Shunral."

Very well, Chark. Now as you spend the reminder of the night with me, realize there will be many more. It is also beyond probable there will be some periods during the day where I will enjoy you. You may find this distasteful. You may hate it. And as things progress, and they will fairly rapidly, you may be disgusted with me or even yourself. These are all attitudes you have control over. Your thoughts can only be changed by you and you can find ways to accept and even enjoy aspects of my advances. Others have, and I care about all who were more than cute slaves or paid pleasure boys. I can also tell you quite a few even show care toward me many years later. Also, I feel it would be helpful for you to keep in the front of your mind who and what you now are. I know you understand your position, but accepting may be helpful to you, especially over the next nights where there will be some serious discomfort and adjustments to what you feel should be acceptable treatment for someone of your social status.

"Your family sold you into indentured servitude. A servitude I took over without knowing of your real social status. A servitude I can only surmise your family expected you to be able to handle and deal with. It was a duty you took on, and said commitment is now to me. Therefore, regardless of your class and the status which goes with it, you are now indentured to me and will do what I require, when I desire it. This does not mean I see you as less than what you are. You are still a prince and it is because of this I have not pushed you as rapidly as I normally would or even as quickly as I would like. I fully realize this is your first night with me and very possibly a man. Because of this and your birth status, I have gone easy. Should you disappoint me again, I will forgo any further adjustment period."

"My contractual obligation is to you, Commander. This I know and will do my utmost to not disappoint you further."

"If you follow through and keep the attitude you are bravely trying to display, you will find me giving you credit, in silver, toward your freedom in larger quantities than I normally would. In this way, the length of your servitude to me is in your hands, as much as you will be in mine. Now, no further words and try to rest while I explore what I will soon be enjoying with a great deal more… zeal…"

Chark'ash gave a single nod and did his best not to tighten up as the man's hand freely explored him. Regardless of what his family thought was going to happen, he had agreed to servitude for the betterment of his people. While this was not in any way what he wanted nor expected, it was his responsibility to both his family honor and what little honor his race had left to deal with and even accept what the man who took over his indentured contract demanded or even wanted.

Chark'ash also realized his lot could have been much worse. For even as he badly disliked the situation and despised what he knew the man was going to do to him, this powerful Shaman commander was showing far more respect than anyone outside of the Drow ever had. The Master, or even Legendary, Shaman even accepted Chark'ash as a rightful prince and seemed to have no disdain for him or the Drow as a whole.

There had been no claims of there being no Drow royalty, nor snide or demeaning comments about the Drow race as a whole. If anything, the man seemed oddly happy to be in the company of a Drow, even if it was out of a desire to experience something a little different. Now in this, Chark'ash had a hard time understanding, since he had everything any boy did, with the possible exception of pointed ears. But he had heard enough to know the man's last long term boy had been a Halfelf, so pointed ears were not something new to him. However, being looked at as 'exotic' was far better than being seen as an evil pouch of animal waste simply because he happened to have been born Drow. He also comprehended another important point as the lustful hand continued over his entire body. Many others with similar proclivities would have brutalized him from the first moments. This would have been done either because of their hatred of Drow or because they had paid such a high price for services. In most cases, it would have been both. While Chark'ash could not say he was lucky, he also couldn't say the commander's taking over of his servitude had been ill-fated. As this dawned on him, he further realized what he had just been told was totally true. The way he looked at the situation was up to him, and the more positives he found, the easier it was to at least deal with his current lot in life. Chark'ash could find no way to like where he found himself, and there was certainly no chance he would enjoy this or what was to come, but understanding it could be much worse made accepting and dealing with it more tolerable.

Glaster gave a slight smile as the youngster next to him loosened up slightly. He really didn't want the child to hate what was going on and what would happen. In many ways, Glaster had to fight guilt, since what he was doing was on the very edge of acceptable behavior. The boy was high royalty. The only reason this was not a crime against a higher class was Chark's admission of his servitude having been done legally and without coercion to gain quick funds in a time of need. However, the child's class had to be taken into account. He was a prince and deserved proper care and overall respectable treatment.

To Glaster, it mattered none what the expectations of the family had been or how they would see their son's current predicament. He was a noble, and a noble in his care had to be given certain rights, indentured or not. Glaster also applied the same standard to Rylan. Both boys would need better clothing, proper gear, and would have to be included in the classes given to Zoldon, Mylan and Lylan. Yes, they would serve him, but they would need to have better food, be given free time, they would also be trained in Fields and Sub-Fields with the best Glaster could provide. It was a burden, yes, but they were nobles and if he were going to keep them around, it was his duty to his kingdom, his king and his own honor to see they advanced in as a professional a way as he could possibly provide.

Otherwise it would be his responsibility to get them back to their families safely. At some point, he would have to face potential consequences of bedding them both, however, the laws of servitude were clearly on his side with both. While one or both families may be angry with him, neither would be able to claim he had overstepped his bounds. He bet neither of the noble houses would even try to claim he had broken proper decorum. This was especially true if both advanced in the guilds and schooling while becoming better traveled. Of course, being cared for at higher standard than either family could expect an indentured servant to be given, would only add to the liberties he could take with them. Finally, and by far least important to Glaster, his own status as a Master within the guilds put him at a high enough social status to where some idiosyncrasies were expected. Even the highest and most powerful members of royalty would likely chalk up his bedding of the boys as distasteful, but acceptable. Glaster smiled at this, since neither Chark or Rylan could claim to be from a powerful or extremely high family regardless of them being princes to what had certainly been in ages past very important lineages.

Glaster played with Chark's hair for a little while, knowing in a matter of days the he would be fully enjoying the child. With a sigh, he tried to close his eyes again. The problem was, his mind simply would not let go enough to allow him to sleep. Some of it, Glaster guessed was his sudden and very unexpected rise into Legendary Echelon. The power coursing through him was insanely potent. Regardless of this, the whole situation he was in, still plagued him. He felt like he had scores of puzzle pieces, but wasn't even sure how many puzzles he needed to make out of them. Certainly they weren't all interconnected, were they?

Even as he wondered about this it dawned on him Chark and Rylan could also be pieces of the greater picture or pictures. For it would not be beyond the power of the gods to place one or both where Glaster would stumble across them. Certainly, if they needed him or even wanted him to find them, they would have put those Glaster would find eye-catching enough to make him take notice. This made him wonder how much was chance and how much was indirect or even direct intervention.

Once again he tried to manipulate what he knew while combining it with what he guessed. So much of it depended on information he could not verify, though, he was all but certain he was trying to paint a picture with a color of paint not even enclosed within the frame. If only he could…

His thoughts stopped as a truly spectacular wave of magic rolled over him. The very fact it caused Chark to jerk and sit up, told him it was beyond the sensitivity of even a lightly to totally untrained being.

Chark looked over with a gulp, "Again sorry, Commander, I…"

"Chark, you felt the same thing I did. There was just another extremely powerful disruption."

"It was not the same as what I felt back in Rolling Dale, but similar… Kind of…"

"Very perceptive. Maybe you have more training than I first thought. However, this was mortal based, not Spirit Realm. Because of it being mortal you are more open to it than the much more powerful release from the Spirit Realms when something beyond what I have ever encountered augmented my casting and so totally twisted it, it took on a near life of its own.

"Regardless of the source, what we just felt was stunning and I need to investigate. Grab a cloak and summon the judge. I need someone here to keep you safe from the Alphar while also watching over me."

"You are going to spirit walk?"

"Again, you show knowledge beyond what I expect. Very good, now go. I need to investigate before the source fades."

Fifteen minutes later Glaster, with the help of a few stunned and talkative spirits located the source of the latest instability to the natural flow of magic. It was a group of boys fighting to recover from what had to have been near overwhelming experience. From within the Spirit Realm, Glaster could see the ice-locked Dragon. This had been the initiation point. A Dragon death… A deeper look only enhanced Glaster's curiosity and confusion, for it was a White Dragon and the creature had died standing on its claws on a large boulder in the bottom of the lake. It had been just enough to get its snout above the surface of the water. But its last act to save itself had failed because ice had been obliviously put over the snout, smothering the majestic beast. The truly odd part was how had it sunk, for the entire lake, from shoreline to shoreline, from lakebed to surface was frozen solid.

Even as Glaster tried to wrap his brain around how this was possible, his eyes took in something even more remarkable, if such a thing was even possible. For not far from the group of boys were several spirits giving two smaller ones bits and pieces of themselves, permanently diminishing themselves, while augmenting a pesky wind spirit into a much bigger Squall Spirit and a lowly Fog Spirit into a much more powerful Steam Spirit.

He stayed back far enough to not interfere, but closed enough to listen. The first words he heard were enough to send his entire head spinning, "Your bet on Kandric felling the Great White was ingenious…"

Glaster couldn't help himself. He spoke up even as he moved closer to look at the boys. "Kandric?"

One of the much larger Gale Spirits glanced over with some aggravation, only to be held back by an equally massive Thermal Spirit. "Hold, it be Premier Kandric's mentor, Glaster."

The Gale Spirit pushed a little more of its energy into the now spinning and joyous Squall Spirit and motioned with heavy torrents of snow to move closer. "Glaster, you have surpassed the guild pins we detect on you. Maybe you should test at the same time your student does…"

Glaster moved forward only to see Kandric get up and stagger briefly, while playfully shoving a Halforc boy. "Kandric… It is you…"

"I would try to get his attention for you but alas, he is still trying to adjust to the combination of the power of the Dragon kill and the latest Dragon gifting…"

"The latest?"

"Oh, there is so much you have missed, good mentor of Premier Kandric. You really should bring your body out here and talk with him."

"You know," the Thermal Spirit stated, "should you wish to come and be with your student as he recovers from this and find out what all you have missed, we could probably provide enough amplification to a gate spell to get your camp here."

"You would do this for me?"

"No, we would do it for Premier Kandric."

***

Vondum, Conth, Black Warrior Dragon Ornam, Alphar boy Cam'ris, Hawkling Channeler, Klorna, Morwar (Avgon Channeler), Mokel (one of the 4 kid thugs), Princess Syrissia, Klent's group, Rylop and company, Blumed, two students

Duke Mathard motioned for everyone to enter the command tent. Seeing Klorna take a step back while looking at Mokel with a frown, he moved up to the trio even as the others entered, "Good Dwarf, we need your report as to what you saw in the taking of Premier Kandric's brothers. If this youngster was there, his eyes and ears may have caught sights and sounds you did not."

Klorna was on the borderline of being too afraid to speak. She was once again looking at a very high noble, one with ice hanging off his face like it was normal, one with magic armor, weapons, and a build worthy to be chiseled out of stone. However, being in front of a Garm duke was not her only trepidation. She was in no way looking forward to another royal interrogation.

The questioning by the Garm count had been short and to the point. As soon as Count Steelhand understood Klorna and the two Humans had thought they were going after those who helped take Kandric's brothers, all was forgiven. This didn't end the barrage of questions and the demand for answers, however.

It had taken almost fifteen minutes before Klorna figured out those talking to her, demanding answers, were not Dwarven, but instead Garm. The addition of an Alphar detachment only made the whole situation more terrifying. As far as she knew, the last time Alphar and Garm had been around, they had first nearly wiped out each other and the lower Dwarven and Elvin races. They then turned on the Drow and locked up the horrible city of Under River before disappearing. Until who she was dealing with fully sunk in, she, like so many others, thought both races had moved on to be spirits or servants of the gods.

The verbal interrogation had been harsh, especially at first. Then, as soon Count Steelhand found out she had served and indeed worked with and fought beside Kandric, all attitudes changed. She was an associate of Kandric, therefore she was given a status beyond her guild rank and birthright. The same was afforded to both Morwar and Mokel, but the other two had been advised to say little unless directly asked, since it was abundantly clear the Garm count found it hard to see them as fully worthy. At least Klorna was a Dwarf, so Count Steelhand could relate to her better. There was obvious dislike toward Mokel, but it seemed to be centered on the boy's speech more than who or what he was. However, good food was served and much better equipment issued to all three. At the same time, a wagon full of better armor and equipment was prepared for the remainder of those in the caravan. Finally, a proper bath, and much better clothing was found, and in Mokel's part, tailored on the spot, before a magical portal was opened for the three of them to gate directly to the great hall to meet and answer questions from even higher Garm and Alphar.

Hours later, with another amazing meal in them and additional gear provided by the Alphar, the three were escorted to a heavily guarded building, then gated by Gate Stone, along with a small detachment of Alphar and Garm escorting an Alphar princess, to a war camp just within sight of Bloody Rock. There they met up with up with Vondum, a Hawkling Channeler of Avgon, and a few others. They answered a few questions before being taken by flying Griffins into the swamps where they discovered another war camp, this one predominately manned by Pantherlings, Illorcs, Black Dragonlings, and a newly arriving large force of Hawklings. Lined up at the edge of the clearing were hundreds of bodies of recently fallen, most Orcs, along with many Black and Green Dragonlings, but with them were a smattering of others. But all of this was made near inconsequential by the carcass of a dead Green Dragon, well over fifty meters head to tail. And while Vondum was riding a Black Dragon which only made her fear the man more, seeing a much larger dead one was truly horrifying.

Klorna and those with her didn't have more than a few minutes to gawk at the sight of a dead Dragon. In actuality, Mokel was still so focused on the smaller one Vondum was riding, she wasn't even sure the much larger dead one fully registered with the teen. But regardless they were given little time to dwell on any of it. Instead, they were firmly ushered over to the green pyramid of another Gate Stone. An Alphar Mage quickly activated yet another portal. In this Vondum took the lead, but all too soon the bitter cold of the passage once again gripped Klorna as she pushed Cam'ris and Conth through. This time she found herself in a truly colossal war camp being buffeted by one of the nastier blizzards Klorna could ever remember.

While the idea of getting into a tent was a fantastic one, since she was bitterly cold from the passage through another Gate Stone portal, she was beyond scared since two of the guards at the front of the tent they were directed towards were Dragons, not Dragonlings, Dragons, and both were slightly larger than the one Vondum had ridden on. One was Blue, the other Silver, and both were close to twenty meters in length. The fact the heads of equally large Dragons could be seen looking over at them from the back side of the tent, one Red, the other Black, only added to the overall feeling of awe and fear streaming through her.

Since she flatly didn't trust her voice, she gave Duke Mathard a nod and a slight bow, before turning once again to shoot as stern of an eye as possible at Mokel. It was clear, however, the teen wasn't too keen on wanting to say or do anything. As it was, Klorna had to reach back and grab at the boy's brand new Elvin Silver Steel chain shirt and drag him since his eyes were focused on the Blue Dragon. Well, actually, she was pretty sure Mokel's eyes were on the teeth and tongue of said Dragon, but regardless, she doubted the boy could have been more ridged in death than he was as she pulled him past the two terrifying, yet totally majestic, creatures.

A pair of Blue Dragonling Guards looked over and moved to intercept as soon as the trio were through the outer tent flap. They stopped instantly as Duke Mathard raised his hand and spoke, "All three have fought with our Premier and should be treated with respect due such allies."

Klorna couldn't help but notice a tinge of fear enter both Dragonlings as they instantly backed off and pulled clawed hands away from weapons at their hips.

At the same time six teens, three Garm and three Alphar, moved up. All took to a knee in front of Klorna and those with her. An older Garm teen moved up behind them, "We know from recent experience the passage through the Gate Stones is a frigid one. If you would allow these squires to assist you out of your armor, weapons and clothing, we can provide warm robes. We will then tend to your equipment and should have it back to you clean and ready for combat as soon as you are released by Duke Mathard."

Seeing Morwar start to say something, she eyed the young Channeler while nodding, "Thank you for your kind offer. We will all accept, right boys?" She then added, "Unless you would prefer to go talk to the Dragons outside the flap behind you…"

Morwar held up both hands while Mokel managed to squeak out, "I'll be good."

Seeing the Alphar lad keeling in front of Mokel frown she looked down at the kid. "I think he's real cold. Help him out of his armor. I really don't think he wants to have to wait outside and pull guard with those already out there."

At hearing this Mokel's eyes went wide and he held out both arms so the Garm and Alphar could take off his gear. He started to fidget when they moved to remove his shirt and loincloth, but a single clearing of Klorna's throat was all it took for the boy to cease and accept the toweling off, full washing, and the redressing in a fresh loincloth, undershirt and heavy robe by the two kids who were very close in age equivalency to Mokel.

Klorna looked over to Mokel as the seven underlings left the outer tent room with all the belongings by way of a side flap. "Boy, watch yer mouth when we get in there!"

"I ain't sayin' nothin'! Didn't ya see the size of them teeth out there?"

Morwar managed a nervous little grin as he glanced over, "Not much different than what Vondum was riding on."

"Him hit the side a the beast like it be some kind a pet. Ain't gunna do nothin' to make him mad either! I don't think them things would even taste me none as I got ate!"

"Probably not," Klorna agreed, "so just do all a us a favor and keep your mouth shut until you really need to add something or they ask you any questions."

From the moment the meeting started, Klorna realized it was predominantly geared toward getting Princess Syrissia up to date on Kandric. During the first hour, Klorna found out more about the young Halfelf's lineage, history, and mother than she ever cared to know. It also gave her some insights into Garm and Alphar culture, laws, and the laws governing how the two races interacted. None of which she really cared about.

Next, a man and his small ruffian-looking mercenary troop were brought in to tell of the last known sighting of Kandric, how he took down a Dragonling, and handed over Murderic Channeler, along with an evil Drow brat. While the information told the princess quite a bit, it was nothing Klorna hadn't seen out of her own two eyes. Listening to the princess about how she would pitch in on the reward for the Murderic Channeler and the Drow girl was a complete waste of time, but upon hearing Kandric wanted the girl to serve in a brothel, she couldn't help but smile.

Klorna reluctantly held her tongue even as it was debated on if it was acceptable to hand over the Drow girl and the merits of the case Kandric had for enslaving the kid outside of his lands. She also suddenly remembered why she gave up being a city guard and took a much more dangerous job as a lead caravan guard. Quite simply, there were very few meetings, and when there was, it lasted just long enough to get things organized and moving again. On the other hand, she noted none of those present were willing to tell Kandric he couldn't do what he wanted with the girl, so when all was said and done, lots was said and very little was done, other than say they would send the Drow up to Slome and hold her for Kandric.

Next up was Slome Corporal Rylop, along with a group of boys, including some students from the two main Swordsman schools in Slome. They talked of the time in their schools, of how Kandric took over the jail, and even started his own business. They then talked about going into Bloody Rock, and how Kandric led them and protected them. Even the kids from the other school showed awe as they talked about what they knew of Kandric and what the Slome Governor had been told regarding Kandric's incursion into Bloody Rock.

Klorna was revolted at the descriptions of the forced fighting, but found none of it helpful. Furthermore, she also quickly became disgusted by how much time Princess Syrissia and Duke Mathard spent blaming their own races for what in Klorna's mind was the failure of one person, Kandric's grandfather.

Finally the talk turned to when little Rathiter and Darmoth were taken. Klorna rapidly became miffed at the lack of concern for Gablon, whose name was spoke but a single time and Emroc, whose name was never mentioned. Mostly because of this, when Duke Mathard asked if she had anything to add she nodded, "Yes, Duke, I do. Um, first, I better just say I'm sorry if I'm not as prim and proper as you would all like. I've never been in a court before today, and those with me ain't about to blend in with all your rules of social cra… um, codes."

She cleared her throat to try to hide how close she came to saying 'crap' before she continued, "But anyhow, yeah, when the boys were taken with caravan owner and master Gablon, and Emroc, one of our youngest guards, and good friend of Mokel here, they had just finished a class in the back of the wagon on wilderness equipment. So when they jumped out to toss some snow at each other and feed the animals, they were in full gear. While I'm sure ya all won't like what they had on, they still had their small packs, weapons and some basic armor. Both caravan master Gablon and Emroc had weapons, armor, and pack as well, since they was helping teach the class to the younger ones."

