The Custodian Chronicles: Burning 206e20

The Custodian Chronicles Burning

Book Two of The Custodian Chronicles

Charity Mae

Chapter 1

Bubbles in the Blood

Darkness and boredom reminiscent of an angsty teenager shone out of the Darkman’s eyes as he watched his master pace. His sleeves were carefully rolled up to expose each of his intricate tattoos that bespoke of a dark tribal past. Their black ink stood out against the severely tanned, ashy skin of their wearer, though he clearly didn’t naturally have dark skin. It appeared as if some kind of magic had painted him this tanned to cover an even stranger color beneath. His bored, sarcastic gaze slid back and forth under his messy black hair, wreaking of dissatisfaction and repressed resentment. He watched his master like a hawk as his master, Heklis, paced back and forth like a perpetual energy machine. The only sounds were that of his endless motion, breaking up the otherwise empty waiting. Neither waiter acknowledged the other. The Darkman was dark, quiet, and bored; the sorcerer was lively, animated, and crackling with energy. As he paced his arms moved more rapidly than his legs, swinging around, displaying his energy, restlessness, and flexibility, causing his hands to move endlessly from his pockets, to rubbing together in front of him, to running through his dark hair, then back to his pockets. The Darkman watched him pace, but most of all kept his eyes on those rapidly moving hands as if making sure they stayed away. At last, the door opened, and a number of people stepped into the room. Two guards flanking an overly confident man in the middle, striding with almost arrogant authority as he approached Heklis. Heklis finally stopped and turned to the cocky fellow as he marched right up to the sorcerer as if he were the lord. “My Lord,” He called. Heklis snapped his head up in pure delight, causing a wicked glint to catch in his

dark eyes and an iniquitous grin to split his face. “Ah,” He cooed. “News at lassssst. I’ve been anxiously awaiting you.” And with the same anxious energy, he tossed himself with a single bound into what appeared to be a beanbag chair. The Darkman rolled his eyes, expecting trouble. “What evil delights and treats come our way?” “He’s dead, sir.” “That fool is dead, like really dead?” “Yes,” The informant who’d entered widened his eyes and brows drew together. “You didn’t know? I thought this wouldn’t be new to you. I mean when you lost connection, I thought you’d have figured it out, as you are so wise, my Lord.” “I knew I couldn’t find his head.” Heklis’s eyes glinted in utter excitement. “Did he remove his head?” “No sir, he did not.” The informant frowned. “Awwwww,” Heklis complained with all the whininess of a toddler, wiggling back into his beanbag seat. “Did he, at least, nick his neck or head or anything to do with the brain?” “No.” “Snap his neck?” “No sir. He did not harm his head, neck, or any other part having to do with his brain.” “Not even a little?” Heklis continued to complain, sitting forward and putting his fingers millimeters apart. “No sir. He just ran him through.” “Through the heart? Was it dramatic? Did he make a funny noise? Like this.” Heklis then demonstrated a truly disgusting gurgle, flopping where he sat. Heklis’s foolishness made the Darkman roll his eyes to the ceiling as if the ceiling was the only one that understood him.

The man sighed — a bit fed-up with Heklis’s antics. “No sir. I believe he did not, but I didn’t see it; it seems he just ran him through, and he fell dead.” “No bubbles in the blood or grand final elegy.” “Men give themselves their own eulogies now?” The man cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t ask,” The Darkman suddenly spoke, but it was too late; Heklis was already going off explaining that an elegy was a dramatic poem that should given as one died, and a eulogy was a poem that was given at the funeral, so his man could not have possibly have given himself a eulogy but should have given an elegy. The Darkman looked like he’d rather stick needles into his eyes then listen to this speech again: yes, again. When Heklis finally finished — after what felt like a year, and like ten years to the Darkman — the visitor was finally able to get on to his main message. “Be that as may,” The informant tried to pull the topic back to the main issue, “the enchanter killed him, and he’s dead.” “In the most boring fashion possible,” Heklis grumbled. “I beg you to inform me there were,” he paused hopefully, “at least,” he squeaked, “bubbles in the blood?” His voice went even higher at the last bit. The informant gave Heklis an exasperated look that looked like the normal expression the Darkman wore, “I don’t think so, sir. He just kind of fell over, in truth.” “No-o,” Heklis whined, flailing again. “Not even a burb bubble in the blood.” The poor informant’s face was contorted in disgust and incomprehension. “No, no bubbles in the blood or otherwise; why would you even want that? That is not a pleasant thing to think on.” The Darkman grunted unexpectedly, "I didn't sign up for pleasant when I came here." He said loud enough for them to hear, but it seemed directed more to himself. The visitor gave the Darkman a look, annoyed that he’d butt in. “I suppose we didn’t, but still, there is little glory in this,” He commented dryly, as he watched Heklis twist and writhe in complaint at the dull fashion of his minion’s death.

“Did you expect glory?” Heklis suddenly stopped and leapt to his feet; a manic glint more prominent in his eye. “There is little glory in this, only pleasure.” The smile that went with the statement made the man shudder. “Well, there is,” Heklis gripped like a child. “Wouldn’t you agree? At least, wouldn’t you, Emmerick? You must agree it’s more fun,” Heklis encouraged, as his voice jumped and skipped around the scale. “My lord, with all requisite respect, I’d be more upset that we lost a helpful comrade.” The informant tried to pull Heklis off this strange tangent. “More that we lost the only helpful comrade,” The Darkman, Emmerick, complained, again, as if to himself. “Comrade, asset, what does it matter? He surely didn’t. Did he listen to me? No, not even once, and that sealed his fate. I wanted him, and I want him,” Heklis nodded; his fingers twitching with excitement, and he started pacing the room again, but that wasn’t enough. So he started making red energy balls and bounced them off the walls. “And he rejected my order to the point of violence; it seems it’s time to break him. Break him,” Heklis snapped. As he spoke, one of the energy balls bounced off the wall and whacked one of the guards in the face. There was a pause. The only sound was the collapsing body. They all looked at the body a moment. “Oops.” Heklis broke the silence then shrugged and went on as if nothing had happened. “He’s fun and interesting, as restless as a wildfire, different, powerful. He’s…” Heklis clicked his tongue as he thought of the word. “untamed.” “I thought you liked things ‘untamed’.” Emmerick commented dryly. “No, no, I mean untamed, willing to obey, not tamed.” Heklis laughed maniacally, and the laugh echoed off the walls, encouraging others to him in a deadly chorus of demons. “Power, fun, interesting: yes, very interesting,” Heklis mused, his voice growing quiet. Emmerick braced himself for the danger, but the visitor was not as wise, so he jumped a mile when Heklis' voice went from soft to a dangerous boom. “Unlike anything else I’ve never had in far too long!” His musing turned to dark anger, making all but Emmerick quail back, but Emmerick watched as if this were a rather interesting commentary about slugs. He started studying his own finger nails. He waited until Heklis was quiet enough to speak before asking, “How long?”

Knowing this would help keep his wild master on an even keel. “Too long, too long. I want him, and I want him here and now, but he has rejected us to the point of violence: unacceptable! We must break him.” The informant suddenly looked deadly nervous, “But sir, I can’t without blowing my cover, sir; it can’t be done.” “Did I say I had any plans for you?” Heklis raged. He was in the informant’s face in a heartbeat, almost as if he’d shadowed in front of him, making the informant leap a mile. “I don’t think so! What use does a little whelp like you have in these weighty matters? None!” Heklis grabbed the spy’s arm tightly, too tightly. The informant gasped as his master’s fingernails dug into his arm, and blood began soaking into his sleeve. Heklis suddenly paused, tilting his head at the blood spots like a dog distracted by a strange fly. He tilted his head further, and slowly, a twisted smile climbed Heklis’s cheek, and a low demonic chuckle started in his chest and throat. The spy gasped as Heklis pulled the sleeve away and studied the blood which began to bubble as if it was boiling water. A few bubbles even detached and floated away. Heklis threw his head back and laughed with his echoing chorus. “Look at that! We got bubbles in the blood, after all!” And he threw the spy back into the wall. “I always get what I want.” He rapidly turned and met eyes with Emmerick. “I want the little enchanter, and there is much to do. It’s time to break him; you know what to do. Gather the team.” “What team?” Emmerick demanded, irritated. “Don’t you recall that the only good half of my team is gone?” “Get the others then, Allious and Neramith.” Emmerick glowered, “Lovely. I’m stuck with mist boy and the leach now? I hardly liked mini you, and now I get the bottom of the dung barrel.” “Mini me didn’t obey!” Heklis flew into a rage and got right up into Emmerick’s face, but Emmerick just stared back dully as if they were just talking over a chess match. Emmerick’s face was blank, slack, and bored. “Go ahead,” Emmerick invited, “but then you’ll lose the only brain your little gaggle of geese has left.”

Heklis snarled, making bits of spittle land on Emmerick’s face. As if disinterested — like a child at a business meeting — Emmerick removed the flecks with one finger. Heklis tensed, watching Emmerick’s movements with incredible fury for how small the issue was. In the blink of an eye, Heklis pulled back, and the second guard who had brought the informant in was dead on the floor. “That...is what we need,” Heklis hissed darkly, looking at the corpse at his feet. “Break him...but inside. Emmerick...you know what to do.” Emmerick sighed like a teenager told to clean his room and stood up. “Fine,” he said. “As long as blabber here stays out of my way,” Emmerick glared at the spy. “Done. Just bring it home.” Heklis smiled darkly at Emmerick. Emmerick glared right back, and with a turn of his heel, was gone.

Chapter 2

Farm Boy Etiquette

Light glittered off the jagged glass shards of a shattered clock tower face. Cedrick Custod, the young man who’d broken it, was leaning against the side of the clock face. He was tossing a gold object in his hand like a coin. Light flickered off as it spun up and down, up and down. Cedrick’s deep electric blue eyes had been gazing at the rising sun, but now looked down at the square below. Several young boys were scanning the ground for any forgotten bits of shattered glass because any piece or shard of shattered glass from that clock tower was a treasure, a token of the greatest battle of the War of Freedom, and the boys were hoping to find some bit of it to treasure themselves. Cedrick studied them for a few moments, continuing to flip the golden object as he glanced around making his eyes sparkle in the morning light. Then surreptitiously kicked a piece of glass from the bottom of the clock face down below. A flicker of a smile crossed his face as the bit of glass tumbled and rolled down before hitting the cobblestone ground. The boys heard it and rushed to get a piece for themselves. The oldest boy even broke the large piece into smaller ones so each one could have it, which made Cedrick smile to himself, glad he could give them a bigger prize. A great sigh escaped him as he looked back up at the sky again. The golden object flipped faster as the blue eyes looked at the tall tower of the government center: the building that had dominated Cedrick’s new life. A new life that wasn’t anything like he’d expected and less than what he’d wanted. Since his brother, Roxorim, was crowned king, meetings and negotiations had taken over Cedrick’s life. Mornings once filled with drills that got the heart pumping were replaced with dragging meetings about economic states, whatever that meant. Challenges to earn his father’s approval were replaced with impressing strangers Cedrick couldn’t bring himself to care about. As the official head of the

Custodian line, his time had been strained by all the demands on it, and Cedrick hated it. He kept tossing the object up and down, up and down, up and down. This was his life; a life he thought would be full of battle was now all about compromise. His life was no longer about reaching achievements but giving out empty ones to gain false friends. Cedrick sighed and caught the golden object and looked down at it, rubbing his finger over the golden phoenix: the mark of his family, the badge of honor given to them at the beginning of the world. He’d worked so hard to earn his. Endless days and nights on the field and studying. He’d taken every beating, every scolding, and he even dared losing any chance at his father’s approval that finally earned him his token. But now he had it, he felt his life didn’t live up to having it. Cedrick’s shoulders sagged a little as he studied the impressive craftsmanship of the metallic gold pin in his hand. “You up here again?” A gentle, sweet voice floated over to Cedrick’s ears, and a smile spread across Cedrick’s face as two gentle hands wrapped themselves around Cedrick’s chest and held him securely. The smile rested on his face as Cedrick turned to see the elegant sea of red that rested against his arm. Cedrick rubbed the ring on her left hand a bit before he took the arms around his chest with one hand, kissed the red head, then turned to face her better. Cedrick’s eyes became lost in the distance as he replied, “It helps me think to be up high. It’s quiet.” “Mmmm,” Elphacena knew there were more reasons but chose not to address them now; there were more important things to deal with at the moment. Cedrick felt her avoiding the point and inwardly thanked her for it. He wasn’t in the mood, and it wasn’t time to review the frustrations of his ‘new life’; at least, not as they were about to leave. He needed the peace she was offering him. “I can understand that a bit. It gives you perspective being so high, up where you can see the world. But sadly, it’s come time to land. We have to go.” Cedrick sighed from the depths of his chest, but he didn’t seem to really do anything else anymore. “Guessing that’s ours down there then,” Cedrick nodded at a carriage in the square that had been carefully loaded over the last hour or so; Cedrick had avoided looking at it, afraid of what it meant. Elphacena looked down; her cheek slid against his arm, “Yes, that’s ours. Drake

and his family are ready and waiting. We’re only waiting on you.” Slowly, Cedrick nodded, his mind turning over the plans again, “And thus it begins.” Elphacena smiled a little and nodded. “Yes Cedrick, so it does, but come on. The sooner we leave, the sooner we’ll be back.” “But back to what?” Cedrick sighed gloomily. Elphacena gave him a narrow look then kissed his cheek playfully. “You’ll never know unless you go there, and I’m sure you’ll want to because that’s where I’ll be.” She pulled back, took his hand, and pulled him gently towards her and the door. “We’ll try this new adventure together.” Cedrick smiled, a bit cheered up, and moved to kiss her cheek, but she wasn’t going to make it that easy for him. She dodged it and pulled him down the steps, indicating if he wanted a kiss, he’d have to catch her. Cedrick appreciated her trying and let her drag him down the stairs, across the hall and the wall, and down to the main street where the group was waiting. Quimby, Roxorim’s best friend and right-hand man, was making sure all was in order while Capt. Drake looked over some paperwork to make sure they had the itinerary all in order. His wife, Sarai, was standing close to him, peering over his shoulder. Normally, Cedrick would question the captain's choice to take his family, but the court not only wanted a military officer to recruit but to give the impression it was now safe to travel freely again by all the officials bringing their families. The captain didn’t like the idea, but his wife Sarai did and that was that. As Cedrick and Elphacena approached, Quimby looked up and smiled through his bright red beard. “There you are, Cedrick, late as always I see.” He teased warmly, “Your brother and sister should be along soon. Currently, they’re meeting with the General, but both said they’d be here soon.” “Right, they’re having all the fun,” Cedrick muttered darkly. Quimby laughed. “I think they’d disagree. You’re the one having fun traveling to parties and seeing the country, meeting the locals.”

“Getting all the delicious food,” A strong, warm voice said two feet above Cedrick’s shoulder, making it impossible to mistake who it was. “Of course, it’s about the food for you, Rox.” Cedrick chuckled and turned to face his elder brother, who beamed through his beard and down at him. Roxorim was almost seven feet tall and built like a Viking, making Cedrick look like a shrimp. Then again, so did Quimby, but he was only six and a half feet at best, whereas Roxorim likely was teasing seven feet when he tried. “Why don’t you go?” “Ask him.” Roxorim jerked a thumb at Quimby. “I’d go in a heartbeat.” “You’re needed here, the only man with the right to rule, who has no heir, yet needs good security. There’s very little security on the road. As you’re a man who fits that description, you’re staying here.” “But Head Custod can go, no trouble,” Cedrick protested. “Yes, he can defend himself and is less likely to be attacked.” Quimby nodded. “I hate you both,” Cedrick sighed as Roxorim rolled his eyes. It wasn’t like Roxorim wasn’t raised as strictly as Cedrick or anything. “With all that out in the open, you ready to go?” Roxorim asked, looking around. Cedrick gave another deep sigh and started playing with the crest in his left hand. “I guess so. Ready to raise your new money system, if you’ve done your part. You do have your talent scouts out, right?” “Don’t worry; we already have a good Sparkle Ball team here and in a local town to kick off the sporting events and several plays casted in the works; all we need now is the money to start them, so don’t let us down.” “Don’t worry; I’ll beg for every stupid gem they’ve got. Don’t you worry about that,” Cedrick said. “Hey, that’s what you get for coming up with the nation's name,” Roxorim teased. “It was just so I could call you King of Emilimoh.”

“But you found the name and it has a nice meaning,” Roxorim grinned. “Now you’re the wise one.” “I’m the wise one, so I have to go beg for gems?” Cedrick cocked an eyebrow. “So now you’re condescending to stealing?” Arylana’s voice teased as she stood beside her brother, towering over her as always. “I thought we taught you better, Cedrick.” “He thinks fundraising is begging.” Roxorim said. “I just meant asking them to give us gems. I said nothing about stealing. That is your idea. I thought you were raised better,” Cedrick retorted, trying to tease, but he just wasn’t into it. Arylana hid her frown best she could, but she could tell living this strange life was starting to get him down. If anyone needed a trip away, it was Cedrick. “Well, I just wanted to wish you good luck and make sure all was well,” Roxorim sighed. “I’ll see you soon, little bro. Don’t get us in too much trouble,” He teased before he left. “Please give us the same courtesy, your highness.” Cedrick actually smiled as Roxorim left. He heard Roxorim chuckle at the tease, which made Cedrick feel quite proud of himself. “Well, looks like you’re all set, and I’m of no further use to you,” Arylana said cheerfully. “So I’ll do the same as Rox and wish you luck, but more importantly, remind you.” Cedrick cocked an eyebrow. “Remind me of what?” “The same as always: don’t die,” She teased with a flick of her blonde ponytail as she turned and left. Cedrick chuckled himself. Of course. She always made sure to remind him of that before each battle and any time she’d not see him for a while. “Can’t make any promises.” He gave the obligatory reply but not without gusto. This game had come to cheer him up rather than frustrate him as it used to. “Sisters.” He muttered as an after complaint.

Elphacena rolled her eyes. “Oh please, you love it. Don’t try to tell me otherwise.” “How would you know?” Cedrick challenged. Elphacena was an only child after all. “I don’t,” Elphacena sighed and cast her eyes about for a change of topic. With a little giggle, she found one and pulled on Cedrick’s arm to point it out. “Look who’s causing trouble.” Drake and Sarai were still overlooking last minute plans as Quimby went over the list with them, but that wasn’t what Elphacena had noticed. Dancing around his parents’ feet was a cute little eight-year-old boy doing exactly what Elphacena said he was doing: causing trouble, nearly tripping orderlies and trying to get his mother’s attention. The sight made Cedrick chuckle and went over to the boy's parents. “We ready?” Cedrick asked, glancing down at the boy running around. The poor boy let out a little yelp and hid behind his mother’s skirt, making her look down and smile tenderly at her boy around her pregnant belly. “I think so,” Drake nodded. “Just to climb on board and actually leave, and hopefully, we’ll hit our next…” He stopped when he saw Cedrick glancing at the boy every few seconds and smirked. Drake had already warned Cedrick about the boy, so Cedrick was rather looking forward to this meeting. Cedrick saw his cue and smiled. “Well hello, who is this?” Cedrick addressed the boy peeking over his mother’s skirt, but the moment Cedrick spoke, the face vanished. Sarai gave her son a reprimanding look, “Aleph, that’s rude.” She scolded gently. “You can come out and introduce yourself.” Nervously, the boy, Aleph, peeked back over the fabric, but only his eyes showed over the material. “Aleph.” He gave his name quickly and ducked behind his mother once more. Cedrick chuckled, “What? I didn’t hear it. What is your name?” “M-my name is Aleph,” Aleph said, turning pink on the part of his face that was

visible to Cedrick. “Oh, well it’s nice to meet you Aleph. I’m Cedrick.” Aleph giggled shyly. “I know that,” He said. “You’re a Custod.” Cedrick noticed Aleph’s little foot was teasing the sand below him. “Hey, how did you know that?” Cedrick asked in mock expression of shock. Aleph laughed, “You goof head. You’re famous; everyone knows you.” “What? Really? No way. How?” Cedrick looked around wildly as if in surprise, noticing that as he played, Aleph slowly let the skirt drop and came out as they spoke. “That can’t be true.” “Yes, it is,” Aleph insisted. “You beat the man who pretended to be Heklis. Didn’t you know that?” “I did that!” Cedrick asked. “Really? Cena, did you know that? I didn’t know that!” This game left Aleph laughing so hard he had to hold his sides. “You knew that. You’re just a stupid, silly head. Of course, you know everyone does.” Cedrick frowned at Aleph. “Oh dear. I better be careful then. if everyone knows who I am, because I don’t know who everyone else is.” Aleph giggled again shyly. He then glanced at his father who nodded his permission, but immediately regretted it as the floodgates were opened, and a rush of questions erupted from the small boy as they got into the carriage and left the town. Aleph couldn’t keep quiet. He kept asking about every rumor and story he’d ever heard about Cedrick and asked if it was true. Did he use ice to kill people? Did he really turn into a dragon? Could he write with both his left and right hand? Did Heklis really turn blue when he saw him?, and it went on and on. Sarai and Drake kept giving Cedrick apologetic looks, but Cedrick actually enjoyed it with Aleph asking him a million questions and just being so adorable, most of all because Cedrick had never had a little brother or sister to interact with. He felt the trip was quite pleasant. Before long, Cedrick started playing

games to keep Aleph and himself busy, which both greatly enjoyed, but to the dismay of Sarai and to the consternation of Elphacena. She knew Cedrick was naturally childish, so she was careful not to let him go over-bored. After a few days, Sarai tried getting Aleph to draw to quiet him down and get Cedrick out of being so childish, but it didn’t work very well. Aleph got bored with the coloring quickly, and Cedrick was more than happy to fill in the void with silly games. They folded the paper and tried to get it into random gaps in the carriage like between headrests, in the decorations, out the window, secretly, between Drake’s head and the cushion behind it, between Aleph’s parents, and into the folds of any fabrics they could find. It was fun at first, until it got out of hand when Aleph got a bit too eager with the game. He tried to get the paper between his mother’s book and the bump that was the baby in her belly. Cedrick tried to warn him against it, but Aleph did it before Cedrick could finish warning him. The paper bounced off her book, hit Drake in the face, bounced off and almost fell down Sarai’s bodice. The boys couldn’t help themselves and burst into laughter, waking Elphacena, who backed up Sarai telling them off. “That’s enough. Both of you. For the Merlin’s sake, how old are you, Cedrick?” Sarai scolded. Cedrick repressed a smile and shrugged, not having an answer that would soothe her. “Aw, but mother,” Aleph protested, but it didn’t do any good, Sarai put an end to this game anyway. So Cedrick started a new game by balancing random objects on their noses, but this also ended badly as Aleph tried a water canteen, and it fell and spilled all over his mother. Cedrick and Aleph were on time-out after that. Well, so to speak. They just weren’t allowed to sit next to each other, but not even that lasted long. The next day, they were at it again, and Sarai was already starting to get fed up, so Elphacena gave them a mini rubber ball to play with. This was rather dull until Drake had a rather brilliant idea of throwing the ball to one another and trying to make sure the girls didn’t see. This lasted longer than any of them expected. The only reason it stopped was because Aleph lost it to giggles as they tossed the ball right under his mother’s nose from Cedrick to Drake while Cedrick was talking to Sarai. That’s when Aleph lost it, and Sarai turned to him, frowning. “What are you laughing at, young man?” Then she spotted the ball again. “What is going on?”

Elphacena intercepted the ball from Drake to Cedrick. “Cedrick Custod, what is this?” Elphacena held up the ball, so they could see it, cocking a brow to find out what was funny. “Ah...It looks like a ball of a rubbery substance,” Cedrick replied. Elphacena narrowed her eyes at him dangerously, “Yes, but where did it come from?” “Well, I’d imagine from rubber,” Cedrick said. Elphacena bounced the ball off his forehead. “You know what I mean. Where did he get it?” “Which he? Ow.” Elphacena hit Cedrick with the ball again. “What? Do you mean Drake or Aleph?” Elphacena paused; that was actually a good question. “Either one,” She said. “Ow, from you. You gave it to me, ?” Cedrick rubbed his forehead from the sting. “We were just playing with it! That's all.” Elphacena groaned, tired of this game. “I know that, but I mean, where did Aleph get it so that he giggled like that? Come on.” “Um, ask Aleph,” Cedrick tried, but Elphacena’s face told him he was failing, so he tried again. “I mean we were playing with it like you told us to.” “Mm-um, so what were you doing?” Elphacena pressed. Drake answered, “We were playing ‘don’t let the ladies find the ball’, and Aleph couldn’t hold back the laughter because we’ve been winning for hours.” Sarai started laughing, and Elphacena sighed and — trying to be playful — she tossed the ball to Sarai; Aleph squealed and dove for the ball which made Sarai shriek and toss the ball in the air. All three boys lunged for it. The rocking they made forced the carriage to stop to keep from tipping over, and — needless to say — the game ended there.

*****

Five days later, they were finally able to stop in a village — instead of camping on the side of the road or attempting to sleep inside the carriage (never a fun idea when you have five people). It was a pleasant change they were all looking forward to: most of all Drake who woke with a crick in his neck almost every morning which made Aleph laugh and call him old. Cedrick would then start defending Drake until the topic was all but forgotten. Most of the others were already asleep as they rode into the quaint little village. Cedrick was gazing out the window, enjoying the breeze when a magical sound met his ears: a sound like he’d never heard the like of before. He couldn’t find words grand enough for it. He froze as it struck his ear and started to sink into his heart, making him feel happy and pleasant, just like the sound. “What...what is that?” Cedrick asked, captivated as he tried to find where the sound came from. Elphacena lifted her head and looked at her husband, brows furrowed in confusion. “Sound? What do you mean; what sound?” “I don’t know, just that sound. That amazing sound,” Cedrick tried to explain as his eyes scanned for the source of the noise. He spotted what he was looking for and pointed excitedly. “There. That sound they are making.” There was a troupe of players that had a diverse collection of instruments: a violin, drums, flute, and other wind instruments, and a young woman singing and dancing to the tune. “Those people are making that sound. What is it? It’s amazing! Like nothing I’ve heard before.” Elphacena stuck her head out to see what Cedrick was pointing at, and her jaw dropped as she saw what it was. “You don’t mean that music, do you?” “Music? That’s music, really?” Cedrick had heard of music before, but he’d never really thought about it other than hearing birds sing, and this sound was almost as pleasant but in a distinct way from the birds’ song. “Is that like a people song?” Elphacena burst out laughing, unable to believe what she was hearing her husband say. “You’ve really never heard music before, ever? Your father or sister

never sang to you or anything? What about the trumpets at Roxorim’s coronation?” “That was music? I thought it was how people howled to show pride and power, you know like wolves.” Cedrick explained, and Elphacena lost it to laughter again. Cedrick frowned. “Am I doing something wrong?” He asked. “No, no, Cedrick. You’re not doing anything wrong. It’s just,” she paused to laugh a little more, “Your farm boy is really showing, that’s all.” Cedrick’s frown deepened. How was it showing? It must be showing severely now by the way she was laughing. Cedrick never knew if she meant it as a compliment or an insult, but he paid attention to it nonetheless. Elphacena finally managed to get herself back to normal. “Well, do you like it?” Cedrick’s eyes lit up as if they were struck by dazzling fireworks, and his nod was as enthusiastic as a child accepting candy, which made Elphacena laugh again. Once she was calm, Cedrick beamed. “Yes, I like it. I love it, and I want to hear and see more of it.” “Good, you’ll hear a lot over the next few…” Elphacena suddenly stopped as if a rather startling revelation overcame her. “Oh dear. Cedrick, do you know how to dance?” Worried by Elphacena’s expression, Cedrick slowly shook his head. “Cena, I didn’t even know that was music. You think I have a clue how to formally dance?” “Sorry,” She itted his point. “So you haven’t danced or seen anyone dance?” She made sure. Once again, Cedrick shook his head. “Maybe, I wouldn’t know.” Elphacena scooted closer to the window and pointed to the woman who was singing and dancing in the troupe. “You see that girl? The movements she’s making to the music is one form of dance or dancing, if that makes more sense. You’re going to need to do partner dancing during a lot of the parties. It’s traditional, and you may offend someone if you don’t at least do something. Don’t worry. I’ll be with you the whole time. I’ll have to find a way to teach you in time.”

“Oh well, doing it with you would be good,” Cedrick tried to be optimistic. “And I like music, and I’d like to try dancing.” “You’ll like it. Maybe I can get that troupe to play while I teach you.” Elphacena sat back to think over plans. Cedrick watched her for a moment with a hint of a smile. She just looked so beautiful while she thought, and the setting sunlight highlighted her red hair stunningly. Cedrick didn’t care what she was teaching as long as he got to do it with her. He sat back and let the music fill his mind. He closed his eyes to enjoy it until they arrived at the inn. Once they settled in and had dinner, Elphacena pulled Cedrick aside into a room that was meant for events. As promised, a troupe of players was ready. Cedrick tilted his head at them and stepped forward a bit as if to get a better look but stopped, knowing Elphacena wouldn’t like that much. Elphacena smirked a little, knowing what Cedrick had been thinking. “Let’s get started.” She pulled Cedrick to the center, and, offhandedly, told the players to play an upbeat dance tune. The head player actually asked what type of dance, to which Elphacena simply said “social.” She then turned all her attention to her husband, taking his hand, and placing it on her upper back and holding his other hand in hers, then she put her hand just under the muscle on his arm. “This is a closed hold,” She said. “And it’s the basic of most any dance we’ll do. As we go on, I’ll likely show you others, but I want to start here with a basic box step as that is the most common for popular partner dances these days.” And she carefully walked Cedrick through each step, thinking he’d struggle with it, but he took to it like a fish to water or a bird to the air. He naturally made the small adjustments needed, holding his arm firm to keep them at a proper distance and keeping her a bit to the side to speed up and simplify rotations. Elphacena was stunned that he took to it so well and so fast as if he was only being retaught. In fact, he started going into steps she hadn’t taught him yet. If the music was playing, it seemed he just knew what to do, and he was leading. For a while, Elphacena just let him go, not commenting on it, but when he started to execute a rather complicated set of turns, she stopped. “Alright, you were pulling my arm. You know how to dance, don’t you?”

Cedrick paused, “No, I’m sorry. Did I do something wrong?” Cedrick frowned, and Elphacena realized he meant it. He really didn’t know, but he also didn’t seem to care. He was having an enjoyable time. He tried to start dancing again, but she stopped him, stunned. “No, let’s try something a bit different.” “Okay.” Cedrick seemed overexcited by the idea. Elphacena tested him by teaching him a shadow position step, then an open hold position, steadily getting harder to see when he started to slip up.But as long as there was music to dance to, he seemed to just know what to do, and it dumbfounded his rather enchanted wife. She didn’t have to teach him many of the steps. He just did it. “Do you know you’re leading?” Elphacena asked as they finished a rather complicated twist set that had taken Elphacena a whole lesson as a girl to learn. “Leading?” Cedrick’s brow furrowed as he came in and closed the close hold and went back into a rotating box step. “Yes, it means you’re guiding me, leading what steps go next, and initiating new steps,” Elphacena explained as he twirled her right to the music. “It’s traditionally the man’s role in partner dancing, and you supposedly know less than I do, but you lead like a teacher.” “Uh...I just follow the music like I do magic,” Cedrick confessed as he held her close. “Oh really?” Elphacena smiled a little. “What does that mean?” Cedrick looked up as he thought about how to explain it, but it didn’t slow or impede his dancing one bit. “Well,” he twirled her around, “It’s like magic — the music I mean. Magic sends the energy into you or into things to exchange information or energy, and the music does the same thing only it shares it in the sounds you hear. Dancing is like working with magic, only the music is the guide and your partner the magic. It’s very intimate like that I mean.”

Elphacena giggled at Cedrick’s sudden shyness in his analogy, but it was accurate and rather beautiful. If she wasn’t already married to him, she would have thought he was trying to charm her, but he wasn’t. He was just being his strangely innocent and sweet self. He really was like a little child. Did he know how odd he was? How deeply in tune with magic? Elphacena had never known anyone else who had such insight and yet foolishness. It was endearing and delightful. Cedrick gave her a sheepish smile. “So...I can dance?” Elphacena smiled and chuckled a little. “Oh yes, Cedrick. You can dance very well. In fact, I wouldn’t just say you can dance.” She pulled close to him in their hold. “You can do more than dance; you are a dancer.” And she kissed him, a kiss Cedrick melted into, lost to the simple joy of that evening.

Chapter 3

Badger Bonding

Though Cedrick didn’t seem to need it, Elphacena kept true to her word and practiced with Cedrick every chance they got. It was intended to be a time to work and be ready for the part of a courier, but it turned into fun, magical nights. Each night, Elphacena showed him a new style and just watched, enchanted, as he quickly picked it up and danced with her through the night like a pro. She loved his instinctive style, and though she didn’t it it to him, she was quite glad she’d claimed him before. And even more glad he proudly bore their wedding band with such pride. It only got better and better as the trip went on. Even his stupid games with Aleph were endearing because it expressed so well the man she fell in love with: strong, mature, sweet, and childlike (even when it bordered on childish). Yet, at the same time, this trip seemed to be growing a power and maturity in him that blended with his childlike nature into a man that made Elphacena’s heart skip a beat to think about. Aleph was even more hyper than Cedrick was, and Cedrick tried to get it out of him by letting him teach him how to play Sparkleball then Zipperball. Cedrick had to learn how to play less rough. He learned this the hard way when Aleph copied his energy and kicked the ball too hard so it flew into the forest behind them. “I got it!” Aleph cried and raced after it. Cedrick expected him to stay in sight, but soon the boy was out of range. Cedrick’s brow furrowed as he went further into the trees, then he heard a little whimper in the canopy above him. He looked up to see Aleph clinging to a tree

branch. “Aleph, are you okay?” Cedrick frowned and got ready to climb up after him, but Aleph shook his head frantically. “It’s okay. I’m a good climber. I’ll just…” “Don’t look,” Aleph pleaded in a piteous whimper. Cedrick frowned then spotted what Aleph was afraid of. A giant badger sat on a limb opposing Aleph. The branch below had broken, and the ball was just above Aleph’s head. Aleph was trapped. “Shhh. It’s okay, Aleph,” Cedrick began to assure him in a quiet voice, so the badger wouldn’t wake up because not only was it huge, but its claws were even bigger. Aleph shook his head. “No, no, you can’t see,” He insisted. Cedrick’s brows drew closer together. “Why not?” A little, sad sniff came from the branches. Cedrick, at first, thought it was the badger, but then realized, it was a rather ashamed-looking Aleph, “Because you can’t see me like this. You’re supposed to like me and think I’m strong.” Cedrick’s shoulders slumped in sympathy and understanding. He knew exactly how that felt and had felt it every day of his life while trying to win his father’s love. “Aleph,” Cedrick tried to sound loving and assuring, “I don’t think any the less of you because you got stuck. It happens to the best of us, and you were just trying to get the ball.” “I didn’t see the badger, and when I did, I got down, and the branch broke.” Aleph swallowed so hard Cedrick could hear it. “I-I’m s-scared, Cedrick.” “Don’t be,” Cedrick declared gently but firmly. “I’m not going to let you get hurt. You understand?” With a sniff, Aleph nodded, looking down at him, “But why?” “Because…” Cedrick said slowly to keep from waking the badger and assure the child. “I’m here to protect you. That’s why I like you, and I’m not going to let

you get hurt. Hold still, and I’ll get you.” Cedrick looked around for a way to get Aleph down safely. “Aleph, I need you to go up, to where the ball was. I know it sounds funny, but trust me.” Aleph nodded, and holding the ball tightly made the climb, making a few leaves fall. One of these leaves fell onto the badger’s nose, and it sniffed it off, but thank the Father, stayed asleep. Cedrick breathed a sigh of relief and nodded his encouragement to Aleph until he got to the branch Cedrick had directed him to. Another branch broke off. It was just a twig, but it made the badger snarl, which made Aleph let out a little squeal of fright. “Aleph,” Cedrick said firmly. “Aleph, don’t be scared. Look at me; Aleph, look at me.” Cedrick was loving, but harsh in his tone because Aleph had to listen to him. Aleph sniffed, and trembling, looked down at Cedrick. “I-I can’t.” “Yes, you can. I’ll make sure you make it. On my life, I will. But you have to trust me. I’m right here for you, and I will protect you: always,” Cedrick promised. “Now you have the ball?” Aleph nodded in response. “Good boy, you’re doing great. Amazing. Now come out to the edge of the branch away from the badger.” Aleph nodded and did as asked, but a smaller section of the branch broke and fell, and to their luck, fell onto the badger, waking it up in a bad mood. Aleph gasped in fear as it stood up, snarling and looking up to have its crazed, yellow eyes land on Aleph. Its hiss made even Cedrick shudder, and the beast’s fur stood on edge as it growled again and moved up towards Aleph. Aleph screamed and covered his head with his arms. “Cedrick, help me!” He screamed. Without a second thought, Cedrick jumped and grabbed onto the first branch, but he knew his instinctive plan was even too slow, and there was only one way to get Aleph down in time. “Aleph, you have to jump to me!” “What?!” Aleph’s scream was loud enough to make birds fly off in fright. “Aleph, you have to jump. I will catch you. I promise I’ll never let you down and will always have you, but you must trust me and jump. Aleph, jump!”

Cedrick saw the badger just behind Aleph; the boy had mere seconds. Aleph looked from Cedrick to the killer badger and back again before taking a deep breath and making the leap. Cedrick caught him, but the boy’s speed made them both fall off the limb Cedrick had foolishly jumped onto; however, Cedrick made sure to land on the bottom so Aleph was cushioned by Cedrick’s body, though it sent a spasm of pain through Cedrick’s spine. “Are you okay?” Cedrick asked the moment Aleph landed. The question coming out with the air Aleph’s fall forced out of him. “Yeah,” Aleph laughed, “That was awesome!” And he hugged Cedrick tight around the neck, but Cedrick was painfully aware this wasn’t over yet. The badger was already after them. “Run!” Cedrick shot to his feet, grabbed Aleph, tossed him over his back and ran for it, only thinking to get Aleph out of there. He was impressed Aleph still held the ball as Cedrick felt it bouncing off his back as he ran. When Cedrick burst from the tree line, the others watched him in confusion. They’d just finished packing up to leave, and it looked like they’d been calling the two boys to come back. Meanwhile, Aleph was laughing in delight. “Again!” He squealed. “Do you want the badger to eat you?!” Cedrick demanded. “Um...yeah,” Aleph nodded, but Cedrick ignored his stupid comment. He dove for the carriage and flopped onto the floor, panting. “Cedrick Custod, what in all creation is going on?” Elphacena demanded. “We’re being chased by an evil badger!” Aleph declared as if he was announcing they’d invented the best play for Sparkleball ever. “What?” Elphacena looked at Cedrick. “There is an evil badger as big as a wolf back there,” Cedrick said. “And we’re being chased by it. Aleph woke it when getting the ball back, so unless you want to fight it, we should run.”

Sarai was getting into the carriage just as the badger appeared, and it was truly massive, so much so that Drake leapt into the carriage at the mere sight of it. “What did you do?” Drake demanded. Aleph excitedly told his father the story as they all scrambled into the carriage to make a run for it. “You poked the badger?!” “No, it was in the tree, papa, and I was climbing it. Cedrick helped me down.” “And it’s not done with us. Go, go!” Cedrick insisted as Aleph rattled off the story. “Yeah! And I had to jump, and I thought I’d die, it was so high!” “It wasn’t that bad,” Cedrick tried to cover for Aleph to his mother, so she’d not get worked up at him, but she wasn’t thinking about that. “Explain later. For now, let’s leave before…” Then she let out an ear-splitting scream as the badger jumped at the window. They all screamed. “There it is!” Aleph declared as if saying his new pet dog had arrived. In that moment, Cedrick decided he hated children as he went to the window and punched the badger across the hairy, spit-infested snout, knocking it from the window as the carriage took off. Aleph threw his head out the window, “It’s still following us! Come on, ugly! Cedrick will beat you!” “Aleph Durman! Get back in here!” Sarai yanked Aleph inside. Elphacena was giving Cedrick a death glare, and Cedrick shrugged innocently. “Well...it wasn’t the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.” He defended himself. As he did, the badger finally gave up and headed home. That did get a laugh out of Elphacena, and thankfully, neither boy got into trouble over the affair, though Aleph sure was proud of his new ‘Custod Story’. He was still going on about it when they camped out under the summer stars that

night. Well, while the adults did. Aleph’s parents fell asleep in moments, and Elphacena fell asleep snuggled up to her husband, while listening to Cedrick talk to Aleph in a deep, soothing voice in order to let the others sleep, while Aleph kept bouncing like an overexcited baby. After a while, Aleph stopped and looked at Cedrick lying on the bed roll with his apparently sleeping wife and tilted his head like a puppy. “Why are you just sitting there?” He complained. Cedrick yawned hugely, making Elphacena smile a little in her sleep. She liked the feeling of his chest rising and falling. “I’m tired,” Cedrick chuckled. “Aren’t you after all we did today?” Aleph frowned and shook his head. “I’m bored.” “Even after the adventure with the badger?” “Yeah,” Aleph whined that same whine that was starting to get on Cedrick’s nerves. “Oh my. You really are a ball of energy, aren’t you?” Cedrick teased. He kept telling himself he didn’t like kids, but clearly, he couldn’t help himself. Aleph sighed exasperatedly, quite amusing for an eight-year-old, and flopped next to Cedrick cross-legged, holding his ankles. “I don’t know; I’m bored.” He started to rock back and forth. “Well, it’s good. Enjoy it while you’re young,” Cedrick said. “Besides, if you’re this bored, you’ll fall right asleep.” “Why don’t you just play me to sleep?” Aleph perked up hopefully. “Play to sleep? How does that work?” Cedrick asked. “We play until we’re too tired and fall asleep.” “I don’t think so.” “Why not?”

"Because I don’t want to wake her up, and I belong to her.” Cedrick said. “And that matters more to me than playing.” “She owns you?” Aleph pulled a face. Cedrick laughed. “Sort of. I belong to her, and she belongs to me. We’re a couple, and we made a promise to each other. Because of that, we belong to each other forever: me to her, and she to me.” Aleph stuck out his tongue. “That would be miserable to be stuck with a girl.” “No, it isn’t. It’s great. One day, you’ll understand. Sure we fight, but being together forever helps us stay faithful to each other, and that brings the best joy. We can’t ever be apart now because of those promises, which makes it easier to get through hard times knowing you have to work together to keep that forever bond.” “That doesn’t make sense,” Aleph insisted. “You should stop and get free like me.” “I can’t. The promises I made are forever, and I wouldn’t have it any other way, and it helps knowing that you can’t just run out of it. It means I have to face the trouble, and I’m very glad it makes me do that.” “Really, no way out ever?” Aleph seemed horrified and hopeful at the same time, which made Cedrick a bit curious. “Never.” Cedrick shook his head. “My mom and dad too?” “Yes. Once you’re married, it’s forever.” Cedrick assured him. “Even when they fight?” “Yeah.” “Oh…” Aleph looked at his feet. “Why?” Cedrick studied him carefully.

“My mama and papa fight sometimes,” Aleph said, “and I wonder what happens then.” “Well...it may be hard, but because of their promises, they’re together forever,” Cedrick said. “I’d not worry.” “Okay.” Aleph kept watching his feet, and after a little while, Aleph spoke again. “What is it like to have a big brother?” “Mmm?” Cedrick had almost fallen asleep. “To have a big brother! The king is your big brother. Is that good?” Aleph asked. “Oh...well it’s good, and…” Cedrick shrugged. “I don’t know any different. It was nice I guess. Helped me deal with my dad.” “What about a sister?” Aleph made a face, “to have a big sister?” “It’s alright, I guess better because I don’t have a mom, so it was nice to have some girl...I guess. I don’t know any different, so I don’t know.” Cedrick itted. Aleph swallowed and glanced at his sleeping parents. “What about a little brother? Did you ever want one?” Cedrick sighed, “I don’t know. My mom died when I was born, so I never thought about it; it wasn’t possible for me.” “Oh...but if you could...would you...want a little brother?” Aleph asked, a bit hopefully. “I guess so,” Cedrick smiled a bit, raising his head slightly to look at Aleph. When he did, he noticed a little yawn escape the boy. “Alright, come on to bed now.” He said. “I don’t want to.” Aleph pouted and threw himself back. “Would you want a little sister? That wouldn’t be good would it?” “Aleph,” Cedrick sighed. “It will be fun to be a big brother no matter if it’s to a brother or sister. Now it’s late, and you’re tired.”

“I don’t want to,” Aleph yawned. “You don’t have to leave. Come, sit with me.” Cedrick invited Aleph to get under the blanket on his other side. “Can I?” “Sure, come on,” Cedrick gestured Aleph over. Carefully, Aleph crept closer and cuddled into Cedrick’s other side. Elphacena let out a contented sigh and slept on. “See? It’s nice.” Cedrick assured him. “Go to sleep.” “Um-um,” Aleph shook his head sleepily, his eyes already closed. Cedrick smiled a little and got an idea. He tried to hum some music to soothe him to sleep. It worked, and soon, the boy was fast asleep against him, making Cedrick smile. Aleph looked so sweet and innocent in his sleep, and if anything, even younger. “Sleep well.” Cedrick kissed his blond hair and settled more comfortably into his wife. “Cedrick?” Aleph said softly. “Yeah?” Cedrick asked. “Are you my big brother?” He asked sleepily. “Sure.” Cedrick smiled and secured the blanket around him. “I’m always there to protect you.” “Big brother protector.” Aleph smiled in his mostly asleep state. “Mine.” He rubbed his head into Cedrick’s side and fell into a full sleep. “That’s right.” Cedrick smiled. “Always there to protect you.”

*****

They arrived in their first city the next day. Aleph was wiggling around like a lost squirrel in excitement. The boy was bouncing around the carriage like the ball Elphacena let them play with. To calm him down, Cedrick had them play on the side during the tryouts for the sports teams. It drew more attention to it. Cedrick hoped that made Roxorim and the others happy. He could do ‘play marketing’. These kinds of improvised events seemed to annoy Garlin, the man in charge of this city’s events, but he didn't dare try to correct Cedrick as he was not only the famous enchanter, but the king's brother and most famous Custod. The poor coordinator didn't want to get in trouble for crossing him. But he did insist Cedrick and the rest arrive on time to the events people paid for, which got Cedrick out of a fifth game with Aleph, but put him into an even more frightening spot. "I can't do this." Cedrick stared at his own pale reflection in the full-length mirror displaying him in full formal attire, attire he was very familiar with. (After ruining the first set fighting with Heklis’s double, he had to endure the tailor, Trenton, fighting to make new ones that fit. Cedrick had endured many pokes and pins to be sure this one fit and wouldn’t get ruined. Cedrick had endured one too many fittings.) Cedrick had been nervous for these parties before, but that was nothing compared to now; even battle nerves didn't feel this. "Why not?" Elphacena asked calmly as she helped Cedrick adjust the last minute touches on his formal uniform. This time it was made to fit and let him move, unlike the last set, which he'd all but destroyed in his battle with Heklis's fake a few months before. "I see no reason you can't handle this," She smirked seductively. "After all, you handle me just fine." She kissed him, hoping to inspire him to some confidence, but it only lasted as long as the kiss. Cedrick swallowed as she pulled back. "I...I just can't. I can't do this." “And what is this?” Elphacena asked. “A... people person.” Cedrick tried. “You’re not a people person?” Elphacena raised an eyebrow. “I don’t do crowds, or strangers, but I do, sadly, do making a fool of myself.”

Cedrick replied. “I’m a warrior not... whatever you’d call this.” "That's not a reason, honey." Elphacena said as she flattened down the fabric over his chest. "And because it's not a reason. My reason is your a powerful, capable Custod. I wouldn't stress so much." "Are you sure? Because I am very far from sure." Cedrick said. "I'm a warrior, not...not this." "You're not a warrior; you're a Custod, and that is different. I didn't think I could go back and face the resistance after what they accused me of, but because of you, I was able to do it, and now I'll do the same for you. You'll be okay. You had me then, and I have you now," She kissed his cheek. "Really?" "Really, you will be amazing. One thing I know is this will be a night to ." Elphacena assured him as she finished making her finishing touches on his uniform. "Likely, but why it will be a night to is going to be the question," Cedrick sighed. "I know why it will be." Elphacena grinned mischievously, and leaned close to his ear, her long red hair tickling his neck and her breath making him shudder as her breath slid down his ear and neck. "Your only job is to sweep me off my feet." She teased his neck with the tips of her fingers before pulling back and walking out, leaving her husband a bit dazed. "Wait, what?" Cedrick shook himself, realizing she'd slipped into the party already and his only choice to please her was to follow and take her challenge, which only made Cedrick's heart pound in nervousness. That did not make this task easier. He didn't want to meet all these people, and that was what he feared, but he also knew that's what the people had paid for: to get to meet him. With a deep breath to steady himself, Cedrick pushed open the doors and stepped into the party, and what a party it was! Cedrick had never seen so much finery in one place in his life: the chandler sparkled with what he thought must be gold; the tables were decorated in silver. The women wore more gems than Cedrick had seen in his life, and the men were just as bedazzled in precious stones for

buttons. Their cuffs had large ornaments of what Cedrick thought was wood but would find out were different types of ivory from many different animals. The room echoed with music and the resounding claps of the dancers. The crowd and glamor overwhelmed Cedrick, and he froze like a deer in a standoff with a predator. He may have even stopped breathing. He felt the pressure of what he was supposed to be and do with all these people. There were so many. Cedrick had only ever seen so many when he was in a battle, and that didn't help his nerves at all. His eyes darted around desperately to spot his wife, something to his nerves. "Sir Custod!" A voice Cedrick knew called, but it was not the voice of his wife. It was Emissary Zef, the emissary for the city. Cedrick had met him in meetings with his brother before, he was not an unwelcome face, but Cedrick really was hoping to get a hold of his wife. However, he smiled at the emissary as he came over, and Zef put an arm around Cedrick's shoulders. Cedrick felt his neck hair prickle. He was not comforted by the arm around his shoulder, though Cedrick expected that was the emissary's intention. "Glad I spotted you. Your wife and I were just waiting over there. Come along." Emissary Zef led them over to a small group that was chatting with his wife. Elphacena beamed at Cedrick and went over to hug him, "Took you long enough." Cedrick chuckled a little nervously into her neck, which made Elphacena frown. The knot in Cedrick's stomach was as tight as ever, and he could feel his hands shaking a little. "It's alright. I'm here, and I know you can do this, so hang tight, and it will be over soon." Cedrick nodded. But he still prayed that no one would try to talk to him too much, as Elphacena led him to the others and introduced them, but in his nervousness, Cedrick didn't hear the names, and he became even more nervous. What would they think if he couldn't recall their names? In his unease, Cedrick had trouble focusing on the speaker’s face. He kept looking across the emissaries jacket patterns that almost blended into his waist coat. The elder of the three men chuckled. “It must be overwhelming to meet so many people of high rank in one night.”

Cedrick shrugged. His eyes snapped up to the man’s wrinkled face but then they darted to the twist of his tie. He glanced at the emissary’s cravat and noticed the knots were quite different. His eyes finally returned to the man’s face, noticing the harsh look of his white hair being pulled into a ponytail. “Guess after you’ve fought crowds in battle new friends aren’t a problem.” The group laughed good naturedly. Cedrick only wished that were true. But he relaxed a little as Elphacena spoke. “But even the most skilled have to learn new skills. But he does well. Took up dancing faster than I’d have expected.” “Did you enjoy that?” The younger gentleman asked. Cedrick wished he could recall their names. He’d been told. Why did he have to be so anxious as to forget? Cedrick started counting the gem buttons on the man’s jacket as if that would help him . “I did.” Cedrick smiled good-naturedly. His eyes going up to the man’s face. Was there some dark coloring around his eyes? “Well, you should get a lot of good use out of that skill.” The elder gentleman smiled. Cedrick’s eyes went to his shoes. He wore dark tied dress shoes. The man beside him wore dark boots. Elphacena wore dark heels. Dark shoes must be the fashion. His uniform boots were black. “Well, you’ll need a lot of good use out of it.” The older man laughs. “And not just tonight, but over your lifetime.” Cedrick looked up and gave them a sheepish smile. Elphacena laughed harder than the rest. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.” The younger man grinned. Their jovial mood did relax Cedrick a little. “How has it all been getting all set up now you don’t follow Heklis’s silly laws?” Cedrick tried to distract them. His eyes wandered over to the crowd. He started counting how many long coats he found vs. tailcoats. “Difficult, but worth it. The light of freedom I see in them makes it worth it.” The elder man smiles. “It’s just odd for me. I don’t recall life without those laws.” The younger man

smiles. “But I do like it more.” “And we have you to thank for that.” The elder man smiled at Cedrick, bringing Cedrick’s eyes back to him. “Reminds me of a question I’ve always wanted to ask. What inspired you to use that mountain to intimidate the enemy?" He asked Cedrick. "It was truly brilliant." The terrified snakes in Cedrick's stomach started to bite at his belly to escape the question, but he couldn't even attempt to do as they were doing. He didn't want to talk about anything let alone this embarrassing topic. "I-I...well, it was an accident," Cedrick confessed. His eyes went to the dancers and started counting ankle length skirts vs shirts that covered the feet. The others laughed, but not at Cedrick; they thought he was joking. "Amusing, but truly my lord, what gave you such wisdom?" "Nothing. I just reacted, and the Maker must have done the rest," Cedrick managed to bring his eyes back by studying the pattern on the gentlemen’s coat collar compared to the dress shirt collar. It helped him focus on his words. He had to be firm but polite and not make anyone lash out. He played it cool, but inside, he was terrified of them. The men nodded gravely. "Such faith is powerful. I see how you have done so well." The questioner smiled, "Truly an honor. I’m sure the fact it’s an honor helps with your efforts. How is that going? Or do you know as it’s your first big stop?” He turns to Elphacena. She smiles a perfect smile that helps Cedrick see where her lipstick stops and her natural lip started. He liked the color under it better. “But most of these are prepaid. The last report I got was quite glowing. Just the jobs it’s allowing to open. I think Garlin said all these events provided jobs to most everyone in the city who didn’t have one. It’s even provided for a lot of work for builders to improve houses that were left to rot in Heklis’s rule. That’s also helped with homelessness going down as well. So though we’re spending a lot, it seems to be going around nicely. Gems to go around.” Roxorim had wanted them to spend only about two thousand gemlets. But that had to spread and grow rapidly. It likely had to do with people buying into the different events they were created to generate revenue. Did that mean there were more gems being mined as well to create the various colored gems that made up

a gemlet? “I expect those who had power left over and money left over from having position before the resistance came are happy to spend on these events. That helps it spread. Who thought this was a good idea?” The elder man asked. “Surprised us all, the general did.” Elphacena said. Her proper tone was one Cedrick was not used to. He listened to it, trying to get used to the idea as he started counting up-dos on the ladies to hair being down. It seemed half up with parts flowing down the back was the style. Explained why father never let Arylana cut it too short. “He a sports man?” The younger man asked. Elphacena frowned a little. “You know, I don’t know. I don’t think so. He’s never mentioned it. He just suspected those with lots of money who were reluctant to just part with it for charity would be quite happy to spend in on games, shows, and the like. It does seem to work on the king’s appetite when you can get a fine pastry.” That got a chuckle from the group. Cedrick was looking around the walls at the golden/tan wallpaper with vine patterns across it. The room was a sharp oval with doors at each point. The door should be taller, reach the ceiling. That would look good. Then again, would that make them too hard to open? “You plan may sports, Sir Custod?” The elder man turned back to Cedrick. Cedrick snapped his eyes back to the man as if he’d been caught. “No. I didn’t play much of anything growing up.” “Too busy training, but that can be a game.” Elphacena covered. “Why a trip like this is a good idea. I think he’s spent too much time thinking how to out strategize Heklis or infiltrate the city and what not. And before that it was all battle training. Don’t think Cedrick’s ever had a break. Not that he’ll it that.” She said as if to excuse why Cedrick wouldn’t answer the question. “And after that shock of a fight, not really sure I can blame him.” Cedrick didn’t want to hear about yet another version of his fighting Heklis’s decoy. Instead he kept his eyes on her to keep his heart from thumping in his throat. He started counting the ribbons that ran down the center of her bodice. He then started counting how common that style was on other women in the room. Cedrick concluded that the style was common. Dark shoes were indeed the

norm. Young men preferred a long coat that covered only an inch below the hip or tail coats while older men wore long coats. The finer dresses with more buttons were longer so more in style with the wealthy while lower class liked the ankle length. “Cedrick?” Cedrick jumped back to himself and looked back at the men around him. Oh no. What had they asked? He’d been too distracted. “How about more musical or theatrical pursuits?” The older man smiles, making the wrinkles about his eyes gather like some of the larger skirts in the room. Cedrick laughed at the very idea. “No.” The men raised their brows, but Cedrick didn’t catch the hint so did not explain. “His father would find such activities trivial.” Elphacena said and took Cedrick’s arm to try to keep him focused. Instead, he started seeing if most women wore silk dresses or if another fabric was more common. Elphacena stood on his foot to get his eyes back on the topic at hand. “But with that in mind, we should work the room. Thank you, gentlemen for your help.” The men bowed their heads and muttered their pleasure as Elphacena pulled her husband away. Elphacena flashed the perfect smile to appease them, which made Cedrick's knees quake. She was so good at this and so beautiful and all his. He smiled, thinking of her chased away his other fears. That was why his job was to sweep her off her feet. It made all else easy. With this in mind, Cedrick had a much easier time with the rest of the party and spent most of it dancing across the floor with his wife without cue. He was really trying to sweep her off her feet. As they took position, Elphacena glanced around, but Cedrick took to the slow dance without any kind of help, even when it picked up into a jumpy tune. Elphacena forgot about making sure others were pleased and that Cedrick stayed calm, enjoying Cedrick's attempts to woo her through dance. The one time someone tried to get Cedrick's attention, Elphacena demanded it herself by yanking him down and kissing him hard. They didn't have any other issues being interrupted the rest of the night.

