#tarnien

[twotravels]

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR – Washucktah Returns

The battle rages on.

I fight off one foe after another, but now they know where their treasure is, all their efforts are directed at me. It can't be long before we are finally overwhelmed. I can just hope that the others have enough sense to escape while they can.

I can see the shape of Lily and Krystal trying to cut a way through, but I'm positioned a small distance into the tunnel, where I face only one opponent at a time. The press outside the tunnel is thick enough to prevent anyone – even Lily or Dhilith – cutting their way through to aid me. Even if they did, the tunnel is so narrow that only two may fight at once.

I am truly on my own.

My peripheral vision begins to fade slowly from fatigue. My hearing dulls down, the cacophony of the battle mingling with the pounding of blood in my head.

I am tiring.

I hear, oh so faintly, Washucktah cry out. And then nothing.

A sudden wash of relief mingled with sadness, and I start to push forward again, only to find myself consistently pushed back to where I was. I try over and over amid the fight, but each time I am forced back as soon as I nearly exit the tunnel as the Guild presses me on all sides.

There is no way forward.

There is no way back.

There are too many to fight.

I am trapped.

Seemingly hours pass, and my mind starts to blur. My blades, light as they are, feel sluggish and slow.

I can hear various different snippets of words without the fight, as if snatching them out the air to listen too.

“Outta the way, I'll kill 'im! Show you how it's done!”

“Hey, where is he? Lemme at 'im!”

“Dhilith! We have to do something!”

“Ignore the elf, get the blue thing!”

“Get it out of the way, it's only clogging the tunnel! Dead men can't fight!”

“Aye, but we cannot reach him!”

Suddenly, a current of air wafts gently from behind me. At that exact moment, I stumble for the first time. My opponent, more by luck than skill, hooks something around my feet, and I fall onto my back.

My opponent stomps his foot onto my chest, and the pain from my rib almost causes me to cry out. He twirls his weapon – a heavy, spiked chain – above his head.

“Now I've got you, you sitzcring-!” he begins to say.

A sudden blast of water coming from nowhere hits him square in the chest, propelling him out of the tunnel, into his friends and a good twenty feet past them. Everyone outside the tunnel backed up, forming a ring around the entrance.

Still lying on my back, too tired to get up, I see someone step over me, walking slowly towards the tunnel's exit. I raise my head eventually to see who had saved me.

It's Washucktah.

I get to my feet slowly. Washucktah?! Surely I heard him cry out, I heard him take the Cythras Mogh Pystri? Surely the effect of it would destroy him?

Maybe... it already has.

I lean against the tunnel wall, watching him walk calmly to face thirty or so hardened fighters. There's no stumbling, no uncertainty, no hesitation... it's like Washucktah's body is under someone... or something else's control.

One of the Guild members charges Washucktah, saying “Take this, you cryx!”

Washucktah raises his hand towards the man and instantly a solid rock wall springs up out of the ground between him and his assailant. The man crashes into it head first, and fell to the ground unconscious.

The other men slowly back off, frightened by this turn of events. The thing controlling Washucktah looks around at them, and walks straight forwards into the fight... and attacks.

I manage to escape the tunnel, although now some of the less brave of the Guild are running down the tunnel to escape. The Washucktah-thing targets people randomly, and its attacks are seemingly random as well.

I watch from the side as the Washucktah-thing blasts people out of its way, first drenching them in water, then wrapping them in solid rock like a spider's web, then sending fireballs to distract and scare them away. If anyone gets close they are blasted away by water or air.

I notice, however it injures them... it never gives a lethal blow. Somehow it is completely incapable of actually killing.

It seems impossible, but maybe there is a bit of Washucktah left yet.

Back in the fight, I am forced to stay on the outer edges – I am too tired to risk delving into the centre of the meleé again, especially if the Washucktah-thing were to turn its attention to me.

Krystal and Lily soon spot me, and she calls out “Tarnien! Are you hurt?”

“Nothing I cannot recover from!” I call back.

“Same here!” She calls, almost cheerily as Lily bucks and another Guild member gets dispatched.

“What...” She pauses, and a note of both concern and panic enters her voice. “What is Chuck DOING?”

“It is not Washucktah!” I call. “It is... it is something else!”

“What?” Krystal yells

“It is not Washucktah!”

“Rah!” I hear, distinctive amid the noise and from a different direction. Both me and Krystal look over to see Dhilith, almost casually cutting through the Guild – in the Washucktah-thing's direction.

“Dhilith!” Krystal and I both yell. “Don't go that way!”

“What?” Dhilith roars, laughing, and he plunges through the crowd. “The foes are falling, and I... Washucktah?!”

My heart goes suddenly cold.

Lily turns and begins to force a path to Dhilith, but before she can...

BOOM!

An explosion rocks the cave, as a fireball erupts from where the Washucktah-thing is. People are flung in all directions, and a plume of smoke fills the whole room. Krystal screams, and is knocked off Lily as the scorching heat washes over us both.

“We have to find Dhilith!” I hear Krystal call. I can't see her anymore, the smoke is too thick.

“Vhat in deh vurld?!” I hear Blue yell, from some distance and in a direction I can't perceive.

“Blue! Find Dhilith and get out of...”

“ENOUGH!” I hear Dhilith bellow, from just ahead of me.

Silently, I creep closer to Dhilith's voice. The Guild still don't pose much of a problem – while I'm moving, the smoke obscures me long enough to get past past without them anticipating a strike at me.

Soon I can make out two figures in the smoke. The closer one is obviously Dhilith, and the further one looks like Washucktah.

“Washucktah, you are mad! The Ultimate Treasure is inside your head! What are you thinking?!”

The Washucktah thing answers by hurling a bolt of fire at Dhilith. He raises his axe and the bolt slams into the flat and dissipated, leaving an ugly black stain.

“Chuck!” Dhilith shouts. “Wake up! You are not yourself!” He moves towards it slowly, axe raised as a shield.

The Washucktah thing gestures, and the rock at Dhilith's feet rises up and encases his legs, trapping him solidly to the ground.

“For Dverguð sake, Washucktah!!”

A large rock slams into him, head on, at speed. The stone at his feet shatters and he is hurled into the opposite wall, caught between the boulder and the wall. The boulder shatters into dust, and Dhilith slumps onto the floor.

“Dhilith!” I cry.

“DHILITH, NO!” I hear Krystal scream.

A shadowy figure runs to Dhilith's side. A smaller one follows closely.

It is Laoch and Kendra!

“We'll get him out of here!” Laoch calls, and he and Kendra take him by the shoulders. Amazingly, Dhilith staggers upright and half-stumbles, half-drags his way with them as Laoch and Kendra cut a path for them.

I nod, then turn back.

Krystal runs up to me “Lily's gone with those three to carry them to safety!”

“Okay.”

“Tarnien,” she pulls my shoulder around to face her, and drags us to a safer point in the battle. No-one is fighting us here, and we can rest a bit.

“Tarnien,” She says again. “I need you to do something.”

“What is it?”

“Take these -” She shoves another quiver full of arrows into my hands. “And make sure no-one gets near Washucktah.”

“Okay...” I say, my brain thinking fast. “What are you intending?”

“To talk to him.”

“Krystal, are you...”

“No, I'm not mad! Someone needs to talk to him and I feel that I have to try!”

“But...”

“No, Tarnien... I have to.” She says, quietly.

I look into her eyes. She looks directly back into mine.

“...all right. But if he threatens or attacks you...”

“You will do nothing.”

I pause for a long time.

“Do this for me, Tarnien? For Washucktah?” Krystal asks. “We may be able to save him yet.”

“If there is any of him left to save...”

“Which we don't know there isn't!”

“...Very well. But promise me you will escape if it fails.”

“I... but...” Krystal sighs, struggling with herself as the madness and chaos of the Washucktah-thing's destruction consumes all around us, taking out members of the Guild that had not already escaped, as well as pieces of the environment. After only a moment, she looks at me, more determined than she has ever been, and said simply, “Okay.”

We look at each other, and there's a pause.

I nod, and put a hand on her shoulder. “May the Faethras guide you.”

She smiles faintly and nods, before turning on her heel and running back out.

I jump across and climb up the nearest high vantage I can find – ironically, it's the same pile of barrels of the axe thrower I had so recently cut down. I can see the circle of people around the Washucktah-thing, trying to avoid its scrutiny.

Krystal has no trouble fighting her way closer through, the Guild is all but defeated now, there's barely any fight left in them.

Krystal breaks through the circle. Only one person attempts to follow her, through either bravery or foolishness. Either way, my arrow soon finds them, and they fall.

“Chuck, stop!” I hear Krystal shout.

The Washucktah thing turns to look at her.

“Chuck, you have to stop this!”

A fireball flies at Krystal. She snaps a quick incantation and deflects it off the palm of her hand.

“Oh no you don't, Chuck!” She fires a small yellow bolt of energy at the Washucktah thing. It flies away without it so much as flinching.

“Chuck, look at yourself! Look at the destruction you're causing!”

Again, a bolt is thrown at her, this time of molten rock. Another quick incantation sees it fly apart like hitting an invisible barrier. Beads of solidified rock roll on the floor between them.

“Chuck... I don't want to hurt you, but I will if it makes you see sense! I...”

She is cut off mid sentence as a flash of metal jumped the gap between them, almost faster than you could blink.

Krystal, a line of blood red scratched on her cheek, glares angrily across the gap. Even from this distance, I can see her eyes flash with inner fire. “What was that?! You could have killed me, Chuck! How... Oh, I see. You can't kill anyone, can you?”

She strides forward, arms wide. “Go on, then! Kill me... If you can, that is!”

What the hezna is she doing?! I think. Notching another arrow and aiming for the head, I watch intently.

The Washucktah thing seems to be in turmoil. It raises its hands, as if to attack... but doesn't. Something is holding it back.

“Go on! Kill me! Strike me down for my impudence!” Krystal taunts. I can hear the confidence in her voice.

“Chuck!” Another voice calls out. It's Kendra. “Don't do it! Don't you dare kill Krystal! Don’t even think of it!”

She runs up behind him, shouting at him from a few feet away. The Washucktah thing remains focused of Krystal's advance, despite the fact Kendra is dangerously close.

“Chuck, you can't do this! She's your friend! Friends don't kill each other!”

No reaction.

“Go on, Chuck! Are you too much of a cryx to use your magic again?”

“Don't listen to her, Chuck!” Kendra nearly screams into his ear.

Washucktah stands, torn between them. Krystal stands still ten yards away, arms wide.

“Chuck, please!” Kendra suddenly becomes quieter, more pleading. “I don't know if you can hear me, but I can guess what you're going through!”

I jump down from the barrels and move closer, still listening to Kendra and keeping my arrow aimed.

“All that power- it's incredible, right? All your anger suddenly has an outlet! Anger at the Guild, at Krystal, at Tarnien, at me! And that thing in your hand, in your head, it’s telling you to let your anger out. It's addicting, so addicting you don't know what you're doing until it's too late! So addicting you don't even think it's happening, BUT IT IS! You are here, Chuck! And you need to realize that all of this will have consequences! All this destruction's gonna bring the city down on top of us! You won't just kill us, but all of Zhyndios if you don't stop somehow! All of our choices have consequences, Chuck! Just look at me! I joined the Thieves Guild. Now we're all in this mess! In a way, this is all my fault...”

“Whatever you are inside Chuck's mind...” Krystal says, with force. “He won't let you kill anyone. Give it up, now. Let him go!”

Kendra keeps talking. “I realize now that all you were trying to teach me was to be aware, to take responsibilities of my actions, to be able to understand others! Well, now I need you to realize the same thing!! Please, Washucktah!!! Don't do this!!!! PLEASE!!!!!”

Suddenly, the Washucktah thing crumples into a ball, and fell to the ground. Krystal sprints up as Kendra falls to her knees by his side.

Four glowing orbs, coloured red, white, blue and brown roll out from under his robes, and then they simply vanish.

I take a quick opportunity to glance around. The battle is all but won for us – the Cythrii are gone, although where to I doubt anyone will ever know, and the Guild is in disarray with the dead and wounded lying around in heaps. Across from me, I spot a familiar black trench coat.