Princess Syrissia spoke up for the first time. "Did either have any magic with them?"

At this point Mokel, who was both sick of all the formality garbage and confused by why so much time was being spent on it when his best friend was being held by the demoness of fire, spoke up, "Gablon's got a kick-ass blade, the two little Elf dudes gots the castin' books Gablon had made fer em, but ain't no good to 'em yet, and me best livin' friend ain't got shit… But who cares about none a this! The Bitch a Fire gots 'em. How we gunna gets 'em back?"

Seeing shock in nearly every set of eyes looking at him, he stomped his foot, "Yer not even carin' about my friend 'er Gablon none! I'm about sick a all this uppity-up bull sh…"

While Klorna turned pale, Morwar reached over and put his hand over Mokel's mouth cutting off the final word, but it was far too late. Everyone knew what was coming out.

Seeing Vondum move straight at Mokel, Duke Mathard stepped between them and held up his hand. "My Princess, General Vondum, ladies and gentlemen, before you all self-combust and ruin my finest tent, let me interject a thought or two here.

"First off this young man has obviously never been in anything close to this environment. He must be given a full pass for lack of decorum. Second, if you have issues with what he says or how he says it, be angry with me. The fine lead caravan guard, here," he moved over to Klorna and patted her on the shoulder, "tried to prevent him from entering. I overruled her judgment. While I now understand her concerns, this boy has information within we need. Therefore, regardless of his incivility, this boy was present at the taking of our princes, his caravan master, and his friend. He jumped through a dimensional gate thinking he was going after our young princes, even though he had just witnessed, and I will use his own words, the Bitch of Fire. Now, before any of you dare pass judgement on him or his total lack of knowledge in protocol, you best go to a mirror. While you look at yourselves, tell me and yourselves if you have the testicular fortitude to not only go after Frexla, but then when you emerge and are surrounded by a sizable force of heavily armed Garm, demand those who had been taken be given back. You all heard the reports from Count Steelhand. You know this is exactly what this young man did. So, foolish or not, there is bravery beyond comprehension within this child.

"Now it is possible this is just me, but somehow, I really do not see many of us, me included, attempting such a rescue. Besides, regardless of how much bravado, and audacity, such an action shows, you have to find some admiration in it and therefore within this boy. Also remember we are not in our lands, we are actually in his and we will need to get used to countless others who have his level of royal etiquette… or lack thereof."

To show he was not simply talking out of the side of his mouth, Mathard moved up to the lad, put his arm around him and pulled him tight to his side. "Is there anything really wrong with this young warrior's desires? After all, he wants his caravan master, friend and our princes back. Furthermore, he is not a creature of noble circles, war camps and royalty. He is frustrated, with youthful exuberance, at how slowly things are moving. Now again, ask yourselves, how has he wronged any of us?"

Mathard then spun Mokel, grabbed him by the front of the brand new robe, ripping it slightly even as lifted him off the ground, "However, young Warrior, should you ever, and I do mean ever, talk about Prince Darmoth and Prince Rathiter again as Elf dudes I will smack your face so hard you will be taking out of the back of your head, understood?"

Mokel looked into the man's eyes and saw sincerity of both the small speech and the following threat as being totally true. "Um, yeah… I'll never do it no more… Um, what's me needs ta call 'em?"

Mathard didn't put the boy down. "You address any and all nobles by title once you know what the title is. If you do so, your speech, your lack of education and social graces, and even your impatience can all be overlooked, at least for now. Under my guidance, however, much of this will change quickly and for the better."

Mokel gulped as he saw only anger in the eyes of pretty much everyone else in the tent, although some of edge seemed to be fading or had at least been put in check, "So, me call ya duke and Rath and Dar, prince?"

"Better, but do not use nick names or partials when talking about the young princes, our princes. Now say it again, and say it to me while addressing all of us with the respect of at least title."

"Sorry, Duke, um, me'll no say nothing but Prince Rathiter and Prince Darmoth no more and always call ya duke."

Mathard lowered the teen but still didn't let his feet touch the ground. "The same for General Vondum, Princess Syrissia, and any other noble or military titles you hear. If corrected, you will instantly correct yourself and not make the mistake a second time. Furthermore, you WILL USE proper respect for those of the upper Echelons as you know them starting at Teaching Echelon. If not, we will revisit this and you will not like the results, young Warrior."

Mokel nodded almost wildly even as he spoke, "Me'll make sure of it Duke, sir."

"Duke, no sir, but much better." Mathard put Mokel down and patted him on the head before putting a protective arm around him and holding him close and very tight. To even the least observant, the non-verbal message was clear. Duke Mathard, no one else, was to discipline Mokel. The boy was under his tutelage and protection until such time as it was dropped, which simply wasn't likely to happen. Because of this, the mood within the tent quickly shifted, while conversations turned back toward the business of Frexla, figuring out what to do about her having two Alphar princes and most importantly, what to tell Kandric. However, Gablon and Emroc's names were now being mentioned as well. While it was clear Mokel was not happy with all the talk, at least his friend wasn't being left out anymore.

The other thing was, while he hated the way the extremely powerful Garm was gripping him and not letting go, he was smart enough to say nothing about it, not even attempt to pull away, and deal with it. Besides, with years of street smarts and learning how to read the crew of the pirate ship, it was obvious he would be spending a great deal of time with the duke who was all but crushing his side. Making a man as strong as this duke was angry again was pretty much of the bottom of a list of things which bordered on stupid.

At the same time, some of what Mathard had said also made an impact. How stupid was he to raise a weapon at all the Dwarves, Garm, whatever, when he came through the magic doorway? It had not been one of his smarter moves and he really was lucky to still be breathing.

Mokel stayed silent as the discussions continued, mostly because the duke simply wouldn't let go and there was no chance he was going to try to pull free.

Princess Syrissia finally joined in the discussion as she gained a better understanding of the entire situation as it was known. "My Duke, General Vondum, I must formally admit some confusion in the way you are talking of dealing with your wayward prince, Premier Kandric. While I fully understand why it is best our Premier hear about his brothers, our princes, from those he trusts, why have you not brought his mother, Princess Kaylaria, down to speak with him?"

Seeing Vondum and Mathard exchange glances and cringe at the same time, Klorna nervously cleared her throat, "Um, Duke, Princess… General… um…"

Vondum pointed over at here, "Oh, by all means, Klorna. Be our guest!"

Even as Mathard smirked and chuckled at Vondum's words, he nodded.

Klorna gulped, cleared her throat, and stepped forward, "Look, um, Princess, ah, it's not like I know Kandric… Premier Kandric super well or nothing. But, from what I've seen, his mother, well she may be a princess in birth or whatever, but she ain't no mother. At least not to Premier Kandric… Do I really have to say Premier every time?"

Mathard let out a little snort, "Good guard, in this case, just stick with it. I do not want the young warrior in my grasp to think he can take shortcuts at any time and I certainly have no desire to smack him into the next moon cycle because he gets the wrong idea."

Klorna let out a long breath, "OK, sure, you want me to call him Premier, fine…"

At this point Princess Syrissia interjected, "As far as I know, good Dwarf, there is only one Premier at this point so saying Premier alone, would certainly be sufficient."

Klorna pointed at the woman, not at all realizing this was a slight in and of itself, "Much easier. I like it. So anyway, getting his mom to talk to him, well, there really ain't much respect there. From what me hear the Premier be the big bread winner and be the reason Dar… um, Prince Darmoth got schooled in Slome. If it not be for the coin the Premier brought in, none of them would a had no book learnin'. As it be, Prince Rathiter can't even read as good as Mokel, since Gablon has only been working with them since they joined the caravan, and Mokel has been with us for several moons now."

Jaws from one end of the tent to the other dropped at hearing this. After several very uneasy seconds Princess Syrissia finally found her tongue, "Are you tell me… us… Prince Rathiter cannot read or write?"

Mokel couldn't stay silent, he just couldn't, "Look Princess lady, maybe y'all can read and junk, but next ta none a us can. Me just gettin' ta be able to read big words in Northman, and me pretty much suck at it! Dar… Prince Darmoth… well he be pretty good. Kind made most a us mad at first, but him help us once we start bein' nice to him. Prince Rath be…" getting a firm and hard flip on the ear from Mathard, Mokel winced badly, but didn't let out a yelp, "OK, sorry Duke, um, Prince Rathiter… well, him be like super smart. It took him only a day to learn the Northman alphabet and he be soundin' out small words like three or four days after Gablon and a couple of them others started teachering him. To be honest, like, it kind a pissed me off, cause what Prince Rathiter do in a week take me more like three 'er four moons!"

Morwar decided to finally break his silence, "I heard our lead Druid say your prince was picking up Druidic writing just as quickly. We were all very impressed with him."

Princess Syrissia looked sick, "While I am pleased to hear he was learning, this begs me to ask about the younger two, Princess Meggie and Prince Gellor. What education do they have?"

Klorna cocked her head to the side in confusion, "Prince Gellor?"

"Princess Kaylaria's youngest son," Mathard responded.

"Sorry, yeah, forgot about him." Klorna admitted. "We spent some time in the camp and had Princess Kaylaria over for a meal so Gablon…" Klorna turned red as she decided it would be a really good idea to not talk about why Gablon really had them over for a meal, "Um, well we needed information of the area and she was one of the… well Princess Kaylaria stood out… We had a busted axel, so… Well she provided us with good information and it’s when Gablon offered the two princes jobs along with book learning and the like. Both boys, um princes, were eager about the chance and so they joined us.

"So, yeah, the youngest prince… I don't even think we got his name. Super cute little guy, and boy could he eat!"

Hearing a few chuckles, Klorna continued, "But, me… well, the way it sounded, Darmoth… Prince Darmoth could read and junk, but it wasn't up to Gablon's standards, not by a long shot. Since Prince Rathiter didn't know how, I'm guessing the little prince couldn't read or write either."

"Don't think so none, either," Mokel joined in. "I know Kand… um Prince… Premier… geesh this is so confusing!"

Mathard again ruffled the boy's hair, while chuckling, "Give me a few moons, boy and you will be able to walk into any court in the land and while you will probably never feel comfortable, you will be able to blend. However, you are trying hard, and I give credit to where it is due. Please, do your best and we will work together to get you to where every fine lad should be."

"Thank ya, Duke," Mokel breathed a little easier. "Um, so me was tryin' to tell y'all Premier, um, yeah, me see him a couple a time with the brothers…"

"The princes," Mathard corrected him.

"OK, yeah, sorry, Duke, the princes… Anyhow, Premier Kandric spent more time with the little guy… um prince then with the others… Me thinks him likes the little prince the most, then Prince Rathiter, but not so much Prince Darmoth… Um, me not sayin' he don't like him, but just like, not so much. Me know Premier came back a couple a times with the youngest brother… prince… with snares, so me bettin' the little one is gunna be a good Outdoorsman.

"From what me see, the small prince pretty much stay out all day and hunt fer food, play in the swamp and junk. Me saw him have a Dagger Boar knife kind-a like the one Premier carries, and him's got a good sling. Little dude…" Mokel instantly cringed, "Oh, crap, sorry, Duke, um little prince be pretty good with it. Him took down a squirrel off a tree, cleaned it and took it home while me was pullin' guard one afternoon. Him know more than me 'bout huntin' and wilds stuff and he's just a tiny little…"

Mathard gave Mokel a squeeze to stop him. "What this young man says mirrors what our scouts have told us about Prince Gellor. They even lost him for a short time in the woods and swamps on more than one occasion. The wilderness around the village of Slome seems to be our prince's playground and he not only loves it, he understands it. I also tend to believe our brave young warrior guard here is correct; Premier Kandric has spent a great deal of time working with Prince Gellor when he was not out and about with his instructor, Master Shaman Glaster. Therefore, while it is unlikely the prince can read or write, he has certainly had some overflow of the Dragon Giftings and knows the forests and swamps. His bonds with our Premier are most certainly the strongest he has, but they are tenuous. He is a prince of the wilds first and foremost. This makes him dangerous and unpredictable. We will continue to guard and protect him, and when the times comes do everything we can to make sure he is properly schooled. However, he will not ever be a good fit for a royal position. In truth, our little prince may not be fully redeemable at all if what the legends say about Rovnar's little sister is true. At least Princess Meggie tends to stay close to Princess Kaylaria, so she has a decently strong attachment to respectable figurehead.

"Right now, our focus must remain on the tasks at hand, and as you have heard, Princess Syrissia, there are good reasons we have not included Princess Kaylaria in on this. To be honest, we feel Premier Kandric would not respond well to her."

Princess Syrissia frowned deeply, "I do not understand why Princess Kaylaria didn't instruct them…"

Duke Mathard let out a long breath, mostly because he didn't want to get caught up in Kaylaria and her clear failures, nor did he want to dwell on how badly this whole thing looked on the Garm hierarchy. It had been the Garm's duty, after all, to make sure Princess Kaylaria and her offspring were at the very least looked after. However, he decided to pass on what he knew as best and quickly as possible, "Princess Syrissia, while I only have what Premier Kandric has told me to go off of, it is his understanding Prince Rovanall forbade any use of Princess Kaylaria's teachings in the raising of her children. Our princess took this to the extreme, bringing them up as best she could without using her Sorcery abilities or even basic book teachings. The fact she produced Premier Kandric despite this, should tell all of us she has a near unbreakable spirit."

"Indeed she does," Princess Syrissia sighed, "but alas, I must also admit it shows a stunning lack of basic decency and common sense on her part. I am beginning to understand why finding a rightful leader for the Griffin Spires may be so difficult unless there is some way we can bring our Premier back into the fold."

"Princess," Vondum spoke, "I must warn you, after spending considerable time with our Premier, the chances of him taking over as a royal head of a house is all but non-existent unless he claims it for himself. All you have to do is look at Slome. It is his, but since he didn't… did not take it by his own hand, he does not yet physically see it as his."

"Utter nonsense," Duke Mathard snorted with a snicker. "All one has to do is walk down toward the central square and see the carcass of the Green Dragon he killed sticking up from the street to know he took Slome. It is his and we will make sure it is a place worthy of his name. But we digress. The fact remains we will have to be careful about who informs him of Frexla and her deeds and how it is said. General Vondum, do you concur about not having Princess Kaylaria talk to him?"

"Absolutely. I am quite sure Premier Kandric would see anything she says, no matter how well worded, as pandering and trying to rein him in."

"This is truly a sad day for the Alphar Kingdom," Princess Syrissia stated with a sad shake of her head. "These princes are our future and now, it seems a large bit of our legacy has been ripped from us. It is therefore, my opinion, after hearing this testimony, the crimes of Prince Rovanall are more egregious than I was lead to believe. Not only has he betrayed the whole of the Garm and Alphar empire and kingdoms, he has done direct damage to his bloodline and the future leadership of what had been his people. Thus, it is with a sad heart I decree former Prince Rovanall's presence must be removed from our realm, entirely, with extreme prejudice."

"In this, there is going to be no argument from the Garm," Duke Mathard stated with certainty. "There will also be serious backlash against those who failed to provide aid to Princess Kaylaria and her offspring from the Garm Empire. In this we will make sure you, Princess, are in agreement with who and what punishment befits their malicious transgressions. For now, I must request, however, we return conversation on who is best to deal with our Premier, so we do not end up in an all out war with the demon lords. For if they all start reappearing in our realm, I am sure the gods will as well, and it will take us back to the darkest days of the Mythling Wars."

Vondum took a deep breath, "I believe you were correct in asking for my help, Duke Mathard. However, the first words should come from you. He holds you in greater respect than any I have seen, with the possible exception of his friends."

"You, General are his commander."

"Yes, I am or was… But consider this. If we cannot locate Glaster, who does certainly hold a massive sway over our Premier, and I suspect holds some love there as well, then we must move on with a secondary plan. In this, I can try to be the authority figure, commanding him to stop and think should he not listen to you or if he lets his temper take over. But, Duke Mathard, everything I have heard and seen tells me not only does he like you, but he also respects you. I just do not think there are many who can claim both from Premier Kandric. He respects me, yes. Trusts me, yes, has enjoyed my company and companionship, certainly, possibly even loves me a little… But like… No, I really cannot say with any certainty he likes me. You, Duke, he likes."

Princess Syrissia nodded in understanding, "So baring a miracle and us stumbling across the man who has mentored him for several years, I am hearing Duke Mathard is probably best suited to break the news, with you, General, ready to move up and put your foot down should our Premier go on some kind of… tirade."

Mathard managed a grim smirk, "My Princess, should Premier Kandric decide to go on a tirade, I will strongly recommend you duck, cover, and pray to multiple gods, for I have seen him angry. His bare foot dented Dwarven Blue Steel plate armor while also breaking ribs in one of the Garm assigned to guard his tent. It was not a fault in the armor. It had to be taken and reforged. And while you may find this improbable, I feel I must add I witnessed this with my own eyes. It was also relatively easy to talk him down, since he was just frustrated and annoyed. This was before he killed the Green in Slome… No… if his temper fully erupts… Well, it must be our primary task to make sure this simply does not happen or he will go after Frexla and probably other major demons and demon lords. He may even kill a few…"

"Few more," Vondum stated with a nasty grin. "I was there when he killed Cyronia. While I did not know who it was at the time, it had to have been her, for within hours the storm started to break. He did it with very little help, nothing more than a distraction from a badly wounded man and a terrified little slave boy. All I could do was listen and watch out of the corner of my eye, since I was dealing with a trio of Ice Hellions."

Vondum looked down at Conth, "Boy you were there, you may speak. Tell them what you saw."

Conth gulped, "More what I heard. The storm was so bad… and all those things were screaming like high pitched wolves… Then… Kandric… Premier happened. He called out for people to grab fire, whatever burned while yelling about Ice Hellions. He was close to the back of the main building. I heard him slash into at least two, maybe more. They shrieked something awful, evil awful, as they fell. People in the camp were screaming and being ripped apart… but Kandric found the lead demon, chopped it, burned it alive, knocked it back into the inferno he made… The second it died the other creatures all screeched as if in the worst pain… I think I can still hear them in my dreams… nightmares… I looked out to see a couple of them that had been pounding at the door break up while their searing blue eyes faded away… they were so close when they cried out it made it hard to hear for a couple of days.

"But then Kandric came in, Premier Kandric… he wasn't even scratched. He was mad about having wasted all the firewood, and about needing to fix than man's arm… it was like totally frozen and black… Real nasty…"

"Enough, Conth. Now silence again!" Vondum barked out. "Unless any of you have any questions for this pathetic whelp."

Those in the command tent shook their heads while Duke Mathard shot Princess Syrissia a warning glance, "You see, there was a legend brewing before he became know to us. And yes, again this is the fault of the Garm, for we should have known and thus passed on this information to the Alphar. It will be dealt with in good time. Now, however, we do not want a repeat. Frexla entered this realm but for a few moments. It be our obligation to not only the Alphar and Garm, but the entire uncivilized realm outside our lands to make sure we do not have a return to the time of the Mythling Wars where cities were razed, rivers altered, mountains flattened, and lakes vanished while famine and disease ruled daily life.

"It took our combined races to beat back the scourge of the Drow, and because of it we altered history's perspective on how we are seen today. At this time we can reenter the world as a whole. If one of us cause a revival of the Mythling Wars…"

"We will not let this happen, my Duke," Princess Syrissia proclaimed. "Frexla must be stopped without dragging what is left of the world outside our territories down and burning in flames of near genocidal war."

While everyone was in agreement with the sustenance of the statement, there was still little idea how to go about it. Even as this topic was debated, a pair of Silver Dragonlings came in and knelt while a Pantherling stood behind them.

Duke Mathard held up his hand to halt discussion, then turned, "Has there been word of our Premier?"