Chapter 4

A Forgotten Connection

The best thing Cedrick could say for all the parties that followed the first was that they were all exactly the same. Though when he complained of this, Elphacena pointed out they weren’t all the same. The first city was more rich as they’d been further from Heklis’s control. The others weren't as grand. Cedrick couldn’t tell the difference. That would have made the rest of the trip a breeze if it wasn’t for the other added events: parades, judging all kind of competitions, children visits, and the oddest one of all: visiting what Cedrick was told was called a valetudinarian home. When Cedrick first heard this word, his eyes nearly bugged out of his skull in panic, having no idea what it meant, but his wife took pity on him and explained, after teasing him about showing off his farm boy, that it meant a home for the elderly or infirm mixed with an orphanage. Cedrick then asked what infirm was exactly and made his wife laugh. “It means people who may have handicaps, so they need help in day-to-day life,” She summarized for him and laughed at the incredulous expression on his face. “So you’re telling me they gave this term a name that no disabled person could ever hope to pronounce. I’m sane, and I can’t come close to saying it right.” “That’s debatable,” Elphacena smirked. “That no disabled person could say it right?” “All of it,” Elphacena teased and walked off, leaving her slightly baffled husband in her wake. When they arrived at the home, Cedrick noticed most of the people there were

older, a lot older, but there were several younger people with handicaps in the mix, more than most would expect. Punishment for breaking many of Heklis’s silly laws would have created a lot of handicapped people, and those born with handicaps were in an even worse place as they didn’t fit into Heklis’s perfect order, so punishment for being handicapped only made it worse. Cedrick had to smile at the sweetness of the place. Several children ran around, intending to cheer up the older folks, and the sweet attendants talked in gentle voices to the troubled residents. Cedrick glanced at the other officials to see what they were doing, but most were just talking among themselves. Cedrick knew the people who ran this place paid for them to come and visit, so Cedrick was going to visit. Timidly, Cedrick inched over to an older lady sitting in an armchair, where her attendant was looking after her. The attendant looked up and gave Cedrick a gentle smile. “Hello, you’re Sir Custod; are you not?” Cedrick nodded, and the girl smiled once again. “This is Tiana.” She said, “She’s our oldest charge. Almost a hundred and twenty-five.” Though for an enchanter that wasn’t even the exhaustion of their life expectancy. Most lived to be about a hundred and thirty or forty if something else didn’t happen to them, while the average person lived to just over a hundred. The old woman, Tiana, had eyes that were almost white. They sent a shiver down Cedrick’s back as she looked up at him. As Tiana looked at Cedrick, another attendant called over her attendant calling her Abba, and she left Cedrick alone with Tiana which made Cedrick’s heart pound a little as his guard went up, but Tiana didn’t mind one bit. On the contrary, she grabbed Cedrick’s arm and yanked him down. “Good ol’ James, what are ya be doin’ here?” She demanded cheerfully. Cedrick could only give her a blank look. “What? Sorry, sweet ma-am, but I’m not James.” “Why they not be a wailing at ya, James? They all fine with you takin’ after ya father’s ways now; I thought they were all hatin’ ya,” Tiana asked very loudly for the little space between them. Cedrick’s ears rang with the noise, but no one

else seemed to find the noise too loud. “No, you’re mistaken. I’m sorry, but I’m not James,” Cedrick tried again, hoping to get a better result. “No?” Tiana tilted her head. “No,” Cedrick said firmly. “I don’t know any James.” “All people know James.” Tiana said, markedly offended. “And you look like him, so that would explain it, but that’s not a dreadful thing. An honorable war hero he was, but he turned monster like his father.” She muttered this last comment to herself. A stir started in Cedrick’s eyes, This was familiar to him somehow, but how? Cedrick knelt by Tiana’s chair. “What do you mean? What happened to your friend James?” “He wasn’t much a friend to me or anything, but he was a poor boy from my village and the son of the town healer, not that he did much healin’,” Tiana huffed irritated. “No one went to ‘im, not even his own son! James carried his poor mother to the next town over when she fell ill, not with all the bottle he took.” The last bit made sense. Heklis had spoken about having a disappointing father. A drinker would fit. Cedrick hung on her every word, feeling sure this was somehow important, “Oh I see,” He played along, “But what do you mean by ‘war hero’?” “Old Iron Spike they came to call ‘im,” Tiana said proudly. That was familiar! “You mean General Iron Spike, the military commander who saved most of the kingdom from conquerors?” If so, Cedrick knew him well. He’d been one of the best strategists ever to live, and Margorim had made his children study his work in detail. If Heklis hadn’t killed him, he’d have been really old — still alive, but living in a place like this to say the least. But how could this James be the old general if Heklis had killed him? “Yes, yes, that is what they called ‘im,” Tiana nodded excitedly. “When he was old enough, he ran off into the army with his mother never to be seen in person

again until he took over.” Cedrick frowned and his brows drew together: took over? That wasn’t right. General Iron Spike was one of the first Heklis took out in his rise to power, and he’d never conquered anything before that. “But he didn’t take over anything,” Cedrick said. “Well, that shows what you know!” Tiana suddenly exploded, and Cedrick jumped back in surprise. Her attendant raced over, “Forgive me, I should have warned you that she’s easily upset.” She apologized. “Just ignore her; I’ll deal with this.” Cedrick stepped back and let her work on Tiana and went back to his wife, but his mind was reeling. That woman knew or suspected something, and Cedrick felt it was something big, only question now was, what? “Cena, you know anything about James ‘Iron Spike’ Griham conquering anything?” He asked her. Elphacena frowned and shook her head. “Why?” Cedrick nodded at Tiana and told her the story. “And...it makes me think. There’s something there. I feel it. I just...can’t put my finger on it.” He looked back at Tiana, trying to think. Elphacena shook her head. “Only James I ever really knew was Heklis. He used the name James as a cover when he lived in the castle.” “Really?” Cedrick perked up and looked at her. “Could that be a connection?” Elphacena laughed. “Heklis is far too young to be the old general. He’d be the oldest man in here if he was alive. Heklis took him out himself, first one to be assassinated by him. Heklis had to know he could never beat him. Maybe he ired him and that’s why he used the name James as a cover.” “Maybe.” Cedrick’s mind was still racing though. “Maybe.” But it would explain Heklis telling Cedrick about having a hard father too. But he said he conquered his father. Perhaps he meant by running away, but Elphacena was right about one thing. General James Griham would have been about a hundred and fifty years

old. Yet...Cedrick couldn't deny the feeling he was right. And what that could mean he wasn’t sure, but he felt he had to find the connection. And he would. He just needed time. If he was ever given the time. They had too long of a trip to go through. Or so Cedrick felt. They’d started in Abervia, then worked their way north to Dresila which was a grand mountain city with the border mountains to the west making an impressive backdrop to the solid stone homes and shops. The people wore brighter clothes to contrast it which made one very painfully bright ballroom on the eyes, though Cedrick was distracted by it’s different square shape where as Abervia had a ballroom in the shape of an eye. So did Libervon which boasted more light colored wood structures in the city. Libervon’ s finest building was made of sandstone imported from Spearimish to form a grand library. Cedrick wasn’t much for books. Or so he thought at first. Elphacena found him magic books and he wasted all his free time on them, much to Aleph’s annoyance. Felleria was a farming town with lower stone walls. Cedrick recalled being thankful for that when they tried to take the city. It’s main hub was the farmer’s market and their ballroom reflected that with many wheat inspired patterns and colors. A lot of yellow/brown. Their final stop was in the grandest city they’d had yet: Garammis. Cedrick was impressed how nice it looked even after his rather violent attack on it. The main government building looked a lot nicer when he wasn’t having to break in. He even slipped out to see if he and Aleph could find the hole in the iron gate. They could not. Cedrick was sad. But Cedrick was glad it was their last stop. Now they were back to Nerofox with the others. “I’m stuck!” Aleph declared as they neared Nerofox, riding over the rolling hills that lead to the battle ground Cedrick had spent far too much time running around. “You’re not stuck, Aleph.” Cedrick looked down at Aleph from the driver’s bench of the carriage as Aleph explored the space under the carriage where the luggage was stowed.

“I am too,” Aleph insisted and complained. “I can’t move.” “Not being able to move has nothing to do with being stuck. Nothing is holding you in or grabbing you.” Cedrick rolled his eyes. “But I’ll be squished by the boxes!” Aleph squealed, panicking for no reason, so Cedrick took pity on him, and one handedly, pulled Aleph up by the collar and dropped him on the bench next to him. “Better?” “Woah! You are strong. I must weigh a ton!” Aleph stated. “No, you’re not; you’re not that heavy,” Cedrick said, grabbing Aleph’s arm to stop him leaning too far over and falling. “Yes, I am! I’m muscularly!” Aleph declared flexing his non-existence muscles; the kid was so small he could be flopped like a rag doll, but Cedrick chose not to comment on it. “Come on. Last leg of the trip, and we’ll be home!” Sarai called to get them inside, so they could drive off. Aleph cheered and jumped down with Cedrick shaking his head in amusement as he followed. One thing was for sure, Cedrick was happy to be heading home, but Aleph didn’t look as happy; instead, he seemed worried about something. “But you won’t leave though, right?” Aleph asked as his foot kicked the dirt, and his eyes followed his foot. “Leave? Leave what?” Cedrick frowned, confused as he coaxed Aleph into the carriage. “Me.” Aleph squeaked, which didn’t help Cedrick understand at all, and Aleph noticed. “I just...like being friends is all,” He explained, still looking sheepish and anxious. Cedrick understood, and he bent to meet the boy’s eyes. “Didn’t I already tell you I’d watch out for you?” “Well yeah, but it may have just been because you had to put up with me,”

Aleph said. “And just be for the trip.” A little half smile crossed Cedrick’s lips and hugged Aleph tightly. “When I say something, I mean it.” He promised. Aleph was so delighted by this he squeezed Cedrick as tightly as his little arms could manage and did a kind of wiggle of delight. Cedrick chuckled and had him run off to help his parents load up to head home. It wasn’t the best homecoming Cedrick had ever had. They arrived and unloaded. Then Cedrick was thrown back into battle planning without a breath. Cedrick just prayed at some point he’d be able to feel like he had some control on his life again. Meanwhile, he had battles to lead.

Chapter 5

Taking Montressa

“Poke him.” “Arylana, I’m not going to poke him.” “Poke him.” Cedrick listened, eyes closed, repressing a smile on his face as he lay back against the wall where they were waiting for their men to assemble. Cedrick had hardly stepped foot back into the city when plans for another battle were put into action. They were going to take a very strange city Heklis had built called Montressa, and it was a beast of a city with an intense wall and the strangest defenses Cedrick had ever seen. In his opinion, the city looked like it was meant to keep people in, not out, but it didn’t stop it being hard to take. “Why this one?” Cedrick asked. “Well, it’s next.” Mercutio said. “And it is a perfect launching point for more troops later. If we want to take the rest of the kingdom back from Heklis city by city, we’ll need this as a more northern headquarters. On your trip, you must have noticed how hard it is to keep and launch fresh troops from here.” “Nope.” Cedrick had been too busy avoiding social situations to notice. Mercutio rolled his eyes at Cedrick’s tone. “Besides, it’s the only one Heklis built himself. Maybe we can actually make it personal for him this time.” Cedrick doubted the man took anything personally, but let it slide.

The plan was for Cedrick and Elphacena to slip inside, take the control room and let their army in: Mercutio’s favorite kind of plan. Cedrick was feigning sleep as they waited to move out, and Arylana was sitting with him and Elphacena as they waited til dawn to leave. “Come on; just poke him. I want to see what happens.” Cedrick could picture the smirk on her face. “You poke him if you want to see what happens,” Elphacena said. “Why would you want me to do it?” “He’s less likely to get mad at you,” Arylana explained, and Cedrick was sure Elphacena was rolling her eyes at her. Elphacena never understood the joy of tormenting siblings. “He’s less likely to hurt you,” Arylana reasoned. “And he’d hurt you?” “Absolutely.” Cedrick fought hard to keep his face relaxed, but had a feeling Elphacena noticed. If she did, she didn’t do anything other than say, “Well, I’m not going to poke him.” “Why? It will be fun,” Arylana coaxed. “Why in all creation would it be fun?” Elphacena demanded. Cedrick didn’t hear a reply, so he guessed Arylana had shrugged. This gave Cedrick the opening to put his evil plan into play. While the two girls talked, he slipped one hand behind his sister’s back, waited for a second then gave her a hard poke. Arylana jumped a mile with a squeak of a squeal which made Cedrick laugh so hard he could hardly breathe as Arylana came down and glared at her younger brother. “You were awake this whole time, weren’t you?” Cedrick shrugged innocently, and Arylana hit him. “What? I have to be sneaky to get in and let you all into the city. You’ll need it with so few.” Cedrick glanced over the small army Arylana had picked. “Oh, we can take it. You just get us in,” Arylana said confidently.

“Most of all with my help,” Alburn, one of Cedrick’s majors, plopped himself down beside them. Cedrick gave him a look. “And I know exactly how I can do it.” “No.” “P-pppppppplease,” Alburn begged. “No.” “I’ll give you your own supply of bombs in exchange.” “Alburn, why would I want that when, if I wanted, I could just claim yours?” Alburn frowned. “I’ll…” He thought hard. “I’ll take care of your horse for the rest of its life.” Cedrick sighed, “Alburn, you are not blowing up that wall. Mercutio wants it intact to defend us, ?” “But...but it would be so pretty,” Alburn tried. As head of the explosive team in Cedrick’s battalion, he had bombs and fire on the brain constantly and not in a good way. Even now, he tried giving Cedrick puppy dog eyes to win his point, but Cedrick wasn’t falling for it. “Alburn, you may not blow up the wall, no matter how cute of a puppy dog face you give me or how many treats and favors you shower me with. You are not going to blow up that wall.” “Just the gate?” Alburn tried. “For all creation, Alburn. Why do you want to blow it up?” Cedrick demanded, fed up by now. “Because it’s been two months, and I’m...I’m…” Alburn’s lip shook. “Fire deprived! Please, please, please.” “Oh for creation’s shake, Alburn. No, you are not allowed to blow up anything in Montressa. I’ll try to get you a fire to light next time, but I don’t get to pick the plans. Ask Mercutio.”

“Can I bomb just the tower?” “No, if you did, you’d kill me and my wife and the means to open the gates. No,” Cedrick said. “Fine, the guard room then or the stables or maybe just the well.” “Alburn, Mercutio wants it for a base. Therefore, we need it to be livable.” “So...so no big boom?” Alburn frowned like a toddler denied candy that it had set its heart on. “Not in this battle but another day,” Cedrick said firmly. “Can I just practice?” “If you stayed at the base, but here you’ll draw attention to us, and we don’t want that.” Alburn sighed, “Alright but I can’t promise anything.” “I’m sure, but you’re here, so follow orders or you’ll be punished.” Alburn pouted, “Portia would let me.” “Portia is your favorite, so that’s completely different,” Cedrick said, knowing the rumor well that Portia and Alburn were a non-bonded couple. “You are forbidden from making any fire until the city is taken. Got me?” “I can’t even start a night fire?” Alburn looked horrified. “You can’t even hold the flint,” Cedrick said seriously, “if I see you abuse the normal fire privilege.” “Fire’s a right, not a privilege,” Alburn argued indignantly. “I’m a Custod. Don’t I get to decide what rights you have?” Cedrick teased. “Custods are under covenant to protect the world from evil. You don’t get rights to rule or anything like that. Your brother just got lucky the king wiped out the line of king’s putting him into the throne.” Alburn stuck his nose in the air. “Fire

is still a right, not a privilege. It’s what separates man from beast!” “Major!” Alburn felt Cedrick’s anger this time and made a run for it. Cedrick huffed and turned away only to see Alburn’s favorite.” “Hello Portia.” He sighed, “If you try to defend him — ” He began, but Portia cut him off. “Why would I do that when he’s much more fun when he’s bottled up?” She shrugged. Cedrick didn’t like the way that sounded. He knew Portia could be wild to say the least as the only female commander their army had (if you counted that Elphacena’s power was just in being a Custod). “I just came to ask who you want over your group while you’re gone. Elphacena is normally your second, but she’s going with you, so I wanted to check.” Cedrick shrugged. “You can do it.” “Me?” She seemed surprised. “Yeah, why not? I trust you, and you command your girls just fine. Besides, anyone who’s ignored your fury wouldn’t doubt why I picked you as a second. You’re smart, furious, and dedicated. Besides, Alburn is the only other who could, and he’s going to light the place like a bonfire if he’s allowed free reign.” “I’m over Alburn?” Portia grinned evilly. “Uh, yeah. I’m going to ask when they want us to sneak in.” Cedrick stood up, not liking that smile, and left. Elphacena and Arylana choose to follow, knowing there was eccentric trouble afoot. They were to leave at midnight, so they’d reach the city by one in the morning. Cedrick had a bit too much fun ‘helping’ his wife into her armor because he loved telling her how well the armor flattered her figure, and she always responded by hitting him or putting a blanket over his head. Once they were ready, they slipped out of camp like a pair of shadows and towards the slumbering city of Montressa. The city was intimidating. The walls were fifty feet high with several towers along its length, and the top wall sported deadly spokes. The walls were built of large slabs of stone, but they were rough stones leaving many foot and

handholds for a climber to use. For Cedrick, it was child’s play. Elphacena ran a hand along the wall as Cedrick kept a lookout. “We better get started. We’ve got four hours to get in and out.” “Ladies first then.” Cedrick grinned. “Aww, you ed your manners.” Elphacena beamed, got a handhold, and set off up the wall. Cedrick smiled to himself as he watched her graceful body make the climb, using handholds and footholds as she scaled the wall effortlessly. “You know, I take it back.” Elphacena called down when she saw Cedrick gawking at her. “I think you just forgot your manners again.” “What? I’m married to you, so is that still forgetting my manners?” Elphacena threw some dust down at him playfully but didn’t reply otherwise as she kept going. Cedrick took that as his cue to follow her. When she was about to slip over the wall, Cedrick stopped her. “Let me go first.” He whispered. Elphacena gave him a play pout at that, but she let him slip past her and over the wall. As far as Cedrick could see, no one was on the wall, but he knew guards couldn’t be far. He glanced over his shoulder to give Elphacena the cue to follow. She did, as quiet as a cat, and they bent low as they scurried across the wall. Voices drifted on the wind towards them, and the couple paused, listening. The voices were coming from the guard house on their left, but the two guards didn’t sound like they’d spotted them. Instead, they both sounded tired. Cedrick kept an eye on the guard house as Elphacena looked for a place to scale the wall down into the city. She frowned, and Cedrick noticed. “What’s wrong?” “It’s smooth on this side; I don’t see any hope of a handhold,” She said. “What? How can that be when the outside was so rough?” Cedrick frowned. The stones that made up the wall were too large for them to safely use the cracks between the rocks to scale down. This was weird. Elphacena looked around and pointed to a building close to the guard house on

the inside of the city. They could jump from the wall to that roof to safely get inside. Though Cedrick didn’t like the idea, he agreed, but he felt deep down something strange was going on with that city. The couple inched forward, but Cedrick stopped Elphacena, realizing to make the jump they’d have to distract the guards or be spotted. Cedrick waved Elphacena to go on; he had a plan. Elphacena moved on, and Cedrick ran and jumped onto the roof of the guard house, using a flip to get the momentum he needed to land on his feet. Elphacena’s green eyes became the size of the moon when she realized his plan and shook her head, but it was too late. The guards heard Cedrick’s intentionally loud landing. Cedrick waited for the guards to come out then shot down the other side of the tower and jumped. As planned, he was spotted and the guard shot after him, but it was to their detriment. He held up his hands as if caught when they reached him. “Don’t move!” “How did he climb up?” Another guard asked. “Who knows? Where did you escape from?” The first one demanded of Cedrick. Cedrick frowned and lowered his hands. “Escape? Don’t you mean break in?” Something was fishy here, and he knew it. “Oh, ah-ah. What block are you from?” Cedrick tilted his head, almost forgetting the plan in his perplexity. Could he use this to find out what was going on? That’s when he saw the three balls of green light fly from the darkness and strike each man in the back, knocking all three to the ground unconscious. “What took you?” Elphacena snapped as she leapt down from the tower wall. “They assumed I’d escaped. I told them I broke in, and they didn’t believe me.” Cedrick’s eyes were flying over the group of men. “Why?” “Why does that matter?” Elphacena demanded, pulling Cedrick to get him going.

“I don’t know yet, but it does,” Cedrick said, letting her pull him on. “How do you know?” She challenged as they jumped to the next building. Cedrick grinned playfully. “I’m wise.” Elphacena laughed. “Right, wise.” She rolled her eyes, but then she caught sight of Cedrick’s face and knew he was still thinking about it. She sighed. “Really Cedrick, what could it mean?” “That’s just it. I don’t know, but I feel it’s something. But you’re right.” Cedrick shook himself mentally. “Standing here won’t get us any answers, and we need to get to the tower.” “Alright. Just stay focused, would you?” “If it protects you.” Cedrick kissed her cheek and moved on. “Better,” Elphacena smiled and followed. “Take it at a run?” Cedrick asked. Elphacena beamed and nodded. “If you can keep up.” And she made a running leap to the next rooftop. They made their way across the city like this: faster, but also more exhausting. Because of this, they made one landing harder than they meant to, and a voice struck their ears from an open window. “They’re skipping it again,” A female voice was complaining. “They really do ignore us, don’t they?” Another woman replied. Realizing the danger, Elphacena looked up at Cedrick and waved him to follow, but he didn’t notice. These women sounded like gossips, and gossips were wonderful leakers. Could they tell him why those men thought he’d escaped? Elphacena knew what he was thinking and snapped at him as quietly as she could to follow, but Cedrick was too distracted to listen. “Honestly, they do. Is market once a week too much to ask? We must shop too,”

The first voice said. “Cedrick Custod, if you don’t follow me this instant, I’ll zap your ears shut. We don’t have time.” Cedrick looked up at his wife as the two women suddenly stopped talking. Great, they’d heard her. Cedrick gave Elphacena look, but she was still trying to get Cedrick to follow. “Did you hear that?” The first voice said, and Elphacena waved all the harder. “I think it came from out the window,” The second said. Elphacena looked like she’d be yelling if she could risk it, but Cedrick knew they’d see him if he jumped and shook his head. Elphacena rolled her eyes, exasperated and frustrated and waved him to fall back out of view while she did the same. Cedrick heard footsteps going to the window, and a head popped out of the window under Cedrick and looked around. “I see nothin’,” The second voice spoke. “Well, shut the window then so the birds or wind or whatever doesn’t make such a racket,” The first said, and Cedrick breathed a sigh of relief as he heard the window close. Elphacena sighed too and insisted Cedrick her that moment, and Cedrick followed the order, running and jumping over, landing smoothly next to her. “I told you not to get distracted,” Elphacena snapped. “Come on! We are running out of time.” She set off across the rooftops, but Cedrick took a second longer, smiling dreamily at her as she took the task head on. That was the woman he loved. He beamed and followed more than willingly.

*****

Cedrick let his head hang over the edge of the building for a better look at the tower. It had a strange metal mesh fence around it, and Cedrick had never seen its like before. What was it made out of? There were little diamond patterns

made from the metal mesh, the points of which ended just above the top bar that made the top of the fence. Cedrick had seen and made many fences in his scarce eighteen years, but he’d never seen anything like that before. “What is it?” Elphacena asked as she wiggled up beside her husband, shaking her head. She’d not seen its like before either. It was like they’d braided the metal together which was a trick none of them knew how to do. “I have no idea,” Cedrick itted. “I’ve not seen anything like it before. I can’t even imagine how they made it.” As they spoke, a cart rolled out from the street to their right, and they pulled back a little to make sure they were not seen, but not so far that they couldn’t see. Cedrick listened as he watched, and his jaw dropped as a part of the fence slid back into the rest of it, being pulled by chains to allow the cart into the enclosure around the tower. Cedrick was fascinated and couldn’t help but try to get a closer look. Elphacena grabbed him as he got too far and yanked him back. “What are you doing? They’ll see you,” She hissed warningly, and Cedrick apologized, but his eyes were still locked on the strange fence. “It’s like it’s a linking of chains,” Cedrick said. “Like it’s a chain and link fence.” “I don’t think we have to worry about what it is, but how we’re going to get past it and into the tower.” Elphacena reminded her husband. “No, we need to understand it; that’s the key,” Cedrick shook his head. Elphacena groaned, “How is that the key, Cedrick?” “If we understand it, we can control it, and if we can control it, we can beat it.” Cedrick said. “Cedrick, we don’t want to beat it; we want to take it,” Elphacena sighed. “And it isn’t even the fence we want. We want the city, so please focus and find a way in.” “But that’s what I don’t understand, Cena. The city, something is wrong with it,

and I want to know what.” Elphacena rolled her eyes and groaned. “Cedrick, please. Would you get your head back in the game before time’s up? We’ll be here all day, and we can’t afford that.” Elphacena reminded him. “Now come on! That fence looks easy to climb.” Cedrick looked up and scanned the tower which had only windows at the far top, and they circled the whole tower. The view had to be impressive. The tower was taller than anything in the whole city. If he and Elphacena didn’t take it, they’d see the army coming easily. “We may be lucky as they didn’t see us coming across the rooftop; they must not be looking that close to home.” “Alright, coast is clear. We should go,” Elphacena said. Cedrick agreed, and the two quietly slipped up to the fence, remarkably without being seen. Cedrick took the chance and took a running start to climb the fence, but the moment he touched it a painful shock shot through his body, but he already was most of the way up the fence as it wasn’t very high. As he had bent over it the spikes on the top dug into his armor which caused him to lose his grip. Cedrick gasped and bent over the top of the fence and crashed down on the other side. “Cedrick! Cedrick, are you alright?” Elphacena knelt by him though the fence was in the way. Cedrick winced and sat up. “Yeah, I think I’m okay. Don’t touch the fence! It has some kind of energy running through it.” Elphacena nodded but didn’t really need to be told. Her eyes widened. “Cedrick, you’re bleeding.” Cedrick looked down and sighed, “Don’t worry. It’s just a small cut, but what did that?” Cedrick looked at the top of the fence, thinking it may have been those spikes. Elphacena looked up too and voiced what they were thinking. “I think those strange circles at the top have spikes in them. It’s like they’re laced with it.” “Great, so don’t climb up that way. I’ll try to open the gate for you instead.” Cedrick said and looked around to make sure they still were not spotted. He went to the gate and tried to figure out where to pull on the chains, but once he

did, it was easy to open it just enough for her. The real worry was the noise it made. A loud grinding, clacking noise shuttered with the sliding gate. They froze. A loud bark shot through the air, and they whirled around to see three huge, mean dogs racing towards them with foaming mouths. “Run!” Cedrick cried as he ran for it, but the dogs were right on his tail. Two tore after Cedrick and one went to bark at Elphacena. Cedrick looked up at the tower, stunned that none of them had noticed the noise. Just as he wondered this, a few arrows flew towards Elphacena, who was jumping around to avoid the dogs. One of the arrows hit a dog. It yelped and collapsed. The other dogs heard it and snarled, ignoring Cedrick and shooting towards Elphacena. “No!” Cedrick screamed, jumping off the crate he’d used for shelter and pelting towards his wife. The dogs were so big, Cedrick could ride them like a horse, and he dove onto the back of one of the monstrous beasts. The dog was not happy about it. It turned and snarled at him dangerously. Cedrick gave it a sheepish smile. “Ggood fluffy.” He tried, but the dog didn’t take to it and barked loudly then turned to try to bite him. Poor Cedrick only just kept his grip, making the dog spin as if he was chasing his tail, but not even Cedrick could hold on forever and flew off to a painful stop in the dirt. Elphacena screamed, and Cedrick’s heart jumped into his throat. “Cena!” He cried, jumping to his feet and racing to her side. The fear was uncontrollable, and Cedrick unintentionally shot a jet of white blue energy towards the threat. The dogs yipped, which surprised Cedrick so much he stood frozen for a second, gaping at the dogs whimpering on the ground. Elphacena looked up at Cedrick mouth agape and eyes wide in shock, but Cedrick knew the fear wasn’t over yet and hurried to his wife’s side. “Are you alright?” “Are you?” Elphacena was stunned. “I thought that would knock you out flat.” “I know, but I’m alright. Are you hurt?” “Not by you, but the dog got my leg,” Elphacena itted. “I don’t know if I can walk on it.”

Cedrick got a closer look and saw some blood and two puncture marks in the skin, but they didn’t look too deep. Elphacena sighed and took a care kit out. Cedrick took a wrap and treated the injury, wrapping it as fast as he could. As he finished, he realized they’d been standing there a long time and turned around quickly, expecting to see an attacker or arrows coming at them, but there was nothing there. “Cedrick, what’s wrong?” Elphacena frowned, looking around too. “Where are the arrows?” Cedrick asked. “Arrows? What are you talking about?” “The arrows that were there before; one hit the dog, ?” Cedrick saw no signs of anyone though. “Come on. We better move before they figure something out.” Cedrick stood up and held out both hands to help his wife up. She winced as she put weight on her wounded leg but was able to stand with Cedrick’s , but Cedrick was too nervous to let that slow them, so he scooped her up into his arms. She was lighter than he ed. “Cedrick, what do you think you’re-” She was cut off as Cedrick saw one of the dogs twitch, and he raced for the tower, using its base as a shield from the dogs and any arrows that may come, plus hidden in shadow the dogs may not see where they’d gone. “Cedrick,” Elphacena gasped in surprise at his speed. Cedrick frowned. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” “No, I just...look out!” She cried, and Cedrick immediately shot off as one of the dogs tore after them. Using the crate he’d found before, Cedrick jumped up, just making it with Elphacena in his arms. The dog snapped at his heels. “Evil little...” Cedrick hissed at it as he set his wife down to look for a way out of this. “I think it’s hungry,” Elphacena sighed. “What?” Cedrick looked at her. She was reaching into her bag and pulled out a roll of bread. “If we make it far enough, it may buy us time to run for the tower door.” She explained. “Think you can get it that far?”

Cedrick studied the spot and nodded. “I think I could hit that easily.” Elphacena handed him the bread, and Cedrick held it out over the dog. “You want it? You want it, boy?” The dog went from killer monster to playful pup in a second, yipping excitedly. “Alright then.” Cedrick wrapped the bread in a makeshift sling, spun it around, and shot it out across the yard. The dogs barked at the game of fetch and pelted after the bread. Cedrick’s reaction was instantaneous, picking up his wife and making a dash for the door, and he thanked the Father he found it unlocked as the couple shot inside. Cedrick set his wife down and turned to close the door to see the dogs look up from their spoils with disappointed faces as he slammed the door closed. The couple was panting heavily from the wild adventure,. “How’s your leg?” Cedrick asked. Elphacena gave him a look. “I’m fine.” “Let’s make sure. Sit down.” Cedrick directed, and when she didn’t listen right away, Cedrick took her shoulders, sat her down, and took a closer look at her leg. Elphacena winced but ignored the pain. “Cedrick, I appreciate you trying to help me, but we don’t have time for this.” Cedrick looked up at her while keeping his face towards her injury; his blue eyes sparkled with trouble. “There’s always time to look after you.” “Oh, shut up.” Elphacena couldn’t hold back the smirk of pleasure, but she hit his arm anyway. Cedrick laughed. “Hey, save it for the battle.” “Battle with who?” Elphacena teased. “And you told me there wasn’t time,” Cedrick teased as he stood up, holding out a hand to help her. Elphacena took it, and Cedrick pulled her to her feet. “See? No waste at all, and it pleases you.” He pecked her on the cheek then took her

hand, “Now, we have a town to take over.” They headed up the spiral staircase that led to the top of the tower, but it was a long trip. Not only would it take a while because of how far they had to walk, but there also were traps all along the way, so they had to test each step before getting onto it, and it likely took about a thousand steps to the top, if not more. Finally, fed up with this game, Cedrick dared send a ball of energy zooming up the stairs to set off all the traps to save time. The plan worked, except one of the traps was a giant ball of rock falling towards them. “How in vene are workers supposed to get up here?” Cedrick demanded as he grabbed his wife and forced her flat to the wall, keeping her there with his body guarding hers. By the Father’s goodness, the ball didn’t hit them in their little spot, except to scrape Cedrick’s back and tear at his coat. “The tailor and I will never be friends, will we?” Cedrick sighed as Elphacena inspected it. “I’m afraid not, my love,” Elphacena laughed. “But it did open up the path, so let’s get in there.” They set off again, but about half way up Elphacena’s leg was slowing her down, and Cedrick stopped to see and opened his mouth to speak, but Elphacena cut him off. “We have to keep going, Cedrick, or this was all for nothing. My getting bit would be all for nothing.” “But…” Cedrick wanted to protest, but knew she was right. “Alright.” He agreed. “But you can’t stay on that leg.” Elphacena opened her mouth to ask how that was going to work, but Cedrick answered it by scooping her up. “Hey!” She gave him a look. “That is not okay.” “Well, you aren’t going to walk, but you are capable of fighting, so why not? Then we both win.” Cedrick tilted his head innocently. “I hate you.” Elphacena folded her arms. “With all your heart,” Cedrick teased and kissed at her neck. Elphacena slapped him off. They reached the top, and Cedrick set Elphacena down as they both peered through the cracked door that was the main entrance for the tower top. There were no walls in this room, but open windows all the way around to let anyone inside see the whole city at once: a breath-taking view. The only objects in the

room were a strange object in the middle with ropes and pulleys coming from it and beside it, and a pole that would let the workers slide down to the bottom in an instant. “We have to try that,” Cedrick whispered so only Elphacena could hear, for which he got another slap. “Shh, they may hear you.” The room was full of workers moving about the ropes and pulleys or looking over the town. How had they not seen them down on the ground level? “They down there?” “Nah, think the dog got ‘um.” “Oh vene, that means I gotta go clean their teeth. You know how gross those teeth are after they eat somebody?” “They’re idiots.” Elphacena shook her head. “Like you can talk; you married one.” Cedrick reminded her. “Do you like it when I hit you?” Elphacena demanded. Cedrick shrugged, “It makes you happy.” “How about you come up with a plan instead then, genius,” Elphacena said. “That would make me happy.” “I know, I know; I’m working on it,” Cedrick insisted, eyes scanning the room, then he spotted a rope and realized the chairs were wooden, and not only that, but there was a fire glowing for warmth in the room. An evil grin spread over Cedrick’s face; this was going to be fun. The fire moved, snakelike, across the floor and found the wooden chair to enjoy climbing and devouring it like a child who’d found candy. Cedrick gave Elphacena a side look to give her the cue she needed. She beamed as she moved more chairs together. They were a flawless team. The workers saw the flames and screamed in terror, scattering like flies; most

tried to go down the pole. Cedrick laughed, but his face froze in horror when a loud bark shot up behind them; the dogs were back. The workers heard the bark too, and the panic escalated as they ran like ants who’d had water dropped on their hill. “Run!” Cedrick pushed Elphacena into the room to try to avoid the dogs, but they weren’t fast enough. Both dogs burst into the room, barking madly. “Maybe they just want us to feed them more,” Cedrick proffered halfheartedly, but the dogs snarled, and one leapt at a worker, bringing him down in a second, and his screaming stopped a second later. “Maybe they only like meat,” Elphacena replied, but then the second dog turned on them with a tremendous bark. Cedrick screamed and went to run for it but saw the dog wasn’t aiming for him, and — in a fit of panic that was a habit he really should shake — pushed his wife from harm’s way, but paused long enough to allow the dog to tackle him. Cedrick was quick enough to grab the dog’s jaws and hold them away from his flesh, but he also knew he couldn’t hold it off for long. At times like this, he ed his arm still wasn’t back to full strength after Rothmerid’s wounding him. His arm shuttered dangerously under the dog’s massive strength and weight, and Cedrick was sure his arm would give out after each massive shudder. As Cedrick feared, his left arm buckled just as the dog released a yelp and collapsed on top of Cedrick. It took a moment for Cedrick’s eyes to focus. When they did, they fell on the arrow protruding from the dog’s neck just below the collar. Cedrick looked towards where it was fired from to see Elphacena holding the bow. She raced forward. “Are you alright?” She asked as she shoved the dog off him. “Yes, I’m not hurt, just slimy.” Cedrick wiped some spittle from his cheek. Elphacena sighed in relief and hugged him, and Cedrick smiled and hugged her back. “The other dog ran to catch the others, thankfully, and I locked the door. Let’s get the fire out and our men in.” The sun was just hinting at rising as they figured out how to open the gates. As

Elphacena worked on that, Cedrick was using the view to get a better idea of the nature of the town, which confused him further. The place looked like it was waking, going about their work, but only in one section: the one Cedrick and Elphacena had traveled from. The rest of the city was as silent and unmoving as a graveyard, and Cedrick couldn’t help but be suspicious, and he pointed it out to his wife. Elphacena frowned as she noticed it too but shrugged. “Maybe no one lives in those sections. They’re just businesses or something.” “I’m not as sure. If you look carefully, I think you’ll see the windows on those buildings are all barred,” Cedrick said. “Barred?” Elphacena narrowed her eyes. “Oh vene, you’re right they are all barred. Why would that be?” “I can only think of one reason.” Cedrick looked at his wife. “It’s not a city; it’s a mass prison.”

*****

When the army stormed in, it didn’t take them long to take over, and Cedrick’s suspicion was confirmed. It was, indeed, a mass prison. Leave it to Heklis to build a city when he took power and use it only to lock people up. The section Elphacena and Cedrick had jumped over turned out to be the only normal section where the guards and their families lived. These people had all fled when they saw the gates open and the army coming in. They would have likely offered them protection, but the army never got the chance. With the battle won, Alburn kept trying to blow up important buildings and say it was an accident while battling, but luckily, Cedrick’s order that he should be carefully watched was kept and no buildings were harmed in the winning of this battle. “Can I blow up prisoners?” Alburn asked hopefully.

“What if they are innocent?” Elphacena asked. “Heklis was the one who locked them up. Their crimes could be for stupid reasons that don’t deserve jail, let alone capital punishment.” “But you don’t know that,” Alburn said. “And neither do you.” Cedrick cut across him. “We’ll have to check first, and while we do, you are going to stay here and not touch anything that could produce any kind of flame.” “Then big boom?” Alburn begged, but Cedrick was too exasperated to give him an answer. Making sure Elphacena’s leg was alright for making the rounds, Cedrick and Elphacena went around to check the state of the prisoners, and it was easier than they expected. Heklis seemed to have had taken pleasure in organizing the prisoners for them. The first floor all appeared to be falsely imprisoned, and the higher you went the worse the crimes became. It made the task easier, though not indefinitely easier as few were locked up higher for treason, which both Elphacena and Cedrick were likely to have been convicted of. (Though, as Cedrick proudly pointed out, he was never Heklis’s citizen so couldn’t be convicted rightfully.) It was a little before noon when they were finally on the top floor of the last prison building. The couple was more than ready to be done as Cedrick opened the door to the last section for his wife. Elphacena stepped into the room to see the thread barred carpet and the room held only one captive. Elphacena’s eyes landed on the occupant. Elphacena froze solid, eyes wide in horror as if turned to stone. The color rapidly drained from her face. “Cena, are you alright?” Cedrick frowned and stepped closer to see, but the moment he moved, Elphacena jumped a mile and bolted for the door. Cedrick shot after her as fast as he could, so all he saw of the prisoner was that she was a woman, likely in her forties. For a woman with a wounded leg, Elphacena moved impressively fast, but Cedrick caught up to her on the stairs and took her arm. “Elphacena, sweetheart, it’s alright. What’s wrong? Talk to me.” Elphacena rounded him on and yanked her arm from his grip. “Let me go!” She screamed in surprising anger. “You can’t make me stay with her. Let me out!”

“Cena, I’d never hold you against your will like that, but I don’t understand. What is the matter? Elphacena, dearest heart, what is happening?” Cedrick tried to get an answer, but Elphacena didn’t stick around to answer the questions. “Cena!” Cedrick ran after her. She’d reached the bottom floor when Cedrick finally got hold of her again. “Please, don’t shut me out. What’s wrong? Who is that woman?” “Woman?!” Elphacena shirked. “That thing, that monster, that litchen is not a woman or even a person!” “Then what is she?” Cedrick begged. Elphacena’s screams were slowly compacting his heart into a painful ball of rejection. Why was his wife shutting him out again? What had he done wrong? All he wanted to do was love her, help her, understand her, so why did she drive him away? “I won’t stay with her! You can’t make me,” Elphacena stammered, petrified. Cedrick hadn’t seen her this terrified since she’d explained why she couldn’t love him without losing him. Was this connected? “Elphacena, I won’t make you do anything because I love you and want to help you. So please tell me what just happened. Who is that?” Cedrick rubbed her arm comfortingly, but he really wanted to hug her and pull her close, but he feared she was too scared to stand the containment. “She c-can’t; sh-she won’t…” Elphacena muttered. “She can’t and won’t what, Cena? Who is she?” Cedrick begged once again. “That thing,” Elphacena spat, “is my mother.”

Chapter 6

Facing the In-Laws

Cedrick’s mouth fell open. “Your mother?” He’d been given the impression her mother was dead. All Elphacena’s family was dead, in her mother’s case from the time she was little. It also raised the frightening question: why was Elphacena terrified of her? At Cedrick’s words, Elphacena started to tremble worse than ever, and Cedrick saw she was going to rabbit off and tried to stop her, but he wasn’t fast enough, and she began to run again. “Elphacena, wait, please!” Cedrick was forced to chase her once again. On the way, his men tried to stop him. Cedrick was not in the mood, but Author, Cedrick’s second, didn’t let up. “Sir,” he pushed himself in, “I have the reports, sir.” Cedrick groaned. “Not now,” He snapped angrily. Couldn’t they see he wasn’t in the mood? “Sir?” “Did you see where Elphacena went?” Cedrick cut him off. “I...no sir,” Author said, ``But I think Portia mentioned something, oi!” Author jumped as Cedrick pushed past him to find Portia. Cedrick tried to keep his head, but inside, his heart was crumbling. How could Elphacena want to go to Portia, a person she hardly knew, over him? Did he really mean so little to her? Had he done something so wrong? Was he that useless to her, or did she just fake any kind of feelings, so he’d not get hurt?

Cedrick tried to push off these questions as he found Portia with Alburn. Not caring if he interrupted, he marched right up to them, ignoring his sinking heart as he saw Elphacena wasn’t there. “Are you alright, sir?” Portia seemed to tell something was wrong. “You’re looking for your wife,” Alburn guessed. “She did seem really upset. We tried to stop her, but we couldn’t hold her back. She took off that way,” He pointed. Cedrick’s heart picked up a little. Alright, she hadn’t gone to someone else for comfort. “Thanks,” He said quickly to the couple and dashed off after his wife. There was hope. She wasn’t just hiding from him. Though it took him a while, he finally found her outside the city walls where she’d fallen to her knees and was shaking with what Cedrick guessed were sobs. As Cedrick approached, he noticed her ankle was at a slightly odd angle, so he guessed she’d twisted it as she ran and gave up on getting further when she’d fallen. Cedrick’s heart faltered a little. “Oh my love.” Cedrick knelt beside her and wrapped his arms around her. Elphacena sobbed harder and buried her face in her hands, but she finally leaned into her husband and allowed him to hold her protectively to his chest. “Elphacena, my love, my most important and beloved treasure, what’s wrong? Why does seeing your mother fill you with such fear: fear that makes you-” Cedrick’s throat caught. “r-run from me?” Elphacena cried harder, “I can’t do this again! She takes everything as s-surely as sh-she’s alive and here it all goes a-a-way again.” Elphacena looked up into her husband’s face, hers covered in tears and more tears blurred her vision as the thought choked her with sobs she couldn’t control. “I’ll l-lose it again,” She forced out. Cedrick understood. Her old fear was back: the fear that she’d lose him. She’d had nothing in her life before he’d come to her. Her family was all dead, (except apparently her mother), and she’d been locked away from the world because of the lies Heklis and the corrupt resistance spread about her. It was Cedrick’s love and protection that gave her the strength to dare try again, and it had been worth it, but she feared, more than anything, losing him like she’d lost the many other lovers she’d had. For some reason, seeing her mother again brought it all back

up. Cedrick smiled a little. “Cena, my dearest, my heart and beloved soul, please listen to me. It’s alright; I’m not going anywhere. that first night?” He tried to smile a big smile. Elphacena nodded through her tears. “Nothing was there to hurt us then, ?” She shook her head, tears flying off her face. “Now sh-she’s here to take it all to ‘save’ me. I’ll lose everything again. I can’t be alone! I can’t d-do that again, but she’s g-going to force me.” She broke into a fresh wave of uncontrollable sobs. “Not again, please.” She hugged her middle as if it hurt: as if her heart was being ripped out of her stomach. “Father, Creator, why do you do this to me?! I c-can’t, I can’t…” She collapsed into Cedrick in full tears and tried to hide from her fears in him as if to keep him there with her. Cedrick held her tightly and brushed a strand of red hair from her face. “I’m not leaving you. You know I’d do anything for you.” “I know,” Elphacena cut off scathingly. “You’d die for me!” She almost spat. “Sure. If that’s what you needed, but ,” He took her hands in his. “That’s not what you need.” Elphacena’s head snapped up, and her tear-filled eyes met Cedrick’s firm and confidant ones and couldn’t escape them part of her hoping, praying. “I’m not going to promise you I’d die for you or that I’d sufferer endless pain for you, not because I wouldn’t, but because that’s not what you need, ?” Cedrick squeezed her tighter. “Cena, I’d live for you. I’m not going anywhere.” Elphacena smiled a little, and her lips shook. “You c-can’t control that.” “I don’t have to. I love you more than this world can contain, and that will make it work.” Cedrick gazed directly into her green, slightly bloodshot eyes. “That woman can’t take anything from you, not anymore. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. Hear me, feel me. I am not gone. I’m here. If you let me, I will always be no matter what.” Cedrick rested her head on his chest. “As solid as any rock, I will be.” Elphacena began crying again but not as frantically. It had a different feel to it. This wasn’t pain. She was touched by his love and only tears could express it. She settled into her husband more comfortably and just sobbed the shock and

pain out, washing it away in tears. This all hurt so badly, but she had to trust, and she could trust him, right? Cedrick held her safely and rocked her gently until he felt her relax; he hoped she’d fall asleep. Soon enough she drifted into an uneasy sleep. Cedrick smiled a little and gently lifted her into his arms and stood as carefully as he could. He’d protect her, but what she needed protection from, he wasn’t quite sure. But he was going to protect her no matter the cost.

*****

With how well she took his assurance, Cedrick expected things to get better as they set up Montressa as their new base, but they did not. Elphacena feared her own shadow, and when Cedrick went to leave the room, she’d jump up and grab his arm before she’d really thought about it. Each time, Cedrick stopped and looked at her. “Yes?” “Where are you going?” Elphacena asked. “To work. To see what needs to be done next like I do every day. Are you okay?” Cedrick wasn’t sure what else to say with how jumpy she was. Slowly, Elphacena let go of his arm and looked down. “S-sorry.” “For what, my love? It’s alright. What’s wrong?” Cedrick rubbed her arm. “Nothing,” Elphacena said quickly and hugged herself. “Nothing.” And shook her head. “You sure? You can tell me anything, and something seems wrong. Is it…” Cedrick bit his lips. “Still her?” As soon as he said it, Cedrick regretted it. Elphacena’s face flushed with color. “Don’t you mention her to me!”

Her intensity made Cedrick jump back. “Sorry,” He said, “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to help.” Suddenly, tears flooded Elphacena’s eyes, and she turned away. Cedrick’s shoulder’s fell. “Cena, I didn’t mean to —” “Cedrick please, let go. I thought you were off to work,” Elphacena snapped. Cedrick jumped a mile. “I’m sorry, really. Cena, I—” “Go on then!” “I can’t leave you upset like this,” Cedrick tried again and reached out for her only to be slapped back. “I thought you were leaving.” Cedrick gaped at her, his heart feeling like it had been stabbed, with cracks appearing along its face like cracks in damaged ice. “Cena, please, I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just going about my work. If I knew it would upset you, I—” “Are you still here?” Several new cracks crackled across his heart, ing the first warning few. “Ookay.” Cedrick pulled back. “I love you.” But he didn’t get an answer. Not sure what else to do and afraid of getting hit again, he left the room, but paused. Did he hear sobbing? Was she crying? Cedrick moved to go back but stopped; he’d only make her angrier. Cedrick swallowed the sharp lump in his throat where it tore into his heart. Yes, he knew she was crying, but she didn’t want him; no one ever wanted him. Cedrick’s heart sank deeper, but he wasn’t allowed to dwell on it, so slowly, he stepped away. Was there nothing he could ever do? But he couldn’t do nothing, not when his wife was hurting so. Instead, he waited until later to ask her about it. During a break, Cedrick found her alone in the mess hall with her eyes staring blankly into space, and he was sure it wasn’t good space. No one dared go near her.

But Cedrick would brave anything for her, so he walked over and sat beside her. “I’m sorry you’re hurting,” He whispered in her ear. “You know I’m alright. I’m right here...r-right?” Cedrick wished he was sure of that but knew he wasn’t. Elphacena swallowed and looked at her hardly-touched plate and didn’t answer. Cedrick felt the lack of response jab into his heart. Had he not done all he could to prove he’d forever be there for her? He’d sworn to live for her. He’d listened to her every complaint, tried to comfort and understand it all, and yet, she still rejected him. How did her mother have such power over her? Having exhausted all other options, Cedrick dared be bolder than he wanted to. “Cena,” He swallowed. “What did she do to you?” Cedrick had taken the plunge, but it didn’t do any good. Elphacena stiffened under his arms. “Everything!” She shirked, and the whole place went quiet. Elphacena yanked away. “It’s all her fault! If not for her, my father would be alive, the hell I went through wouldn’t have happened, and it’s all her fault!” “But why? What did she do to you?” Cedrick stood up as Elphacena did, but it was pointless as Elphacena turned on her heel and ran off. “No, Cena wait!” Cedrick started after her but was blocked. “What is going on?” Margorim demanded; his stiff, angry face glaring at Cedrick as always. Cedrick grit his teeth, furious. Did his father always have to yank him down and get in his way? “I’m just dealing with some trouble at home, alright? Now please let me take care of this,” Cedrick tried to get past him, but Margorim wasn’t going to let him go so fast; he never did. “This wouldn’t happen to be about that ‘in-law’ of yours, would it?” Margorim asked. Cedrick set his teeth as anger pulsed through his body. “None of your business.” “It’s disrupting work and the men, so it is my business. You know what you need to do. If she won’t tell you, you know who you will have to talk to.” Anger filled Cedrick, and the tips of his fingers felt like they were full of fire. He

was not under his father’s control anymore, and he didn’t have to listen anymore, and he wouldn’t. “If it was my mother we were talking about, would you be so open about it?” Cedrick should have known better; those were fighting words. Margorim’s hands balled into firsts. “This has nothing to do with that. This is different, and you know that,” He snarled. “Exactly, so you’d know even less; now let me deal with it,” Cedrick snapped. “It seems you need help doing it,” Margorim said. Cedrick closed his eyes to cool the flames in his chest. “I don’t need your help with anything, so far you’ve always just made things worse.” “Perhaps I wouldn’t have to if you’d listen. It’s likely this is why she won’t talk about it.” “Just like you,” Cedrick snapped. Margorim set his teeth. “I asked for action, not words.” “Yet all you ever do is talk!” Cedrick shot back. “I’m not a child anymore. I have my own life to live, so for once, get your cold hands off me.” “Maybe if you could go on your own without falling or failing, I could.” “Right, because to you, all I ever do is mess up, while the rest of the world praises my accomplishments.” “Perhaps you’d not feel that way if you didn’t have a wife that needs constant cosseting.” The fire in Cedrick burst into dangerous levels. If there was one thing his wife was not, it was a woman in need of babying, and no one, no one, was allowed to make her feel like she did. Cedrick couldn’t to stop himself before the fire exploded into his fists. All Cedrick ed was his vision going red and feeling something hard make with his fist; the thing turned out to be his father’s face. Cedrick didn’t have time to take it in before his father swung back, and Cedrick fell backwards. His back slammed into the ground with great force.

“Oi!” A new voice ed the fight, and Cedrick felt something yank him back. How dare they interfere! Cedrick turned to attack the new attacker but then saw it was General Mercutio. Cedrick blinked and looked over at his father, who had Arylana holding him back by the arm. “What is going on here?” Mercutio demanded. “Nothing you have to worry about. Get off!” Cedrick yanked himself free. “Hey!” Mercutio grabbed Cedrick’s arm painfully hard. “I don’t think so. Why are you two trying to yank each other apart?” Cedrick ground his teeth together and spoke through his teeth. “I wouldn’t need to, if he’d keep off me.” “I’m your father. You owe me that respect!” Margorim shot at his youngest. “Maybe you should earn it!” “Hey, hey, stop.” Mercutio pulled Cedrick back again. “In the name of all the thrones, would you two get a reign on yourselves? Now, what is going on?” “I wanted to help. It’s affecting the work,” Margorim said. Cedrick’s body tensed. “And that’s all you care!” He screamed back, and somehow broke out of his Mercutio’s tight grip and turned away. He didn’t have to stand there, and they couldn’t make him. No one could make him. He went to bed that night still angry and hurt. Elphacena was cold and scared beside him. He had to do this; he just didn’t know how.

*****

“Ow!” Cedrick jumped as someone hit him upside the head, and Cedrick stood up. He’d been sitting on a bench, but how was that possible? He blinked and looked around, but hadn’t he just gone to bed? Then he recognized where he was: a familiar garden, the small stream, and the odd pinkish mist all about.

He’d been here before. This was where he’d seen the vision of his mother. Nervous now, Cedrick turned around to see a man he’d never seen before standing behind him. He had red hair, freckles across his face and deep green eyes, familiar eyes. Cedrick blinked rapidly and narrowed his eyes to study those emerald gems; he knew those eyes. They were his wife’s eyes. “About time you showed up,” The man smiled mischievously. “Been waiting; what’s kept you? It’s not like you haven’t slept through a lot of noise before.” Cedrick set his teeth. He didn’t like this man’s casual attitude, not when it was about his wife’s suffering. “It’s different when it’s your wife's tears, but it’s not like you care.” Without warning, the man was in Cedrick’s face, teeth bared. “If you think I don’t care, it’s clear you don’t care enough,” He said dangerously. There was a warning, dark glint in his eyes Cedrick didn’t like. “My daughter means the world to me, and you better respect that, and if you don’t understand that you don’t care nearly enough.” Cedrick froze. His mouth dropped open. That would explain the eyes. It wasn’t that he had Elphacena’s eyes; she had his eyes. What was his name? Elphacena had mentioned it before, right? No, Joel or Shota had. “J...J-Jaren, right?” “Oh look, he can be taught.” The man smiled and pulled back from Cedrick. But Cedrick didn’t relax at all; his sudden actions scared him a little. “What do you want?” Jaren’s face fell a little. “I assume the same as you want. To help her.” Cedrick’s heart quickened. Could he really help Cedrick save Elphacena? Cedrick was clueless because no one would tell him anything about what had happened, but Jaren likely would. He knew what his wife had done to her daughter, right? “I’d do anything. More than anything,” Cedrick said, looking right into Jaren’s eyes. “Anything?”

“Anything.” “Like?” “I’d live in eternal torment for her.” Jaren smirked a little. “That’s what I hoped you’d say.” “So what do I have to do?” Cedrick asked. “Get a backbone,” Jaren said seriously. “The backbone of a goat or maybe a donkey would be better.” Cedrick raised an eyebrow. Was this guy nuts? “What would I need the backbone of a donkey for?” “What do you think?” Jaren asked, still serious. Cedrick started to honestly wonder if he was mad, but then Jaren started to laugh, and Cedrick realized he’d been pulling his leg. “Nothing of course, I’m messing with you, testing you.” Cedrick couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s wrong with you?” He couldn’t stop himself asking. “I’m dead. What’s wrong with you?” Jaren replied. Cedrick shrugged. “No one knows.” He sighed and got a laugh from Jaren. “That’s what they always said about me. No one will ever know,” He grinned. “Well, at least my daughter didn’t choose a complete bozo, just a work-inprogress.” “Progress on becoming a bozo or not being a bozo?” Cedrick asked. Jaren laughed harder. “That’s the spirit! You’ll need that to take on this battle.” “Did it help you with your battle?” Cedrick asked, wondering if humor was a good way to get through to Elphacena’s mother, but at the mention of his wife, Jaren’s shoulders sagged, and he released a deep sigh. “Not for both, but at least one of them liked the bozo,” Jaren answered.

Cedrick frowned, “One of them?” “One.” Jaren nodded, “My true wife.” “True wife? What are you talking about? I don’t understand.” Cedrick hoped Jaren would stop playing games and just answer his question. “First let me make it clear; I can’t fix this for you. I can’t tell you everything. It was hard enough to manage to start one of these visions without following those rules, so listen carefully and try to read what I can’t share. I can’t tell you, but I can help you understand because I’m afraid otherwise you will never solve it before it’s too late. Elpha’s been through enough, and she’s going to go through even more, and the easier or lesser the struggle, the better. Got it?” Cedrick nodded, “I think so. You can only give me the background, so I can find the answer.” Jaren nodded. “Exactly. Good. You are teachable.” Jaren gestured to the bench. “Sit.” “I aim to please,” Cedrick grinned, thinking to put Jaren in a good mood and impress. “Yeah, yeah, shut up and listen,” Jaren said. “This is important. Being a Wick meant we were a family of privilege. I was first married when I was eighteen to a wonderful woman named Elina. We were happy for several years, not perfect years, but we were happy. One of those struggles was to have children, and we wanted them, but it was hard for Elina to become pregnant, but finally, she got pregnant, but it didn’t bring the joy we’d hoped. She died in childbirth.” Jaren sighed, and Cedrick wished he could touch him and comfort him at all, but knew from his experience with his mother, he couldn’t. “So that woman Elphacena said was her mother isn’t her mother?” Cedrick asked. “No, Kassandra is Elphacena’s mother,” Jaren said. “Elina’s baby was stillborn.” “Oh.” “But as far as I care, Elpha is Elina’s girl, not Kassandra’s for many reasons,”

Jaren said darkly. “My second marriage was arranged. We were losing ties with Englaria, where Kassandra is from, and the king felt a marriage would help, but his own son was too young, and the king himself was already married. So the task fell to one of his nobles: me. Being lonely and the only unmarried man she’d accept, I volunteered to my greatest joy and deepest sorrow.” Jaren let out a painful sigh. “I married Kassandra, and it wasn’t long before she was pregnant with Elpha. Her birth was the best day of my life since Elina died. I loved that girl more than anything: my sweet baby, the Maker’s best gift to me. The only thing that could have made that day better was if the mother had died.” Cedrick gaped at Jaren, wondering if he should laugh or not. Was he serious? He sounded it. This woman was enough of a monster that even her husband and daughter, people who apparently were normally so warm-hearted, wanted her dead. How bad was this crime she’d committed to make them loathe her so much? “Kassandra tried to raise Elpha as a...pet, so to speak. Elpha was to be pretty, perfect, impressive to the court and therefore, grow up way too soon. I wanted to let her be a child, learn to love life, and not just impress those she met in it. A child needs a chance to be a child to learn how to be a happy adult, but Kassandra didn’t care because having such a mature child made her look good.” Jaren’s scowl made danger warnings flash in Cedrick’s mind. “It was an endless fight, and I thought that another child would help Kassandra be more warmhearted, but the twins were stillborn early, and the miscarriage caused her to lose the ability to have more children, so it only made things worse for Elpha,” Jaren sighed. “But then she left us. One day she just up and left to never be seen again. I looked for her out of duty but saw no sign of her. I felt guilty at first, thinking it was my fault she died at the hand of my enemies. Oh, how I wish that was the truth. The truth is worse,” Jaren paused. He paused for such a long time that Cedrick felt he had to prompt him. “Which was?” “She found a man she liked more than me.” Jaren shrugged. “And I was alright with that. I’m sure it wasn’t hard to do with how much we disliked each other, and she wanted power that I had no interest in. I wanted joy, which was something she had no interest in.” “Is that why Elphacena hates her?”

“I wish it was just that, more than you can know,” Jaren sighed. “I mean, Elpha was glad her mother wasn’t there to make her grow up too fast, so her leaving didn’t make Elpha hate her. She did seem a bit upset, but no what her mother did once gone is what caused that.” Cedrick waited but didn’t get an answer. Did he have to yank every answer out of him? “Which is?” He pressed his annoyance. “That, you’d have to ask her; I never found out what it was before I died, and if she knew before that she never told me. I know she was delighted when Kassandra left, but why she loathes her so now, I don’t know. But I’m guessing that background will help you find out. I do know it’s connected to all of that, but what the reason is, I’m not sure. Kassandra was abusive in many ways, and I tried to protect Elpha from that, but I know I wasn’t perfect and neither were my brothers.” “But you’re dead, how do you not know?” Cedrick asked, and Jaren gave him a glare that could melt stone. “Death doesn’t make you all-knowing, cupcake. It just helps you see things more clearly and watch what is happening now, but not affect it. Most of us don’t like to because it’s painful to watch and not touch.” Cedrick gaped at Jaren. Cupcake? Did he just call Cedrick ‘cupcake’? “Why she fears her mother taking everything away I can’t tell you either, apart from the fact that she liked taking things Elphacena loved from her as child, but that’s because they were childish in Kassandra’s mind. Her comfort blanket was taken away when she was very little.” Cedrick’s shoulders slumped. “And that’s all you can tell me.” Jaren shrugged. “It’s all I know.” “Oh,” Cedrick smiled a little. “Well, thanks for trying. I am further than I was before, I suppose.” He was trying to be grateful. “Do you think I’m more likely to get Cena or your wife to talk?” Jaren flinched when he called Kassandra his wife. “Sorry.” Cedrick said quickly. “Kassandra then, right?” Jaren nodded, and a thought popped into Cedrick’s head. “How did she feel about you giving Elphacena your first wife’s name as a middle name?” Jaren grinned evilly. “I know; Kassandra was furious when she found out.”

“What did you do?” “Told her she’s mine too, and if she’s part mine, she’s part Elina’s, and that’s how I wanted it. Kassandra tried to kick me between the legs, but she is a dreadful fighter.. Was easy to get away.” “Lovely,” Cedrick said. “Well, I’ll keep that in mind in case I tick her off.” “I wish you luck,” Jaren sighed. Cedrick sighed too, “I may need more than luck.”

*****

The next day wasn’t much more pleasant once Cedrick woke up. He didn’t even have a chance to ask Elphacena about what he’d seen because she wasn’t there when he woke up as shaky and antsy as ever. He hated how visions made him feel when he awoke. They always made him feel like this. It didn’t help Cedrick’s mood when General Mercutio arrived and found not all the prisoners had been handled. The weather was getting surprisingly cold for so early in the season, even snowing, so the trip hadn’t been pleasant for the general, and he took it out on the person in charge: Cedrick. “Cedrick, why is it when I give you a task, you do all of it but one small bit of it?” He asked Cedrick as he stepped into the room and dropped off his coat next to the door with a frustrated toss. “Well, that’s not always true, but this time it is.” Cedrick added, holding up his hands defensively at the glare Mercutio gave him. “You’re not crazy.” “Then do, pray tell, why I’ve come to find my army is taking the excuse of the ‘job not being done’ to lounge about like tubby bears?” Mercutio’s tone was tense. “Because men will do that.” Cedrick had no other excuse. “It’s just the one urh, ‘high profile’ one?” Cedrick sighed; it was better to unload it all now so

Mercutio would be more understanding. “Long story short, turns out the person we’ve not taken care of yet is Elphacena’s mother. And I was under the impression her family was all dead. She spoke like they were.” Cedrick’s heart sank. It seemed even after she ‘told him everything’ there were many secrets hidden in her. “And I’m honestly not sure how she feels about it. She won’t talk to me. She seems to be angry and wanting her dead, but at the same time, it is her mother.” Cedrick swallowed. “You have a hard time understanding how anyone would want their mother dead because you never had one and wanted one.” Mercutio guessed. “Yeah, guess I am that immature.” “Guess?” Mercutio smiled. “Hey, you’re only three years older than me.” “Maybe I am. I still won’t tell.” That got a chuckle out of Cedrick. “Well, let’s just say I never thought I’d have the ‘in-law’ problem and now I’m neck deep in it.” Mercutio studied Cedrick’s face for a moment. “I understand that’s hard, but I also can’t ignore my men playing sparkle ball instead of running drills or planning. If you don’t take care of this, and quickly, I’ll do it myself.” “Wow, you’re really going to do something yourself?” Mercutio laughed. “Oh shut up.” Cedrick grinned. “See? It’s good to see me.” Mercutio sighed. “Yes, Cedrick. Sometimes, it is good to see you.” Then a wicked, playful grin crossed Mercutio’s face. “Now get out of my sight and fix it.” Mercutio stood up. “And I mean, like today.” So now here Cedrick stood, unsure what to do or if he really wanted to do anything as he stood in front of Kassandra’s cell. He paced in front of the door, fighting with himself.