“Blue!” I cry out.

“Yah?” the response comes.

“Get to Krystal and Washucktah, and get us back to the glade outside the city, I think they will be there!”

“Right you are, Tarr! What are you gonna do?”

“I will come with you!”

“Okay... Race ya!”

I run as fast as I can through the crowd. There is no challenge at all in passing through, and we reach them in a few moments.

Krystal was near crying from stress, kneeling by Washucktah's changeling form which she had rolled onto his back. “He won't wake up!”

Kendra was just sitting back, staring blankly. “His eyes... they were jet black!”

“Krystal, Kendra, we have to go! We're all getting out of here!” I say, taking Krystal by one arm and Kendra by the other. She calms down visibly and nods, and Kendra seems to stir as well.

“Let's go!” Blue calls.

A second later, we are in the clearing outside of the city.

“Guys!” Blue yells, and he runs over to us. Kendra looks down at Washucktah. “Oh my cryx, will he be okay?” she asks no-one in particular.

“He... I do not know.” I say. I glance up at Laoch sitting across from us, and walk over to him. “How is Dhilith?”

“It takes more than mere pumice,” comes a slurred but still recognizable voice nearby “to quash a dwarf!”

Blue, concern on his face, kneels down beside Washucktah. He places a hand on his chest. “Vell, he's still breat'ing...”

Kendra and Krystal stand up next to him, worry and concern in their faces. Silently, they put their arms around each other, fearing the worst.

Suddenly, Washucktah's eyes flick open, he breathes in deeply, and yells loudly;

“HOLY SITZCRINGLE!”

[twotravels]

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

I'm crying.

As I run through the twists and turns of the small passageway, tears flow from my eyes. I walk fast as I feel the rock of the cave, knowing only it, for the entire area was pitch-black.

Suddenly, the horrible noise behind me stops. Am I just too far away from them now? Or have Tarnien and the others lost? If so, how long do I have before they come after me?

Well, they won't get a chance to get me. I feel around the area a bit longer and stumble and nearly fall as I come into an open area.

Deciding this to be a much better place to do this then the hall way, I sit down in the silence and the darkness of the cave. The ground I'm on is hard and pointy. It’s very uncomfortable, but I sit anyway. I take out the treasures and lay them side by side. I find that they're glowing faintly. Have they always done that? Or did they just start?

“...Now what?” I say out loud. I decide to make a square out of them.

The Water Treasure is in the upper left hand corner. The Earth Treasure in the upper right hand corner. The Fire Treasure sits below the Water Treasure, and the Air Treasure sits beside the Fire Treasure.

“....Okay, I really don't know what to do.” I pause. I grow nervous. Was I really supposed to make the Ultimate Treasure? Was this a good idea? Could I even figure out how?

I decide to connect them. If anything can start this, it'll be connecting them. I push them into the same square, really close. They're now touching each other.

When suddenly – AH! My insides are on fire!

“ER!!!” I flinch immediately. I breathe in deep, filling my lungs with what seems to be gallons and gallons of air. As I exhale, the fire goes away, calmed by a cool liquid feel. But almost as soon as that pain subsides, I'm crushed, like boulders falling on me and keeping me down!

I struggle and fight but that only makes it worse. After what seemed like hours of resisting, there is nothing I can do but give up. I've been overcome by the elements. I have no idea how it happened. Maybe this wasn't even what was really happening. Maybe I've gone insane, forever unaware of the terrible things I do....

As I calm down, the suppression subsides, and I open my eyes.

I don't know where I am. Whoa! What's this? Suddenly, my thoughts feel floaty! Half-there! And the same thing for my body! Part of me still feels clamped down under the rocks and another part feels as free as a bird, with a gigantic range of movement. It’s very uncomfortable, but still very very very satisfying...

I'm looking around. Again, part of me sees the black of the rocks I'm under, and another sees a murky green. No, no, it’s bright green...Now it’s like a clear blue. Either way, the area I'm in feels pure, with no distinct colour, and apparently no distinct landscape. I'm not standing on anything at all! Just...floating....

Wait, I see something....It’s a face! Coming closer!

Blasphemer! Why did you not smite the evil?!

No! No! Master Petras, please!

You were taught to exterminate all evil. That means kill them! Do you realize what this means? You are not a monk, not a priest. The almighty Danwe has shunned you.

Please. Please. I don't want to be shunned. I just don't want to kill...

The only follower of Danwe's is too much of a sitzcringle to use magic.

Krystal! No, you don't understand! Don't listen to Petras! I can use magic, I can! Just never to harm people. Never to harm!

You're a good person, even though I don't want to admit it. But here's the thing. I can't follow you. Whatever it is you think you're going to do, I can't do it. I'm not there.

Kendra....I'm not asking anyone to follow me, or my beliefs, especially you. You've gone through so much, it’s okay.

Dat girl's too young to have so much trouble.

You're right, Blue. But she didn't have to follow me! No one ever had to...And I've let you all down....If only I never picked up the Earth Treasure...

Let go of the Cythras Norvys, Changeling, and do not even think of destroying it. It was made by elves, hidden by elves, and belongs to the elves. Give it to me.

Tarnien? Give it to you? I don't know...

It matters not what you have to say in the matter! You have touched the Cythras Norvyas, and you speak of destroying it!

But we have to destroy it! We have to, it’s what we came here to do! We have to stop it! We have to stop the evil! I came here to save the souls of everyone!

So you wish to save them?

Yes.

Come now. It would be much easier to submit. To kill them. Everyone.

It would be easier.

But I can't.

Why not?

Because I can never make that choice. Not ever.

Why not?

Because there will always be somebody. If I kill one person, a mother will lose a son. A daughter would lose a father. Friends would lose life-long companions.

Though they may deserve death more than anything else, the love they establish will always be greater than the sum of its parts.

I can never harm the world the way the world has harmed me.

Why not?

NO!!!

It’s quiet again. I can't hear anything. What's happening? Am I doomed to float here in an endless abyss forever?!

Who am I, to decide your destiny? That is for the gods and you to decide.

M....Mother?! Mother is that you? Mother? Nothing...If I could cry I would.

And that just makes the pain so much harder, doesn't it Washucktah?

Huh? Who are you?! I already told you, I'm not going to kill anyone.

And that is exactly why I'm here. Your resolve, your promise makes me so proud of you, Washucktah.

Wait...who are you? Are you my....my mother?

I am neither your mother, nor anyone you have met upon your travels. However, I have been watching you and all the other souls of the world for an eternity.

! Danwe?

You say that I am.

Whoa...How am I possibly worthy of listening to your presence?

You are not. The Cythras and I are connected. And when brought together, mankind must first go through their demonized self. If they are able to do so, it is I who stop them.

Stop...them?

Yes. For you are not a part of your body. Your body, a mindless shell of yourself is using the Ultimate Power the way any other being but myself uses it. For destruction.

NO! No, that's not what I wanted, I wanted to destroy the Ultimate Treasure!

Alas, no one has the power to do so. The Cythras Mogh Pystri corrupts any living soul. The Faethras were not supposed to be used by lesser creatures.

Then by all means, strike me down! Destroy me! I intended to die doing this, if only to keep it away from more evil hands! Please. Don't let me hurt anyone.

And that is what interests me, Washucktah. Though you are causing destruction, and have seriously injured one of your friends, none of your blows have killed or will kill anyone. Your resolve is so strong, it is the only thing left in your body. That promise. However, the means for acquiring this treasure interests me as well. You only sought out the treasures to keep them from other, more malicious beings. And you only used the Treasure with the intent of not using it. Well, it seems to me that an exception is in order. You do not deserve death. And now that there is someone wise enough to realize it, I will spread the Four Treasures once again across the universe, never to be found again. At least, as long as no one goes looking for them.

But why do that, if you'll forgive me asking? Why not destroy them, or at least make them impossible to be found?

Because, Washucktah, what you and the elves and the rest of the world do not realize is that these Treasures need to be in the world. And to destroy them would be to destroy a part of myself, and I could never do that.

…

I can see you have a lot to think over. Besides, your time with me draws to a close. I will see you again, Washucktah, in eternity.

But, please....

Oh, and another thing: You're right.

I wake up.

[twotravels]

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

I wonder how I'll do? With my bad foot, will I be struck down before I can do anything? A lot of this is actually hinged on me. What was Tarnien thinking? I want to save Kendra more than anything, but Laoch might be more qualified for that. I want to stop the Ultimate Treasure from destroying the Earth, duh. But who's to say I'm the most worthy of taking that responsibility? Oh, that's right. Tarnien said I'm the most fit to die.

What does one think about before he dies? Does he plan a last will and testament? Does he regret anything? Does he ponder his role in the universe? 'Cause my brain is numb. I have no idea what to think.

Kendra. I have to save Kendra.

“Laoch,” I whisper in the almost-dark. Laoch moves a little closer to me.

“What is it, Chuck?” He says amiably, but wary as well.

“Why did you abandon Marion and Kendra ten years ago?” I cared for Kendra, but I wanted to hear Laoch’s side of the story.

Laoch was silent. After a few more moments, he responded, “I did not mean to be gone so long. I'm sure you know of the tragedy the Guild caused?” He said, with a mix of guilt and anger. “I would not let them walk the Earth after them killing my son. I would not. I despise every day they take me away from my family, but I will have my son avenged.”

“But, Laoch,” I start, remembering Kendra's words. Everyone else is silent as Laoch and I have our discussion. “Your son is dead. But your wife and daughter are both alive! They need you. You have no idea what has happened to your family because of your absence...” I say, with just a little bit of frustration.

Laoch remains silent. I can hear the tears he doesn't shed. Eventually, he mutters, only barely audible: “Then it’s time I fixed my mistakes.”

In only a few more moments, we see a crack of light. It’s a door. I'm able to hear the noise behind it. It doesn't sound like a party as much as a very rowdy meeting, but either way, there were a lot of people behind the door. Tarnien and Krystal sneak forward to examine it, and then shortly return.

“This is it, this is the entrance to their main hall. There seem to be a great deal of them - dozens at least, maybe a hundred...” Tarnien whispers.

“The door's locked, but Lily might be able to kick it in,” Krystal whispers as Lily huffs ever so slightly. We could all tell she did not want to be underground, but we also knew that she would rather be down here than left out of the adventure.

“Vhat are ve going ta do after dat?” Blue asked.

“We could do what we originally planned. Have Krystal ride Lily in there and distract them.”

“That sounds good, Chuck. However, they'd know it was a distraction. Some of the Guild’s members are rather stupid, however, some of them are not.” I nod, remembering Tarragon.

“Then how about a charge?” Dhilith suggested the same thing every time, and I was about to tell him off, but-

“That might work,” Tarnien whispered. “If you and Lily charge in, with Krystal casting spells atop her, then the rest of us will be able to follow suit.”

Laoch nods. “That sounds good. Let us move!” He pumps his fist into the air, signaling the planning to be over. We all stand up.

I walk over to Dhilith, slowly, while he and Krystal get ready. “Are you sure you're going to be all right, Dhilith?”

He nods at me, grimly. “This is going to be the toughest trial I am ever likely to undertake. However, I have little doubt I won't survive. I intend to live to fight another day, for there is much more to achieve,” He smiles at the end of that statement. I smile back, weakly. I offer my hand, and he takes it. We do not shake, we just stand there. Still, it was nice to know the brute cared a little.

“I'm going to have to take that bag now,” I say as Dhilith looks at me, appalled. “You'll get your treasure back, don't worry. I just need the elemental ones.”

“That is exactly why I am so surprised. You need only to secure the Air Treasure, correct?” Dhilith asks. I am able to hear the worry in his voice, which is something.

“No, I have to...I have to have them.”

“Washucktah, have you gone mad?! The Ultimate Treasure is surely too powerful for any of us! What makes you think tha-”

“Tarnien told me to. It’s not my idea...” I trail off. It’s not my idea, but it’s the only idea. This is the only way to win.