"No, Duke Mathard, not yet. However, there are two matters, one certainly regarding him and the other, well, the Warrior Dragons in the camp all report there has been a Dragon death, somewhat close, most certainly a Warrior Dragon. None could think of anyone or anything, except our Premier."

"Do we have a direction?" Vondum demanded to know even as he moved to the tent flaps.

"Only a vague one, General," The Pantherling reported. "Somewhere to the southeast. It was too far away to get any better information."

"I'd bet money on it being Premier Kandric," Vondum grumbled. "Do me a favor and summon Ornam. Let him know I would like to take him up to check the general direction of this death."

"As you command, General. However, there is the second matter."

Mathard moved up to Vondum's side, pulling Mokel as he did so, "Let us hear it!"

"A Dragonling came into camp from the south side just before the latest death. It wears gear of Prince Bassork's allegiance, but professes to have come of free will, under guidance of Premier Kandric. He has with him two boys, both badly in need of attention from combat wounds as well as extreme exposure."

"Where are they?"

"We put them in a warm tent under heavy guard, but have done nothing more. The Black Dragon forces of Prince Bandurlok want the little Dragonling dismembered."

Vondum grinned, "Depending on why he is here, they may get their wish, however, if he came on behalf of our Premier, their bloodlust must be held in check until we run across something more deserving their wrath."

Mathard couldn't help but roll his eyes. "I find it hard to believe a Dragonling of an opposing side would willingly come to our camp without a very good reason. Shall we go interview this brave creature?"

Vondum shrugged, "I see no reason not to. Perhaps he has information we can put to good use while a few scouts head southeast to see if they can find our wayward Premier."

Klent spoke up from the back of the tent, "Duke, General, the boy you are calling Premier let one younger Black Dragonling go, with instructions should he find and rescue any of the missing students, he was to bring them here."

"Good information," Mathard gave a nod. "So if he does have some students from Slome, he is working for the Premier, and I would have to say it would not be in the better interests of the Black Dragon kind to harm him in any way."

"Not if they want to live," Vondum agreed with a large grin.

Making their way over to the guarded tent, Vondum whistled to Ornam, then spoke to him in Dragon, "Hey what were you able to get on the Dragon Death? Anything?"

"I believe it was a smaller White, direction southeast, more east than south. Too far away to get much, but for some reason the bottom of my back feet hurt for several seconds after it died. I would bet your Dragon killing Premier did something to its feet, then killed it."

"Thanks, Ornam. You have always been more sensitive to what happens than most of the others…"

"A slight gift, nothing more. Although for a few seconds I found it hard to stand, so in this case the gift turned into a momentary curse and I still have lingering discomfort. Whatever happened must have been excruciating to the White Warrior."

"I would say I am sorry."

Ornam busted up with laughter, "Then you would be lying, oh Great Enforcer! For I remember one of your greatest torments for those working the forge pits was to insert splinters into their toes! This allowed them to work while screaming their little lungs out!"

"Very true, and ultimately extremely effective. Many fell from exhaustion rather than be handed over to me, and more than a few made it through their training because they wanted no second or third time with me playing with their toes. So, do you think you will be able to fly me to the south to check if it is our Premier?"

Ornam let out a long breath, "With you alone, yes, with difficulty. With another, not likely. I do not have the wings for snow and ice. I very well may have to land a time or to and smack my wings on some trees as well. It will not be at all comfortable, but for you, I will do it."

"I will see if there is another way, but thank you. Oh, and speaking of pain, Ornam, you may wish to pass the word, Premier Kandric did indeed allow a Dragonling he captured to go under condition it search out and bring back any students it found…"

"I suspected as much. No Dragonling child allied to Bassork would dare ask for sanctuary in this camp unless he had very good reason. I will, as soon as you verify, make it clear the boy is no longer in Bassork's corner and is in actuality allied with Premier Kandric. It will end any and all talk of playing catch with our teeth, dismembering, eating, roasting on a spit, or any other things I have heard in passing since his arrival."

"Roasting on a spit? Really? As in alive?"

"Well, of course, but come now, Enforcer Vondum, he would not live for long… Besides, it came from one of the Red Warriors who offered to breathe on the fire to speed things along. However, when one considers it, the idea is not a bad one if you prefer your meat cooked as I know you do."

Noticing Blue Streak edging further away from Ornam, while looking out with a great deal of concern at Cam'ris, Vondum chuckled, "Cam'ris, your Shocker is getting nervous. You need to reassure him the conversation had nothing to do with him."

Cam’ris knelt in the snow and pulled the large lizard's head into his side for some comfort, then motioned for it to catch up as he ran to rejoin Vondum, "What was said to make Blue Streak so nervous, General? He is quaking!"

"Work on your Dragon tongue, and I am sure he will tell you. But let me assure you, Cam'ris it had nothing to do with the cold. Now come."

Vondum entered the tent, noting there were two teens on the floor. One was in badly tattered reinforced leather armor, and the other bronze chain with several holes. Neither teen had sufficient clothing on to be out in such a storm and no weapons or gear. Before Vondum could do anything, Duke Mathard moved over and knelt between them. He put a hand on both and frowned deeply. "There is frost on their fingers and under their skin and their body temperatures are dangerously low. Up in Winter Creek we call this the Bite of Inaxia. They need good Channelers or Shamen or a very high Healthman if we are going to bring them back without having to remove fingers, and probably toes as well."

"Cam'ris," Vondum spoke up, "go find what is needed. I saw the one in chainmail in the school on one of my prior visits. Even a year or two later he is fairly eye-catching and while not the sharpest knife in the sheath, was coordinated and refused to back down… Anyway, this is certainly one of Premier Kandric's students. We need to take care of him. The other, well, he does not look familiar, but what is left of his armor does carry the school patch… As a side note, I only spent but a half day working with the students and very few stuck out as being worth more than a moment of my time. I am gathering he was not one of them, but he is still one of the missing students and having them with us may help calm our sure to be extremely volatile young ."

Vondum took one more look down at the pair, then focused in on the Dragonling. Without thinking, he spoke in Dragon, "You found them like this?"

"Not exactly. I found the shivering by a small hot spring. They had nothing and were eating this bark." The Dragonling held up his left claw. "They used a sharp rock to peal it off of a nearby tree. I am not familiar with the plants in these parts, but…"

"Midnight Pine." Vondum stated. "And they were eating the soft wood right under the bark, not the bark itself. One of them must be an Outdoorsman. There are many types of pine trees one can eat, but the Midnight Pine is one of the best, for its softer edible wood goes deeper than most and is actually quite healthy. Although it is very bitter and extremely sticky, even in the winter.

"The question is why didn't you just stay with them where they were until the storm broke?"

"Sir, I had no way of knowing this was good food and I already killed two Kobalds. These two were in no shape to fight anything, and I thought they were starving to death and eating wood to fill their empty stomachs. I told them I would take them to safety and they didn't seem to believe me, but agreed to come with me."

"I am sure they thought they had been recaptured."

"Nothing I could do about it, sir. I mean I tried and was nice. I even cast an Endure Elements on both, twice, but I had no more Force to do so again. I helped them up the last hill, but both are very tough for being Human. I got them here shortly after the second spell faded from around them. I also gave them the weapons from the Kobalds, but all our gear, including my spell book, was taken when I surrendered and asked for Duke Mathard as the killer of my king instructed me to do.”

"As soon as we verify you are the one Premier Kandric released, and double-check on these two boys, I am certain all will be returned, but I can assure you they will not be getting Kobald quality weapons to replace what has obviously been taken from them and I will make sure you get a reward as well. Can you tell me anything at all about Bassork's plans?"

"Sir, I was but a junior spell caster in Bloody Rock to help defend the complex and the lairs in the catacombs deep below the red mountain. I have no knowledge of where I am now, but it is certainly nothing like the area around Bloody Rock."

"Catacombs? You have seen them?"

"Only the entrance. I was never allowed in since I was told there is an egg chamber there. It is a vaulted ceiling with a Dwarven statue at one end and a slender Elvin one at the other. Between were hundreds of smashed open burial vaults with bits and pieces of bone all over the floor. The entrance was through a Silver Steel gate with a set of Blue Steel lifting chains. The wheel for opening on my side had been broken, but it looked like it had been done ages ago. The wheel on the other side was how the gate was opened and closed, but like I said, I never got past the gate and it was manned by a Black and a Green True Dragon. Both of which were chained by their back feet to the wall with massive iron shackles and both had their wings removed and breath sack and tubes cut and burned so they were breathless."

"Their transgressions must have bordered on death. I cannot imagine what they did."

"I inquired once, and was told they overstepped their breeding rights. I got the impression I should know what crime it was, so I did not ask further."

At this Vondum cringed, "They tried to breed with a Great female. A high crime for any Dragon not given permission to do so, and such permission would never be granted to a True. The instinctual draw must have been too much for them and they were given slavery or death after ruining a breeding cycle. They probably should have chosen death."

"I was told both had been executed when the True Green was getting ready to gate us. It said they could never be trusted and their bodies would block the gate to the hatchery… But the power of the Splitrock Knolls twisted the gate spell and we ended up here, wherever here is."

An Alphar Channeler of Vindayin entered along with a Garm Channeler of Golan. Both turned their attention to the boys and went into deep prayer. Within a few minutes the skin color and their breathing returned to a much more natural appearance.

While this was being done, Vondum relayed what information the Dragonling had freely given over.

Without hesitation Mathard ordered the Dragonling be granted the return of his gear and spell book, while suitable equipment was found for the two boys, even before they started to stir. While Mathard oversaw this, and made sure the Dragonling was going to be accepted and even protected, Vondum moved out to Ornam, "Anything more on our Premier, my friend?"

"Nothing…" suddenly the sky to the south southeast lit up as a massive ball of white light spilled over the distant hill with a roar of a thousand angry Thunder Lions, followed by what could only be called a scream of absolute dismay. As this happened Ornam dropped his neck while using his wings to cover his ears. Other Dragons and many Dragonlings did the same.

From where Ornam had all but buried his head in the snow, he gasped out with a roar of agony, "Kandric has killed Prince Weraweld! The Great White died looking helpless at him! The last sights were of a smirk and red hair!"

As Mathard ran out of the tent to look at the retreating ball of pure white energy, Vondum shook his head, "Unless I miss my guess, good Duke, my wilderness scout is there, directly over those bluffs off the far side of the lake."

"So it seems. I need any Dragons who can take someone and all the Griffin riders up with their mounts! We need to get over there… like an hour ago!"

Ornam poked his head up from the snow, puking as he did so. "Vondum… I… I need a moment…"

"Can you take Cam'ris and Conth when you recover enough?"

"I will find a way… Even if I have to take the lizard and the wolf in my claws and land a few times, I will get them there… The Silvers… they have wings meant for cold… take one of them… Go… I will catch up."

***

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

Alkoris moved down the torch-lit passageway, keeping a close eye open. He paused to test each door as he came to them, but a slight pull on each told him they were locked. Figuring if he wanted to pretend to belong, picking the locks and checking them out wasn't in his better interest, but it was beyond difficult not to do so. Each door was a place he really wanted to check out.

After a couple of turns he looked back, "Guys, come on, make some small talk or something. If you are all quiet it will seem off. We're kids, and as my pa always said, getting rid of us kids would finally give him some much-needed silence!"

Dario couldn't help but snicker, "Ma always tell me same. Say, her best day was when I was headed to the school. I thought it be 'cause she be proud, but Pa say it was jus' her bein' happy to get rid a the last a us kids so she could hear the birds sing."

Tazen rolled his eyes, "After putting up with you for few years I can see why." He nudged Kaznal with an elbow, "He holds conversations with himself in his sleep about half the nights, and the more uncomfortable it is, hot or cold, the more he talks. There was talk in the barracks of stuffing things in his mouth before bed after the first few days he was in the school."

"So says the kid who made livin' no fun at all fer the first two moons of us livin' there. Taz was so mean…"

"Mean? No…"

"So tyin' us in our beds as we was sleepin', movin' our gear around at night, puttin' fingers in water at night so's we peed…"

"All ways to get you to cry, make you all more alert, and to get me bronze chain armor. Besides, I never hurt any of you, not really. Scared you, tricked you, but not like some of the others who put sharp rocks in boots and made kids run around the outside walls, made them practice with wood weapons with splintered handles or made the entire barracks sleep outside in the rain. I also never hit any of you. Thanks to Alkoris, I didn't have to!"

Alkoris couldn't help but look back and nod, "Yeah, you were way nicer than most, but still, Taz, I know some of them slept in the beds with each other for days after we had them all thinking the barracks at the far end was haunted and you made each one sleep in one of those rooms alone…"

Seeing the younger kids looking at him, Tazen gave a quick grin, "I did, and we made noises in the middle of the night, moved things around, had one of the Shaman kids I know cast Dust on the floors, then walk out so there was footprints started in the middle of the room and going out the door, or cast Glow on things and moved them around with twine outside the windows… I even moved one of the old beds out into the hall between the rooms and walked on it so it creaked then drug it slowly so it made long scraping sounds. Man, those were the fun times."

"I still wants to know how ya shredded me blanket with claw marks…" Dario grumbled.

"Wasn't yours. I had Alkoris practice moving quiet…"

Dario looked over with a glare, "You switched it?"

"Yeah," Alkoris grinned from ear to ear. "You was easy, mumbling in you sleep and tossing around like crazy. You rolled over and grabbed for your blanket, so I handed you the old one Taz put four dagger slices in like claw marks, then slid yours out from under you when you tossed again. And wow, did you scream! I don't think the others came even close!" He snickered as Dario turned red, "Oh, and had you paid better attention, you would have seen the twine loop over the window going down to the door on the closet where Taz made you put all our gear for the night. The window shutter pulled open at the same time you opened the door, but I used a slip knot so it untied itself from the door and fell on the floor. The burning message to get back into bed when you opened the room door in the morning was nothing more than flint, steel, and lantern oil on the stone floor. The steel rubbed against the flint poking off the floor, sparked, and lit the oil. Of all the tricks Taz and me came up with, the burning messages were the best. Taz had to get help to pull some of you out of your beds!"

"Not me!" Dario shook his head. "When Taz called for formation, all I could think was I was allowed ta get out! I jumped over the fire and ran!"

"I think I would have ran and kept running, like in run away!" Kaznal stated seriously.

Dario shook his head, "A few did. He had to chase down four of 'em and the guards caught a few. Them first two nights in the haunted building left most of us crying our eyes out. The third night Taz had to have two of the bigger kids drag me into my room, toss me on da damned bed and slammed and locked the door! All me hear was screaming from all over the place."

Alkoris giggled, "Each time, the last night was the best, cause we didn't have to do nothing! Ya all kept each other scared with all your crying, shouting and pleading. All eight groups did the same thing. We stayed in a tent outside just to make sure none of you, like tried to climb up to the roof and jump or nothing. But mostly we just laughed. The best was Tannilem pulling at the bars on the second floor window of his room begging for him mommy. One of the guards started throwing stuff up at him, threatening him with all sorts of stuff if he didn't shut up."

"How mean!" Yarnay interjected. "What if you had attracted a real ghost from all the fear or something?"

Tazen reached out and playfully poked at Yarnay's Channeler guild pin, "Then we would have turned it over to someone like you."

Yarnay couldn't help but smile, "You are the one with the magic sword, and while I know a great deal more than I did or even should after the spirit took me over, there is no way I am stopping a ghost… Skeleton, maybe, but I really do not want to find out, since I really never want to see one."

Before more could be said, a pair of men came into view. They both wore reinforced leather and with weapons on their hips and a crimson sash with a twisting blue stripe in the middle was over their left shoulder and went down around to their right hip. The smaller of the two, whose shoulder had a patch marking him as a basic city guard spoke with a great deal of anger, "What's all this yappin' and what're ya brats doin' down here?"

Alkoris put on the most stupid grin he could muster, "We were told to grab breakfast. The sergeant pointed to the door and we went down the steps. We couldn't find the mess area though. Where is it, Guardsman?"

The other man's eyes narrowed. As he turned to focus on Alkoris, the sash moved enough for all the kids to see a city guard patch showing him to be a corporal, "Right next to the courtyard… How'd you get past the guards at the ground level and then the ones above us?"

"Walked right past. They didn't stop us none. Why? Are we not supposed to be down here?"

"Not without sashes! Do you all know how lucky you are?"

"Lucky? We've been walking around trying to find food…"

"Better than some a the things down here usin' ya for food!" the guardsman all but shouted. "Ya didn't open none a them doors down the way did ya?"

"They were locked…"

"Of course they are locked!" the corporal snarled, yet his face showed obvious relief. "So you boys from the school, right?"

Alkoris pulled at his cloak, "Yeah, we were pulled back after the street belched up steam and rock on those in the front and a bunch of buildings fell. We'd kind of like to eat and get back to the school…"

"No, no you don't. Those taken back to the school are the unlucky ones. You all must come from loyal families…"

"Not like Devkiln, or nothin'." Dario spoke up.

Tazen joined in, "Yeah… Hey, maybe you know. Did we get Devkiln back from the caravan like we heard?"

The corporal looked around nervously, moving down to where the hall branched off, while responding, "No. We now think someone from the caravan dressed like him to distract those trying to get to him… Master Tregasel is going to be furious from what we hear. He really wants the blade back."

"He's got a real wicked blade. I always wanted to try it, but he said his dad would be super mad, so only Devkiln was allowed to use it. What about Guelech?" Alkoris asked with as much fake concern as he could force into his voice, noting both men seemed to be nervous and worried about Devkiln. "I haven't seen him since we marched out of the school. He wasn't hurt was he?"

"Sorry, kid, he's dead," The corporal sighed. "Yet one more thing for Master Tregasel to be angry about. I sure wouldn't want to be any of those who were in his barracks who lived…"

"They should a know ta protect him," Dario spoke while looking down so he could hide the glint he knew was in his eyes. "If ya shows us were they is I'll put a fist inta them…"

"They are at the school with the others who are in a world of hurt." The corporal sighed, "But you all need to get some chow and get your assignments." The man pointed in the direction he had come from, "Second left will get you to the steps you all came down, then go right until you see the steps up. Don't be dawdling, either. No opening any doors on your way up and get up and stay up top. Won't be too long till there be some screaming and crying from the cells up there since the Gloom Fire sent over a couple of Mystics."

He then grabbed Alkoris by the ear, and twisted it. "Seems like you are the group leader, boy. If I see any of you down here again, I'll beat your ass with the flat of my blade till it starts bleeding and stick all of you butts on snow duty with no rest until the storm stops, got me?"

At this all the other kids nodded, even as Alkoris managed to hiss out in pain, "Won't happen again Corporal!"

"Good, but since you'll be wandering around here like lost puppies, you must not have gotten the words. Get one of these on." The corporal pulled at the sash. "You'll find a barrel of them in wood shed next to the well."

Sibler couldn't help himself, he looked up, "Why?"

The guardsman moved up and smacked Sibler hard on the back of the head, "Because you's told! But don't care none if ya gets ate 'er not!"

The corporal moved up with some concern, "You OK, kid?"

Sibler wiped at the back of his head, somewhat surprised it wasn't bleeding and even more astonished he hadn't been knocked to the floor. With frown and only a trace of tears in his eyes turned and glared at the corporal. "My sister hits harder."

Seeing he partner turn red and step forward with his arm raised, the corporal moved to intercept while snarling, "Peffen, you really think it is a good idea to be hitting kids allowed in this keep, kids with good armor, spell book, a Mystic cloak along with Blue Steel and Silver Steel weapons? Are you nuts?"

The guard stopped cold, but stared at Sibler with rage-filled eyes.

"You get me stuck in one of those cells, Peffen, I will rearrange your face as many times as I can before they do whatever they decide would be best for hurting a kid we really knew we shouldn't."

"We don't even know 'em none!"