“Hey.” A voice Cedrick knew cut across his anxiety. Cedrick looked up to see Aidan, one of the few commanders he got along with, walking over. His brows were drawn together as he looked back and forth. “What are you doing here?” “Dealing with the ah... in-law.” Cedrick looked to his right at the cell door. “That bad?” “I have to decide if we execute her or let her go. And both sound like they’ll tick my wife off.” Cedrick summarized. Aidan chuckled. “Well, guess it makes the single life look better, right?” He frowned at the face Cedrick gave him. “Nevermind, not a good joke for you.” He cleared his throat. “But you see why most of us are single when leading the fight. Easier.” Cedrick just shrugged. He didn’t exactly want to get unmarried, and the talk wasn’t exactly helpful. “Sorry.” Aidan smiled and clapped Cedrick on the back. “You could ignore it, or you can go in there and figure it out. Or you can just stall. Stall a good long time.” “Mercutio already is threatening my head if I keep doing that.” Cedrick said dully. “Oh, right.” Aidan frowned. “Okay then. Guess you have one real question.” Aidan grinned. “What makes her happier?” “I don’t know. I have to find out.” Cedrick sighed. “Ah.” Aidan said. “I see. Want me to shove you in there?” Cedrick laughed. “No, thanks. I need to be ready for this.” “Okay.” Aidan smiled again. “Well, you can always blame whatever went wrong on my bad advice. That will at least get you out of hot water at home. But know this, you’ll regret it if you let someone else decide. Make your choice, and if it

gets you in trouble, I’ll take the blame.” Cedrick chuckled. “Thanks Aidan.” “No problem.” Aidan grinned again. He punched Cedrick’s arm encouragingly. “Knock um’ dead.” He gave Cedrick a small salute as he left. Aidan did make one good point. He couldn’t just let Mercutio decide for him, even if he wanted nothing more. But, Cedrick knew it wasn’t a safe choice. He wasn’t sure what action would make Elphacena happy. What if she didn’t want her mother dead? Is that even what they’d do? Cedrick hadn’t really been part of that discussion. Just because Jaren made it sound like that’s what she’d want, didn’t mean she did. Elphacena’s scared and tormented face drifted in Cedrick’s mind. No, he had to do this to help her, if nothing else. Cedrick took a deep breath, nodded at the guard to open the door and stepped inside. The lady stood as Cedrick entered. The first thing Cedrick noticed was that she didn’t look at all like her daughter. They shared the same thick hair texture, but the color had no hint of the dark red Elphacena had so masterfully achieved. Kassandra’s eyes weren’t open but were narrow and heavy lidded with dark, heavy lashes that gave the impression she was always fluttering her eyes when she blinked or that she was casting a veil over her face. She also was shortlooking. Not really short, but she looked like she was, at least, when compared to her daughter, but she wore some impressive heels to compensate, their three inch height was visible and audible. “My lord?” Her voice dripped honey that Cedrick didn’t trust. There was just something about her, an eerie, charming something. Something that Cedrick found unsettling. “What news?” She asked. “I’ve not been told of anything. Please.” She stepped close to Cedrick and took his hand as if to beg, “I have been given no fair news or ill news. What is to become of me?” Cedrick pulled his hand out of hers immediately, feeling a sick kind of creeping energy come from the touch. It made him a bit nauseous and uneasy. “What have you told them?”

“Nothing. No one has asked me much of anything.” “What is your name?” Cedrick decided he should make sure instead of just assuming. “Kassandra.” She confirmed. “Wick?” Kassandra nodded, “Yes indeed, though I am now widowed.” Her eyes tilted down as if in distress. “Please, I have none in this world but my child. Where is she? She fled from me, and I have not been told of her since.” Why was she talking like that? Did she mean to unsettle him, or did he just find her creepy? “Why do you think she’d run?” Cedrick tested. Kassandra looked down, her long lashes hiding her eyes. “I left her and her father many years ago, and I suspect she resents me for it. I suppose I shouldn’t have, but she’s had many leave her over the years, and I’d expect she hates everyone who’s left. No matter what the manner or reason of the leaving was.” “Why did you leave?” Cedrick began to circle her, not because he felt he had to study her, but because standing still and staring was getting awkward, and the way she studied Cedrick’s figure made him nauseous. Kassandra swallowed. “I...I wanted to save them. Heklis was and is too powerful, and he will take everything.” Kassandra’s eyes were alight with the thought of Heklis, and the little bug in Cedrick’s stomach not only was making him feel sick but was starting to feel sick itself. “I knew if I went to him, he’d keep my family safe.” “But he didn’t. Your husband was killed, and you did nothing,” Cedrick pointed out. “What could I do?” Kassandra looked up at Cedrick with an air of innocence that Cedrick wasn’t falling for. “I don’t know. Perhaps comfort your daughter, who just lost her father,” Cedrick replied.

“No, then I’d lose her protection.” Cedrick made the connection. “For yourself.” “Is that so wrong?” Kassandra looked up. “I was alone and in love.” A creepy, little smile crossed her face. “He looks well after those who are his. Such pleasures and riches are shared you can’t even imagine. I wanted that for my family too, and with my husband gone, we could have it.” “You mean you and your daughter?” “My Elphacena, yes,” Kassandra nodded. The bug in Cedrick’s stomach decided it was going to be sick in that moment and tried to get the bile out of Cedrick’s throat, but he held it back. ‘My Elphacena’ sounds so wrong, as if Elphacena was her perfect pet or favorite toy. “Well, she never got those riches or protections. Instead, Heklis assaulted her honor and killed those she loved.” “You mean she refused it.” Kassandra’s face darkened. “I told him of her and her magic, what she could give him: a powerful child, what he wanted most. All she had to do was give it to him. If she had, she’d have been safe, and this hell she went through would never have happened. All she had to do was share a few nights, give him a son, and all would be alright.” Cedrick didn’t know what overcame him, but whatever it was took over, and he pinned Kassandra to the wall. “You sent Heklis to her!” He stopped, blinking, realizing what he’d done. He let go with a shove. “Those boys Heklis killed to get to her was because of you.” “He almost gave up many times, but I couldn’t allow that. I reminded him of what there was to gain. She was such a foolish child, one filled with her father’s foolish ideas. Heklis could win. He just had to remove what was in the way.” “Including her father.” Heat rose to Cedrick’s face. She’d done the unthinkable. She pressured her lover into trying to seduce her daughter at all costs. “Whatever was in the way.”

“You sent your husband’s murder to him. You all but hired him to kill your husband.” Cedrick gaped at her, sickened beyond belief. “My daughter deserves those honors and to know the pleasure. Oh, the great pleasure of having Lord Heklis as your lord. What he can give her, the thrill he provides. It is a treasure worth many prices.” Cedrick didn’t know how he was keeping the sick inside, but he was hoping his gag reflex stayed under control. He swallowed and bit his lips to keep it down before speaking. “You were going to sell your daughter to him as his ‘special’ slave.” “No far better, his prized trophy. The one he would celebrate his greatest triumphs with, and when he’s pleased, he is the greatest pleaser,” Kassandra smiled. “But then she rejects it.” Her face became dark again, dark and dangerous. “And married another, one who could never give her what Heklis could: a fool who won’t accept him either and one I must save her from.” Cedrick’s mouth fell open. She had no clue who she was talking to or who he was, and she also had no idea he would never agree with her, so she’d tried to convince him she was right. She thought she could brainwash him like she’d been brainwashed. Never. “Now please,” Kassandra begged, stepping closer to Cedrick: way too close. “Help me out. Help me find my family again. I only want what’s best for them and...and you. I can maybe show you the same pleasures I’ve learned.” She ran a hand down Cedrick’s hand seductively. Cedrick grabbed her wrist harshly, causing her to gasp in shock and fright, and squeezed warningly. “Never. I love my wife, unlike you did your husband. I may be a ‘fool’ as you call me, but I still love your daughter more deeply than a leech like you can know. I actually want her happiness, unlike you. You sent hell to her door and are responsible for the murder of at least a dozen innocent men and your own husband.” Cedrick threw her back, eyes on fire and dangerous. “You?” Kassandra gasped, stunned. “You married my daughter? You are the enchanter who can destroy mountains?” “More importantly, I’m the enchanter who loves your daughter, who can’t bear to see the fear and torment your mere proximity brings her. I am the fool,”

Cedrick declared dangerous and proud. “If that’s what being a fool means, I’m proudly “a fool” as you call it.” “If you love her, then protect her from more pain,” Kassandra pleaded. “Give her to him. He just wants a child and then he’ll let her live in true happiness.” “Over my dead body,” Cedrick hissed, “and yours. You will not see your daughter, and you will not be leaving.” “Please.” Kassandra made a dive for his hand, but Cedrick pulled it away from her reach, and the moment he did, the ‘charm’ and ‘pleading’ vanished from her face. “So be it.” She snarled, “He’ll erase you like a speck of dust upon his jacket. She belongs with him in that rapture. A rapture she will learn to love, and one we’ll share as mother and daughter while you will be left as a nothing in the painful past. You won’t beat him. You and her father can both rot in death!” She screamed as Cedrick turned to leave, but that last cry made Cedrick stiffen, holding back the urge to strike her. Cedrick didn’t turn around as he spoke slowly. “I better not see your face ever again,” He growled. “We’ll your sentence, and no matter what they decide is your fate, I better not see your face again, or I will not be so merciful,” Cedrick opened the door to go. “I’ll see you dead, choking on your own blood!” Kassandra smirked at his back, but Cedrick ignored her violence. “Likewise,” He replied calmly and shut the door behind him. The second he had, the anger drained from him, and revulsion and sympathy rushed over his entire being. Without a word to anyone, he went right to his wife, and before she could even turn, he enfolded her in his arms to love and protect her, give her the proper love she deserved and not the twisted selfish ‘love’ her mother wanted for her. Elphacena jumped a mile but felt his love and protection and melted into it at once with a flood of tears. She held onto Cedrick like he was the only thing keeping her alive. Cedrick held her tenderly and kissed her head. “I’m so sorry,” He whispered in her ear. “I’m so sorry, my beloved, that all that has been brought to you was at the hands of that monster who should have loved you. I’m sorry we found her and brought all this back up. I promise. No matter what. I

will protect you from her. However you wish me to deal with her, I will do it.” Elphacena froze. “You...spoke with her?” Cedrick pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. “Yes, it was the only way I could understand your pain and help you, and I was right. I do now. I’m sorry that brings a deeper ache to your heart. I’m truly sorry to bring you any more pain because of the woman who should have loved you, and instead, took everything from you and used you. I’m here, I understand, and I love you, my dearest heart. I’m here,” Cedrick cradled her. “The one who knowingly allowed your father to be taken from you won’t take anything else from you, I promise.” Elphacena had started to relax into his comfort but suddenly stiffened. “She what?!” She cried, and Cedrick realized his mistake. Elphacena didn’t know Kassandra let her father be killed. “Nothing.” Cedrick tried to cover up, but it was too late. “She knew Heklis was going to kill my father and did nothing!” Elphacena stopped, trying to contain her rage. “She told him to, didn’t she?” Cedrick didn’t get a chance to answer before Elphacena leapt from his arms and ran for the cells. Fear erupted into Cedrick’s chest. What was Elphacena going to do? He rushed after her and caught up as she burst into her mother’s jail cell. “You killed father!” She screamed at her mother as Cedrick grabbed her arm, stopping her lunging onto her mother. “You killed him! It was you!” “Now, now my dear girl. We all know it was only to help you,” Kassandra tried. “How good to see you after so many years, all grown up and mature and ready for the work of a lady as you were born into.” Elphacena’s magic exploded off her. Cedrick had never seen her lose control like that. He and her mother were forced back. Cedrick was only thrown a few steps, as Kassandra was thrown into the wall. “Cena!” Cedrick pulled her into a hug to soothe her. “Shhh, it’s alright. I’m here.”

“Now you want to take it all again!” Elphacena screamed at her mother but stayed hidden in her husband’s chest. “You can’t have it!” She pulled away from Cedrick and glared at the woman who gave her life. “Get out, leave here. I never want to see you again. Ever. Get out! Get out now!” She pointed at the door. “B-but Elpha please,” Kassandra pleaded “Go!” Elphacena screamed. “Or I’ll end your fake life here and now. Go!” Elphacena grabbed Cedrick’s sword from its sheath and pointed it at her mother. She was so quick, Cedrick was too surprised to stop her. Kassandra froze, staring at the blade, but after a moment, she looked up at her daughter sadly, but it was a fake sadness, one meant to bring sympathy. “As you wish, my love,” She said and slowly went to the door. “And Kassandra.” Cedrick said, and she stopped. “If you cross that line one more time if you do something to take anything from her again, I will kill you.” Kassandra narrowed her heavy-lidded eyes at Cedrick, but with a regal and indignant toss of her fine skirts, she left the room. Once she was gone from sight and earshot, Elphacena broke down into sobs and fell to her knees, dropping Cedrick’s blade. Cedrick went to her and encircled her in his arms, almost before her knees touched the ground. Elphacena held onto him and mourned into his shirt, wetting it with her tears. Cedrick didn’t feel the need to speak. He just held her, protected her, and let her grieve the loss of the bits of home and family her mother had taken from her, and it helped heal the gaping wound in her heart. She hid in the husband who loved her truly and kept her safe. That woman hadn’t changed anything. He was still there and loyal through it all, and she could trust that. She could always trust that.

Chapter 7

A Man Just Died

“Got it!” Aleph cried as he tried to trap a fly in his hands, but Cedrick just glanced up at him with a small smile as he kept working on the records he’d been assigned, filling out what was done with each prisoner. It was dull but helpful work if they needed to track one down later. “Aww.” Aleph sighed. Cedrick heard a sharp snap and jumped as something smashed the fly onto the finished paperwork. Cedrick gave Aleph a look. “What?” Aleph tilted his head innocently. “Now you have to get the guts off my work.” Aleph frowned. “But it’s your paper,” He complained. “It was your fly. Now get it off or rewrite it: your pick,” Cedrick pushed the paper towards Aleph. He was not doing it all again just because Mercutio wouldn’t be happy about fly guts. “How about we do nothing and just send it back,” Aleph suggested. Cedrick smiled. Though he was tempted, he said, “I don’t think so.” “He won’t know it was you.” “It’s got my name on it.” “Erase it.”

“It’s ink.” “Oh...let’s blame papa.” Aleph perked up, and Cedrick laughed as the man in question entered the room. “See? He can take it,” Aleph said hopefully. “No, get the fly guts off.” “No.” “Fine then eat it.” “No!” Aleph screamed as Cedrick pretended he was going to make Aleph eat it. “What is this?” Drake asked. “He smashed a fly on the paperwork when I finished it. Now he has to eat it or clean it,” Cedrick smirked, and Drake laughed. “He’s right, Aleph. You did it, so clean it up, then off to bed.” “I don’t want to do either,” Aleph complained and struggled with his father a bit as he picked him up to get to work. “It’s not fun, Papa. I don’t want to.” Aleph folded his arms angrily. “Yes, yes, I know. I’m the worst. Now clean it up, then to bed. Come on.” “You’re the worst.” “I love you too. Come on.” Drake pushed him on, while Aleph complained as he cleaned the records and then allowed his father to scoop him up for bed. They were almost out of the room, when huge bang echoed from the guard gate, and Drake and Cedrick tensed; something was wrong. Aleph recognized the sound too and looked nervously at his father. A second later, Sarai appeared with Elphacena behind her. “What’s going on?” Sarai asked anxiously. “I don’t know,” Drake replied. “Get yourself and Aleph into a secure spot just in case. I’ll find you there.” “But what about bedtime?” Aleph frowned.

“Don’t worry. Mama will look after you, and I’ll be right back. Promise.” Drake assured him. Cedrick let them have their moment and met eyes with his wife. She nodded, and they both headed toward the trumpet call. It didn’t take long to figure out what was going on. Somehow, about fifty or more enemy fighters had slipped into the walls and were charging the unexpecting guard tower. Cedrick’s eyes flew wide in shock. How did they get in and get so far so fast? There was no way they could have done that. There was only the one gate. Cedrick glanced over his shoulder as Drake ed them, having soothed his family and gotten them safe. Drake’s brown eyes became as round as a full moon. “How did they get in?” “No idea, but I’m more worried about getting them out, then I’ll worry about how they got in.” Cedrick drew his sword and looked at Drake. “Do you want to make sure they got to cover?” He was referring to his family. “They’re used to this. I have faith they can handle it.” Drake waved off with a small smile, also drawing his blade. “Best way to look after them is to deal with that.” He nodded at the intruders, and Cedrick nodded. “Cedrick, I’ll get our enchanters and get them on finding their entrance and blocking them off,” Elphacena said. “Be careful,” Cedrick warned. Elphacena kissed him to assure him quickly, but ionately, before taking off. Drake waited for Cedrick before they headed into the battle together: one, to help keep the flow back, and two, to find Mercutio to find out what the plan was, but a surprise attack like this was hard to plan against. They’d have to count on Mercutio’s planning skills to get out of this one. A javelin flew in front of them and missed them by half a foot, but it still stopped them both in their tracks. Drake looked up to see who it was and snarled in angry recognition, but when Cedrick looked, he didn’t seem familiar. The man who stood above them had dark hair and hazel eyes, but they were dark hazel. They looked like they had contained a warmth that had gone out and was

replaced with a strange darkness Cedrick couldn’t describe or had ever seen before. His arms had tattoos all around, and they formed a wing-like pattern made up of a strange, tribal language pattern. “Emmerick,” Drake snarled. Cedrick glanced at Drake’s hate twisted face then back at the man, Emmerick, as he jumped from the ledge and stood to get a closer to them. Drake held up his sword. “Heklis’s newest and greatest follower,” Drake explained to Cedrick. “Greatness may be relative,” Emmerick shrugged a little. “I’m definitely not the tallest.” Drake attacked first, but Emmerick lazily flicked his wrist and a wave of scarlet energy flashed from it, throwing Drake back, leaving Emmerick’s strange eyes to land on Cedrick. “I’ll just do the same to you,” He warned, as if giving a bit of friendly advice to a neighbor. “Eh, I can combat that,” Cedrick replied, wondering why this man was focused on them when there were fifty or more men around them too. “Oh?” Emmerick tilted his head, and his eyes lit up. “Oh,” He smiled a bit wider. “You’re the twerp.” Cedrick tilted his head; he did not know that word. Emmerick drew his sword. “You killed Rothmeraid.” “And I’ll have the pleasure with you as well.” Cedrick got into position to fight, but a loud bang shook the ground, stronger than the last. “Alburn!” Both Cedrick and Drake snapped. Emmerick tilted his head the other way. “Who’s that?” As soon as the question left his mouth, a new explosion shot rock and debris over them. Cedrick and Drake shielded their heads. Emmerick didn’t seem to mind. Something thudded between them and Emmerick, making them all jump. A body had landed in the space between them. Emmerick tilted his head curiously and bent over the body. “I think this one is still breathing,” he said looking closer. “Oh no, never mind. He stopped. He's dead.”

Cedrick fought not to laugh. It was sick humor, but it was humor. He was confused by this man. So far, he’d not made any moves to fight them. As Cedrick watched, Emmerick drew a line in the air with his hand over the body, then touched his own forehead, middle, and opposite arm in what Cedrick knew as a darkmen’s mark of respect for the dead, and Cedrick couldn’t help but let out a laugh. It was too funny, too unexpected, and out of place . One of Heklis’s mass murderers was giving respect to a man his attack had killed. Emmerick’s head snapped up, and he looked right at Cedrick. “Don’t laugh, it’s not funny. That man just died.” Drake gave Cedrick a look as Cedrick tried to stop the awkward laugh that wanted to escape, but a little huff like laugh escaped. “You know he’s ours,” Drake pointed out. “I know,” Emmerick snapped, annoyed. This annoyed Drake, and he decided to do what Cedrick would not and charged at Emmerick, but for his efforts he was thrown into the wall with another lazy flick. “Were you just going to defile this poor man’s body by running him over?” “No, I’m after your throat,” Drake snarled. “Oh okay.” Emmerick nodded. “That’s fine then.” Cedrick just stood there, unsure what was going on. A yell followed by another explosion shook the battle, and they all turned and saw the top of a tower was falling towards them, and they all dove out of the way. When the dust cleared, Cedrick rolled over and looked around to find Drake and saw him on the ground on his back with Emmerick standing over him. Cedrick flew at the assailant and tackled him over in the roll. Emmerick threw Cedrick off him with his legs. Cedrick rolled and landed on his own feet in a crouch. Emmerick stood up and charged back. Cedrick blocked his blow, then Emmerick gasped in pain as Drake attacked him from behind. Emmerick had avoided a fatal or major injury, but he didn’t get away without a wound. As a defense, he threw a handful of red magic that tossed Drake back.

This gave Cedrick the idea to try the same trick and blew Emmerick back with his own ball of blue/white energy as more screaming and more attackers charged into the street. Cedrick was forced to face them. He barreled into the middle of them and started to cut down the surprised attackers as fast as he could, and Drake was soon at his side, but there were too many. Cedrick gave Drake the cue to get out, and by some miracle, they both slipped away without injury. They panted for a moment to catch their breath. “If we stop this,” Cedrick gasped, “we will have to find where they are getting in from. It’s not the gate.” “The tower?” Drake suggested. Cedrick looked at him, but shook his head. “I think they already took it.” Drake swore under his breath. “So what do we do?” “Find somewhere up high they don’t have control of and fast before they take them all. Their army came from somewhere on the outside.” He looked up at the roof of the building they were hiding behind. “Can you jump?” “If I must.” Drake replied as Cedrick used the trellis beside them to climb to the roof, and Drake followed the young enchanter. Once up top, Cedrick looked around and picked the closest wall. “Stay behind me and keep moving.” Cedrick instructed Drake then took a running leap to the next roof. Drake hesitated. “Come on.” Cedrick encouraged. “It’s not as far as it looks.” “Maybe, but I’m not as young as you.” Drake smiled a little, but he took a deep breath then charged for the wall. He made it, but he fell painfully once he landed. “You alright?” Cedrick asked as he helped Drake stand. “Just scraped my knee.” Drake assured him. “I’ve got this.” The ground shook again. “I don’t think those bombs are Alburn’s.” Cedrick frowned and looked at Drake, not with how close together they were happening. “Agreed,” Drake said. “We better hurry.” He started for the next ledge.

“Not bad for an old man,” Cedrick teased as he followed. “Older. I never said I was old, just older,” Drake laughed. It took them a while, but they reached the wall and climbed up and found no trace of the army around them. But where was the army coming from, if they weren’t just outside the walls? The attacking force had to be bigger than they were showing. As they scanned for signs of the attackers, Cedrick got the idea to look into the trees and froze, unable to believe what he saw. “In the trees.” Cedrick pointed. “Do you see those things moving? Do those look like men to you, or is it just my eyes?” “No, that’s the army there in the forest,” Drake said after straining to see. “But how are they in there and getting in here?” He froze and his eyes went wide, gaping at Cedrick. “The secret tunnels.” Cedrick’s heart stopped. They’d found them only a few days before, and somehow the enemy had too. They hadn’t been on any of the maps. In fact, they’d only found them when they were testing the strength of the walls. So how did these troops know about it? But they didn’t have time to think about it. If they couldn’t stop the army out there, they’d have to do it from the inside. “We have to tell Mercutio,” Drake looked at Cedrick. “We need a plan; we can’t do this alone. Those tunnels have dozens of entrances around the city. We can’t block them all on our own.” “No,” Cedrick agreed. “We can’t.” He glanced over his shoulder. “But we better be fast. Can you keep jumping?” “Not far, but if we run along the wall, we’ll likely make better time. Most of them are trying to hold that hole there.” Drake pointed. Cedrick saw he was right and did some quick calculations “Alright. Just be careful. We’re most exposed up here.” Drake nodded his understanding and they started to run, keeping eyes peeled for archers. They reached the heavy knot of fighters where they saw their men falling rapidly; the enemy seemed unstoppable no matter what they did. Cedrick saw one sword bounce off an enemy’s side, but his arm couldn’t be that strong. Cedrick recognized shielding enchantment and closed his eyes to fight them off.

He felt the pop as he broke their spells and the cries of now unprotected enemies sounded in Cedrick’s ears. It was a sickening sound. Shoving the disgust from his stomach that threatened to make him dizzy, Drake and he pushed on to find their general. They found him trying to direct troops to the best defenses. “Mercutio!” Cedrick called. “They’ve found the tunnels,” He explained as he ran to his general’s side. “They’re coming in at all points.” Mercutio bit his lips. The battle was already going ill without realizing they were surrounded and vastly outnumbered. He knew it was over. “Get the innocents out,.” He finally said, “We’ll keep trying here, but we cannot leave them at risk. There is still another age. If they are using our ages, that path should be open.” “But that sends them right into the freezing snow,” Drake protested. “It’s frozen out there, and a cold night is falling fast.” “I know, but it’s all we have. If we win, we’ll get them in fast. If not, they will need the time to escape,.” Mercutio said. “It’s safest for them.” Drake swallowed but nodded, knowing his general was right. In the last week, the snowfall had only thickened to blanket the ground. An emergency evacuation would not give them time to supply themselves, and they’d be exposed to the frigid cold. “We’ll make do.” Cedrick assured Drake. “Let’s go.” The two men ran for the area they’d made as the shelter for the innocents in case of such an attack. But as they ran, someone fell in front of them from a rooftop. Cedrick recognized him as one of his most talented enchanters. “Tubal!” He cried and helped him up. Tubal was gasping for breath and wincing, but he didn’t appear hurt. “What happened?” “That cursed Neramith happened!” Tubal snapped. “Who?” “Neramith, he’s a freak that Heklis has. He somehow can suck magic out of you with just a touch, and he absorbs spells thrown at him. I just got blasted back by

my own spell,” Tubal fumed. Cedrick swallowed. That would be the kind of person he’d have one difficult time beating. Magic was his only advantage. Could he be useful without his magic? But he didn’t have time to have his father’s criticism and his own doubts plague him. He had people to save, so while those doubts screeched in his head like a hundred angry birds, Drake spoke to him. “We don’t have much time,” He shook Cedrick out of his state. “We don’t have to deal with him yet. We need to get the innocents out.” “Right,” Cedrick agreed, shaking his head. “And make sure Elphacena knows.” He told Tubal. Tubal agreed and took off as Cedrick and Drake took off for the shelter. Drake went into the shelter to explain the plan to the women and children while Cedrick kept watch, but he didn’t have to guard long before Drake came out with the innocents behind him following his orders exactly. “Wait, we need backup to protect them,” Cedrick pointed out. “We don’t have the time,” Drake said. “We need to start now. Backup is coming.” Cedrick swallowed. He didn’t like this, but he also knew Drake was right. From his stance at the door, Cedrick had seen the north get overrun, and the east quarter was soon to follow. They had little time. They had no idea how many more were coming in, and they were almost overwhelmed. Their escape was a dried-up river tunnel they’d found. It had been blocked by ice blocks, and they hadn’t managed to get it free yet. Thank their lucky stars it had been blocked. It stopped the enemy from using it. Now they could just blast through it with magic. The tunnel led underground and back out, clearly a canal to get water into the city, but it was one of two, so they hadn’t worried about it. They were halfway there when someone knocked Cedrick over. Emmerick was back. “You know, I worked hard on those blocking spells. It’s rude to undo someone’s work,” He said matter-of-factly to Cedrick.

Cedrick used his own magic to blast Emmerick of,. “So is killing my people.” Cedrick snarled. “Well, it is war.” Emmerick shrugged as if explaining that it was expected to see snow in the winter time then dove for Cedrick’s neck. Cedrick blocked it, twirled, and tried to get a side jab, but Emmerick was skilled with a blade and rolled the tip away, turning his blade down to keep the block. He kicked up and cuffed Cedrick under the chin, knocking him back, but Cedrick kept his footing. Whatever he did, Cedrick made sure to stay between Emmerick and the women and children. Aleph, however, had spotted Cedrick as he and Emmerick clashed. Black magic began to glow around Emmerick’s blade, and it shot towards Cedrick’s chest. Instinctively, Cedrick used fire to burn the shadow away. The flame turned black before dying. “Cedrick!” Aleph went as if to help, but his mother stopped him. Emmerick glanced up at the boy, and Cedrick saw him look, and panic filled his chest. “Aleph, go!” Cedrick screamed at the boy and elbowed Emmerick in the face to distract him. Aleph didn’t move. “I’ll be fine, Aleph! Go! Go!” Cedrick looked at Aleph pleadingly before he turned to block Emmerick’s next attack. Cedrick didn’t see Aleph hesitate, but Sarai took his hand and led him away quickly, looking up to be sure they weren’t being followed, but Emmerick watched them both with a shrewd eye. It sent a chill down her spine before she and Aleph followed the others away. Cedrick was holding up well against the darkman and kept him from following the innocents. He knew darkmen were worshippers of darkness, and therefore, Cedrick knew Emmerick would like nothing more than to commit horrible acts on those innocents, so he had to do all he could to stop that happening. As they fought, the ground shook even harder; luckily, Cedrick kept his footing, but he had to pause the fight. Emmerick stumbled back a little, and a new cry met their ears.

Emmerick and Cedrick looked up to see thirty of the resistance’s army charging down on Emmerick and his men. Tubal was among them coming to help defend the innocents. Emmerick ground his teeth, seeing his job had just become harder and turned to Cedrick, but before he could attack again, a pale green jet of light shot at Emmerick. Emmerick had to throw himself backwards to avoid the ball, and Cedrick grinned. That bright green blast had to be from Nuveen, another of his top enchanters. He’d know that green magic anywhere. Emmerick had vanished in the flash of magic. Nuveen paused in confusion. He was sure he hadn’t hit Emmerick. Regardless, their help pushed back the attackers, but even then, they were badly outnumbered. Cedrick looked around to see how they fared and saw a group of nine or ten men charging one lone man. Cedrick's heart stopped. “Drake!” He cried and dove into the fray. “Get Neramith!” Tubal yelled at someone and pointed to a group of attacking men. Cedrick saw the man, who must be Neramith, had Drake and the others pinned, right where he was heading. Neramith had got in under Drake’s guard. “No!” Cedrick cried. He wasn’t fast enough. He couldn’t see what happened next because the group gathered tighter. Portia and Majin, another of Cedrick’s coronals, charged at Neramith. Cedrick got there before they did, , and made a go for the anti-enchanter. Neramith sent a shock into Cedrick’s body that made him stop cold, gasping in deep pain as he felt deathly, icy cold spread through his body from his heart. The cold only made him more desperate, and the fear and anger escaped Cedrick and exploded outward, which was frightening as he hadn’t done that since he was little. Those without magic collapsed around them, while those with magic, including Neramith, made a run for it with Portia and Majin at their heels to take them out. It seemed slower to Cedrick, but all this took place in about three seconds. Cedrick panted in the effort and looked up in dread at Drake. A blade protruded from his chest, and Drake’s eyes met Cedrick’s for a horrifying second before Drake started to collapse.

“No,” Cedrick breathed as he shot forward and caught Drake before he touched the ground. “No. Drake, hang on; I’ve got you. Hang on.” Drake was already gasping for air, and each breath sounded like it hurt. Drake’s weak eyes slid over to look at Cedrick, and he smiled weakly. “It’s okay. You’ll be fine, Drake. I can fix this. Everything will be fine. I-I’ve got this.” But Drake’s pained breathing made Cedrick nervous. Had the blade gone in so deep it damaged a lung? Could his magic fix that? Sure, why not...right? Drake choked on his attempt to speak. “N-not even you c...can’t fix this,” He gasped. “It is the death of me.” “No, it’s not,” Cedrick insisted. “Don’t talk like that. Your boy needs you. That little baby needs his or her father to be there when he or she arrives. Don’t be afraid. I can do this.” Cedrick had used magic to save someone once. It had worked fine for him, and for Cedrick’s father, so why not for Drake? More people needed Drake than the others. The Father would make sure it would work. It just had to. Drake’s family needed him. “Don’t be afraid. I’ve done this before. I can save you. Really, I’m not just saying that. Just have hope and hold on, and you’ll see them again.” “Cedrick...I-I’m sorry.” Drake heaved for air around his pain. “Please...tell them…” “Shhh, there’s no need! You can tell them yourself,” Cedrick promised. “I can heal this. I just have to pull the knife out, so I can heal around it, but it will, I promise.” “No,” Drake grabbed Cedrick’s hand as it closed around the knife. “You remove it, I-I’m dead.” “No. Drake, trust me. Drake, I’ve done this before. I can do this; I’ve got this. Please, your family needs you! Hold on for them. I can do the rest, but d, don’t give in.” Drake’s eyes filled with pain. “P-please...p-p-promise me you...you’ll...you’ll look after them. Please,” He begged, his voice weaker than before. His breath sounded agonizing. His life was slowly draining from his eyes as well as the

color in his face. Talking looked painful, but he just had to say it. He had to. “I can save you,” Cedrick said firmly. “Don’t worry; just trust me. I only have to remove the knife then I can heal you. It will hurt, but only for a moment, but then you’ll be fine. We both will. I’ll likely black out, but I’ll be fine. Both of us. Don’t give up. It’s okay.” Cedrick tentatively rubbed his arm, trying to comfort. Cedrick tried to remove the knife again, but Drake stopped him. “Cedrick…” He panted. “Y-you don’t u-un-understand! You remove it...and...I’m dead. I’ll die.” “If I don’t, you’ll die. I can do this; trust me.” “If you can’t-” “Drake-” “If you can’t,” Drake was determined. “Promise me...s-s-wear to me you’ll...you’ll look after them, my f-family, for me. Look after my family.” “Drake, you know I will. I’ll do anything for them and you, but it won’t be needed. I can save you, just have hope, and hold on.” “Cedrick...th-the moment you remove that knife...I’ll d-die.” Drake looked into Cedrick’s eyes. Cedrick paused as he looked back into Drake’s. Dread creeped into Cedrick's body, but he shook it off. “No, don’t talk like that.” But Drake may be right, he thought. If the knife hit a lung or something vital that had to be plugged, the knife may be the only thing holding him to life. But it wasn’t like that, it wasn’t. Too many people needed him, and the Creator would look after it. Cedrick could fix it; he could fix anything. “T-tell Sarai...tell her I l-love her, and I-I’mmmmm s-sorry,” Drake gasped, his voice now weaker than ever, “and m-my son.” His voice was getting worse. “Drake, stop it!” Cedrick commanded, tears starting in his eyes. “You don’t have to worry. I-I will save you.” Drake didn’t believe it, but he didn’t stop Cedrick this time. Cedrick took the

opening. Drake was losing too much blood. He’d be dead soon, if he didn’t do something. Cedrick smiled at Drake a little. “Don’t worry, Drake. I have this, and you know me. I’m annoying. I won’t leave you guys alone, ever. You couldn’t get rid of me.” Cedrick smiled reassuringly and brushed Drake’s hair again to assure him. He put his hand on the knife once more. “Cedrick.” Cedrick met Drake’s eyes. “Thank you.” Cedrick hesitated, unsure how to respond and unsure how he meant it. A lump rose to his throat, a ball that tried to stab his heart, but Cedrick swallowed it back. It was going to be fine. Cedrick gave Drake one final assuring smile, gripped the knife tightly and pulled.

*****

Elphacena ducked as the debris from the aftermath of the explosion scattered everywhere. She looked around to be sure she was clear. She found it was clear and jumped onto the ledge of a building to check the progress they’d made. As soon as she saw the state of the battle, she knew they’d lost. They were overrun, and more were coming. Elphacena jumped down. “Arylana!” She called, and it drew a few arrows to her position, but they missed pathetically. She stood up and looked around and spotted her sister-in-law in hand-to-hand combat with a few attackers, and Elphacena jumped to her aid. Her double blades slashed the back of one of the unexpecting assailants, and with him down, Arylana stabbed another and slit the throat of the second. “Hey sis,” Arylana smiled excitedly. She enjoyed battles way too much. “What’s surfaced?” “I think we need to start a full evacuation.” Elphacena felt nervous because she

wasn’t a blood Custod, so she hadn’t trained for years like the others had. Who was she to tell a pure Custod what to do? “I...I think we’ve lost either way, and the only win we can get is getting out safely. I think we should move toward that defense instead of driving the numbers out that we can’t handle.” “Alright. Give the order then,” Arylana smiled. “Wh-what?” Elphacena was confused. “Me? But you’re a Custod.” “So are you, right? You changed your name and took the oath, so what’s the difference?” Arylana reminded her as she took out a dagger and chucked it into the back of a man about to breach the commander’s stand on the wall. “Yeah but-” “So you can give the order,” Arylana insisted. “But you’re higher than me.” Elphacena turned bright pink. Arylana paused to give her sister-in-law an incredulous look. “Why would I be higher than you?” “Well, you were born a Custod, and I just...snuck in with a wedding band.” Elphacena’s face went from pink to red that blended well with her auburn hair. Arylana laughed, “Dearie.” Arylana cut off the head of an attacker. “You’re married to the head Custod; that makes you the head lady, so you give the orders.” Arylana grinned broadly. “What’s...with the smile?” Elphacena narrowed her eyes uneasily. Arylana shrugged. “Just glad it’s not me.” She beamed and twisted to stab another assailant in the gut. Elphacena rolled her eyes. “Oh, I’m so sure.” “Right, so it’s up to you. Give the order then. It sounds like you have a solid plan. I’ll help get it going.” Arylana assured her as she kicked a short attacker in the head and stabbed his heart as he lay helpless on the ground.

Elphacena took a deep breath and nodded, jumped up onto the ledge again to see the troops. “We have to move!” She barked. “To the south west side. Defend the innocents and get them out. The city is overrun. Go!” She jumped across to the next ledge to lead the way, and Arylana repeated the cry and charged toward their destination. They made surprisingly good time for how overrun they were, but just when Elphacena was feeling confident all would work out, she felt an odd pain in her stomach and gasped. Her eyes misted over, and she blinked. What was happening? Screaming, pained, agonized screaming filled Elphacena’s ears and chest, and her stomach dropped out. How could it be...Erick? A new cry struck her ears. “Father!” Elphacena looked around, terrified. Her heart had been pounding with her physical effort before, but now, it raced in fear. How could that be? He was already dead. She heard that scream, his...last scream. The pain intensified in Elphacena’s stomach, and she gasped, falling to one knee. Her vision went white for a moment, and she blinked to try to clear it, but when she opened her eyes, she felt as if a knife was driven into her core. “No,” She gasped, horrified. It couldn’t be real. There her father lay, dying as she knew he had all those years ago with the same wounds and all. The battle around her vanished, and Elphacena couldn’t any of it. She couldn’t recall where she really was. If you asked her, she’d tell you she was sixteen again, and her father wasn’t dead, not yet. “Father!” She screamed at the top of her lungs and threw herself beside him. She tried to gather him into her arms, but she felt nothing; she couldn’t touch him. “Leave me…” Her father hissed angrily. “You’re just like your mother.” “What?” Elphacena gaped at him, that cut her to the core. Like her mother? No, no...“P-papa.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “No, Papa, I love you.” She tried to touch him again, but couldn’t as she saw his eyes roll up, and his body went limp. “Papa!” She screamed so hard it tore at her lungs and throat. “Papa! Father!” She tried to hold him, but once more her hands were unable to feel him. Her hands shook as tears blurred her visions. “Papa…” She quaked.

The pain in her middle intensified, and she gasped, pressing her arms into her stomach and bending over in the pain. She blinked and saw something else: her uncle leaving her. “No!” Elphacena jumped to her feet and tried to grab his arm, but she couldn’t. He rounded on her with a furious glare. “You’re like the rest of them! Like that monster who tormented your father, and I’m not enduring you any longer.” “N-no, please, not you too.” Tears streamed down Elphacena’s face. “Y-you’re all I have left, please.” “You deserve to lose it!” He screamed in her face and was suddenly gone. “No, please!” Elphacena screamed and tried to go after him but slipped and fell onto her hands, subbing uncontrollably. “No! I c-can’t, won’t.” Then two disgusting hands took her waist and threw her to her back, pinning her down. Elphacena screamed as she felt his body press to hers, kissing her neck, pressing too close, his hands pulling at her skirt. “No!” Nothing could stop it, but she fought to get away, and suddenly the monster trying to molest her vanished. Elphacena scrambled to her feet, panting so hard she couldn’t breathe. What was happening? Her green eyes flew wide. “Jarbo, no!” She screamed. It tore at her already sore throat. She couldn’t move as she watched the vision all over again, but to her, it was as if it was new. A man jumped down from a rock onto her uncle and stabbed him through the core. Jarbo’s gasp of pain drove its own blade into Elphacena’s heart. “NO!” She ran forward to catch him, but he wouldn’t allow it. “No, I’d rather die alone than with you, wicked sorceress,” Jarbo said weakly, but angrily, and he tried to force her away, but she couldn’t feel his hands, only see them. “No!” The pain in her middle intensified, and she shrieked in pain. “No, stop! Sstop! Stop…” Her vision was fading to gray. “No more...don’t reject me again. I love you.”

Chapter 8

Reality

Drake gasped as Cedrick yanked the knife free, but then no breath entered his lungs again. His eyes glazed over, but remained staring, looking into nothingness, emptiness. Cedrick froze as a cold terror creeped into his heart. No, this couldn’t be. “No, no!” Cedrick pressed his hands to Drake’s chest and released the magic as fast as he could. The golden light flooded Drake’s veins and healed the wound, but he didn’t move. His eyes still gazed into emptiness, and what was worse Cedrick felt no drain on his energy. That meant he’d used Drake’s energy, and the only way he could do that without being worn out was if...was if… “No!” Cedrick put an ear to his chest, hoping, praying. It wasn’t right; his family needed him. They needed him! Cedrick had saved others,, and none of them were as needed as Drake was. How could this be? But despite his prayers and faith, only stone-cold silence met Cedrick’s ear, and there was not a trace of breath or a beat in him. He was hollow, empty. Cedrick pulled back, shaking like a leaf in a horrible storm as that same emptiness crept into his head. He was too late. Drake had been right. The knife was removed, and he.. he was...dead. “No.” Cedrick breathed, shaking his head. “No. Oh please, Great Father, no!” He put his hands to his chest to try to restore a heartbeat, but something stopped him. He knew it was useless, so he sat there, hands pressed to his frozen chest as hot tears flooded Cedrick’s eyes and dripped onto Drake’s chest. How could this happen? How could He allow this? How could he tell Sarai...Aleph; their faces came to Cedrick’s mind. Aleph’s reaction...his little

face at losing the one man he’d known and counted on, his unconquerable father. That image of childhood treasure was taken for good. And Sarai, only a month away from delivering his child, now to bring that baby into the world and raise it alone. All alone. Those monsters had taken it; Neramith had taken it. A fury beyond anything Cedrick had ever known burst through his veins in a flood of heat and fire. That monster had killed Drake. That monster had stolen a father and husband from a family who had nothing but one another. He’d taken his friend, his only friend and the one man Cedrick had felt had ever cared for him. Cedrick’s breathing picked up in anger as the hate and indignation filled his chest, building with rage and filling with fire as Cedrick’s eyes met Drake’s dead face, not peaceful, but with glassy eyes and pain on his face, blood in his mouth. The anger burst inside of Cedrick, and Drake’s spilled blood appeared to fill his eyes, turning a horrible blood red. He snapped up suddenly after the killer, the murderer. That man that was going to die. “My lord?” A voice spoke to Cedrick, but Cedrick didn’t hear. Instead, he shot off after his quarry; someone was going to die for this. It was stunning how quickly Cedrick caught up to Neramith and his guard. Once he caught up, he sent a jet of blazing fire from his being that consumed his guards in moments. It was like he was a human torch. Cedrick’s blood red eyes met those of the killer. Poor Neramith was an average looking man with brown hair matted with dirt and blood. Some of it likely Drake’s. This thought exploded like a firework in Cedrick, and he snarled like a panther. “You’re dead where you stand.” He snarled. A flash of white-hot fire flashed at the enemy. Somehow, the man sucked it into his own hand with a smirk on his face. The smirk slipped as he made a sudden cry of pain. The magic burned his hand. He snarled and thrust the fire back at Cedrick, hitting him square in the chest. Cedrick fell back, but this only angered him further. “You’re dead!” He screamed at the top of his voice and dove at the anti-enchanter. Cedrick grabbed his arm and spun him around to snap his neck. The heat of the moment faded.

The second Cedrick touched his enemy, he felt that icy, deathly cold pain spread from his heart. Cedrick gasped and let go. The warmth rapidly refilled him, but before Cedrick could use it, one of his own spells blasted him away from Neramith again. Cedrick fell but rolled to his feet and looked up to see Neramith sprinting away. Cedrick growled and shot after him, but too fast, allowing Neramith to jump to one side, pressing against a wall and then down the street. There was a grunt as Cedrick ran into someone, almost tripping over them. Cedrick was about to turn and go after him when a gasp of horrible pain struck his ear, and he froze. He knew that gasp; he knew that pain. Cedrick blinked, and the red faded from his eyes. “C-cena?” He stood up right and looked around, stiff with a new horror. His wife lay on the ground, on her back, shaking as if plagued with a deadly fever: her eyes rolled up into her head and gasping as if about to die. Cedrick’s heart froze. “Cena!” He raced to her and gathered her into his arms. Elphacena blinked, still panting as if breathing her last. Her eyes met Cedrick’s. “Wh-who?” She blinked again. “Cedrick.” She rested her head on his chest as her breathing picked up. “Cedrick.” Cedrick heard a scuffle and looked to see one of the strangest men he’d ever seen. He was white, really white, like a sheet of fresh snow. His hair was translucent looking. He looked so frail that a puff of wind could blow him away, like memory in the wind. His eyes were a pale green but glowed with a gold light that made it hard to tell. Cedrick stiffened; they were the same shade as Elphacena’s. Whatever was happening to her, that man, that thing was causing it. A new fire leapt into Cedrick’s heart, and his eyes grew dangerous again. The man blinked and floated away the same speed of a man running, but he didn’t appear to run- it was too smooth. The second he left, Elphacena gasped as if coming up from almost drowning and coughed violently. Cedrick looked down at her, his instinct to protect her stronger than his desire for revenge. He held her tenderly. “Cena, dearest love, my heart, don’t leave me. I’m here, right here. Are you alright?” Cedrick asked, fear and begging in his voice.

Elphacena looked up at him. “C-Cedrick?” Her eyes filled with new tears, but there were already tear stains on her face. Her eyelashes wet with tears. “I-it was all fake, right?” She clung to Cedrick’s chest. “What was fake? What’s wrong? How can I save you?” Cedrick asked, brushing her hair back as he cradled her. “M-my father d-died in front of me all over again. I forgot he was already dead. Th-that I was there, but I was there w-with him d-dying again, but he d-didn’t want me there. He s-said I was as b-bad as...b-bad as..” Elphacena burst into fresh sobs. “As my mother,” She forced out between sobs. “Oh Cena, no. You know that’s not true. Your father loves you so much.” Cedrick clutched her to his chest to try to soothe and love her. “Th-then he left us! He left us again!” Elphacena screamed angrily. “Then Jarbo d-died in front of me again, and he didn’t want me, not the wicked s-s-ssorceress I w-w-as, but H-Heklis did, and t-tried to-to..” “Shh, it was just a nightmare. That thing sucked you back into those memories and twisted them; none of it was real. None of it,” Cedrick promised. The ground suddenly shook under them. Cedrick almost fell over, but he fought to hold his precious wife safe. Elphacena’s eyes snapped open, forgetting what she’d just gone though. “The innocents, the city!” She cried as she ed and jumped to her feet. “Are you sure you’re-” Cedrick began to ask, but his wife didn’t listen. “We have to stop them.” And she shot off like an arrow from a bow. Cedrick was stunned for a few seconds but soon was racing after her. Thankfully, most of the innocents had already escaped into the freezing cold, but the army knew where they all were. Cedrick scanned the area to make sure they were set. “Get in!” He ordered. “I’m not leaving you to seal it yourself.” Elphacena looked at him like he was mad. Cedrick kissed her quickly. “I mean with the last group. Get them in and

yourself, and I’ll be behind you. I swear my life on it.” Cedrick kissed her again. “Go, go before that white man returns.” Elphacena agreed and led the last group of innocents who were too scared to go it alone into the age. Cedrick jumped into the middle of enemy fighters that were going after them with a yell of fury that put fear into many of them. Cedrick landed and drew himself to his full height, eyes blazing. Half of the attackers turned and ran for their lives, but others dared to charge the young Custod. Cedrick was glad for it and thrust the two back with an explosive energy blast. His sword spun around and charged Cedrick towards last three. It was no competition. One was dead before the four really met, and Cedrick’s elbow struck the second, breaking his nose and sending him down. A flash of steel struck the last, ending the fight. Cedrick had done this all in one flowing movement and landed on one knee on the other side, looking up to see Elphacena had the last of the innocents in the tunnel. Cedrick shot for the opening, all thought of the battle behind him gone as he made a beeline for the opening. Cedrick skidded inside just as a storm of arrows and spears shot at the age. As fast as he could, Cedrick scrambled to his feet and slid the heavy rock to seal the entrance with a powerful yank. It slammed into place as Cedrick heard the arrows and other weapons crash into it on the other end. Cedrick panted for a moment as he felt the excitement of the battle drain out of him. Even if he wanted to move that rock, he couldn’t, and he knew no one else could either. It weighed at least ten tons, and he’d used a lever to roll it into place. As the battle drained from him, Cedrick’s eyes flooded with tears. It was over. They’d lost, and they’d lost more than the city. How many others had made it out? The pain jammed Cedrick’s throat. “D-Drake.” He slid down the rock to the ground as the choking sobs of pain broke through the jam in Cedrick’s throat. He was gone. Cedrick had tried and failed to save him, and now his friend was gone. A few tears slipped down Cedrick’s face as the sobs tried to help the pain constricting Cedrick’s chest escape, but it did no

good. The bands of grief were too tight. Cedrick’s body shook as the cries finally helped release a little tension but still felt like they were scraping out his stomach and leaving an empty, gaping hole behind. “Cedrick?” Elphacena knelt beside him like a descending angel. “Darling, are you alright? You…” She stopped. “You’re covered in blood! Have you been hurt this whole time?” “M-my body is whole,” Cedrick replied, “but my heart is torn.” “What?” Elphacena frowned. “What’s the matter? What hurts so, and whose blood is that?” Cedrick attempted to wipe his tears off on his sleeve, but he was still shaking, and though the tears escaping his eyes and rolling down his cheek cleared his head, it did not help the pain, and his heart tightened further in grief. “It’s...i-it’s D-Drake’s.” “What?” Elphacena’s heart stopped. “It can’t…” “It’s Drake’s. H-he’s gone. That monster. That fake. That enchanter, Neramith, got him. I t-tried to stop it, heal him, get justice, but I failed in them all.” Cedrick shook harder. “I failed them all. The knife s-struck a fatal blow; I pulled it free, and...and...D-Drake was, i-is gone.” Tears filled Elphacena’s eyes, and she hugged her husband as he tried to escape in sobs, but Cedrick tried to steady his breathing to ask. “H-how d-do I tell SSarai and...a-and Aleph?” Cedrick buried his face as he couldn’t fight the sobs anymore. “Shh, w-we’ll find a way to tell them.” Elphacena assured him, through her own tears glittered in the near dark. “C-come on. They may t-try to blast the door down; we must keep going.” Elphacena gently helped Cedrick to his feet. Cedrick nodded and took a deep breath to get his composure. With an arm around his wife protectively, the couple went down the tunnel. The tunnel snaked underground through freezing ageways and finally surfaced four miles away from the town where the frozen river dammed up, blocking their escape. The next nearest settlement was at least ten miles away if not more.

They caught up to the refugees as they emerged, wet and cold, from the tunnel. Bitter wind cut into their skin. How were they going to keep so many people warm in this empty space? Cedrick felt a new fear come to his heart. Perhaps, the battle wasn’t the only cause of death they’d seen this night. He looked around at the bedraggled remains of their army, the freezing children clinging to parents, and the wounded that only just managed to keep up and were shivering. Many were near death. The cold was so bad even Cedrick, unhurt as he was, shivered, but the blood on his clothes likely didn’t help and was painfully obvious. But it wasn’t just the cold that poisoned the air. The grief seemed to drift through the air like a noxious fume. Cedrick held Elphacena close to keep her warm as he felt her shiver too. Cedrick looked down only to see more pain as he saw frozen children holding to their parents with fear and violent shivers he could see even from a distance. There were so many…the pain they were all in. Cedrick felt he may throw up; Aleph was one of them around there somewhere. His mother likely looking around in fear of not finding the man who’d never return. Cedrick fought hard to keep the tears and fresh sobs inside by gasping deep gulps of frigid air that turned into hyperventilating. “Hey,.” Elphacena made Cedrick look at her, and he focused on her lips that were going a bit blue. “We can do this; it’s alright.” “I…” Cedrick looked down. “I have to t-tell them, but I don’t know how; I don’t know.” Tears filled Cedrick’s eyes again, and he had to blink them out quickly to prevent them from freezing to his face, but even now he could taste the bitter salt of his grief. “Cedrick.” A voice called, and Cedrick looked up to see Mercutio, shivering like everyone else with blood stains covering his left side. It looked stiff, likely frozen like the hard lumps of it Cedrick felt in his own clothing. “Thank the Maker you’re alright.” He said, “Are you wounded?” “No.” Cedrick shook his head. “I...my body is fine.” Mercutio nodded his understanding and tried to swallow the lump in his throat. “I-I know.” His voice broke. “We l-lost a lot of...of good men today.”

Cedrick looked up, scared to know who else was gone, but he had to know. “How…” He took a deep breath. “How bad is it?” “I…” Mercutio sighed. “At least, one third of our troops are g-gone.” Mercutio swallowed back his tears. “And only a third of those who got out are wounded, and I don’t know if we can t-treat them properly in these conditions.” Cedrick staggered back as if stabbed. One third...one third, one third of the entire force were dead. So many dead and gone, and another third likely not to make it through the night or to survive the freezing journey back to a safe base. Cedrick buried his face in his hands, and his back fell against a tree trunk as a pair of wicked hands reached into his chest and ripped out his insides. It was hard to breathe. This was more than he could take. His eyes strung, but the shock was so great. He could hardly shed a tear. They formed in his eyes but seemed unable to do more. Cedrick’s dry eyes hurt, as his body wouldn’t allow a tear to be shed. He wished he could, so the tears could perhaps wash some of this horrible shock away. “We lost a lot of good men. Many commanders are gone.” Mercutio said sadly. Cedrick looked up as this new pain stabbed into what was left of his heart. “What?” he said. “We lost...who?” Mercutio swallowed hard. “We lost Faxon a-and Markos and…” Mercutio stopped and bowed his head. “And we lost Aidan.” Each name placed a new stab into Cedrick’s heart: Drake and Aidan gone? He and Aidan had been friends. Aidan may have been the only commander who truly liked him and not just agreed with him but even respected him . They had actually been friends and now two of his closest really, his only friends, were dead. How could this happen? “A-are you sure?” Cedrick choked out. Mercutio nodded,. “Yes, I saw Aidan and Markos die, and I heard about Faxon from Arylana. It’s sure.” “They’re dead…” Cedrick stared blankly into the snow. “and Drake.” “No!” Mercutio stepped back with the cry. “No, he’s not...is he?”

Cedrick could only manage a stiff nod, and Mercutio’s eyes filled with the deepest pain yet, and he buried his face in his hands. His despair tripled Cedrick’s. Cedrick fought for air as he fully collapsed into the wet snow. It was his fault. If only he’d drawn out the knife slower, or if he’d only noticed the openings being breached, or was able to get to Drake in time, but how could he have? No one knew about this attack or about the ageways apart from the commanders, so how… Elphacena fell to her knees beside Cedrick. “Don’t. Please Cedrick, take heart. Things are b-bad enough without that. Get up. Th-the snow will freeze you through.” Cedrick knew she was right and allowed himself to slowly be helped to stand, while he made sure she did too and hugged her tightly. They could do this, but how, he didn’t know. Yet, she had made it. They were still together. Cedrick fought back the sobs that wanted to come out, but a tear did sneak away. How? How did their Creator allow this to happen? So may good, needed, loved, and honorable men were gone, taken by those wicked men. Emmerick, Neramith, that white shadow, and Heklis had caused this. Cedrick felt a small fire rekindle in his chest. Anger and hatred for that sorcerer started, but it wasn’t a good warmth. It was like an acid in his chest. No one spoke for a long moment, but they all stood there holding each other for dear life as an unforgiving, icy wind beat snow about them and tried to turn them into ice sculptures of grief. One thought kept running through Cedrick’s mind. Why? Why had it happened? Why had their Creator allowed it? How was it possible they knew about the age? There was something in that last question, but it was having a hard time penetrating Cedrick’s grief. There was a shuffle in the snow, and Cedrick looked up to see the women trying to gather themselves and their children together to get warm. Cedrick spotted Sarai and Aleph in the mix. Aleph was looking around with scared eyes, looking. Looking. Cedrick felt that stab to his core, and he buried his face in his wife’s neck. He had to tell the boy he’d never find what he was looking for again, but how did you tell an innocent boy that? Elphacena hugged Cedrick tighter. “You can do this.” She tried to ignore her

own crying. “Do you want me to?” “No.” Cedrick said quickly. “I should t-tell her.” Cedrick let go of his wife and looked over at Sarai and Aleph, wondering how to tell them they were now widowed and fatherless. Sarai saw Cedrick look at them and told Aleph to stay with the others as she went over to him. Elphacena stayed close, standing in snow up to her calves as she waited as Cedrick struggled to tell Sarai the truth. She hugged herself as she watched the two talk. She watched as Sarai’s face paled, and Elphacena read her lips as she questioned it, and poor Cedrick repeated it. Elphacena felt the ache with Sarai as the truth hit her. Despair filled her face, tears filled her eyes, and a sob choked her throat. Sarai’s knees buckled, and Cedrick caught her as Elphacena ran forward to help. Sarai was crying uncontrollably she fell against Cedrick, weeping her heart onto his chest. Cedrick held her comfortingly as his tears froze onto his face. “I’m sorry,” He said as one of the tears fell from his eye and froze in place on his cheek. “I’m so, so sorry, Sarai. I-I tried everything, and I wish I could have...I thought I was going to be able to...to…” Cedrick swallowed. “I’m so sorry.” Sarai didn’t answer because she couldn’t stop her convulsions of sorrow. “No, no, he can’t be.” “Oh Sarai, Sarai, I’m so sorry,” Cedrick said, unable to hold back the pain in his voice. “Sarai, I am so sorry.” His heart — already carrying the pains of the many knives weighing it down — took another blow from Sarai’s pain. “Wh-what am I going to do? How can I go on? He’s gone...he’s gone. They killed him. What am I to do?” “I am so sorry. Sarai, I wish I could, but I know I can’t, but please know I’m here no matter what. I’ll be here. I know I can’t replace him or even c-come close, but if you need me. If you need anything, anything, I promise I’ll be there. I am so sorry.” “H-how will we go on?” Sarai wept, but Cedrick had no answer for that.