Dhilith stares at me long and hard. “...Very well. I will trust my old employer,” He hands me his Treasure bag, the one we took from the goblins, stands up, and states, “But you are my current employer. And I do not choose my employers lightly. I expect you to seize the day, Washucktah. If you don't, the money I will have rightly won will be nothing more than stealing,” He nods at me grimly once again, and goes to the door. “Krystal, I am ready.”

Krystal has gotten on Lily at this time and has prepared a few spells. She walks over to me as they go towards the door. I pet Lily again. “Thank you, Lily. You be brave, and take care of Krystal for me. I won't be around to do so much longer...” I whisper, hugging her head, so only she can hear. Before looking at her, I feel a single tear roll onto my hand, and when I do look at her, she’s shaking her head.

“I have to, Lily,” I say again.

“You have to what?” Krystal asks, slightly apprehensively.

“Nothing. Lily just doesn't want to be down here, and I'm saying I have to be down here too,” I answer quickly, then change the subject. “Stay safe, Krystal. I'd hate it if you got hurt,” I joke, fighting the tears welling up in my eyes and getting caught in my throat, like tiny little people begging me to reconsider what it is I'm doing.

Krystal smiles back, softly. “I will, only if you promise not to get hurt either,” Without even looking at him, I can feel Tarnien's stare. So I didn't say anything. Instead, I took her hand, holding it gently, and kissed it. It was all I could think to do. I walked away.

Krystal, now silent, turned back to Lily's front and beckoned her to go on. Tarnien, Blue, Laoch and I stood from behind while Dhilith and Krystal took battle poses.

“We have delayed for too long,” Tarnien says, notching an arrow, and pulling the string back ready. “The Guild falls tonight. NOW!” He shouts, and at this, Lily kicks down the door and they run in. I can't see too much from a few feet away from the door, but I can tell they were in a big room, at least a hundred of them in there, and all in a panic.

“Chuck,” Blue whispers, almost in fear. “Dis one's gonna be tough!” We just stare at Dhilith slashing his axe one way and another.

“Yeah, I know, Blue...” It’s here. Finally here. We should get moving.

“Vhatever happens...” Oh, no! Not another promise! “Make sure Kendra's safe.”

I sigh with relief. “Yeah. Yeah, that I can do.” For some reason, I smile. All of a sudden, Blue hugs me. And I hug him back.

“Then do it, Washucktah! The time is now!” Tarnien runs into the battlefield.

Blue breathes in deep, then disappears. Laoch runs past me.

“Come on, Chuck! We've got a world to save!” I breathe in deep as well. I run into my final destination.

It’s a madhouse. There is every kind of creature you could imagine, goblins, elves, humans...All fighting everyone else. All going after one target, Lily.

Lily can handle herself. She’s no a delicate flower, she’s a rose with five very strong thorns. Her back legs do most of the kicking, but her horn can do plenty of damage as well. And with Krystal, they make a fantastic team. Krystal keeps away farther enemies, and Lily takes care of the people who got through.

Dhilith takes care of everyone else. Only a few feet behind them, he swings his axe like crazy. He seems to be the only one who’s getting a real kick from this. You couldn't fake a battle like this in a raid or a hunt. War was something Dhilith dreamed of. I don't know how many times exactly he's had his dreams fulfilled, but I am sure this is one of his better ones.

Tarnien goes for close combat at first, but eventually Blue finds him and takes him to a place where he can do more damage, safely. I spot them reappearing on a sturdy looking statue, with a man holding a golden goblet up to the sky. Putting one foot on his right shoulder and the other on his raised left arm, Tarnien readies his bow, and fires at the army.

Blue meanwhile sticks around the statue to protect Tarnien, which is a great idea. He picks up a fallen man's dagger and gets rid of anyone who tries to get close to Tarnien.

Laoch is fighting all who were coming towards me as I look for Kendra through the crowd. He is an amazing fighter, using all types of acrobatics to kick and punch people away. After a very short while, he takes out a concealed knife, which looks very dangerous, and his fight becomes punctuated with dangerous flashes of metal. I notice that he stabs no one in the right spot to kill. Just enough to make them fall to the ground. Shortly after that, someone manages to knock away his small blade.

“Laoch!” I shout. The vast room was very loud now, but he’s able to hear me. When he turned my way, I toss my staff towards him, he takes it and nods.

While he fought with a second wind using my staff in ways I never imagined, I move closer to him and conjured up a spell.

“Stun!” A small yellow blast bursts from my hands and hits a human. He’s probably in his twenties, but I don't care. I pick him up.

“Where is the girl?!”

He spits out blood. Did I hit him that hard?! “I'll never tell!” He laughs.

Looking around, I spot Laoch's knife and I pick it up. “You tell me where she is RIGHT NOW!”

He laughs again, even louder. “You won't kill me. I can see it in your face!”

I pause while he and I sit on the ground, the way going on above us. Laoch is sure to keep everyone off me while I realize this guy was right. I’m not going to kill him. But...

“Yeah, I'm probably not going to kill you,” I brought the knife closer. “But that doesn't mean I won't remove your right eye...”

“Laoch!” I stand up again. “I know where they have her!”

Laoch punches one more thief, and shouts. “Than what are we waiting for?! I'll follow you!”

“Here, let's trade!” I give him his knife while I get my staff back.

“Brilliant staff, by the way!” He shouts, smiling.

We took off. This room was gigantic, but I could look at it in more detail. The very center of the room has a great pile of treasure, filled with gold, jewels, and other things. But at the ends of the circular room, there are doors about ten feet apart from each other. I thought at first they led to different parts of the city, and while some of them might, the door to the left of the opposite door to the entrance leads deeper underground...

I move with a little stealth as Laoch and I make a path for ourselves. We pass by Lily and Krystal who almost kick us both in the face.

“Sorry!” Krystal cries out to us.

“RAAH!” Just after that, a goblin was on us! Laoch is about to slash with his knife, when the goblin's guts go flying. I’m very close to throwing up.

“Well, don't waste the time I've given you, fools!” Dhilith shouts as he moves past us. “Fly to her!!”

Without even thanking him, I turn around and push forward. No matter how many people we strike down or kill, there seems to be an endless amount of Thieves, all trained to kill. Maybe there wasn’t a hundred. Maybe there are hundreds.

When we reach the door, I fumble with the door knob.

“Oh, come on!” I shout. Why make it locked?!

“Here!” Laoch pushes me out of the way while he takes his knife and jams it into the lock. I cover his back while he fiddles with it, but just then a very imposing elf shows up with two dual blades.

Before I could even raise my staff, an arrow appears in his neck. I look over to the statue Tarnien is perched on, and he nods at me. Was anyone going to let me help?

I watch as he calls something to Blue, and then all of a sudden, Blue’s with us!

“Now, dis is ridiculous!” Blue shouts as he takes a hold of us. “Come on, den!”

And just like that, we’re on the other side of the door.

“Now go save her!” Blue shouts, then disappears. I rub my ears. Behind this door is MUCH quieter than the other side. I start to walk when I notice Laoch isn't following me.

“Laoch? What's wrong, was it the teleport?” As I go near him, he lets go of his side, and I see his hands covered with a dark blood.

“Laoch! We have to get you out of here!”

“No! Let's go on!”

“I'm not letting you die on your family!”

“And I'm not leaving without my daughter! I will once we get her out of here safely. Once I know she's safe, we'll go home. But let me help rescue her. I know you have feelings for her, but I am her father! I must save her. Even if I die, then that is exactly what I owe her.”

I think about it. Did he think Kendra and I...? But I only think for a moment. “Fine. Let's go.”

Walking down the dark corridor, it’s amazing how much this is like when we first took the Earth Treasure. A giant room for a giant battle, a dark passageway leading to something I have to do...

But now I have Laoch with me. And now I know that Tarnien won't try to kill me. And I also know that I'm going to die...

There's a light at the end of the tunnel. “Laoch. She's just this way. I think you should stay here. You're better if you take someone by surprise. For now, I'm going to try something.”

Laoch breathes in. I can tell his side is hurting him a lot. “Okay.”

I hand him my staff, and transform into an elf.

I run into the room to meet the guard that I knew would be there.

“By Hezna, you should see the war up there! It's them, all right. They sent me down here to help keep her safe w-”

“Stow it, Idon. I know it’s you.”

It is Novus Karek.

“Novus, what are you talking about? Who's Idon?” I say, trying to feint confusion.

“I know it's you, Idon. Do you know why? Because I've never seen you before, and you act like you know me. Well I've fallen for that before, and its not going to work again!” He just stands in front of me, ten feet away. He’s poised, but not to strike, almost as if he’s daring me to make the first move.

Seeing no use in lying to him, I change back into myself. “Novus. Please.”

“Please, what? Do you want me to hand myself in? Do you want me to give you the girl? Or do you want me to give you the Air Treasure, just like before!?”

“Novus. I just want t-”

“Do you know that I begged? I begged to be the one to guard the girl!” I look around, frantically, when I finally spot her. She’s above us in a dangling cage. How original. “I wanted to guard her because I knew. I just knew you'd be the one to come and save her. I don't know why, but it works for me. Because I have something to show you..” He rips off his sleeve.

“Do you see this?!” I wince at the horrible burns on his right arm. “Are you looking at me?! I have to carry these with me for the rest of my life!” He lowers his arm. “But the thing is, I'm going to do it proudly. Because I got these scars from defending the beliefs of Tarragon Turze, the only one who understands me!”

“Novus, don't you get it?!” I shout, trying to appeal to him. “I understand you too!” He laughs so loudly, I want to cry. “I do! You were down and out. Had nowhere to go. No one understood you, or accepted you. You were a freak among freaks, and even more absurd among humans! I understand that, because that's what I am!”

I’m able to silence him, though he’s still scowling. “After my dad disappeared and my mom was murdered, I had no home! The only people who might have accepted me threw me out on the streets with the intention of killing me, just for my beliefs!

“But I persevered. I moved on. And you know what? I didn't do it by stealing! I did it by sticking to my beliefs! And then I met people. One by one, sure. But we formed a family. And they may not have completely understood me, but they supported me still!

“So you have to understand, Novus. If you can't find your true purpose in the world, or your supposed destiny has been soiled, don't give up hope! Stick to the good side of things, be positive, and you can make...your own.....destiny...” I slowed, realizing the lesson I had learned on my travels. It was quite amazing.

“That was beautiful,” Novus starts to say slowly. “But you want to know something else? I did eventually find a family that doesn't understand me. But we do all reach for the same goal. And now I'm creating my own destiny. And that destiny...Is to destroy you!” He lunges at me, and my stomach lurches as I realize that this wasn’t going to be peaceful.

I do my best to dodge him, but he’s able to land a punch in the face! I take the punch, feel the pain, but I keep dodging.

Another punch to the jaw. I go for the guy. He goes for my side. I take a few steps back, and he takes the chance to kick my knee. I fall to the ground, while he slams his heel into my shoulder!

“Bet you that one still hurts!”

It does. I cry out in pain, praying that Laoch wouldn't decided to come out. I can still take this guy. I just needed to...

I find my opening, I swept his knee. All of a sudden, I have the greatest temptation to burn him again. My hand reached for the Treasure bag, but I stopped it just in time.

“Come on, Novus. If you really want to do this, I'm just getting started!” I shout.

He gets up, but he doesn't run towards me. He runs towards a lever, close to the entrance. I look up, and the lever connects to the cage!

“No! Don't!”

“And what's gonna stop me?!”

A knife sinks into his arm. I turn around while Novus lets go of the lever. It’s Laoch.

“Don't just stand there! Get him!”

“Right!” I jump on him. After a bit of a struggle, I’m able to pin him down. I pull the knife out of his left arm.

“What is it you want, Novus?!”

“All I want is to do what Tarragon asked me. And that's to keep the girl from you people. Once in the Guild, always in the Guild, and nothing's going to stop that! But I also thought it'd be nice to have you dead,” He winces. “Ah, but now it looks like I've failed....Again...”

I feel sorry for him. He doesn't seem evil. Just misguided. “...No, Novus.”

“That's enough! Just tie me up and go. I know you won't kill me...”