Tazen stepped forward, "Name's Dorwald, but hey, come over and hit me, too. I'll ask to watch what they do to you, and I'll cheer while they do it…"

The guard noticeably gulped even as he dug into his pouch and pulled out a silver and three copper. He quickly pushed the coins into Sibler's hand, "Sorry kid, but ya ain't allowed down here none…"

Alkoris nodded, "Sorry, 'bout messing up. How about you forget we did and I'll make sure Kaddo forgets you hit him?"

The guard nodded while taking a step back.

To add to the effect, Alkoris reached over and lightly cuffed Sibler, "Kaddo, give me the coins; keeping 'em is just mean. None of us need silver and copper!"

"He hit me…"

"Yeah, well you mouthed off and he is a city guard," Alkoris took the coins out of Sibler's hands. "If you really can't get over it, tell your old lady Guardsman Peffen hit you. I'm sure she'll make sure it never happens again." Alkoris had to fight off any hint of a grin as he moved up the guard and handed the four coins back. The guy didn't even know Kaddo's mom and was about to dirty his loincloth. This gave him an opening, however, so he took it. As he spun away from the guards, bumping in to both.

Alkoris then jerked his head, "Come on guys, I'm hungry!"

As soon as he got to the top of the steps he looked down to make sure those below hadn't realized they had been pilfered, then smiled. He checked the door, noted it was a heavy bronze-bound wood door with an internal lock at the end of a hall. A look through the keyhole allowed him to see another door about five meters in front and there were no guards in the hall. He made sure all the others got through the door at the top of the stairs, then turned and went through five keys before finding the right one. With a smirk, he locked the door then pulled up on the bronze key till it broke off in the lock. "Unless one of them is a real good Lockmaster… And even better neither of them with a war hammer or axe, so getting through this door with what they have will take…" He snickered, "A real long time."

He tested the door. Then, while grinning widely, he tossed Sibler the corporal's pouch. "There was way more coins in this one."

Sibler caught the pouch with wide eyes, "You stole the keys and pouch?"

Tazen busted with some giggles, "Robber guild, Sibler. It's what he does."

"And I do it soooooo well!" Alkoris teased while giving Tazen a light shove.

"But…" Sibler stated weakly, while holding the fairly heavy pouch out as if totally uncomfortable with having it

"But you got hit," Tazen moved over and patted the boy on the back. "Funny comment by the way. Your sister hits harder… nice one."

With a troubled sigh, Sibler took a breath and added the pouch to his belt, "He is a mean jerk."

"Mean 'er not. He popped ya hard 'nough to hear," Dario shook his head with some admiration. "Had ta hurt and ya didn't even cry none."

At this Sibler spoke up, "Dario, all three of us are whipping boys. It will take way more than one hard hit to make us cry!"

At this both Kaznal and Yarnay nodded while smiling.

Seeing both Dario and Alkoris staring at him, Sibler shrugged, "I am up to at least ten lashes before I start crying… unless one of the guards uses the strap, then four or five at the most… three if they go for the back of the legs."

"Yes," Yarnay nodded with a shiver, "those still really hurt!"

"Uh, huh," Kaznal agreed, "but the sooner the tears are real the faster the commander calls for a stop, so I would almost prefer the legs at this point. Taking six or seven to the butt, then having to sit in the wagon is no fun at all."

"So ya really gets beat fer some other brat?" Dario asked with a sour face.

Kaznal nodded, "It is what we were indentured to do and be. I live way better as a whipping boy than a farm peasant would. I am also getting trained… Um, well maybe am now. I do not think the guilds will be happy if I can pass a Primary test before I turn ten though."

"What about me and Secondary!" Tazen joked.

"If what the commander said is true, you will not be the youngest." Sibler stated.

"Someone is younger than fourteen years and is Secondary?"

"I'm Human equivalent of thirteen years and am pretty sure I am."

Yarnay jumped in, "The commander says there are two younger, who are way into Secondary."

"I'm not believin' it none, till me gets ta meet 'em and see with me own eyes!" Dario snorted, "But let's get out a here before them start pounding on this door with their light maces."

"Bronze light maces," Alkoris snickered. "They'll die of starvation or stumble across the secret door before they get through this door with what they have. But Dar's right. Let's get out of here and see if we can grab some of those shoulder cloth things."

"Sashes," Kaznal and Sibler corrected the Halfelf at the same time.

"Shoulder cloth, sash, whatever," Tazen tossed up his hands. "If it stops us from something chewing on us, I want one!"

"I'm with him," Dario stated. "I eat meat, not meat for gettin' ate."

Yarnay looked over as Alkoris first tried the door then went back to the keys. "What if you broke off the key for this door?"

"Then I pick it or Ty spells it." Alkoris grinned as he found one of the keys turned the tumblers, "Have to do it the boring way this time, though. If there are guards, we were sent down to help Peffen move stuff in the lower cellar we saw with all those crates and barrels before we were allowed to eat."

"You talk we'll follow," Tazen ordered.

Alkoris finished turning the key, then pulled the door open. Four guards turned while gabbing for weapons. All four slowed as their eyes took in the group of boys, but all still finished pulling what they had on their belts.

Alkoris leaned away. Looking fearful was not terribly difficult when staring four city guards all in bronze chain shirts, heavy shields, two with heavy maces, one with a battle axe, the other with a broadsword and all wearing the red sashes. It didn't make him any happier to see one of the maces and the broadsword were Human steel. His skinned itched thinking about it.

He held up both hands while taking a step back into Tazen. "Whoa… whoa… easy guys!"

The man with the axe spoke up, "Boy, where do ya think you are goin'?"

Alkoris pointed down the passage, "To breakfast…"

The man with the sword eyed the kids with a deep frown. "No one but Corporal Grakel and a guardsman are supposed to be down there! What were you doing down there?"

"Stacking crates and moving barrels in the store room. We weren't allowed up until Guardsman Peffen was happy…"

"Get you butts back down there…"

"But I have keys…"

The man smacked the blade into his gauntleted hand as he moved up moved up, "Like I give a shit! I said…"

Next to Tazen, Sibler blinked as he heard what the man was thinking. "You are not sticking anything up my butt nor feeding me to a Life Husk, whatever it is!"

The guy's eyes went wide, "How did you…" Even as he spoke he reached out to grab Sibler.

"Screw this!" Tazen snarled as he realized these four weren't planning to let them go anywhere and one of them was going to seize Sibler if he didn't react. With a quick and smooth pull, he drew the magical short sword Glaster hand loaned him and went low, under the man's hand.

The guy tried to bring his shield around, but it was way too late. The blade pierced his left leg right where the leg met the hip, just under his chain shirt. His lightly armored leather britches did nothing to protect him. The thrust went all the way into the bone, slid off the ball at the top of the leg bone, and came out the back of the leg. He let out a pained gasp even as he swung his shield wildly. But again he was too late.

Tazen saw the shield angling toward his head so he kept moving forward, ducking and spinning, while ripping the sword out of the man's leg. The resulting cut, sliced all the muscle connecting the front and side of the leg to the hip along with tendons and ligaments. Tazen's knowledge as a Healthman told him the guy was all but done even before the leg buckled, unable to support any weight. Instead of worrying about the Swordsman, he angled right toward the man with the Human Steel mace, knowing he didn't want his best friend to get hit with anything made of iron.

Sibler, on the other hand, had somehow heard what the guy was thinking of doing to him and even saw a glimmer of the picture the guy had in his mind. There was no way he was going to allow the man to lay a hand on him if he could help it. To this end he yanked out the light mace one of the older boys had found on all the bodies in the rubble and slammed it down into the man's face before the guy could focus. The nicely made and balanced Blue Steel weapon sunk in as facial bones shattered, cutting the man's howls off before they could really get started.

Dario noticed the axe armed guard was about to bring his shield down on Sibler, so he slammed his bronze axe into the wooden shield, deflecting the blow away from Sibler and cracking it some, but found his axe had sunk in too far to easily pull out. All it took was for the man to yank his shield arm back to pull the axe handle out of Dario's grasp. However, this left the shield heavier and badly unbalanced, so the guy had a difficult time turning it to use it for protection.

Alkoris noticed the guy struggle to bring the shield with Dario's axe stuck into it back into a defensive position. He used the opening to his fullest advantage. He shoved his captured Silver Steel shod staff over Dario's shoulder and into the man's chest, then pushed forward with everything he had. The man stumbled back, tripped over his fallen comrades discarded broadsword, and fell back against the wall.

In the very back of the group, Tyndall extended his hand, cupped his other hand around the back of his extended one and spoke a trio of words. A burst of flame erupted out, striking the fallen man dead center in the chest and igniting the padded tunic under his chain shirt.

The guard shouted in pain and fear while ripping the shield off his arm. He tossed it at Ty with everything he could muster, then rolled while frantically trying to smack out the flames on the tunic under his armor.

Tyndall saw the shield coming and closed his eyes.

Right in front of him, Kaznal heard the older boy say, "Aww crap…" followed by an 'Oooofff'. He glanced over to see Ty fall back while gripping at his upper chest.

Dario pulled his back-up weapon, a Gnome Steel dagger even as he looked back over his shoulder. "Check on him! We gots this!" He then shoved the dagger into the burning guard's exposed butt as the guy rolled again, buried it to the hilt, and left it there. Even as the guy let out a scream and reached back at the hilt of the dagger protruding from his right butt check, Dario dove and snagged the dropped broadsword.

Alkoris stepped up, saw the dagger's hilt sticking up and stomped on it with everything he had.

The guard's back arched and he started shaking even as one hand tried to put out flames while the other grabbed for the dagger again.

"Nope, it's right where it belongs." Alkoris stated with a sinister grin before he brought his foot down on it a second time.

At this point the pain became too much. The guy blacked out even as flames and blazing material caused a glowing effect on the chain shirt.

By this point Tazen had gotten past the back two guards and parried a swing from the Human Steel mace. The Primary Echelon Swordsman showed some skill and strength as he slammed Tazen in the shoulder, leaving him with an arm without full movement. It wasn't horrible, but he was sure it would hurt a lot worse in the morning. On the other hand, the use of the shield for a weapon left a little bit of an opening and Tazen took it, slicing the guy's left cheek.

The guard snarled, lowered his stance, braced his shield, and tossed the offending teen back away from him, but boy didn't even fall. His eyes narrowed as he moved forward and swung. As the kid ducked under, he adjusted his attack and used the fist wrapped around the hilt of the mace to pop the boy in the face. The problem was, the kid wasn't nearly as affected as he planned, and this left his arm exposed.

Tazen made a growling sound as the fist slammed into his face just below his right eye. However, he spotted a flaw in his opponent. With his offhand, he pulled a dagger and drug it down the inside of the man's shield arm, along where it was strapped to the inside of the shield. Most of it was blocked by the chain shirt, but as the blade ran down, the end dropped off at the wrist, it opened a nasty gash on the man's wrist and onto his hand. Had the shield not been strapped on, the guy would have certainly dropped it, but as it was the man yanked his shield back with a hiss of pain. The edge of the shield knocked the dagger out of Tazen's hand, but other than leaving him with stinging fingers, he was able to back off with no problem. The drips of blood hitting the floor coming from behind the shield told him the exchange had been worth it. The man's shield use wouldn't be nearly as good. It also cut down on further shield bashes, since each hard hit would only cause the Swordsman more blood loss.

While all this was going on, the other man quickly put his back to his fellow guard so both had their backs protected. He moved fluidly, keeping the shield up. He easily blocked a tossed dagger from Yarnay and a Sand Burst Autospell from Sibler even as he did so he spoke to his partner, "Careful, the little shit with the heavy sandy-colored mop's a spell thrower!"

"Well, kill him, then!" The other man stated while just barely managing to deflect Tazen's swing with his shield "This kid's fully guilded! I really gots my hands full here!"

Dario moved up with the broadsword on the other guard only to have his swing blocked. He then ended up on his rear with a badly bloodied lip as the man shield bashed him, then stepped on his leg. This left Dario trying to scramble back to his feet on a leg with a knot in it. It would have been much worse, but Alkoris moved up and parried the man's swing on Dario's leg even as his freind fought to stand. This allowed Dario to roll well out of the way.

Since he was on the ground, Dario reached over and pulled his dagger out of the mortally injured guard's backside and threw it. The throw was poor, so the blade didn't hit, but the weapon bouncing off the guy's shin still hurt and put him slightly off balance.

Kaznal, who was beside Tyndall, saw this and went for broke. He jumped up, ran straight at the guy, and dove.

The man looked up to see a kid in ill-fitting Dwarven chain armor leap over his fallen comrade, while swinging a light mace at him. He brought up the shield and knocked the smallest of group into a wall, but already being off balance, he stumbled into his friend's back. This pushed the guard facing Tazen right at the boy.

Tazen didn't really see what had happened, but he sure saw the guy lurch forward clearly unexpectedly. He adjusted his attack. Instead of swinging, he ducked under the shield and did a straight in thrust. There was some resistance as the tip of the magical blade poked into the bronze chain, but the thrust was dead center and had both Tazen's forward thrust and the push the guard got into his back behind it. The blade sunk in between ribs and went right through the man's right lung before the tip stopped at the chain links meant to protect the man's back.

He fell forward, blood pouring from his mouth, further impaling himself. He reached out to grab at the blade in his chest only to feel it be swiftly and professionally removed. All this did was cause him to lose all four fingers on his right hand as the backward motion sliced them clean off.

He fell face first into a pool of his own blood.

The last guard turned just in time to see his buddy's fingers scatter over the ground. With rage and fear pouring through him, he made a wild swing at Tazen with his mace, while blocking Dario's attempt to slash him with the broadsword. It was an easy block since the kid was limping and wasn't able to put full power into the swing. However, he didn't take into account Kaznal, who, while a little battered, found himself amazingly well protected from the shield and his impact with the stone wall by the Dwarven chain. If anything, the uncomfortable cloth Dario and Tazen had stuffed in the loose spots, provided extra padding. He jumped back up and swung his light mace into the back of last man's knee.

The man let out a string of curses as he went down to one knee. He brought his shield up to block a swing by Tazen, while launching his elbow back at Kaznal. He followed this up with a weapon pummel into Dario's already sore leg. The kid backed off wincing badly.

The elbow shot hit Kaznal in the chest which knocked him back into the wall, but once again, while it hurt, he had felt much worse. For in his mind there was nothing as bad as getting a strap over his backside for Mylan after his charge broke his mother's favorite crystal bird when he tossed a pillow at Lylan in the sitting room.

In fact, Kaznal wasn't even stunned by the elbow. On the other hand, he had always kind of dreamed of the day he would be able to strike back at someone who had hit him, and this was a great chance! He moved up and dropped his mace right on top of the guy's head, splitting it wide open. Really not wanting to get tossed into a wall a third time, and getting some momentary satisfaction of finally being able to hit someone back, he pulled it up and did it again, and again, and again… He would have certainly continued, but Dario pulled him back, even while shaking his leg to get more feeling and blood flow back into it. "Aw, little guy, stop! Yer splatterin' blood all over the place! Geesh!"

Dario pushed Kaznal back, then pulled the sash off of guard Tazen had all but removed the leg of. He spent a few moments to wipe a few splashes of blood off his cheek before moving over to Kaznal. With a rather revolted look, he pulled out his water skin, got the sash wet and started wiping Kaznal's face and hair.

Seeing the tyke start to pull away, Tazen moved up and grabbed him so Dario could continue. At the same time this allowed Alkoris to step up and pour about half his own water skin over the boy.

All three backed off and scrunched their noses as Kaznal shook his head wildly to get rid of some of the still red-tinged water, then reached up and cast a Dry Autospell on himself. He then shot Dario a dirty look.

Before he could do or say anything Tazen pointed at him in warning, "Commander told me to take care of you all and put me in charge. Just don't."

Kaznal frowned deeply, "Do not, what?"

"Whatever you were about to do or say," Alkoris stated with a half-grin half-cringe, even as he moved down to where the hall came to a 'T'. He looked both ways. "Doors at both ends, and no sounds. If anyone was close they had to have heard all this though."

Dario moved up to the shield and tried to get his axe out a couple of times before he gave up.

Tazen snickered and grabbed the dead guard's axe. "This one's Silver Steel, Dar, forget about your bronze one!"

"But I…"

Tazen rolled his eyes, moved up, stepped on the shield and wiggled the axe out. "Here, but the other is way better."

"Yea, I know. But this still be mine and now me's got a back-up."

"You know," Alkoris quipped while doing his best to ignore the dead guards, "most people carry a smaller backup or something with a different attack style, not carry two of the same primary weapon."

"But I'm best with a axe."

"Then why did the guy pull it out of your hand, Dario?" Yarnay asked as he moved back to check on Tyndall.

Seeing Dario put his hands on his hips and glare at Yarnay, Tazen busted up with laughter, "Be pissed off all you want, Dar, the little guy's got a great point."

Dario took a few angry breaths while trying to stem the flow of blood from of his badly split lip and testing his leg. Seeing the others all looking back at him with smirks he spit out some blood and grabbed the sheath of the broadsword and stuck it over the back of his pack, "There! Happy?"

Kaznal muttered something softly causing Alkoris to bust up in a fit of laughter

"WHAT?" Dario shouted.

"Nothing," Alkoris managed to get out between laughs, while putting an arm around Kaznal and giving him a tight, friendly, squeeze.

"Nothin' my ass," Dario grumbled while motioning for Tazen to look at his lip.

Tazen looked back, "Ty, you OK?"

"Nasty blow to the upper chest," Tyndall muttered. He winced and rubbed his sternum, "I just knew it was going to hurt when he tossed the shield at me… I just knew it!"

"Then you should have ducked," Sibler noted as he looked at the bodies and decided the men in fact wouldn't need their pouches at this point and he really didn't have many coins other than the pouch Alkoris stole for him. Besides the corporal's pouch, he had just a few copper out of the pouch of the student whose armor he was wearing. He knew the other whipping boys were in the same situation. At least this wasn't quite the same as stealing…

The comment cheered up Dario who couldn't help but nod, "I's got ta agree with Sib, Ty."

Tazen spoke up, "Alk, keep an eye on those doors. Dar, I'll be with you as soon as I check on Ty."

Yarnay held up his hand "I think I can take care of this, Tazen."

"OK…" Tazen stated with a long drawl even as he moved over to Dario while pressing the hilt of his recovered dagger up to the bump just under his eye, knowing the cold metal would cut back on swelling.

At the same time Kaznal moved up to Dario, "Let me try. I think I am good enough now."

Tazen shrugged and backed off, fingering his Healthman pouch and watching both small boys. After just over a minute a glow erupted from Yarnay's hands and flowed into Ty. The teen had a momentary look of even worse pain, but then he patted his chest and looked over with wide eyes, "I think I owe a donation at the next Tallis shrine… if I ever get any coin… um, thanks kid!"

"Here," Sibler called out even as he tossed one of the guard's pouches over. "Now you do."

This caused Alkoris to nod in approval. "Much better Sib! I bet I could make a Lockmaster out of you…"

"Don't even think about it," Tazen warned. "The one field he will not let anyone use without permission is Lockmaster, and the kid he has as an apprentice has been told Lockmaster is like the only Subfield he can't ask to get training in. I'm not about to let any of these three learn those skills and have to explain it to the commander. Ain't no way."

A few seconds later Kaznal's fingers shimmered and he reached out and touched Dario's lip. The blood stopped, where the teen had bit in closed, and most of the swelling went away. At the same time, Dario was able to fully extend his leg without it cramping up on him.

Dario tapped at his lip and nodded before reaching out and ruffling Kaznal's hair, "I'm thinkin' I owes Avgon a coin 're two. Just a bit sore. Ways ta go little guy!"

"We can only do two a day…" Kaznal looked over to Yarnay, "at least I can do two.”

"Yes, same here. But they will not always work. We will get better as we go up in Echelon. I cannot believe we are really Primary!"

"How do you think us being Primary will work with us being whipping boys."