“Think of Aleph.” Elphacena came over and took Sarai’s arm. “He needs you more than ever. What about your baby? You can’t just give up. You have to stay with him. If not for yourself, then for your children, and if not for them, then for Drake. Do you think he’d want you to just give up? No, he’d want you to go on for Aleph and your unborn child.” Sarai sobbed harder, apparently comforted but also grieved. “It’s okay, Sarai.” Cedrick tried to soothe, but it was hard when his own eyes were filled with pain and freezing tears. “It’s okay. You’ll be fine. You can do it, and we’re here to help.” “How am I going to tell Aleph?” Sarai asked. Another dagger ed the plethora of grief knives in Cedrick’s chest. He knew this would crush the boy’s heart. “You won’t have to.” Cedrick prepared himself. “I’ll tell him.” “No, no, you don’t have to do that,” Sarai said at once, but Cedrick wouldn’t hear of it. “No, I’ll tell him.” Sarai bit her lips, and Elphacena squeezed her arm. “Sarai,” She said, “Let’s go get warm. Come with me. It will be alright.” Elphacena helped Sarai stand and took her to find others to help her while Cedrick slowly stood, shaking worse than ever. Cedrick bit his lips, wondering how much more his heart could take as he looked for Aleph and felt his heart throbbing with all the blades embedded in it. Cedrick wondered how it kept beating. The pain of Sarai’s face twisted all the blades at once. Why couldn’t he have saved him? Why couldn’t Drake have survived the knife being pulled, so he could have saved him? The tears choked Cedrick throat, and he gasped out. “Why Father?” He squeezed his eyes shut. “Why!” “Cedrick?” The little voice drove a spear through his core, and Cedrick looked to see Aleph looking up at him, his small face wrinkled in confusion. “Are you okay?” He

asked. “Are you hurt, Cedrick?” The poor child was shaking in cold, and his lips were blue, but the fear on his face hurt the most. “A-Aleph, what are you doing out here? You’re freezing.” Cedrick pulled him into a hug and tried to wrap him in his cloak as well, though it was not much. “What’s w-wrong, Cedrick?” Aleph shivered. “Did they get you?” “No Aleph, I am not wounded.” Cedrick assured him. “My body is not harmed, but my heart bears many wounds.” “Why? Wouldn’t that be an injury?” Aleph asked. “Not exactly.” “Then are you sick?” “No.” Cedrick sighed and bowed his head. “It’s just...a lot of good people died today.” “And that hurts you?” “Yes.” “Why?” “I…” Cedrick’s throat stuck. “because I love...loved them.” “You lost a friend?” Aleph asked innocently. “Many.” Cedrick sighed, and his voice broke. How could he tell this sweet boy one of them was his father? “What’s wrong with mama? She’s very sad,” Aleph said, sending a javelin through Cedrick’s core, and his lips trembled as he fought to tell the boy the truth he must know. Aleph noticed the struggle. “Why won’t you talk to me?” “It’s not that I won’t talk to you.” Cedrick forced a small smile. “But it’s hard to talk about, and even harder to say it.” “Why would it be hard to say something?” Aleph asked.

Cedrick swallowed to keep the boulder in his throat from stopping him from speaking. “Because it’s not something that’s easy to know because it hurts.” “How is it hard to know something?” “Aleph, I have to tell you something hard to know and maybe then you’ll understand.” Cedrick took the boy’s arms gently. “Aleph…” Aleph cut him off. “Is this why mama is sad? Because she has to say and know something hard to say and know?” “Yes,” Cedrick confirmed. “Yes, Aleph, that’s why she is sad, and it’s hard to accept it when you l-lose someone close to you.” “Like you did with Jarbo?” “Yeah.” Cedrick smiled a little in his pain. “Like that.” Cedrick took a deep breath again, praying he got through this. “Aleph, we lost a lot of great men today: commanders, doctors, and our best men. I doubt there’s a person here who didn’t lose blood, and I pray you can forgive me for what I have to tell you.” Aleph just looked at Cedrick innocently with no idea what was coming. “Aleph, y-your father was one of them.” “What?” “Aleph...your papa was one of them. He didn’t make it. Aleph, your father is dead; he died today.” “What?” Aleph said again, but this time with the pain of the truth coming through. “Aleph, p-please, stop making me say it. Your father is dead.” “No,” Aleph shook his head, shaking in more than cold now. “No, he always comes home.” “Not this time, Aleph,” Cedrick’s eyes sparkled with fresh tears. “Aleph, I’m so sorry, but your father is dead. I w-was with him. I tried to save him, but I failed. I

saw him die.” “No!” Aleph pulled back from Cedrick’s comfort. “No, he can’t be. I told you he always comes home. He promised, and he keeps his promises. He always comes back.” “Aleph, he’s gone.” “No!” Aleph screamed so loud that it broke the pained silence of the camp. “Aleph,” Cedrick said in a tone of sadness and understanding. “I understand how you feel, but he’s gone. I’m sorry. He died; he’s not coming home because bad men made it impossible.” “No,” Aleph screamed again. “Aleph.” Cedrick took his arms. “NO!” Aleph yanked his arms free and stepped back, almost tripping in the snow. His face contorted in pain. “No, no, no, he can’t be. He always comes home. He promised.” Aleph turned and ran away, hiding his face. “Aleph!” Cedrick called after him, standing up, stumbling in the snow and cold and raced after him, but the boy had vanished from his view. In that moment, all the pain and grief struck Cedrick with a powerful blow like a battering ram. He fell to his knees, shaking in pain, cold, and heavy sobs, unable to hold it back anymore. He couldn’t do more now: the pain, the suffering, the grief, the look on Aleph’s and Sarai’s faces, the look on Drake’s dying and dead face, the despair all around them; it was too much. Cedrick sat there shivering in the cold and, mourning and enduring because he had no other choice. “Why?” He demanded of thin air. “Why do You let this happen? If I must suffer, fine, but spare them, Father. Spare these people that I love and take me. Take me!” Cedrick broke down and couldn’t speak anymore, completely unaware of the fact everyone was watching him.

*****

That night was the worst of Cedrick’s life. He didn’t get long to lie in the snow, trying to let his heart cry itself out, when his father yanked him out of the snow. Cedrick’s head was so confused. He wasn’t sure what was going on other than his father was screaming at him. Cedrick tried not to focus on it, but his overwrought emotions won out, and anger flooded his body with heat. He set his teeth. Cedrick fought to keep the fire inside, but it was a battle he didn’t win. His fist shot out and socked his father across the face, and Cedrick staggered back as his father stumbled as well. “It’s bad enough without you!” Cedrick screamed. “Alright. Things are bad enough with that. Leave me the vene alone.” Cedrick staggered off into the snow, leaving his father behind. Arylana ran to her brother, having seen what happened. “Hey, hey, Cedrick, Cedrick, look at me. Calm down. I know it’s bad, but…” tears filled her eyes, “but turning on each other won’t help. We must keep fighting back. So please, snap out of it!” “Cedrick.” Elphacena rushed over and hugged him, pushing past Arylana. “It’s okay. Well, it isn’t right now, but it will be. Aleph needs you to be strong, and so does Sarai. We have to get them all out of here, or they’ll all freeze.” Elphacena held Cedrick close, hand pressing to the back of his neck. “We can do this, but we have to move.” Cedrick held tightly to her as her words brought reality back to him. She was right. He had to do this, and he could. Taking a deep breath, Cedrick squeezed Elphacena a little tighter before letting go. “The nearest town is south of here; we’ll have to start right away before it gets worse.” Elphacena smiled a little to see Cedrick return. “Mercutio is trying to see what we have to keep warm, but we’re all wet and cold.” “Could we light any fires to keep warm? Torches, but for warmth?” Cedrick suggested. “N-no dry wood.” Arylana shivered. “We just have to keep going.”

Cedrick sighed but nodded, knowing they were right. He led efforts to gather all they could and find ways to transport the wounded before moving on. Even in that hour in the intense cold, they lost five men from cold and wounds. One child seemed all but dead, and an infant, hardly two months old, was struggling to breathe, and its poor mother was frantic. Cedrick couldn’t take the pain anymore. Cedrick tried to help and took the babe, looking around to be sure no one noticed as he sent warm energy into the baby and into its blanket. At least, that should last the night. Cedrick shivered worse than ever, but the baby stopped fussing. It was at this point that they finally began the bedraggled march south. They didn’t get far before disaster struck again: a thin layer of ice covered a small river between them and their destination, but they didn’t know it was a frozen river until four men who were leading the group fell through the ice. Almost in unison Cedrick and Mercutio dove into the water after them, which left six men soaking wet and freezing from the frigid water and icy wind. There was no way they’d find a safe place to cross in the dark, so they decided they’d have to wait till dawn. The men who’d fallen in were in critical condition, and one died before they had even decided if they should cross or not, and the other three looked almost as bad. They were delirious and muttering for the next hour. Cedrick tried to find something to set on fire to help them warm up, but it wasn’t easy. He was so tired and cold himself, it was hard to think, but then he recalled, when Elphacena trained him, he’d tried to imagine what this felt like and took some random scraps of metal and turned them into wood to burn. He could do that. He found a few scraps and lit a weak fire, but still something. With fires to dry and warm them, Cedrick and Mercutio felt better almost instantly, but the three men who’d fallen improved more slowly, likely because they’d been submerged longer. By morning a second man had died, but the other two seemed to have recovered fine, so at first light they tried to find a way across the river, but it was too deep to ford, and the ice was too thin to hold them. Instead, Margorim and Mercutio chopped down some nearby trees to make a rather unstable bridge. Cedrick stayed behind to make sure everyone got safely across. He saw Sarai

and Aleph trudge across, and it was the first time he’d seen them since he'd told them of Drake’s death. The sight stabbed a knife into his heart, but Sarai wouldn’t let it end like that, and she went over to hug him, but Aleph was still angry with Cedrick for his “lack of faith” and turned his nose up at him and marched across the bridge. The sight made Sarai sob, and Cedrick hugged her tightly. “H-he r-really thinks he’ll just catch up to us. He won’t accept it.” “I know, but he will soon. He won’t have a choice, but we’ll be warm by then, and it will help,” Cedrick promised. “We must keep moving. I know it’s hard for you all. Are you alright?” “My feet ache, and my limbs are heavy, but I think we’re alright.” Sarai massaged her swollen stomach. Cedrick nodded. “Good; now go on. We must keep going.” He kissed her forehead to comfort her and helped her across the fallen tree. They were the last across, so Cedrick took the ax and broke the bridge so no one could follow. “No!” Aleph ran to stop him. “Papa will have to get across.” He pulled on Cedrick’s arm. Cedrick’s throat caught, and he shut his eyes against the pain that ached in his still wounded heart. “Aleph!” Sarai grabbed his arm roughly, clearly frustrated to tears. “He can’t follow, Aleph. He can’t come back. He’s dead.” She shook him a little, and tears filled her eyes. “I know it hurts, my love, but you must accept it. I know it’s painful. Oh son, I know, but he’s gone. So please, accept it.” “No.” Aleph shook his head. “He promised.” “I’m sorry, my boy. I know he did,” Sarai sighed. “But he can’t. He would if he could, but he can’t. He’s ed on, and we won’t see him again in this life, my love, but you will one day. I promise.” “No.” Aleph yanked away. “No, he’ll come b-back.” The boy looked at the bridge again, but as he did his eyes turned down and filled with devastation as the truth settled in. “He promised!” Aleph screamed. “He lied!” And he started

to cry. “Oh, my love.” Sarai held her boy close. “I know, but he loves you so much. He’s still looking out for us; he helped us get this far. He just isn’t in this world anymore. He’s with the Father now. Trust me, my love. Trust-” Sarai suddenly gasped as if in pain. “Mama?” Aleph’s eyes went wide. “Mama, what’s wrong?” Sarai put a hand to her back and sighed. “Nothing,” She smiled a little. “We must keep going.” She kissed his forehead and forced herself to stand. Cedrick came over to help her, and Aleph looked at Cedrick as he helped Sarai. Suddenly, Aleph hugged Cedrick’s leg. Cedrick was surprised and looked down at him. “I’m s-sorry I was mean to you,” Aleph said. “It’s not your fault.” “Oh Aleph.” Cedrick sighed and knelt to the boy’s level. “I know it hurts; I’m hurting too, and I’m so sorry.” Cedrick squeezed him in a gentle hug. “Now go with your mother; I have to get the bridge down to slow down any enemy trying to get us, alright?” Aleph nodded. Cedrick stood and went back to the bridge. Two men stayed to help, and as they worked, Cedrick heard a sudden gasp from one of them. He turned to see one of them was one of the men he’d pulled from the frozen river the night before. He was pressing a hand to his chest. Cedrick frowned as the soldier gasped and fell back. His friend tried to help him as he fell in the snow, arching in pain as his heart skipped and fought to get a regular rhythm. Cedrick rushed over to help, but there was nothing they could do but try to warm him up and calm him down. It took a while, but with his friend’s help, the man recovered, but he looked tired. His heart beat normally again at the least, but Cedrick wasn’t willing to risk that again and insisted he be carried back. However, the man refused only to prove Cedrick right. Half an hour later, while going uphill, the man collapsed and never stood again. He writhed in pain until his heart gave out with one last jerk before going still. Cedrick and the other man tried to give him some kind of burial before following the others, but it was impossible. The effort held them back a few hours in

catching up, and when they did, they’d found the pack of refugees had stopped again. As the two men trotted up, Elphacena saw Cedrick and raced to him and hugged him with tears streaming down her cheeks. Cedrick’s eyes widened in shock as he accepted her into his arms. “Cena, what’s wrong?” He asked, terrified. “I-it’s Sarai,” She said. Cedrick felt as if his whole body was turned into ice. “W-what happened?” “She’s g-gone into labor, Cedrick.” Elphacena pulled back and looked into her husband’s eyes. “No...i-it’s too soon, isn’t it?” Cedrick had no experience with this. Elphacena nodded as the tears froze to her cheeks, and her breath blurred her face. “I know,” She said. “And w-with this storm kicking up,” Her lip shook, “if she or the baby lives, it w-will be…” “No.” Cedrick’s heart broke, and he collapsed to his knees as he fought with this new bout of pain. “Why?” He wept in another agonized prayer. “What did I do to deserve this and bring it down on them?” “Cedrick.” Elphacena hugged him tightly. “I’m so sorry, but don’t lose heart yet. She may pull through.” But Cedrick didn’t feel comforted. As far as he saw it, the moment she went into labor, she was doomed to death, and what was worse, he was sure Sarai knew that, and even worse than that was Aleph likely knew it too. “W-where is Aleph?” Cedrick asked. “He is being looked after by the other women,” Elphacena said. “But he has no other family here, if he has any at all.” Cedrick nodded. Those women would be better at being family to Aleph than he would, so he’d wait. It was an hour later that the news he knew was coming came. Sarai hadn’t survived. The baby had been stillborn, and Sarai’s heart had given out in almost the same moment. She’d lost too much blood.

Though they tried to comfort them by saying it would have happened either way, Cedrick’s fist still shook in furry. Those monsters did this. They killed his best friend and caused the death of his wife and baby, leaving their son a lonely orphan. They would pay for this, if it was the last thing Cedrick did. Whoever told those men about those ages would suffer for this. As expected, Aleph was devastated but not too surprised; he was almost going numb. First his father, then his mother. It was too fast for the boy. He cried out the moment he was told and curled into a painful ball, knowing he’d never see his father or mother again. The boy had cried himself to sleep, shivering in the storm still around them. Cedrick took it upon himself to carry the boy. After all, he’d made Drake a promise, and whatever happened next, he was going to keep that promise.

Chapter 9

Warming Up

It was a miserable band that stumbled into town. Cedrick was holding onto poor Aleph like a lifeline as the boy shivered in the cold. Their only retreat had to be the nearest occupied city, Garmmiss. Those in the city saw them coming and rushed to help. Cedrick recognized Airabelle as she ran to his side and put her beautiful, dark hand onto Aleph’s forehead. Quite a contrast of a situation. She’d come from a sanctuary when Roxorim returned from claiming his right as king. Though he didn’t know her well, Cedrick knew Airabelle’s warm presence could only be a help. “He’s getting ill, may I?” She offered to take him. Cedrick hesitated. Partly because he didn’t want to give him up, and partly because he wasn’t sure Airabelle’s small frame could take him, but she took Aleph as if he weighed no more than a newborn and rushed him into the warmth of a home to treat him. Cedrick’s eyebrows popped up in surprise. She was much stronger than she looked. But with Aleph taken care of, Cedrick’s mind went elsewhere as he rubbed his hands together to keep warm. “Cedrick.” Elphacena appeared next to him. “We should get warm too. Come on; your brother is waiting.” Cedrick nodded, and Elphacena put an arm around him and helped him into a room with a blazing fire. The warmth felt wonderful even as it made his fingers sting, and Cedrick sighed as he shivered and adjusted to the warmth. “Cedrick!” Cedrick’s arms were pinned to his sides in a sudden bone crushing hug.

“R-Rox…” Cedrick squeezed out. “When we heard the news, we feared the worst. Thank the Father you’re alright.” Roxorim sighed as he let go. As Cedrick stumbled back, he saw Mercutio standing by the fire warming up like the rest of them. His fingertips looked blue. Arylana was wrapped in a blanket, sitting in a chair beside Mercutio. “Y-yeah.” Cedrick hugged himself but not for the cold. Elphacena rubbed his shoulder a little with a sympathetic smile, and Cedrick looked at her and saw she was still freezing cold. “Come on. You should get warm.” Cedrick brought her to the fire, and she let out a sigh of delight as the warmth brushed her face. “How did they get in?” Roxorim asked. “I mean the place was impregnable without the gates being opened, at least to a troop force that big.” “They knew about the ages,” Mercutio said. “They just used them backwards,” Arylana snarled. Quimby came into the room with a tray of hot drinks. “Here you need to warm up,” He said and made sure each of the refugees got one. Cedrick carefully sipped his and sighed. It felt heavenly and tasted it too. It was some kind of cider with a warming flavor. Quimby also had more blankets that he wrapped over their shoulders then forced them all into chairs around the fire. Cedrick nodded his thanks, but Elphacena felt he was still off so she kissed his cheek. Cedrick gave her a weak smile. “So how could they have known about the ages?” Roxorim asked. “We didn’t know, and we had the builders’ maps.” “Well, we found them once we got there,” Mercutio said. “We didn’t think we’d need to guard them, but even if we did, we’d not have been able to handle such a force.” “But with warning, we could have held,” Cedrick growled.

“It was a prison,” Arylana said. “They may have feared those ages being used as a means of jail break, and that’s why there is no record.” “Yes, but that still means there were no records, so how did they know?” Mercutio pointed out, “There was no way their whole army could know beforehand.” “Unless someone told them.” Margorim finally spoke. They all looked up at him. The only sound was the crackling of the fire. The fire cast a shadow over Margorim’s grim face. “We all know it. Someone told the enemy, and it was one of us.” “Us?” Mercutio frowned. “Who of your troops knew?” Roxorim asked. “No one, just the commanders on up.” Mercutio said. “We kept it quiet.” Margorim nodded gravely. “Therefore, us.” “It can’t be. Each man has been loyal to a fault,” Mercutio said. “They may not always agree, but we all have the same goal. How could any one of us just...turn traitor?” “You’ve been losing and been beaten up for years. Someone must have gotten sick of it and decided to get off the losing team.” Margorim shook his head. “Happens all the time.” “But I deal with them on a daily basis. I’d notice,” Mercutio protested. “Then how did it get out?” Cedrick demanded suddenly, getting angry again. Someone was responsible for what happened to Drake and his family. It was one of those men he’d fought alongside. One of them was a traitor that killed Drake. “Father is right,” said Cedrick, “How else could it have gotten out? I was thinking the same thing. Only commanders and above knew, so only one of the commanders could have told, and this isn’t the first time. How did that fake Heklis know we were going to crown Rox? We never spread that about. How about Nerofox? Heklis just happened to know we’d attack? I don’t buy it. How did he know we had Montressa so fast he was able to assault us and find an

opening!” Cedrick’s temper was escaping. “One of your men is a spy, Mercutio. Face it. We warned you before my first battle, didn’t we? And now look where it’s gotten us!” Cedrick stopped short. Who’d calmed them down from the idea of a spy, who made them brush it off? Cedrick’s hair stood on end as the anger bubbled like magma inside of him. His fists clenched on the arms of his seat and the blanket wrapped around him. All trace of cold was gone now; heat flooded Cedrick’s body like wildfire. “Cedrick?” Elphacena noticed the change. “Are you alright?” She put her hand on his. “Cedrick, you’re hot.” She pulled back, surprised. His skin was like touching a heated plate. “Rackwrith,” Cedrick snarled. “What? Cedrick, he’s not here,” Arylana frowned. Quimby understood though. “Him? He’s been here for years, longer than many of us. If we have a spy, we’d have been defeated long ago.” “When I first said we may have a spy, he made sure the idea was dismissed before it got legs,” Cedrick said. “He’s always fighting our progress, not once has he been helpful. Even when we were trying to take that duke, he blocked the switch that opened the door. Cena only found it because we got Rackwrith to help distract the guards.” It was all coming together; that’s why he was always such a pain. He was the spy. “Cedrick, we can’t prove any of that,” Mercutio said. “I know he’s not got a nasty personality, but that doesn’t make him a spy. In fact, I think that proves he’s not because wouldn’t a spy want to be liked?” “A perfect cover,” Cedrick said quickly. “It’s because he knows we’d think a spy would be likeable that he lets himself be bitter, and it throws us off and has ‘til now.” “He’s been here longer than any of us.” Mercutio shook his head. “Quimby said so too, and I’m pretty sure it’s true. If he was the spy, we’d not be here today.” “I didn’t say he was a very good spy.”

“Cedrick,” Mercutio sighed. “I don’t believe it’s him. He wasn’t even at Montressa, ?” “But he had news,” Cedrick said. “And could have slipped away to tell. He’s even more likely with the fact none of us know where he is.” “He’s helping the wounded now.” Quimby said. “I saw him on my way here.” “And where was he a week ago or yesterday?” Cedrick challenged, and no one answered him. “See?” Cedrick pressed. “Who else could it be?” “Could be any commander. Jamison has a good cover: head of the spy division,” Mercutio said. “And he’s a bigger pain than Rackwrith because he agrees too quickly and then changes his mind just as suddenly. He is a more secretive pain.” Cedrick rolled his eyes. “Right, because that’s not at all what Rackwrith does.” “Alright, alright. We can deal with this later. Right now, we all need rest to heal and get our footing. We took a beating.” Mercutio sighed. “We’ll deal with it after our bodies, minds, and moods settle.” Cedrick opened his mouth to protest, but Mercutio cut him off. “Please, we’re hurt: all of us. Give it time. For yourself and us.” Cedrick’s face fell, and he nodded. Sadly, Mercutio was right. They’d taken a nasty hit, one Cedrick wasn’t sure he’d ever recover from.

*****

Cedrick was resolute in his belief Rackwrith was the spy and only became angrier as no one took him seriously. Seeing Cedrick need something to get him out of his angry, depressed rut, Elphacena dragged him off to her in looking after the little ones for a few hours. “Great, so I can how many I saw become fatherless,” Cedrick grumbled as Elphacena pulled him along by the arm. Elphacena turned around and slapped him, not hard, but enough to startle him.

“That’s enough,” She said. “I know you’re hurt and upset, but it’s not like you to talk like that. Now, think about what you just said.” Cedrick paused to do so, and his face fell a little. “See it?” Cedrick nodded shame-facedly. “Good. Now I want to cheer you up, so come on, my love. I’m going to tell them my father’s and my favorite story.”. Cedrick paused just before going into the room, “Your father’s, but...isn’t that...hard?” Cedrick tried to be delicate. Elphacena smiled understandingly and linked arms with her husband, “Yes, but that shouldn’t hold us back. The things that hurt us grow into greater joys, but only if we face them. So Cedrick.” She tilted her head as she looked into his eyes. “Will you face it with me?” Cedrick beamed and kissed her ionately. “Yes,” He said firmly. Elphacena smiled, “Perfect. Let’s go.” She led him into the room where the children were all too happy to see them. Before Cedrick knew which end was up and how many there were, he was covered in children climbing all over him. Cedrick was pretty sure one of the toddlers was on his shoulder, trying to suck on his ear. Elphacena burst out laughing as Cedrick beamed and started to tickle them off. His plan was to take them one by one, but the others saw their friend trapped under the tickle attack and ran away with squeals of terror. Cedrick laughed heartily. Elphacena knew exactly what she was doing. It took them a while and some playful wrestling of the kind Cedrick had never done before today, but eventually, they got the children together to listen to Elphacena read the story:

“A girl once saved an injured bird. This bird was sweet. He was a soft bird, but he wasn’t so soft after he was attacked by a cat. The girl loved him and nursed him well.

They became bonded friends. He held her heart in his gentle claw. She cradled his heart to her soul. But the day came that the bird had to fly. For birds were never meant for cages. They were meant to meet the sky. Never to be trapped under wooden sky.

The girl’s heart broke to see her bird go. But go it must, and she knew. In comfort, her father said, ‘If you love, you must let go. If he loves, he will homeward fly.’ And these words were as the girl needed.

So she let the bird go, taking with it her heart. But it wasn’t long before a handsome prince came. He sought the lady who mastered the bird. ‘He’s no longer here.’ The girl wept. ‘He’s left from me.’ ‘No dear lady.’ Said the prince. ‘He has flown home again. For I am he. I have flown home. Your love released me. Now I am here to stay, never to leave.’ The lady and her prince were married. In this we learn, if we love them, let them go. Though they may not return as fast, their love never leaves.”

Elphacena closed the little book in her hands as she held back tears of both joy and pain. She missed her father, and that made the story hurt, but all the good memories it came with also brought joy. Cedrick smiled a little, understanding what she’d been trying to say and went over to her, kissing her cheek. The children hardly noticed the pause and just went on playing. “You know it’s alright now, right?” Cedrick asked as he put an arm around her. “I do, but as you know that story just...hits close to home.” Cedrick gave her a sympathetic smile. “I know. It’s your father’s story for you.” He kissed her forehead. “It’s your tale. I understand. Is that the only story you agreed to, or are there more?” “I promised I’d read Merlin’s prophecy,” Elphacena sighed. “But it’s really boring.” Cedrick’s eyebrows drew together. “You made me memorize it.” Elphacena shrugged. “All enchanters memorize it as a tool to help improve memory for learning spells and other works. Not everyone knows it that well, and these children seem to like it. I hear they ask everyone to read it.” “Weird kids,” Cedrick commented dryly, making Elphacena laugh. “Weird kids you just enjoyed playing with for almost an hour.” She reminded him. Cedrick laughed. “Alright. That’s true, but that doesn’t make them not weird. That makes them worse.” “If you say so.” Elphacena kissed his cheek. “Feel better?” Cedrick nodded. “With you, always.” He hugged her and then teasingly nibbled at her neck. “Cedrick Custod!” She shrieked and pulled back. “There are children all about.”

Cedrick laughed. “I know that. I’m just playing.” Elphacena gave him a playful, narrow eyed look. “Now I know you’re feeling better.” Cedrick raised his eyebrows up and down. “Only because of you.” Elphacena pushed him playfully and called the children around to hear their second story as Cedrick leaned back to listen, closing his eyes and letting the peace he so desperately needed flood over him. Everything would be alright; he’d make it so. “I’m guessing you all want the story first.” Elphacena smiled widely at the children, and they cheered their yes enthusiastically. Elphacena chuckled. “Alright, well the Custod and Potentates had just been organized and called.” She began. “And they worried what the future would hold if the Creator felt such a strong need to create such powerful lines for this kind of work. Seeing their distress and hearing their prayers for help, guidance, and comfort in their fears, the Creator presented this prophecy to them that the first Custod wrote down word for word for them all to .” Elphacena looked down at the book and began to read, “Come little child, be still now. No tears. And I'll tell you a tale to chase away fears.

Long ago in this world, still very young, Two brothers were chosen, the moon and the sun, The Father, He blessed them, their love to endure. From them, shall be chosen a hero most pure.

For the darkest evil yet shall arise

Spreading its sin and breaking old ties. Evil is stirring; men live to get gain. Wickedness lives in hearts most vain.

But a match shall be found to shed forth it's light It comes out of darkness to strengthen the fight. Merlin, they call him, and so shall it be A friend to you and a friend to me.

The Protector, he looks on the size of man's heart For this, he was chosen, and set apart To be the beacon, the world to see To show the world how to be free

When the night is darkest and very dim Then is the time to look to him. Magics and heroes do bravely fight But this one elect shall all their might.

Groomed by hardship, his heart will be true His service shall bring all things into view.

He'll carry great burdens upon his back To comfort the weary and give what they lack.

Born in magic and mortal pain Evil and good be spoken of his name. Of his life and birth, good and evil be had Taking all goodness with the dread and the bad.

Light and evil meet as a sudden eclipse, Placing might and magic at his fingertips. Light and dark fight ‘til these powers combine. The sun and the moon, their souls intertwine.

No greater evil shall man ever face Than shall the Merlin, protecting us with His grace. His death shall extend the victory Of the battle won over space and sea.

For people, he’ll suffer. For people, he’ll die. Greater pains never felt, his cry flies high Torments, he weathers from a devil most cruel

Battles with life and death, they duel

His heart will be broken His hands bear the Martyr’s token His eyes emptied of all their fire His heart be stilled

Broken, as the Protector once was Friendless, don’t waver from the cause Betrayal, pierces his heart Hated, he still does his part.

Healed, he rises as the sun Kinship, these battles he’s won Loyal, he’s caring still Loved, erasing all ill.

His sign is the sun, rising and setting The sacrifice he gives, unregretting Bound with the moon, unbreakable Righteous power given, unshakeable.

His power brings judgement of the purest kinds The good he protects, and devils he binds. His hand extends in mercy too, Giving old sinners life to live new.

No evil can conquer. All devils give way. His power shall stand from day to day. They call him Merlin, and so shall it be From now, and throughout eternity.”

Cedrick sighed as he listened. It was kind of sad to think there would one day be an evil greater than Heklis that would call the Merlin into the world. After all, they could count the current people born of the brothers and none of them were the Merlin. It would be nice if he’d turn up and fix this. Sadly, their problems weren’t that easy to fix. Though they all agreed there was a spy, agreeing who the spy was, was another matter. Cedrick put forth a lot of evidence, but none of it seemed to even make a dent in the others’ thinking, which made Cedrick angry. “Oh, now my opinion doesn’t matter.” He complained to Mercutio, voice dripping with sarcasm, “Not that you really care what I think.” Mercutio scowled. “Cedrick, I do care what you think. That’s why I asked,” He said irritably, “But it’s not Rackwrith. We’ve already discussed this, and I know you two have a...history, so to say, but there’s no reason to assume the worst just because of that.” “So my opinion isn’t valid for emotional reasons. If that’s your worry, don’t

bother asking about retaking Montressa because we all know I’m not emotional about that,” Cedrick retorted. “Now that’s out of line, captain,” Mercutio snarled. “No problem, because I’m not a captain, just a commander. Can’t you even keep track of our ranks?” Cedrick said. “Well, I was hoping that would be your rank!” Mercutio shot back. Cedrick stopped, caught off guard. “What?” “I was hoping that would be your new rank,” Mercutio repeated. “I don’t trust anyone else to lead this army after me, so I was hoping that would be your rank, if...you’d take it,” Mercutio quieted down and got almost shy at the end. Cedrick gaped at him, stunned. “But you think my advice about Rackwrith being a spy is crap.” “Not crap. I mean I follow your logic, but I also have been dealing with that slime ball for a lot longer than you, and frankly, I think if he was the spy, he’d have us all dead by now. He’s too impulsive and angry to have toyed with us this long, even if Heklis made him.” “He’s a coward, deep down. He’s too scared,” Cedrick muttered. Mercutio chuckled, “Be that as it may. It has no relevance on what I’d like you to do for us. I need the backup, Cedrick. We’re falling behind again. We’re losing, and you and your family have helped us turn this around more than anyone in our short history. If we don’t do something fast, this defeat will begin the downward spiral that will set us back to extinction once again. I don’t trust any other man with the task of stopping it more than you.” “What about my father?” Cedrick said. “He is ‘wiser’ than me.” “He’s...more level headed, perhaps.” Mercutio tilted his head noncommittally, “But that’s not what I want in our leader. I want a leader who does not care who says or plans what because we’ve had enough of that. We need a leader of action, and if that’s not me, I want it to be you.”

Cedrick drew his eyebrows together. “You know I’ll give Rackwrith the boot the second I’m general, if that ever actually happened.” “I don’t care. I’ll be dead.” Mercutio smiled a little and shrugged, “None of that matters to me then.” Cedrick tilted his head to one shoulder and drew the shoulder closer in a kind of shrug. “Alright, I get your point.” Mercutio smiled a bit wider. “I do value your thoughts, Cedrick, and honestly, there is a chance you are right. I know that. If it is, I’m sure we’ll find out, and you can have the pleasure of taking care of the scumbag. I just can’t see it or justify it with the evidence I have, and if it is him, I have to be sure, or else we’ll have more trouble with our fellow officers. But Cedrick,” Mercutio met Cedrick’s eyes, “I don’t trust anyone as much as I trust you: not with this, not with the life of my men, and not with the future of our world on the table. Cedrick, I trust you. I believe in you, and I really do believe you’ll pave our path to freedom. So if I cannot lead, I see no better second.” A red color crept up Cedrick’s neck as Mercutio spoke. He felt a bit ashamed of how he’d behaved. Cedrick bit his lips. “I see,” He swallowed. “And I...well...thank you.” Cedrick cleared his throat. “I’ll do it then, if you really honor my thoughts and all that.” Mercutio beamed and clapped Cedrick’s shoulder. “I do.” His eyes locked onto Cedrick’s blue ones with not a hint of lie or trickery, “Frankly, you already have the rank.” “What?” Cedrick gave him an incredulous look, “What do you mean ‘you already have it’?” “Oh, well, I thought you might take it, so I put it on record that you’re my captain, and you have been for two days,” Mercutio itted. “I hate you.” Cedrick narrowed his eyes at him. “No, you don’t,” Mercutio chuckled. “Alright, maybe I don’t. Maybe,” Cedrick sighed. “But I am mad at you.”

Mercutio laughed. “And I often am with you, and Cedrick,” Mercutio sighed, “I really am not tossing your thoughts out the window. I know there is a chance, and a likely one, that Rackwrith is the spy, but I just can’t risk it at the moment. Once our new Lieutenant Liam arrives from his post, we can risk it. But you really think it’s him, so prove it.” Cedrick nodded his understanding. He did understand where Mercutio was coming from but also thought it was worth the risk. “Why won’t you risk it?” “I’ve lost too many higher ups, and the few I have left are more loyal to Rackwrith than to you or me, so until I have more backup, I can’t rock that boat without sinking it,” Mercutio explained with a sigh. “I wish I could just go for it.” Cedrick sighed, “Sure you still want me? Because I don’t know if I could do your job.” Mercutio smiled a little. “Honestly, I’m not sure I can do it either, not alone anyway. You’d be in good hands. You have plenty of help.” “And you don’t?” Cedrick cocked an eyebrow. Mercutio smirked to himself. “I have some good help.” Cedrick drew his brows together. “What do you mean?” He meant more than good formal advisors. “Nothing,” Mercutio said, but his smirk didn’t fade. “Oh good vene, Mercutio. Don’t let me know that.” Cedrick shook his head. “No, no, I do not need that image.” “Image? Of what?” “Nothing. Just forget it,” Cedrick said quickly. “Forget it. Just...nothing, nothing.” “Oooookay.” Mercutio raised a brow as he watched Cedrick as if he was worried for his sanity. “Well, now with all that out of the way, what are your thoughts on retaking Montressa?”

Cedrick let out a deep sigh. “Let me see your plans so far.” Mercutio pulled up the map, and the two men got lost in stratagem and plans that weren’t going much of anywhere. One thing was for sure. Getting a second way in was not going to be easy.

Chapter 10

Life in Slavery

Plans for retaking Montressa were moving along at the speed of a dying snail, and Mercutio knew their defeat had struck a near fatal blow to their morale, and they didn’t have time to waste on picking it back up. So as plans were still being made for Montressa, Mercutio advocated they work on taking a different town as far north as Montressa but easier to take. This would allow them easier fall back. That would hopefully return to them the better vantage and defense point. He wanted to get intel first, so he asked Cedrick to check it out. “It should only take you a day,” Mercutio coaxed. “Well, maybe a night and a day with travel: the night to travel and the day to actually get to know the place. If I were you, I’d take your horse, leave it outside the city, and walk in like a casual visitor. Your face isn’t that well known by the locals still under Heklis’s reign, assuming our own people would know you on sight, so I doubt that will be an issue. I know your father is unhappy about it, but when isn’t he unhappy about me sending you anywhere on your own? Should be easy and safe.” “Unless a certain set of enchanters are there,” Cedrick agreed. “Slip in as the day is starting, blend in with the work crowd, then even if they are there, they likely won’t notice you in the crowd that big.” “Alright,” Cedrick nodded. “Should be easy. I’ll let Elphacena know and leave night after next.” “Good, captain.” Mercutio smiled teasingly and winked. Cedrick rolled his eyes as he left to let his wife know, and she had no problem with it as long as he promised to be back within two days then she’d know if something went wrong. Cedrick kissed her cheek and promised he would as he began packing.

The overnight ride was rather pleasant, cold, but it was nice to have the fresh cool air and time alone to clear his head. He arrived just outside of town as the sun was rising over the eastern horizon. Cedrick secured his horse and left it some food before slipping to the open town gate as quiet as a shadow. Seeing the gate open and unguarded boded well for their taking the city easily and boosting troop success and morale. As he ed the town’s folk, Cedrick tucked his cloak about his shoulders carefully and hoped that would help him stay undercover. With a furtive glance around, Cedrick entered the gates unnoticed by the guards. They were too busy. There was a large gathering in the main square that was just starting to break up, and the guards were shepherding groups off to different locations. Cedrick made sure his cloak was secure around his shoulders before blending into the crowd. As he managed to mingle, he noticed a group of children being herded off, and Cedrick’s brows drew together. Why would the guards care where the children went to play? One of the children was whining she wanted to go home, but why was that a problem? Children always went home to learn and play with family. At least, that was what Cedrick had always seen and been taught. Curious, Cedrick followed at a safe distance. “We have to go to social school first. You know that.” An older boy, likely the girl’s older brother, reminded her, but it didn’t soothe the girl. She was holding back tears and shaking her head. Unease starting to stir in Cedrick’s stomach: social school? What was that? Cedrick kept in their wake as they approached a large building surrounded by an intimidating fence and gate that was made out of dozens of bars like the walls found around royal homes and official buildings. Cedrick waited outside as the children went into the building, hanging around the fence for a vantage point. The children were separated into several groups, but the children themselves were vastly different. Some were in good spirits, but even more were like the upset little girl. It was such a strange sight to Cedrick. He couldn’t resist trying to see more, and he slipped through the gate to get a better view. The two guards who’d guided the children there left as two or three adults stepped out of the building and called the rest of the children, and Cedrick followed as they all vanished inside.

When Cedrick got inside, he saw they were being separated by age group, and each group was sent into a different room. The adults were dressed in impeccable uniforms, and all had their hair cut to the same measurements. Cedrick wondered if you could have used it as a measuring stick, they were so perfect. But why so uniform? Cedrick picked a random classroom and slipped inside before the door was shut. Cedrick was able to blend into a corner unseen as the teacher, or what Cedrick guessed was the teacher, turned to the rest of the room. The room itself was strange with wooden planks placed evenly up all the walls every two feet with white space painted between. Wooden arches crisscrossed the roof in a tunnel-effect up to the front of the room. Below these arches were dozens of desks facing the front that fitted two children per desk with benches attached to each one. The tables and benches were also made of wood but not well; the wood was worn with many dents, nicks, holes, and scratch marks. In contrast, the desk at the front of the room facing the students was immaculate with a chair like a throne behind it. On the walls behind the desk was a huge painting of a man Cedrick recognized. Cedrick snarled. It was Heklis. In the main one, he was striking a regal pose, but there were pictures all around the room. In the next, he was — Cedrick could hardly believe his eyes — flexing and raising an eyebrow attractively. As Cedrick slowly circled his gaze around the room, he found many pictures of Heklis in many poses. Some showed him as a great military leader. Others, he was showing off “artistic skills”: painting a picture of himself or showing his “dancing”’ talent. Cedrick was appalled by the array of pictures as his gaze found an even worse one, and Cedrick almost gagged. Great, one of him shirtless. That’s exactly what I needed today. Cedrick decided it was time to stop looking at the pictures. As Cedrick turned his eyes away from the pictures, he realized they weren’t the only things on the walls. There were posters showing a pack of women swooning at a man in an army uniform with the caption: “Real men serve! The rewards are endless. Ask your teacher today!” And another that showed a woman being attacked by a hoard of monster faced babies. “Protect yourself! Ask how today.” Another poster showed Heklis dressed in hopeful colors captioned: “Don’t let

anarchy destroy your way of life. Look to hope.” And under the caption and Heklis was a group of people, all adults, having a great time. Cedrick frowned. He’d never seen anything like this. What was this place? What was up with those pictures, posters, those odd signs, and why were the children forced to be there? The whole thing made Cedrick uneasy. “Settle down, class.” A man with a perfect mustache, hair, and uniform stood at the spotless desk at the front and called out to the children. “We’ve done our morning devotion, and now it’s time to recite.” The children got up in perfect synchronization, saluted with one hand on their heart and the other covering their eyes, as one united — creepily in time for such young children — recited: “There is never reason to need to see. Trusting in what we cannot see is the greatest power. We don’t need to see our Lord Heklis protecting us to know he is. We do not need to see the danger to know it’s there. We just need to know Lord Heklis is there in our hearts to guide us down the safe and happy path.” Then the children stood completely still. The man at the front was about to tell them to sit when a little boy couldn’t keep still anymore and scratched his arm. “Hey!” The adult stomped over to him menacingly. The boy cowered, and the other children, to Cedrick’s amazement, didn’t move an inch. When the teacher stood in front of the boy, the boy broke down. “I sorry! I sorry!” He squealed. “Sorry isn’t good enough. Repentance is. Come on.” The man grabbed the boy roughly and pulled him off. “No!” The boy screamed so high and terrified it stabbed Cedrick like a knife, and the other children flinched, but none of them moved otherwise. The boy’s screams echoed off the walls as the man pulled him to the door and called for someone, which made the boy scream all the worse. It was too much for a little girl in the front, and she broke into sobs. The teacher threw the first boy into the hall and grabbed the girl as well and dragged her to the hall. A man at least as big as Roxorim came to the door, snarling like a sick, drooling dog. Sorry to insult the drooling dog. “These two children don’t know how to show full respect. They need help learning to repent,” The teacher explained to this hulk of a man. “I’ll retrieve

them after third hour.” The big man nodded with a stupid, mean grin and yanked the children up by their collars and carried them off as they screamed in terror. Cedrick moved to follow but froze when he realized the teacher almost spotted him. He shrank deeper into the shadow, but inside, he was tense and worried. What was going on? What were they doing to those poor children and why? This didn’t make sense. “Let that be a reminder,” The teacher said to the remaining children, “of how important it is to have respect in a society. That is what a social school is for. You must learn how to live in this world while young. Now why is that?” The children replied as one, “Because that’s what brings happiness. The happiest people are the people that meld to the truth of the whole.” Meld? Did those children just say meld? They were five years old! “Very good. Sit now.” The man allowed the children to sit, and they all did. They were better drilled than his army, but Cedrick knew why. They were terrified of being taken away, and it was clear they weren’t perfect, but they sure tried. What did that man do to these poor children to turn them into this? “Today, we’re going to learn of the old system, and why it’s a failure,” The teacher said. “Does anyone know the old system?” A little boy excitedly raised his hand. “The old system was the nasty one Heklis took away.” “That’s Lord Heklis, child,” The teacher snarled threateningly. “But yes, that is true, but you will be sitting with me at lunch.” The boy shrank into his chair with little tears teasing his eyes. “Now, does anyone know what the system he removed was?” The class was silent, but Cedrick noticed the little girl from before had a nervous twitch that she was fighting to keep quiet by hiding under the table. “No one?” The teacher frowned. “Well then, let me explain.” And the teacher stood up and began to pace. “In the old system, those who thought themselves higher and better than others made up a story about being called by their Maker

to rule and protect this world, and they used that power to make everyone work so hard they never had any fun. That is when Lord Heklis saw through the lies and spotted the flaw in this logic. If there was a maker, he’d want people to be happy, so Heklis challenged the old system. The system fought back, but Lord Heklis was greater, and he defeated them all. Now as long as we trust and follow him exactly, he’ll make sure we’re all truly free and happy. You will learn of this in more detail in your upper classes, but that should suffice for now. Any questions?” Cedrick was tempted to call out a question about what was fun about being forced to a school like this and being tortured when you slipped up, but he could almost hear Mercutio in his head begging him to keep quiet. The battle in his head went on too long, and the teacher had already moved on. “Today, you will get a great treat to help you understand these truths. To help you understand how great our Lord Heklis is, Lord-Major Emmerick,” The teacher beamed as if he announced the Maker himself was going to visit them with sweets, “shall be here any moment. In the meantime, I want all of you to be sure you look perfectly presentable for him. , new-order fashion is the only fashion.” The children instantly started to try to make sure they were clean and neat. Several of the little boys started to pick their noses. It was quite comical to watch these five-year-olds make themselves ‘presentable’. The poor teacher scrambled to correct them in their belief of what presentable was. The more scared looking ones looked like teenage boys trying to spruce up before hitting on his first crush. It was one of the saddest and oddest things Cedrick had ever seen, and he’d met Heklis embodying another man. A moment later, a man Cedrick knew stepped into the room, and Cedrick’s blood boiled in desire to attack, but he knew better. This was not the time. He was supposed to gather information, not attack anyone. Emmerick, the same man he and Drake had fought in Montressa, stood before the class in a uniform like the teachers’, but not nearly as well kept. The top button was undone, his cuff sleeves were undone, and his hair was no neater than it had been during the battle, but his mood was the worst: stiff and sour like a crotchety old man and an angsty teenager became one person.

“Lord-Major Emmerick, an honor.” The teacher bowed. “Show respect children,” He snapped. The children responded as if the teacher had cracked a whip and bowed to Emmerick, not meeting his eyes, but Emmerick didn’t seem to care if they bowed or not. He just grunted. “Now, Lord-Major is going to tell you about Lord Heklis. Lord-Major Emmerick is Lord Heklis’s best man.” The teacher glowed. “So pay attention, seeing the visage of Lord Heklis is to know unending joy. This man gets that joy every day, so listen well and you may get to share that joy.” Emmerick gave the teacher a sideways glance, but his face was so bored and grumpy, it was hard to understand what he meant by the look. His expression still didn’t change as he looked back at the children as the teacher looked at him, positively beaming. Emmerick gave them a grunting sigh. “Hello,” He said dully. “Lord Heklis is a very powerful and unique protector, a king of kings,” Emmerick waved a hand at the picture behind him as if he was a particularly bad tour guide, “and our King understood that.” Cedrick squinted to see what Emmerick was really pointing out and realized there was a tiny picture of a different man, likely the king. “The king thinks the world of Heklis,” Emmerick drawled on. “He helps rule our lands with all the kings. In this picture,” He waved at the one Cedrick thought he meant before, “Heklis is striking the poses of the kings as a mark of the honor the kings give him.” Emmerick jerked his head lazily at the next picture. “This one is of Heklis trying to be attractive.” Emmerick raised an eyebrow and looked at the children as if wondering if any of them thought he was handsome and hoped none were that foolish, but of course, the five-yearolds didn’t answer, so Emmerick went on. “This picture is, oh good-” Emmerick swore harshly. He’d looked at the next picture this time: it was of Heklis running shirtless. “Is of our lord Heklis enjoying himself.” Emmerick grumbled. Even for a darkman - who Cedrick knew hated joy, light, and goodness - he seemed to loathe that picture. Emmerick moved on to the next one. “This is of Lord Heklis dancing. You can’t tell because it’s a picture in paint, but

he’s dancing.” Emmerick’s tone got, if anything, more bored than a dog on a short leash as he kept going. “This is of Lord Heklis painting a picture of himself. Don’t ask me why.” Several of the children had fallen asleep at Emmerick’s “lecture”, but Cedrick didn’t blame them. He would have too. Emmerick didn’t give a rat’s fart because he just kept going. “This one is...son of a brix!” He cried. “Why is he twerking?” Emmerick screamed at the next painting. “What’s twerking, sir?” The teacher asked. “I’m not sure. It’s what he calls that disgusting display of-” Emmerick swore so badly a few children oooo’d. “What is that doing here?” “All the classrooms have these, sir,” The teacher explained. “Can we have them replaced with something from the basement? This is disgusting.” “And him shirtless isn’t worse?” “Not even close.” “Well, it is illegal for any picture of his gloriousness to be kept where no one will see it.” The teacher reminded him. “These are the approved pictures.” “Mm, can I have it?” “We have more of them in other rooms, sir.” “Nevermind,” Emmerick sighed and turned back to the kids. “Don’t look at that one,” He went on. “This one is of Heklis eating a horse.” “You mean riding,” The teacher corrected. Emmerick gave him a dangerous glare. “No, he’s chewing on its neck. Don’t you see?” Emmerick waved a lazy hand at the confused teacher, who saw Emmerick was right. Why was he sitting on a horse as he ate it? Emmerick didn’t answer

the unspoken question but went on instead. “That’s Heklis without a shirt again and that one is of his foot, nothing exciting about that,” Emmerick droned on. A few more of the children fell asleep, heads on their desks, drooling by this point. Cedrick half wished he could them because Emmerick was about as fun as a funeral, yet as fascinating as a new species of butterfly. Cedrick was dying to know what his problem was, but at the same time, Emmerick was so dull it was hard to stick with it. “And this strange picture of a kidney stone.” Emmerick waved over one strange object. “And that’s a picture of-” A girl interrupted, “Don’t you mean his kidney stone?” Emmerick looked at her. “A kidney stone.” He repeated. “Maybe that’s of his foot,” One boy, picking his nose, suggested. “No, the other one is his foot,” Emmerick said. “And that is a kidney stone.” He looked away from them, but the boy raised his hand again, and Emmerick sighed when he saw it. “Yes, the boy with a nose that can produce more snot than I could in my whole lifetime.” The child ignored the long insult he hardly understood. “Then what is a kidney stone?” Emmerick blinked at the child as if debating something before finally saying: “Boy with more snot in his nose than there is water in the ocean, here is what you’re going to do. Go out that door, go left, leave the building, and find a tree. Use this tree’s leaves to try to remove all the snot from your hard-working nose: go, go, go.” Emmerick repeated the last word over and over as the boy stumbled out of his seat and out the door. Cedrick frowned. It was freezing outside, but Emmerick did call the boy back to put his coat on before snapping at him to go. “Good,” Emmerick said once the boy had left. “That is a picture of Heklis and the deer he killed. He’s laughing because its baby ran away, and he thought it

funny and kept yelling ‘bye-bye Bambi!’ I will not explain this picture to you because I want to leave explaining human anatomy to your teacher. Or explaining what Bambi is, because I don’t know. Thank you and goodbye.” And with that Emmerick followed the boy out. The teacher frowned and looked at the picture, which was of Heklis sticking out his tongue and holding up his fore finger and pinky of both hands. Why didn’t Emmerick want to explain that one? Emmerick’s sudden departure seemed to have startled them all as the teacher turned back to his class. “Well,” He said, “All good reasons to, ah, praise our Lord Heklis.” The teacher paused, having lost track of the day’s lesson, “Well, how about we practice what we’ve learned?” “What did we learn?” A girl asked with a raised hand, asking the question Cedrick wanted to ask. “What did we learn? How great Heklis is, of course. So let’s practice,” The teacher said indignantly and set about having the children draw pictures. Half of them drew feet, while the other half drew rocks or, more likely, kidney stones. Cedrick took the opening to slip out the door, wondering to himself what a kidney stone was. Cedrick glanced around, hoping to spot Emmerick, but he had no such luck. The man had vanished into thin air. Cedrick even tried going outside, but there were too many tracks in the snow to be sure which were Emmerick’s without knowing a bit more about him, like foot size, weight, and exact height. As Cedrick looked around, he heard a rustling above him, and a slimy leaf fell to the ground. Cedrick looked up to see the small boy with the snotty nose in the tree blowing his nose on the few dried leaves he found and tossing them aside. Even from his distance, Cedrick saw the boy had more of it on his hands than anywhere else. Then Cedrick realized the rustling wasn’t just the boy climbing. He was shivering in the cold so badly the goop on his hands had frozen. Cedrick made sure he wasn’t seen as he used a quick spell to clean the boy up and moved on. The boy was too busy marveling at how he was suddenly clean to notice Cedrick slipping away. Thank the Father there weren’t more teachers around. As he neared the fence to try to see if he could figure out which way Emmerick went, there was a loud banging sound, like an official drum, and within seconds

a dozen children spilled out from the doors to the grounds, talking to one another in low voices. Despite the cold, it was apparent the children were expected to let out their excess energy on the grounds, but that seemed dangerous as Cedrick had never seen children in such a large number and even less that were so quiet. It was eerie to see them so quiet. Curious what they would be talking about in such low voices, Cedrick secured his cloak around his shoulders and slipped over to the children, his cloak fluttering behind him in the breeze he stirred up. He ed the children from the class he’d seen still debating what a kidney stone was, but the older children ignored their conversation completely. The eldest were in two groups. One appeared normal, and the others had shining badges and pompous smirks as they talked to one another. As Cedrick approached, this second group broke up and moved around the playground as if making sure everyone behaved, but the others stayed back from them. The younger children gave this group respect but also avoided eye with them: a familiar look and feeling to Cedrick - the one he’d given his father in his younger years. If you respected them, they were less likely to hurt you. Cedrick reached the group he’d been looking for when a yell carried across the playground. “Hey, gather round!” Cedrick looked over to see three of the older children were holding up a nineyear-old girl wearing worn, drab clothing, faded and dirty, patched in many places. The one of the girls grabbed the girl’s skirt and yanked it off. The crowd muttered among themselves; some happy, and some looked uneasy. Luckily, the poor girl did have some dirty and patched shorts on underneath, but it didn’t stop her shivering in the cold. Cedrick’s fists clenched. “See this?” The boy who’d taken her skirt flashed one of the patches at the crowd. “Green! A mark of the rebellion, and therefore, the mark of a rebel.” “It was just all we had,” The girl defended herself. “We don’t have much, and I had to patch it with something.” “Just another crime!” The boy pointed at her accusingly, ignoring the tears rolled down her cheeks. “You’re all lazy, and don’t share work. Do you expect us all to pick up your slack?”

“No, we work. We share. You’re all liars!” The girl squealed, scared, embarrassed, and angry, “My mother is sick right now, and you know my father lost in leg in the war against the rebels, ?” “I heard he was actually trying to help them,” The boy sneered. “Y-you can’t prove it.” The girl tried to wipe away tears. “And no official has said it or defended it.” “A child of undesirables,” The boy scuffed. “That’s bad enough to have to escape the stain of. Maybe you’ll have to do repentance.” “No! I’m too young, and you k-know it,” The girl snapped through her tears as her cheeks turned pink. Meanwhile, Cedrick’s jaw had dropped in shock, unsure what to do or say about this. He was traumatized. After all, these were just children doing this to one another. “Yeah, but with stains this bad, it may be the only way to clean your heart,” The boy accused. “Lazy, undesirable home, wearing the rebel mark, and dressing in less-than class. You’re lucky Lord Heklis doesn’t just wipe you away from staining the rest of us you dirty little brix.” Cedrick’s draw dropped open. Children were calling each other these dirty names. They were hardly a decade old and yet they treated each other this badly. These children were bullying each other but not just because they were jerks (but these children did seem like jerks), but because they were told that’s what they were to do. This was government sanctioned bullying. That thought was enough to get Cedrick to move, but before he could, a voice boomed across the yard, “All students back to class!” The big man who’d taken the little boy away stood in the doorway with a frightening glare. The children instantly responded by scurrying back into the warmth. That is, all but the nineyear-old girl. The two holding her collar dropped her into the snow as they raced inside, leaving her to fall to her knees where she put her face in her hands and began to cry. Despite the cold, she just lay there and wept into the icy snow. Cedrick moved to go to her, but the instant the children were gone, the big man picked her up by the collar.

“You’re not covered,” He hissed, and the poor child burst into fresh sobs, “Why?” The man snarled. “The purity guard took my skirt, sir.” “Why?” “I-i-it had a g-g-gr-green patch,” She itted with a painful squeak. “Why was you wear’n that?” The bully snarled. The girl’s lip shook in cold and fear. “It was the only patch we h-had left, sir,” She said. “And we had to patch the hole in my skirt.” “Why not just get a new one?” “N-no money for it, sir.” “Undesirable filth,” The man sniffed and threw her down the hall of the school. “You deserve to be uncovered; back to class with you.” The girl nodded, rubbing her knees. Cedrick was sure both knees were bleeding, but she ignored it, stood, and rushed to class, leaving Cedrick alone with the bully. Cedrick set his teeth and stepped out of the shadows, but he wouldn’t be breaking Mercutio’s order this time. “You like being a bully?” Cedrick called out to him. “Most of all, to a little girl who can’t defend herself and a five-year-old who just can’t sit still? How will you do against someone your own size?” The man was startled as he looked down at Cedrick and laughed. “My size? Look at ya, ya puny pansy hardly bigger than my morning poo.” “Well, prepare to have your poo kick your butt.” Cedrick clenched his fists, infuriated by what he’d seen, and this man was going to be his way to finding justice. The man laughed scornfully — Cedrick was impressed he had the brain capacity

to do so — and he shook his head. “You think you can out fight me fist to fist?” Maybe he didn’t have the brain power. He hadn’t seen Cedrick was armed. Cedrick shook his head, disappointed. “Oh no, of course not. You said I was nothing more than a poo. I guess I’ll win by your rules and fight like a ‘poo’.” Cedrick clenched his right hand and focused his energy. This was a new trick but a simple one from what he’d read. It took a moment, but once he gathered the needed matter and energy, he shot a bolt of the poo at the offender, knocking him to the ground with the force of the energy. In seconds, the man was buried in the lovely stuff, and Cedrick smirked, satisfied he’d won these poor kids a little justice. He forced the whole pile, man and all, into the ground where it looked like a perfect garden plot prepared to be planted and perfectly outlined in the snow. “So that was the morning poo. I hope you enjoy your afternoon poo,” Cedrick said pleasantly before he stepped back into the shadows and into the building. Cedrick felt rather proud of himself as he tried to stay hidden and find the little girl who’d been picked on. He found her in the back of a classroom where a teacher was writing something on the wall as the other children laughed at her for not having pants or skirt on. The girl curled into a ball to try to defend herself and listen obediently to her lesson. Cedrick moved to help her, but he had to stop as the teacher turned to his students. He had to keep to this hidden corner to avoid being noticed. “In your seats,” he said, and the children obeyed. “Not you Ezmerld.” The teacher stopped the girl. “Not that seat.” He pointed her to a place in the back that looked uncomfortable with painful lumps in it and some nails hanging out, and it was raised up, so everyone else could stare at her. The girl, Ezmerld, blushed as she took her seat of shame, and her classmates laughed. Her face twitched in pain as she sat down. Cedrick cursed inwardly, knowing it was harder, almost impossible, to help her when she was in plain view of the teacher and class. The teacher ignored the laughter and began his lesson. “Today we’re going to review the six undesirables,” He said. “To make sure we all know where we need to purify ourselves.”

The teacher gave Ezmerld a death glare, and she hung her head in shame and to hide her tears. “They are the rebellious, the lowly, the high, the united, the weak, and the outsiders.” The teacher tapped each name where he’d written it on the wall as he said them. “Who are the rebellious?” A boy raised his hand. “Rebellious are the worst,” The boy began. “They are those that rebel against what Lord Heklis has given us.” “Exactly,” The teacher nodded. “And what are some of the traits to be removed to help us not be rebellious?” The boy answered quickly and proudly. “We avoid all their marks: no old world crests or family marks, no old world worship, and we avoid associating with the Resistance by avoiding making trade with them and not wearing their colors.” The boy gave Ezmerld a dirty look. “And their fashions. Women are kept safe where they belong in order to avoid the corruption of a rebellious woman.” “Good. Many good tips. There are many more I’m sure you know, but that is a great start for your age group,” The teacher praised. “Rebellious is the worst of the pack. As your pledge says, ‘we trust him when we need to not see him, and in that lies the best power. Indeed, we trust without seeing to share the power.’ Well done.” The teacher turned back to the wall and pointed at the second. “Second is lowly; who is lowly?” A girl wearing some of the finest clothes Cedrick had ever seen raised her hand up high. “Those are the lazy, who are revealed in their lack of wealth,” She almost recited. “They are lazy and rely on others to help them. They won’t share their work. We avoid them by making sure we have wealth and sport it proudly, and we don’t share with those who don’t wear the mark of the workers. Begging for that help is strictly old world and punished.” “Precisely, and the high?” The teacher beamed at her, which made Cedrick want to vomit all over his perfectly shined shoes.