After Laoch comes out to help tie him up, we start to figure out how to get Kendra down.

“She must be out cold...” Laoch says, concerned.

“That's right. We couldn't kill her. Not until after she watched you all die...”

“Maybe we can use the lever to bring her down.”

“It has to be gentle...”

“How's that foot of yours, Idon?” Novus screams. “Bet you you'll carry that scar for the rest of your life!” He spits. “Well, I hope you carry that burn with you into Hezna!”

“I've got it! I'll jam my staff into the rope. That'll have to slow it down. But be careful with the lever. If you're strong enough, that'll keep it slow as well.”

“Sounds good.”

We move over to the lever and do exactly that. She’s probably twenty five feet above us, so it takes a lot of tension and strength to-

She starts falling faster.

“Laoch! My staff can't take it!”

“I know! I know, it got loose and....EEERAHH!” I can see his side starting to bleed again as he takes better control of the lever and lets it down gently.

The cage touches the ground gently. I take my staff out and run towards it. Jamming it into the lock, I open the cage door.

She lay there, peacefully. There’s a small look of worry on her face, but other than that she is calm, like a baby.

I stroke her cheek with my finger.

“Kendra....!” There’s a stab of pain in my finger. I jerk it away, and she bolts upright.

“Dad!”

“Kendra....Sh....Shh....It’s me.”

She looks at me, in fear. Then she melts, and hugs me, sobbing.

“No...Come on, don't cry. I came....I told you...I promised....” The tears flow freely now.

She is safe.

I pull her off of me. “Hey. I know it’s a little complicated right now, but I brought somebody with me...

Laoch comes up then and kneel down.

“Kendra...” He starts. She stares at him long and hard. “Kendra, I know that I wasn't there for you, and frankly, I deserve....I deserve...” He can't say anything.

“Dad...Daddy...” Kendra starts. She can't say anything either. We sit there in the dark.

I stand up. “Well, if you two can't settle it now, then we have to get moving. I'm sorry, but there's a war above us.”

“What?” Kendra asks, surprised.

“We came to rescue you, but we also came here to beat the Guild...” I start to walk towards the door while Laoch and Kendra still sit on the floor.

I turn around. The two stare at me, worried looks on their faces while Novus Karek, still tied up, just sneers.

“This is the end, guys. Whether or not you're coming, I have to go.”

[twotravels]

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Blue and Krystal had just arrived actually. Once we had made it to the very edge of the city, Krystal and Blue rode Lily to find a secret location to hide Lily in. They then teleported back to find us.

Krystal speaks up as well. “Yes. I thought he'd be back by the time we returned. Lily is safe, and we have nothing to lose. Washucktah? May we search for him?”

I think about it. I want to as well, but he'd kill us if he wasn't already dead!

“...Yeah. But we have two problems.”

“And what problems our those?” Dhilith stands up, axe perpetually in hand, ready to help.

“The problems are you and Blue,” Before I could finish, Dhilith looks at me, like he’s trying to hide his anger with more anger. “You guys are both too obviously human.” Kendra speaks up. “Blue was able to manage pretty well back home. Give him a hood, and he should be fine.”

Blue chuckles. “Heh...I suppose I do have a...reputation....for being sneaky,” I think about it. So often do I forget that Blue and Kendra used to be some of the bad guys. I wonder what Petras would think of them now? And where had Petras gone anyway?

“Yeah, that could work. But Dhilith still sticks out like a sore thumb...” I ponder.

“Aye. Much as I hate to admit it, I must agree. I must say, I am not the biggest admirer of....this type...of civilization.”

“Then we must keep Dhilith here on the outskirts of town. Once we find Tarnien and a temporary base of operations, then we will send Blue to come get Dhilith.” Krystal says, with a tone of finality.

“Ah, more teleporting?” Blue chuckles nervously. “Are you sure? I'm getting tired. And I'm beginning to tink you're starting to use me at dis point!” I frown ever-so-slightly. Blue loves his power. Why is he whining about it now? “Yes, Blue. It’s the only logical solution,” Krystal says, also confused by Blue's reluctance.

“I concur. I like this plan a great deal. I don't have to deal with humans, or this blue one.”

“Hey, I'm vight 'ere ya know!”

“Stow it away, demonic troll.”

Blue sighs. Before anyone else has a chance to say anything, Kendra pipes up with, “I think I'll stay with Dhilith. Keep him company.”

We all look at her like she’s crazy. Who'd want to keep Dhilith company?

She sighs. “I'm just not up for going into the town where my old bosses are. It gets a little awkward, you know?” She jokes, but no one laughs. “I'll go in when everyone's ready, but not before.”

I nod. “Okay.” I’m sympathetic towards her, especially since our talk during the hunt.

“Very well! We're all set! Now can we please go into the city now? Honestly, at this rate Tarnien will be half-dead in an alley somewhere!” Krystal walks into the city, with or without us. Blue and I say good-bye to Krystal and Dhilith, and run after her, Blue drawing up his hood, and I taking on my human form.

I'm a small town guy. I don't think the place where I grew up is even on any map. The seminary was never really packed with residents, and none of the cities I'd visited, including Kendra's hometown, were all that big. In fact, I think Kendra's city was as big as it got.

So you might be able to figure out how exactly blown away I am by how huge Zhyndios is!! Its enormous! Gargantuan! Spectacular! Mind blowing! Buildings everywhere seem to be touching the sky, with dozens of floors, and even more windows. There are vendors all over the place as Krystal, Blue, and I walk the streets. This is the first time I've been around so many people in...maybe the first time ever!

Blue and Krystal talk as I walk in a stunned silence.

“Vow! Krystal, have you ever seen anyting like it?”

“Yes, actually, I have. But it is such a sight that never lessens in impact. I'm blown away every time,” She says with almost a childlike wonderment, with just a hint of sadness.

“Wait. Have you been to Zhyndios before?” Blue asks, keeping his hood very close to his face. I don't think he has to worry that much, we’re literally lost in a sea of people.

“Only once.”

“Vhy?”

“I don't know if I've told you this, but for some time I've been on a journey seeking my father. I’ve been to many places including the Fire Elven, The Azuranian mountains, and several cities including here.”

“Vow. Is dat vhy you vere with Tarr and Dhilith in da first place?” Blue ask. His childlike behaviour always puts a smile on my face.

“Yes, actually. I initially tracked down and met Tarnien because I'd heard of his legendary tracking skills. I thought they might prove helpful on my quest. Only later did I realize the mission he himself was on, and the very next day we met all of you. Hm. That all seems so long ago now...” Krystal's voice trails off, barely audible in the waves of voices.

“Vell, maybe after ve beat up da Guild we can all look for your dad. I gotta be honest wit ya, I love me a good adventure!”

“Is that why you joined the Thieves Guild in the first place? Or were you just in need of spare change?” Krystal says, accusingly. It makes me think of Novus Karek and Tarragon Turze, and how Novus had gotten into the Guild for, well for odd reasons.

Blue chuckles. “Huh? Oh, ya! Ya! A leetle bit of both, actually. It’s hard for an adventurer to find vork, especially in a new place.”

Krystal laughs with him. “Yes, I suppose,” She peers into an alley. “No, he's not there either. But yes, I suppose. Where are you from, Blue?”

Blue smiles devilishly at her. “Ah, and dis is vhere our conversation ends. For I tell no one only two tings. My real name, and vhere I'm from.”

Krystal huffs. “Washucktah. You've been awfully quiet.” Hearing my name called, I catch up with them. “Do you have any idea where Blue's from?”

“No, he hasn't told me either. I doubt even Kendra knows.”

“Kendra doesn't know, because no one knows. Dere's not a soul in dis land who knows vhere I'm from, and dere never will be,” Blue says, ending the topic.

“Well, that's a little frustrating.” Krystal sighed.

Walking down a different street, there’s still no sign of Tarnien.

“Washucktah,” Krystal starts to talk to me now. “I have thought long and hard what you told me last night.”

My eyes drooped. Was she still mad at me? “Yeah. Like I said, I'm not teaching you anything until we....” I remember what Tarnien said, and it gave me chills. “...Until you master magical resistance.”

Before I make a complete judgement on your promise, I must ask,” She pauses. “What does that mean to protect other people from magic?” I turn to look at Blue before answering. He glances at me, and shrugs.

“Magical resistance is the art of protecting oneself from other harmful spells, right?”

“Yes. But wh-”

“I'm telling you! Well, if somebody can protect themselves from magic, then that same somebody could protect other people from magic in exactly the same way as well?” “In the same way? I would have thought it was more complex for many people.”

“It's not that much harder, actually. You just have to be able to see the obvious. You have to kinda think outside the box for this, er, technique,” Is that the right word for it?

“I see. So instead of using it on yourself, you simply use the spell on someone else?”

“Precisely,” I look down another alley. Tarnien isn't there.

“Well, that settles it then. You are right. If I am to learn sorcery to combat my enemies, then I will learn first in how to protect my friends. You can start teaching me the new techniques after our final battle with the Thieves Guild.”

“.....We'll see.”

Krystal laughs. “And what does that mean? You don't think we'll die, do you?”

Yes, Krystal. Though I pray to Danwe you and the others don't, me and Tarnien are as good as dead. “No, I don't. But I do wonder what we will all do after the battle,” I pause to think about the point I was making. Where was I going with this? Krystal looks at me, expecting me to continue.

“I mean, if the end of the world is what it took to keep us together, why in the world would we afterwards?”

Krystal seems hurt, ever so slightly. “I would....hope it would be because we were friends.”

“Oh, we are. But Dhilith is only in it for the gold. Tarnien is on a mission to return home, you want to find your dad. Although me and Blue have nothing to do, Kendra just wants to live a normal life at home! No matter how you look at it, we're going to split up once this is all over.”

“In that case,” Krystal thinks about her answer. “Let us hope that we will.”

I think about her answer. Man, it’s deep. I stop walking and as Blue passes me, he says, “Mon. Dat is deep.”

Only a few moments later, could I barely hear the scream in the torrent of noises.

“Chuck! We found him! We found him!”

I ran over to them as fast as my foot could take me, and what I see is a very strange sight.

Tarnien and another man, who’s tall, slim, and a black beard, are sitting at an outside diner table, drinking tea!!

“Ah. Krystal, Blue, Washucktah. I did not know you would be coming,” He says, taking a moment to glare at me. I shrug and put on a goofy grin, but none of us say anything. We’re too astonished at the sight.

The man stands up. He’s probably in his late thirties, early forties, but he looks like a fighter in his mid-thirties. I can tell just on the first glance that this guy was an experienced fighter.

“Hello! Nice to meet you!” He shakes my hand hardily. It almost feels like shaking hands with Tarragon Turze, except for one thing.

A sense of a genuine caring.

“Ah, hello!” I shake his hand as well.

“I am Laoch! I just met Tarnien here, and I thought to treat him to a cup of tea! And you are...?”

“My name is W-”

Tarnien interrupts me. “Forgive me, Laoch. These are my comrades Washucktah, Blue, and Krystal,” He says, pointing to each of us respectively.

“Hello, Blue! That's an odd name for a.....for someone like yourself!” He says, still happily, but a bit confused and taken aback from Blue's appearance.

Blue readjusts his hood before taking his hand. “Don't ask. It's a long story dat I refuse to tell,” Blue winks at him.

“Ah, I like this one! The boy's got gumption!” He turns to Krystal.

“And hello to you to, Krystal,” He says, a bit more quietly. He offers his hand.

Krystal took it. Smiling, she says, “Hello, Laoch. But now that we've all met, I wouldn't mind an explanation as to how the two of you met?” I want to hear this too.

“Oh, that's a tale that you won't forget, but if I tell you only it, you will feel dissatisfied unless you know a bit about my past!” He looks around. “But I do not feel comfortable speaking it here. Already I fear that Tarnien and I have spoken too much.” We all look at him confused, except for Tarnien, who nods.

“I agree. Blue, do you think you can take us to his base?”

“Yah. Sure.....Vhere is it?”

Tarnien explains to Laoch. “Blue can teleport.”

“Ah! I see! Very well then. How about you take us...five rooftops down that way!” He points South West, I think.