"Knowing the commander," Sibler snorted, "he will just have the guards hit us harder to make up for it. I am sure our charge's father will."

"And there is my luck summed up in a strap." Kaznal stated with a roll of his eyes and a slightly forced grin showing he really didn't take it too personally. "Tazen, I can try to fix you…"

"Just a few bruises, I'm fine. We may need those Channeler healings for something worse later. Hold on to them for now. You sure you are OK? He tossed you back in the wall a couple of times, Kaz."

"I have been strapped worse by one of the female servants," Kaznal grinned. "All it did was make me mad and be happy I could hit back. Most of the time I have to drop my britches and thank them for it afterwards."

"Hate to say it, but I'm glad it's you three and not me. Now, take what you want and move. We need to get out of here before these jerks are found." Tazen ordered. "We'll have time to joke around once we are out of the city."

Sibler shook his head, "They are.. were… the only ones down this far. They were to stop anything from coming up from below. There are some other guards behind a set of bronze-bound double doors just around the corner from the steps we were told to take to go up. Something really bad is going on the other side. And there are prisoner cells through the other door. There is at least one Mystic in there… The one you cut the leg of wanted to take me there… and do nasty things…"

"How could you know all of this?" Tyndall asked a great deal of skepticism.

"I saw it…" Sibler pointed to the middle of his forehead, "in here."

"You a mind talker?" Alkoris asked.

"No…"

Kaznal looked over, "But your mother is, right?"

Sibler let out a long breath, "Uh, huh. Mother is the whole reason I am a whipping boy. She heard… felt… whatever a Mindmaster does… Um, well Mother knew Lylan did not like the boy his father picked out to be his whipping boy… she came up and offered me, saying she could feel Lylan not liking the selected boy when Lylan was throwing a temper tantrum in front of the inn we were walking by… So Lylan's guard took me over and… as soon as the deal was struck, I got my first thrashing for Lylan's outburst. I do not know if Mother got into his head and made him feel bad about it, or if he really did, but he did, or at least pretended to."

"So when he acts up you get popped?" Tyndall asked with a cringe.

"Yes… A couple of times a week."

"At least!" Kaznal spoke up. "Way more than I get because of Mylan."

"Yeah, but when Mylan messes up, he tends to really do it right… um, or wrong!"

Kaznal couldn't argue. With a sigh, he looked around at the others, "Oh, it is way more wrong, trust me. I know Sibler gets like three more times what I get, but I tend to get double what he gets when I get it. At least Mylan is real nice and tries not to get in trouble for a while after, and he helps me with chores for a day or so after. But, Sibler, we have all heard from the guards how you have a Mind Witch for a mother, so they are always careful to never let you close when there is dukedom business. And you know they said if it comes out it will be at a bad time, like when getting punished…"

"I know… I have heard it over and over. If I am one I will find out, probably between my seventh and eleventh year… So maybe it is starting. I do not know if I really am one, but I really did see what he was wanting to do to me and he was afraid of what things were going on behind the double doors. It made my head feel all prickly, too. I am supposed to tell a guard if it starts…" He looked down at the still smoldering guard, "It happened." He looked up with a smirk, "There, I kept my word. I told a guard."

While Dario snickered and Alkoris patted Sibler on the back, Tazen slapped his forehead, "There is something wrong with you… Come on, let's go."

The group made their way to the steps, but as the others started to go up, Yarnay took a step back.

Alkoris noticed almost instantly, "What's wrong?"

"We were told to get word out about what is going on. What if… what if what we need to know about is down here?"

"Yar," Tazen spoke with a scolding voice, "we just killed four guards and locked two more in the basement. We really need to get out of here. Come on!"

Alkoris held up his hand, "Taz, the little guy's right. If we get out now, what do we know?"

"The city has been taken over and lots of the guards are behind it!"

"Pretty sure the commander already knows," Kaznal stated blandly. "He did kill a lot of them… like half an army…"

Tazen looked around, only to see the others, even Tyndall and Dario cocking their head in Yarnay's direction. "Aw, shit… I am going to live to regret this… or die and be super pissed off at all six of you jackasses!"

***

Glaster reentered his body and sat up, causing both Chark'ash and the judge to turn and look at him. He didn't give either a chance to speak. "Judge Andreus, get everyone up. We need to be ready to move within the quarter of the hour. Chark, armor up, get Rylan and prep the captives for travel. Allow them nightshirts, but keep them in chains!"

Judge Andreus stood and moved to the tent flap, "Where should I tell the wagon drivers to point the wagons?"

"To the portal I am about to open. When it appears, they are to drive through. We will need guards next to the animals should they spook."

Even as Chark'ash pulled on the padded undershirt so he could slip into the bronze chain shirt Glaster had found for him in the caravan gear, he spoke up, "You cannot open a gate big enough for a wagon…"

"You are correct. As close as we are to the rupture point I do not even think I can open one big enough for me. However, this one is getting some otherworldly augmentation. Now, boy, unless you want to get a much quicker and rougher introduction into your night duties to me, you will get the others moving and secure the captives for travel before I get the gate open!"

Chark'ash quickly held up both hands to signify his total compliance before pulling up britches, stuffing his feet into fur-lined boots and wiggling the chain shirt over himself. Even as he secured the dagger and hip sword Glaster had furnished him with, Glaster's young Mystic apprentice came in to start packing the belongings inside the tent.

Glaster reached down and grabbed Perth, "Just secure everything within the wagon so there is no breakage. We will gate in as close as possible but will still have a ride and drive through a forest, because the magic flow where we are going is too strong to open a gate to our final destination even with the help I am going to get. Because of this, make sure nothing can fall out of the wagons and all easily broken items are surrounded in layers of cloth! You will be given time to properly pack it all at a later time! Move boy! Move!"

However, even as Glaster quickly got into his own gear he glanced over to Chark'ash, "I see just by the how quickly you are able to get into armor and the way you are wearing the armor and weapons you have a great deal more training than I first detected. If you truly are as comfortable with the blade as you appear to be, feel free to secure better weapons out of my trade goods in the third wagon back. Take only what you can use and carry properly into combat, but because of your royal status, I give to you whatever you take."

"Does this include one of the sets of Elvin Silver Steel chain armor and throwing daggers?"

"If those are preferred combat equipment to you, by all means. However, Chark, this does not mean I am releasing you from your servitude to me. All this means is you, as a Drow prince, are getting what is my duty as the holder of your contract to provide, just as would to any member of royalty."

"I fully understand, Commander." Chark'ash gave a slight bow, "Commander, do you have a good sling?"

"Sling?" Glaster asked with a cock of his head, "I have a whole case of them in the back of the fourth wagon… Chark, I have bows and crossbows in the main armament wagon…"

"I am very proficient with a sling, Commander. I will, however, take a bow if you would prefer."

"No, take what you feel best. If you really prefer a sling, it is your choice. Should you want practice with a bow, take both. Actually, as I consider this, I would prefer you take both. Slings are… not up to the standards of a prince and I do not want to appear to have under-equipped a child of your social stature. However, should you really decide on a sling, I strongly recommend you take some decent ammunition. I have a large locked box under the seat of my fifth wagon with odds and ends." He tossed the boy a key. "Inside are a dozen pouches with a score of Silver Steel sling bullets in each. I had them made for the high royalty and whipping boys in hopes of finding some Skeletons or Zombies for them to deal with. This way they could see the difference between using silver and non-silver bullets against low undead. Use them only for undead, but do not be afraid to use them."

Chark'ash secured the key in his hand even as he looked at the man with a raised eyebrow.

"Question?"

"Commander, far be it for me, your indentured servant, to question you. However, taking them against undead?"

Glaster managed a slight grin, "Your feelings about me taking the high royalty and their whipping boys to deal with undead, mirrors my thoughts on you selecting a sling for you primary ranged weapons. Now go secure real gear and be prepared to use any or all of it."

"Thank you, Commander. However, I feel as your servant I should tell you…" He paused for a moment as he considered his words, "Commander, I think you will find I can damage undead without the Silver Steel bullets, but they will make what I can do a great deal more deadly. I will make sure the box is relocked and get the key back to you."

Glaster nodded, then paused and frowned as the young teen equivalent Drow rushed out of the tent. "I will need to work on his understanding of undead, for yes, you can damage low undead without silver, but beyond the minor, you need silver or magic…" He shrugged, "Perth, I want you in the reinforced leather I had made for you before we go, as well as the light Silver Steel mace and Blue Steel dagger. This could be dangerous. Because of this, I ask you to remember what little training I have been able to provide and take as few risks as possible. I want not a blemish on your skin, so should you feel the need, get and stay behind me."

"Where are we going?"

"To see a dead Dragon, Perth. To see a dead Dragon and a boy I love with all my heart… A boy who may well be out of my reach; a boy you are the replacement for."

***

{A whole lot of folks}

Vondum moved up to one of the Silver Warrior Dragons, "You! You look to be recovering from the Dragon death quickly. Can you fly and if so, have you had a rider?"

"Yes to both, General." The Dragon lowered itself. "Hop on, but keep in mind I am not a Black. The front edge of my wings are a great deal more fluid and the scales along the leading edge shift as I fly. They are quite capable of cutting skin…"

"Understood, I will keep forward of them. Do you have a preference on foot placement and where I hold your back ridge?"

"The longer spines are better for holding onto, since, like my wings and other lead surfaces, they all naturally shift in flight. Boots right under my larger neck guard scales is a nice feeling for me while giving you a better grip. This snow and wind will be nasty. I recommend you keep your head down."

"In boot placement, you and Ornam are similar, and believe me, I have every intention of letting you look forward while I spend most of my time looking back to keep your flank well watched." Before more could be said the Silver Warrior flapped its wings hard and jumped, taking it nearly straight up. This forced Vondum to hold on and adjust since he was expecting a slow lift with a hard-forward running movement.

"General, careful…"

Vondum quickly adjusted to the flight, finding the Silver was tricky to ride because so many of the scales shifted, but he was impressed with the rapid rate of climb combined with forward speed. "Not the liftoff I was expecting. I am fine. What is your name?"

"San'i-sar, General. Should you ride any other Silvers, expect the same. Because of our wings’ flexibility we have to jump to get more air under us or our wing-tips hit the ground. We can still get into the air, but it is quite painful for us."

"Good information, thank you San'i-sar." Vondum took a few seconds to look around. He quickly noted three other Silver Warriors, only one with a rider flying a pattern, but making sure San'i-sar was in the lead. Below, he could scarcely make out scores of Griffins in formation. Well behind and further down, the shapes of other Dragons could barely be made out in the blowing snow, even though some of them had riders with light sources. He frowned, "San'i-sar, we are moving way faster than the others. We need to keep a more disciplined formation."

"We and the Griffins can fly much better in the snow and ice General. I can go down and have the Griffins slow so the others Dragon races can keep up. Some will still have to land at least once to get ice build-up off wings. Also, do me a favor and keep moving, you can build-up ice and catch snow in front of you if you stay still. Should this happen my maneuverability will be reduced."

"Do so, but get the attention of the other Silver with the rider. He should take the lead. We will trail and keep watch along our flanks… As long as you are OK with this…"

San'i-sar shouted out to the other Silvers, then dove giving Vondum a gut flipping dive as he did so. He leveled out next to the lead Griffin rider. This let Vondum give orders before San'i-sar spiraled back up at an impressive rate of speed and fell to the back of the formation above all the others.

"I will take all this as you not having a problem with my commands."

"General, we heard the field reports of you for a very long time. You are well known to most Dragon races as a feared rider with an eye for command. Some say you have been riding Dragons for decades, but you do not seem to age…"

"I have access to magic to keep me vibrant, so yes, I have been around for longer than most Humans. As far as an eye for command, being selected to be an officer in the Black Dragon Homeland as a teen, I really was not given much choice but to learn under fire. My first years as an officer was in the Troll War. Pushing the Forest Trolls out of the Jade Glade."

"A nice addition to the Black Dragon Homeland."

"Prince Bassork offered to vacate most of the land we took. Of course, we all knew the Duchy of Duchess Vanorra would be put in a very bad position if we did give the land back, because we boxed the Trolls in on three sides, and we told her we would pull out of the north side first, which would have opened up her already tattered Duchy to the remainder of the Trolls, while cutting her off from other allies. So of course she offered up most of the land in agreement for a defensive treaty. The Black Dragon Homeland now taxes all goods going to and from her lands, so she is nothing more than a semi-independent duchess to the Black Dragon Homeland and her people live under most of the taxation laws of the Black Dragons."

San'i-sar snickered causing all the scales along his back to shift in odd directions. This forced Vondum to dig his boots in harder while grabbing two of the spines, but he refused to complain. In his way of thinking this was a new challenge and gave him a reason for a slight smile.

To San'i-sar's credit, he grinned in satisfaction over knowing the man had slipped some, but didn't complain. The guy was as tough and determined as the rumors said he was. The fact Vondum was moving back and forth across his back, told him the man was either enjoying the flight or was totally fearless, probably both. However, he had someone in the know on his back, so he was not above trying to get information, "How will the Black Dragon Civil War affect Vanorra?"

"Good question. One I do not have an answer to," Vondum admitted. "Her daughter took over several years ago, and has kept with the treaty. However, with her now being seen as a Prince Bassork pawn, she is technically an enemy of Prince Bandurlok. She is in a very bad spot. If she tries to break off, Prince Bassork's armies are likely to move in and take it, forcing what is left to fight for him. If she stays allied to him, Prince Bandurlok will certainly try to break the thin northern border and if it was me, let the Trolls take care of her for him. At the very least she will be forced to fight the Trolls off, which will still deprive Prince Bassork of Vanorran allies. If it was me, and I will advise those with Prince Bandurlok's ear, the best solution to the Vanorran problem would be to quickly smash the northern lines and let Vanorra burn. Its remnants can be picked up and claimed in full after Prince Bassork is dead or in hiding."

"And there is why you are indeed a general. You see how to defeat enemies without even fighting them. I am glad to have you on our side."

"Thank you, but sooner or later, with this new alliance, Silver Dragons will be expected to help Prince Bandurlok in taking the throne of the Black Dragon Homeland. How do you feel about this?"

"If it helps us stop the incursion of the Whites into the Silver Dragon Homeland, we will support it with everything we can muster. We have been on the defensive for over two centuries. We could use someone with your tactical and strategic mind to turn things around up north."

"With my slave looking to gain his freedom and my favorite Black Dragon interested in taking the boy as his rider, I may well be interested as long as I can keep my slaves, have access to my private base on the Silver Spine Plateau… And I would also like to be able to take you into battle and keep my new title as general within the greater alliance. It would also not hurt my feelings to go down to Vanorra and pick up some slaves and other loot before the land is tamed by Prince Bandurlok again."

"To have you on our side, those are very reasonable terms, General, and I would be honored to have you as my rider for as long as you would like. Once we are done down here, I will see to it you get an audience with Prince Millen."

One of the other Silver Dragons swooped down, "General, there are two Warrior Dragons with multiple riders moving fast to the south. They have to be Whites or Silvers at the speed they are moving in this storm, and we know where all the Silvers are, sir!"

"Our mission is to get to Premier Kandric," Vondum stated firmly. "However… Track them for as long as you are able without breaking formation. I will be only too happy to help you track them down and eliminate them once the matter with our Premier is handled."

"Understood General," the Dragon stated with some frustration, but quickly banked back up without complaint.

"San'i-sar, as soon as you are able, do me a favor and inform the other Silvers what I just said should not be seen as me trying to placate. I will do all I can to help you all track them down and send a message about where my allegiance lies. After all, I cannot allow my former Wilderness Scout to have all the fun."

"I will be sure they know of your desire to help us. If what your friend, Ornam shouted out is correct, the blow Premier Kandric struck will send ripples of terror throughout the White Dragon Homeland, for without Prince Weraweld, their ability to overpower us will be greatly diminished."

"I have been around Ornam for a long time. I have never once seen or heard one of his guesses about such things be off. If he said it was your feared enemy, then I assure you it is… was…"

San'i-sar snorted, "Even as uneasy as I am about meeting this Premier, should what you say be true, I will be the first move up to him, bow and extend a paw in undying gratitude."

Vondum laughed, "You may have to extend a claw so he can shake it, but I am certain he will."

"We are about to find out, General, there is a glow coming from the middle of the lake down and to your left. The Griffins are all angling toward it, but the Dragons, me included, can see a figure with tremendous amounts of Dragon Gifting on the edge of the lake with others in the general area around him, all Dragon Gifted, but too much lesser extents."

"Stay up until the others are down. Once we land, send two of your Silver friends back up to keep watch. There is no telling if those Whites will try to angle back this way."

"I will do as you command, but they will only do so if they are suicidal, General. I have only seen Dragon Gifting twice before, but even the least of those below have double what I felt and saw in the others. The bright one… he must be our Premier… What I am seeing and feeling is beyond what I thought possible. He must have the Giftings not seen since the days of Rovnar!"

Well below Vondum, Duke Mathard was only too happy to get off the Griffin the second it touched down in the center of the iced over lake. His short legs made staying on, even with a saddle and reins, nearly impossible. He figured on the short flight he came close to falling to his death half a dozen times. Jumping off onto the ice was more than a relief. It bordered on jubilation. Even as he easily found his footing on the extremely smooth surface, he could see the glow from under the thin layer of snow. He carefully made his way over to it, gracefully slipping and sliding on purpose the whole way, while also testing the ice. With as little snow as was on it, he was worried some areas might be soft, but it seemed to be granite hard. This only made him smile.

Not far away, Princess Syrissia got off the Griffin she had been riding and her feet promptly went out from under her. She hit the ice hard. This caused the Griffin she had rode on to kneel, so she had something to grab onto to stand. It did little good. Her smooth-bottomed Mink Leopard boots simply had zero traction on such a surface and she was clearly not used to such a slick surface. She fell two more times in rapid succession.

Mathard looked over, "Princess, your footwear is not suited to this. You may wish to get back on and have it fly you to the lake's edge. I will be with you shortly!"

The Alphar princess gave Mathard an exasperated nod, even as she crashed into the ice a fourth time. By this point the Griffin was getting aggravated, so it lowered itself down so it was lying on the ice and all but shoved her on with its wing. With a hiss at having its wings grabbed and some feathers pulled out, it didn't give her a chance to get properly seated before it took off. It then did a hard spin causing her to cry out in fright.

At the lake's edge Kandric heard the sound and drew his blade. The latest gifting was still very unsettled with in him, but he forced himself to stand, albeit with a bit of and wobble, while shouting out, "Guys! Weapons out! We have company!"

Mathard heard the shout and moved his hips so he slid back over to his selected mount before he could figure out why there was a mound of ice on an otherwise glass smooth iced over lake, "There! Premier Kandric's voice! Everyone to the shore!" He then moved up to the Griffin he had ridden on, and spoke, "He says you can understand us, so how about you do me a favor and pull me over there while I hold onto the reins?"

The beast's eagle's head turned and shook, even as Mathard found the long lion-like tail being placed in his hands.

"You want me to hold on to your tail?"

It nodded.

"I do not want to hurt you…"

Seeing what was an eagle-head version of the ultimate condescending look, Mathard held up both hands before reaching out to grab the tail as it was offered a second time. Moments later he was sliding along the ice on both feet. The experience as a boy playing with a kite on the ice served him well as he easily found his balance and enjoyed the ride. "Oh! The ice is smooth, my feet are slick, the snow it be a flying, wind be a crying, and me be a gliding!" Mathard sang out in joy before taking a deep breath and shouting, "Premier, it is Duke Mathard with Alphar Princess Syrissia! Stay your weapons if it pleases you! I shall be sliding to see you at the shore momentarily!"

From up above, Princess Syrissia cried out in exasperation, "Duke Mathard, you are not here to play on the ice!"

"Oh my fine Princess, where there is smooth ice and a way to be pulled across, there is always time for a moment or two of blissful joy while sliding on it!"