A boy in the back all but jumped out of his chair to answer. “The high are those who don’t share the wealth,” He said, and Cedrick raised an eyebrow. Didn’t they just say they shouldn’t share wealth? “They are the one that wear the mark so proudly they get caught. They are so proud, they share their wealth with others, yet they also don’t share it to make sure all around them are wealthy.” Cedrick frowned deeper. “You also should have slaves to share work, but the high don’t have slaves when they could afford them, and instead, they mistreat their children and make them do the work.” The teacher nodded gravely. “Yes exactly, the high are a big issue. How about the united?” No one wanted to answer this question, but finally, a girl raised her hand timidly. “The united are those who are united but outside of Heklis’s order,” She said nervously. “Those who marry without his bond or bear children without his clearance. They also unite with groups Lord Heklis had not given us or approve with the laws of truth.” The girl’s voice shook a little, and Cedrick understood why. No one could keep this law. “But rather, they should be free with themselves to all. Love is to go around, and binding to one person is wrong unless Lord Heklis sees, in his wisdom, to make such unions.” “Indeed, very good.” The teacher nodded. “This is one of the biggest issues in the realm even today, but it isn’t the worst sin to fight, thank Lord Heklis.” The teacher sighed contentedly and smiled again. “How about the weak? What does that mean?” Several hands went up at once, and the teacher called on a larger girl, who answered, “Those who don’t bear their weight.” Cedrick tried not to laugh, knowing he was a jerk, but he couldn’t help it because that girl was the one who’d held up poor Ezmerld. “These are those who have disfigured themselves, allowed this sickness to take them, or have in other ways made themselves of no use to Lord Heklis’s ways. These people are to be removed unless they can find a way to fit.” Ezmerld swallowed. She had mentioned both of her parents fit into this group, and if they didn’t fight hard to contribute, she could lose them both. Cedrick’s heart ached for her, and fire boiled in his blood like lava. How could anyone let Heklis rule and go along with his stupid rules? Cedrick’s heart ached for her, but

then he shook himself to listen to what other lies the teacher had to say. He wanted to have as many reasons as possible to win justice for these people. The girl was still going. “They still live under that code. They still live under Custod rule or Potentate rules, and so they try to not fit in and hide their true heart from the others of the realm. They don’t try to but try to be separate. They won’t assimilate to the proper new order.” The teacher nodded his . “Yes, and those are the six undesirables. We must strive to drive all of those from our society and from ourselves if we are all to be happy, and it will improve our society, ourselves, and the world,” The teacher praised. “Now it’s noon. Go home for lunch and then be prompt in getting to your work.” He dismissed them. The children instantly started to gather their things, and as Ezmerld jumped down Cedrick hissed at her , “Pst!” She paused, confused, and looked around for the source. Cedrick smiled a little and used magic to catch the skirt — which was hanging from the boy’s bag — and sent it in a flutter over to her. As it fluttered by him, he used magic to fix it as good as new. “I have something for you,” Cedrick explained as he gave her the skirt. Ezmerld blinked in surprise and hesitated but finally took it. “Why?” She asked. Not wanting to get her into trouble Cedrick explained, “I’m with the school. Lord Heklis wouldn’t want you to be so unclothed, most of all as you said sorry for your mistake, so you are allowed to be covered. Now off with you!” Cedrick dismissed, though the words “Lord Heklis” were still bitter on his tongue. His abrupt dismissal sent the girl off, and Cedrick quickly hid again before the teacher noticed him in the room, but Cedrick’s eyes were still on Ezmerld. She was hiding behind a desk as to not have her teacher see as she put her skirt on, grabbed her bag, and rushed for the door which gave Cedrick the chance to slip out as well. Cedrick hid in the bushes to watch the students leave and hoped he’d see which

way Ezmerld went. She hadn’t had to go as slowly as he did to keep hidden, but he was lucky as she was trying to hide too and have none of the bullies spot her. As stealthily as her own shadow, Cedrick followed her. Once she was far enough from the school, Ezmerld relaxed, and she walked more normally, apart from her head being bowed. An older girl Cedrick had spotted before ran up to Ezmerld. “Hey,” She said gently and put a hand on Ezmerld’s shoulder. Ezmerld was startled at first but calmed when she saw who it was. “Hey,” She said halfheartedly. “How was school?” The older girl asked, and Cedrick noticed they looked alike, perhaps sisters. “Fine,” Ezmerld lied as they walked together. “They let you off for lunch today?” “Finally.” The older girl nodded. “What happens when people stop blaming each other and accusing us of all being old-world.” Both girls shuddered. “Do you think we’ll all ever manage to be new-world, so we won’t have all these rules and pains?” Ezmerld asked a bit tearfully. “I’m tired of being picked on at school. I’m tired of being scared of e-every stranger.” She hid her face. “Shhh, someone may hear you.” Her sister glanced around, but it was just the three of them, and the girl would never spot Cedrick that easily. “I’m sorry. I am just so tired of being scared,” Ezmerld confessed. “I understand,” Her sister smiled. “We’ll work it out somehow,” She sighed. There was a loud jeer up ahead. “Come all!” A voice boomed, and Cedrick squinted against the winter sun to try to see what it was and spotted a city guard. The guard called the two girls over, and terrified, the girls did as asked with Cedrick on their tail. He’d protect them.

But he didn’t need to worry. This wasn’t about them but an older woman, who was being forced to kneel on the hard, frozen steps outside her own home with a wooden sign around her neck. It was hard to read until Cedrick got closer, where he finally could read the faint scratches: “I am a poor hoarder. I don’t care for any of you. My selfish soul is stained with it, and I must now begin my purification.” Cedrick’s hands felt hot and shook as the warm blood rushed to his face. How dare they pick on an old woman for having nothing! Of course, she hid her belongings; she couldn’t afford to lose them. This was twisted. This was wrong. This was Heklis to a bull’s eye. This was the injustice he’d been raised his whole life to fight. He’d never really understood it, just knew it was wrong, but now it was real. It was a dangerous fire in his chest. Cedrick started to form an energy ball in his hands, unable to allow this to go on, but just as he did, he spotted someone that stunned him so much he stopped. Emmerick was leaning against the wall, watching, but he didn’t look pleased or glad, and the dull boredom that normally hung about him was gone. It was replaced with anger: a deep, twisted loathing of the kind Cedrick had never known before, but Emmerick didn’t act on it. He didn’t in; he didn’t call them off. He just watched with pure hatred, as the gently falling snow crossed his darkened face. As Cedrick watched Emmerick glare at the proceedings in shock, Emmerick’s fists tightened to white knuckles then released as the guards called an end to the throwing of the woman’s things out into the street and took the woman away. Emmerick pulled himself off the wall he’d been leaning on, still glaring and radiating that evil hatred. With shaking hands, he undid the second button of his coat as he stood, glanced around to be sure no one was watching and slipped into the snow. His cloak snapped in the wind as he vanished from sight. Cedrick blinked and shook himself. What was wrong with him?! He should have acted, should have gone after him, but that look on Emmerick’s face. It was a hatred of an evil nature that shook Cedrick to the core. It was a powerful magic all its own. Cedrick was fascinated by it though he knew he shouldn’t be. That shock and fascination made him lose his chance. Stupid thing. He cursed himself as he turned back to the girls who were happily leaving the gathering. Cedrick followed them to a house that seemed to be theirs, but they didn’t go

inside but instead peered at a window. “There’s a bird,” The younger of the two said. “That means all but papa are at the park.” And the two walked away. Cedrick frowned. If that was their home, why weren’t they going inside? And why go to a park when it was freezing outside? Why was everyone but their father there in this weather? Cedrick kept close, unable to curb his curiosity. They led him to a gross, run-down park that had all the hallmarks having once been a beautiful community garden area, until ill-care, misuse, and a heap of frozen trash had run it over with weeds, and garbage. A hint of rot lingered in the air despite its being frozen. Sitting in the park was an old lady with a little boy hardly older than two, who waved excitedly when he saw the two girls. The old woman looked up but couldn’t bring herself to smile much, but the girls seemed to feel the same as they ed the older lady, and the lady pulled some food from her basket to share. “No searches?” The elder sister asked. The old woman shook her head. “No not yet, the bird lingers still.” “Where’s mama?” Ezmerld asked. The old lady sighed, “She went to see if there is a better place to sit. One the guards won’t kill us for and doesn’t have the misery of this place. “Why?” Ezmerld frowned. “It’s better than nothing, and it’s close to home.” But no one answered her question as the boy kept playing with a yellow string, making the only noise or movement in the whole park. After a moment, Ezmerld frowned. “You mean...you don’t want to be close to home?” Still, she didn’t get an answer but that might as well have been a screaming answer, and Ezmerld looked down. A clanging sound filled the air with the suddenness of a cracking whip, and they all jumped, and the little boy fussed and hid his face under the folds of the older woman’s skirt.

“Another? We just saw a shaming.” The older sister frowned. “No matter to them how many they hurt. We better go.” The old woman staggered to her feet and went to pick the little boy, but Ezmerld took him from her. The boy looked almost too big to be held by her, but she’d still do better than the older woman in her age. Cedrick frowned deeper, concerned and wondered if he could actually help this time. With the air of a man walking to the gallows, the women walked to the source of the clanging noise, and when they got there Cedrick froze in pure horror. An old man was tied to a post and was being violently beaten by two guards; one holding a whip that he struck against the man’s bare, frozen back, while the other kicked him. As Cedrick was forced to watch, a third guard placed a hot brand to the man’s skin. The smell of charred flesh struck Cedrick’s nose like the salt of a violent wave off the ocean, and he staggered back coughing. He’d hardly smelled anything so horrific in his life. As Cedrick tried to breathe around the horrible smell, a fourth guard was calling to the crowd. “This man has all six of the undesirables, and he was given the chance to repent, and he spat at the offer. To do so is to spit upon the face of Heklis himself. Let all such people everywhere be purified of his kind!” Cedrick blinked the harsh smell out of his eyes (as it was so strong it was stinging his nose and then his eyes) and cleared his vision to look up at the poor man one final time. Cedrick was drawing his sword now that he could see — but it was too late. As Cedrick watched, the man’s eyes rolled up into his head, and his body went slack against the tense chains that held his body up. Cedrick’s stomach twisted as he realized it was over, but he was wrong. To make sure the man was dead, the guard with the branding stick dug the brand into the man’s face, into his eyes. Cedrick turned away, gagging on his own revulsion but failed to keep it down and vomited behind the building behind him: sick, evil, twisted, evil, sadistic. No matter the word used, none could describe the horrors he’d seen that day, and he doubted any word ever could. Cedrick took a long time to get his stomach settled, but the smell of horribly charred flesh still poisoned the air, making Cedrick’s eyes burn and his body shake. It was so strong Cedrick could almost taste it, forcing Cedrick to keep

gagging but there was nothing to throw up. Evil, just evil: the words ran over and over in his head. It was impossible to tell how long it took for Cedrick to get his head, but by the time he did the crowd was gladly dispersing. Worried he’d not find them, Cedrick frantically started looking for the group. “You six strong men, come help us tear the body into the six undesirables this filth was!” The lead guard commanded his men. Cedrick froze as his stomach tightened again, wanting to act and get justice, but he knew it would be pointless. Besides, the smell was getting stronger. Cedrick steeled his nerves and followed the family back to the park. Cedrick watched them for a while before recalling his real job: looking at the city’s defenses. Feeling sure the family wouldn’t go far, Cedrick slipped off to inspect the city wall and found what he’d expected by the size of the city. It would be one of the easier lines of defenses they’d challenged. It would be easy to take.

Chapter 11

Tyrannical Sickness

It was nigh into the evening when Cedrick went back into the park to check on the family he’d been looking out for finally heading home. Cedrick followed them more easily in the dark. Even in the dark, he could see the family was all there but for the father. The mother had ed them as they went to the home with the bird in the window. As they approached, a man came to the door, looked around to make sure it was safe and saw nothing but people heading home for the night. The man stood back to let the family inside. Cedrick didn’t dare try to get in the front door, but he crept up to the windows to see and pulled it opened slightly ajar. “I’m glad to see you.” The man was saying. Cedrick was able to look through the window to the bright kitchen inside to see he was hugging his family in love and relief. Cedrick frowned as he realized why the man checked the street. His display of love could be thought of as an ‘undesirable’, and he’d end up like that poor old woman on her stoop or the old man with the brand in his eye. Cedrick set his teeth in anger. It was wrong. This was wrong, and no matter what it took Cedrick would free them, all of them. Cedrick was thinking the family was safe for now and he should likely go, when a shrill whistle filled the air. The little boy began to cry, and his mother held him tightly. The father’s face filled with dread. “At night? They’ve never done them so close to repentance time.” The man frowned. “Quick, you should all get going to repentance before-” He was cut off by a harsh banging on the door. Cedrick had already shrunk into the shadows as a group of ten men — heavily armed — marched up to the door and banged their clubs against the door. “This

is a purity check!” The front guard cried. “Open up in the name of Lord Heklis!” Cedrick thought about opening up a hole in the man’s head in the name of “Lord Heklis”, but he didn’t want to get them into more trouble as the man tried to get his family out the back door before letting the men in. “We know you’re all in there. If any of you have moved, we’ll have you all brought into quarantine.” The guard warned. The man stopped. “Just don’t speak to them or move.” The father warned his family. “No matter what they do, alright?” The children nodded. The woman had tears in her eyes as she clung to her son tightly and kissed his head as their father opened the door. The guards barged inside while Cedrick — not wanting to be too late once again that day — stuck out his leg to trip one as he went in, he could help and stay hidden. The guard fell, and thus, all the other guards tripped over him as well into a painful and comical heap on the threshold. The family gaped in horror at them. Though it was clear many found it funny, they were too scared to even crack a smile. This made Cedrick’s blood boil. Heklis had them so scared they couldn’t even creak a smile: not even smile! Cedrick wrapped his cloak around himself in one swift movement. No more excuses; he was going in, besides, they had to have spotted him. Who cared if Mercutio got mad, and who cared if it didn’t do any ‘greater good’? He had to stop this, and he was going to stop it now. Slowly, Cedrick drew his sword and stood to his full height as he stepped in one fluid movement to the doorway. He was ready to fight and ready to defend. He was ready to defend these people from this injustice, hell, and misery. The guards hazily pushed themselves up as the leader barked at them to search the place. They went up to every cupboard and every table and began throwing things onto the floor, filling the air with the sounds of shattering glass. The little boy tried to cover his ears with his arms and squealed in fear. His mother kissed his head and tried to hush him. “Silence that runt!” The guard screamed, and the mother tried to comfort him, hugging him, kissing his face, promising it would be alright, but one of the guards was still giving them the stink eye. Cedrick guessed what he was thinking. To them this was unity, an undesirable. They were looking for excuses.

They’d come to make sure they were pure and hoped to prove they were not, ready to hurt them. Cedrick’s fists clenched. “What do you think you’re doing here?” He demanded in a dangerous voice. All the guards froze gaping at him in terror — though Cedrick didn’t realize it, he exuded a power that terrified these men. The guards slowly turned to see who had ordered them still by his pure presence. Cedrick stood firmly in the doorway as solid as a rock. Power rose off his visage like a red smoke off a fire; onlookers could have sworn a golden glow was coming off him. His blue eyes were steely and locked onto the lead guard with a look so piercing the guard actually put a hand to his chest as if to a wound. “I asked.” He hissed slowly and dangerously. “What do you think you are doing here?” “M-my l-l-lord, y-y-your g-g-g-grace, I m-mean your eminence, l-lordship, sir.” The guard stammered in intimidation. “We are j-just checking for u-u-unundesirables. I-it’s our j-job, s-sir.” “Job to look for a crime, but what crimes have they done? What reason have you to be here? Because they love and one another, is that it?” Cedrick snapped as he came closer in a challenge. “I-i-it’s o-o-o-our -d-d-duty, s-s-s-s-sir.” The guard stumbled. While the lead guard cowered under Cedrick’s power, another guard grabbed Ezmerld and tried to take her away, determined the family would pay for this insult. The girl was so scared of giving them further reason to hurt her family, she stayed silent. “Unity? What is wrong with loving and caring for one another? Isn’t that why you’d share wealth, which is what you claim your order requires, or is that just to please Heklis? But that’s a problem because that would be unity as well. So explain to me why it’s wrong to have unity with everyone else, but it’s alright to be united with Lord Heklis? You can’t have anyone follow a leader without uniting with that leader!” Cedrick roared, and the guard stumbled back into the wall and fell before Cedrick.

“It’s an undesirable, and we punish that. That’s all I know s-sir, m-my Lord, my l-l-la-liege. All I know!” The man screamed in terror as Cedrick stood over him. “Then I’ll educate you.” Cedrick bent down to his level, sword pointing at his chest and even more frightening eyes boring into the man’s terrified grey eyes. “I never want to see you touching these people again, or you will find out what happens to my enemies if you disobey me.” Cedrick pressed his sword’s tip to the guard’s heart. “and you will not like it.” With a jerk, Cedrick pulled back and stood up. “Get out.” He pointed at the still open door. “All of you!” The guards didn’t stick around to see if Cedrick would fulfill his word. They all shot to their feet and raced out the door, stumbling over each other in their hurry to escape. As they fled like a pack of monkeys from a jaguar. Cedrick slowly turned to the family, and his demeanor instantly softened. He smiled reassuringly like a gentle, protective older brother. “Are you all alright?” He asked as he looked them over and stopped. “Where is Ezmerld?” The family didn’t reply, gaping at Cedrick in shock too stunned to speak. Cedrick smiled more, relaxing his tense muscles and sheathing his sword. “It’s alright,” He promised. “I will not harm you. I am here to be sure no one is harmed. Now with that in mind, let me ask again, where is Ezmerld?” “Th-they took her.” The older sister stammered. “What? Why didn’t you say something? You let them? Which way did they go?” “Likely city hall where they keep all the disobedient. They use them to help us all to keep pure,” The sister explained. “Where is that? Center of town?” Cedrick guessed as he looked out the door, but he didn’t need the answer. He saw the man holding the poor girl by the forearm so hard, it was making her tear up. Cedrick made a ball of light in his hand, and, with a snap of his wrist, he shot it at the two. The ball engulfed the guard which made him let go of the girl. Cedrick snapped his wrist towards himself, and the man was thrown towards Cedrick, where Cedrick grabbed him by the throat, and the ball of light burst. The man spluttered for air as Cedrick held him up by the throat. “I warned you.”

Cedrick hissed darkly. “Not to mess with me. I said not to harm them. Didn’t I say that?” Cedrick threw the man to the ground so hard, the stone under him cracked, and the man gasped in pain. He was sure to have a broken bone or two despite the snow. Dangerously, Cedrick bent over the man, squatting down with his legs to either side as the man gazed up at Cedrick in pure terror as if he was facing his final judgement. “Let that be a warning to all you fools,” Cedrick said. “You will no longer torment these people. You will not enter their homes without their say so from now on. Now,” He paused dangerously. “Out!” Cedrick stood up in one fluid movement and pointed the guard away. Ignoring the pain in his body, the man stood and ran for his life. Ezmerld saw her mother standing in the door. “Mama!” She cried and raced to her and hugged her. She’d been so scared. She was glad to see her mother alright. Cedrick smiled at the touching scene. “Stay inside,” He warned. “We can’t. They’ll miss us at repentance,” The father said. There was a large wailing alarm from the center of town. “You must go,” The mother said quickly. “The army is coming here now.” “What?” Cedrick spotted about twenty more guards coming their way. Cedrick would have dared challenge them as a symbol of his and protection, but another twenty men were behind them. He was outnumbered. With a swish of his cloak, Cedrick blended into the snow and shadows and slipped down an alley, but he could not and would not leave it at that. Cedrick climbed up onto the roof of the family’s home to see what happened. He would not let the family get hurt. Forty guards filled the square, some had smiles as if excited, others just looked worn, and some looked nervous. “Where is the man?” The captain of the guard demanded of the family.

“He fled at the alarm and went that way.” The father pointed down the alley, but Cedrick had slipped to the other side while they weren’t looking. Cedrick thought they would notice there were no footprints in the snow and realize otherwise, but they were not that clever. Fifteen guards rushed down to report there was no sign of Cedrick. The captain snarled. “Repentance. All of you. Now!” He barked and threw the father into the city square, and his family obeyed in fear. Cedrick set his teeth. Clearly, he did not send them a strong enough message. Cedrick used the roof tops to follow the family, but it was hard to keep track of them in the dark and because the whole town was heading for the square as well. It didn’t look like a punishment but a normal daily habit. Cedrick kept close and prepared for a fight. Something strange was going on. Then again, the whole city was strange. Cedrick didn’t know how he’d stop it, but he’d find a way. Somehow, he would fix it. The crowd steadily grew larger and larger until they got into the town’s central square. The same one Cedrick had entered that morning. Did they have a morning and evening meeting every day? Was this a city thing, a mad Heklis thing, or both? As the crowd became thick, Cedrick had to focus hard to find the family he’d been protecting, and he saw they’d been ushered to the front of the group. Cedrick stayed perfectly still as he watched the people gather, and once the guards were confident the whole city was there, they began. “Welcome to evening repentance.” The guard smiled. “Let us begin our evening praises.” The guard put his hands together, palms flat together as if in prayer, and the people followed his lead. Cedrick thought he saw tears shining in the eyes of the mother. The people chanted in unison: “Praise be Lord Heklis for our protection, our protector in our center. Feared be your name. You protected land, spread the word. Your work be done in all the world as it is done here. Give us this and all our days our needed substance of food, water, and your daily protection. Forgive us our impurities and cleanse us. Lead us into true happiness and teach us to reject the real evils. This we ask as we pledge our whole soul to you, our Lord

Protector Heklis, our honorable King Lord Heklis.” Cedrick’s mouth fell open. He’d been about to act, but he was so stunned by this display, he couldn’t move. What was that? Were they really chanting some kind of sick, twisted prayer to the man who was killing their loved ones, controlling their lives, and ruining all they had to live for? That’s when it struck him. This was his mission! To save them all from this tyrannical sickness. “Now we have put our minds into the most holy mindset of that of our lord. Let us begin repentance,” The lead guard, who Cedrick realized must actually be the governor or mayor, nodded to a group of guards who brought a group of people forward. These poor people had their bodies emaciated and were of all ages and genders. “Here are the words of the undesirables, and they are to begin the repentance. Others are to who feel it is needed.” The leader guard eyes landed right on the family in the front. “And I hope you’re all honest and do so if needed,” He hissed warningly. The guards kicked the people they’d brought to their knees so hard Cedrick heard the crack of their knees hitting the stone or frozen snow under them. Cedrick set his teeth and put away his sword on his back and readied his bow. Sadly, the string had some ice on it, so he had to gently rub it off. It had been exposed to the elements. He should have ed to check it while he made his rounds. He just didn’t shoot that much. As Cedrick worked on his bow, the guards made each of the ‘undesirables’ confess their sins. One itted they had stored food in their basement for emergencies, and another confessed he’d given money to an undesirable, and the man next to him itted to accepting it. One older woman wouldn’t confess her crime. “Speak!” The leader commanded. “Or face your punishment for unrepentance.” The woman met the guard’s eyes with her own resilient ones and remained silent. The guards standing beside her punched her in the face, and she fell into the snow with a cry of pain.

“Confess!” The guard screamed, but the woman remained quiet, and the guards began to beat her. They offered her relief for confession, but she would not. Cedrick guessed they just lied about this kind of stuff. They said they’re give them relief, but wouldn’t. Stupid bow! Cedrick cursed to himself as he pulled back the string to finally knock more ice from it. Luckily, the bow was still in perfect working order otherwise. Cedrick pulled out an arrow only to find they were all frozen together at the bottom. Why didn’t he check if the snow had gathered in this quiver. Arylana had told him time and again to check. Why didn’t he upgrade his gear once ing the army? He wasn’t a great shot, but he could have at least paid attention to his weapons. Arylana would be so mad. Cursing, Cedrick started to remove the packs so he could melt the ice from the quiver. As he struggled, they kept beating the old lady until she fell unconscious, and they ignored her forlorn form freezing in the snow and moved on until the whole group of undesirables had confessed. The lead guard offered to those in the crowd to come forward. Two people scooted forward with tears in their eyes. They were a young couple and confessed — with the eyes of angry parents at their backs — that they’d been married without permission. “A most serious crime! You will offer full repentance tomorrow by offering yourselves to wonder another before the whole city to show the shame of your actions.” The couple nodded and was forced to kneel in the snow. The man held his wife’s hand, and she bravely smiled back. A guard hit them both across the back with a whip, making both fall forward into the snow with cries of pain. Holding hands was a mark of unity and was to be punished. “A serious case, much repentance will be needed,” The leader sniffed. “The rest come forward.” His eyes landed on the family, who didn’t move. The leader sighed dramatically, “Come. I know where you are. Some of you are hiding a pure undesirable.” The crowd began to murmur in shock and horror. Who would dare? If they could find anyway to prove this — even if it was a lie — they were in terrible danger. The whole town would be punished.

“One attacked my guards, and you all are hiding him,” The leader proclaimed, pointing at them all in one threatening movement. “Come forward and confess, and you may be pardoned. This repentance requires you give him up.” But no one replied, as no one was able to give him up even if they wanted. The poor family bowed their heads, and Cedrick paused, touched and horrified. They weren’t giving him up. They could just confess he’d helped them but without their wanting to be helped, but they didn’t. They had no reason to do that. No reason to protect him, but they were. Cedrick’s mouth fell open a little, so touched he didn’t know what to say. “No?” The leader said dangerously. “Well, well, it seems we have some serious work to do.” He snapped his fingers. A big guard came forward and picked up the little boy, yanking him from his mother’s arms. “No!” The mother squealed but stepped back as a whip cracked in front of her. The leader picked up the boy by the collar of his coat and held him up for all to see. Cedrick frantically worked at the arrows to get them ice free, so they’d fly true. “The spawn of undesirables! Undesirables who are hiding the worst kind of undesirable from us: an outsider,” The crowd gasped in horror. “A rebel!” The crowd stepped back as if to try to convince the leader they had no such plans. “And worse than that, a rebel enchanter,” The leader hissed at them all by turning his body to them all in one movement. The poor onlookers shivered and looked at one another begging someone to come forward and protect them from these lies. “And not just any enchanter: a Custodian enchanter.” A few women fainted in horror. “Give him up or see what happens to those who defy our protector!” The leader held the boy over a large fire in a pit beside him.

The mother cried out in despair and hid her face, unable to watch. The father moved to save his son, but three guards hit him in the face at once, and he fell back into the snow as a black eye began to form, making it hard for him to get his head on straight. “Confess!” The leader screamed. “We don’t know!” The mother cried in despair and anger. “We’d tell you, but we don’t know where he is or even who he is. He saved our lives without our asking. What do you want from us?” “Your daughter knows.” The leader looked down at Ezmerld. Poor Ezmerld burst into tears. “He was at school, but th-that’s all I know! All I know please. Let my brother go,” She begged, breaking down in sobs in front of them. “Liars! Confess and repent!” The leader cried. “We don’t know!” They begged. “We’d tell you, but we don’t know.” “So be it!” The leader lifted the boy to drop him into the fire. The poor child was screaming to high heaven. As the leader was about to let the boy fall, an arrow struck in front of the fire pit and a shock of blue energy shot out of it like a deadly ripple off a river. All the guards were stuck to the ground, and the leader dropped the boy. The mother screamed his name, but Cedrick was already running and in mid-leap to catch him. He caught the boy securely in his arms, curling his body around him as he rolled a few times in the snow then rolled to his feet. The boy clung to Cedrick’s neck, sniffing in fear but already calming down and felt safe and assured. “It’s the Custodian filth!” The leader bared his teeth as he pushed himself up and saw Cedrick. Eyes blazing with blue fire, Cedrick set his teeth and turned to the leader as he drew his sword with his right hand and held the boy safely in his left. “You’ve abused your power far too long!” He declared. “These good people deserve to live their own lives, their own beliefs, and pray to what they will or

choose not to pray to whatever being or creator they believe in and not to a man as wicked as vell itself. I command you with the power given me by our Maker and Restorer to leave this town or find what punishment awaits your master.” To Cedrick's surprise , about half of the guards fled for the city gate. Cedrick was surprised to see them go. “Yeah! Wise choice. You stay out!” He yelled after them, surprised but glad they were leaving. Cedrick turned back to those still standing there. “Anyone else?” No one moved. “Okay, now we battle.” Cedrick held his sword ready and the boy tight. The guards prepared a formation to attack, and Cedrick took his position but also kept an eye out for someone to hold the boy. The guards charged just as Cedrick got an idea. The guards had made a line from Cedrick’s right to his left, but no one was behind them. Cedrick rushed them then jumped over the top of them and landed squarely behind them, which gave him the time to run to the boy’s mother and hand him to her. With that done, Cedrick turned to the guards as they confusedly tried to find him. Sadly for them, Cedrick’s eyes weren’t on them. They were on the leader on the platform. Cedrick wouldn’t rest until that man paid for this. He was the one who carried out these horrific orders and the one who was going to burn that little boy alive. The guards surrounded Cedrick, but with his goal in mind, Cedrick found it easy to get around them. He tried the flip trick again, but — ready this time — the guards had men behind them to block his path. Cedrick held his sword tightly, bent low, and spun on the ball of his foot, using the icy snow to his advantage, he spun around in a full circle cutting the legs of his captors in a second. The men cried out and fell to the ground. Cedrick slowly stood upright, eyes locked on the leader. “I gave you the chance to run,” He said in a low voice. “Now you’ll wish you had.” Cedrick ran for the platform, but he’d taken too long. Three guards had caught up to him, and one dove for his legs, taking him to the ground while two more

pinned his arms. With a whoop of triumph through their ranks, the guards dragged Cedrick up to the platform and held him fast before the leader as he laughed. “Foolish boy, you thought you could really beat Heklis’s might, didn’t you? It is he who looks after us and provides us our winnings,” He gloated. “See all of you!” He turned to the people. “what happens to those who defy him.” The guard pinned Cedrick’s arms behind him as the leader picked up a brand from the fire. “Bare the mark of your foolishness.” He turned to Cedrick, and his eyes landed on something on the inside of Cedrick’s waistcoat. “Or better yet...” He bent down to remove Cedrick’s Custodian crest, but he couldn’t take it off. He tried, but it was as if the pin was glued in place, and for several minutes, the lead guard made quite the fool of himself as he tried vainly to remove it. “Metallic gold: it won’t be removed unless I trust you,” Cedrick’s eyes bore into the leaders. “And I don’t trust you.” He spat in the man’s face and the leader let out a piercing scream of pain because Cedrick had used a bit of magic to make the spit a little acidic. The man covered his left eye as he cried out in pain Several of his guards went to help him, including some holding Cedrick. This was his chance. Cedrick closed his eyes and focused his magic. He looked to his right at the pillar and looked to the left to see a matching pillar. Cedrick grinned from ear to ear. Cedrick opened both hands, and both palms filled with a blue fire which set both pillars alight. Most of the remaining guards screamed and ran for it and ran away from the city like a pack of scared girls. The three guards on Cedrick let go to deal with the flames: big mistake. Cedrick stood, picked up his sword and ran for the end of the platform and jumped off into the snow. Before the guards could follow, Cedrick turned and set fire to the other pillars. The guards tried to find a way of escape, but the fire surrounded them.

“You wanted to burn away the impurities,” Cedrick called to them. “And thus, the impurities burned away. The lead guard looked at Cedrick with his one good eye full of hatred. “This isn’t over!” He warned. “Not ‘til your Lord Heklis is up in flames with you.” Cedrick agreed and turned to the people. They were gaping at him in fear, awe, and gratitude. “Quickly,” Cedrick said. “Gather what food and provisions you can. If these guards try to bother you, take the weapons from the guard house and overpower them. In a day’s time, the rebel army will come and set up a guard to protect you from Heklis’s rule, if that is agreeable to you. Is this agreeable?” The people gaped as if asking him if that was a real question. Cedrick chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes,” He smiled. “We will return and defend you.” Cedrick turned to the platform, which was hidden by the sea of high licking flames. “I’ve given you a head start, but now it’s up to you to defend yourself until aid arrives, so be careful. We’ll return in a day’s time.” Cedrick looked down at Ezmerld, who was looking up at him in fear, gratitude, and love. Cedrick beamed down at her. “And I believe,” He said. “School is out for a very long time.” Ezmerld beamed.

Chapter 12

Father of Lies

It was a freezing ride back to the commanders that night, but Cedrick knew he had to return and report as soon as he could. He was about halfway there when there was an unusual noise in the snow. Was it a crunch, or a slither, had snow just fallen off something? It set him on edge. Cedrick reigned in his horse to listen, wondering if one of the enemy guards had followed him and was hoping Cedrick would guide him back to his leaders. Maybe Emmerick had caught up. They couldn’t afford another Montressa. Cedrick carefully drew his sword and dismounted to confront the trouble. His horse snorted and shuffled her feet uneasily, so Cedrick patted her side to comfort her and keep her quiet as he listened. Something was out there, and Cedrick narrowed his eyes to try to see in the darkness, and normally, he was fairly good at seeing in the dark, but there was something about this darkness that was darker than was natural. Maybe it was all in his head, but Cedrick felt sure something dangerous was out there, skulking around him like a shadowy bat. A sharp clap struck the air like a gunshot: a slow clap that echoed off the trees and faded into the dampening snow. “Well done,” A drawling, gloating voice came from the darkness. “Very well done for one ‘oh so careful’.” Cedrick held his sword at the ready towards the sound and the darkness. “Show yourself,” He commanded. “Or I shall make you.” “Touchy, touchy,” The voice crooned from the shadows. The voice was so animated so exaggerated and separate from reality, Cedrick felt uneasy.

“I’m warning you!” “I’m coming, Sir Custod. I’m coming,” The voice complained with the tone of an irritated teenager, and a dark figure emerged from the shadow like coming forth out of a cloud of smoke. The wind blew about his figure, carrying frost bitten snow with it. His head was bowed, so Cedrick couldn’t quite see his face, but his hair was dark brown, almost black, a wild, twisted, styled mess. His clothing was of a style Cedrick had never seen before. He wore a dark suit with a long coat, one of the longest Cedrick had seen; the coat was more like a cloak than anything. The coat and pants were deep black, but he wore a blood red waistcoat with twisted black lines winding down it. It was so twisted it made one’s stomach tangle in its own knots. His coat rippled like a cape in the snowy wind. At last, the man slowly looked up, and his mad eyes met Cedrick’s: brown and just as stylishly messy and twisted as his hair ,both winding elegantly in knots that could make any man sick to his very soul. His slow claps still struck the air as a deranged smile steadily climbed his cheeks. Cedrick shivered, but it wasn’t just from the piercing, cold wind. “Hello my dearest friend.” The enemy’s voice dripped poison of the sweetest flavor as if it was dipped in pure chocolate, wearing a hint of an Englarish accent. “It’s been toooo looong.” He made the ‘G’ click. The click sent a jolt through Cedrick setting him on edge. He set his teeth in fury and lifted his blade to point at the man’s neck. He had a strong feeling he knew exactly who this was. This was the man who’d caused the suffering he’d seen that day. The man who was responsible for his family’s death. It was because of him his brother had to take over the ruling line. The injustice and anger steadily rose inside of Cedrick. This man was the cause of it all. He’d seen enough of that face that day. “You did a fine job the other day,” The man praised. His voice was animated, moving up and down in pitch, tenor, and intonation. He began to pace around Cedrick, and even his movements were unreal, like a grotesque drawing made flesh, too strong, too smooth, yet so full of energy, it could not be contained. “Burning the platform was a good one. I would have gone with a bomb myself, but I also wouldn’t have fallen for the fake innocence of a girl with green eyes.”

A twisted smile blossomed on the man’s face. Cedrick grit his teeth and again pointed his weapon at the man’s neck. “The only fitting bomb is the one that ends you,” He hissed. He wanted to attack, but his anger was powerful as it pulsed through him. Cedrick feared it escaped his control. Who knew what his magic would do if he didn’t? The man threw his head back and laughed. It was a manic laugh like the one the fake Heklis made that had sent shudders down the spine of every onlooker at the coronation before he blew up the place. “Beautiful things, bombs,” The man said, gazing into the sky as if he could see the smoke from one in the air. “I love flames,” He said with a delighted, wicked grin. “Destructive, searing, quick, licking, twisting, and burning, nothing to escapssssse it,” He said and held out the ‘S’ and finished with another sickening click of the tongue. His eyes turned back to Cedrick. “We meet at last, beautiful boy. Lord Custod, master of the mountain, firebird, conqueror of magic and enchanters alike. Sir Cedrick Custod, man of the decade, mover of men. I’ve been waiting ever sooo long for you.” A manic, stomach wrenching smile slowly spread over his face. “Welcome.” Anger flared in Cedrick’s chest like the bombs Heklis so loved. The anger made his hands shake. Cedrick set his jaw to try to control it. “Heklis,” He half spat, half hissed in fury and loathing. Heklis’s face fell. “That’s it!” He demanded. “Really? I gave you a splendid introduction, and you just say ‘Heklis’? Blech!” Heklis stuck out his tongue in disgust. “That’s all I get?! That’s it?!” Heklis was muttering to himself a little but almost was talking to Cedrick. “Really does he not know how to play the game. That is very rude. We’ve been fated to meet all this time, and it’s supposed to be a big moment, and that’s all I get. That’s it!” He frowned. “I gave you a beautiful paragraph, and you gave me a sentence.” Cedrick’s jaw dropped. How dare he? He was treating this like some kind of game or performance. Cedrick’s fist was clenched so tightly he almost drew blood. How dare he!

“Just a sentence?” Cedrick hissed. “You don’t even deserve the sentence! I wouldn’t even give you that!” “Exactly! You gave me a fragment, a word, a name. That’s it! Bad form! No, that’s ever soooo dull, dull, dull, bad. No, try it again!” “What?” “Try it again.” Heklis insisted. “From the top, do it again. I’ll do your intro if you want.” “This isn’t a game, now draw!” Cedrick demanded. “No, you have to do it right first. I thought you were honorable, so do it right. Come on.” Heklis insisted. Cedrick was so incensed he could hardly speak. He straightened up and blinked in angry confusion. This fool, this idiot, this murderous traitor wanted to do this the honorable way?! If he got his head on right, he’d yank Heklis’s off with his bare hands. He realized there was no way to move on unless he gave Heklis something, so he spat, “Fine! Heklis, we meet at last. Now draw!” Heklis roared in annoyance, “No, no, what is that? A question?” “Well, it was more than a word,” Cedrick defended. Heklis sighed, “Fine. I’ll do my own.” Heklis paced a little to get over his own indignation. “I am Heklis: High Evil King Lord Iron Spike. I’m the terror that possesses the innocent child and makes the dog bark in the night. I am High Master of Darkness, Lord of Evil, Emperor of Magic, Commander of the Mind. With my special touch, I am able possess any woman and to twist your mind in knots no man or beast can untie.” Cedrick’s whole body tensed in anger. He kept trying to get his grip, so he could attack without risk, but this horrible man was good at pressing all his buttons.

That foolish liar! Wait...horrible evil? Cedrick smiled. He could press buttons back, and perhaps, that would calm him. “What? You sure? I thought it was Horrible Emperor King Lord Iron Spike?” “Excuse me? Exuuuuuuuuse me!” Heklis said, making the ‘U’ go all around the scale. “It’s my name. I made it. It is mime. Stop messing with it,” He sighed angrily. “No, if anything, it’s both!” Heklis was incensed. “Did you correct me?” Cedrick smirked. Ah, now Heklis was getting angry. It calmed Cedrick a little. If he kept going at this rate, he’d get Heklis off balance and collect himself. “Well, now I’m confused,” Cedrick mocked. “So it’s both? Wouldn’t it be Heeklis then?” “No, no, it’s Heklis, but they all changed it to the wrong thing, so I tried to change it back, but they wouldn't, so I just make it both.” “But then we spell and say it wrong?” Cedrick tilted his head in faked confusion. “No, it’s supposed to be evil, but no one says it right,” And Heklis started reciting his introduction exactly as he had before. Cedrick had never been in a play, but if he had, he would have compared it to that feeling. “I am Heklis: High Evil King Lord Iron Spike. I’m the terror that possesses the innocent child and makes the dog bark in the night. I am High Master of Darkness, Lord of Evil, Emperor of Magic, Commander of the Mind. With my special touch I am able possess any woman and to twist your mind in knots no man or beast can untie.” “I don’t need to untie them,” Cedrick hissed. “I just need to cut them open.” He was done waiting for Heklis to get it all to “play fair”; he was calm and ready for the attack. Heklis felt Cedrick tense like a cat and sighed in exasperation. “Oh dear, we have to train you, clearly,” He sighed and grew dark again. “There is sooooo much you still lack. It is an atrocity we must repair. You have no idea

of your power, little enchanter.” Heklis put his hands behind his back calmly as he kept circling Cedrick and his horse. The horse had oddly kept quiet, but it likely was because even it had felt the danger in the air. Cedrick got into battle-stance and threw himself forward but found his feet were stuck in place and looked down to see they were covered in ice that froze them in place. He was lucky he kept his balance. “Not yet,” Heklis told him off. “I’m still checking you out.” He kept circling the young man. “Mmmmm, different from your ancestors, most of all your father. Mmmmmm,” Heklis pondered as he took one slow step in front of the other. “Comparing you to him is like a dolphin next to a shark. I mean I saw that through Rothmerid’s eyes, but in person, it’s almost worse. Both powerful but in vastly different ways. Mmmmm…” Cedrick fought to break free as his anger mounted dangerously again. “What do you want?” He demanded of Heklis. “If you want a fight, fight.” “I want to be a dolphin trainer.” Heklis grinned. “Oh right. I almost forgot you wanted me on your team.” Cedrick rolled his eyes in exasperation and anger. “Yeah, I like tricks. You do tricks. My other men are…” Heklis thought for the words. “They don’t do tricks anymore,” He sighed. “I’d think Emmerick did nice tricks for you,” Cedrick shot back. Heklis shrugged. “Maybe. Used to a bit, but not tricks as grand as yours.” “Well, I’m no street performer,” Cedrick said. “I don’t flip when you say flip.” “Oh, but you will. You will.” Heklis’s twisted smile returned. He spun his hand in the air, and a sword slowly appeared in it. “We just have to see what tricks you

have.” The sword itself caught Cedrick’s eye. The first thing he noticed was the large sun crest in the center of the cross guard, yellow sun with orange background. The hilt was smooth purple with a bear-like claw holding the purple gem at the pummel. Cedrick sets his teeth. It was the king’s sword. He’d taken that from the royal line. That sword was rightfully his brother’s. Cedrick held his blade at the ready looking up at Heklis from the sword. “I suppose you will.” As he lifted his blade, he sent energy down through his feet to warm them up and melt the ice. It felt like it was working. Heklis made a few test lunges. Cedrick’s feet burst with flames, breaking free from the ice and the force of the first blow he had to block. Heklis had perfect form. His attacks were flawless, though his body appeared more relaxed than normal. Their breath formed mist about their dueling forms as they circled one another. Heklis’s eyes lit up as if someone had used a match to set their insides alight. “Beautiful,” Heklis gushed. Cedrick shuddered. It was not the kind of compliment he wanted, least of all from this monster. There was an evil intent in that compliment. Still testing, Heklis attacked with more intensity. Cedrick blocked and broke his pattern then made a go for Heklis’s exposed stomach. Heklis slid back and laughed in pure demonic delight. He threw his head back, laughing. It made Cedrick’s stomach twist. Heklis tried to blast Cedrick back, but at the last moment, Cedrick locked himself in place to absorb the magic into his hand. It swirled around his fingers before being drawn into his palm. Heklis’s mouth fell open in stunned delight. “Flawless!” He cried. “A good match: a match beyond the world!” “I thought you’d be a better challenge,” Cedrick taunted, copying Heklis’s slower speech as he raised his sword again.

“Challenge? Oh dear little enchanter, this is just noob level.” Heklis smiled. Cedrick frowned. “Noob”? “Just seeing what we’ve got!” He tried sending a bolt of lightning at Cedrick. Cedrick jumped back to avoid it. He knew Heklis wanted to see his magical ability, and Cedrick didn’t much want to share it. “Hey,” Heklis pouted. “Play fair.” “Fair? You play by rules now?” Cedrick challenged. Heklis made an offended gasp like the village gossip. “Of course. It’s not fun without rules,” He said. “ One-on-one means you and me, not you and someone else or me and my buddies. That’s just you on me,” He said. “Magic and sword are allowed, but no other tricks.” “There are other tricks?” “No seduction,” Heklis said casually. Cedrick stopped in a mix of shock and horror. Did he say what he’d thought he said? Cedrick was stunned beyond words. "What?” “Yeah, none of those tricks,” Heklis said. “Just sword and magic.” “Seduction? I’m a man, and so are you,” Cedrick said. “So?” “So...that wouldn’t work on me.” Cedrick cocked an eyebrow. “Well, you said what other tricks are there, and that is a trick,” Heklis said. “Oh, and mind tricks are allowed, but that’s also technically magic.” Without warning, a deep pressure dug into Cedrick’s mind, trying to take it. Cedrick cried out and fell to his knees as a burst of painful energy exploded out of his mind, making Heklis stumbled back.

“Like that,” Heklis beamed. Cedrick panted as he staggered to his feet. He had no idea what had just happened on either end but didn’t have time to worry about it. His eyes shot daggers at Heklis. Heklis grinned and opened his arms and bowed like he had in Rothmerid’s body. “I am Heklisssssss,” He hissed his name at the end. “And this is how we fight, and we will fight, little enchanter. it well.” He struck at Cedrick with his sword with sudden impressive speed. Cedrick snapped his sword up by instinct to block it and threw Heklis back. “And this is how I fight,” Cedrick snarled back. “I win.” Heklis laughed. “And that’s what I was hoping for.” Cedrick set his teeth and lunged again, but a sudden sharp pain stabbed into his head, and he cried out and fell to his knees in the snow. He wanted to fight back but didn’t know how with his head throbbing.. “Not quite ready yet, but sooooo promising,” Heklis crooned. “Until the next time then, beautiful boy.” Heklis’s laugh swirled around Cedrick like snow in the wind. The pressure vanished, and Cedrick took a sharp, cold breath and looked up, sword at the ready, but no one was there. Just the horse neighing in fright. Cedrick set his teeth. “Come back, coward!” Cedrick screamed, but there was no answer, but the howl of the wind. Cedrick got to his feet fuming. “This isn’t over,” He hissed. “I’ll have your blood, Heklis. I will.”

*****

Cedrick got back into town as the sun rose, and Elphacena was delighted to see him and rushed forward to embrace him but hesitated when she saw the look on his face. “Cedrick?” She put a gentle hand to his cheek to get him to look into her eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you alright?” Cedrick didn’t answer her right away. He threw his sword onto the desk with such force it knocked everything on it off. “Cedrick!” Elphacena jumped. “What’s gotten into you?” She didn’t sound angry but concerned as she looked back at him. “I’m going to kill him,” Cedrick said in a low growl. “What? Who?” Elphacena’s eyebrows drew together in concern, and she placed a loving hand on his arm. “Why? Cedrick, what is it?” Her touch cooled Cedrick’s furious fire to a gentle crackle, but his eyes were still dark. “I’ve seen things I didn’t actually believe people were capable of. Though I’d read and heard of it, I didn’t believe it. I didn’t know I didn’t believe it until I did believe it.” Cedrick’s fists tightened. “And I had him! The cause of all of it was in front of me, but he just played like a two-year-old then fled like a cowardly smoke in the wind.” “What do you mean? You’re as cold as—.” She took his arm again and stopped. She’d expected him to be like ice, but he was actually hot to her touch. She decided mentioning it would annoy him more and guided him fully into the room, where they were alone. “Now tell me what happened. Tell me everything.” Cedrick swallowed as Elphacena led him to sit in a chair before the fire, and Cedrick’s eyes became lost in the fire for a moment. The fire reflected and danced in his eyes like a wicked spirit. Elphacena frowned as she watched him, trying to figure out exactly what had come over her husband and dimmed him so.

It took a few moments, but finally, Cedrick spoke and told Elphacena everything with his eyes still lost in the flames. “The children were forced to spend the day being brainwashed by Heklis guards and made to memorize his praises. If they didn’t obey, they were beaten and so were their loved ones. I watched as they forced an old woman to kneel on the ice until the pain was so bad, she was sweating.” Cedrick looked up at Elphacena at last with a glassy angry look in his eyes. “I just watched when I could have done something, but the horror kept me still. What kind of monster does that?” “Cedrick, you can’t blame yourself for that. I would have done the same thing I’m sure. That is a horrible thing to witness, and it is horrifying, and it was only natural.” “No.” Cedrick shook his head, and his eyes were lost in the flames again. “I’m a Custod; I’m supposed to be better than that. I should have acted, but because of me, she suffered more instead.” “Cedrick.” Elphacena stood up and made him look at her. “I never want to hear you say that again. Your freezing was not a sign of weakness, but strength. Your heart is still good and tender, and that sight hurts you. Don’t deny it. And I’m glad it did because it means these horrors and this twisted world hasn’t corrupted your golden heart yet.” Elphacena knelt in front of him. “I never want to hear you say you’re ashamed of that good heart again. Understood?” Cedrick’s eyes were locked onto hers as he searched for the answer to why she believed that but nodded anyway, though he still wondered. “Alright, I won’t be ashamed of it.” But I won’t let it cause more hurt again. Elphacena nodded as she studied his face. “Good, because no matter how you feel, I promise it’s not a weakness, Cedrick. It’s a part of your magic and strength. You can do amazing things, my love, and that love and tenderness will help you do it. Your heart is still open to love, and it better stay that way.” A little smile crossed Cedrick’s face, and he kissed Elphacena soft and tender. “It’s always open to your love.” He assured her, thinking that’s what she was worried about. Though he was wrong, Elphacena smiled back reassured, but the smile didn’t last too long as she sighed. “I know there’s more, Cedrick. Go on.”

Cedrick sighed, not sure he wanted to, but he knew he should, and his eyes drifted off again as his mind went back to what had happened. The horrible stench all but filled his nose as he ed the second horror they’d been subjected to, and he shuddered. “They tortured a man to death in three different ways at once. The smell as they whipped and burned him…the smell...” Cedrick swallowed hard. “Then they ripped his body apart.” Cedrick’s jaw tightened. “As a punishment to his family, they ripped him apart and burned his eyes out. They were going to punish a couple for choosing to marry. He was going to burn a two-year-old alive because his family couldn’t give me up because they didn’t know where I was,” Cedrick’s voice rose in anger, pain, and fury. “He tortured them for being alive, for feeling love, for being human.” As Cedrick spoke, Elphacena’s eyes went wide as she felt the magic coming off him: pulses of angry fire that were uncontrolled and potentially dangerous to others, and the enchanter casting them. “Cedrick, I understand. I do, but you must calm down. Your magic it’s…it’s not stable.” Elphacena stood up and took his arms. “Cedrick, Cedrick Custod, look at me.” Cedrick looked at her as she gasped and let go of him for a second. His eyes were red, gold, and beautiful but also terrifying. It took Elphacena a moment to get a hold of herself before she took his arms again. “Shhh, it’s alright,” She said. “We are going to get him. You will get justice for them, but right now, all you feel is anger. Pure anger, and it’s not safe. I’ve never seen you like this before.” Cedrick shut his eyes tightly. “I know,” He snapped as if angry with himself, trying to calm down. “When I faced him, I was too angry to do anything, and I couldn’t calm down then either.” “Faced him? Face who?” Elphacena asked, eyes widening in dread as she suspected who it was. “Heklis,” Cedrick hissed dangerously. “He somehow found me on my way back, and he was so...sooo…” Cedrick fought for words bad enough but clean enough for a decent person to use. “Twisted!” He spat. “So wild and yet dark, so cocky

and vain. He wouldn’t even fight me until he had his stupid rules met. Why should he get any rules when his rules have killed and torment a whole town and kingdom for far too long? Yet, I’m the one who can’t fight him at all without his rules.” Cedrick swore, not badly, but it was so unlike him, Elphacena jumped. “I’m going stop him and send him to his perverted master with my bare hands.” “Cedrick, you’re right. This is wrong, and you will fix it, but you must calm down now. You’re no good when your magic is out of control like this. My precious protecting fire is going too far and becoming a wildfire. Tame it, Cedrick. Calm down. Come back to me.” Elphacena tried to soothe him and drew closer, though Cedrick was dangerous. She felt his hot skin on her’s as she pulled him close and dared kiss him. “Peace,” She whispered, not moving her lips far from his. “You will burn him, but not yet. You have to control the flames first.” Cedrick closed his eyes as his body calmed. The flames quieted to a gentle purring crackle in the hearth they belonged in, in his heart: a soothing, loving, cooling water trickled through him at her touch, her kiss, her words. It relaxed him, freed him from his own power. Cedrick pressed a hand to the back of her head and to her lower back as he kissed her more ionately: his real power, his true magic, his soul flame. Elphacena was surprised by the kiss but kissed him back with the same calm, loving ion. She had soothed him and always would. She was always there to set his awe-inspiring fire back to a warm purr. This would have turned into more, but one of Mercutio’s men had found out Cedrick had returned and wanted a report. Cedrick was able to give it without nearly as much wildfire as he had told Elphacena. That way, he stayed out of trouble. That and he left out all the rules he broke. It worked. Mercutio didn’t waste time in sending men to defend the people, and Cedrick was eager to follow. Elphacena frowned, worried he’d be too tired after being up and getting so upset, so she insisted on coming as well, and she was glad she did. She watched as they arrived in the town and saw the people had barricaded them in the main building

for protection. Cedrick called out to let them know it was him, and they were safe as he helped the doors open. The second they were open, little Ezmerld jumped out and hugged him, and others fell to their knees and all but worshipped him which made Cedrick go very red. He helped them up, insisting it was nothing as his neck and face became as red as a rose. A smile as wide as the riverbed spread over Cedrick’s face as he watched the people celebrate their freedom, and in a way, his too. Cedrick was so buoyed up he was almost giddy. He saw Elphacena watching him as the family he’d followed were shown back to their own comfortable living space, while they sorted everything out. He raced over to her, lifted her off her feet, and spun her around. Elphacena squealed in surprise and held onto his arms to keep her balance. Cedrick smoothly slid her down into his arms and kissed her ionately. “We did it!” He cried in joy with the power of a king but the excitement of a child. Elphacena smiled tenderly at him and brushed his hair from his face. “Yes,” She said. “We did. They’re free from the tyrant because of you, and you’ll free many more because that’s who you are.” Cedrick smiled gently and kissed her with a soft ion that set Elphacena’s heart into a warm eruption like a geyser. She wrapped her arms round her husband’s neck, smiling widely, feeling as giddy as a school girl. Cedrick beamed and kissed her again then kissed her neck and held tightly to her. “Thank you,” He said. “Always, my darling,” Elphacena sighed as she closed her eyes. “Always.”

Chapter 13

Diplomatic Relations

Though Cedrick’s help in claiming the city helped the overall morale of the men, the leadership seemed unable to feel it and kept arguing over plans to retake Montressa, all wanting credit for the brilliant plan to take it. Cedrick spent each meeting glaring at anyone he knew to be sane. Not that there were many left. The replacements for the commanders they lost didn’t seem much up to the task. When the Custods ed the army, they’d had many more dare come their ranks, but it didn’t seem to improve the quality of their rather debased band. Cedrick found himself wishing for the order he’d perceived when he first arrived. How naive he’d been. It felt like all of their arguments came down to finding how to take the credit for the success. Did that really matter? First Cmdr. Jamison had a plan, but then Sebastian had to cut in with his own. The newer commanders had to get in on the action and propose theirs, and no one was willing to agree to a plan that wasn’t their own. How did they do so many rounds with only six commanders? The two lieutenants were serving on other fronts, leaving these planning sessions to the six commanders, Gen. Mercutio, and Cedrick. Well, and of course the more ‘honorary’ captains of Margorim and Arylana, but they didn’t say much. They never did. Perhaps Arylana took after their father too much. The inside of Cedrick’s lips were raw from him biting and pinching at them as he tried to keep his own comments either civil or inside. Perhaps the rest of his family should have got commissions. Perhaps it was the normal way Custod law worked. Cedrick should have paid more attention in his lessons as a boy to know for sure. But he got a commission only as they needed an enchanter replacement and those were hard to come by.

After listening to Terick argue with Jamison for a while, Cedrick’s self-control dropped, and before even he quiet realized it was coming out, he snapped. “Does it really matter who’s plan it is!” He demanded, slamming his hands down on the table. Cedrick blinked in surprise at himself. The whole room was looking at him. Cedrick gulped, but he got their attention. “No one is going to who’s plan it was. No one, but apparently this council, is going to care. How about we just name it the plan of chance no matter who makes it and just try something? Aren’t you tried of doing nothing?” “Cedrick.” Cedrick groaned at his father calling him out like a naughty schoolboy. He sat back down to avoid another fight, but in his head, he could hear the argument he and his father would have. “You don’t speak out of turn.” His father would say. “Everyone else got a turn.” Cedrick would quip back. “You won’t win hearts that way.” “I don’t win them anyway.” “Then how do you plan to lead?” “Apparently, with fear like you.” “That’s out of line!” “I’m never in line, so who cares?” Cedrick let out a deep sigh to try to stop himself out bursting again. “Capt. Cedrick has a point.” Mercutio said delicately. And Cedrick watched as he expertly directed the men out of their defense mode. Cedrick hated that skill. Maybe they had to get them defensive and break through it to fix anything. “Perhaps we can try this.” Mercutio suggested a strange mix of the plans that everyone knew wouldn’t work, but it made each commander feel included. What a bunch of pandering.

Cedrick often discussed and vented his frustrations to his wife and listened to her ideas on what to try, but no matter how sure he was her idea was the solution, nothing worked. He spent many an hour carving random bits of random materials into different objects, working in the blacksmith’s square, or practicing fighting skills to keep his mind focused on ideas for fixing the problem. He wasn’t always alone, apart from Elphacena ing him, Arylana and Roxorim often ed him for some discussion on ideas. Roxorim often had Airabelle with him too — a girl who’d he’d brought back from the sanctuary when he’d gotten Joel, the only man left with Creator authority, to come to crown him king. She’d been assigned by Mercutio to work in the courts, feeling other work may be too harsh for the gentle creature. Airabelle enjoyed the work because she’d grown up taking care of the Creator’s Sanctuary with her sister and Joel’s family. She was used to such work: cooking, cleaning, and treating high officials with respect was second nature to her. Soon, the head of the court assigned her to the most official and important of jobs. In time, she’d steadily become the king’s personal maid. She was honored and flattered by the position. It was what she’d always dreamed of, to see the wide world as she traveled with the king, but it also had the familiar feel of home, a perfect blend for her. She wasn’t alone either. Though other servants were jealous of her rapid rise through the ranks, her boss liked her, so she had others to talk to. Roxorim often asked her to come in and sit with him after she’d finished her cleaning. The first time he did this, Airabelle blushed for shyness. The king wanted her to just sit with him while he worked. It was a high honor she wasn’t sure she deserved, but he also was the same man she’d helped talk Joel into coming to crown in the first place. He’d not seemed so mighty then. For about twenty minutes, both of them were quiet. After a while, Roxorim looked up and studied Airabelle for a moment. Her dark brown skin, thick black hair, and gentle brown eyes made a lovely figure that wasn’t hidden in the simple dirty cleaning dress. The dress was in perfect condition, simple but beautiful, likely one she’d made herself. “Are you allowed to talk to me anymore?” Roxorim finally asked. Airabelle looked up at him. “No, I just saw you were working, and I don’t want

to interrupt,” She said in her perfect proper voice. Roxorim smiled a little; his blond beard twitched. Airabelle giggled and quickly covered her mouth. “What?” Roxorim asked, amused. “King or not,” Airabelle smiled through her hands, “you still have that funny twitch when you smile.” “Oh very funny,” Roxorim smiled back. “I don’t think being crowned would change me that much.” Airabelle shrugged. “I suppose not,” She said. Roxorim’s face fell a little and sighed, “Even if everyone else treats me differently.” “That’s silly. You just have a new job is all. Oh, and a new family name.” She added. She knew the rule well, having been taught it and others as a Sister in the Sanctuary. “Being king takes the Custod name and magic from your line and replaces it with the kingly line.” “True.” Roxorim chuckled a little. He liked she didn’t treat him differently.. Even if they didn’t talk, he felt normal with her. She didn’t change when he was around her like others. “You’re the only one who seems to know that.” Roxorim looked away to hide his embarrassment. “Does your family treat you differently now you’re technically not family?” Airabelle asked. Roxorim laughed. “Cedrick just finds new ways to tease me; he’s no different. Arylana is, I guess. She and I got along well as children. Thick as thieves you could say. Cedrick was always the third wheel to us. I mean I love him, but he just didn’t quiet mesh the same no matter how he or we tried. It was like we were a three-wheeled wagon. The rest of us were normal, straight wooden wheels, while Cedrick was a crazy glass one with lots of wild paint.” Airabelle burst out laughing, though she tried not to. “Glass? Like he’s delicate?” She had a hard time seeing Cedrick that way.