Blue looks. “Done and done. Dough ve should probably go into an alley, huh?”

I nod. “To avoid people from noticing us.”

“Then let's be off!” Laoch is the first to lead us into an empty alley.

After going into the alley, instructing Laoch how to teleport, and popping onto the roof Blue was told to, we’re now free to let go of Blue.

“AH!!!” Tarnien cries out in heart-wrenching pain.

“Tarnien!!” Krystal rushes to Tarnien, who is now on the ground.

“Ooh. That teleport's a doozy. I feel rather nauseous,” Laoch shakes his head, then seems fine. “Is that what happened to him?” Suddenly sounding very concerned.

“Krystal, it must be his rib!” I came down to Tarnien's side as well.

“Oh, no! Did I do dat?” Blue says, very worried.

“...Most of our skirmish...I was more injured then I let show...”

“You mean I broke your rib?!” Laoch says, surprised, shocked, and guilty.

“No....no...I pushed myself beyond my limits...”

I said, speaking to Krystal. “We're going to have to get him inside.” She nodded.

“Let me pick him up...” Laoch did so, and nodded his head to a stairway. “Down those is a door that someone's going to have to open for me.”

Blue ran down the stairs and opened the door. “Okay, come on!”

We hurried inside.

“Tarnien, you have got to stop pushing yourself so hard! Maybe we should just take a week to rest before we-”

“No, Krystal! I will not have it! We must stop the Thieves Guild tonight! The latest tomorrow!”

“I agree. Sadly, I agree with both of you. I've waited ten long years to have my revenge on the Thieves Guild, but now that I have help, I want to make sure they all stay safe.”

“Vait. Da Theives Guild? You know dem?” Blue points, accusingly.

I look at Laoch as well. What would a jolly, sociable, nice man like Laoch be doing to fight the Thieves Guild?

“Laoch....oh!” Tarnien grunts as Krystal works on him. “You should tell them about you as I am being....tended to.”

Laoch glances at Tarnien, then smiles faintly. “Very well! I will tell you my tale.”

Krystal listens intently as Blue and I sit down, curious to hear about this man.

My name is Laoch. I keep my last name hidden to all as I am on this quest of mine to have my revenge on the Thieves Guild. Why am I out for the Thieves Guild? I am angry at them for one reason and one reason only.

They killed my son.

Ten years ago or so, give or take a few months, I had everything. Money, popularity, fame....But I also had what really counted. A wonderful wife and two children. A ten year-old boy, and a seven-year-old girl.

But one night, it was all taken away from me. All of my money, all of my importance, most of my possessions.....And....and my little boy...

I had not known who had done it at the time, but I would go onto learn that it was the Thieves Guild, a top secret organization spread through out Azurania by slimy little no-goods trying to gain wealth and power.

I made a promise to myself from that day forward. I would never return home until the people that had my son killed were put to justice.

So I set out. I did not want to leave my remaining family behind, but I was encouraged by my wife, who was also suffering from our loss. My daughter...did not understand what I had to do...And so I fear she hates me to this day.

But along my journeys, I've seen many things. I've met the Stone Elven, and learned defensive techniques from them. I've met the Dwarves, and learned offensive techniques from them. I've met the Wood Elven, and have learned the art of strategy from them.

I have gained many skills, and have taken in much wisdom all while doing reconnaissance. All while doing research, all while learning more and more about the Thieves Guild just a little each day.

For the past three months, I have had the strongest suspicion that the Thieves Guild has their master base under this city. I've been able to catch many thieves, and have tried to interrogate them myself, but they never talk. They never share with me their secrets. So I hand them over to the authorities and try again.

Today, I thought I had my big chance. I saw a hooded figure watching a thief from upon a roof top. I thought to myself surely, surely that is someone else in the Guild. But, as it turned out...it was not a thief at all, but the enemy of my enemy.

Which is great news for me. Tarnien has told me about your little team. Your quest to stop the Ultimate Treasure from appearing. Now I have not heard anything of the sort that the Guild is planning this, and the fact that it has changes my role entirely.

I'm no longer fighting to avenge my son. I'm fighting to save the world.

And considering that is what you kids are doing, I'd like to join you. And I hope you decide to let me, because you are going to need my help.

I nod at his story as he finished. He seems like an okay guy. “Tarnien?”

Tarnien's new bandages are almost finished. “Eh...” He grunts again. “I have already given him my consent. I trust him, and he fights well. And you?”

I smile. “I like him too.”

Blue and Krystal nod and smile.

Laoch laughs, hardily. “Great! Now, as I understand it, there are more of you? Why don't you go bring them here, Blue. Then we can plan our next move.”

“Aye, aye, Cap'n!” Blue salutes and disappears.

Krystal makes one final tug at Tarnien's bandages.

“AH!”

“There. That should hold the bone in place for maybe a day. You can put your shirt back on.”

“Many thanks, Krystal,” Tarnien moves slowly to his shirt.

“Tarnien, I still don't think that this is a good idea to be fighting like this! You are in no condition to-”

“Enough. We will need all the help we can-”

“No. We don't. We want you alive, Tarnien!” I speak my mind.

Tarnien glares at me. “If others should die, should I not as well?”

“Hey. Hey. Settle down,” Laoch moves his hands slowly. “No one's going to die on my watch.”

Just then, Blue came back with Dhiltih and Kendra. Dhilith staggers around the room, the teleporting too much for him, and he collapses heavily into a nearby chair, rubbing his head under his helmet.

“Honies, ve're home!” Blue smiles.

Kendra shakes her head, opens her eyes, and freezes.

Laoch is about to go over and greet Dhilith, but then he looks at Kendra.

Suddenly, the room becomes dead silent as they look at each other.

Even so, it is only barely audible when Kendra whispers, “Dad?”

Laoch's face melts. “Kendra, I-”

But before he could say anything, Kendra runs out the door.

“KENDRA!!” I shout after her. In a panic, I run after her, Blue not far behind me. We leave Tarnien, Krystal, and Dhilith in the room alone with Laoch, arms drooped, falling to his knees..

Blue and I dash into the twilight. The sun is setting, but neither of us have time to think about that. We scan both ways for Kendra. Did she go right or left?!

“Split up!” I shout, my voice sounding apart from my thoughts. We needed to find her!

Blue didn't even have to say anything, he just ran right, no longer caring for his hood as it flapped around in the wind behind him. As I ran left, I heard people behind me scream in terror, but I didn't care.

I need to find her.

I now run through every alley, I comb the streets for her. Where is she? Where is she, where is she??

“Kendra, we need to talk.” This was the perfect time to continue our conversation while everyone was away. Lily's ears perked as we walked toward Zhyndios, but Kendra sounded depressed.

“Again? But we talked yesterday!” She said, sarcastically.

“I know that, but we never finished. For instance, what do you mean by wanting the power?”

She was silent for a long time. I needed to make sure she'd be okay.

“Kendra, I'm worried about you.”

Finally, she sighed, then spoke. “I want the power. I want what the Treasures had to offer. I don't know, Chuck. It’s like they got inside me and twisted my insides. And once they were done mixing me up, they took something away from me. Something I'll never get back.”

“It probably took your innocence,” I said, glumly half-thinking out loud.

“Whatever it took, it left with a hunger. A want, a need to have it again. But it also left me with something else, something it didn't plan to leave. It left me with guilt.”

“Kendra, you don't need to feel-”

“Yes, I do!! Have you seen Tarnien's side?! I have. It’s not good. Krystal told me he might carry some kind of scar, some kind of pain there for the rest of his life! He may never fight as effectively again!”

“Kendra, that doesn't mean-”

“Even if it doesn't, then that's good. That's fine, it’s perfect. Because the guilt is the only thing keeping me back. The tortured thoughts of me hurting him again, or Dhilith, or Krystal, or Blue, or you....They keep me away from the Treasure. Right now, all I can hope is that it'll all go away once it’s all done.”

“The temptation might lessen, but you will always remember what happened.”

“Just as well. Maybe it'll keep me from acting stupid ever again.”

“Well,” I was silent. I had nothing else to say. “...Yeah.”

We rode in silence for a long time.

“Washucktah?”

“Yes, Kendra?”

“Can you promise me something?”

“What's that?”

“Promise that I get home. That I'll be able to see my mom again.”

I thought about that long and hard. Tarnien's words flashed back into my mind. Don't make promises you can't keep. Those are the worst ones.

“That'll be a hard promise to keep...”

“Please?”

“.....Okay. I promise. You'll get home, safe and sound.”

As my words replay in my mind over and over again, the tears stream down my face just as fast. I need to find her. She needs to be safe. I promised.

The sun has practically set into the night sky and the thought of going back entered into my mind when I finally find her.

She sits, head in her arms, sobbing in an alley.

“Kendra!” I run up to her.

She stops crying. “Go away.”

“Kendra, you have to come back with me.”

“No I don't, go away.”

“Kendra, if this is about your dad, I had no idea he-”

“Of course this is about my dad!!” She takes her head out of her arms to yell at me. “How could it not be about my dad?! I've told you about him before, haven't I? How he ran away from us when the Guild took away everything? How he left us and never came back for ten years?! I barely recognized him with that beard. And why would I want to?!” “Kendra, he was only trying to avenge your brother. To make it right...”

“Tod is dead! I know that, my mom knows that!! He doesn't! He doesn't realize that there's nothing he can do!! But me? My mom? We're still alive, Chuck! And we needed him! Maybe if he hadn't left, we could've gotten by! Maybe I wouldn't have had to work so hard, so young! Maybe I wouldn't have gotten this curse! Maybe....maybe I wouldn't be a part of the Thieves Guild at all!”

I listen carefully. She made a valid point. Completely understandable. “Yes, Kendra. You're right. But at the same time, you have to understand what he's-”

“I don't want to understand him! I've tried, and now he has to understand me!”

“Yes, but how can he, when you two aren't around each other!” “That's his own fault!”

“But now it’s yours.”

She stops talking. She thinks about it, then opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. She looks at herself, then grabs her throat. I look at her confused, but then I realize it to.

I can't breathe.

I look around, very anxious to see what caused it, but it doesn't take me long to realize it.

The Guild was here!

The air whips up, and breathing got harder and harder. I watch in horror as Kendra fell to the ground of the alley, out cold and her lips turning blue.

I fight to stay standing. I need to keep her safe! For no reason whatsoever, I flail my staff around, hoping it would do something. Anything! But soon, I fall to the ground as well.

As my vision blurs, I watch as someone jumps down from somewhere, and then picks her up. Then I watch as he turns to me. All I can see of him is that his right arm had scars all over it.

“You should count yourself lucky that you're not the target, Idon Muta. If you were,” He raises a fist. “You'd be dead.”

I watch as he walks away slowly, and then all I remember is the back of my eyelids, and the wet cold of the stones beneath me.

[twotravels]

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Now she had used normal magic again when Tarnien needed a recharge, somehow. I wonder what it was that Tarnien said? Either way, Tarnien was able to correct her, but it has to be up to me to convince her to stop.

I sigh as we wait on the ground yet again about twenty miles away from where they are, so Blue could take a little break. He seemed to be tiring from all the teleporting, which was interesting, since he never seemed to have a limit before. His powers must tire a little after a long period of time.

Idly, I examine my shoulder the best I can, and it’s healing pretty well. I actually think it'll be better tomorrow, though I'm not too sure about my darn foot. The burn is bad.

I hold my foot on my left knee as Blue, Tarnien, and I wait a few moments for Lily and the others to pass by.

“Hey, Tarr...How much further do ya suppose ve'll be goin'?” Blue says, panting slightly.

Tarnien sits up a little straighter. “We passed the river a short while ago. That puts us just over half way. The time for dinner is getting closer, so we may have to make camp soon. However, we should be there within an hour tomorrow morning.”

Blue and I nod.

“What do you think we'll do then?” I ask. We had our plan, but I didn't exactly know what we were going to do beforehand.

“I plan to scout the area and further detail our plan of attack,” Tarnien says indignantly. “The rest of us should probably stay outside of the city or stay hidden.” He pauses, and adds. “Especially Kendra. There is no doubt that scouts will recognize and seize her.”