"Duke!" Kandric shouted out in obvious joy. "Have fun, but beware! There still may be a White Dragon or two around."

"Unlikely, Premier!" A voice shouted down in Dragon from above. "But should one show itself, we will be happy to take it down, unless you would prefer to do the honor!"

Kandric looked up as a Silver Warrior Dragon with a Illorc on its back descend through the storm. It made a gentle landing about fifty meters away. Noting the Dragon was keeping a distance even as the Illorc made its way over Kandric frowned, "You can come on over!"

"Good Premier, I… How about we wait for Duke Mathard to slide over and General Vondum to get here?"

"Very well…" Kandric shrugged then smiled as he made out the figures of one of Monarch's camp guards. It was one of the first to congratulate Kandric after he had gutted the Illorc commander at Monarch's camp. "Sergeant Thymac! How was the ride?"

The Illorc took a knee as it got close, "Me Premier, it be thrillin'! I's could does it over and over, me could! Warmer would be much nicer, though!"

Kandric eyed the Silver Dragon with a sigh even as he staggered under the latest Dragon Gifting, "It sounds fun…" His thoughts were halted as Mathard came into view just as he let go of the Griffin's tail and used momentum to finish his slide across the lake. He came into the lake's edge fast, but easily made a hopping step and landed on the rocks with both feet, making it look much easier than the feat actually was. "Premier, I will leave flying to you longer legged folk. A good slide across the ice is plenty to get my blood pumping and far safer. After all, I have a low center which makes a good ice pull easy, while flying… not so much…"

Kandric laughed even as he grabbed a tree to stay standing. "My Duke, I would be up for trying the ice as such speeds, but I must admit, I do not think I could do it with the same style as you!"

Pike moved up rubbing his hand down his face and shaking his head as if trying to clear it, "Premier, in Winter Creek, kids take kites out on the big lake almost every winter day where there is good wind. We have races, and on a fine windy day it draws a good crowd. Then just as the temperatures warm, the surface ice melts during the day and freezes real smooth at night. Every year there is a series of races with a set of huge prizes. We start at sunup and go till the ice gets soft. The winners of each round go head to head in random draws. The contest lasts almost three weeks. Duke Mathard is the only Garm, only anyone, to have won five times and has eight second place finishes. He is legendry for his Ice-kiting!"

Mathard gave a light bow, "I still go out with the kids a few times a year. It is just too much fun to let good wind and smooth ice go to waste!"

Kandric scratched his chin, "My Duke, while it sounds fantastic… what is a kite?"

Pike looked over with an open jaw, "You know, a kite!" Getting nothing but a raised eyebrow he frowned, "Come on! You tie sticks together to form a T, make a frame with other sticks, wrap cloth around it, tie it to a ball of twine and fly it…"

Kandric shook his head while looking back and forth between Pike and Mathard, trying to see if they were teasing him.

At the same time, Duke Mathard shot Pike a warning look, "Pike, you know better than to not use title, even when trying to give an explanation."

"Sorry Premier…"

"I do not care about a title Pike… Are you two pulling some kind of prank?"

"No…" Duke Mathard looked over at Zeltoss who was leaning against a tree while trying to clear his head, "You! You surely know what a kite is!"

Zeltoss rubbed his forehead, let out a long breath and blinked, "A kite? A kite it is a kind of shield with a point at the bottom instead of being round."

"Uggg," Pike muttered, only to get a pop in the back of his head from Mathard, "sorry, but…"

"My Duke, please do not hit him. He is with me, and I do not want him to have to tighten up and be all royal with me. He is our friend, not a servant or some underling. Besides, this Dragon gifting was a strong one, and we are all feeling it."

"Regardless of what the circumstances, Pike knows better! He is with three knights and a Premier!"

"So, if I knight him…"

"His father will not be happy with me, since he will be well above his older siblings and even his father, but it will gain his entire family a great deal of prestige…"

"Good, he is a knight. As soon as my guts stop flipping around inside me, I will let you do the ceremony. Right now I might accidently nick him with my blade since my whole body is kind of… goofy feeling…"

"Good word, Premier." Pike stated.

"I'll go with it," Zeltoss stated while still letting the tree support him, "but I must say there has to be a much stronger word… My stomach feels real strange, like something is running around inside it… with a club…"

Vondum hopped off before San'i-sar fully landed. "Premier! Are you hurt?"

"No Captain… Sorry, General," Kandric rubbed his forehead, and leaned over, "this one seems way harder to get over than the others… The magic flowing through me is… it is like it cannot all sink in but is trying to, or it is trying to escape, but is trapped, maybe both…" He stayed bent over as Mathard patted his back, "My Duke, thank you…"

Kandric suddenly blinked and forced himself to stand almost straight, "General Vondum? Wait, what are you doing down here?"

"Wow, much longer than I expected," Vondum snorted, trying to keep things as mellow as possible. "You must really be out of it, Premier."

"I am still wearing a Wilderness Scout patch, General, I am your scout. You do not have to call me by any title."

"Remember, when I took a spot as a general, I left my post as Captain of the Guard, Premier. I am now your general, even if you are one of Sy's independent Wilderness Scouts. Much more independent than scout, since Sy is not about to tell you much of anything, other than call you Premier, like the rest of us."

"You know I really do not care what you call me, right?"

Vondum laughed as he moved up and put an arm around Kandric. "Regardless, you are my Premier, so humor those below you and let me show you the respect you deserve. And stop being cranky. It is not Duke Mathard's or my fault you decided to kick the snot out of another Dragon or two."

"Just one. Lorthorn, Zeltoss, and Jamon dropped the Warrior."

Vondum looked around, "Speaking of Lorthorn, Sir Lorthorn where is he and Sir Seldnat?"

Jamon came over, swaying back and forth as he did so, "They're trying to track down a Dragonling… We think it was the only one to get away… um, sorry, General. I am seeing blinky things in the corners of my eyes. It's hard to, um, see straight… For some reason Seldnat wasn't as bad, so Lorthorn agreed to go with him."

"Jamon," Mathard spoke with a harsh undertone, "it is Sir Lorthorn and Sir Seldnat to you."

"My Duke, I request you let it slide this time," Kandric all but pleaded. "Jamon is dealing with the same thing I saw shortly after the Ice Demon died back at General Vondum's camp." Kandric stated while leaning into Vondum, allowing the man to support him as he fought to regain full equilibrium. "I found by not keeping my eyes closed as much at first, and not blinking hard, even though it seems like it should be the right thing to do, they went away faster. I do not know about the twisting of my insides, though. It is like the first time I had a Slow Fall spell cast on me and Glaster pushed me off the cliff and laughed as I screamed."

Mathard grinned, "Hey… there is something I have never done to my kids…"

"Something else to get blamed for," Kandric grumbled, "great."

Mathard snickered, "Blame? Why certainly not. One cannot blame a Premier. Now… Recommended? Yes, without a doubt, you can recommend!"

"One way or the other it is still going to end up on me…"

"I never said it otherwise, Premier," Mathard stated with a wide grin before turning serious. "Now, are you certain you are going to be alright? You really do not look yourself."

Kandric grabbed Vondum's arm and put it around his chest. He managed a much stronger grin as he felt the man grip him tightly, "I will be fine. Remember, last time I slept for a great while after King Blathamort and the Green female fell. And I was allowed to eat and get a long night's sleep after assisting in the death of the Ice Demon. But I cannot rest now. The Whites have at least one of my students and my grandfather is working with them…"

Seeing the female Alphar, wearing extremely elegant boots, heavy cloak, mittens, ear wrap, and scarf look at him with wide eyes, he stared right back at her, "Princess I, assume?"

"Yes, my Premier. It is a pleasure to meet you! However, did I hear you correctly? Am I to understand former Prince Rovanall has gone over to the White Dragons?"

"Princess, such is what Prince Weraweld told me before he decided it was a good idea to see what I taste like… Um, Princess, did you get sidetracked or something?"

"No. Why my Premier?"

Kandric's head went so far to its left it almost touched his shoulder, "Um, well Princess… this is a war zone and a wilderness, not a royal wedding reception."

"Premier, what are you talking about?"

"Princess… Mink Leopard fur boots, mittens, and cloak… Snow Lynx scarf and head wrap…" He cringed as only a blank look stared back at him, "Oh, come on, Princess! Are you really going to fight in mittens?"

"But Premier, it is cold, and I am a leader, Sorceress, Jeweler, and Healer, not a front-line fighter…"

While it was not something he would have never done had he been feeling better, the cluelessness he saw looking down at him was simply too much on an already upset stomach. He simply couldn't stop himself. Kandric lowered his head and shook it.

The woman looked around. While no one else was shaking a head, all were pretty much staring at her. "What!?!"

Before more could be said a voice came from off into the forest, "Kandric, you better not be shaking your head at a princess!" Even before the words registered with Kandric, the voice caused dozens of Illorcs, Dragons, Dragonlings, Alphar, Garm, Pantherlings, and Griffins to ready themselves for combat, while moving to protect Kandric, Duke Mathard, Princess Syrissia, the three boys with Kandric and General Vondum, pretty much in said order, except since Kandric was in the arms of Vondum, the effect was Kandric and Vondum ended up with extra forces protecting both of them.

Glaster stopped at the edge of the wood line and looked over the assembled masses, and noticed a couple of Silver Dragons staring right at him. He pushed the kids with him behind as best as he could while his eyes darted around.

At the same time Kandric shouted out, "Halt! It is Glaster!" He tried to pull away from Vondum, only to get some vertigo.

This forced Vondum to grab him and pull him back into his chest, "Not so fast Premier…" He then spoke up even as he stroked Kandric's hair, "Merchant Glaster, how in the name of the gods did you find us?"

"Oh, I am not really sure!" Glaster announced. "Could it have possibly been a disruption in the flow of magic so intense as to cause my tent mate to nearly jump out of his skin?" He paused, "Kandric, while I will fight everything this world has to throw at you should you need me to, I am seeing at two Dragons looking far more interested in protecting you, and consuming me, than I care to ever see. What is all this?"

"San'i-sar, would you and your buddy mind stepping aside?" Vondum all but demanded.

As soon as the pair of Silvers moved to the side, Vondum cast a Light spell on his hand so the man could see him and Kandric better.

Glaster eyed the scene before glancing over his shoulder, "Boys, stay close behind me and keep hands well away from weapons. Focus on my back and do me a favor, do not make eye contact with the Dragons… As a matter of fact, I want you to only look at my back or your feet until told otherwise, but shout out if someone or something so much as touches any of you." Glaster then returned his full attention on Vondum and stepped between the Dragons.

"Merchant Glaster, come, join us, my fine friend!" Vondum responded strongly, while still keeping a note of caution in his voice. He still had no idea how the man would feel about his sleeping with Kandric. While he would, he really had no desire to stand toe to toe with an angry Master Shaman. "Trust me, nothing here is going to bother you, for none want anything to do with your student here."

Glaster stepped forward with a great deal of concern coupled with awe. Even as he did so, he found those who had blocked access to those further back were moving to form an opening akin to a line of honor. "Captain Vondum? You are well outside your territory…"

Vondum kept his arms around Kandric so the boy could find his footing, "Up to a short time ago, you would be correct, Merchant. However, I am a general now." He patted Kandric on the shoulder, "His general, and he has need of my services here at this moment far more than up at Bloody Rock."

"I see… Wait, what? His general… Are you saying these are his forces?"

"Yes, and well-earned let me tell you. However, as far as Black Rapids goes, it has a new Captain of the Guard. I believe you should remember Sy; regardless, he is now the Captain of the Guard in Black Rapids… Anyway, good to see you Merchant… Although from what Premier Kandric has hinted at, you are much, much more than a simple merchant…"

Glaster continued to move forward slowly, "Some believe there may very well be more surrounding me than my merchant side… Um, Kandric, are you alright with Vondum holding you?"

Kandric nodded, "Yes… I am having a hard time adjusting to… Wait! Your arm! You have two arms!!!" Kandric pulled free of Vondum and moved toward Glaster, only to have another wave of dizziness wash over him. As he faltered both Glaster and Vondum moved forward to prevent him from falling only to smack heads with each other.

While both men reached up to grab at their foreheads, Mathard angled in from the side to catch Kandric as he faltered. "Premier, how about you just take a few more breaths and slow down?"

At the same time Vondum and Glaster stood straight and exchanged rigid stares.

Kandric shook his head hard, which he quickly found out did nothing for his stomach and only added to his balance problems. He swiftly decided Mathard's strong yet tender hold was exactly what he needed. He glanced back and gave a single nod with as much of a smile as he could muster. Mathard pulled him close and lightly ruffled his hair.

Mostly because he didn't have to concentrate to stay standing, he looked at the two men and found some mental focus, "Master, General, please… Without both of you I would not be where I am. I owe each of you, and…” Kandric stopped… "Master, General Vondum helped me, made me a member of the Black Rapid Wilderness Scouts… do not be angry with him…"

Glaster glanced over, sent Vondum another sharp glare, then edged up and knelt as he noted the unfamiliar, yet clearly royal crest on Duke Mathard's armor, "Lord, I apologize I do not know your title…"

Mathard extended his arms, pushing Kandric over to Glaster. "Your former charge has missed you a great deal, Master Shaman. Take care of his desire to hold you first. I can wait."

Glaster took hold of Kandric and pulled him into his chest, savoring his first touches of his student with his replaced arm and hand. However, he simply couldn't center on Kandric even as much as he wanted to. His main focus remained on Mathard, "Lord, while I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, I still must ask for forgiveness…"

"For what?" Mathard responded with a smile at seeing Kandric wrap his arms around Glaster's neck. "A boy, our Premier, has a desire to hug his beloved instructor. We are all here because of him, therefore, he holds sway here, not Princess Syrissia, not me."

"But Kandric… He is…" Glaster looked around only to notice everything and everyone looking at Kandric, not the Dwarf with the magical armor, not Vondum, not the elegantly dressed woman with an equally exquisite royal crest. It quite simply did not make sense, unless everything the Alphar had told him was true… Yet it was too fantastic, to be… no, it was impossible.

Mathard crunched some ice off his beard with his left hand while motioning for Glaster to stand with his other. "Master Shaman, I can assure you our Premier, the boy in your grasp, is indeed in command here. You have no need to kneel to any of the rest of us, and it sure appears Premier Kandric has no interest in you kneeling to him."

"No, never!" Kandric confirmed as he continued to squeeze Glaster.

Glaster still stayed down while turning his attention to the woman, "And you good Lady? Do you also say I can stand, even after my student spoke so demeaning to you?"

"Duke Mathard speaks for the both of us in this matter, Master Shaman. Your student, our Premier has made it clear he does not wish you to show standard deference, therefore we will accept you as this land sees you, a titled being, a Master."

She forced a smile, and it was clear it was forced. However, she did motion for Glaster to stand and kept her voice neutral of emotions. "As far as his words, this is his army, and I am a member of it. He holds title and rank over all here, so if he says I am not in proper attire, then I must accept it and endeavor to find something our Premier would find acceptable even if it means more discomfort to me. As for titles, I am Princess Syrissia, of the Saw Spruce Glades within the Alphar Kingdom, and the man you secured our Premier from is Duke Mathard of Winter Creek, from the Garm Empire. It sounds like you already know General Vondum from past dealings within the walls of Black Rapids. There are other officers and titled members within this army, however, most are back at the war camp. Those of us here came here with all due haste the moment we saw the ball of White Dragon Death mushroom up from this location. For, as soon as it did, those with me all knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, it had been caused by none other than our Premier. The young Alphar of high noble blood you hold in your arms."

Glaster stood, picking up Kandric as he did so, "High noble? But I found him…"

"Yes," Mathard spoke with a sigh. "And we are very thankful you did and are in your debt for the phenomenal training and deep personal commitment you have devoted to him."

"I had no way of knowing he was a…"

"Master, you have nothing to explain. The fault lies within the Garm Empire, and we are indebted to you. Now please, relax and catch your breath."

"Thank you, good Duke, however, I have a large caravan further off in the direction I came from. May I go back and…"

Kandric looked over his shoulder, "Some of you, please follow his path in the snow and escort the whole caravan here! There are other Whites about!"

Instantly a dozen Griffins with riders took off while one of the Silver Dragons went high to be eyes, ears, and if needed support.

Glaster couldn't help but blink at how the request was seen as an order. "Rylan, go with and explain to the others what this is about. I do not want to lose my caravan!"

Seeing one of the Griffin riders instantly moved up as the boy asked "How?" to help Rylan onto a Griffin and then take to the sky with him, Glaster didn't bother to respond. Instead he gave Kandric a kiss on the forehead, "You have some serious explaining to do, if it pleases you, Premier Kandric…"

Kandric suddenly let go of Glaster, pulled free of the man's grasp and drew his blade as he noted a couple of the princess' Alphar guards moving toward Chark'ash and the other boys with the Drow. "Stop or so help me!" At the same time the blade came out, a bright blue glob appeared on his hand. "The Drow and those with him are with my Master, which puts them not only under my Master's protection, but mine as well. Lay a finger on the Drow or any of the others and I will… Well, at the moment… I… I will knock you both back into the trees with the spell I have on my hand and will have Duke Mathard deal with you. But when I get over this, it will be my turn… If there is anything left, which I highly doubt…"

Before Kandric finished speaking, both Glaster and Vondum drew blades and turned to see what Kandric was referring to.

The two Alphar who had been closing in on Chark'ash held up hands while backing off slowly. Around them, many others glared at the pair, while San'i-sar stepped up to place itself between the other royal Alphar guards and the obviously extremely scared Drow boy and those with him.

Kandric looked back at Mathard and gave the man a single nod.

Mathard moved by Kandric and patted the boy on the stomach. "Premier, do us all a favor and calm yourself, if it pleases you. Keep in mind they… most of us from the Garm Empire and the Alphar Kingdom have never seen a Drow, and all they know is what is in the history books."

Kandric took as deep as a breath as his still jittery and magically overwhelmed body could inhale, before he gave Mathard an understanding open hand signal, letting the spell fade as he did so. He then turned and looked right at the princess, "You will keep your guards in check or I will…" Seeing a wide-eyed look from Glaster, Kandric gulped and added, "Good Princess."

Glaster looked around expecting to have to say something, but much to his astonishment the initial look of anger he saw in the woman's eyes, which he thought for certain was going to be directed at Kandric, turned out to be pretty much the opposite. She spun and glared at the whole of her guard contingent. "You dare to move aggressively at anyone our Premier has commanded be allowed enter into our lines? Get out of my sight! In fact, it would be in your interests to never fall under my gaze again! Now go!"

The two guards took a knee, while the senior one spoke with a great deal of deference and fear, "To where, my Princess?"

Despite the way he was feeling, Kandric responded with his first thought, "Walk home!"

Noticing the eyes of nearly every Alphar and Garm stare at him, his resolve only hardened, "Yes, you heard what I said. Walk your haughty, egotistical, moronic, self-centered, Warrior Adept and Swordsman hides back to where you came from. No mounts, no wagons, no magic gates, no spells to help you get there faster! Two feet on ground, or… if you two can stomach those of the world I come from… book passage on a barge for part of the trip should you find one willing to take you as a passenger or deck hand."

"But Premier…"

Kandric pointed to the north, "You have good weapons, armor, and packs, and I see pouches, so you probably have coin. If not, you can earn some along the way. If what I understand is correct, you hail from somewhere in the Deathland Mountains. Straight north would be a good direction to start your hike." He pointed a second time for emphasis. "This way, you can stay in villages along the way and see what the world I hail from truly is!"

The other guard looked up mortified at the command, "Premier, we do not even know where we are at or how far!"

"The two of you have all the skills you should need, with your Healer skills and the corporal being a Hunter." Princess Syrissia stated while chewing lightly on her bottom lip. "Between the two of you, and your Alphar training, I have faith in your ability to figure it out and make the journey."