“No. Oh no. Well, maybe if you ask father — he did treat him that way — but no. I just mean he’s weird and different from us in most every way. He is needed to make the family work, but he’s a…” Roxorim tried to recall the term. “...black sheep,” He tried. “No, he’s a black swan,” Airabelle said thoughtfully. “Rare and thought of as evil but really the best treasure to have.” “Yeah,” Roxorim smiled, “like that.” They fell quiet for a moment. “Thank you,” Roxorim said suddenly. “I don’t know if I’ve had such a human conversation in a long time.” Airabelle frowned, “Human conversation? What do you mean by that?” “Well, since being crowned king, people are very formal around me,” Roxorim explained. “And they don’t really talk to me like a friend or equal. It’s like I’m not fully human anymore but something bigger.” “Well, you are the king. They owe respect to that.” “And so do you, but look at you now,” Roxorim met her violet eyes. “You respect I’m king, but treat me like I’m human.” “Well…” Airabelle bushed slightly. “You are my king and lord. I don’t forget that, but it’s hard to be formal to someone who you cook for.” “Others do it just fine,” Roxorim pointed out. Airabelle giggled, “Most aren’t your personal maid, my lord.” Roxorim’s face fell in confusion, very much like Cedrick’s did. Airabelle giggled again. “Most of them aren’t washing your laundry.” She laughed hysterically as Roxorim blushed knowing what she meant by ‘laundry’. “Well, I guess that’s true,” Roxorim itted playfully. “Maybe I should have

everyone take a week to do my drawers,” He joked. Airabelle laughed — if possible — harder, hugging her middle and bending over her chair in mirth. “You’d have everyone you work with do your laundry?” She smiled. “Well, if it makes me human. I like being treated like a human. No one else does anymore. You grew up thinking Custods were like gods, but you were real with me. Respectful, but real. I find it refreshing.” “Yes...well, my pleasure, my lord,” Airabelle blushed and fussed with her skirt. Roxorim smiled to himself as he bent his head to keep her violet eyes in view. He studied her as she tried to keep a respectful demeanor, but she wasn’t as uptight as others. “Well,” Airabelle said when she’d taken care of the wrinkle or whatever it was that she’d played with on her skirt. “I better be about my duties now, my lord.” “But you will be back.” Roxorim stood up as Airabelle did. Airabelle’s eyes widened a little as they always did when he stood up. He was very tall, and she was very not. “I mean…” Roxorim cleared his throat. “Please, if you like, come sit with me again.” Roxorim thought a second as Airabelle felt her cheeks glow red. Luckily for her, it just added to her rosy cheeks so went unnoticed. “Would you me for lunch or tea or something?” He requested. “You’re...you’re asking me?” Airabelle was shocked. He was the king as well as her employer. He could order her to do anything, but he didn’t order her to. He asked her. She could say no. “Yes, I greatly enjoy your company, and I’m not very good at just sitting here and meeting with people. I was raised thinking I’d take over my father’s place and command armies, and now I’m commanding diplomats instead. I’d like to learn how to do that well, and you knew how to persuade Joel to come. I’d not have done it without you. I’d like to be able to sit and talk — like real people —

as we did then. I’d like to share what troubles I’m having and see what you think. I don’t want you to just be my maid, but you seem to enjoy it, so, if you want, you can keep doing that.” Airabelle bushed in delight this time. Roxorim smiled. “I’d like your help with more than that.” Airabelle smiled, unable to hide her delight, so she looked at her feet. She wished she could hide how happy that made her. A bubble of sweet warmth had floated into her chest. He had no idea how happy he’d made her. She looked up with a shy smile. “I’d be h-honored, my lord,” She said. “I mean I’d like to, or I’d like that too.” Roxorim beamed a smile as big as his sweet teddy bear heart. Airabelle loved it. He really was just a strong cuddle bear deep down — now a kingly teddy bear — but a teddy bear. She wondered if he’d be more than that one day, and an image of her at his throne popped into her head and made the bubble grow bigger. But then it popped, and she blushed. “I-I better go, my lord.” She curtsied and ran quickly. Roxorim didn’t worry about it. She’d agreed to come; she’d be there. He sat back down happier than Airabelle had been. He was no longer alone. He smirked to himself and fist pumped, “Yes!”

*****

Arylana was as thick as a tree. She and Elphacena had been meeting up once a week under the pretense of doing chores like laundry. Most others thought it was for “girl talk”, but it was much more than that. They discussed the politics and goings on of the war and battles, the strategies and tidbits of daily happenings.

Elphacena saw most of what happened among the everyday men, and of course, with Cedrick, while Arylana had the best view of the leading ranks of the army. Elphacena had noticed Airabelle getting closer to Roxorim and the rest of the court, so proposed Airabelle them, but Arylana hadn’t noticed and was affronted at the idea a little powder puff like Airabelle could be of any help. Elphacena couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Her sister-in-law was very blind to how relationships worked, even in a political climate. She argued that having someone who had eyes and ears in the royal court would be helpful to their cause and invited Airabelle along anyway. Airabelle was flattered and honored to these two noble Custodian women and didn’t seem as thick as Arylana in understanding why Elphacena thought she’d be useful. While the army was at a standstill over battle plans, these women met daily to try to find a way to get the ball rolling again. It was so bad that even Airabelle ran out of laundry to do, but Elphacena found something to do to disguise their real intentions, so they always had some pretense of meeting up. Their daily meetings were needed as, so far, none of their methods of persuasion was getting far. At Airabelle and Elphacena’s urging, Arylana decided to give Mercutio another try, see if they could get him to take control and move them forward. Arylana felt Mercutio was the only one who could shove the leaders over the roadblock, but Arylana wasn’t happy about it. She’d been Mercutio’s confidant since Jarbo had died, and even a bit beforehand. Yet, Arylana denied that, despite Mercutio’s constant affirmations that he wanted her advice (or so he claimed that was what he wanted). The way the girls pushed didn’t make Arylana happy about trying, though she didn’t know why. She’d noticed a change in Mercutio’s manners towards her, and though she didn’t know what caused them, she knew she didn’t like it. This was why she didn’t want to try again, but Elphacena and Airabelle’s insistence convinced her. So after the next meeting she waited outside for him, like she often did. It was taking longer than normal for him to come out, and Arylana was getting impatient. She looked around to distract herself from her waiting and spotted Rackwrith giving someone a death glare. There was no mistaking the hatred in those narrowed eyes or the hateful set of his jaw. Confused, she followed his

gaze to see Cedrick talking to Elphacena as they left the meeting. Arylana’s brows drew together, and her eyes darkened. What was Rackwrith so upset about? “Arylana, there you are!” Mercutio finally appeared with a smile. “Sorry, I had to shake some commanders off.” “It’s alright,” Arylana said distractedly as she watched Rackwrith for a second then tore her eyes away. “Just watching a pest.” “Is your brother annoying you again?” Mercutio tilted his head a little. Arylana shook her head, still rather distracted. “No, Rackwrith,” She nodded at the offender. Mercutio sighed, “Your family really hates him, don’t they?” “How don’t you?” Arylana demanded, finally turning her attention to Mercutio. “He oozes this...evil,” She fished for the word. “There isn’t another way to say it. It’s evil,” She insisted. “He is rough around the edges,” Mercutio agreed. “And has one nasty disposition, but I’m not sure it’s more than that.” “Rough around the edges...and inside and outside and so are his toenails,” Arylana rebuffed. “I agree with Cedrick: he may not be the spy, but he’s up to something. He’s acting odd.” “Yeah, but he always has.” Mercutio shrugged. “He’s just an oddball, and surely, someone to keep your eye on, but not sure he deserves being thrown out like a bad sack of potatoes.” “How about like a cockroach?” Arylana looked at him. Mercutio sighed. “Is this a business call? I was hoping it was more a social call this time.” Arylana’s eyebrows drew together. “Would you?” She felt an annoying flutter in her stomach. She hated that feeling,

and Mercutio always caused it with his change of demeanor. He actually made her nervous and giggly— yeah giggly! She hated that more than anything. Mercutio smiled hopefully and nodded. “Yes, I was hoping so. It’s not like we’ve never just chatted before.” “That was before...” Arylana turned away quickly. Mercutio sighed. “Before what?” “Before…” Before you started making me feel funny, Arylana thought but was not going to it he’d done something to her. He didn’t have power over her; no one did. “...you advanced.” “Advance? Which one?” Mercutio asked. Arylana’s eyebrows shot up. There had been more than one? “What?” “Well, it’s not like I haven’t tried before you went...stiff. I’ve made a few even before your brother ed us. You just have yet to accept or reject any of them.” Arylana’s mouth hung open. What kind of advances? She thought the word was vague enough to let Mercutio fill in any darn blank he wanted. He’d made advances of what sort? She was totally lost. That fluttery feeling was stronger than ever, and she hated how it messed with her head and confused her more. “That’s because...I was a stupid girl who didn’t know what you wanted.” And still don’t. Mercutio laughed. “You? Foolish about that? I doubt it.” Arylana bristled, annoyed. He was wrong, and he gave her that credit when he was wrong. It ended up an insult instead of a compliment like he intended. “This isn’t a social call,” She said flatly. “No,” Mercutio sighed disappointedly. “This is about Rackwrith?” He guessed. “No, it’s about this.” Arylana pulled a paper from her pocket. “I think you need to see it. One that mixes all the proposed plans so they can all shut up about

credit.” Mercutio took the paper and looked it over carefully. “Mmmm.” He pondered a moment. “That is a good battle plan,” He agreed. “Yes, we came up with it; I thought we should at least start because we’ve been resting here too long. We’re wasting the good moral that Cedrick’s trip made, and I think we can take the city easily with this plan.” “We?” Mercutio raised an eyebrow. “Yes.” “We who?” Arylana narrowed his eyes at him, faking she understood what he meant but really was trying to figure it out. Mercutio beamed. “Ah, that we; that would be the “Laundry Ladies” I’d presume.” “Excuse me?” Arylana clenched her fists. “I’m sorry; I don’t mean to mock you. I just noticed you and Elphacena do a lot of washing, and yet, nothing seems to get done. Well, apart from what Airabelle seems to do. That is her name, right?” Mercutio frowned, a kind of confused, thinking frown that tilted his mouth ever so slightly. Arylana hated it.. “I notice; I’m not mocking. I think it’s a great idea.” “So what if it is?” Arylana snapped, not feeling too happy with her general right now. Mercutio grinned his smug little grin that Arylana hated and loved. “I’ll tell you what if…” He paused for suspense, ticking Arylana off, but that likely was what he wanted. “You’ll me for a walk to discuss it tonight.” Arylana set her teeth as she thought. Why did he want that? What was his motive, and did she dare go if she didn’t know his motive? There was only one way to find out. “Fine,” She snapped. “I’ll see you tonight.”

She snatched their plan back and stalked off, leaving Mercutio grinning. She hated it, but he loved it.

*****

“Author, have you seen Cedrick?” Elphacena had spoken to him when he’d left another planning meeting but hadn’t seen him since. While Arylana tried Mercutio, she’d try Cedrick. Author looked up innocently — too innocently. “No ma-am,” He said. “Last I heard he said he had to get home to prepare something.” Elphacena narrowed her eyes at him, “What do you mean? You know something.” “Me? Know something?” Author said in mock surprise. “I’m just Cedrick’s paperwork lackey; I don’t know anything.” Elphacena softened a little. “You’re more than that, Author,” She said. “You’re invaluable! You know Cedrick respects you.” “As a paper pusher,” Author said, but he said it too quickly, and Elphacena caught on. “Are you stalling?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “S-stalling? Stalling for what? What is stalling exactly, in what you mean?” That confirmed it. “Time.” “Time for what?” “That’s what I’m asking you.” “It was about five-thirty last I saw a clock.”

“Author!” Author shrugged. “What? I was just answering your questions.” “Hm-hm.” Elphacena wasn’t buying it. “Well, do you know if Cedrick is still at home?” “With it being the end of the day, I’d guess so.” Author nodded as he stacked his papers together into a neat pile by banging on the desk — louder than needed on the desk. “Right.” Elphacena glanced at the loud papers. “Thanks Author.” “Oh, it’s my deepest pleasure, madam.” Author pulled a dramatic bow. Elphacena raised an eyebrow and headed home, sure she was going to have to kill her husband for whatever trouble he didn’t want her to know about. What was he getting into now that he shouldn’t be? “Cedrick!” She called as she opened the front door. “I’m onto you!” “That will just make it all better,” Cedrick’s cheerful voice replied, and before Elphacena could take in the room she felt Cedrick’s arms around her, and she was lifted and spun around. “Hey, what has gotten into you?” Elphacena gave him a look. “You’re still in trouble for whatever your hiding again.” Cedrick frowned in a kind of pout, “Trouble? You don’t think this is trouble, do you?” Cedrick turned her around so she could see the room, and she gasped in surprise. Cedrick had been preparing something, but not what she’d expected. The table was set with a tablecloth and fully furnished dinner setting for two. Two candles gently fluttered in the middle of the table, and though no one was playing, there was the music of a violin drifting through the room. Elphacena looked back at Cedrick in surprise, and she noticed how he was dressed. He’d gotten a fine coat and waistcoat that she’d never seen before, and his hair was done neatly in the way she liked it. He looked great.

Elphacena’s mouth dropped open. “What...is this?” “Well,” Cedrick’s well shined shoe fiddled with the floor, “I know I’ve been hard to deal with lately,” He said shamed-facedly. “I’ve been angry and frustrated. I know I’ve likely taken a lot of it out on you without meaning to, so I thought I’d t-try to make it up to you.” Tears flooded Elphacena’s eyes, and Cedrick was horrified. “I’m sorry,” He said hastily. “I didn’t m-mean to upset you.” “No, no, Cedrick. I’m not upset.” She put her hands to his chest as she spoke then hugged him tightly. “It’s th-the s-sweetest thing you’ve e-ever done for me.” Cedrick smiled in relief and hugged her back, stroking her hair, and kissed her head. “Good, I’m glad. Do...do you want to dress up too? I wasn’t sure, but I did get one of your nicer dresses laid out for you.” “You...you did? But I don’t have any nicer dresses.” Elphacena frowned. “None that are actually mine.” Cedrick grinned. “You do now.” Elphacena’s jaw dropped once again. “Seriously?” She knew they didn’t have that kind of money. “Seriously. I hope you like it. I’m not too good with that kind of thing so Airabelle helped me pick it out,” Cedrick said. Elphacena had to see what he’d picked and raced up stairs to see. A dress of sea green and ocean blue was laid out on the bed, and the dress had flowing butterfly sleeves, a simple flowing skirt that went to her calves, and the top was elegantly decorated with gems of the matching colors. Stunned, Elphacena quickly put it on and put on a bit of make-up and did her hair. It took her only about ten-fifteen minutes: a record for her and likely all women everywhere. She came down the stairs, feeling like she flowed like an ocean wave herself, beaming with delight. “It’s the best!” She declared. “You’re the best!”

She got up on tiptoe and kissed him in excitement. Cedrick rarely — if ever- saw her this giddy. “No,” Cedrick said tenderly as she pulled back, her arms still wrapped around his neck and one foot propped up in the air. His soft blue eyes met hers. “I’m not,” he said as he kissed her just as softly and tenderly as he’d looked at her, “You are.” Elphacena giggled, but Cedrick frowned. She giggled? She hardly ever did that. She seemed a little odd this evening, even with the surprise, and he wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t complain as long as she was happy. Cedrick held out his arm like a gentleman, and Elphacena took it properly beaming in delight. Cedrick pulled her towards him in almost in a dance step and her skirt fluttered around her as she slid gracefully into her seat. It was such fun, she laughed in delight and wished she could just kiss him. Cedrick beamed at her excitement as he sat across from her. His little smile made Elphacena’s heart flutter. How did she get so lucky? He had no idea he did that to her, but he knew these simple things made her happy and liked the joy on her face. He pulled back to sit up properly and invited her to go ahead and eat. Elphacena looked at her plate and suddenly became nervous, “Did…” She hesitated, “...you make this?” “No, I’d not ever subject you to that.” Cedrick shook his head as he placed a napkin on his lap like he knew gentlemen should. “I asked Airabelle for help; I helped her make it. Meaning, I made it, and she stopped me ruining it.” “Is that how you knew how to set a royal table?” Elphacena beamed. She was trying not to show her tears of delight again. It was just like her childhood, the times it was just her, her father, and uncles without her mother around: the good times before Heklis came in. “Yes, and it was a relief because no one else I asked knew, not even Rox,” Cedrick confessed with a smile, his hands clasped together as he looked around and to the side of them at his beloved wife. “It was worth it.” Elphacena beamed, holding back her weepy happiness.

“Good,” Cedrick leaned across the table and kissed her tenderly. Elphacena smiled at his gentle kiss. They had a wonderful dinner, and Elphacena was oddly happy and weepy the whole time, which worried Cedrick, but he was soothed by her radiant joy. When they finished eating, Cedrick took her hand and swept her off her feet, placed a hand on her back and took her other hand in his. Cedrick flashed her a charming smile, and Elphacena melted like an ice cube on a summer day as he waltzed her around to the violin music. She loved the twirls and how they felt in their outfits. Cedrick had planned this. She was laughing in delight and hardly able to hold back her tears of joy. When Cedrick pulled her back in from a twirl, she rested her head on his chest, smiling. Cedrick smiled and kept going with simple steps to keep her close. “I love you,” He whispered to her. “I love you too. So much, my love, my Cedrick.” Elphacena smiled gently to herself. “My husband.”

*****

While Elphacena and Cedrick enjoyed their romantic night, Arylana was enduring her own kind of evening. She waited impatiently for Mercutio to turn up, still none too happy with the arrangement. She wasn’t happy because she realized she was excited to have alone time with him, and it made her feel even more fluttery, and she hated that. Her foot tapped out her impatience on the floor as she waited, but Mercutio appeared after not too long. He smiled warmly at her. “Glad to see you’re here on time.” He teased. “Me, on time?” Arylana snapped. “You’re late.” “Not on my watch.” Mercutio looked at his timepiece. “Right on time on this thing.”

Arylana looked at her own clock. Okay, he was on time. Had she really only been waiting for two minutes? She gave Mercutio a dirty look. “Alright, not late,” She confessed. Mercutio smiled. “Glad to hear it. Now we better start walking, or I’ll have to dock us both for not patrolling properly.” “Not even letting up on yourself,” Arylana muttered. “Of course not. I have to be fair, right?” Mercutio frowned. “Don’t you agree? I’d punish anyone who did it wrong. It’s only fair, so why shouldn’t I include myself in that?” Arylana smiled a little, studying him. He was different like she and her family were different. She knew her father would agree with Mercutio, and likely, so would Cedrick (which was saying something). “Yes, yes you should.” She agreed. Mercutio’s shoulders relaxed. “Good.” He smiled back. They walked quietly for a moment. Mercutio sighed as they walked. “So, how have you been holding up? We haven’t talked since Montressa. It seemed to hit you hard. Are you doing alright?”. Though Arylana noticed it was their talk after the battle which made her feel very fluttery and want to run off, she didn’t argue. She loved and hated the memory. She wasn’t sure why she liked it, but she knew why she hated it. She was one of only three Custods left alive and as such had to be a fighter. A fighter didn’t get fluttery. She had to be tough and strong like one of the boys. So why did she like it? Because he treated her like a woman, respected her as a woman and a fighter at the same time, but still a woman. She loved and hated that. He no longer talked to her like one of the boys — though now she wondered if he ever had, and she’d just not noticed. “Yeah, been busy,” Arylana rebuffed. “I know. I have been too, but I still tried,” Mercutio said. “I’ll always make time for you, and I noticed you’ve not made time for anyone. I just want to know you’re okay. Cedrick got depressed and your father was even more surly than

normal, so I wanted to make sure you were alright too.” Arylana swallowed hard. She was touched by that, but nothing should get through her armor. “How polite, but I’m sure you’d do the same for any officer.” “Arylana, you’re more than just another officer. Don’t sell yourself so short.” Mercutio insisted, “Don’t you accept that? Arylana-” He tried to take her hand. Arylana pulled away. “No, no, no.” But why was she saying no so harshly? “Ah, so now you it you’re hiding. Why are you hiding it?” Mercutio’s brows drew together in concern and confusion, “You enjoyed my help before.” He couldn’t help but smirk to himself a little. “Did your father say something?” “No, he doesn’t have to. This is wrong!” This fluttering was wrong. No warrior got like this, and she was a warrior. “What? Why?” Mercutio frowned. “Because I’m a Custod.” “I noticed.” “So, I can’t,” Arylana said simply. Mercutio cocked an eyebrow. “Um...I thought Custods were supposed to court, marry and um…” Mercutio blushed a little, “...continue the line. I’m not trying to do that, just trying to court you.” Arylana’s eyebrows shot up. That’s why he made her feel that way? He liked her? He might even love her like that? No, no, no, not her. She was a warrior, not a housewife. “Yes, but you’re a boy,” She rebuffed lamely. Mercutio laughed. “Yes, and you’re a woman, if you didn’t know that.” Mercutio’s face fell as he realized what he said. “I-I mean… you’re a very powerful and independent woman; that’s a good thing.” Mercutio swallowed.

“I’ve never seen a woman quite so confident in herself as you. You have your own lady -warrior thing.” “Exactly,” Arylana snapped. “I have to fight, so I can’t do this.” “Elphacena seems to do it every well,” Mercutio said. “She makes it look almost as attractive as you do. Almost.” “Excuse me?” Arylana stopped and looked at Mercutio. “Well, I find that side of you very attractive. You know what you have to do, and you do it and do it well,” Mercutio said. “Arylana, please understand I don’t want to change you. I don’t want you to think being a woman with a man means you have to change anything about yourself. Well, other than working with someone, but that’s not hard. You were doing that fine before, and you appear to not have even known it. I like you, and I like you a lot. I really want to see if it could be more. Is that too much to ask?” “But...but,” Arylana spluttered, “I’m a Custod. “Arylana,” Mercutio couldn’t help but chuckle, “I get that, but that is what you’re supposed to do, according to your brother and father.” “You asked Cedrick about this!” Arylana shirked. Cedrick would never let this go. He’d tease her even when they were ghosts! “No, no, of course not. Not directly in any way he’d figure out.” Mercutio laughed. “No, no, not at all! Don’t worry. I just asked him how his courtship with his wife went and how it was supposed to go. He won’t figure it out. He’s thick like-” Mercutio stopped, “Like a tree.” “Oh…alright,” She was a little comforted, but she also lost her argument. “So don’t tell me that’s holding you back, because if anything, it should be pushing you forward. You’re scared of something. If it’s changing, I truly don’t want you to change. I don’t want to change you. I just want to get to know you better, to be closer,” Mercutio said. “And Arylana, I honestly don’t know if I’d even see us together as...as a married couple or anything. I honestly don’t think I’ll be making it out of this war, so you don’t have to worry about me pushing you to settle down too soon.”

“Why wouldn’t you make it out? You’ve made it this far.” Arylana frowned, a little horrified. She’d not realize how much she hated that idea. “Because our generals never last long. I knew that when I took the post. Record may have been a year,” Mercutio sighed. “And I’m not that important or talented in leading this war.” “But Mercutio, you turned this army around.” Arylana frowned deeper. He was worth more than that. “Me?” Mercutio laughed. “No, that was your brother and your family for sure. Not me. I was just lucky to be in power when it happened.” “We wouldn’t let you. You’re needed too.” Arylana rubbed her arm, trying to hide the fear and pain the mere idea caused her. “D-don’t sell yourself that short.” Mercutio couldn’t help but smile. “So, I have importance to you.” “Well yes-” Then Arylana froze realizing what that meant. “I mean…” She swallowed. “...so what if you do?” “Arylana, why deny what you want?” Mercutio asked, honestly wanting the answer. “Who said I wanted it?” Mercutio got a bit daring. He grabbed Arylana’s arm. It was too strong, too soft. Her body tingled at the touch. He pulled her in, so close, too close. His breath was pleasant on her skin. How dare he! And his lips pressed ever so gently yet so firmly on hers. Arylana’s eyes bugged out. He’d kissed her! She’d never been kissed before. What was he doing? Then she relaxed a little. It was nice. Mercutio pulled back before she could get her senses back. “See? You liked it,” He said. Arylana’s face went bright red. How she hated him, hated him! She loved it, and that’s why she hated him. Like it? She loved it! Even more, she loved it from him. She hated it!

Mercutio smiled, but he wasn’t smirking. “Beautiful warrior, you don't have to stop being a warrior because you like being kissed. It does not make your brother less of a fighter because he likes being kissed, does it?” “Of course not, perish the thou-” Arylana began but was cut off. “So why is it so bad that you, as a warrior, like to be kissed?” Mercutio asked. “As I see it, it only demeans you if you let it. I certainly won’t demote you or put you on lesser assignments. I’ve liked you a while, and I’ve not done that yet, have I?” “No, instead you’ll baby me because you don’t want me to get hurt.” Arylana pushed him back, needing something to fight with. “Arylana, I haven’t done that, and I’ve liked you a long time,” Mercutio said. “Wouldn’t change if you returned my interest or not” Arylana opened her mouth to protest but closed it again. No, he hadn’t held her back. He’d allowed her to go on missions that many thought were suicide missions, including going with Jarbo on his quest when he was killed. This wasn’t a fight she could use. She had to find another. She couldn’t be a girl! Mercutio smiled a bit disappointed. “Sad thing is, Arylana, I even find your battle with yourself charming. Arylana, my affection for you, returned or not, doesn’t change how I work with you. It just changes how much I liked it, or how much you like it. For example, those plans you had are pretty good, no matter where you got them. Walk me through the points.” Arylana was disarmed by his sudden change of topic and taking her so seriously. He said he’d talk it over with her if she came, and now he was. He was a man of his word, at least. She was more than willing to change from the romantic matters to what she wanted to talk about. Plus, he’d just stolen a kiss from her: her first kiss ever, and he let her go right back to work after it as if it was nothing. “Alright,” She sighed finally, “here’s what I’m thinking.”

Chapter 14

Parental Stirrings

“Men are so stubborn,” Cedrick vented as he peeled the lump of wood in his hand into a swirling point like the horn of a unicorn. Arylana set her teeth. “You’re one of them,” She said. “I did not deny I was.” Cedrick shrugged, pausing his work to complete the moment. “I just said men are stubborn.” Cedrick started carving again. “It’s true. It’s been...how long now?” “Four long weeks,” Arylana said through gritted teeth. “Yeah, four weeks and we’ve done... nothing.” Cedrick shrugged again. “Men are stubborn; that doesn’t mean the plan isn’t good. I think it is, but the men won’t let it go, and Mercutio won’t let them change it.” Arylana turned on her brother. “Don’t you dare, even for a second, pretend you don’t know. You know. You are not going to butter me up.” “Butter? Butter.” Cedrick looked around like a confused dog looking for the ball that was not really thrown. “I don’t see any butter.” He looked up at his sister with a comically pitiable look of confusion. Truth was, he had no idea what she was talking about, but he liked teasing her. Arylana ground her teeth. “You’re an idiot,” She declared. “You know what I mean.” Cedrick shook his head. “No ma-am, I haven’t the faintest what you mean.”

Arylana threw a box of something at him, and Cedrick ducked, frowning. “What was that for?” He asked in mock annoyance. “Cedrick?” Elphacena poked her head timidly into the room, then laughed shyly at what she saw. Arylana had had enough of Cedrick’s childishness and tackled him over. They were now wrestling on the floor like over-sized children. Cedrick was laughing, quite amused by his sister’s attack. “Cedrick,” Elphacena smiled, “I really need to talk to you.” “Okay, hold on.” Cedrick looked back at his sister, struggled for a bit, but in the end, tossed her off and got to his feet. Arylana jumped onto his back. “Hey, come on. I’m serious now. You can try to eat my hair later.” Cedrick backed up and smacked her into a wall. “Ouch!” Arylana let go and fell to the floor to try to make Cedrick feel bad for being so harsh. Cedrick stepped away. “Sorry, but I had to get you off,” He said as if explaining why he had to put her favorite flower behind a box. Arylana grumbled to herself as Cedrick followed his wife out of the room. “Are you alright?” He asked. “Why do you ask?” Elphacena replied in a sharp tone. “Just wondering!” Cedrick put up his hands. “I didn’t mean to upset you.” With her moodiness and demanding of random foods lately, he didn’t want to cross any line. To Cedrick’s horror, tears flooded Elphacena’s eyes, and she looked down. “I didn’t mean to be a jerk. I’m always so rude.” Cedrick froze for a second in his terror but caught himself, “No, no you’re not, sweetheart.”

Cedrick came closer and hugged her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and burst into sobs. Cedrick was horrified; what had he done? “Hey, it’s okay. I just didn’t expect you to snap. Are you sure you’re alright?” He stroked her dark red hair. “I-I’m fine.” She sniffed, trying to collect herself. “You sure?” Cedrick tried to see her face. “You have been really off lately.” “You mean I’ve been eating too much. I’ve been a pig.” “No!” Cedrick was almost traumatized. Where was this coming from? “You’re just hungry like everyone else. That’s not a big deal. We’re all hungry after those meetings and combat trainings. It’s alright.” He kept stroking her hair. An idea popped into Cedrick’s head. He knew what would help. “And there aren’t any of them today,” He ran a hand down the curves of her back. “We’re free. Maybe you’ve just been lonely.” He held her tighter and buried his nose in her hair then kissed her neck. Elphacena sighed at his touch. Cedrick paused, his brows drawing together. It wasn’t this easy to relax her normally, but he ignored it for the moment and kissed her shoulder under her leather top. Elphacena stiffened in his hands and pushed him to the wall with surprising force and kissed him violently. Again, poor Cedrick was caught off guard. He made a noise of protest without meaning to. She pulled back, panting heavily. Cedrick frowned. “Are you sure you’re alright?” He asked a bit winded by his own shock. “Do...do you not like it?” Elphacena frowned. Cedrick saw she was going down again, and quickly spoke up. “No, no, I just wasn’t expecting it that fast. You’ve been emotional, running up and down the scale of emotions.” “I know,” Elphacena grabbed her hair. “I know! I’m annoying.” Cedrick chuckled a little. “No, my beloved, never annoying. I’m just worried about you. Is something wrong?”

“Not…” She swallowed, “Not wrong.” She smiled a little. “I’ve been different the last few weeks. I’ve not been sure why, but I think I know now.” She smiled a bit wider, but then it slid down her face in nervousness. “Cena, Elphacena, my love, my wife, you can tell me anything.” Cedrick put his hands on her arms to look her right in the eye. “No matter what it is, we can get through anything.” Elphacena swallowed and looked at him. Cedrick saw the fear in her eyes. He smiled to assure her and kissed her softly. “You can tell me anything.” He breathed gently, eyes still closed. Elphacena sighed and smiled a little. “I’m pregnant,” She said. Cedrick stopped. She’d said that rather quietly, maybe he didn’t hear it right. “What?” His voice was surprised, quiet, but also laced with excitement. Elphacena smiled wider, reassured by his tone. “Cedrick, I’m pregnant.” She was glowing, positively glowing. She’d never looked quite so happy, like a radiant star. “Really?” Cedrick started to breathe again. “Really!” she smiled. “Doctor confirmed it. I know I’ve been emotional, and you’ve seen I felt ill, so I thought I’d check, and they said I’m pregnant.” Cedrick laughed and ran his fingers through his hair, stunned and delighted. He couldn’t believe it. He’d never been so excited in his life. “You...we’re...we’re having a baby?” “Uh-huh,” Elphacena nodded, beaming. “We’re going to have a baby.” Cedrick laughed again and hugged her tightly. It didn’t seem quite real, but it was real. He was excited, unsure, ready to burst with happiness. “Wa...when?” “Nine months from now. Well, almost eight now.” Elphacena said with tears in her eyes, but this time, of joy. “I was worried what you’d think. You are always trying to protect me, and being with child isn’t very battle safe, and with what

happened to you mother...” “Oh, you haven’t seen the half of it yet.” Cedrick kissed her ionately. He didn’t know it was possible to love someone more. It was like he fell in love with her all over again. Guess having her be the mother of your child added a new dimension to the relationship. Elphacena kissed him back then hugged him close. She suddenly seemed tired and clingy. She held tight to him to rest on and be protected by him. Cedrick chuckled and held her close, letting this role fill him with joy. “There. I’m here.” He reassured her. “I’ll look after you,” Cedrick chuckled, “Both of you.” “Yes, I always knew you would.” She smiled. “Perfect lover and protector for me and my children, our babies.” Her eyes filled with more happy tears. “Our babies,” She laughed and held him tighter. She seemed ready to just fall asleep, and Cedrick would let her: happy, protected, and excited for their next step.

*****

Cedrick was so excited he wanted to blab it to the world, but Elphacena wasn’t as confident. She wanted to wait a bit longer. Cedrick didn’t understand why but agreed with a gentle kiss. He didn’t know it was possible to be so excited and terrified at the same time. After all, he’d not figured out how to be a son very well, so how good of a father could he be? He wasn’t sure and that scared him, but he also was so excited that his fear didn’t seem to matter. In the meantime, battle plans were still at a standstill. Cedrick was trying to help Mercutio push his plan forward, but the other commanders were set against it: most of all Rackwrith. Cedrick was not standing for that. Rackwrith had been gone a long time. He had no real right to be so upset about a plan he’d not been around to help with. But, his argument backfired. Cedrick was no good at politics. Cedrick awoke in a nasty mood from the day before, but Elphacena was quite

cuddly these days, and would tease him about not being able to sleep in anymore before long to try to cheer him up. These kinds of teases put him in a good mood, thinking along those lines until he got to his meetings which were terrible. He came home in a nasty mood again, hardly speaking most of the evening until Elphacena tried the baby topic again to cheer him up. This helped him get to sleep, but he still woke in a nasty mood when his dreams tried to process the meetings he spent his days in. And the pattern started all over, making him come into meetings happier than anyone else. Cedrick never saw Rackwrith following him home, but Rackwrith was set on finding out what was exciting him so much each day. Each night, Cedrick went home dragging his feet and dejected, but Elphacena knew how to cheer him up. Cedrick had never appreciated the power of opposites so much until this time. The down times were bad, but they lifted the good times even higher. The long, hard day made the warm evening at home with his precious family that much sweeter. While Cedrick was busy with the commanders, Elphacena kept herself busy with her fellow sisters trying to work behind-the-scenes magic. Arylana was more than a little frustrated that their first plan didn’t work. “He should just let them make the small changes,” Arylana was saying as she smacked a wet shirt into the water. “If that will shut them up, do it.” “The changes are stupid,” Elphacena disagreed. “I think he’s right to stand up for himself and say so. Most of all as this is something worth fighting for. Those changes would make the plan pointless, removing its strengths and most of their ideas.” “Yes, but we’re sitting here motionless for too long. It’s giving Heklis too much time to wind up the catapult and take a shot at us. We know Heklis is more involved now, and that makes a big difference. We’ve gotten used to him just letting his army commanders handle it. Yet we’re stalling here pointless on the sidelines doing what? Oh yeah, nothing but fighting one another.” Airabelle normally stayed out of the more heated debates because she didn’t know much about battle tactics, but she suddenly spoke up. “I think a little humility here could go a long way.”

Both girls looked at her. “What?” Arylana asked. Airabelle sighed. “I mean,” She said in a tone that made it sound like she was trying hard to be civil, “ if one group or both would show some humility this whole thing would be done, and they’d be moving.” “That’s my point,” Elphacena agreed. “They want to change it just so they can put their names on it. They want to claim it theirs for no other reason.” “Or maybe they feel there actually are weaknesses,” Airabelle said. “And maybe others should honestly listen. Arylana made the plan and she’s okay with it changing.” “That’s because she just wants to hit something.” “Vell yes!” Arylana splashed the shirt she was washing harder than needed. Airabelle frowned, “But you’re hitting that poor shirt. Doesn’t that help?” “No,” Arylana said stiffly, “It’s not the same.” Elphacena shook her head. Airabelle really did not get it. “But you said you wanted to hit something. That is something.” Airabelle frowned deeper. She seemed to actually not understand. Elphacena smiled sympathetically. “It’s more satisfying when you hit someone,” She tried. “Oh.” Airabelle’s frown didn’t budge though. She still didn’t get it. Arylana muttered under her breath, and Elphacena caught something that was along the lines of “like Ms. Perfect would know.” Anger swelled up in Elphacena’s chest. “Hey, just because she wasn’t raised to kill doesn't mean she’s not helpful,” She

stood up for her friend. Arylana gave her a sharp look. “I didn’t say anything.” “I heard you! At least have the guts to say it to her face,” Elphacena snapped. “Just because she doesn’t have to endure the pains of being in battle and having to hurt people doesn’t mean she has less of a voice that you do.” “I don’t think she has a lesser voice than just me,” Arylana replied, but her tone conveyed a deeper meaning. Elphacena read it plain as day. “Or than the other fighters,” Elphacena snarled, swelling up a little. “People like Airabelle aren’t lesser because they choose not to the fight. They do other needed jobs. Jobs you avoid, I’ll remind you. When was the last time you prepared a meal, repaired anything, or helped gather scarce food? Just because they choose a different job than you, doesn’t make them lesser.” “I didn’t say it did.” “Yes, you did.” “Prove it.” “I can.” Elphacena’s green eyes locked onto Arylana’s hazel ones and worked her way into her mind. Arylana let out a kind of squeal as she felt Elphacena in there. Elphacena wasn’t as naturally talented as Cedrick, but she had enough skill for this. Airabelle’s eyes went wide. “What are you doing? Stop it. Stop it!” She pulled on Elphacena’s arm. Elphacena blinked and left Arylana’s mind. She looked at Airabelle who looked stunned. “Th-there’s no need for that. Fighting among ourselves will only make this worse. I understand you want to defend me, but it’s not worth that.” “It’s not just you she’s picking on. It’s the women defending the home she’s attacking,” Elphacena hissed.

“Well the vell do you think you were doing?” Arylana snapped, standing up. “What kind of trick were you trying to use.” “I was going to prove it.” Elphacena stood up too. “Enough, please!” Airabelle stood up to get between them. “Please, we don’t need this. What’s gotten into you two?” Elphacena felt a cold shot to her chest. What had gotten into her? She’d let her wild emotions get the best of her again. It wasn’t because she was that offended, but she was that emotional, that pregnant. She had to back down, but at the same time, she was too offended to let it go now. Arylana wasn’t just attacking Airabelle, but soon, it would be Elphacena too. She was going to be a mother before long. She’d likely have no choice but to keep from being in battle as much, and Arylana was going to put her in a lower class because of her choice. That was not alright. She may have overreacted, but someone had to stand up for it while she could. “I think Arylana just got a bit uptight about being told to humble herself,” Elphacena said, “I think Airabelle is right; humility would go a long way.” Arylana opened her mouth to fight back, but Airabelle tried to stop it going that far. “I mean for the men. Roxorim is getting fed up and angry too. He’s wanting to step in and take over, which is an overreaction just as bad, if not worse, than yours. That’s all I meant. I didn’t mean a word against Arylana or you. I’m sorry it came out that way, Arylana. I have only respect for you and appreciate you as well as Elphacena’s attempts to defend me, but Elphacena, it’s fine. Really, what has gotten into you?” Airabelle suddenly froze. Elphacena set her teeth. The stupid “princess” had figured it out. Elphacena knew from the look on her face. She folded her arms and turned away, her red hair snapping with the force of her turn. She wasn’t going to have Airabelle gush over her or excuse her because of her condition. “Maybe we should all just cool off,” Airabelle said. “We can finish this tomorrow. I’ll hang up what we’ve already done. Then we can talk with level heads, alright?” She looked from Elphacena to Arylana. “Fine with me. Don’t need this stupidness making more trouble,” Arylana

grumbled and turned as forcefully as Elphacena had and stalked off. Airabelle sighed and turned to Elphacena. She waited until Arylana was gone then placed a gentle hand on Elphacena’s tightly folded arms. “Elphacena,” She said carefully, “It’s okay. Your choice doesn’t make you lesser. Arylana doesn’t have any authority to say anything.” “Maybe not, but it’s clear Mercutio’s liking for her makes him listen to her,” Elphacena said. “She’ll use that to make sure it does.” “I don’t think Arylana tries that hard to twist things like that,” Airabelle said. Elphacena huffed, “Once she finds out it’s a tool she will. She’s just scared of him now.” Airabelle swallowed. “Well...power because of who loves you is a scary thing.” “How would you know or—” It was Elphacena’s turn to realize something. “Oh, you’ve figured it out: Rox.” Airabelle blushed a little. “Well, yes.” “But that has been going on a while,” Elphacena frowned. “Why is that scary now?” “Well, he, well…” Airabelle seemed scared to say. “Hey.” Elphacena unfolded her arms and put her hands on Airabelle’s arms. She guided her to sit back down. “What’s going on? Are you alright? He didn’t do something to you, did he?” “No! Oh no,” Airabelle said quickly. “It’s not like that. He just-” Airabelle began to play with her fingers. “He just asked something is all.” Elphacena’s eyes became the size of a lake, “Oh my vene, he didn’t propose, did he?” Airabelle shrugged. “Not officially, but he hinted. I think he is looking to see what my response would be. He has been courting me since I was assigned to help about his quarters and all. It wasn’t even his idea that I work there. I did

help him with Joel a lot too. I was certainly attracted to him, but I never had seen an outsider before.” “So you don’t like him back anymore?” Elphacena asked. “No, I do. I don’t know if that's the right reason, but I do.” Airabelle said. “Do you just not want to be his queen? Does the power scare you?” Airabelle sighed. “I don’t know if I’d be happy as his wife. I just never thought hard about it. I am happy being his wife but being this kingdom’s queen is another question. I don’t understand these things. I can’t help him rule.” “Well, do you help Rox know what’s right and how to be true to himself and his people?” Elphacena asked, knowing full well she did. “I suppose.” Airabelle shrugged. “That’s all you have to do. You have the choice to be more active in politics if you want, but you don’t have to, even as queen,” Elphacena said. Airabelle giggled a little, “But you two do.” “Because we choose to. Well, Arylana is a Custod and has little choice.” “Elphacena,” Airabelle laughed, “so are you.” “Oh, well yes, but I mean she’s a born-Custod. She doesn’t have a choice. Though she did once, she never thought so, and so chose being a warrior. She was raised and bred for the role. She doesn’t know anything else. I do because I did nothing as a child, and it took my family from me. I’m not going to let that happen again. You have no reason to do either. You’re safe. You don’t have to become either if you don’t think it’s worth it.” “Even with your baby on the way?” Airabelle said. Elphacena’s face went almost as red as her hair. Airabelle smiled. “No.” Elphacena hesitated. “You don’t know that,” Elphacena said. “That face and the fact that you didn’t hit me tells me you do” Airabelle smiled

wider. “I’m not Arylana!” Elphacena snapped. “I would never hit you for something like that.” Airabelle’s eyes went wide. “And if that wasn’t a clear sign of mood swings, I’m not sure what is.” Elphacena felt ashamed and bowed her head, fighting tears. Airabelle frowned. “Oh, you poor thing.” She gave Elphacena a hug. Elphacena accepted it as she swallowed her tears with a deep breath. “Sorry.” “It’s alright.” Airabelle smiled. “I understand. It’s not easy to be so all over the place. Is that the real reason you snapped at Arylana? You weren’t just defending me.” “But I was defending you.” “I said ‘wasn’t just defending me’. You know you’d likely end up in the same boat as me with a baby in tow and part of you felt you had to defend yourself as well. Am I right?” “Maybe a little. I didn’t mean to,” Elphacena sighed. “But thinking back, I guess so.” “That’s okay.” Airabelle put a hand on top of Elphacena’s. “It’s part of your role: one I’m sure you’ll enjoy and perform well. Even if your mother wasn’t much of one. You’ll know what to do; you love children already. Your motherly nature will tell you what to do. Does Cedrick know?” Elphacena nodded, “I told him.” “Is he worried?” “Cedrick, worried? Depends on what. If you mean about my status he couldn’t care less, but if you mean about me, when isn’t he worried?” Elphacena smiled a

little. “He protects us. It’s what he does.” “You’ll be fine.” Airabelle smiled a little then she frowned thoughtfully. “And I’m sorry; I’m sure my saying Cedrick’s side is prideful likely didn’t help. I know so little about these things. I just sort of trust whatever Roxorim says. He is mad at both sides for letting pride keep us still so long. It’s been weeks.” “Almost a month,” Elphacena sighed. “How would you know so-?” Airabelle began to ask. “It’s how far along I am,” Elphacena said quickly before Airabelle finished. It was awkward enough. Airabelle flushed a little. “Oh, I see.” She let it drop, looking over their work for a moment before changing the subject. “It’s been almost a month with nothing. He knows the stability of our people relies on acting quickly before the overwhelmingly large force pins us down. He’s afraid it’s been far too long.” “And it may be,” Elphacena sighed, “but moving forward with a plan so stupid it could get us killed isn’t smart either.” “I suppose not,” Airabelle sighed. “Again, I don’t know for myself. I just know what Roxorim says.” “We can teach you,” Elphacena offered. “Well, I can. Arylana wouldn’t want to take the time, but I can help a bit. Maybe we have some books around here. I bet Mercutio would be happy to let you borrow his. I’m sure he has some. I think he’s got a few by Griham.” Airabelle smiled a little. “Thanks. I’ll look into that. Meanwhile, you likely wore yourself out with all that frustration. You should rest.” “Thanks.” Elphacena hated to it it, but she was tired. The last few weeks were a blur of constantly feeling tired. She liked when Cedrick came home. He was very soothing, a warm pillow of comfort each night. It made this process a lot easier. “I’ll clean this up and cool Arylana off. I won’t tell her why you really got upset. You can tell them when you’re ready.” Airabelle started to clean up the work.

“I’ll see you at dinner.” Elphacena nodded her agreement. “Thanks Airabelle. I’ll see you then.” She stood up, gave Airabelle a quick hug then went to rest. Little did she know, the tiredness meant more than she knew.

*****

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” Cedrick asked as he put on his jacket, “Aleph would love to see you,” He hinted. “I’m just not feeling well.” Elphacena gave Cedrick a weak smile. “You go on. He’d be disappointed if you weren’t there at least.” She kissed his cheek. “You sure? You seem to be not up to a lot these days, and I thought you were looking forward to this.” Cedrick frowned. “Are...are you sure you’re alright?” “Yes, just tired,” Elphacena assured him, “and I’m starting to get on people’s nerves,” She sighed. “I don’t want to make trouble for Aleph, and I really don’t feel up to it, but you go on and enjoy it. I’ll be fine, after all. We are in for eight more months of this.” Cedrick chuckled. “Alright, but it is closer to seven now, isn’t it?” Elphacena shrugged. “Not quite sure really but roughly.” Cedrick nodded. “Well alright then, but you know you can get me for anything at any moment. I’m at your every call if needed. You know that, right?” Cedrick had to be sure because he didn’t feel good leaving her alone like this. It made him nervous. “I’m fine, really. It’s okay. Go on, don’t let Aleph down,” Elphacena insisted cheerfully. “I’ll just take a nap; don’t worry about me.” “I’ll try.” Cedrick sighed, kissed her forehead, and turned to go. “Rest well. I’ll see you after.”

Elphacena agreed and went to lie down. Cedrick studied her for a moment, trying to sooth his nagging feeling, but he couldn’t quite manage it. Maybe he was just being overprotective for his little family. It was likely nothing. He was always told he was overprotective, and he now had to learn to curb it. Even with that in mind, he couldn’t get his worries out of his mind until he arrived at the youngling training ground. His mind was still dwelling on his wife back at home when he felt something collide with his legs. A smile crossed Cedrick’s face. “Hello Aleph.” “You made it! I knew you come!” Aleph hugged Cedrick’s legs tighter. “I get to them today!” He told Cedrick as if he didn’t already know today was the day he started his training. He’d been under the care of the younger groups until today. He’d the other lost boys, as they called the many orphans they’d taken in, and start his training. Now he was an orphan, he’d get to stay with the boys in the barracks and even help in mini missions, but Cedrick hoped differently. Aleph was so excited he could burst. Cedrick wished he was as happy as Aleph was, but he just couldn't manage it. All he could think was what was lost: a normal childhood, the safety of parents looking after him. Now he was forced to live a life that was going to be hard, miserable, and likely painful. The other boys weren’t going to be pleasant, in fact Cedrick expected most of Aleph’s battle skills to come from defending himself from the other boys. Aleph, on the other hand, was dying to start the adventures of a lifetime. They really were just the agonizes of a lifetime. Aleph’s smile glowed up at Cedrick as wide as the river bend. “They’re going to match me with a mentor today too,” Aleph said. “And they’ll likely be so jealous when I tell them who taught me before them. My little friends didn’t believe me, but these guys will know because they’ll see you. Then they’ll believe who my father is for sure. Great men like you aren’t friends with the sons of just anybody.” “Yes, we would be,” Cedrick said firmly. “Don’t let that go to your head, understood?” Aleph rolled his eyes and nodded. Cedrick sighed. “Now, you are going to show them different.” He smiled. “Where are you going to be staying?” “Over here. Over here, come see!” Aleph dragged Cedrick along to see the first set of rooms. A lot of rather rude boys were playing about, and when they

spotted Cedrick in a commander’s uniform (he still hadn’t bothered getting a captain’s uniform yet), they stood at attention. Well, most did, a few did not, but Cedrick didn’t care and ignored them, but someone else did not ignore it. “Hey!” A frightening large, deep voice boomed. “That is your officer. You stand at attention!” In pure terror, the other boys stopped, and most of them had to look at the other boys to know how to stand at attention. Cedrick paused and watched the training officer as he stormed over to the boys. The man’s face reminded Cedrick of the dogs that had attacked Elphacena and him at Montressa. The man was snarling, and Cedrick saw spittle come flying out of the man’s mouth and down his chin as well. “You know better.” He backhanded the nearest boy. Cedrick’s protective instincts instantly came up. “Hey!” He called, and the officer paused to look at him. “There is no need to strike him like that,” Cedrick said. “They’re just boys, sir. They’ll learn. You already scared the magic out of them, and I doubt they’ll be trouble again.” The officer spat on the ground. “What would you know of children?” He challenged. “These boys are horrible little ruffians who behave horribly. If you don’t hit them, they won’t a thing.” “They followed the order when corrected, officer.” Cedrick folded his arms determinedly. “There is no need to strike them. I won’t stand for it.” “Hey! You’d be smart to listen!” Aleph suddenly popped out next to Cedrick. “This is Captain Cedrick Custod. He could make you choke on ice or drop the mountain on your head.” The boys held back laughter, both at what Aleph had said and at Aleph. He looked rather funny, and these boys knew Aleph would be in big trouble later. “Did you just mouth off at me, little worm?” The officer’s voice was low and dangerous. “That ‘worm’ is with me.” Cedrick gently took Aleph’s shoulder and pulled the boy behind him. “And you’d be wise to treat your troops well. They will serve you far better. You’ll end up with young men who are ready for battle instead of these boys who look ill fitted for any of my ranks. They are scared, so they follow you or likely anyone. Troops should follow for trust and loyalty, not

because they are scared of you, and I don’t see your ‘men’ feel either for you. I’ll have my eye on you trainer…?” “Gunnison.” The trainer officer said with another spit. “Trainer Gunnison.” “Well trainer Gunnison, I better not hear of more trouble or you’ll be answering to me.” Cedrick warned. “Come on, Aleph. What did you want to show me?” Aleph stuck out his tongue at the trainer then pulled Cedrick along. “Aleph, don’t do that.” Cedrick scolded. “He is going to be your officer. You respect and obey him, alright?” “But you didn’t.” Aleph complained. “I corrected him.” Cedrick said. “And I’m over him. I have that authority to do that, and you, Aleph, do not. that. He is going to be your new guardian. He’ll be almost like a father, a father likely without the love.” Cedrick gave the man’s direction a dark glance. “He is going to be the one looking after you, so you better respect him. Please, don’t give him any reason to hurt or strike you. You’re a smart boy, so please, be smart about this.” Cedrick could see Aleph’s cockiness quickly getting him into trouble. He may not like the man who wanted to strike them, but he also knew he was really trying to help the boys. The man deserved respect for trying and for his desire. “He is trying to help you, so please, let him.” “Alright,” Aleph sighed, “but if you don’t respect him-” “I respect he’s trying,” Cedrick cut him off, “so you should respect that he’s trying as well. Can you do that, please? Even if you don’t understand why.” Aleph nodded firmly and saluted formally, though improperly. “I can respect him because I respect you.” “That’ll work.” Cedrick nodded. As long as Aleph gave that man no reason to beat the hope out of him, he didn’t care. Aleph finished dragging Cedrick to the room that would be his. There was room for the two boys there, and Aleph had already put his pack onto one of them. As

they came in, another boy was putting a pack onto the other bed. Aleph was almost bouncing off the walls in his excitement. “Hi.” He said cheerfully. “I’m Aleph. You must be my new partner.” The boy looked up with stormy gray eyes that held a powerful yet calming look to them. His brown hair was done formally, but it was clear he wasn’t very good at styling it. He appeared to be three or four years older than Aleph. “I suppose so.” The boy spotted Cedrick and stood at attention. “Sir, sorry sir.” He said loudly. “I did not see you there, sir.” “At ease.” Cedrick smiled. This boy would be good for calming Aleph down. “I’m just here to see Aleph.” “Oh...a-are you his father, sir?” The boy asked, slowly dropping his salute but still stood at attention. “No, I’m not. I said at ease.” Cedrick repeated with a little smile. “Yes sir.” The boy relaxed even more. “So I’m Aleph; what’s your name?” Aleph asked the boy, nearly faint with excitement. “Malachi, Malachi Reedmen.” The boy said formally. “Nice to meet you, Aleph.” Malachi went to put his pack in its cupboard. “So what are we doing today?” Aleph asked like an over excited puppy. “First thing you will learn, Aleph, is that you need to calm down. Use that energy for practice because that’s where you’ll need it.” Malachi warned as he gave Aleph a nervous look. Cedrick didn’t like it. It likely meant his suspicions about this place were right. “Can I trust you to keep the boy out of trouble?” Cedrick asked Malachi. Malachi looked at Cedrick, stunned he was speaking to him. “Me, sir?” Cedrick laughed. “Yes, Malachi, you. Can I trust you to keep my little friend out of trouble?”

“Sir yes, sir,” Malachi saluted, honored but also a bit nervous. Cedrick smiled at him. “Good boy.” He clapped his shoulder. “Glad it’s working out. Do you have any ceremony about this, or is it just official that you two are a team, and you start tomorrow?” “He’ll pair us up in ten, sir,” Malachi said. “Then we’ll go right to training.” “Really? That fast?” Cedrick was surprised. “We better get going then.” Aleph raced out the door, but Malachi swallowed. Cedrick saw it and guessed what he was thinking. He was nervous for Aleph, which made Cedrick nervous too. “Malachi.” The boy stopped and looked at him, “I know Aleph can be hard. He’s recently lost both parents. He’s a happy kid, but he’s had a hard time. Please, I mean it, look after him.” Malachi stiffened his jaw. “You have my word, sir,” Malachi said firmly then followed Aleph out the door resolutely. Cedrick sighed, praying the boy could do as he’d promised and followed them. There was a small formal pair up, and of course, Malachi was paired with Aleph. Aleph’s inability to keep still kept making the other boys give him dirty looks, but Malachi would spot them and stand protectively by Aleph. Cedrick smiled a bit at it, but Aleph was too busy to notice. The officer told him off a dozen times or more for not keeping still. Aleph did a bit better after the officer screamed in his face. When the event was over, the officer brought them all over to the training field. Cedrick knew that was his cue to go, but he was nervous. He watched Aleph go with a wave of good luck. But even as he let Aleph begin his new life, his mind was anxiously wondering if he’d come out unhurt. How would Aleph handle the danger of his own ‘family’? Would he adapt, or would the other boys be alright with him so he wouldn’t have to painfully adapt? Cedrick tried to calm down by reminding himself Aleph wasn’t his responsibility, but in a way he was. Cedrick had promised his father in his final moments that Aleph would be looked after. What if this looking after didn’t go well? What could he do? Could he adopt him and train him as he was trained, only without the beatings? Maybe he could do that, but the idea made Cedrick’s body go cold, his heart stop, and his stomach clench. Could he even do that

better than those men? He had no idea how to be a father. At least he had practice in infant stage, but Aleph was not an infant. Could a Custod even adopt? The boy, in taking on their name, would become one too. Was that allowed? Cedrick was lost in these thoughts as he went to lunch, but it didn’t take him long notice to find a new worry; his wife wasn’t there. Cedrick finished quickly when he realized this, put his dishes away, and raced home. He’d likely be late for his next battle meeting, but he was more worried about his wife than what those stuffy commanders thought. He found her still fast asleep, but this didn’t alleviate Cedrick’s fears — it worsened them. Cedrick frowned and sat beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder. “Elphacena, honey, are you alright?” He rubbed her shoulder soothingly but hoped to wake her for an answer. Elphacena sighed sleepily and opened her eyes which looked up at Cedrick with a twinkle of a smile. “Oh, it’s you.” She closed her eyes and settled in more comfortably. “Yes, it’s me. Are you alright? I’ve not ever seen you rest this long. You missed lunch, and I thought you’d be extremely hungry.” Cedrick rubbed her arm gently. “I feel too sick to eat.” Elphacena confessed. “I’m either hungry or sick to the stomach.” Cedrick swallowed. He’d heard of morning sickness, but this wasn’t morning. “I see. You were sick this morning too. Are you sure you’re alright? Maybe we should talk to someone or...s-something.” “I’m sure it’s just that.” Elphacena said. “Hard pregnancy. I’m sorry I worry you, but I’m sure it’s fine and normal.” “It’s alright.” Cedrick smiled a little. “I just want to be sure you’re alright, both of you.” Cedrick kissed her forehead then pressed his forehead to hers. “I love you, more than life; I’ll do anything to make sure you’re alright. If I can, both of you.” He squeezed her arm, he’d have hugged her, but in her lying down position, it would be too hard. “I know.” Elphacena took his hand and rolled over to look at him properly. “As I

love you.” She rested a hand to his face and kissed him gently. “I’m nervous too; I haven’t felt too well lately.” “So we should talk to the doctor, right?” Cedrick asked. “Maybe he can help.” “I don’t think so.” Elphacena sighed. “Not much he can do. It’s not like he can look inside and see what’s going on.” “You know, if you need to rest, I’ll make sure you get it,” Cedrick said. A fear was creeping into his chest. His mother hadn’t survived because she’d been too tired, and she’d not let Margorim know she was so tired. So tired, it had killed her. He couldn't bear to see that happen to his wife. “I can’t lose you; that was my mother’s mistake. I’d sell my very soul to make sure that doesn’t happen to you, so please don’t hide it from me. Let me help.” Elphacena smiled and pulled Cedrick close to hug him and kiss his cheek. “I’ll tell you, I promise. I may hate it, but I’ll try to rest. I won’t leave you.” Cedrick held her tighter. “Whatever it takes,” He said. “If we have to go back into hiding to protect you, I’ll do it.” “No.” Elphacena let go in surprise and looked into his face. “You’re needed here, Cedrick. You’ve wanted to be in this fight your whole life. You can’t just leave it all.” “I can and will,” Cedrick said firmly. “If it gets that bad, I’ll do it in a heartbeat.” “And let you father down?” “Yes,” Cedrick didn’t hesitate, “forget what he thinks or what Mercutio or anyone else thinks. If it’s what you need, you will have it. We’ll go back there. I’ll take care of you. You can rest until the baby comes, and I’ll look after all of us. We have money to give us enough to start with. I’ll start the farm up again. I’ll get the animals. I’ll take a dog from the children’s guard. I’ll bet Ravin is still in that guard. We’ll get her. Whatever we have to do, I’ll do. Elphacena, I swear it on my soul. I’ll do whatever it takes no matter what it takes. I will look after you.” Elphacena’s eyes were shining in tears. “Really?”

“Didn’t I just say so? Yes.” Cedrick smiled and kissed her then held her close. “I’ll skip the meeting. I’ll stay here all day if needed. We’ll hide with Joel if we need extra help. Shota can help too. You are my number one.” “Even more than avenging your family and defeating Heklis?” She asked. “Without a second thought,” Cedrick said, “you are the most important. I made the eternal promise with you, no one else. You’re my all, my second half. If I have to change my life to keep that oath I will. Isn’t that the promise I made?” “I don’t know if it’s that extreme, but it means the world to hear you say that.” Elphacena smiled through her tears, deeply touched. She knew what that work and goal meant to him. It was all he’d known, his only purpose. He’d throw it all away for her, though she wasn’t sure she believed it. She knew he was serious. Cedrick cradled her. She felt hot to his touch. He ignored that, he had to in this moment. “How couldn’t I? You are my world.” He rocked her. “But if you’re tired, go back to sleep. I’ll be here. What you need to eat, I’ll get it. Just ask my love, just ask, and I’ll get it.” Cedrick kept her well protected and warm in his arms she fell asleep. Cedrick was determined as he held her. There was no hint of remorse or hesitation. Even as she slept, Cedrick was making plans to protect her if things went south, and he was set on using them. If she needed it, he’d vanish with her in a heartbeat. Nothing was going to hurt her. Nothing.