My eyes widen. Tarnien’s right. I hadn't thought about it, but Kendra is possibly in more danger than we were....And Tarnien and I know we're gonna die!

Finally, the white blur of Lily could be seen in the distance. When they reach us, Blue asks, “So vhat took ya so long?”

Krystal immediately apologizes. “I'm so sorry! Lily had to slow down to a walk. I think she's getting tired.

“Aye, I also tire of sitting. Strong as I am, I do not know how much longer my midsection can take such strain!” Dhilith grunts.

“Oh!” Kendra grunts too. “I'm with the dwarf.”

“Then it is settled.” Tarnien smiles faintly. “Blue is worn out from teleporting, and Krystal, I fear your third spell is beginning to leave me as well,” Krystal looks at him with conflicted emotions. Probably because she’s both sorry that it’s fading and angry she can't use sorcery to make it last longer.

Tarnien turns around and points west, to where we’re going. “I propose we set up camp twelve miles from here. There we will rest, and enjoy the turkeys I was able to win for us.”

Everyone agrees, aside from Dhilith, that is, who starts grumbling, and we all set off for the last time that day.

It doesn't take long for Blue, Tarnien, and I to reach our new camp-site, and it only takes a minute or two for the others to follow behind us. After that, we need to take some time to set up our bed rolls and a camp fire, but it took more time than usual because Krystal, Dhilith, and Kendra are all sore, and Tarnien is dizzy. Blue and I do the heavy lifting for a while until they all take some time to recover.

After that though, it doesn't take long for us to enjoy ourselves again. We’re able to cook the turkeys pretty nicely and eat them happily. Lily, who joins us by the fire only after we had eaten, lays down beside me.

“Oh! Lily, you scared me!” I put my arm on her. “Why'd you want to lie next to me?”

Krystal smiles. “It’s probably because she has been with us all day, and hasn't gotten to see you much, Washucktah!”

I smile at Krystal's words, but I also remember that I have to talk to her. “Yeah...” I give Lily a good pet before standing up. “It’s too bad then, that I have to get up.”

Krystal looks at me, confused. Blue, Kendra, and Dhilith are wrapped in conversation, so they didn't notice me, and Tarnien kept his head low.

“Krystal....Come on, I need to talk to you,” I stare her down. From the warm fire's glow in the cool dark of the night, her stare of defiance looks especially unnerving. Almost hostile.

“I don't think I necessarily want to talk to you,” She replies.

“Krystal...” Tarnien, still without looking at either of us, says this so quietly yet so strongly, Krystal just sighs, stands up and follows me.

“What is it, Washucktah?” We’ve walked a few feet away from the camp.

“Krystal,” I really didn't want to start this up again.... “Krystal, we need to talk about the sorcery book.”

“You mean the one you told me not to use?” She says so sarcastically, it makes me want to stomp on my foot.

“Yes. The same one that you're using.” She stares down hard at the ground below us, without a word. “Do you know how Tarnien figured out you were using sorcery? Because I was able to figure it out!”

I let the silence play its part, because she was now saying nothing to defend herself. “I'm a priest of Danwe, Krystal! I'm trained in many things, one of the biggest being magic! Another thing, contrary to popular belief, I'm not stupid! So I-”

“If you're not stupid, then why can't you see that we need to use that book?” She is yelling in her whispers. “Chuck, I don't know how you expect to win the coming battle. You and Tarnien are so bruised and beaten, how do you expect four of us to beat all of the Guild?”

“I-” I catch myself. She isn't stupid either, and she figured out our demise as well. “We were going to find a way,” I lie. I couldn't let on to the fact that I needed to use the Ultimate Treasure. She could never guess that, it’s too insane.

“Yes, and what if sorcery IS the way? Sorcery is really powerful! It could destroy dozens, if not hundreds of our enemies!”

“And there it is right there! The word 'destroy'. If you couldn't tell yet, I'm kind of against destroying enemies.” I point at her, as if somehow I could stab her words.

“Washucktah, there is a time for war, and a time for peace. The fate of the world is in our hands, this is a time for war!”

“If our world is in danger, then all we need is peace.”

She stops there, to contemplate what I just said. To plan her next move.

“You know what makes me the most angry?” I need to tell her this. “If I told you sorcery was dangerous, why. Why would your first attempt at sorcery be on Tarnien? If something went wrong, you could have killed him! And not only kill him, you would have made him suffer in the most terrible way. Krystal, why would you risk that?”

“I didn't kill him, did I?”

“That doesn't mean-”

“Yes, it does! It means I'm ready to handle these kinds of spells now, Chuck!”

“We haven't even finished magical resistance yes, we need t-”

“I'm not some misbehaving student of yours, thank you Washucktah! I'm a strong capable woman. I can defend myself pretty well against magic now, I can do what must be done!” “...If you are...an adult. Then you must take on adult responsibilities.”

“Exactly. That's what I've be-”

“Can you meet those responsibilities?” I take a small pause. “Can you defend other people from magic?”

This surprises her, but she still spoke, “I...did not know that...”

“I know you didn't. Which is why this is dangerous. Let me continue to teach you resistance. Once we finish that, we can....” I did not want to say this. “We can start learning....sorcery.”

For some reason, I expect her eyes to light up, for her to be grateful, for her to hug me, or something. But all I get is a pause, and then, “Very well. Thank you for your concern, Washucktah.”

And then she walks back to the camp.

After I took those few steps back into the camp, Krystal joins in on the others' conversation, while I sat next to Tarnien. I listen in on what was being said around the fire, but it’s not hard. They’re pretty loud about it.

“-Still tink dat dis whole ting should be called off.”

“Nonsense! I was promised a second round, and I shall get a second round!”

“But we should get to the capital city as quick as possible tomorrow! There will be no time for hunting!”

“Yeah! And I don't want to wake up early again...”

“Kendra. In quests such as this, there is no choice in the matter. One either wakes up early, or earlier still. Back when I was a younger dwarf...”

“I don't care about vhen you vere a baby! I'm vith Kendra. I don't vant to vake up early!” “I don't mind, Dhilith. Perhaps I can be your judge tomorrow morning. That is, if you do insist upon hunting again...”

I smile. With all of our internal fighting, it’s nice to see us get along. I know I say it a lot, but it’s just so nice to have something like a family. I've been on the run so long, I tend to forget what playful banter is. That is, until I ran into these guys.

“Isn't it nice?” I say quietly to Tarnien.

“What is?” He asks, bluntly as usual.

“The fact that at this point, in a way, we're like some kind of family.” I smile as I speak.

He pauses for a long time. I don't know if his stereotype can handle such an emotional statement.

“You know what, forget it, I jus-”

“No, no, it is fine....” He pauses again. “How did your talk go?”

I sighed. “Fine, I guess. I told her I'd teach her after she became more experienced. Now whether or not she'll go against our agreement is entirely up to her.”

“She might as well. Since you do not plan to keep your promise.”

“...What? How could you say that? I don't want to, but I have to teach her now!”

He turns to look at me.“How are you going to do that, when a few days from now your mind will be demolished?” I am dumbfounded. Somehow, I didn't think of that at all....He turned back to face the fire. “Do not make promises you cannot keep, Washucktah. Those are the worst promises, the ones that mean nothing.”

I let the conversation die there. I know I'm going to die. Why am I acting like I'm not? Maybe it’s my naturally optimistic behaviour. Yeah, that's it. Oh, who am I kidding? I don't want to die! But I have to. I've already made the choice. What other choice could I make?

The thing that I'm afraid of the most is the people I'll be leaving behind. Only a month ago, I had no one. Now it seems as if I've known these people that sit beside me forever!

I need to teach Krystal her magic, I need to help Kendra find her mom. Blue and I are buddies, and Dhilith? Well, maybe I could help Dhilith find a heart. I know Lily will be all right with Krystal, but she'll still miss me. And Tarnien will...Oh, that's right. He's going to die from this too. Oh, man. I've asked this before, but I can't stop but ask:

What have we gotten ourselves into?

[twotravels]

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX – The Road To Hezna

I help to clear up the camp, my heart heavy. I knew Washucktah was also affected by the stark truth of both our situations – had I been too blunt with telling him? No, he had to know. I had to be sure he knew. It was necessary. Ny dal mann lest-an kawgans. It is worthless to prevent the certain.

I glanced at the others. Washucktah was working methodically, his face grim. Krystal and Kendra were busy discussing the terms of their bet as they worked, telling each other why they were right and the other was wrong. Dhilith was standing at the edge of the forest, watching, silent and unreadable as always. Blue was a mix of tense excitement and nerves. Lily was pacing up and down the river bank, whinnying lightly and pawing the ground, eager to be off.

Finally the small glade looks like we'd never been here, and our packs are ready to move. It was time to leave.

“How are we going to travel?” Krystal asks. “We won't all fit on Lily.”

“...I don't think we'll need to.” Washucktah says. “Now that Blue's back with us.”

“Huh?” Blue says. “Vhat you mean by dat?”

“I think he means,” I supplement “That some of us travel on Lily and some of us teleport.”

“Exactly.” Washucktah states. “I was thinking that me, Tarnien and Blue teleport, while Krystal, Kendra and Dhilith go on Lily. We'd teleport two miles or so, wait for the others to catch up, teleport another two miles and so on all the way to Zhyndios.”

We all nod and agree, but Kendra says “Wait a moment, Tarnien doesn't cope well with teleporting. As in, doesn't function. Plus he's injured. Shouldn't he ride on the unicorn? I can go with Blue and Chuck.”

“No...” I begin to say.

“Tarnien, you just ride the freakin' unicorn, okay?”

“I can fix that.” Krystal says. She strides forward and places her hand on my head; her little finger and thumb spread across my temples and the other three spread across my forehead.

“Nerian eev æt galdor.” She says, and it suddenly feels like a second skin spreads out from her fingers, covering my entire body in a protecting layer which soon condenses into something I cannot feel and barely even notice.

Washucktah nods, plainly impressed. “...Well done. You adapted the spell I taught you?”

Krystal faintly smiles. “Well, it was fairly easy to adapt. Just place the appropriate pronoun in the incantation and you can use it for anyone.”

Washucktah whistles. “Now why didn't I think of -”

“It pains me to interrupt this impromptu lesson!” Dhilith barks, making us all jump. “But let us sort out what we are doing and move!”

“All right, Dhilith!” Krystal snaps back. She turns back to me. “The ward I just placed should shield you from the worst effects of the teleporting. It may need replacing or replenishing every dozen teleports or so.”

I nod, and smile. “Thank you.”

“Why did you do that?” Kendra asks as Krystal strides back, and across to Lily and the packs.

“If I hadn't, you would not have had a chance to ride Lily.” Kendra says, simply, her back turned as she picks up her pack. Her tone of voice told everyone she was smiling. “That is not a chance that should be wasted.”

“Yeah, but...”

Krystal turns around, in a mix of annoyance and amusement. “Do you want to ride 'the freakin' unicorn' or not?”

Kendra stops, then nods and smiles widely. “Yes. I'd love to.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Dhilith, you're coming too.” Krystal sets Kendra on Lily first, then leaps up behind her, helping Dhilith on to sit behind them.

Kendra suddenly has an indelible grin on her face. “...Wow.” She strokes Lily's neck lightly, and Lily tosses her head back as if she's enjoying it.

Krystal laughs. “You say 'wow' now... wait until we've ridden a bit!”

Lily whinnies, and rears on her hind legs, putting on a show for Kendra, and they take off.

After about fifteen seconds, Washucktah says “Okay Blue, two miles west.”

Blue, nodding, takes hold of our hands and teleports. We land on our feet, the forest considerably thinner than the immediate surroundings of the glade. I stagger once, my rib aching from the jump but not nearly as bad as my last experiences of teleportation.

Washucktah yelped slightly as his singed foot hit the ground, but otherwise wasn't badly affected either.

We have enough time to look around and take in our new location before the faint white speck of Lily appears in the distance and quickly grows. Within an astonishingly small space of time, they galloped up to us and slowed to a steady walk.