Kandric made a snorting sound, "An extremely diplomatic way to say you do not know, Princess." Seeing the princess' eyes go wide, and Glaster's face flush with anger, he cringed and quickly added, "But you should not need to. Your skills are as a Sorceress."

Kandric then focused back on the two still kneeling Alphar. He couldn't help but show a slight grin even as he tried to hide it. He once again pointed north, "It is about nine hundred leagues from here to the passes at the base of the Silver Spine Mountains. Four hundred and fifty days of hard but doable march. Another few weeks to get up the pass and possibly four moons or so to get to the edge of the Deathlands. From there, I cannot help you since I have no idea where your homelands are. However, I expect you to go slower. Find out what your people left behind. Stay in inns, pick up real work…" A real smirk appeared on Kandric's face as he noted both men were mortified at hearing they were expected to work. To rub it in further, Kandric nodded, "Yes, actual labor of some kind benefiting the world around you. Prove you can handle the world outside of Alphar lands. A few possible thoughts for you. Caravan guards are always needed. Barges need guards as well. Many towns and cities, even some villages, have hiring halls. There is often times bounties available. Collect a couple. It will teach you more of this world. Try your hand in your given subfields: Outdoorsman to us, Hunter to you, and Healthman to us, Healer to you, gives you both valuable skills. Hunting, trapping, tracking, tending to injured… all of those and many, many more tasks could earn you coin and hopefully some respect of those outside of your lands. If not, so be it.

"If you harm a single non-threatening Drow child on your trek, however, I will revisit whatever you do to him or her tenfold ten. In fact, you are to do everything in your arrogant hides to make sure not a single non-threatening Drow is harmed while you are within eye or ear shot. With any luck, you can befriend one and find out not everything you have read is true. A Drow is still a person, some good, some bad, most just trying to survive in a world hostile to them. A hostility your race helped to champion to hide your own crimes from what I have heard. You left the outside world and abandoned what remained of the Drow to suffer. At the time they may well have deserved it, but the vast majority now are still paying for it generations later and their misery is a combination of the crimes of ancient ancestors around Bloody Rock and how you spun a narrative of how all evil was their doing.”

Duke Mathard looked over to Kandric, "From what I was told by some of your students who came into our camp, they were harmed by Drow."

"They were, but they were also harmed by others, my Duke. Just look around even as some of the other Dragons arrive with riders. We have Illorcs, several Dragon races, Pantherlings, Hawklings, and now a Drow. If he is with my Master in the armor he is wearing, he is an ally, the same as every other man, woman and creature out here!"

As anger coursed through Kandric he regained some control and was able to take better understanding of the power flowing within and around him. This was noticeable to everyone looking on, and many took a few steps back even as Kandric's back straightened and he took a few deep breaths. He stood firm as he glared at the two Alphar. "In my eyes these two came very close to betraying me far more than the Drow who harmed my students! These two were about to strike at a known ally! Those we took down in the forest were one step away from brigands, and they were not allies to start with. Because of this, there was no betrayal, only a need for my retribution to a slight against me and those I helped to teach!

"Those who harmed those I taught at the Slome Swordsman School were not allies, and trust me, those I have not found will be hunted down even if it takes me the rest of my life, but they did not try to stab a knife in my back… while I was standing right here! But these two are from outside this land and do not understand, so I am giving them this chance, or they can come at me right now and challenge me…"

The corporal looked close to tears, "Premier, we made a grievous error in judgment. We are sorry and accept your decreed punishment! How long do you expect us to take…"

"I put no time frame on this. I expect you to experience my world and earn your way through it! Then and only then will I forget about your bandit-like behavior and actions toward someone traveling with the man who made me what I am… along with help from the likes of our good general and others… None of whom have or had a known drop of Alphar blood within. What has been good for me can certainly be advantageous to you. Now get out of my sight!"

He waited for the two Alphar to be escorted well away before he paned his gaze over the rest, "Any other Garm or Alphar or anyone else have a problem with a Drow joining us? If you do, now would be the time to leave without a command on how you leave or where you go, because as of now, the kid over there is, and will remain, directly under my protection!"

Duke Mathard glanced around, noting many Garm and Alphar were stunned and some sickened by the hard line Kandric had taken, "Ladies and gentlemen, our Premier has opened the door for others to leave his side. I however, have to admit I have never once gotten to know a Drow, and am curious. After all, we all know our history."

Mathard moved over to the clearly terrified boy and patted him on the shoulder, "Yes, think of history as you look at this lad! Without the Drow we would have never driven the Mythlings out of our realms. What happened later is what it is, yes. Yet, can any of us say we should harbor hatred for this child? For all we know he could hold bloodlines of those who drove the Mythlings back from Forest Wall or The Sapphire Towers. Is this something we should harbor fear and loathing over?"

He pulled the boy to his side, "I know what comes next out of many of you! He could also hold the blood of those who murdered those fighting the last know Orakin raids below the Deathland Mountains. A raid which fractured the plateau and ended the Garm's foothold below the Deathlands and eventually the Alphar's as well. This is possible, yes. But we do not know, cannot know. How about we find out for ourselves who and what Drow really are in the world we abandoned? In particular, should we not strive to find out who this child is before passing judgment?"

Glaster looked over to Kandric as all other eyes were focused on Mathard, "He will not harm Chark?"

"No, Master, he will not."

"Good, but if everything I am hearing is even a tenth true, you should not be showing me deference, Premier."

"I will always be your student, Master…"

"Maybe so, but this is a matter of caste, and you, Premier Kandric are so far above me, it is… there simply is no comparison. Now, before attention turns back to you, I have a few questions I request your permission to ask."

"Master, you do not have to ask permission.”

"Yes, I absolutely do."

Kandric let out a long breath. "No, no you do not, but please ask away."

"First, did you really just kill a Dragon?"

"I allowed others with me to finish it, but yes. It is in the middle of the lake."

"And this is not your first?"

"Fourth, but only the third Great."

Glaster shook his head and blinked hard, "Four… you have… Kandric… Premier… I leave you for a few moons and… and… how?"

"A stalactite, a breath pouch of the one stalactited," Kandric glanced over with an impish grin, "sorry, best word I can come up with… Um, crushed rib cage of a True sticking his head up out of the center of Slome, and the one in the lake drowned, um, at least I think it would be called drowning… Maybe smothered… But until you tell me differently, I will stick with drowning."

Glaster rubbed his hand down his face and watched Mathard carefully. The Dwarf, Garm, whatever, whoever, was defending Chark'ash the same as he had Kandric a few minutes prior. It was also not lost on him there were now two Silver Dragons, a Blue, and a Red all protectively surrounding Chark'ash and the other boys. At the same time the Alphar princess was making a short speech of her own, claiming it was not their place to restart the Drow War and the boy had not, as of yet, done them any harm. Her tone of voice told Glaster she fully expected Chark'ash to suddenly turn on them and strike them all down, but at least her words were supportive.

With a deep breath, he turned his attention back to Kandric, "Last question for now, Vondum and the duke… I have never once seen you allow anyone to hold you the way they were unless… Have they…"

"Bedded me?" Kandric managed a grin, "Why, would you be jealous if they had?"

Glaster's eyes narrowed, but he couldn't get past the boy in his arms was now a member of high royalty. He couldn't bring himself to scold him, no matter how much he wanted to. "Careful, Kandric, Premier. Do not forget I know where you are ticklish."

Kandric's eyes gleamed, "So you would be jealous!"

"Some… more than some… yes. So, Premier unless you want me to tickle you until you piss this strange armor you are wearing…"

"Dragon scale made out of King Blathamort…" Seeing Glaster's eyes go wide even as the man's hand started fingering the scales, Kandric's grin widened. "Yes, he is dead and I pretty much caused it… Um, as far as what was done to me, do not worry. Duke Mathard would never, not to anyone without total consent both ways and he loves his wife and kids. I also cannot see him enjoying any child."

"And Vondum?"

"Vondum… General Vondum has others he can utilize if he wants."

"Did he…" Glaster tapped the crest of the Wilderness Scouts.

"He did nothing I did not want or even recommend, Master. I was made a member of the Wilderness Scouts with no strings."

"How? Was it King Blathamort, Premier?"

"No, Master, just some stupid Ice Demon."

"You mean Hellion or Frost Demon, do you not, Premier?"

"No, Ice." Seeing a look of total disbelief, Kandric flipped the armor, "Master, I am wearing some of what is left of King Blathamort, why would I lie about some stupid Ice Demon?"

"Premier Kandric, it will be angry and will come back…"

"No, I killed it, here, in this realm. It did not get a chance to return to the Realm of Ice. It was surrounded by fire. I made sure of it…" Seeing nothing but a raised eyebrow, Kandric leaned his head into Glaster, "Really, feel free to ask General Vondum. I earned my spot in the Scouts without sleeping my way into it. Although, Master, I do have to question. How can it be called sleeping to get something when there would be little to no sleep involved?"

Glaster couldn't help but softly snicker, "And there, Premier, is the boy I have missed for all these moons… the devious, and cunning inquiries at every turn, the questioning of all and the recognition of the absurdity of what is said and thought by the vast majority." He sighed, "So Vondum did nothing against your wishes… I should probably be grateful to him. I left you for far too long."

"Long enough to allow me to cause a little trouble, Master, yes." Kandric giggled.

"Boy… Premier, if this is your definition of a little trouble, you and I need to go back down to my library and hit the books again!" Glaster paused and cringed, "Um, my library and my vault of valuables… is it all still intact?"

"Very much so. I gave strict orders to secure your property without anyone entering and let no one close. I was told they put a Dragon and some Dragonlings on guard after the Slums were fought over."

"And the Slums are still intact?"

"Some damage, but yes, the Dragons, Garm, and Alphar allied, then crushed Prince Bassork's forces before they could organize more than a raid into the Slums and they never breached the walls of Slome. The Dragon under Slome should have stayed below. But it did not, so I finished it off."

"And this leads me to my final question for now, Premier. Dragons?"

"Would you please stop calling me Premier?"

"To do otherwise would not proper."

"Well, please just stop for now, Master. Now what about the Dragons?"

"Unless I am badly mistaken Reds are not accepted well at all and others… Why are they working with or even for you and not trying to kill each other?”

"Master, I am still trying to figure it all out, but when my friends and I killed the first, a Green, the release got the attention of several others. I guess word spread and since King Blathamort fell so quickly after the Green… Well, the Reds hate the Greens and I had already met some Red Dragonlings… So the Reds came to thank me, and the Silvers and Blues were already kind of allied, but with the death of the two Greats they moved up and combined to wipe out some others and… And it turns out I am in the family line of Alphar royalty… The Garm and Alphar came to help and… well… You always said I liked to stir the pot in ways certain to get me in trouble. So, Master, consider the pot well stirred."

Even as Glaster was shaking his head, Lorthorn came running back through the woods, shouting "Kandric!" He stopped as soon as he emerged into the clearing surrounding the lake… "Oh…"

Kandric reluctantly pulled loose from Glaster, "Lor! Over here! What is wrong?"

Lorthorn glanced around, noting most in the clearing recognized him and gave him a nod of respect and even some deference. He bolted over to Kandric, "Seldnat picked up the trail!"

"We know where the camp is?"

"No, the Dragonling must be an Outdoorsman. It found our tracks down from the ridge. Seldnat says it headed up to see where we came from!"

Kandric's eyes narrowed, "Lacate is up there alone."

"Seldnat sent me back. He is going to try to get there in time, but…"

Vondum moved up, "You have a friend up at a camp by himself, Premier?"

"Not a friend," Kandric growled, "but he is under my protection…" He tried to open a portal but he could tell even as it formed it wasn't stable. With a shake of his head, he snapped his fingers causing it to vanish as quickly as it appeared. "The magic is still unstable! I need a Griffin or…"

Vondum whistled loudly, "San'i-sar! You wanted to meet our Premier, and he needs a ride! It is a good time for both!"

Seeing the Silver Warrior move up and drop its head and wing Kandric looked over, "Ride a Dragon, um, sure… How about a quick lesson?"

"Climb on the wing, allow San'i-Sar to push you up, put your boots in behind the large neck flair scales and hold onto the spines of the upper back!"

Kandric did as instructed even as several other riders moved to Griffins and other Dragons.

Mathard looked down at Lorthorn, "Young Knight, how about you lead me, the good princess, and the remainder of her guards up the to this camp on foot so Premier Kandric's instructor can borrow our mounts for himself and those with him…"

Even as Kandric took to the air on the back of a Dragon, talking to it in Dragon, Glaster turned and shook his head, "Duke, I could not allow you to walk! I am too far below…"

"Master Shaman," Mathard looked back toward the Griffins, "believe me, this is not me giving up a faster transport, instead it is you doing me a blessed favor by allowing me to stay on the ground!"

Princess Syrissia moved up and smiled, "A good walk alone with Duke Mathard, here, would give me a chance to air some thoughts outside of our Premier's ears, so please, feel free. We insist."

Glaster gave a full royal bow, "As you command, Princess. My full apologies for any and all insults real or perceived toward you from my student."

"There are none to apologize for, Master Shaman. This has more to do with Garm Alphar business than our Premier. For Queen Jostallis and Emperor Bloodstone have handed command of this army over to Premier Kandric. He and he alone commands it. It is our task to help him utilize it to the maximum benefit of the world as a whole. To this end, and my being newly assigned to help Duke Mathard, I could use this valuable time to confer with my Garm counterpart on royal matters. Besides, as your student, our Premier pointed out. While I may not be combat ready in Premier Kandric's eyes, I am comfortably dressed to handle the walk in this storm."

"As you wish, Princess." Glaster bowed again, "You have my thanks nonetheless, and if it pleases you I request an audience with the two of you at your convenience."

Duke Mathard spoke up, "Master, I assure you, we seek the same with you, and soon. For we have need of your… unique relationship with our Premier. Your insights into him are of vital importance to us."

"Us, as in the two of you, Duke?"

"NO!" Princess Syrissia stated forcefully, "To everyone, everything, Master Shaman. So yes, we will only be too happy to hold discussions with you. Now, however, our Premier is already out of sight of my infravision, so you best get moving. He seems to have limited patience and may be in need of your council."

Duke Mathard watched as Glaster helped the boys with him get seating in Griffin saddles, while one of the Alphar Griffin riders gave them basic instructions. As soon as they all took into the snow-filled night he glanced over, "So Sir Lorthorn, would you care to lead the way, but stay far in front of us so we may hold a private conversation?"

"At your command, my Duke."

Princess Syrissia pointed to her four remaining guards. "Protect him and help him blaze a trail through this heavy snow for the two of us. We will be fine."

Mathard moved out as soon as he was sure he was out of casual earshot of Lorthorn, "Princess, I give you the floor."

"While I am full of thoughts and questions, my Duke, I first want to state the young Halfelf, Lorthorn seems to be a pretty good choice as a friend for our Premier, but is it true he had a Halforc knighted as one of his most trusted friends?"

"Indeed it is, and while you may find it untenable, let me put my personal feelings and beliefs out for you out of the earshot of all. Seldnat, Sir Seldnat, is a very impressive youngster, Halforc or otherwise. I strongly recommend you give him a chance to show what has thus far impressed me. Also keep in mind, our Premier trusts him as much if not more than the others around him. The last Garm who spoke ill of Sir Seldnat ended up with dented Blue Steel breastplate and broken ribs from a kick, and before you ask I will reiterate, a kick of a bare foot from our Premier."

"This will be difficult, and should I need to be held back in words or deeds, I give you full permission to interject or even interrupt me. I do not want to anger our Premier when we need him as level-headed as possible. Now, on to what really concerns me… I want your take on his defense of the Drow child!"

"Princess, what I told the troops is where I am forced to stand. One of the reasons we backed out of the greater world as a whole when we did was to quell the bloodlust against any and all with even a hint of Drow blood. Our texts were clear and unambiguous. We left word the war with the Drow was done and stepped on a few large-scale purge efforts. The texts state we hoped to let what was left of the Drow reclaim a foothold outside our lands without ever regaining the power they once had. Over the centuries, we have taken our end to the extreme. Our lands are purged of them, as are a goodly amount of the Deathland Range. However, when the final treaty between our great nations was hammered out, it clearly stated a desire to calm the anti-Drow fever gripping the lands."

"Only because there was concern it would spread to our peoples, since we were, we are, the next highest races. Look what happened to the Highmen. They stuck it out and were almost eliminated. Those who exist do so as Humans except in a few very small pockets. They are reduced to near nothing while we have grown to something close to what we were before the Drow Wars.”

"Only because we took the steps of breeding with multiple mates of the races of Elves and Dwarves to bring up our birth rates. The reason I have six children is I have two Dwarven concubines. I was lucky, my wife gave me three children before becoming barren.

"However, we are nothing in the realm of what our people were prior to the Mythling Wars, or even the Dragon Wars. We must monitor the bloodlines to keep them Garm and Alphar, while weeding out those born as Dwarves and Elves. Besides, like it or not, we both know the whole reason we locked up Under River had more to do with Under River having never felt the full weight of the Mythlings and Dragons within their realm. They were the real power behind the fending off of the Mythlings and we could not allow such a power to put its weight behind the Conclave. As weakened as we were after fighting each other, we would have never been able to stop such a powerful united kingdom."

"So you suggest we do nothing about our Premier defending a Dark-one and accept the fact his instructor is harboring one?"

"He is a child, and calling him a Dark-one is not acceptable in my eyes, Princess Syrissia. Besides, before you go all judgmental on our Premier, keep in mind he is keeping the Drow female for use in a brothel."

At this Princess Syrissia both grinned then cringed, "Not a business one of such a high stature should be associated with, but yes, you do have a valid point there. I would prefer to take her back to our courts, however, it is a fitting place… As long as he keeps the greater races out of his side ventures."

"I think you miss my point, Princess. Our Premier does not care about race. You have been told and expressed concerns over his selection of a Halforc as one of his most trusted companions. You also need to really look around. Without Premier Kandric, we would be battling Illorcs, not fighting beside them. We have the full backing of Red Dragons, when no one else would have even thought to try. He and he alone has brought the Red Dragons back into this world as a legitimate race and has given them a Homeland, one both the Blues and Silvers agreed to without any resistance, and one the Black Dragons under Prince Bandurlok accept. He looks at the greater picture, not the race.

"This is something I feel we could learn from, must learn from, if we are to re-enter this realm as Queen Jostallis and Emperor Bloodstone are trying to organize. Cities here may be towns to us, but there are many, too many to gain full control over, let alone rule over. If we start looking down on the weaker races to the extent you are hinting at, we will be putting ourselves in the same spot the Mythlings did, and while it will not be in our lifetimes or even in the lifetimes of our children, we will lose. This is not what I want to pass on to my great, great-grandson or granddaughter. You?"

"Duke Mathard, the day I allow some Halforc or worse, Drow, into my home…"

Mathard gave a shrugging motion, "Then chances of our Premier stepping a foot within your palace is less than the chance of this snow being gone by tomorrow. When you see his relationship with Sir Seldnat, you will understand."

"The we must drive a wedge in and sever it."

Mathard let out a long breath, "My Princess, should you try, the wedge will have to be removed from between your breasts, and I do not believe either of us would desire to see such beauty so ruined."

Princess Syrissia blushed, "Duke Mathard, you are too kind, but your words suggest you feel the boy is uncontrollable. No child is unmanageable."

"Uncontrollable, no. Untamable, with every gram of Premier Kandric's being, unquestionably."

Five kilometers away Kandric pointed to where he had made the shelter even as he slid back and forth across the back of San'i-sar. "Down there!"

"Premier, please hold on. I do not want to be held accountable if you should fall."

"I will not blame you."

"You will not be able to blame anyone if you fall from this altitude."

"Oh, San'i-sar, you underestimate me. See you on the ground!" With those words Kandric jumped off.