Chapter 15

Painful Surprises

Despite all Cedrick could do, Elphacena seemed to get worse instead of better. With how weak she became, Cedrick was forced to tell his family why she was ill, but he made them swear they wouldn’t tell anyone else. This caused a fight between Arylana and Cedrick because she was angry he’d not told them yet. While Cedrick defended Elphacena’s reasons for wanting to hide it, Margorim slipped into their room. Margorim wasn’t at all surprised to find her awake with tears pooling in her eyes, likely from the fight she could hear outside. Gently, Margorim put a hand on her arm. “Are you alright?” He asked gently. Elphacena was surprised and turned to see who spoke and was even more surprised to see who it was as new tears filled her eyes. She turned away and put her face into her hands as sobs shook her body. Margorim sighed and sat beside her to pull her into a hug. “Shhh, I’m sorry.” Margorim had always got along well with Elphacena. Despite the surprise of their meeting, he still found it easier to talk to her than likely anyone else. Because of it, it was second nature for Elphacena to respond to him. “I should be able to do this.” She wept. “I’m useless.” “You’re not useless.” Margorim assured her. “It’s just hard; I know how hard it can be. After all, I did watch El...I-I mean my wife struggled too. I even thought Cedrick would be the easy one, so it’s alright to have a hard time.” “Not this hard.” Elphacena shook her head. “I’m seven weeks in and a basket case. That’s nothing, and I’m useless.”

“Protecting and helping a young life grow inside of you is not useless, Elphacena, even if it feels useless. You have to spend a lot of time resting, it’s not useless. It isn’t a waste of your time to be doing one of the hardest and best things anyone can do in life: give another life at your own expense.” Margorim assured her. “You’re trying to hide how hard it is from Cedrick too. I understand that, and it is a lot to take on. You need not be ashamed.” “B-but I’m not.” Elphacena denied it, but when Margorim gave her a look she burst into fresh tears. Margorim sighed and stroked her hair soothingly. “I am, aren’t I?” “I believe so. He’s worried about you, and you don’t want him to worry anymore. That’s natural.” Margorim said. Elphacena sobbed harder. “H-he o-o-of-fered to l-l-leave.” She confessed through her tears. “He offered to l-leave it all behind just t-to h-h-hide with mme.” Margorim smiled a little. “I’m sure he did; he cares about you. You’re his world, you both are.” Elphacena wept harder, and Margorim sighed, knowing he had to say it but hating it. “Elphacena, you already suspect what I’m going to ask you, and I think you know the answer even if you don’t want to it it, and that’s fine.” Elphacena shook her head violently and cried harder. “No. Not, it’s not.” She denied it. Margorim, on the other hand, sighed — knowing it was true. “Elphacena, if you don’t want to tell him the truth, I will.” “No! Not you!” Elphacena snapped. “Alright, I understand, but sweet girl, you beautiful, sweet, brave girl, someone needs to tell him, and you need to face it yourself. You’ve been this ill for three weeks. That’s a normal sign, and you know it.” “No, no, it can’t. It’s not!” Elphacena insisted. “Sweet girl, deny it or not, you know it’s true, and you know it’s true deep down. It’s why you’re upset. He’s out there defending you, and you know it’s not made

it.” Margorim tried to make her face it and comfort her at the same time: not an easy feat. “It’s alright. It happens to a lot of people at least once. You can overcome it. It’s hard, but you can.” “No, no, it’s not gone.” Margorim hesitated. “Elphacena, you and I both know it is, and — honestly — I’m sure Cedrick knows it too but won’t dare say it. You’ve lost the baby; you just don’t want to it it, and I don’t blame you. I know that’s hard. I may not fully understand it, but I know it’s hard. Let him help you through this by facing it. I’ll bring him in here if you need. You need to talk to him and face it. You poor girl, this won’t help either of you. Living in a lie will only hurt.” Elphacena swallowed hard to try to take in the pain and stop the tears, but it failed on both counts. She knew he was right and had for a while, but she didn’t want to face it. She also guessed he was right. Cedrick knew. It crushed her very soul. It felt like the truth left a hole in her soul, her chest, and each sob tore at that hole like a monster clawing at her chest. She wanted to stop crying, to make the pain stop, but she couldn’t stop crying, and even as she held it for a moment, it still hurt. Yes, it was true. She lost it days ago, and at that moment, she’d known it but hid it even from herself. She’d told herself a little bleeding was normal, right? Losing it was what had made her ill and more. What it meant made it even worse. What had she been thinking? She’d ruined everything by not thinking, and she wondered if she could ever make it up to him, if there was even a way. It just wasn’t fair. The door opened carefully then shut. Elphacena cried — if possible — even harder. She felt warm arms wrap around her and hold her close. In the way they held her, she knew it was her husband and that she and Margorim had been right. He knew. She knew Margorim had kept his word and not told him either. He just had known; had he known all along? Elphacena burst into fresh tears. “I’m s-s-s-s-soo s-s-s-or-ry.” She wept. “Shhh, it’s not your fault.” Cedrick stroked her hair, sending a shiver down her body. “It just happens. It’s alright.” “Y-you knew.”

Cedrick sighed deeply and tried to cover up. “I didn’t...know per se.” “You knew.” Elphacena held tighter to him — she was a bit annoyed he denied it. Cedrick smiled a little as he kept stroking her hair. “Yes, yes, I knew.” He confessed. “This isn’t natural, and even if it was, such a fragile babe couldn’t survive the violent vomiting and fever you’ve had. I suspected the fever was because something had gone wrong, but how would I know? I’ve never seen this before. So I didn’t “know” but I knew. I’m sorry my dearest heart. It will be alright, though.” “Y-you shouldn’t have married me.” Elphacena yanked away from him and curled up on the far side of the bed as she wept. “What? No.” Cedrick drew closer, but Elphacena pulled away. Cedrick paused. Her yanking away was like a grappling hook gripping into his heart then tearing itself away, and it yanked right through the tender flesh of his heart. She was hurting some of the worst hurt anyone could ever face, and she didn’t want his help. “No, no, you shouldn't have. You can’t be married to me. You sh-should be with someone else.” Elphacena insisted. “Elphacena,” Cedrick said firmly, daring to stand up for himself, “I choose you; do you hear me?” Cedrick took her arms, pulled her up and held her close to his desperate heart. She fought to break away, but he wasn’t going to let her. “I choose you. I will never ever choose another.” “No, I m-make you br-break your o-oath.” Elphacena shook her head against his shirt. “You d-deserve them, and you were so excited, and I o-only take th-that away.” Cedrick’s brows drew together. “What are you talking about? You haven’t taken anything away.” “Y-yes, I-I have.” Elphacena was crying so hard she could hardly speak, but Cedrick held her and didn’t let her escape the comfort he would always be. He knew she needed him, so he would not let her get away. He just waited for her to get her head as he loved her.

Finally, when he felt her calm down, he stroked her hair more and said. “It’s alright. I don’t understand what you fear, my love. Will you please explain it to me because I don’t believe I shouldn’t be with you. You are the love of my life: the woman I want to be with forever. The one I want to raise my children with — no matter how hard it is to have them — even if we don’t have them, you’re my choice. So why do you think I shouldn’t have you?” Elphacena buried her face in his shirt as she sobbed. Cedrick’s poor shirt was already soaked with her tears, but he didn’t give a feather about it. He just waited for her answer. “B-because I c-can’t, Cedrick,” She wept. “J-just like that monster, m-my mother.” “Elphacena.” Cedrick had to smile a little. “Your mother is a monster, but you’re wrong about having children. You’re here after all, aren’t you?” “A-apparently, I was a fluke,” Elphacena said, “She miscarried too and a-a lot.” Elphacena swallowed her tears so she could go on. “She lost several after me, and before me, I l-later found out. She lost a set of twins that I . She was a witch after she l-lost them. The doctors kept trying to tell her not to try. When I got older, they warned me that I likely wouldn’t be able to have them either, that I’d get pregnant like she did but not be able to hold them full term eever.” Elphacena’s eyes emerald green eyes met Cedrick’s. “And i-it’s part of your oath, and you’re the only male heir left. You have to have them, but now — because of me — you’ve broken that oath by marrying me, and there’s no way out of it.” She burst into tears. “And it’s my fault! I made you break it. I should have warned you, said something.” Cedrick’s heart stiffened in resolution. “No, it’s not true.” He said with his voice radiating that confidence. “Yes, it is. They warned me over and over. They said I m-might escape, but this proves them right. They said if I couldn’t carry, I’d find out. It took us how long to even get pregnant, only to f-find out I c-can’t.” She buried her face again. This explained why it took her so long to face it. She didn’t want to just face a miscarriage (as hard as it was), but she mostly didn’t want to face she couldn’t have children. Cedrick knew she wanted them desperately. She wanted to have them and give her children the kind of mother she always dreamed of having, but now she was sure it wasn’t possible. She wanted to have them with Cedrick,

and now it was taken from her. “Elphacena,” Cedrick said firmly; the power in his tone made her look up. His striking blue eyes met hers and didn’t waver. “I don’t care.” “What?” Elphacena’s brows drew together. “I don’t care if we can’t have children, Elphacena; I still would have chosen you. I’d still marry you and not pick anyone else. I love you. You are my wife. No matter what happens, I will love you. You are mine. I choose you for this life and the next. We will get through this. I know it hurts, and more of this will hurt, but we can get through it. Your mother had you, right? I believe if a,” Cedrick swore harshly — harsher than Elphacena had ever heard. It made her smile. “Can do it, and she didn’t want to raise her child, we can. We want it. We will make it, Elphacena. It will be alright. I love you, and nothing else matters right now. You are my wife and always shall be.” Cedrick held her tight against him. “It’s alright. Rest now and heal. We’ll get back to it. We’ll make it better. I know it.” Elphacena began to cry again but for a new reason this time. His resolution and love for her touched her deeply. Yes, her heart was still broken, and she still felt sure she’d had that joy of being a mother taken away from her, but for now, she didn’t care. She would never be alone. He’d stand by her no matter what — even break his oath — for her. He would stand by her, love her, care for her, and do all he could for her no matter what. “I-I love you.” She breathed. Cedrick smiled and kissed her head. “And I love you more than life. We’ll make it. It’s alright. Rest. I’m sure all this has worn you out. You’re still sick, my love. Now you’ve faced it, you’ll be better in no time. We’ll face the life we have together. We’ll find a way to make it better in time, but for now, we’ll make it better for others. Then we’ll find a way. I know it. Rest, heal in body and mind, and I’ll be here to make sure you do. Then we’ll face it together: always together. I’m not leaving you — ever.”

Chapter 16

Animals Talk? Just Mythical Ones

While Cedrick had been dealing with troubles at home, the army’s progress was as could be expected. Though he couldn’t get them to agree on the plan, Mercutio did manage to get a new second (now lieutenant first class), Lieutenant Liam. Liam hadn’t been at Montressa. He had been leading smaller armies and was able to take several other cities, while the other leaders argued. So though Cedrick had never met him, he believed he was reliable. The word of Cedrick freeing that town had spread, giving hope to many that came as new recruits to Liam’s numbers. Though they had that success, the debate of Montressa still raged on until the snow began to melt and a freezing spring began: freezing cold mornings with a freezing breeze every day and chilling rains on others. The wet weather did cheer Elphacena up, which Cedrick was grateful for because little lifted her spirits these days. She still blamed herself and felt she let Cedrick down. He needed a better wife than her to give him an heir to the Custod line. Cedrick stubbornly said she’d provide one eventually, even if it was just one; they had plenty of time. Part of Cedrick was wondering about adopting; after all, there was a boy who would be in need of it (assuming he was worthy of it). Though it would be a while before they did that because Cedrick knew Elphacena would be crushed by the idea and the surrender of what little hope she did have, but he’d keep his mind open for the future and stay close to Aleph. Even if they did never adopt, he’d promised Drake he’d look after him, and it was a promise Cedrick would never break even if it meant his life. So when the boys had a day or a few hours to rest, Cedrick would let Aleph show off what he’d been learning on a hill just out of town. Elphacena was sitting behind Cedrick as he watched. He had to put his head all the way back to

look at her, but she pushed his head back to face Aleph when he gave her charming, teasing smiles. Even if what Aleph was showing him was silly, Cedrick would beam, clap, and give him an “attaboy'' but he didn’t hide any suggestions to help him be better. The boy needed to be able to defend himself. Aleph looked up at Cedrick, beaming and hopeful. “I did good?” “You did well,” Elphacena gently corrected. “Are you sure that’s right?” Cedrick frowned. “That sounds funny.” “Cedrick, keep your farm boy mouth quiet.” Elphacena pushed his head playfully. “Farm boy? Is that the name for my ignorance now?” Cedrick grinned, encouraged by her playfulness. “Hasn’t it always been?” She laid down on her stomach next to him on the hill. “Umm...was it?” Elphacena smiled a little and forced a chuckle, but it was only hinted in her eyes. “Should I try again?” Aleph asked. “Uh, oh sure.” Cedrick nodded. “I’ll watch if...I can.” He glanced at Elphacena, but she didn’t look at him. Cedrick wished she had. Then she’d have kept playing which would have done her good. Cedrick opened his mouth to try to cheer her up, when a roar shook the air. Cedrick froze and looked around for the danger. “What was that?” A shadow crossed over them and flitted away as fast as a fly landing on their arms. A snarl grumbled through the buildings which made them all look up as the shadow reappeared. Cedrick spotted something flit out of sight. Whatever it was flying, large, deep gold. Cedrick’s mouth fell open. “That’s…”

“A dragon!” Aleph cheered excitedly. Cedrick gaped at his wife, stunned. “I thought you said they didn’t exist!” “I didn’t think they did. I was told they didn’t or if they did, they were extinct now.” Elphacena was watching in awe as well. “Who told you that!” Cedrick demanded. “My uncle.” “Well that explains it.” Cedrick huffed. The dragon’s roar shook the air once again as it landed and began digging its nose about the city, making a huge dent in one of the towers. Men were screaming, women and children were running for cover while guards converged on the creature, but they didn’t look like they were very confident on what to do. Part of Cedrick felt like he should them, but he felt no desire to attack the beast. He didn’t even feel threatened which he knew was mad, but instead, he felt he wanted to go up and touch it, asking it what it wanted. Not that he’d be able to. It was an animal; animals didn’t talk. But what if it could? Elphacena grabbed Cedrick’s arm. “Boys duck!” She yanked them both down as the dragon opened its wings and dove right over their heads. It landed on the opposite wall and started nosing around in a desperate way, snorting irritatedly and damaging buildings without a second thought. Cedrick’s brews drew together. Why was it doing that? Was it looking for something? Why didn’t it roar at them to show off its power, roar and puff itself up, burn the place down like dragons were said to do? The dragon was like a ray of sunlight, golden and bright, with narrow purple eyes, and a long, powerful tail whipped at the buildings in its agitation as its giant wings were held carefully out of the way. Its four clawed feet appeared to be just feet, but from time to time she’d lift up and use them like hands. It was such a unique creature Cedrick couldn’t help but stare. His train of thought was interrupted when he felt Aleph try to run to the dragon like the other fighters. Cedrick grabbed him by the jacket. “No you don’t.”

“I want to fight. I’m a warrior now, Cedrick, and I’m going to fight like it.” Aleph insisted excitedly. “No, you are not.” Cedrick insisted back. He bent down to Aleph’s eye level. “You are going to find Malachi and stay with him. Those are your orders, soldier.” “But they won’t be fighting the dragon,” Aleph complained. “A soldier does what his command does, so if those are your orders that’s what you do. Understood?” Cedrick promised Drake he’d keep Aleph safe and letting him attack a dragon wasn’t safe. “But I want to be a warrior.” Aleph held up his wooden sword and made to charge again only to be held back. Cedrick’s grip wasn’t soft as he yanked Aleph back and locked eyes with him — eyes flaring dangerously. “I promised your father and mother I’d look after you. I cannot let you go after that dragon for their sake, Aleph. It’s ten times my size and who knows how many times your size. You can’t fight it alone. You need your team. Now go back and get your team.” Cedrick’s look was fierce and firm. Aleph frowned — a bit scared by it — but mostly, he was scared of disobeying. “O-okay,” He said. “Good boy. Now go on. Hurry go.” Cedrick stood up, and Aleph raced off. “Run like the warrior I know you are!” Cedrick encouraged. He looked up at the dragon, drew his sword from his back, and ed the fight he’d rather avoid. But just as he was about to take off, a hand rested on his arm, stopping him. Cedrick stopped and looked to see the hand belonged to his beloved wife. Cedrick’s brow creased. “What’s surfaced?” “You can’t just attack it.” Elphacena protested. Cedrick sighed — agreeing — but knew he had no choice. “Well, what else can I do?” He asked, hoping she had an idea. The dragon wasn’t acting like any dragon he’d ever heard of, and it made him suspicious and curious, but he was the captain. “It’s my command. I must go.” Cedrick pulled away.

“Cedrick, no!” Elphacena grabbed him. “It’s alright. Stay here, and I’ll be back.” Cedrick assured her gently, pulling away and turning to go. “Cedrick, no.” Elphacena grabbed his arm again. Cedrick turned to her. Elphacena latched herself to his chest. “You can’t go. It’s too dangerous. You can’t go alone...y-you can’t leave me.” Cedrick instantly understood. She didn’t object to the plan, but she was scared. She’d gone through enough pain and loss lately without losing him too. First her mother, then the miscarriage, now she feared the third strike. Cedrick sighed and held her protectively. “Cena, it won’t hurt me,” He promised. “You can’t know that,” Elphacena said, shaking her head. “Maybe I don’t ‘know’ that, but…” Cedrick glanced back at the creature as it forced its own path through the city. “It doesn’t look very intent on attacking. I think we’ll be fine. I will be back. I promise.” Cedrick kissed her head and moved to leave. “No please. Cedrick, I need you. don’t.” She begged. Cedrick frowned, trying to think — he had to do something. It was his command, but it also was his wife who needed him. He couldn’t ignore the beast knocking down buildings, but he couldn’t ignore his bride either. The dragon wouldn’t ignore their attacks long and would soon attack back. “Elphacena.” Cedrick finally spoke and lifted her chin so her eyes met his. “I promise I will not let it hurt me. I...I don’t think it’s actually attacking us: not the traditional way, at least.” “Wha...what do you mean?” Elphacena frowned. Cedrick thought about it to try to phrase it right while looking at the dragon, still holding his wife close. The dragon kept nosing about, ignoring the jabs of the arrows and spears being thrown at it. They were just glancing off its scales, and the dragon didn’t care anymore than a cow cares for the flies buzzing about its ears.

“I...I think,” Cedrick said slowly, “it’s searching.” “Searching?” Elphacena’s brows drew together. “Searching for what?” “I don’t know,” Cedrick confessed, shaking his head. “But I want to find out. I won’t battle it directly — if at all — if I can. I promise. If I have to fight it, I’ll do it in a team. I will make it back home to you, deal?” Cedrick looked into his wife’s face, cupping her chin in his hand. “I know you need me. I promised you once before, ? I know you don’t need more men to die for you. You need one to live for you, and that’s what I’ll do. I am not leaving.” A weak smile struggled up onto Elphacena’s face. “I know,” She squeaked. “I can’t keep you from your duty, and I knew that then. You are a Custod. I just…” She held him a bit tighter. “You won’t have to,” Cedrick promised. “Help defend when you can. I’m going to find out what the dragon really wants. I’ll try to keep it civil, if I can. Now go. I’ll meet you at home or in the town square. I stake my heart on it.” Elphacena nodded but was still nervous. She kissed Cedrick long and hard, and Cedrick returned it. He never objected to her kissing him like this. Finally, she pulled back and ran to help. Cedrick did the same, eyes locked onto the dragon once more. Its golden scales flashed in the sun as he kept nosing about, and the lights made a few men pause, but the dragon did not even take interest in challenging them. It just nosed about more urgently with a renewed sense of desperation. Cedrick got closer and thought back on his first impression. He’d wanted to talk to it. Maybe that wasn’t so crazy. Dragons were magical creatures, right? The only living thing (apart from some humans) that could do magic, if he ed the stories. That may give him the chance to stop any fighting before anyone was really hurt. At this rate, they were going to end up hurting it past what it was willing to take, and they — unlike the dragon — couldn’t afford the loss that would bring. Maybe if they knew what it was looking for and helped it find it, they’d be safe, maybe it would even help them. An image of the dragon fighting back the enemies at Montressa flashed into Cedrick’s mind with a twisted sense of pleasure. The guards screaming snapped Cedrick out of his thoughts. They were trying to

scare it away as if it was a bear or a mountain lion. It didn’t make any kind of effect. Cedrick kept his sword at the ready as he went to confront the beast but with renewed energy. He had a plan. “Cedrick, what are you doing? Get out of there!” Cedrick looked up to see who spoke to find Arylana jumping down to him at street level. “What are you doing, Cedrick? What if you get too close?” “That’s the plan.” “What?!” “I think I can talk to it.” Cedrick said. Arylana gave him a blank look. “Are you serious?” Cedrick nodded. “Cedrick, it’s an animal. We’ve been yelling at it, and it hasn’t even made a move to reply or hint that it understands.” “Well maybe it can’t ‘talk’, but I think it can understand. At the moment, it doesn’t care to understand us. It’s looking for something, something important to it, so it doesn’t care what we say unless we give it to...it.” Cedrick wanted to call it a he or she but had no idea which to call it. “Could you imagine what it could do if we —” “If we what? Are you nuts?” Arylana demanded. “It’s a monster that breathes fire; it won’t help us. These are the evil creatures as the stories go.” “Then why doesn’t Heklis have one?” Cedrick challenged. “Does that mean it’s bad for sure?” “For all we know, that is his,” Arylana pointed out. “Maybe it’s looking for you to bring you back to him. Have you thought of that?” Cedrick opened his mouth to retort, but like their father, Arylana didn’t give him the opening. “So maybe you should think twice before petting it like one of our family dogs. We need to stop it, kill it.” “Kill it! When you don’t even know what it wants?” Cedrick found this attitude repugnant. What if it would help them? Would they kill it without finding out, giving it a chance? What if it didn’t want to hurt them? It would at least defend

itself, but just attacking it because it was a dragon wasn’t any better. It felt wrong to attack it just because of what it was. “Yes Cedrick, what everyone in every story does to a dragon. They kill them,” Arylana said. “Worked hard to get rid of it.” “Not all of them. The one guy tamed his,” Cedrick challenged but was painfully aware time was running out. Arylana huffed in frustration. “Yes Cedrick, Sir Gavin, a children’s tale hero, from a fairytale about people coming back to life and romance winning the day. That doesn’t actually happen, brother. This is real life and the real world, so come back to it. Now if you would be so kind as to help us — your people — like a captain should we can start getting this thing —” A roar cut across their talk; Cedrick and Arylana looked up to see the dragon snap at the group of archers. One had shot right in front off the dragon’s nose when it had excitedly been looking inside one large crate. The arrow had shattered the vase. The dragon snapped. It snarled angrily and jumped at them. The group threw themselves back out of the way and, miraculously, none of them were hurt. The dragon then turned away from them and nosed into the broken pieces and sniffed about. “See? See, it’s searching. It’s looking or something.” Cedrick said — sure of it now — and started to run up to the dragon. Arylana caught Cedrick by the sleeve. “Cedrick Custod, I order you to stay back from that thing.” “You can’t order me,” Cedrick snapped. “I’m a captain too, so you can’t boss me about.” “I am an older Custod.” “I’m the head now. I order you around. Now let go. I can do this.” Cedrick yanked his arm free. “I know what I’m doing.” “No, you don’t. That thing will eat you,” Arylana said. “Have some faith in me.” Cedrick ignored her protests and ran to the dragon.

The dragon was getting too far ahead. He had to stop those fools making the dragon angrier, or it might actually hurt people. Though its power worried him for his men’s sake, it also excited him to see what they might be able to do with its help. Getting to the dragon was a lot harder than Cedrick thought it would be because the people on the ground with it kept getting kicked out of the way by its tail or jumping back before the flying rock struck them. The dragon didn’t even notice them, keeping its head low to the ground as it sniffed around like a dog after a fox. Thinking he’d just get around everyone, Cedrick climbed up to a rooftop to try to jump across the roofs like he had before. Cedrick went past the dragon to get ahead of it. Feeling confident he’d found his way to talk to it safely, he turned to see a swarm of arrows aimed at the dragon’s eyes. Cedrick’s own eyes went wide. “No, don’t!” Cedrick tried to warn them, but he was too late. Thankfully, most of the arrows did nothing but one glanced off its scales just below its eye. The dragon snarled, finally annoyed. It reared up its head and shot fire at them. “Stop!” Cedrick yelled — but to his own men or to the dragon he wasn’t even sure. Cedrick realized he was also in the line of fire and just managed to grab an object to protect himself from the dragon’s flames. The men had retreated either behind Cedrick or behind some walls. The dragon snorted as if to say “serves you right, stupid”, paused and tilted its head to see its fire didn’t do as much damage as it thought it would. Its large violet eyes studied Cedrick curiously before steadily lowering its head for a better look. As it did, Cedrick felt a pressure on his mind like that day battling Heklis— only not as strong or violent — but Cedrick still panicked and fought it at first, but then he locked eyes with the dragon and let his guard down. Instantly, a flow of understanding ed between them in the blink of an eye, and Cedrick learned several things. It was a female dragon, and it was very curious about Cedrick because she’d never seen any humanoid creature be able to use magic so well and with such strength. With this understanding between them, the dragon became even more comfortable and lowered her head even closer. Her violet eyes contrasted her magnificently golden scales, allowing them

to radiate a calm and gentle interest. The purple was an amazing color of the like Cedrick had never seen before: a noble color, a warm, protective color that captivated Cedrick. The two had their eyes locked on one another with a pure understanding and miraculous communication. Arylana was right; it couldn’t talk, but it could communicate. While they were distracted in this state, a team of arrows decided to try another volley. Cedrick caught sight of it out of the corner of his eye. “No, stop! I said no!” He screamed at his men. What were they thinking? Didn’t they see it was working? Cedrick had turned to order them to stop so didn’t see where the arrows landed, but the arrows must have hit their mark because the dragon screamed an earpiercing shriek so loud it hurt Cedrick’s ears — badly. He fell to his knees as he tried to cover them both. He wondered if they were bleeding, but no one else was so badly affected by the scream. It took Cedrick a few moments to get his head on straight. He looked at his hands but saw no blood. He looked up to see his troops were rallying again. Did these fools never listen? They must have been excited by their “success” — the fools. The dragon saw their mass and snarled. Cedrick noticed a patch of something red under one eye but thankfully not on her eye. She was annoyed by their repeated, rude interruptions to her work. She snarled warningly at them then shot into the sky, glided over the city, and landed on the other side to resume her search patterns. Cedrick set his teeth and glared at his men. “I told you to stop!” He yelled at them. “Now listen to me this time and keep off!” He shot off across the roofs to follow the dragon. “Cedrick! Sir Cedrick Custod, get back here!” Mercutio’s voice called after Cedrick, but he firmly ignored his commanding officer. They didn’t understand; how could they? They only saw this thing as something to kill: much like Heklis’s guard. Cedrick would prove them all wrong. That dragon was intelligent, and if they helped it, it would help them. Cedrick was sure of it. It took Cedrick a while, but he finally caught up to the dragon with a lot of jumping, skipping, and sliding. The dragon was happy to be left alone to continue her search, but it wouldn’t last long. The attackers were massing to

follow her as sure as Cedrick had — but thankfully, they were slower. Cedrick skidded to a halt on the edge of the building to the dragon’s right. The dragon heard him and snarled, lifting her head to deal with the frustration but then saw who it was, and she relaxed. She tilted her head, confused why he’d follow. Tentatively, she moved her head closer. “Shh, that’s right,” Cedrick soothed her and held out a hand to meet her beautiful maw. “I won’t hurt you, and I won’t let them hurt you. That’s a beautiful girl.” The dragon snorted warm air around Cedrick in a comforting fashion. She blinked her large purple eyes calmly at the enchanter. She seemed trusting, sure he’d not harm her. “I know you’re searching.” Cedrick said in a gentle tone. “I want to help you find what you’re looking for, so tell me what it is, girl. What do you need, magnificent one?” The dragon’s nose was about to touch Cedrick’s outstretched hand when a spear shot between them, and Cedrick half swore, half yelled as he threw himself back from the weapon. The dragon reared back almost like a horse. The spear had glanced off her nose unharmed or so it seemed. Cedrick looked up to make sure. He thought he saw some kind of irritation or bruising around the scales. The dragon pawed at her nose, snarling in a low, dangerous way. She had had enough of being cut off just when she was getting to business. The snarl reverberated in her chest, and Cedrick felt the power of it rumble in his own chest. “Shh, I’m sorry, girl. I want to help you, so ignore them. I’ll try to stop them best I can, just hold off and wait for me.” Cedrick said to the dragon and turned to the foolish men. “I ordered you to stop!” He roared. “Can’t you see she isn’t hurting us?” A man took aim to strike again. “STOP! In the name of the Merlin, would you follow your captain’s orders and stop! I order you to stop at once!” The dragon didn’t think Cedrick’s attempts were working well enough, so she ducked behind a building, looking at Cedrick with pleading purple eyes, begging him to make them stop, so she could just look for her lost, beloved treasure. Whatever she was hunting for was important, and she was desperate to find it. This treasure — whatever it was — was worth more than anything in the world

to that poor dragon. She’d give anything to find it. She was scared, but not of the men, but what she might do to them. That confused and worried Cedrick. Cedrick looked back at the troops. “Please, stop this. Stop this now!” He ordered. “Please, she’s just looking for something important to her, so please stop, ah!” Cedrick threw himself out of the way of another vault of arrows. Cedrick held back a nasty swear that wanted to rise to his lips. An arrow just missed his chest, and he felt another ruffle his shirt on its way. The dragon screamed another painful scream, and Cedrick went to his knees again, covering his ears, as she screamed. “Stop! For all of creation, stop it!” He begged of both the shooters and the dragon. Cedrick’s eyes were screwed up in pain, a bell shaking in his head, and it made everything a blur. The ringing finally fell to a dull ring after what felt like forever, but it was really just a few seconds. Cedrick opened his eyes to see the dragon in the air, and she was changing. Her eyes — that had been a soft oval before — turned into sharp angles, a dangerous jagged oval, and her scales became more brilliant and tighter to her body, her claws — that had been big enough to spear several men, grew longer and sharper as did her teeth as her whole body sharpened and became sleeker. So this is what she’d feared happening — she’d gone into some type of primal state — and it was terrifying to see her change body and mind. Cedrick felt her mind — still connected to his — change. It was like a mother bear going rabid to defend her babies, losing sense to an instinctive urge to protect. A dangerous snarl exploded from her chest, shooting across the city like a shock wave. She shut her eyes for a second. When they snapped open, they were no longer soft and beautiful, but dangerous black and red, like the fake Heklis’s eyes after Cedrick smashed them. The dragon snarled and roared to the sky, making Cedrick cover his ears again and driving tears to his eyes. “Look what you’ve done!” Cedrick screamed at his men, though he kept his eyes shut and ears covered. What was the now-savage creature going to do? How many men would they lose to this stupidity? Would they lose those men and the dragon over their foolish disobedience? All these ideas made Cedrick’s chest feel tight. He’d warned them, and now it came to this.

The roar finally stopped, and Cedrick looked up to see the dragon tensing to dive at them. “No…” Cedrick shook his head with an aching heart. “Please, beautiful dragon, stop this, please.” But he knew there was no reasoning with her now; she was beyond reason. This state was too far gone: a state she’d feared. The thought made a volcano of anger explode in Cedrick’s chest, and it overflowed its dam without warning. Cedrick rounded on his troops that were standing awestruck and terrified. “Didn’t I tell you to stop?” He shrieked at them. “Stop it now. You’re hurting her, and now she can’t help it! Stop it!” As he told his men off, the dragon rose up like a graceful dolphin before shooting straight down for the city like a terrifying shark. She struck the ground with such force Cedrick was knocked off balance and fell off the building. The landing knocked the air from his lungs, but no worse. Cedrick gasped for air, but no air came in as his heart thundered in his ears. He tried to push himself up, and thankfully, this helped his lungs open. Cedrick coughed the needed air into his body with a stinging cold. He fought to steady himself. His men and that dragon needed him to fix this because those foolish men wouldn’t leave it alone. Cedrick managed to get to his feet, getting his bearings, then decided he just needed more help: Mercutio. He would — at least — listen to him. As Cedrick ran to find him, he began to despair that even this plan wouldn’t work. He’d never find Mercutio in time or get him to listen in time. He would have to calm down the dragon himself first. Maybe he could just find what she was looking for and give it to her before this all went to ash. Cedrick finally was able to climb up to get a view of what was happening and his stomach dropped to see the dragon spitting fire — most likely roasting a few of their men alive. Shivering in the cold, Cedrick set off to tame the savage dragon. He got there just as the dragon was about to shoot more flames at them. “No!’ Cedrick ran and stood in front of her. “No, stop this! Let me help you!” Cedrick begged. The dragon was about to let loose her fire anyway but stopped when she saw Cedrick there. The men scattered behind Cedrick, but Cedrick stayed where he

was. Cedrick stood firm as the dragon lowered her head to look at him as if trying to why she didn’t want to roast this one. “Calm down,” Cedrick soothed her. “I know you don’t want to hurt my friends. You’ve just lost something, and they made you lose your temper too, but hurting them isn’t going to help you or them. Shhh, calm down. Let me help you find it.” Finally, Cedrick closed his eyes, fearing he’d get cut off again, and put his hand to the dragon’s smooth maw. The scales felt as smooth as the surface of a still pool: warm and cold at the same time but not painful. The second Cedrick’s hand met the scales, the anger the dragon had been filled with melted away. Then a panic filled Cedrick. It wasn’t his own panic but hers. She needed to find this item. She had no desire to hurt them to get it, but she needed it more than she needed life. She had to find it, and she begged Cedrick for help. Cedrick opened his eyes to look at her. “What is it, though?” He asked. “What are you looking for? What do you need?” Cedrick smiled as he felt the dragon calming down. Her scales were loosening, her teeth going back to normal, her eyes softening. “Good girl.” Cedrick beamed. “Now what are you looking for? What is so important to you?” Just as Cedrick was going to get his answer, a huge fireball shot at them, and this time, Cedrick couldn’t hold back the swear. Cedrick and the dragon were thrown back, away from each other. The dragon took to the sky to avoid it, while Cedrick was thrown off his feet and slammed into a wall and crumpled to the ground. He winced in pain, but nothing seemed seriously damaged. The dragon made a noise of concern, but Cedrick hardly noticed as his frustration had reached its limit. This wasn’t going to work. They couldn’t talk things out with these fools trying to kill her (or maybe both of them.) Cedrick pushed himself up only to feel the ground under him collapse. The stone he’d been standing on had lost its stability when struck and shattered. Cedrick just managed to grab onto a ledge to stop himself falling. Maybe falling out of so many trees as a kid was finally paying off. The dragon had seen Cedrick vanish and let out a cry dismay. She’d tried to catch Cedrick but hadn’t seen he’d caught himself. She whimpered, a little unsure where he was as she didn’t see him or even just a body. She moaned again and nosed around for him. A slew of arrows shot at her face once more, and she snarled and snapped at them. Even the idiots could feel her frustration

now. She was just starting to get some help when these flies bothered her again! Cedrick scrambled to pull himself up and saw Arylana was leading this team of men. Cedrick clenched his fists. “Arylana stop!” He commanded with the fury of ten dragons. “Please, she doesn’t want to hurt us! Let me talk to her! Sister, for once in your life, trust me please!” Arylana looked around when she heard his voice, spotted him, and glowered. “Right. That’s why she’s broken half the city.” “Trust me, please, Arylana,” Cedrick begged, but as he spoke to Arylana another team shot more arrows at the dragon. This was useless! Cedrick’s heart fell — wishing it otherwise — but he knew this was never going to work. It was hopeless. The dragon had to run, and maybe Cedrick could meet up with her later, but here, now, was no good. Cedrick clenched his teeth and fists and turned to the dragon. “Go!” He yelled. The dragon saw him and made a sound of delight and moved down to nose him. Cedrick smiled painfully, happy she was glad, but still knew it was no good. “No, not now, beautiful. Please.” Cedrick said. “You have to run, fly from here, or they will only keep attacking you. I’ll try to meet you later to help if I can, but if you don’t go, they’ll just keep trying, and we’ll all get hurt. Go! Fly before they set you off again.” Cedrick heard the men screaming when the dragon nuzzled Cedrick, but he couldn’t hear what they were saying. He did know they were attacking again, but the dragon didn’t want to leave him — she seemed to fear they’d hurt him. “Shh, no, don’t worry. They will not hurt me, but they will hurt you. Now go, please, before it gets worse.” The dragon didn’t want to but had to pull back to avoid a spear attack. “Go!” Cedrick pushed her nose away. “I’ll be alright, go, now!” Cedrick snapped. Cedrick’s fervent pleas finally got through to her, and she shot into the air, but she hung in the air for a second, eyes on Cedrick for a while before she finally shot off into the air, vanishing into the golden sunshine.

Chapter 17

Dragon Trails

Cedrick sighed in relief and watched as the dragon faded from view, glad it was over for now, but he was wrong. He closed his eyes as the tension diminished and leaned against the wall. Just as he let himself relax, a hand grabbed him roughly by the shirt and yanked him around. Cedrick’s eyes shot wide, and he reached for his weapon, but then he saw who it was and froze. His father’s face was inches from his own, seething. “What were you thinking?” Margorim screamed. Cedrick took a second to get his composure. Then used one finger to flick a bit of spit off his face. Sadly, this didn’t help his father’s mood. He gripped Cedrick’s shirt tighter, shaking with rage. Cedrick took a deep breath before speaking. “Father, I never know what you are referring to when you ask that, so what are you thinking I was thinking? Then I can tell you what I was really thinking.” “You almost got yourself killed!” Margorim screamed. “I taught you better than that, so what were you thinking?” Of course, this was again about how he was proving Margorim failed at his training — not about Cedrick’s wellbeing or success, just failure — that Margorim had done no wrong, but Cedrick had. Cedrick was just the magical fool who didn’t learn what was taught. Knowing these feelings wouldn’t help his case, Cedrick tried to ignore these bitter thoughts and swallow them down. One thing he’d learned as a boy: never take your eyes off the raging bull and don’t him in his rage — though Cedrick hadn’t always managed to listen to his own advice.

“But I wasn’t killed,” Cedrick said evenly. “I’m alright. I’m in one piece, and I’m happy and so are more of our men even if the city is a bit damaged. The city is redeemable because we stopped the dragon before it got worse. If we’d let the dragon rage on, we’d all be dead, and the city would have burned.” Okay, maybe that was too nice. Cedrick glanced over the city. He wasn’t sure how it wasn’t burned... Most tall towers had claw damage at the very least. A few areas were still on fire, and any storage stock was pretty well smashed. The city was still standing. Even if it was about... half damaged. Maybe two thirds. “It’s fixable.” Cedrick tried again. “Father, please, I was trying to help, and as you see, it worked. Now please, let go of me.” Cedrick pushed him off. At first, Margorim didn’t release him, but finally, he gave in and let go, but he was still tense with anger. Cedrick wasn’t surprised and hadn’t expected better — though he was still disappointed it wasn’t better — as he turned away bitterly. No success was ever good enough for him; every failure or mistake a damning evidence. Margorim never thought his boy could succeed. Ever. “I told you to keep back!” Arylana stormed up to Cedrick for her turn. “I told you, but you didn’t listen, did you? You almost got hit, didn’t you, and it would have been your fault, wouldn’t it?” “Father already had his go; save your breath,” Cedrick snapped at her but kept walking on past her, trying to ignore her. “I will not! Maybe someone else trying to hammer it in, something will get through your thick head. Why did you do it, Cedrick? When I told you it wouldn’t work?” “But it did work,” Cedrick stomped on his foot and pivoted to face her. “Is the dragon here? Did it eat anyone? No. If I hadn’t done what I did, it would have hurt more people. If you’d left me alone, I’d have found out what she wanted.” “She?” Arylana cocked an eyebrow. “Yes, she,” Cedrick said forcefully. “She’s a female, and she was looking for something.” “Well, what was it then?” Arylana challenged. Cedrick groaned and threw up his hands. “I don’t know. I just said I almost

found out, but your army of bozos made it impossible to find out. Every time I was about to get an answer, you threw something at us and cut her off: first arrows, then fire balls, then you almost threw me off the building to my death, so I was kind of busy trying to avoid that.” “I told you to keep back, so I thought you had. I wouldn’t have thrown a fireball if we knew.” Arylana put a finger in Cedrick’s face. “I warned you, so why didn’t you listen!” “Because I knew I could help,” Cedrick sighed frustratedly. “And I was right. No matter what you all say. She was working with me, Arylana. She was worried about me when I fell. Did you not notice, or are you too heartless to see even that?” Arylana opened her mouth to answer when another voice cut her off. “Cedrick,” Mercutio marched up to them. “What were you trying to do?” He had several commanders in tow, and though Cedrick saw where this was going, he was not in the mood. Mercutio came up to face Cedrick, but unlike the others, he was not angry or challenging. His head was tilted and lined with confusion and worry. “You walked right up to the dragon,” He said. “What were you thinking?” He sounded like he really wanted to know. “It’s a miracle it didn’t eat you or our attacks didn’t actually hurt you — sorry about that, by the way. What happened?” Cedrick sighed and explained with a little more patience what had happened to them. “So I told her to get out of here, and though she didn’t want to, she took off,” He finished. Mercutio was gaping at Cedrick in shock. “And you believed it?” Cedrick felt a wall go up inside of him: him too? “Of course, I did. I could feel it.” “Oh…” Mercutio was a little sheepish. “But well...you see, dragons are evil little things. They are tricky, you know, deceivers.” “You didn’t feel it.” Cedrick said firmly. “I know what I felt. I was able to communicate with her, so she didn’t hurt me as you saw. I know what I felt.” “Yes, I’m sure you did see and feel that.” Mercutio agreed. “But well...it is a

dragon.” “Have you ever seen a living dragon before today?” “Well, no.” “So how would you know?” Mercutio swallowed. “Well, that’s what all the stories and books say. And some of those stories are about your ancestors taking out dragons.” Cedrick nodded slowly and waited before speaking. “But they are just that, stories. How do we know those are true when until today we all thought they were just children’s tales? No researcher learned differently?” “Well, dragons are real like the stories said, so why wouldn’t the rest of the tales be true?” Mercutio asked. “It’s one of the few things all these tales say about the dragons.” “So we trust those stories over my experience?” Cedrick asked. “Seriously?” “One experience versus years is hard to go by, but I will not leave it out completely,” Mercutio said. “But I still think it will try to finish the job.” “What job? It was just looking,” Cedrick said. “We have to help her find it.” “And what is it?” Mercutio raised a brow. Cedrick groaned, “I don’t know! When she was going to tell me, my ‘loving’ sister shot at us.” He gave her a look.” “You aren’t buying this trap, are you?” Arylana asked Mercutio. “Of course not.” Mercutio gave her a look. “Maybe she’s being honest, but I’m not ready to take that risk yet. If she comes back, most of all ready to attack, we also need to be ready to attack.” “I said I’d help her,” Cedrick protested. “Let me go find her and see how I can help her, and maybe she’ll be willing to help us retake Montressa. Imagine that, Mercutio. She could swallow Neramith whole.” Cedrick tried to help Mercutio

see how helpful she would be. “Or swallow Emmerick, if that appeals to you more.” Mercutio cocked an eyebrow. “Eat Emmerick?” “Yeah.” “I think she played on your desire for revenge.” “Oh, come on!” “That’s enough,” Mercutio sighed. “Let’s access the damage before we make any further plans.” Cedrick sighed but relented and let Mercutio have it as he wanted — for now. Cedrick needed to let off some steam first before trying another attempt anyway. He was furious no one believed him, but should he really be surprised? No one ever did. (Unless he was confessing he did something wrong then they all believed him.) Cedrick scowled. As a kid, Cedrick was scared to see his big brother in trouble so he had often lied to take the blame and been beaten for it. So if he was reporting he’d done wrong they’d believe him, but if he tried to tell them something good, no one bought it. Any good from his lips had to be a lie. Cedrick kicked a bit of rubble ruefully. Cedrick was so lost in his own thoughts he forgot he was supposed to be meeting up with a very important somebody. He was watching his feet as they dully kicked around the bit of rubble in front of him when someone hugged him tightly around the chest from behind, and Cedrick started before he spotted the sea of red that latched onto him. “Cena!” Cedrick gasped as the realization slapped him in the face. He was supposed to meet with her! She must have been so scared. Cedrick hugged her tightly in an instant. “Oh Elphacena, Cena, my love, I’m so sorry. I forgot. I was so upset about what they’d done and frustrated no one listened, I forgot. I’m sorry. I’m alright. Promise. There’s not a scratch on me, just insulted again. That’s all, I swear.” Elphacena sighed as she held onto him. “I thought you were, deep down. My head knew it, but with all th-that’s happened lately, my heart wouldn’t be soothed until I saw you, and I couldn’t wait anymore. I just...I’m sorry I’ve been

needy lately.” She frowned. Cedrick chuckled. “Who could blame you, sweetheart? You’ve been through a lot lately. There’s no harm in needing help for a while. We all take turns, and I’m fine giving you a good long turn if you need it.” “What took you so long? You said something upset you?” Elphacena looked up at him, much calmer. Cedrick sighed and bowed his head — now she’d not believe him too. But he had to tell her, so he let out a deep breath and told her the whole story from the moment he left her side. Dismally, he finished, “So I got frustrated and went for a walk.” Elphacena was frowning in apparent confusion. “But why would you make that up?” “No idea,” Cedrick said dully. He wished he had something better to say to convince her and make her feel better. “But that’s my point,” Elphacena said. “There’s no reason not to believe you. You’d not make something up like that, most of all without a good reason.” Cedrick’s head snapped up. He gaped at her in surprise, stunned and hopeful. “You...you mean you...you believe me?” Elphacena smiled tenderly. “Cedrick, why wouldn’t I?” She ran a hand down his cheek. “You’d not lie.” “No, but dragons do.” Cedrick’s face fell, and he looked down again. “Maybe, but you were talking with emotion, and you’d feel a lie.” Cedrick’s head snapped up again. “Y-yeah,” He said as a smile slowly climbed his cheeks. “That’s what I said, but they insisted dragons were just too tricky.” Elphacena smiled. “Not as tricky as you.” She rubbed her nose on his with a smile. Cedrick laughed as a huge weight came off his heart. She believed him; someone

believed him! It was surreal. He could never express how much that meant to him after so long. “I don’t know. Your tricks are pretty amazing.” Cedrick teased back and put an arm around her waist to hold her close. “I learned that from you.” Elphacena pressed her forehead to his. “You’re part of me, and I’m part of you. Of course I believe you. If the dragon lied then it lied, but you did right. Besides, no dragon — no matter how tricky — could fool your heart. No one can escape the fire of that heat.” She put her hand over his heart. “No one.” She kissed him. Cedrick kissed her back, feeling the world lift off his shoulders. So what if they didn’t believe him? The truth would win out, and he’d help it work. They’d all be fine. But Cedrick’s hopeful attitude got a good slap in the face the next day, so hard it actually left Cedrick standing with his mouth agape for a moment. “S-sorry?” Maybe he’d misheard what they’d said. “I said we can’t risk another attack like that. Our men are already down after the Montressa attack, and we have to strike before that beast does. We’re going after it,” Mercutio explained again patiently. “But you can’t.” Cedrick stood up. “Mercutio, you can’t. I said I’d help her.” “You are under no obligation to help ‘her’ when she lied to you,” Mercutio said gently (too gently, maybe he’d rehearsed this). Cedrick narrowed his eyes. “I understand you want to keep your word, and that is honorable, but the dragon is a liar and a risk we can’t take.” An idea popped into Cedrick’s mind. “Let me go after her then. If it’s a lie, I’ll kill her myself, promise. If I am right though, I can keep my word, and she can help us take Montressa back. That is only fair, right?” “Cedrick.” Mercutio sighed. “You’re too attached, and I’d not ask anyone to do something like that.” Mercutio shook his head. “So who will you send then?” Cedrick challenged. “I’ve already sent Arylana. She’s gone.”

A bit of color drained from Cedrick’s face. Arylana stood no chance against a beast like that, not alone. “What?” He gasped. “I sent Arylana, and she’s already tracking it. Cedrick, she’ll be fine. She’s stronger than you think.” Mercutio smiled a little. “Don’t worry, she’ll handle this just fine. I even hinted if she wanted to try to capture it, if she could, so maybe that will help you talk to it as you want. She didn’t seem to like the idea, but if it works out, she’ll take it in.” “That means she’s ignoring it,” Cedrick snapped, and Mercutio shrugged. Cedrick scowled. Mercutio knew that Arylana not liking it meant she’d ignore it as surely as Cedrick did. He was willing to do whatever it took, even going behind Cedrick’s back. Mercutio wasn’t even trying to hide that’s exactly what he’d done. Cedrick wasn’t going to get anywhere with this. “Fine,” he snapped. “I’m too late anyway.” He turned to leave. “You know it’s not personal.” Mercutio reminded him gently, a bit more serious now, but there still was a hint of playfulness in his voice. Cedrick stopped at the threshold of the room. “I do.” He said after a deliberate pause. “It’s just politics.” And he hated politics. “I’m not sure that makes it much better though.” “I know, my dear friend,” Mercutio sighed heavily. “I know.” He shook his head as Cedrick left. Mercutio wanted to play political games, did he? Cedrick could play at those games too, but his games weren’t political but military. His operation was underway. He would thwart this foolish plan. He was going after Arylana. He was going after the dragon.

*****

But Arylana had a good start on him because she’d left as soon as she’d been given the order. She didn’t even bother saying good-bye to anyone. She just set

off before anyone knew, thinking the time to say farewell was fruitless. Tracking a flying quarry wouldn’t be easy, but Arylana felt she was up to the task. No tricky, evil creature could elude her forever. The last thing she knew about the creature’s path was it had flown south, so that’s where she started. The beast would need shelter, a place to hunt, and water. Water would likely be the hardest thing for the dragon to find. It was Arylana’s best place to start. She knew the largest water sources nearby (at least the ones the dragon could dare use without being attacked) were closer to the mountains, so she headed south west. Luckily for Arylana, she knew the southern mountains well as that was the area she’d grown up in. She kept a confident, steady pace — though she had little hope to catch up to a flying dragon that easily. The dragon likely made that trip within an hour. After two days, Arylana finally hit gold. She’d been going southwest at her steady pace when she caught sight of her quarry. The golden beast rose up from a corner of the mountains, rose high into the air with its front legs tucked in, and shot off south at an elegant, but rapid pace. Arylana’s heart lifted high just like the dragon. She was close! But it took her another two weeks to see another sign of the dragon. Arylana followed the dragon in a perfect straight line, but her legs weren’t nearly as fast as those wings. She caught sight of the mountains she knew well from her childhood and knew she likely had another day or so before finding the dragon’s lair. She was right. The next day she saw it again taking off from the mountains and flying about — likely hunting. As Arylana traveled further south the weather got hotter and hotter, making her bulky winter clothes a real pain to carry, but she knew she’d regret it later if she left them behind when she headed home. The scenery was consistent with the heat and cheered Arylana up a little. She had never seen such beautiful scenery before. Two days past her childhood home, the world transformed into a vast grassland. Two days later, she walked into a magnificent desert: desolate but beautiful. The rocks were varied shades of red, pink, yellow, and even gold. The downside was the serious lack of water. The further south she went the less water there was.

This didn’t discourage Arylana though; instead, it encouraged her. She felt sure this meant she was close. The hot land and scorched ground seemed a perfect breeding ground for a dragon. The dragon’s den had to be nearby now. She was sure she was hot on the dragon’s tail. As the heat increased, so did Arylana’s confidence that soon she’d have the dragon’s head.

*****

But unknown to her, Cedrick was almost making as great time — if not better time. He’d left at midnight the day after her, and he had a clearer destination. He knew the dragon’s home was to the south so headed due south. He didn’t bother with the mountains but made a trail straight through the snow. When the sun rose, Cedrick paused to get more water. He’d drank more than he’d meant to even in the icy snow. He opened the canteen and used magic to purify the water before drawing it. See dad? Some magic is helpful. Cedrick chewed on a bit of jerky as he put the canteen into the water and shivered at the cold tickling his fingers. Cedrick was pulling the canteen out of the stream when he froze, listening. There was a rustle and breathing nearby. Yes, human for sure. There were human footsteps coming closer. Cedrick hadn’t heard it before over his own footsteps, but it was clear now and surely human with a regular one-two rhythm whereas any animal out there would be four-legged. The steps sounded slow as if they were following something. Cedrick cursed himself. Of course. Footprints. He’d not even thought to cover them. When he set out, it had been snowing but stopped no too long after he’d left. He hadn’t even considered anyone would want to follow him. Elphacena knew where he was going and gave a good cover story about him dealing with her mother. So who would follow him? Was it Arylana? Quickly, Cedrick used magic to cover the tracks he could see, knowing he’d left an easy trail for them to find. He then jumped up into a nearby tree to get a view of who was following him before they spotted him. If it was Arylana, she’d spot the snow that fell from the branches as he climbed up, but he felt sure few others

would have the same skill so didn’t worry about it. Cedrick quietly drew his blade in case it came to a fight, though he doubted it would be anyone that dangerous. Soon the stalker came into view, and, whoever it was, was surprisingly small. Cedrick’s eyebrows drew together. Was it a child? The figure stopped when the footprints stopped. Though Cedrick couldn’t see a face under the hood, he saw the person was looking from left to right by the turning of his hood. The figure’s breathing picked up as if in a panic. The small figure came closer, and Cedrick was sure the person was no bigger than a child. Then a horrible thought struck Cedrick, and he was sure he knew who it was even before the boy threw off his hood to get a better look around. “Aleph Durman!” The poor boy jumped a mile at the power in Cedrick’s tone and spun in terror as Cedrick jumped from the tree and landed with a hard, dramatic thump right behind the boy. Aleph jumped even higher the second time and fell into the snow, looking up at Cedrick in fright. “What are you thinking?!” Cedrick screamed at him. “What are you doing out here? How did you even get out here? Answer me!” Cedrick yanked the boy to his feet and knelt at his eye level. “How did you even find me? How did you know I was gone? Where is Malachi?” Aleph stammered in fear and cold lips. “H-he’s back in the barracks, sir.” “He isn’t with you! Why?” Cedrick’s temper and fear for the boy was rising. “He…” Aleph swallowed. “Doesn’t know I’ve gone, or where I’ve gone.” Aleph confessed, looking down in shame. “I couldn’t sleep for nightmares, and I saw you leaving, so I opened the window and followed you.” “Where did you get this?” Cedrick yanked the pack off his back. The pack was far too big to have been meant for his small form. “F-from the supplies as I followed you,” Aleph said. Cedrick’s eyes flew wide. “You’ve got to be kidding me! Malachi doesn’t even know you’re here! Aleph, do you know what they’ll do to him?” “What do you mean to him?” Aleph frowned. “I snuck out, not him.”

“And he’s responsible for you, Aleph,” Cedrick snapped. “He’s the one in charge of you, so when he can’t tell them what happened to you, they’ll think he lied or that he’s just bad at looking after you, and I bet you that’s not true, is it Aleph? I’d bet he’s very good at looking after you, isn’t he? He takes great care of you.” Aleph swallowed. “Yes, he does,” He squeaked. “But how did you repay him for being the only friend you have in that training group? By sneaking off on his watch. They’ll guess you went AWOL, and they’ll beat him. They’ll beat him, Aleph. Do you understand that? They’ll beat him like a criminal for not knowing what happened to his charge. Is that what you wanted?” “N-no.” Aleph looked up, shaking his head frantically as if that could stop them doing it, as if Cedrick had the power to stop it. “Well, that’s what you did,” Cedrick snarled. “They’re liking beating him right now. My father would have beaten me within an inch of my life, if I did that. That’s what they’re doing to him, Aleph, because of what you did. What were you thinking?” “I…” Aleph’s foot played with the snow, his face straight down, Cedrick couldn’t see his face. “I didn’t want to...for you to say you’d be back and then not come back.” Those words struck Cedrick like a blow to the stomach. Like Drake. His father had said he’d be back and so had his mother. Aleph never saw either of them again. Aleph didn’t want to lose the third adult, the last “family” he had. Cedrick felt a bit chastised, but the injustice of what Aleph had done still heated his flame. “Aleph,” Cedrick sighed heavily, “I understand you were worried for me, but you following me doesn’t help anything. I get that you wanted to make sure I’d be alright, but that’s no excuse for slipping off or for what it will cost Malachi. And what for? A man who you feel is family but rarely is able to do a thing for you, rather than the boy who’s been a big brother for you every moment of every day. Aleph, Malachi wants to help you, and you tossed him to the sharks he’d been defending you from.” Cedrick sighed, feeling he’d made his point, angrily, hoping Aleph would have

realized his mistake now. He studied the boy’s face. His eyes were wide in surprise of Cedrick’s tone. Cedrick saw no reason to beat the boy over it further. He’d take him back, though he knew that would cost him days and likely his shot to catch his sister, but he had little other choice. “Now if you want to make it up to him, we better turn right around an —” Aleph cut him off. “But I came all this way, and I already understand I made a big mistake, and I’ll try to fix it, but you can’t let that stop you getting there. Please let me go with you, Cedrick, please let me go too.” “Aleph, it’s too dangerous; you can’t. Besides, you’ll only slow me down.” Cedrick was going to go on, but Aleph stopped him again. “But there are bad men back there!” Aleph’s eyes flew wide in fright. Cedrick’s brows drew together. “What do you mean?” “There were guys with weapons back there — big ones, so I hid. They didn’t see me, but they were trying to track me. I tried to hide my snow prints, but I don’t think I could slip past them again.” “You won’t have to. I’m going with you,” Cedrick said. “But...but you’ll lose a day.” Aleph frowned. Cedrick sighed. “I know, but I don’t have a choice now, do I?” “Yes, you do. Let me come too,” Aleph insisted. Cedrick sighed, frustrated, but he knew Aleph was right. “Fine.” He snapped. “But you better keep up because I won’t take it easy on you. You want to be a real fighter, you’re going to start to act like one. This is not what a real soldier would do. A real fighter stays with his men and is loyal to those who are loyal to him. You betrayed Malachi, Aleph. I hope you know that, and this won’t be the end of it. Now come on, we don’t have much time to get ahead of those bandits, or whatever they are, and catch up to Arylana at the same time. “Is Arylana in trouble?” “No,” Cedrick sighed, “but she will be.”

Sadly, Cedrick was right. Aleph did slow him down even when Cedrick pushed him to his limits. How did he ever catch up? They ed Nerofox after a few days and reached a vast grassland the day after that. Cedrick knew they were getting close, but didn’t have a clear path to help him outpace his sister, even with Aleph skipping along in his footprints (quiet literally). She surely had a head start on him now. The snow had vanished a while ago, and both boys carried their jackets over their shoulders, but Cedrick kept his cloak on for cover. Aleph complained about having to wear his, but Cedrick insisted it was to help them stay hidden. They needed the cover. The two traveled on, and Aleph got chattier the warmer it got. After about two weeks, the weather was painfully hot, most of all since they’d come from freezing temperatures. Their bodies had trouble adjusting to the heat that was so intense that all around them were towers of blurred waves of heat. Cedrick was starting to worry they’d gone the wrong way when he caught a glimpse of the dragon, which filled him with excitement. Cedrick tried calling to her while Aleph — terrified by the sight — hid behind Cedrick. “Hey! Over here! Can you hear me!” Cedrick tried, but the dragon just flew on. “I-it’s r-really big.” Aleph came out as the dragon vanished. “Yes, but don’t worry. She won’t hurt you if you don’t hurt her, and she’s sure not to harm you if you’re with me. Sadly though, it looks like we still have a few days to go, bud. So we better get started in following her.” Aleph moaned and fell into step with Cedrick and started to complain, but Cedrick had long ago learned to ignore his whining. He just led the way with Aleph hot on his heels. Cedrick now felt sure they’d get to the dragon first, even if Arylana was near enough to see it now. She couldn’t know as much about the dragon as Cedrick did. The way the dragon flew, he knew she must be staying in the tall mountain to their right. So that’s the way he went, southwest. He’d meet up with the dragon in no time.

*****

It was painfully hot. Arylana splashed cold water on her face. A pleasant cooling soothed her skin. She frowned a little. She hoped it wasn’t sunburned. How did it go from so cold to so hot so fast? She looked around her at the mostly rocky landscape and looked for the sandier areas. The sand hinted at more water. She’d managed to find a small stream of water and took full advantage of it. She’d spotted places where the dragon had been hunting and saw her twice more. The dragon often popped out of the mountains to get water, hunt, or run whatever other errands a dragon would need to run. As the dragon always went back to the mountain, that’s where Arylana went. Arylana wondered if she should keep on her southwest path or if she could just go right for the mountain, when she saw the dragon shot out from the mountain and zip out of sight behind a cliff Arylana hadn’t noticed before. When the dragon reappeared, it went back to the mountain, but this time Arylana saw where she went into a cave. By the thrones, it’s lair! She’d found it! She was so close. With renewed confidence, Arylana filled her pack with water and headed west. The sun made its way up the sky then back down, but even though it was going down, the heat didn’t let up. It took Arylana several hours of climbing before she found the dragon’s den, and it was far past noon by then. Knowing the dragon had taken off, she decided the best plan was to wait until that evening to make her strike. She had two reasons for this: one, the cooler weather would make it easier to fight; two, the dragon wouldn’t be expecting a night attack. So Arylana climbed past the lair to a place she could rest until that night and found a small pool of water gathered under a ledge in the rock. Thinking cooling her body would help her be relaxed and ready for the battle that night, she stripped down to the bare minimum and waded into the water. The water felt like heaven. Arylana sighed and rested in the soothing water for a while. With the cool water, she actually managed to sleep for an hour or two before she got out to dry off and dress. She felt much better, and said a small prayer to the Father to express her thanks as she dressed, heart ready for an honorable match with the dragon that evening.