“HOLY CRYX!” Kendra was screaming. “THAT WAS AMAZING. DO IT AGAIN!”

Krystal leans down to speak to us as they pass. “Tarnien, did the spell work?”

“Yes, it worked fine.”

She grins, seemingly rather pleased with herself. “Brilliant!”

Lily whinnies, and takes off again at a gallop.

I watch them into the distance. Suddenly Washucktah says behind me. “That's not right.”

I turn, and see the look of thought on his face. “What is it?”

“I don't see why she would be so pleased at the spell working. I mean, sure, she adapted the words, but that's not SUCH an achievement.”

“Vell?” Blue said, not paying as much thought to it. “Vhat of eet? Come on.”

He takes us by the shoulder, and teleports again. This time the forest is definitely thinner – the edge is within sight. Again the effects of the teleportation were greatly reduced, although perhaps a tiny bit less reduced this time.

“I mean, that I don't think Krystal would be pleased with just adapting the spell itself. Anyone with a bit of knowledge and creativity could do that...”

Washucktah zoned off, and suddenly spoke again with a suppressed emotion. Anger.

“She used sorcery.”

“Really?” I begin to say, but at that moment the clatter of hooves becomes audible, and a few seconds later Lily streaks past us, Krystal and Kendra both yelling, and Dhilith hanging on the back. I couldn't glimpse at his expression, but I would guess it was extreme annoyance.

“Blue, take us a good deal ahead of them. Five miles or so.”

“Dat's how far we came dis time.”

Washucktah paused. “...Well, ten miles, then.”

Blue shrugs. “Okay!” We teleport again into grassland and plains, and the forest is far behind us.

“I mean, she used sorceric methods to place that ward on you. Used living spirit to make it stronger. That would explain why she's so pleased with herself, and she's covered it with the more obvious point of adapting the wording.”

I pause. Washucktah's deductive reasoning was, on reflection, perfectly reasonable and something Krystal might indeed try to perpetrate.

“Yes...” I say, considering the evidence. “If the spell was cast by sorcery, and it is stronger as a result, then the spell would last longer as a result, correct?”

“Yes. That type of spell lasts for perhaps four or five instances at a time... And she said it'd last a dozen or so...”

We glance at each other, and seem to agree on the same point without speaking. Krystal was using sorcery.

“Washucktah, you need to teach her.”

“What? I can't teach her that, it's too dangerous!”

“That is exactly why you should teach her. She has just demonstrated that if you will not guide her, she will go ahead with no guidance at all, like a child in the dark learning to walk. Which is the more dangerous to you?”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Washucktah admits. “As always.”. I hear the slightest hint of resentment on the final two words.

“Are you still annoyed about earlier? When we discussed our plan against the Thieves Guild?”

“Not really...” Washuktah hesitates, but then he shakes his head. “Okay, a little. It's more the fact I feel like I failed as the leader.”

I nod, and form an answer for him. Hopefully one that would set his mind at ease and also explain why I did what I did.

“Washucktah, leadership is a skill that you cannot read in a book. It comes from discipline and experience. I do not doubt you have the discipline needed to be a good leader. But this is an incredibly serious and dangerous mission, and you simply do not have the experience needed for this. That's why I felt obligated to step in and, what would you say, 'take the brains'?”

“Take the reins.” Washucktah smirked as he corrected me. “And yeah, I know. Plus you're an elf. Always great at planning, leading, strategy and stuff.”

“Only the Wood Elves.” I say. “Each Kindred is different.”

“Yeah, it would appear so.” Washucktah says. “And remembering what happened with Tarragon, I think I prefer Wood Elves.”

“I danno, Chuck” Blue chips in. “Dose Sea Elves looked like dey had a lotta money...”

Several teleports later, I can feel my head becoming dizzier with each hyperspatial shift. This last teleport I stagger and lean on Blue for a while.

“Hey, hey Tarr!” Blue protested. “What's eatin' ya?”

“Is the ward wearing off?” Washucktah asks.

I nod, mostly to answer Washucktah and partly to try and clear my head.

“We'll ask Krystal to put it back on you when she passes. Hopefully tell her not to use sorcery either. At least not until we talk about it more.”

“Yes” I say. “Do not worry, I have a plan for that.”

“Huh?” Washucktah and Blue ask. At that moment, however, the white speck again appears on the horizon. I point it out to the others, and do not answer.

I wave to Krystal as Lily gallops towards us. Slowing to a trot, then a walk, Krystal leans down again.

“Has the spell worn off?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, hang on, I'll restore it.”

“As you wish.”

As she places her hand across my forehead again, exactly like before, I mutter under my breath just loud enough for only her to hear. “Remember what the book said.”

It was a gamble if my words would have any effect, but they work as I expected. I feel her fingers tense slightly across my brow.

To the others, it was not at all unusual. She replaced the spell and then smiled at us all and spurred Lily back into a gallop.

But she took the hint; she didn't use sorcery.

[twotravels]

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

But my thoughts turned sour quickly. We were not friends camping for fun. We had three of the most powerful objects in all the world. We had an entire secret organization after us. It was probably better they didn't know about us, but Tarragon was a pretty powerful leader of the Thieves Guild. Surely he had us pretty high on his to-do list.

We had to save the world from the Ultimate Treasure. There's no telling what that could do, especially in the wrong hands. But how were we going to do that, especially when the Guild had the power of Air? If they found us, they could make us suffocate any minute, and then we'd be done for! We've already gathered the Treasures for them basically....

What were we going to do?

Kendra woke me up. “Washucktah...”

I stirred. I was either becoming more tired, or more used to the lumpy ground as a bed.

“Washucktah, wake up. The others will be back soon...”

I moaned, and then I sat up. “Ow!” I grabbed my shoulder. It was still sore.

Kendra gasped. “Are you all right?!” She scooted a bit closer to me.

I took a breath. “Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Just sore. It'll get better as the day goes on,” I look around, desperate to change the subject. “Where are the others?”

Kendra made a sigh of relief, but I could tell she couldn't put my pain out of her mind. “Tarnien and Dhilith both split up to go hunting. Krystal went with Tarnien and Blue went with Dhilith to judge. They should be back within the hour. In the meantime, I'm stuck boiling water,” She said with a huff.

“Hrm. Why am I always the last to wake up?” I stand up and stretch my legs. My foot is feeling better, but it still hurts like Hezna. After a moment, I sit down again.

Kendra chuckles. It is a different chuckle. Not sarcastic, like a mocking bird would do to spit back in your face. But for the first time ever, it is a gentle, bubbly laugh. The laugh that you hear from giddy children who have watched their friend do something silly. It is a laugh of innocence. Not a laugh of hate.

“I don't know, Washucktah. Do you stay up late, or are you just too lazy to get up early?”

I smile. “Maybe a bit of both.”

There is a silence as Kendra goes to check on the pot above the fire. She comes back and sits down, disappointed.

“How come water always takes so long to boil?” She said with a mix of annoyance and comedy.

“Who knows?” I smile. Then, nervously, I change the subject. “So....how are you doing?”

“What?” I can see her shoulders tense.

“I asked you a while ago how you were doing, but you kinda shrugged me off.”

Kendra huffs. “I didn't shrug you off. I told you. I'm fine,” She stands up again to check on the water, though I'm sure she knows nothings changed.

“Kendra. I took control of a Treasure too. I know it’s hard. It’s life changing. But it also needs to be addressed.”

She stands above the pot, silent.

“...Kendra?”

Suddenly, she snaps. “Do you really want me to talk about it? Fine. I'll talk about it,” She walks over to me, and stands above me. “I took the Treasure. I wanted to prove I was good enough for Tarnien. That I could be useful so I wouldn't....” She stopped.

Slowly, I tried to finish her sentence. “So you wouldn't have to run away from him like you ran away from me?”

She sat down again and sighed heavily. “Sure. Okay, all right. Fine. Yes, so I wouldn't have to run. I didn't want to run from you, Chuck. I was just scared....You, and Tarnien, and Dhilith, and Blue....Even Krystal. You're all adventurers. But I'm not. I didn't ask for this, I didn't ask to be cursed. I didn't ask for my dad to be missing, my brother to be dead, my mother...I don't even know if she's alive...I didn't want to have anything to do with the Thieves Guild! What I want....I just want a normal life. To be able to touch someone without....hurting them. To be able to joke around without fearing I could be attacked at any second. To be...I don't know. To be normal.”

I kept the silence after she finished. I waited for her to continue.

“But that's why I took the treasure. Because I hated doing that to you. Because I wanted to prove...to prove to you that I could be something more than a whiny little girl. That I could be something...I guess greater. But I just became something worse...”

“Kendra...”

“I am worse! I'm trying to be more alert! To be more aware of other people's problems, their pain....but I want that Treasure, Chuck! I want it now more than anything. I don't want to be normal any more. At least not compared to how much I want that power. But I can't! I can't touch it, because if I do....than everyone I know will get hurt...and then what will I have?”

I took a moment to try to figure out what I wanted to say, but before I could, Blue and Dhilith popped in.

“Ackh! Do not ever send me on an errand with this blue one again! I may void my insides from pure repulsion!” Dhilith dropped maybe a dozen bloody rabbits onto the ground. He also dropped a large bird, but I couldn't tell what kind it was, because it was so terribly maimed. Maybe it was a buzzard?

“'Ey! At leest you deedn't 'ave ta smell your body this early in da morning! Oh, vait. You do. But you know vhy I suffered? 'Cause I had ta put up with it anyway!” Blue smiled as he bickered, telling me that he meant none of it. He just wanted a rise out of Dhilith.

“Why you-!” Dhilith looked like he was about to attack again, so I grabbed my staff and put it between the two.

“Hey! That's enough! I don't want you guys all over the place again!” Putting my staff down, I asked “Where are the others?”

Dhilith laughed heartily. “Ha! Tarnien has most surely shamed himself. If he has any honour, he'll put his elven tail between his legs and never return!”

I huff. “I should hope not! We need him for the coming battle!”

Blue cut our talk short. “Look! I see dem!”

Tarnien and Krystal came riding up on Lily, but something else is on Lily's back. And it’s huge.

Blue runs up to go meet them, but I stay and glance at Kendra. I look at her just as she wipes a tear from her eye. I made a strong promise to her and myself that I would continue our conversation. And soon.

When I turn around, Tarnien, Krystal, and Lily were practically already here. I watch and suddenly grin broadly when Krystal jumps down, and Tarnien drops two turkeys and a huge buck beside Dhilith's now seemingly petty game. He then walks over to Lily and pet her, probably to thank her for carrying such a heavy load.

Blue is practically ecstatic. He jumps around all over the place, constantly shouting, “Vhat vill ve eat first?!” all while Tarnien walks over to Dhilith.

“Well, Dhilith?” Tarnien says, as annoyingly as possible. You could tell that if Tarnien was a normal emotional being, he'd be grinning his ears off. I could also tell Dhilith might punch him.

All he did was growl though. “I am not one who likes to admit defeat, Tarnien.....But I am Dverguð plenty to know when I need to.” And at that, he offers his hand to Tarnien. “The first round goes to you.”

“Of course,” Tarnien says, shaking it. “The first round.”

Just then, Krystal walks over to Kendra.

Kendra takes a deep breath and puts on a defeated smile. Krystal smiles broadly and holds out her hand.

“All right then. Hand it over.”

Kendra takes five gold pieces out of her pocket. “Okay. But Dhilith will get the better of Tarnien tomorrow. You can bet ten gold pieces on that!”

“All right then, I will! Ten on Tarnien!” Krystal shakes hands with Kendra.

“Ten on Dhilith,” Kendra smiles in return. I marvel at her mood swing, not at all sure how she did it.

“You girls better be careful. Danwe's not a big fan of gambling.” I point my staff at them.

“Well, we probably don't have to worry about that for now,” Krystal says as she started to walk away. As she passes me, she says, “Because the only follower of Danwe's too much of a sitzcringle to use magic.”

My mouth drops. Was that about the sorcery book?!

“Ouch,” Kendra says, sounding just as surprised as I am.