San'i-sar turned and spiraled down fully expecting to have to dive with everything it had to catch the falling boy, only to spot Kandric gliding slowly down under a Levitate spell, while allowing the wind to push him toward his desired destination. He banked close, "Premier, you just aged me a half century! DO you have any idea what Prince Millen would do to me if you died while riding on my back after you slew our greatest nemesis?"

Kandric grinned, "You could tell him I died doing something I have dreamed of since I first heard tales of Dragon Riders!"

"Somehow I do not believe I would be allowed the opportunity to provide any kind of defense for myself."

"Then you are extremely lucky you will not have to. When all this is done, I would request a much longer flight from you, though."

"Anytime, although, you may have to talk to your general about it. He seemed very interested in coming up north to help us deal with our White Dragon invaders."

"If they have even a single one of my students, you will not have to go up north to deal with them. We will be facing off with them down here."

"While I wish no harm to any of your students, it would not hurt my feelings to have to rescue one of them."

"Oh, if they harmed one, I will either kill the responsible party or die trying. However, I am guessing it really matters not if they have one of my students. For should it be true my grandfather has sought asylum from them, you will get your wish to assist in an attack on their camp… Hey, I see fresh footsteps leading up to the camp, and they are not Seldnat's. It got here first. If you do not mind, circle and block some of the wind around me so I can get a look at the whole area without the snow blowing in my face."

"Premier, it is an honor to have had you on my back, there is no need to request a favor, just tell me what you want to do, or when on my back, lightly push the tallest spine in the direction you want me to back and I will do so."

"Thank you, I have no desire to order any Dragon allied to me to do anything, instead I prefer to request. For now, do me a favor and please tell the others this needs to be between me and it. I do not expect or want any assistance. Lacate is mine, and therefore should anything have happened to him, it will be me and me alone extracting revenge."

"Very well, Premier. Call out if you change your mind or simply want me to eat your adversary when you are done with him."

"I very well may take you up on the second part of your offer. We shall see."

Kandric landed only twenty meters from the shelter, pulled his blade and made toward the flap of material he had set for the outer flap. After a moment of debate, he stopped and called out in Dragon, "You, within my shelter come out and face me! Just you and me."

A few moments later, Lacate's robe covered and shivering form appeared in the flap. His face was red and signs of frost could be seen on his cheeks. A couple of seconds later a White Dragonling came out holding on to a cloth wrapped around the boy's neck, "You… I can see it within! You killed my… our greatest combatant, my father!"

"I would say I am sorry, but it would be a lie." Kandric stated coldly. "Now, let him go and either surrender the location of your encampment or face me."

"You think I am insane? I will do neither. Instead, you will let me go or I will twist this cloth a little tighter and pull back, snapping this pathetic Human's neck!"

Kandric snorted, "Lacate, you did at least try to tell this imbecile just how unimportant you are, did you not?"

Lacate's eyes went wide, "Please Kandric…" but his words were cut off to choking sounds as the Dragonling twisted the cloth tighter.

Kandric simply rolled his eyes, "You are about as stupid as they come. For him to look so frozen you had to have breathed on him. Why waste a breath on a servant brat?"

"I only put of the fire. If I had unleashed my breath on him he would be dead as scrawny as he is combined with his being without clothing."

"As a servant, he does not rate any unless we are out and about," Kandric stated with a voice devoid of any emotion. His long pent-up anger at Lacate made it impossible to feel sorry for the kid, but the Dragonling was harming his property, and this was simply not acceptable. "Just so you understand, Dragonling, the boy you are all but strangling is in my service for a couple of years plus a few moons. Any long-term harm to him takes away from his value to me, and thus unless you let him go, you and I will have problems beyond what we already do."

A flicker of concern caused the Dragonling to lick at its teeth with its forked tongue and loosen up on the hold enough for Lacate to take some forced breaths, "Let me go with the items I took from inside and I give you this pathetic piece of human meat to you." It tightened up on the cloth again causing Lacate's face to start turning blue.

By this time others were arriving, all but surrounding the small shelter, both above and below the ridgeline.

Kandric put his sword away and held up both hands, "This is between the two of us. Feel free to cheer for or against me, for as soon as he gets done strangling Lacate this is going to get ugly. In the very unlikely event he manages to take me down, you are commanded to let him leave."

Kandric let out a long breath as he stepped up "Come on, stop wasting my time. I have real Dragons to go kill."

Seldnat appeared moving up the hill, "Me wants ta take him!"

"You can have the next White Dragonette, this one is not worth your time Seldnat. It does not even rate one of my weapons. I will take it with bare hands." Kandric stated.

The words caused the Dragonling to shake with fury, which is all Kandric had been waiting for. With the creature's focus on him and off Lacate, it gave him a chance and he took it.

Kandric darted forward, stuck his hand up into the makeshift noose to give Lacate some air, while at the same time yanking the cloth forward. Without any hesitation, his other hand shot forward, over Lacate's shoulder and connected with the Dragonling's snout, badly bloodying the nose with his bare hand. Since the Dragonling was stunned and reacted out of instinct to grab its bloody muzzle, Kandric yanked the cloth off from around Lacate's neck and pushed him to Seldnat. "Get him inside and warmed! If there is a Healthman, Shaman or Channeler, go help Seldnat! I have healed Lacate within the last day, thus cannot do so again until at least much later today, preferably tomorrow!”

A Pantherling quickly hopped down from the ledge over the shelter, "I will care for him, Premier! Very nice punch, by the way."

"Thank you!" Kandric snarled, while backing up from the Dragonling and waving it forward with a hand gesture of motioning toward himself with his fingers of his right hand.

With his total focus on the Dragonling, Kandric's eyes narrowed, "Let us see what you have chilly breath. Use what you want, but know I am going to pound you into oblivion without ever pulling a weapon off my belt or casting a spell. You simply do not rate high enough. Same deal applies, you manage to take me down, you can leave."

"You, you broke my nose!"

"No, not yet. But give me a few seconds. Then you will know what a broken beak feels like."

The Dragonling pulled a glowing short sword from a sheath at its hip. "I am going to cut you…"

"Maybe, but you will not bloody me enough to prevent me from handing the magical blade in your claws over to my former slave. He needs a nice magical weapon, so I thank you in advance."

Glaster landed just in time to hear the exchange, but since it was being done in Dragon he had no idea what was being said. "Can someone or something translate for me?"

Another Pantherling moved up and spoke softly, while clearly looking worried.

Glaster watched as Kandric ducked underneath the swing of the glowing blade and spun clear before he spoke up softly, "With all the money I paid out to have someone teach him, it is time I see what my money bought him."

"Taught him? What did you pay to get him taught?"

"Translate and watch. I think you are about to find out."

Kandric rolled his neck as he spun out of the way of a second swing, "Poor schoolboy swing. How did you ever rate Primary Swordsman pins, let alone Secondary step 3?"

The Dragonling came straight at Kandric with a hard thrust and a snarl, only this time Kandric grabbed his arm and pulled it hard past him, sending the much larger Dragonling stumbling forward. He then delivered a devastatingly hard shot to the lower back just left of the backbone. So hard was the impact everyone within earshot heard a pair of scales snap.

The Dragonling screamed and spun with a wild swing of the blade even as its left hand went to the point of impact to cover the wound.

It took almost no effort for Kandric to duck under the swing, but the moment the blade passed over his head, his left hand lanced out into the exposed underarm of the Dragonling's weapon arm. Only this time, not only did Dragon scales break, Kandric's hand continued in, grabbed unprotected flesh and twisted as hard as he could. He then yanked back, ripping a hole in the hide. Blood poured down the Dragonling's side.

As this happened, the blade flew out of its hand, forcing a Griffin to dive into the snow. Even then it clipped a couple of feathers off the top of its head. Its squawks of indignation, were lost on all but those closest to it, since the blood curdling scream of the Dragonling pretty much drowned out all else.

The Dragonling desperately tried to lash out with extended claws but by the time it let go of its back and slashed, Kandric was already behind it again.

Kandric grinned as he saw the exposed spot on the back. He launched his fist at the same location.

This time the Dragonling went down to holding its lower back with its left hand, while trying to shake out numbness and agonizing pain from its right arm. The problem was, it hurt far too bad to do anything other than pull it as tight to its side as it could. It also hoped this would help with the blood, but drips rolling down its leather armor started falling into the snow. At the same time, it looked around desperately trying to figure out where Kandric was at. It jerked its head to the left, then to the right, only to see Kandric's hand descending down at its face.

Kandric's hand smashed into the right side of the beast's skull even as it turned to the right. The impact not only knocked the Dragonling fully down, it snapped off one of its horns. Kandric shook his hand, "Hard headed in more ways than one." Seeing the wooziness of his adversary, Kandric moved over and picked up the section of horn, "Hey, Zell, does your Mystic teachings tell you where the breath weapon of a White Dragonling originates from?"

"Small pulsating pouch under scales on the right side of the neck on a live one, a hard bubble on a dead one. Why?"

"Because, I do not want him trying to breathe on me, or anyone else, ever again." He moved up with the horn in his right hand. He smashed his fist down onto the struggling to stand foe, knocking it down into the deep snow and all but rendering it unconscious. Then, before it had any chance to recover, Kandric located the pulsing spot, yanked up the scales and plunged the creature's own horn in. Ice cold air rushed out, causing Kandric to yank his hand back, shake it and blow on it before he stuck it under his arm and backed off.

Glaster simply couldn't take seeing Kandric in so much pain. He moved over and cast a spell on the hand. "Next time wait and borrow the princess' mittens!"

This got several snickers out of those watching even as the Dragonling rolled over, puked and pulled out its horn and held it up, "My breath… my breath… You… you lied…"

"I did not pull a weapon off my belt and I did not cast a spell. None of those surrounding you have done anything to you, either, so I have told no falsehoods. Believe me, since my Master is here, lying is something I would end up regretting for a long time. Even if he was not here, I do my best not to lie, but with him here… Let me state a clear unequivocal fact: What I am doing to you is nothing more than the warm-up for what would happen to me should I lie in his presence. Now get up and fight or tell me where your camp is!"

"You will have to kill me!"

"No," Kandric warned as he moved closer, "but you will wish you were long before I finish. Also, like it or not, think so or not, you will tell us where my student and grandfather are at, one way or the other."

"I will not!"

Kandric delivered a roundhouse kick, knocking the Dragonling back into the snow. Around the top of the snout, blood turned the snow red but interestingly enough did not melt it. Kandric took a step back as an evil glint and smirk crossed his face, "For the record, now you can complain about having a broken nose."

Several cringed as the Dragonling pulled itself up and touched its muzzle only to feel its hand push into mush. "Nooooo!" It lunged at Kandric with its clawed left hand.

Kandric easily sidestepped the lunge. He kicked the beast as it went past, nailing the open spot on the back. He then reached down, grabbed the extended left arm, stepped on the elbow and yanked up with everything he could muster. Predictably, the joint snapped.

Kandric let the creature cry, hiss, and sputter as he went up to the small woodpile off to the side of the campsite. He took over a minute as he looked over the largest chunks of wood, finally finding one he was happy with. Without any sign of remorse, he walked up and stomped down on the damaged area on the back yet again. Seeing his opponent spasm, an evil smirk crossed his lips. He knelt down, drove his fist into the already busted nose, dislodging a few teeth with the viciousness of the punch and finally checked to make sure the creature was indeed still breathing. Upon seeing the chest moving up and down, he nodded in satisfaction. He turned the broken arm over, verified the claws were still extended and slammed the wood down over them. This embedded the claws into the wood. He then reached over and smacked the Dragonling's face, "Come on lizard boy, wake up. I am not done playing with you yet."

It took several minutes for the eyes to flutter open. Kandric simply smiled, "Now I need you awake, so I am going to sit on your back until you become coherent enough to answer questions."

Once the Dragonling started struggling, Kandric jumped off and kicked it in the back, putting it fully down yet again. He then stood right over the Dragonling as he spoke, "This is really going to hurt, so instead of screaming and passing out on me again, how about you just tell me where the camp is?"

"No!"

"Do not say I failed to warn you." Kandric stated with a shake of his head even as he kicked at the chunk of wood with the claws buried in it.

Blood quickly oozed from around where the claws went into the hand, while the broken joint twisted more. The Dragonling let out a horrified scream.

Seeing it start to thrash and get to a knee, Kandric dropped his elbow into the back, totally breaking off another scale next to the two broken ones. This time the Dragonling went face down and didn't move.

"Oh, no passing out on me again!" Kandric muttered with anger. He knelt and started twisting and the wood back and forth. It took only moment for the pain to bring it back to consciousness. "Oh, there you are. Now get your breath back and look up, so I know you can answer… Good little lizard… Say, one last chance here. Tell me where the camp is or I twist this wood till all your claws rip out, then I move to your other arm." For emphasis, he gave the wood a hard twist.

The howling, hissing scream caused many looking at this to cringe. Kandric simply ignored them as he spoke up. "The next time I will pull all the claws right out of your paw, or hand… Just so you understand, I know wood, and the chunk I selected has very good grain. It will not splinter as I twist. All your claws will rip out from well under your fingers and chances are good a few fingers will break and may be damaged too badly to ever heal as this happens. Now where is the camp?"

"To the southeast! To the southeast! Oh, for the love of Jolan, to the southeast between two round hills, both with rocky points on top! But with Prince Weraweld dead, I don't know if they will be there much longer!"

Kandric brought his fist up, letting the Dragonling see it, "If there is no sign of the camp when we get there, I will drop hot coals into the hole I made into your breath sack, rip out all your claws, break your others arm and ask San'i-sar here to eat you very, very slowly, like over the course of weeks."

"It's there… It's there…"

"It better be. Now this is for messing with my beddable servant!" Kandric brought his fist down, snapping off the other horn and knocking the Dragonling totally out again.

Kandric kicked it again in its damaged back to make sure it was indeed out. When it didn't move, he nodded in satisfaction, then looked up to San'i-sar, "He says he was the son of Prince Weraweld. Not sure how this is possible, but if he is, he may have information your empire can use."

"All Dragons, when they mate, make mostly Dragonlings, Premier Kandric," Vondum stated while smiling in satisfaction over the way Kandric had handled the interrogation. "The birth of a Great, even when two Greats mate, is a special occasion and the birth of a Great Female is a truly historic day and brings about moons of celebration. We will take him back to the camp and hold him as a valuable prisoner… It would help if we could render some aide, however. I suspect the damage you did to him borders on fatal."

"Whatever the Silver Dragons want is fine with me. I give him over to them. If he lied about the camp, though, I will heal him and start all over again."

Vondum stood laughing and moved up to San'i-sar. "Suicide would be a much better option. I will ready the army, Premier!"

Kandric nodded. "Let me fly back with you as long as San'i-sar can take two."

"I can take three, even in this storm, Premier."

Vondum looked over, "Premier, as your general I would recommend you go to the frozen lake where we found you with those here. It is much closer to the position given you as to the location of the base and a much easier march for your forces, especially in this storm. If the lake is as solid as it appeared, we can use the entire clearing, including the lake, to prepare lines of march and situate our flanks.”

Kandric looked over at Glaster, only to see the man nod in agreement. "Hard for me to say no when both you, General, and my Master think it best."

Mathard watched Vondum take back to the sky, lowered his head, and grumbled, "Walk all the way up here, miss a good fight, now have to walk all the way back! What a let-down!"

Kandric shot the duke a huge smile, "My Duke, it will give you time to go see Prince Weraweld!"

Princess Syrissia moved up and looked down at the Dragonling, then over to Kandric with a stunned expression, "Premier… You did this with your hands?"

A wicked little grin crossed Kandric's features as he gave a very graceful bow, "A few kicks too, Princess. Oh, and its horn."

She knelt, "But there are scales snapped and missing… and blood, so much blood…"

"He talked sooner than I hoped, Princess. Otherwise, there would be more. Now, with your consent, I need to go check on Lacate. If he is in any way permanently damaged I will twist the wood off the hand in such a way all its claws will be ripped out!"

She said nothing. Instead she gave a dismissing hand motion while looking back at Mathard, "My Duke, how is this possible?"

"While I believe he now hits harder, I do clearly remember telling you he dented Blue Steel with a bare foot, Princess."

"But… I was briefed in full about all we know. He is a Ruinseeker and Outdoorsman… This this is of a very high skilled Sect Warrior… Very high…"

"Many of the Mythlets we now worship had three subfields and most had a second, albeit slightly less powerful, second Field. Unless I am totally mistaken the bloodlines have combined to make our Premier a Mythlet."

"How can this be his father was…"

"Very low, yes, probably not a drop of Mythling blood within his entire bloodline."

"This would make Princess Kaylaria…"

"A true Half Mythling, yes… And she has had many offspring, all from very low born, and even Mundane Elves… which would also explain how come she is such an amazing breeder. She is Alphar and Half Mythling."

"Then the other children… the princes and princess… they could be… Mythlets!"

"Indeed. Yet another reason to put so much care into our next few hours with our Premier. We really could be on the edge of a new Mythling war with several Mythlets running around, and if Frexla does not understand who or what she has…"

"Then this could bring them all back into our realm to try to claim others for gods or demons!"

"Or eliminate them so they cannot rival them, yes."

"This keeps getting worse."

Mathard pointed down at the Dragonling, "Now, if I might be slightly undiplomatic, here Princess, take another careful look at what is at your feet. Our premier did this with his bare hands because this creature did harm to a servant, one he does not even appear to like very much. With this in mind, look over to your left at the Halforc child. There is a true friend of our Premier…"

Princess Syrissia swallowed hard, "Yes… I get your unspoken implications… So maybe, just maybe, my palace could allow a Halforc to visit…"

"At the very least, Princess, it would be in everyone within your palace walls better interests to not refuse him should he show up."

Princess Syrissia let out a long nervous breath, "Along with the furnishings and possibly the walls… Yes, my Duke, I will endeavor to force aside my distaste and misgivings and at the very least get to know the Orc-blooded child… My Duke, do you know if he was a child of rape?"

"From my discussions with him, no. He has at least six brothers and sisters, but only he and an uncle came into Slome. I know nothing of where his uncle went, or what happened to his family, but it seems his uncle saw him as a gifted fledgling Swordsman and found out the Slome School would take in those of questionable blood. He did hint, however, of his mother's rougher side. It seems his mother was intrigued by… length and girth of the Orc…. weapon…"

Princess Syrissia shuddered, "Disgusting!"

"Possibly for us, Princess, but any Human female who could deal with such intrusions and continue to provide such offspring tells me she must be or have been a woman with tremendous stamina."

Hearing a note of intrigue within the duke's voice, Princess Syrissia looked over with a frown, "Pardon the non-credulity within, my Duke, but she must also have a vagina loose enough to accept a Dragonsteed!"

Duke Mathard had to cover his mouth, but even then, a loud laughter boomed out of him getting looks from many.

This ended quickly as Kandric came out of the shelter with the Pantherling holding up a woozy Lacate. Kandric eyed the Dragonling then looked over at Duke Mathard, "No permanent harm was done, let the Silver Dragons take this one and do whatever they want."

Kandric then turned to Glaster, "Master, it has been so long… would you like to talk as we walk back to the lake? I bet those with you would like to see Prince Weraweld."

"A fine idea, as long as it is acceptable with the good princess and duke?"

Princess Syrissia motioned with her hand, "Feel free Master, we shall follow at a respectable distance. For the situation prevented either of us from seeing more than a glow from within the lake. I would appreciate an opportunity to take in such a fantastic sight."

Half an hour later, with Glaster's arms wrapped around him, Kandric eyed the mound of ice in the middle of the lake, marking where the snout of the Dragon had been above the surface backlit by the magical gilded blades of the horns under the ice, "Um, my Duke, would it be over my authority to ask if some of my forces chip him out so I can have sets of White armor for me and those with me, too?"