Kendra finally gets the water boiling and we had the buck for breakfast. And it’s then Dhilith who brought up the question:

“Well. I imagine it’s time we came up with a concrete plan, wouldn't you agree?” He looks at me, and then at Tarnien, so I can't tell who he’s talking to.

But I speak anyway. “Well. The plan is to use Kendra's inside knowledge of the Thieves Guild to take us to their base in the capital, Zhyndios. I want to storm it to take them by surprise, and then take the Air Treasure.”

Tarnien speaks as well, softly and bluntly. “So it really is to be that simple?” He took a bite of rabbit.

“Well, I...I guess?”

Krystal asks, “What happens if the Air Treasure isn't in there?”

“Well, I guess we can cross that bridge when we come to it...”

“Art thou insane?!” Dhilith shouted. “'We'll cross that bridge.....when we come to it?!'”

“'Ey. It shouldn't be too hard for me to teleport ourselves outta dere. Calm down.”

Dhilith fidgets. “Perhaps so. But the one who is coming up with our plan neglected to even think that?”

“I didn't say only I had to come up with the plan....”

“Good! Because your idea is wrought with holes!”

Tarnien speaks up again. “Perhaps we should think about this a different way.”

Silence.

“Washucktah's plan is essentially sound; a surprise attack is in order. But the fault is that it must be expanded upon. I propose that we send Krystal and Lily first.”

Blue and Kendra are dumbfounded, and Lily, who had been eating the grass a few feet from us, perks her ears. Krystal is silent, as is Dhilith. I’m lost in thought.

“That way...” I start to say... “We could lure some of them away from the base....to chase after the unicorn.”

“Precisely. We could lead them somewhere to where Blue and Kendra would be waiting. Kendra would then...scan the thieves' minds for the whereabouts of the Cythras, and Blue could teleport back with the information.” Tarnien states. It’s actually quite brilliant. The others can tell, and so can I.

“Then, Dhilith, you, and I could storm into the base...and Blue of course, so he can teleport us out when things get rough...” I look at everyone again, and the guys seem content, but the girls start to give each other annoyed glances.

“And, should the Cythras Ayr be even in there, we should send Washucktah, who is obviously the most appropriate person to achieve the Cythras, will grab it, and we would all go with Blue back to the outside. The Thieves Guild will be defeated, and we can then attempt to move the Cythrii to more secure locations.”

I’m a bit surprised when I heard Tarnien say I’m the most appropriate person to grab the Treasures, but that’s it.

We have our plan.

“We should probably leave as soon as possible.” Everyone agreed. Tarnien had formed our plan. He had been the leader. Which left me confused. Did I fail at my role of leadership? Or did I even have it to begin with?

After we finish eating our breakfast, we start to pack up the camp-site. This little area around the river had come to mean a lot to me. It’s actually a very beautiful, peaceful place. I watch Dhilith as he picks up the bedding, and see the mushed creased grass underneath. I watch Krystal and Kendra put out the fire and I wonder if the ash would ever blow away, leaving the ground underneath it to grow healthily again. I watch Blue pick up the many pieces of trash that shouldn't be left for animals to find, and I catch sight of the giant rock near the river, and knew that I would miss that as well. I sigh. And then Tarnien called me.

“Washucktah. Might I have a word?”

I walk over to him, a few feet away from everyone else. “What is it, Tarnien?”

“I have been thinking on when and how to tell you this for quite some time now. But I think now is better than later.”

“What is it?” His tone of voice is making me nervous.

“Among the elves,” he starts gravely, “There is a price for moving the Cythras.”

My eyes widen, immediately fearing the worst. “It doesn't have anything to do with you trying to kill me a few days ago, does it?”

“Yes, I am afraid it does. You should know that any time you meet an elf after this....You should fear for your life should he know your deeds.”

I let my head hang from my shoulders, loosely. Limply. “...That's why I'm the most fit for grabbing the Air Treasure, isn't it?”

Without even pausing, Tarnien says, “Yes. Do not tell her, but I fear the Cythras are too much for Kendra to handle. And your life is the only other in jeopardy, because of the Cythras. No living creature should be able to hold them, but there is something about you...”

“Hey. I'm no one special. The Fire Treasure almost made me kill people. And that's something I'd never do.”

Tarnien is quiet for a moment, lost in thought. “All the same,” He continues. “I felt as if you should know.”

“Well, thanks anyway. But I pretty much signed my life away when I started this whole shebang.”

Tarnien looks at me, surprised. “Then you know it too?”

I chuckle softly. “That we're going to need a miracle to survive? Yeah. I assume that's why you left the girls out of the plan?”

“Yes. I do not plan on surviving this battle. Though I do plan to hold them off long enough for you to summon and use the Cythras Mogh Pystri.”

“What?!” This I didn't see coming. Was he insane?

“It is the only way to be sure of thwarting the Thieves Guild. If you can use its power for just long enough to make sure that the four Cythras will never be found again, then that should be enough. Though I am almost certain the experience will be the end of you.” He says, sparing me nothing.

I swallow hard. Tarnien looks at me for a moment longer, almost apologetically, and having nothing else to say he walks away.

So this is it. Our final attempt. The trump card. This is all we had left.

We didn't plan to survive. How could we? But we have to do this. It’s our responsibility. Accepting my fate, I turn around to help clean up the camp as well.

How could I make any other choice? It’s either our small little lives, or the fate of the entire world.

Even so. Knowing my fate didn't make the path, or the choice, to get there any easier.

[twotravels]

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR – Pork and Sorcery

“Krystal, what is that book?”

It is on the way back to the camp, and I can't help but glancing at the bundle Krystal holds protectively to her chest.

“A mage tome.”

“That is evidential, but what magic?” I persist.

I am about to respond when we come into the camp.

“Hey guys!” Washucktah calls to us as we entered. “Kendra came back alone. What happened?”

“We got separated.” I say simply, spotting the quick motion of Krystal slipping the spare bundle into her pack.

“Ah well. Blue wanted to eat your share of the pork, but I said no.”

Krystal chuckles. “Why thanks. Most appreciated, I'm sure.”

I go over and help Washucktah to build up the fire. Before long we have a bed of glowing embers, more than enough to cook the pork.

“Right. Now we just need to use one of those things to hang it up.” Washucktah begins.

“No, we don't.” I say.

Washucktah stops, and looks at me oddly. Out of the corner of my eye I see Kendra and Blue look at me oddly as well. Dhilith, uninterested as ever, continues watching the forest and polishing his axe.

“Well, we need to cook the pork, don't we?” Washucktah says, laughing cautiously.

I nod. “Absolutely. But why need to build a rack and frame?”

“To keep it out of the ash?” Washucktah says slowly.

“Why bother? Give me the meat.”

Washucktah hands it over, and I take it. “Dhilith, can you pass me two or three dock leaves? There is a large bunch right next to the boulder you are.”

Dhilith grunts, and reaches down to pick the largest few leaves and passes them to Washucktah, who passes them to me. “What are you going to do with these?”

“You will see.” I say. I wrap the meat in the leaves and tie it up carefully. Taking a stick, I hollow out a depression in the hottest part of the fire, and drop the wrapped meat into the centre of the fire. Taking the stick again, I scrape the depression closed again, over the leaf package.

Washucktah stares as I do this. “What are you doing?”

I shrug. “Cooking.”

“Not you, Tarnien. Krystal.”

I look around, just as Krystal whips her head around to face us, pushing the magic tome out of sight quickly and assuming an innocent expression.

Not quickly enough.

“Krystal, what were you reading?”

“Oh, er, nothing, really. Just a thing I picked up at the market.”

Kendra looks at her as well. “A book? Krystal, we were only meant to get food and essential supplies.”

“Yes, well, I had enough spare money and was sufficiently interested to make the purchase.” Krystal snaps, slightly annoyed.

“What book is that important? Really...” Washucktah asks.

Krystal sighs, then pulls the book into sight. Washucktah walks over to crouch next to her and examine the book in detail. Blue also cranes over to look, but is diverted by the presence of the pack of jerky.

Both Krystal and Washucktah show familiarity with the script of the book, translating it between them. I retreat to sit by the fire, a hand over my side. Kendra decides to sit opposite me.

“Hows your rib?” She asks.

“It is... It has been better.” I say, simply.

“Well, yeah, duh. Better like, not broken.” She says, somehow amused and guiltily at the same time. “But I mean, how does it feel now?”

“It is fine. I can block out the pain now without much trouble. Krystal is a good healer.”

“Yeah, I guessed.” She glances over at Krystal, sitting with Washucktah and talking animatedly in only slightly-hushed voices.

“What are they doing?” She asks, rolling her eyes.

“Translating the book, I imagine. It's written in ancient elvish script. And before you say,” I hold up a hand, preventing Kendra's interruption. “That particular set of runes pre-dates the current elvish script. The elves don't use the script any more; only magic scholars.”

Kendra smirks slightly, her question already answered.

“But vhy does Krystal vant eet?” Blue asks.

I shrug. “She teaches herself magic. I imagine that is hard to do without some material.”

Ten minutes later, Krystal and Washucktah seem to have moved on to the first chapter of the book, translating and discussing it. Blue had eaten most of his share of the jerky already, and Dhilith, still trying to sleep, was growing redder in the face and seemed about to explode. Lily was slowly eating her apples with distinct relish, lying by the river watching all of us with perhaps a slightly amused air.

Fortunately, the pork was cooked.

“So, what's in that dusty old thing?” Kendra asks over her share of the pork.

“Well, it's a spell book of course,” Washucktah says,. “But it's not a mage tome.”

“Huh?”

“It's a book on sorcery, not magic.”

“What's the difference? A spells a spell, right?” Kendra asks.

“While I would not quite say that, I do not see a significant difference between the two either. I was not instructed in basic magic.” I say.

Washucktah turns slightly to talk to both of us. “Well, the basic difference is that while a mage only draws on the raw essence of magic, a sorcerer can amplify their spells by passing it through the spirits of the living things around them.”

“...That sounds dangerous.” I say.

“Well, with the proper training...” Krystal begins.

“It IS dangerous.” Washucktah states.

Krystal sighs slightly. “We had a slight difference of opinion. I see no reason why I can't start practicing the sorceric principles.”

“Whereas I would rather not look at sorcery until we have mastered other mage spells.” Washucktah states, in a tone which suggests he wanted to have the final word in the argument.

I shrug. “You cannot learn from someone who will not teach, Krystal.”

“I know.” She says, perhaps slightly annoyed.

Washucktah shrugs, dismissing the subject, and takes a bite of his slice of pork. “Mmm, so nice to have proper food for once!”

“Yah, I know! Ya think I could...”

“Push off Blue, this is my piece!”

We all laugh at Blue's comically despondent face – even Dhilith, who is in a much better mood with the pork.

“Savour this meat, comrades, we may not eat like this for many a day!” he chuckles.

“I would not be so sure, Dhilith.” I say, with a small smile. “I bought some more arrows while we were in town. I doubt they will be much use for me in combat – only elven arrows fire well from an elven bow – but I can hunt as well as any with them.”

“A hunt, eh?” Dhilith smirks. “I dare say you may catch a small rabbit with those twigs. Leave the larger game for the sturdier hunters!”

“Is that a challenge, Dhilith?” I say, grinning widely.

“Aye, I'd say it is, Tarnien!” Dhilith confirms, a somewhat infuriatingly smug look on his face.

I smirk. I can stop myself getting annoyed at the dwarf – just – but there is no way in Hezna I am backing down.

“Very well! The others shall judge who brings the better prey.”

Washuckah, looking between us two, starts and nods. “Er, yeah! Yeah, we'll judge.” He smiles, seemingly pleased we were all getting along for once and distinctly amused at the turn of events.

Kendra, chuckling, whispers to Blue. “I bet on Dhilith.”

Krystal, hearing that, laughs. “How much do you bet?”

“What?”

“How much? Let's say five gold. If Dhilith wins, I pay, and if Tarnien wins, you pay.”

Kendra considers, then leans over and offers a gloved hand. “Done!”

Krystal smirks, and takes the hand firmly. “You have been.”