*****

But Arylana wasn’t the only one who was close. Cedrick had seen the dragon too and pushed on even harder, but Aleph wouldn’t have it. He complained and insisted he wasn’t going any faster until he cooled off. Cedrick pointed out there was no way to do that and won the fight for a bit. But Aleph spotted a pool of water and insisted they stop, or he’d not go any faster. Cedrick was forced to give in. Besides, if it shut Aleph up it could only be helpful, so Cedrick allowed Aleph to peel off most layers and dive into the water. Cedrick refilled the water skins and purified the water while Aleph splashed around like a fish. Cedrick gave him half an hour before making him come out and move on. The next day, they saw the same sight Arylana had seen of the dragon taking off from her cave then dart back in. That had to be her home, so Cedrick pushed them on faster, and Aleph didn’t complain. Cedrick at first thought this was because he’d let the boy have his way the day before, but when he came over the crest of a hill to look down on a large red valley, he paused. He didn't hear Aleph huffing and puffing behind him. He turned around to see him coming up quite slowly. Cedrick watched the boy as he crested the hill panting heavily and looking tired. Cedrick frowned. He’d pushed faster, but not that much faster. In fact, they had taken it a bit easier than the day before if anything. Why was he so tired? “Aleph,” Cedrick tried, “are you alright?” Aleph nodded tiredly. “Yeah, just cold.” “Cold!” Cedrick knelt down in front of the boy. “It’s over a hundred out here. How are you cold?” He felt the boy’s forehead and cheeks. They were hot, very hot. Was he overheated? Was it heatstroke? He’d made sure they kept to the shade and drank more than Aleph likely wanted to, on top of using their hoods to protect them from the sun’s rays. “Did you not drink when I told you too?” “Yeah every time I took a drink.” Aleph said.

“And you’ve kept your hood up?” “Yeah, it keeps me warm.” Aleph wrapped his cloak around him, which made Cedrick realize he’d been bundled in it the whole day. Even as Aleph held it tight, he shivered. Cedrick’s heart shot into his throat. “I’m okay,” Aleph insisted. “It’s just cold, that’s all. Let’s go.” “Aleph, are you sure you’re alright?” Cedrick studied Aleph’s pale face. Should he have him lie down for a bit, lift his feet? “Yeah, just cold and tired.” Cedrick knew they had to stop. “Did you drink the water, not the water I gave you, but water I didn’t purify?” “I only drank your water.” Aleph promised. What could have made the boy so ill then? Cedrick opened his mouth to ask, but Aleph cut him off. “I’m fine. Let’s just go.” He pushed past Cedrick and moved on at a slow pace, but even as Cedrick watched, he shivered again. The way he shivered told Cedrick what would happen next. Cedrick jumped forward and caught Aleph just as his legs gave out. “Aleph! Aleph, can you hear me?” Cedrick asked, terrified. “I j-just tripped.” Aleph said in a sickly voice. “Yes, but not from clumsiness.” Cedrick said. “You need to rest.” He picked up the boy and looked around for some kind of shelter. There was a crevasse in the rocks of two rocks that had fallen into each other, leaving a good solid opening for them. Cedrick slipped into its cooling shade. It was deep enough to get a bit darker too. “Cedrick, I’m okay.” Aleph insisted, pushing Cedrick’s hands away as he put the boy down. “No, you’re not.” Cedrick insisted back. “Rest now.” Cedrick took out Aleph’s

bed roll and laid it out for the boy to rest on. “Just sleep for a bit then you’ll feel better. We’ll leave once you do.” “But the dragon…” Aleph muttered. “We have time, Aleph. Rest.” Cedrick ordered and used some water to help cool the boy’s hot skin before helping the boy lie down to rest. Cedrick used his own bed roll to prop Aleph’s feet up. Aleph soon fell asleep while Cedrick kept using water and a bit of fanning to try to cool the boy off, hoping that fixed the issue. If he didn’t feel better by morning, Cedrick would leave some food and water for a few days with him while he went on to get the dragon. Cedrick doubted any harm would come to Aleph here if he stayed resting. Maybe the dragon could even help with whatever made Aleph ill. Finally, Cedrick leaned back, keeping a fearful watch over the boy until his own eyes grew heavy, and he fell asleep.

Chapter 18

A Frightful Dance

Arylana woke as the night fell around her. The hot breeze that kicked up had awoken her. She brushed her bangs out of her face as she sat up. The sun was well on its way down, all but gone already. It was time to act. Arylana quickly pulled out her ponytail and secured her hair (while inside she cursed her father for not ever allowing her to cut it shorter like her brothers’), and checked over her weapons: knife, Custodian dagger, her trusty bow and arrows —four dozen —and a sword. After making an inventory of her other possessions, she knew she had all she needed and began to slowly climb down the cliff side as the wind teased her clothing and hair. The red rock was a little chalky, which actually gave her a better grip as she climbed. She landed on top of the opening over the cave and listened. Had the dragon returned yet? At first, all Arylana heard was the wind, but eventually a soft growling met her ears. It wasn’t a warning or offensive growl, but more like a lullaby. Arylana’s brows drew together, but she didn’t dwell on that. She shook herself and got a good grip on the rock and carefully lowered herself over the edge. She paused for only a second before she released the edge. Her soft boots made hardly a sound as she landed, catlike, on the stone floor. She stayed in her crouched position listening for any danger, but the gentle growl kept going. As stealthily as a spider, Arylana entered the cave. The cave grew dark quickly. Arylana could hardly see, but she did see the path sloped downward to her left. Several large rocks were strewn about the cave like decoration and Arylana used these to hide behind as she went. Arylana got to the last one and drew her sword, hoping to make as little noise as

possible, and the growling stopped. Arylana stiffened and listened for other sounds, but she heard nothing. A new thought struck her. Carefully, Arylana sheathed her sword and pulled out her bow and fit an arrow to the string in seconds. She drew her shoulder blades together as she drew it back, ready to fire once the dragon showed its great, golden head. Several pregnant seconds ticked by in silence, and Arylana breathed slowly and carefully to be sure she fired with her breath to get the best shot possible when the time came. The air tasted stale on her tongue, the dry air making her feel like each bit of exposed, tense skin was flaking. A blow like a stampeding bull struck Arylana in the stomach and threw her into the wall, though she never saw what caused it. She dropped her bow, and it clattered to the floor. The dragon must have somehow gotten behind her. Arylana tried to take in air, but her lungs were trapped in a vacuum in her chest. Her heart thundered in her ears as she fought with her lungs to their proper functions. A low growl sounded over her head, and Arylana turned to see the dragon slowly coming toward her. The golden scales glinted in the last rays of the setting sun as the dragon crept closer to the fallen Custod. Arylana’s heart went from a thunder to a sprint as if it hoped to run away from the dragon on its own. Arylana, on the other hand, had frozen, not helping when her lungs were already frozen solid. The dragon snorted hot air over her, and the smell and heat made Arylana cough. Her lungs ed their job and rapidly took in air. Arylana scrambled back into the wall, away from the beast. She felt her strength return as she finally was able to breathe. A deadly snarl sent a chill up Arylana’s spine, but the dragon wasn’t attacking yet. It was watching Arylana like a cat watches a young mouse, but this cat didn’t know this small mouse was no ordinary mouse. No, she was a mouse endowed by their Maker with the power to protect the world from the likes of this evil cat. Arylana’s shoulders straightened, and she lifted her chin. She reached down for her sword and drew it forth. “You got me once, dragon,” She declared, “but you will not do so again. This is the time of my victory.” The dragon snarled and hissed. As she crept back into the cave where a slight

fire glowed. Arylana was not going to let it escape. “Halt dragon! I thought you were of a brave and noble race of creatures. Face me like the noble beast you are.” The dragon didn’t respond. Arylana took it upon herself to start the match by charging the dragon. The dragon shot a jet of flame at her, but Arylana ducked behind the large red rocks. Something bumped against Arylana’s foot, and she looked down to see her bow. A grin climbed up her cheeks. Quick as a flash, Arylana picked up the bow and fitted the fallen arrow to the string. She waited until the stream of flame ended. Once it did, she drew the bow together and aimed for the dragon’s open mouth. The beast turned its head, and the arrow bounced off its golden scales. As the beast turned its head, Arylana noticed an odd opening at the side of its head right where the neck met the head. It was mostly hidden under the mane of soft spikes around its head, but it was plain to see as the dragon turned and craned about in its search. Trails of smoke drifted out of this slit like a vent. It had more than one weak spot. The dragon snarled at Arylana, knowing now it had no choice but to fight. It charged at her with a mighty roar. Arylana reeled back but kept her feet and her cool as she fit another arrow to the string. She tried to get the dragon to turn its head so she could get a shot at the vent, but it was no good. The dragon faced Arylana head on and charged. Arylana had to turn and run before the massive head barreled into her. She leapt onto one of the rocks and turned as she secured the arrow on the string. Archery was her sport. She was the best shot in her family by far, and though it may not be helpful in close combat, she was fast. If she kept this game up, she knew she might get a lucky shot at the vent as the small cave made it hard for the dragon to move around even half as fast as Arylana could. Though the dragon turned much faster than Arylana had expected, the creature couldn’t turn on a button. She had to pause, and this gave Arylana the advantage. They made several dozen rounds like this before the dragon exposed its soft underbelly or the vent at her neck to an attack. The dragon was getting highly irritated by this fly; she just wanted it out of her cave. Her purple eyes were

getting narrower like they had back in town. A sign she may go rogue again but Arylana didn’t really notice or care. She could handle any savage beast. Almost as tired of this game as the dragon was, Arylana leapt onto a rock to try to change the dynamic and get a good aim. The dragon changed her tactic as well. It didn’t pause to take a breath for fire or snarl but dove at Arylana. Arylana was caught off guard, but just managed to avoid it. She said a small prayer of thanks as she managed to keep her balance because she knew if she fell, she’d have fallen right into the dragon’s massive claws. The only place for Arylana to go was onto the beast’s neck. Though it was a stupid idea (an idea worthy of Cedrick), she went for her only option and leapt onto the dragon’s neck as if it was a horse. The dragon felt her land and got another idea. It turned rapidly — poor Arylana only just kept her grip (glad she was such an accomplished horse rider), and the dragon charged to the opening of the cave. Before Arylana could even think about getting off, the dragon dove off the side of the cliff and shot into the air. The moonlight shone down on the two in flight in a gentle quiet before the storm began. The dragon roared to the sky and shot flames into the air. Arylana felt the heat of the flames under her. The dragon spread its wings wide as they hung in the air; waiting...waiting… The dragon shot for the ground far below them at terrific speed. A horrible pressure pressed into Arylana’s stomach. Her head ached at the pressure. It was only by the Maker’s will that she kept her grip at all. She tried to grab onto the scales for a better grip, but they were too smooth. She had to throw herself down onto the dragon’s neck to hold tight. Arylana looked up to see how much farther they had before the dragon would have to pull up. Squinting against the wind, she spotted something better. The vent was only five feet away! If she could just reach it. Arylana reached into her belt and pulled out her Custodian dagger. The dragon heard the sound of it being unsheathed and stopped suddenly. Arylana almost fell off, but by another miracle, she didn’t lose her grip or drop the knife. The dragon apparently didn’t know that because she shot up into the air. The pressure on Arylana’s stomach lessened, but the headache took longer to fade. The moment it did, she took the strap at the base of the knife’s hilt and got it

around her wrist so she wouldn’t have to worry about the knife falling and got a good grip on the dagger. She was just in time as the dragon roared again and shot towards the ground once more. Arylana screamed a little as her stomach tossed at the renewed pressure — and foolish people dreamed of flying. Arylana was sure her last meal was just begging to be released from the flight, but she was not going to let it. The last thing she needed was to vomit on the dragon and make it that much angrier. Arylana swallowed down her nausea. The dragon leveled out, skimming over the ground so low Arylana could touch it. The ground turned into the large lake at the bottom of the valley that shimmered in the moonlight. Arylana’s stomach settled, and she looked over the side at the water skimming below them. The moonlight danced in her eyes like little pixies at play. Unable to help herself, Arylana tried to touch the water and she felt its smooth surface on her fingers. Big mistake. The second she let go with one hand, the dragon shot up into the air. Arylana just managed to get her grip before she fell. The dagger attached to her wrist scratched her arm a little. Arylana felt sure there would be blood but didn’t look. The wind in her face was too strong, and her stomach’s tossing only made her less willing to move. When they paused at the top of the arch, Arylana was able to get the dagger into her hand. Then the dragon shot downward once more, and though it was still unpleasant, Arylana was used to it and kept her head better. She knew that down hurt more but was easier. She needed to get lower to reach that vent and down was her friend for that. Careful not to let go of the dragon completely, Arylana loosened her hold a little so she slid down the monster’s neck ever so slightly. She was within two feet of the vent when the dragon evened out and started jerking back and forth violently. Arylana had to tighten her grip or fall to her death. Her eyes widened in fear. The dragon was zooming through the mountain peaks at a great speed, one Arylana had no idea was even possible. It was faster than any arrow she’d ever seen. When they reached the end of the mountains, the dragon shot up into the sky once more, spiraling as it went. Arylana’s stomach protested, but she knew she’d never be able to turn her head to vomit so kept it in. If she didn’t, she’d be forced

to wear it. The air grew thin. Arylana had never felt such a thing before and struggled to breathe. It startled her, and she fought harder to breathe. As she did, she realized the dragon was holding its breath. Arylana decided to do the same. She’d always been good at that as a child. The dragon burst through a cloud. Arylana didn’t dare look down but gripped the dragon’s neck harder. They hovered above the cloud for a moment. If Arylana wasn’t fighting so hard to hold on and hold her breath, she may have noticed how beautiful the view of the moon and stars were from there. As it was, she didn’t have the time to appreciate it as the dragon shot for the ground yet again. Arylana gripped as hard as she could, but even so, she slid down the dragon’s neck. The vent was only inches from her hand, but at their speed, Arylana didn’t dare let go to stab it. The dragon stopped again about fifty feet off the ground, likely hoping to buck Arylana off, but Arylana held on. She had her chance! She grabbed the dagger, sat up, and with a mighty swing, stabbed the blade into the dragon’s vent. The roar that pierced the sky was blood curling. Even Arylana’s heart stopped in fright. The dragon’s flight grew less smooth, and she dropped ten feet before catching herself, snarling and moaning in pain. The dragon blood poured from the wound, and it wasn’t just red. There was silver mixed into the blood as well. Arylana paused, fascinated by it. She’d never seen such a thing before. The dragon snapped its head around to try to stop Arylana, but it couldn’t reach her. The dragon reached up with a claw to try to snatch her off. Arylana panicked and pulled the knife free and stabbed into the vent again. The fresh roar of agony lit the sky, and the dragon lost her flight. They went spiraling down to the ground, but luckily it was only about thirty feet up. They crashed with great force — greater than Arylana had expected. Arylana was thrown off the dragon’s neck at last, landing on her back. Her Custodian blade flew from her hand. For several seconds, Arylana just panted for breath, letting the earth settle, trying to stay still to help it along.

The dragon didn’t seem to pay her any mind though. It was groaning and moaning in pain and dizziness as it lost blood. The poor dragon was fighting to get to its feet. Its legs wobbled under her, and it could hardly hold herself up. The wound was bleeding too rapidly, already a pool of the strange red/silver blood was pooling below it and sparkling in the moonlight. The dragon let out an agonized moan and collapsed, clearly dying. Bleeding out as fast as it was, it was only a matter of time. Yet, the dragon didn’t give in or try to rest. She seemed desperate to get back to her cave. In its weak final moments, Arylana was struck by how majestic the beast was — even weak, its powerful limbs pressed and moved in a grace she’d have never guessed possible. The golden scales sparkled in the moonlight. The purple eyes were no longer sparking and wicked but filled with pain and desperation: a kind Arylana had seen only once before. In a moment of stupidity, Arylana stepped closer to the beast. The dragon looked at her and moaned as if asking for help. Arylana froze. Was it really asking help of its killer? Arylana foolishly looked into the dragon’s eyes. She looked so desperate as she struggled with her last breath Arylana couldn’t help but move closer. She could have sworn the dragon was begging her to come even closer, and she inched even closer to the monster. Though lying in its own blood, about to die, the dragon seemed desperate to do one last thing, so much so her heart beat rapidly in her final moments, not letting peace come until she’d done it. The dragon reached out with her nose to touch Arylana. At first, Arylana feared it would bite her. But she was so close, all the dragon would have to do was breathe fire, so she dared reach out and touch its majestic maw. The moment her fingers felt the amazingly smooth scales, an image flashed into Arylana’s mind, a weak and fuzzy one, but it was real. There were some rocks in a fire, rocks that were worth more than the whole world to the one who made the image. No longer strong enough to hold up its head, the dragon allowed its her head to drop into the pool of its her own blood. Arylana’s hand remained where it had been when the beast touched it. She was frozen, shaking, and unsure if she was awed or terrified of what had just happened.

Slowly, very slowly, she looked down at the dragon, and the purple eyes met Arylana’s amber ones with a clear desperate ‘please’ in them and almost in Arylana’s mind. Then the dragon’s eyes rolled up, and the golden lids closed over them. The agonized breathing stopped. Arylana stood there, shaking like a leaf, panting in exhaustion, shock, and fear. Finally, after several moments, she drew her hand back from where it had rested on the dragon’s maw and backed away from the dead dragon. Even in death, the creature was stunning. The specks of life were like pixies dancing across her scales to help it get to the afterlife. Arylana swallowed and couldn’t help herself but go over and stroke the smooth scales. It felt like running your hand over the very top of a still pool when you just ran it over the very top of the water: smooth, cool, and beautiful. “Woah,.” Arylana breathed as she marveled over the feeling against her hand. Then the image the dragon had shared with her flashed in her mind with the shock of desperation. What had the dragon been so desperate about? Arylana sighed, feeling too tired to want to go up to the cave and find out, but her curiosity was too strong. Besides, it was safer to hide in the dragon’s cave than stay the night by the corpse. So with a tired sigh, sore arms, and aching back, Arylana slowly made the climb back up to the cave. The view from the top was breathtaking, and the view of the shinning yellow dragon in the moonlight was breathtaking: like a painting. Arylana gazed down at it for a while, thinking it looked like it was merely sleeping. Arylana then dragged herself into the cave to find what the odd rocks were. The rocks were in the corner where the dragon had been hiding when Arylana first came in. They sat inside a kind of hollow in the ground with a fire under it. Arylana blinked at the sight for a moment before it clicked in her mind what she was looking at: a dragon’s nest. The hot ashes underneath were seeping from the fire beside it, but that fire was slowly dying out. The eggs were about the size of a one-year-old child curled up in a bed. There was a blue one, a green one, and a red one, each beautiful and gemlike with milky, gemstone looking surfaces. Arylana stepped closer and dared touch one,

wondering if they were still alive. The egg was hot to the touch, and Arylana pulled her hand back, worried she’d be burned. “Woah,” Arylana breathed again. Cedrick had been right. It was a female dragon, and one with eggs in her cave. A chunk of ice slid into Arylana’s stomach as she realized what that meant. The eggs surely wouldn’t survive without a larger dragon to look after it. That was why the mother was so desperate despite and tried to show her the vision. Was the dragon mad? She could never look after three baby dragons! There was no way in all creation she could handle even one of them. So what could she do? The poor things would likely just freeze to death. Arylana’s stomach was in a tight knot as she sat next to them trying to think of what was the most humane thing to do. She likely should have slept and waited until morning —when she wasn’t so tired —to decide, but she didn’t. She knew if she left them there, they’d freeze or get eaten. She wondered if it was kinder to just smash them, so the poor babies inside didn’t suffer., but how did she know that would happen? After a long time, Arylana stood up and picked each of them up and placed them at the mouth of the cave by the cliff, but not too close. There. Then if other dragons saw them and wanted to look after them, they could, and hopefully, the hot weather would keep them alive. Now it was up to nature, and the Father what happened to them. Maybe the father dragon would come get them, or maybe they’d just get eaten or be adopted, but now it wasn’t her problem but in the hands of the Maker. Satisfied with this idea, Arylana made a bed for herself and finally let her tired muscles settled into a happy rest and fall asleep, dreaming uneasily of what may happen to those poor eggs.

Chapter 19

Firewater

Cedrick woke up an hour or so before nightfall and looked over at Aleph; he still looked ill. As Cedrick watched, Aleph started to mutter in his sleep. Cedrick frowned and went over to try to calm him., Though but it didn’t help very much, but he did get him to quiet down. Knowing Aleph may start to act up again, Cedrick was too nervous to rest or sleep. He started pacing. To try to calm his own nerves, Cedrick slipped outside to hunt and see if he could get some better food for Aleph, maybe help him heal better. Cedrick managed to bag two small rabbits and set about cooking them. The sun was setting as he finally started to skin them as the fire heated up. Aleph woke up a little and moaned. Cedrick paused and put a hand to his small shoulder. “Hey. Hey buddy, how are you feeling?” “I’m all achy,.” Aleph complained. Cedrick smiled sympathetically. “I understand, bud. You should keep resting. Soon I’ll have fresh food for you, but you can sleep until it’s done, alright?” Aleph nodded sleepily and laid back down but was unable to fall asleep. Cedrick frowned a little and rubbed his back to try to soothe him to sleep, and after a few moments, it worked. Cedrick sighed, praying the boy would be alright, and went back to work. Soon the only sounds were the crackling of the fire and his blade slicing through the skins of the meat. Cedrick worked rather quickly and had them on the makeshift spit and started to roast them best he could. It took a few hours, but when the rabbits were done, Cedrick was able to get Aleph to eat a little. Cedrick bit his lips as he watched the boy slip back into

sleep. He wondered how they were doing for time. Just as he wondered this, he heard a great roar from outside. Cedrick shot to his feet and ran to see what was going on. The dragon appeared in the sky: a beautiful, shinning, golden creature with a speed and grace that could take your breath away. It hung, suspended in the air for a moment, beautifully silhouetted to the moon, before dropping down at a fantastic speed. Cedrick smiled to himself a little —what a beautiful creature she was. It was only a couple of seconds before the dragon appeared again, then again, then again, then again. Cedrick tilted his head. That was odd. It looked like it was trying to toss something off. Cedrick’s heart froze. “Arylana,.” He gasped. Aleph had slowed him down too much; he was too late. Cedrick didn’t know who he was more scared for: the dragon or Arylana. Cedrick moved as if to race to the battle. A little whimper from behind him made him freeze in his tracks. He couldn’t leave Aleph him alone. Cedrick looked down at Aleph, who had started muttering in his sleep again. Cedrick swallowed. He couldn’t leave Aleph behind, not like this. He’d have to leave it in the Maker’s hands and hope for the best. All this time wasted. Cedrick cursed himself and prayed for both his sister and the dragon as he sat by Aleph again. To distract himself, Cedrick tried stroking Aleph’s hair —ing Sarai used to do that to try to quiet the boy. Aleph sighed sleepily and settled into a deeper sleep.; it worked. “Good boy.” Cedrick murmured softly, smiling a little to himself. At least the boy would sleep well. The next morning, Aleph seemed to feel better. After Cedrick fed him some more fresh rabbit, the boy raced out the door. Cedrick sighed, glad he was better but nervous of what they would find. Because he didn’t want Aleph to see anything horrible —like Arylana’s dead body —so he told Aleph to stay in the cave and watch the supplies, maybe try to get more water for them. Aleph protested,. “I want to see the dragon.” “If there is anything good to see, I will let you see it,.” Cedrick promised. “But there may be blood and horror, and your parents would kill me, if I let you see that. Please, for your mother’s sake, if not mine, please wait here.” Aleph looked

down sadly but nodded. “Thank you,.” Cedrick sighed. “I’ll be back.” Cedrick left the cave and headed to where he saw the dragon fly. He wasn’t too surprised to find her majestic body, still unbothered by bugs or other scavengers. Cedrick sighed and touched her nose. “Well, hopefully, that means Arylana made it.” But still, pain bubbled in Cedrick’s chest, but he did his best to ignore it. He swallowed hard and said a little prayer for the dragon before turning to get Aleph and start home before Arylana knew what he had done. As he turned, a sparkle caught his eye. Cedrick paused as a feeling compelled him to take a look. The shine was from the base of the mountain. Cedrick looked around to be sure he wasn’t being watched and went over to see what it was. The second he had, he wished he hadn’t. On the ground was a mess of egg and beautiful red shards of eggshell. “So that’s what she wanted: her egg.” Cedrick’s heart sank down into his toes. She was just a mother trying to find and save her baby. Now they were dead with her. Cedrick blinked back the string in his eyes as his heart ached and burned at once. How could Arylana just kill them like this? Then a sparkle of green caught his eye, and Cedrick shut them at this new string. Two? Cedrick swallowed as the sting of bile tickled his throat. How could his sister do that: to harmless, defenseless eggs? But Cedrick knew from recent experience, fear could make people do twisted, horrible things. Cedrick turned away from the mountain then noticed something in the brush growing out of the side of the mountainside: a blue egg, not an egg shard, but a whole egg. Cedrick jumped up and grabbed it and held it gently, examining it. The egg was like a pure, milky sapphire glittering in the morning sun. It was warm to the touch but not hot enough to burn. Was it still alive? Cedrick glanced around to be sure they were safe and felt the egg with his energy. He felt the tiny life reached back. The dragon was alive! Cedrick looked around, knowing he couldn’t leave it there, or it would fall and get smashed or be eaten, or who knew what horrible things could happen to the innocent creature. Without a second thought, Cedrick slipped his pack off his shoulder, rearranged his possessions to protect the egg then tenderly placed the little life inside. He’d

look after it until it was strong enough to look after itself, and no one would have any idea what he’d brought home with him. Cedrick slipped the pack back over his shoulders gently as if it held an injured bird. With the egg safe, Cedrick headed back for the cave and young Aleph. When he got there, he didn’t like what he saw. Aleph was asleep again, but it wasn’t a good sleep. He was muttering worse than ever and tossing about. “Cedrick,” He moaned slightly, “Help.” “Aleph.” Cedrick raced to his side. “Aleph!” Cedrick tried to wake him from the nightmare he was in. “Cedrick,” Aleph groaned and opened his eyes, but they were glassy. “Aleph, little buddy, it’s okay. It’s me. Don’t worry about a thing. Are you alright?” Cedrick knew it was a dumb question, but he didn’t know what else to say. “The dragon ate you,” Aleph croaked with a sickly voice. “What? No, I’m fine, or we’re both dead,” Cedrick teased a little. “Arylana killed the dragon. It’s over now. I’m alright, and you will be too. I’m right here, buddy. Right here.” Cedrick squeezed his hand. “I’ll get you home to a doctor who can fix this right up. It will be okay, buddy.” Cedrick started to help Aleph up. “Cedrick.” Aleph sounded scared. “Cedrick?” and Aleph clung onto Cedrick’s shirt. “Shhh, I’m here,” Cedrick promised and stood up with the boy in his arms. He used his foot to pick up Aleph’s pack and toss it over one arm. “It’s alright, Aleph. I won’t let you get hurt, buddy.” He gently brushed Aleph’s hair from his sweaty forehead. Cedrick ed Sarai used to do that then kiss Aleph’s forehead, so tried it in an attempt to comfort him. “I’m here, Aleph. Your brother is here,” He promised then set off at a run, knowing he had no time to waste. But deep-down Cedrick knew running wouldn’t get him very far. It was a little over a week’s journey back and not even Cedrick could run that far and long, but he did have to try. So Cedrick just ran and ran with all he had. Aleph couldn’t

die; he wouldn’t allow it. He would save him. He had to.

*****

Would the weather ever cool down? Arylana had been traveling most of the day, and she knew it had been warm before, but this felt worse. It was blisteringly hot, burningly so. Arylana kept trying to blow cool air onto herself to do anything to find relief. The heat was so bad it was starting to make her dizzy, but Arylana was denying it. It was just hot, but not anything beyond what she could handle. Arylana stumbled over to what she thought was a pool of water, but it turned out to just be a large rock with heat waves fluttering in front of it. Arylana scoffed at it and moved to leave but stumbled over her own feet. She tried to catch herself but scraped her knee. She winced and pulled back. “Stop it,” She muttered to herself in a hoarse voice. She tried to get up but fell to her sore knees, unable to find the strength to stay upright. She fumbled for her waterskin hanging off her side and managed to drink the last of her mercifully cool water. She sat back to hide in the shade of a rock to try to cool off more. Help me. She prayed in her head. I can’t do this alone. Please, help me. She laid her head back against the rock. She just wanted to jump into a cool pool and rest. She wanted to sit in it and nap. Arylana closed her eyes. She thought she felt smooth scales rub up to her arm. She screamed and jumped back, scrambling to her feet, looking down in terror. Was it a little red dragon? It had hatched to try to eat her. Arylana watched it in terror. She blinked rapidly. Wait, did it just vanish for a second? Arylana didn’t have time to be sure. She tried to run, but she could hardly stand without the rock to lean on. She fell to her knees once again, not looking up to see the monster jump her. She shook her head.

Her head was in a fog. She couldn’t think clearly. She wanted to feel something real and solid to steady her mind, but she just couldn’t quite manage it. “Nerwa?” A deep, warm voice spoke. Arylana jumped again, rolling from her hands and knees to her back, looking around in fear. “No, stop, stop!” She cried. A large, heavy, but warm hand rested on Arylana’s shoulder. “Lassie, what problem do ye face?” The voice asked her gently. Arylana was too sick and confused to quite understand and shook her head. “There, there.” The hand patted her shoulder while his other hand wrapped around her other arm. The touch felt so good. It was solid and real, something really there. Arylana feared whatever it was letting go of her, so she put a hand on his as if to hold him there as she shook her head, too sick and confused to do anything else. “There, there, sweet human. Getting you inside we needs be.” The strong hands lifted Arylana up, but she was too tired. She shut her eyes and ed nothing else.

*****

As night fell, Cedrick had to give in. His legs were burning like fire. His lungs were trying to compete, and his arms were shaking under Aleph’s weight. He had to rest, even for a moment. He’d pushed so far he hardly was able to walk them to shelter and collapse, but he wouldn’t let himself just fall. He leaned against the wall of rock and slid down gently to make sure Aleph was protected. His lungs heaved for air as his arms went limp under Aleph who was now leaning on Cedrick’s shoulder and chest for . Cedrick wondered if there was enough air in the world to fill his lungs as his head spun a little and legs shuddered. His breathing was rapid and deep, but it was nothing compared to Aleph’s. Aleph was, if anything, worse. He was shivering yet, burning so hotly against

Cedrick, it was like carrying a hot coal. He kept fading in and out of consciousness as Cedrick tried to talk to him. When the boy was awake, he clung to Cedrick for dear life, muttering Cedrick’s name the whole way. Cedrick had tried to soothe him best he could, but it wasn’t working as well as he’d hoped it would. Cedrick tried to put Aleph down so he could have a better rest, but he clung to Cedrick’s shirt with all the gripping power he had. “Shhh,” Cedrick forced out between gasps. “Aleph, it’s...” Cedrick swallowed the metallic taste in his mouth. “It’s okay.” He tried to soothe the child. “I’m sstill h-here, buddy. Hey, I’m still here.” He brushed the back of his hand against Aleph’s cheek. It was like running his hand across a cement block at noon in the summer time. “Oh… Aleph.” Cedrick’s voice cracked a little as his throat tightened which didn’t help with its dryness. Could they even afford this quick rest? Yes, Cedrick knew Aleph needed the rest as much as Cedrick’s legs did. He had been fading in and out of consciousness the whole way, not a restful way to spend the trip. Aleph needed real rest, real sleep. Cedrick pulled back to let Aleph have a break from the close body heat, but Aleph protested instantly. This time, however, Cedrick ignored it and sat back heavily. He pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers and listened as Aleph kept wheezing and holding onto Cedrick’s free arm. Cedrick shut his eyes tightly, applying more pressure to the bridge of his nose. Think, Cedrick, think. He had to do something, but what? This wasn’t a wound, so Cedrick couldn’t just heal it, and transferring conditions wouldn’t work because it only would take Aleph’s pain away and make Cedrick ill. That wouldn’t be better; that would be worse. But what could he do? Even just the thought that Aleph would… that Aleph might… Cedrick couldn’t even let that thought fully cross his mind, not yet. Aleph would be fine, and Cedrick would make sure of it. The only trouble was how? That wasn’t too hard to solve, right? A few hours. That was all Cedrick could let him have, but he would make sure Aleph got it. Aleph didn’t manage the most restful of sleeps, but he did manage to sleep instead of just blacking out over and over. He might have even fallen

into a real deep sleep if he had time, but Cedrick knew they didn’t have the time. With each ing second, Aleph’s temperature could be rising and putting him at greater and greater risk. There wasn’t time. As gently as he could —hoping Aleph was still sleep —Cedrick lifted the boy into his arms and set off for the river. He knew the large river bordered their kingdom and that of Spearim, where his mother was from. Though Heklis ruled both lands, there may be someone closer on that side of the river than on this. Cedrick knew no one really lived further south than Nerofox on their side of the border, but maybe there were farms on the other side with people who’d help them. Even if not, the cool water of the river may be able to help Aleph. After an hour or so, that felt like days to Cedrick, they were forced to stop because each breath Cedrick took stung in his chest. His heart beat so wildly one beat blended into the next, and the taste of blood in his mouth was so bad Cedrick had checked for blood on his lip. His legs were shaking under him, and he’d almost fallen several times. Cedrick’s legs felt like rubber as he stumbled over to a tree and collapsed beside it, careful to once again keep Aleph safe. Cedrick tried to will his heart into slowing down, but it had no effect. He tried willing his breathing to slow, but it had no effect. He had to be fit to go on. He had to get Aleph help in time. Though Cedrick told himself this over and over again, deep down he knew the truth was he needed help as much as Aleph. They both needed it now. Aleph was awake now, just not conscious. Hoping to help the boy cool off, Cedrick tried to lay him down and move away, but as before, Aleph clung to Cedrick like a life raft. “Shhhh,” Cedrick forced out through his heavy pant. “It…i-is okay. Y-you’re f-ffine… go-go back… to sleep.” Cedrick stumbled around the words. “T-too c-cold,” Aleph muttered, tossing his head. The sight harrowed up Cedrick’s heart. “Shh. Hey, hey, it’s okay.” Cedrick brushed some hair sticking to Aleph’s sweaty forehead. “I’m s-still here.” “Cold,” Aleph muttered again. Cedrick sighed heavily. “I k-know, buddy; I know. I’m w…working on it.”

Though on the outside Cedrick seemed calm, inside he was panicking. Aleph couldn’t last much longer like this. He was dying before Cedrick’s eyes, and Cedrick couldn’t bear to allow another Durman to die. Yet —he knew —he didn’t have the power to stop it. He couldn’t even walk another step. At this thought, anger surged from Cedrick’s heart, and he slammed his first into the dirt. He couldn’t even stand! He was powerless, and it hurt and terrified him all at once. There had to be a way! There just had to be something he could do. Cedrick’s hands shook in his exhaustion and frustration. “Help me!” Cedrick pleaded in a prayer. “Help me save him! Do what you want with me, but save him. I promised… I p-promised.” Cedrick gave in to tears, though he was too dehydrated to produce any. His body shook in the pain as he buried his face in his hands in anger, frustration, and pain. A snap cracked the air. Cedrick’s head snapped up, on high alert for danger. His breathing stopped as he listened. All he could hear was the rapid beating of his heart and Aleph’s panting. Was it Arylana? Would that be a good thing? Cedrick remained stalk still, hoping against hope. A second crack snapped the air. The source came into view from the trees around them. It was a young man, a bit younger than Cedrick himself. The man didn’t look like he was hunting them. The boy didn’t even have his guard up. He walked as if he was walking on a city road. A person? This far south and on this side of the river? Cedrick had been sure there were no settlements here. Maybe he was from the other side and came across illegally for something. But none of that mattered, the boy was going somewhere, and that somewhere could mean help for Aleph. With this hope fueling him, Cedrick gathered Aleph into his protesting arms once more. Cedrick had no need to run. The trees would help them stay hidden, and Cedrick could lean on them if he needed the help to go on. Forcing his legs that were as stiff as the wood of the trees he used for , Cedrick got to his feet, watched the boy wander off, and followed. It took about a half an hour before the boy led them anywhere of interest. He led them to a small town beside a small branch of the river. It wasn’t a very large place, only about seven buildings in all. The boy walked into them as calmly as ever and vanished behind one building. Cedrick’s heart raced as he watched,

hoping against hope this was the answer. Cedrick’s legs shook in exhaustion and nerves as he carefully entered the village. His arms started to shake as well as he went to the first house. How much longer could he carry Aleph? Worried he’d drop Aleph if he tried to move his arms, Cedrick knocked with his foot. The second the door opened, Cedrick flew into a desperate plea for help, but the woman who’d answered the door didn’t seem to hear him. She just saw an armed man standing at her door and moved to shut the door in terror. Cedrick tried to stop her mid-beg, but he wasn’t fast enough. Cedrick swallowed but that didn’t make him give up. He tried any door he could reach, though no one was even willing to answer the door, but still, he did not give up. He tried another door and flew into his begging the instant the door opened no matter who opened it. It was a woman once again whose face was lined with her own worries. She looked down at Cedrick as he pleaded then the tired eyes landed on Aleph shaking, sweating, and clinging to Cedrick’s shirt for dear life. Cedrick didn’t even finish his groveling when the woman nodded. “Follow me.” She took a shawl from a hook by the door and placed it around her shoulders as she headed down the steps and across the road. Cedrick didn’t question his good luck but followed her. He had little choice. She led them to the hut farthest away from the other houses and knocked. A young girl, about twelve or thirteen, opened the door. “Elouise,” The woman spoke at once. “This boy is very ill. Please, is your father home?” “He is indeed in.” The girl nodded as her pale blue eyes landed on Aleph. “Get the boy inside, quickly.” She moved aside to allow them to enter. “Thank you,” Cedrick sighed and stepped into the mercifully cool hut. It was furnished with two arm chairs and a long chair covered in fur that sat before an empty hearth. The first woman followed them inside as the girl turned to the rest of the house. “Father!” She called. “Quickly! A surprisingly young man raced into the room with worry in his eyes. When he spotted Aleph in Cedrick’s arms, he reacted immediately. “Set him down,” He

ordered and pointed to the sofa. As Cedrick followed the order, the man threw on an odd coat and picked up a bag from the room he’d emerged from before coming back into the room. Cedrick tried to set Aleph down, but Aleph wouldn’t hear of it. The boy held tighter to Cedrick’s sleeves. “Don’t let me go. Don’t hate me,” Aleph pleaded, tears rising to his glassy, sunken eyes. “No, it’s not like that, Aleph. I promise,” Cedrick soothed him. “It’s going to be alright, Aleph. I’m still here. Just lie down, rest now, I’m right h-here.” Cedrick’s voice almost broke. The woman who’d showed Cedrick the way helped Cedrick detach Aleph’s terrified grip from his shirt. “Cedrick? Please!” Aleph sounded petrified, not fully aware of what really was going on. “I’m still here,” Cedrick promised. As his own heart pounded in his own desperate emotions. “Aleph buddy, I haven’t left you. Rest now, come on little buddy, hold on for me.” The man began looking Aleph over: looking into his glassy eyes, feeling his blazing skin, and tight stomach. The girl who had answered the door watched her father with anxious eyes. “You’ve come from the south, haven’t you?” The man asked as he pulled back and let Aleph fight to reach Cedrick. “Yes, we have. Please help him.” Cedrick was becoming angry as he watched Aleph’s pain. This man could help him and was just standing over him no longer caring. Cedrick put a hand on Aleph’s arm and got into a place on the sofa so he could hold Aleph but still allow the man to look Aleph over. The man watched them do this with no reaction. Cedrick’s anger turned into hot fury coursing through his veins. “He’s sick!” He cried, hurting his throat. “He needs treatment and staring at us won’t help him get it!” “He’s been clingy this whole time, yes?” The man asked. “Yes! Now help him!” Cedrick snapped.

“Fire-water?” The girl asked. The man nodded. “Yes, I’m almost sure of it. Get the gachhell.” The girl nodded and left the room. “Will that save him?” The man nodded. “Yes, I’m almost sure of it. If I’m right about what it is, it will for sure.” The man then looked from Aleph up into Cedrick’s face. “Is he yours?” “In a manner of speaking,” Cedrick replied. “I’m not his father, but… I do look after him now.” Cedrick swallowed and looked back down at Aleph. “I see. Are you alright?” The man frowned as he finally looked at Cedrick. He was sweaty, dirty, and pale. “You look ill yourself.” “I’ll be fine when he is,” Cedrick snapped. The man held up his hands. “Calm down. I’m only trying to help him and help you.” The girl came back into the room with a bottle in her hand. “Here, father.”. The man pulled the stopper off the bottle and helped Aleph to sit up. “Here you are, boy. Drink this.” He tried to gently help Aleph. Aleph resisted. “Cedrick…” “Cedrick, will you help him drink it? All of it.” The man looked at Cedrick, and Cedrick nodded. They switched places, and Cedrick got Aleph to drink it. Aleph drank it down, it seemed, in one gulp. He coughed a little but kept it down. “There, there. Shh, sleep now,” Cedrick said. “Please bud, I need you to sleep.” Aleph curled into Cedrick as best he could with Cedrick kneeling next to the sofa as he was. It took him a few minutes, but finally, Aleph drifted into a real sleep. Cedrick’s heart burst with relief, and he sighed, letting his head droop down in

tiredness as tears of gratitude to his Maker filled him. “Thank you,” He said to the man, head still down. “You’re welcome.” The man stood up. “You should let him rest now. His fever should break in the next few hours as long as he keeps resting.” Cedrick agreed and gently let go of Aleph to let him lie down and cool off. Thankfully, Aleph stayed asleep. Cedrick moved one foot under him, but stopped, wincing in the pain. He’d been still too long after running so much. His muscles were not willing to work with him anymore. “Are you hurt?” The man frowned. “No, my legs are just very stiff and sore,” Cedrick explained. The man nodded a little. “I see, you were near the dragons’ lands, and that is miles away.” Then he froze. “Wait… you ran all that way?” He sounded shocked. Cedrick lifted his head a little to nod. “Dear Maker, how did you manage that?” “I’m used to running long distances,” Cedrick said shortly. His father had made them run a full twenty-four hours before —often as much as once a month but often more than that. Cedrick had thought his legs had hurt then. It was nothing to how they hurt now. His father had made them run fast but not as fast as Cedrick’s desperation had pushed him to go today. “Here, I have something that may help soothe that, but you should lie down and stay down for a while until they heal.” The man frowned, impressed and worried for Cedrick. “I won’t leave him,” Cedrick said stubbornly. The man opened his mouth to reply, but the girl got there first. “I can get the cot.” The man sighed, “Alright, we’ll do that.” The girl ran off, and her father turned to Cedrick. “I’m Pithomy,” He said. “I’m the elder of this town. Your name is Cedrick, correct?” Cedrick nodded. “Cedrick Michael.” He wished his father would be happy with

his not revealing he was a Custod, but his father wasn’t proud of anything, and even Cedrick knew it was foolish to wish for such a thing. “And he’s Aleph?” Pithomy checked, and Cedrick nodded. “So where exactly were you?” He asked. “Dragon lands for sure.” “How did you know that?” Cedrick looked up at him again, curious. Pithomy chuckled. “He has fire-water which is a sickness that is contracted from dragon ash mixed with water. Normally, it’s absorbed through the skin.” “Why didn’t I get it then?” Cedrick asked. “We drank the same water, and I know I cleaned the water we drank.” “No, no, you misunderstand. As I said, it comes through the skin. I’d guess he went into some water that you didn’t.” Cedrick groaned inwardly. Yes, he’d let Aleph swim in that pool. “But we drank that water too.” “Well, if you cleaned it as you say it wouldn’t matter, and it only comes when the ash is absorbed through the skin: most of the time when mixed with water. I’m not sure if you can get it without the water as well because I’ve never seen a case that doesn’t involve water as well, but it could be. Children feel cold when they catch the illness. Whereas, matured adults feel extremely hot, as you see, it causes the victim to be clingy and hallucinate, muttering in their sleep and unable to see right.” Cedrick nodded a little in understanding; he wished he’d known better. Aleph could have died. Cedrick had even tried to stop him at first, so why didn’t he keep trying? A girl and a boy about ten-years-old appeared. “Careful, James,” The girl said to the boy and smiled at Cedrick. “James is good with the cot because he’s broken it enough times.” “Hey,” The boy complained. Cedrick chuckled. The name reminded him of the James Griham and Heklis mystery. As long as he wasn’t some kind of secret monster, Cedrick didn’t care what the boy did to the cot.

“I’m Elouise, by the way,” The girl said to Cedrick as the girl helped her brother set up the cot. “You must be hungry.” “Yes indeed,” Cedrick said quickly. For a girl only about thirteen, fourteen years old, she took command quickly. He was thankful for it , as he’d given Aleph the animals he’d caught and not eaten since the day before that. “I’ll get you something then.” Eloise nodded and raced from the room. “Call me if you need any further help.” Cedrick was surprised to see the woman who’d brought them there was still standing by the door. “Oh, thanks,” Cedrick managed. “Thank you, Emmalina,” Pithomy said to her as she left. “They were all scared of you. We all would be,” Pithomy said. “I led us down here to escape Heklis, and so far, he’d not come after us, but we don’t dare live under him or his rules. You aren’t part of him, are you?” “No,” Cedrick said quickly. He wants to eat my heart out. Cedrick thought to himself but wasn’t going to speak it. Even if these people would be happy to see a Custod, Cedrick knew his father would kill him for telling. “Good. We’ll help you both until you’re well, but then you must leave. We can’t have others follow you.” Pithomy turned. “You haven’t seen newcomers around here?” Cedrick asked. Maybe these people had seen Arylana on her way through. “No, you are the first in many years,” Pithomy said. “Now rest.” The boy had finished with the cot. With a sharp wince, Cedrick got to his feet and staggered over to it. It was nice to let his legs lie flat on top of it. Eloise came back with a plate of meat and vegetables. Cedrick thanked her and ate it. Once he was full, he felt his exhaustion melt into a pleasant sleepiness, and — without meaning to —he fell right asleep.

*****

Cedrick awoke late the next day but still didn’t move for how stiff he felt. He wondered what had woke him when he realized it was when he felt someone’s hand inside his jacket. Someone had tried to take something out of his pocket but failed. Not wanting the rummager to know he knew he or she was there, Cedrick kept still as if he was still asleep. “I swear it’s there,” A female voice spoke; Cedrick guessed Eloise. “Even more reason to be rid of him. We’ll heal them up then send them on their way.” That had to be Pithomy’s voice. Cedrick listened for a while and gathered Eloise had guessed he was a Custod and wanted him to stay, but her father would hear nothing of it. Cedrick didn’t mind that and decided it was time to wake up before this got anymore awkward. He groaned as if waking up, and this stopped them short. As soon as they were sure he was awake, Eloise rushed off to get him some eggs for breakfast. Cedrick thanked her but couldn’t help but wonder how you cooked an egg. He’d never eaten an egg before. When she returned, Eloise had a plate with a yellow and white —there was no other word for it —mess on it. In her other hand, she held a plate with a yellow ball with a white skirt, for lack of other words. “Take your pick,” Eloise said brightly. Cedrick swallowed. “Oh, thanks.” “I didn’t know how you liked them, so I made both,” Eliose said brightly. Cedrick nodded a little, still wondering what they were because —if you asked him —neither of these looked anything like an egg. Cedrick glanced at Pithomy who was cutting into the one that had a skirt and saw the yellow inside the ball leak out like it was wetting itself. Cedrick stopped himself from pulling a face. Eloise looked up at him with big, round eyes. Wondering if the ball would burst, Cedrick carefully poked the yellow ball with his fork to find it was very squishy. He wished Aleph was awake to pick one then he could just endure the other. “Thank you. They are both so well made, how could I ever pick?” Cedrick said, trying to make sure Eloise didn’t get her feelings hurt.

“If you’re that hungry, have both!” She beamed. Great, now he had a third choice; Cedrick scowled inwardly but hid it from Eloise. Cedrick looked from one plate to the other. How were these eggs? Cedrick poked the yellow ball again. “Well?” Eloise asked uneasily. “Lovely,” Cedrick faked with a small smile, knowing he’d just picked without meaning to. So he stabbed it with a fork and tried to put the ball into his mouth, but the skirt came with it. Pithomy’s eyes went wide as if in hidden amusement. Eloise hid her reaction as Cedrick was forced to try to stick the whole egg in his mouth, but his mouth wasn’t that big so several parts of the skirt fell off back onto the plate. Cedrick found the ball was rather tasteless but not bland. All he could taste was slime, salt, and pepper as he swallowed the slime down his throat, not a fun feeling. He ate the skirt as well, but found that even more tasteless. It wasn’t the best or worst in the world; a good meal in a pinch, but not something he’d ever pick to eat. He started on the scrambled to hide his awkwardness, but he found that even more tasteless, like chewing rubber (which he had done). Cedrick didn’t eat any more —claiming he was saving some for Aleph. Though Cedrick had made an idiot of himself, it seemed Eloise —though very young —had taken a liking to Cedrick. She spent most of the day trying to impress Cedrick with cooking skills or word play or her housekeeping skills. She even tried to offer a massage for his legs to try to get the stiffness out, but there Cedrick clearly drew the line. He was happily married, and she wasn’t going to mess that up for him. Plus, she was a kid! She wasn’t the only one though. Soon Cedrick found the entire unmarried female population in the town was after him. Why? He was the only unmarried man they’d seen in years. Even though he was married. They didn’t seem to care. Cedrick knew this because the women kept trying to come by to see him, help him, or some other nonsense, and Eloise was very defensive. Aleph woke up around noon with a bout of coughing. “Aleph?” Cedrick was on his feet before anyone could stop him. “Buddy?”

“Cedrick?” Aleph’s voice was still hoarse. “Yeah, I’m here.” Cedrick knelt beside him. “We’re in the home of a nice family who is going to help us until you feel better. Don’t worry. You’ll be well soon, and we can go home.” “I’m hungry,” Aleph said. Cedrick smiled a little. “They made eggs. Do you like eggs?” Aleph nodded. Cedrick handed him the scrambled eggs and helped him eat it. Unknown to Cedrick, Eloise was watching, rapidly falling in love with the very married Custod. Cedrick used Aleph to hide from her after that, and he thought it was working, but it wasn’t. It was only making her fall more in love with him because of the great father he would be. Cedrick was getting more desperate to leave by the hour, but it wasn’t even a whole day yet, and walking —let alone running —was out of the question on his legs. The next day, he was up to walking, so he got out of the house the second he could while Aleph slept. That got him away from Eloise but not from the other unmarried women of the village. Pithomy, it turned out, was their rather puritanical leader and not only wanted Cedrick out because he feared Cedrick would bring outside trouble, but for the stir he was making among the women. Normally, Cedrick would have argued against this kind of leadership, but he wanted away from those mad women badly enough he was willing to go with it. Cedrick started walking at the edge of town where the trees helped hide him a little. As he did, he saw an older woman go past as if to go into the main town. The creak of a door drew Cedrick’s attention. He looked over to her hut but couldn’t see who’d open the door. The sound had also drawn the elder woman’s attention. “Bella, no, you can’t.” She snapped and raced back to shut the door. The woman saw Cedrick watching and scowled at him. “You better not mention this to anyone ever,” She snapped. Then there was a pounding on the door and a voice, muffled, demanding to see him and saying something like “him like”.

At the odd words, the woman who had spoken looked stunned. Her mouth fell open a little. Then looked at Cedrick in awe. She glanced around to be sure no one was watching. “Alright,” She said. “Alright, you better come in.” The woman looked at Cedrick. Cedrick tilted his head, confused, but sure he could take on this old lady, so he followed the order. “Quickly, quickly.” The woman snapped as she slipped inside. Cedrick moved a bit faster and followed her through the small opening. The house was dark, very dark because every window, every door, and every opening was carefully covered. It didn’t look like they were trying to stop the light getting in. They were trying to stop people looking in. As his eyes adjusted, Cedrick realized they weren’t just covered but boarded shut with nails. The door had at least five locks on it, and the back door had almost as many. There was a door in the floor that was open. Something felt off, like there was a sad dark secret lingering here. Cedrick’s eyes landed on the woman whose voice he’d heard through the door. She looked unnatural, old and young at the same time. She appeared to have been beautiful once, but some kind of soul sucking monster had clamped onto her. Her cheekbones stood out, her skin was dry, and her hands looked like claws with how dry, thin, and wrinkled they were. Yet, her face held some strange youthful beauty. Her thin black hair still had a shine to it though it was thin and fading a little. But it was her eyes that caught you first. Pale. There was no other word for it. They had a warm brown color. But they were pale. It didn’t look like she was blind, but it had the same feel. Her eyes were wide, huge, almost staring, and bright... too bright. Those eyes looked Cedrick over with the oddest smile. “See?” She said to the other woman. “Him like.” “Him?” Cedrick frowned and looked over at the other woman in confusion. The woman sighed, “She means her son James when she says that.” That sparked Cedrick’s interest. His eyes lit up a little. “Do I look like him?” he looked at the unnatural looking woman.

“No, not really,” Ella said. “Other than you both have black hair, but I think she means she feels your magic. I presume you are an enchanter.” Cedrick nodded. “Yeah, but how do you all know that? Because they’ve all been talking about me in town?” Cedrick said it as a question. “We avoid most of the others in town when we can. I don’t care much for our leader, and I like to keep my sister safe.” The woman nodded to the woman with the large eyes. “Oh, then I better introduce myself.” Cedrick swallowed. “My name is Cedrick… Cedrick Custod.” Word had gotten out anyway, and it may help him solve some mysteries about this place. “Would that make you the enchanter who challenged Heklis? The one who moves mountains?” The woman asked. Cedrick sighed, rather embarrassed. They all ired him for taking out a mountain when it was —quite frankly —an accident. “Yes, that would be me.” He confessed. “Ah, that is what she sees in you” The woman glanced at the other. “This is my sister Bella, and my name is Ella. She can feel that the magic in you is like the magic in her son.” “Where is her son?” Cedrick wondered. Ella sighed. “That is a long story, but one I think you should hear if you wish to take out that evil man. You may yet need it.” That caught Cedrick’s attention. Excitement filled his chest. Was he right? “Her son is James Griham, isn’t it?” “Indeed.” Ella said, blinking in shock, as Bella slowly came closer to Cedrick. “Feel like him,” She said in a faltering voice. “Warm like him.” “She always just calls her son ‘him,’” Ella explained. “Why is that?” Cedrick asked. “General Griham never did magic.”

“No, he didn’t, but his father did,” Ella said. “And he hated his father for it.” Cedrick’s brows drew together. “I don’t understand,” Cedrick said as Bella smiled wider at Cedrick. “J… J…” She stammered. “No Bella, this is not James. He’s just a friend.” Ella pulled her sister back a little. “Bella, are you alright?” Cedrick asked as he tried to look into those large eyes. She had to be old even for their world. In their world, the average person died around a hundred and twenty years old, and they aged about twenty years slower (for example, Margorim was close to sixty but looked only to be about forty). Bella looked like she was sixty, still holding to her youth, but she also had the bearing of being much, much older. Doing some quick math with what he knew of the general’s history, Cedrick was able to guess —if he was alive —he’d be about eighty-years-old, which made Bella to be in, at least, her late nineties, more likely in her early hundreds. Yet she didn’t look it, even if she seemed to bear that kind of wisdom. Bella slowly nodded. “You… you look… like,” She said in that unsteady voice. “Like what, Bella?” “Him.” Of course, she said that, so did the other old crazy lady. Cedrick sighed. “Why do old women keep thinking I look like him?” He muttered to himself, while Ella shrugged. “But eyes,” Bella said. “Too… too… too light.” “What happened to you, Bella?” Cedrick asked gently. “Why are you like this?” “Because Heklis exists,” Ella said. “Because her son is Heklis.”

Chapter 20

Fabled and Forgotten

Cedrick’s head snapped up to look at Ella in shock. “What did you say?” Cedrick’s heart froze in anticipation. Was he right? The woman in the old home had made Cedrick think it was just a connection, not that they were the same. It had sounded like Commander Griham had tried to fight Heklis. His own father had praised the commander and taught them his strategies because they were some of the best in history. He was Heklis? It was hard to accept, but Cedrick couldn’t help but suspect. Ella nodded. “James Griham is Heklis,” she said, “Though we never knew it until this happened.” She nodded at Bella. “What… is this though?” Cedrick asked as he looked Bella over. “What happened, Bella?” “Edward.” Bella looked terrified and looked at the ground. “Edward.” “That’s all she ever tells anyone, but we know a bit more than that,” Ella said. “Is Edward her husband, James’s father?” Cedrick asked. Ella nodded. “His father but not really her husband.” “Were they not married?” “No, they were, but not together anymore,” Ella said. This confused Cedrick because divorce was not something they yet understood in their world; divorce was not legal. “She married another after running from Edward. Edward was abusive, so she ran away with her son, and she remarried after that.”

Such a thing was unheard of by their laws, but Cedrick understood why she’d run off and remarry, so he listened without comment. “How did James… I mean Heklis, take that?” “He loved Jacob,” Ella said. “Jacob was more of a father to James than Edward ever was. Edward was the village enchanter. In those days, most towns and cities had an enchanter who was like a healer and leader to the town. That was supposed to be Edward, but he charged high prices for his work and was a horrible drinker, so his work was dreadful —most of all for the price. Even when Bella and James got ill, they went to the next town to find their healer.” “What happened to Jacob then?” He likely had ed away by then. Ella sighed sadly. “Dead. He died when this happened to Bella.” “I see.” Cedrick nodded. “So then how did…this happen?” “You likely know about James’s life as a commander. He used the job to his mother until Jacob came along. He enlisted young for that reason. Everything you know is true, up until they say how he died. He likely spread the lie himself. It’s hard to die when all you did was meet up with yourself,” Ella huffed. “It was right before Heklis started causing trouble that this happened. I know he faked both sides until he killed James off forever.” “When was this?” Cedrick asked again. “We don’t know. I wasn’t even there, but I was told by those who saw the remains what happened. They came and found Jacob dead, Edward gone. Though no one has heard or seen him since that day, we have a guess to what happened. Edward had finally managed to track Bella and James down, and Edward used his magic to do this to Bella and kill Jacob. That’s when James came home and found that scene. No one is sure what happened then, but some claim they heard yelling and saw some kind of magic in the distance, but that was it. And we’re not even sure if that’s true.” “But I thought James couldn’t do magic.” “Oh, he could do magic, but he wouldn’t ever use it. Oh no. Not after what he’d seen his father do, so he swore he’d never touch the art.” Ella said. “All we know is what I’ve told you, and as you can tell, some of that might not even be

true. James never came back for his mother. He became Heklis, and that’s all we hear of him. I fear what this mad version of James would do if he knew about his poor frail mother now. So we came here to hide from him. I don’t know if any of this helps you, but I hope it will because…no matter what he was, he’s not safe now and must be stopped. No matter the cost.” Ella swallowed and looked down. Cedrick nodded and glanced at poor Bella. What did she think of all of this? She was looking from Cedrick to Ella and back again. “Miss,” She said when she saw Cedrick looking at her. “Miss?” Cedrick repeated. “Miss… him,” She said. “Miss him.” She looked at Cedrick, and her eyes changed: they gained more color, a little browner; they grew less round and looked younger. “You,” She said in a stronger voice than before. “You have an unmatched future,” She said. Cedrick stepped back startled. The change was so sudden and deep. She sounded much more sane and clear. “You will save him,” She said then smiled warmly, the same kind of smile Cedrick’s mother had given him in the one vision he’d seen of her. “I can see it. You’ll fall then rise to save him.” “S-save him?” Cedrick’s eyebrows drew together. “What do you mean? How do I ‘save’ him?” But as soon as the change had come it vanished, and Bella blinked her large eyes. “You will…I know it.” Her voice became childlike again. “What the…” Cedrick gaped at Bella then glanced at Ella. She sighed, “Don’t ask me; she just does that.” “I want to… f-feel you,” Bella said to Cedrick. “You are warm like him. M-miss him.” She frowned like a disappointed toddler. She missed feeling the magic she’d felt in her son. Maybe that was what she’d really recognized in him. Why she so wanted to see him. To Cedrick’s surprise, Bella hugged him. Cedrick made sure it was okay with Bella first but then hugged her back. She may not fully understand what was going on to her or her son, but she seemed to

need the comfort, so he gave it. Bella put a hand to Cedrick’s heart. “You are more him like than you know. I feel him.” Cedrick swallowed and tried to stop the revulsion. He didn’t much appreciate being told he was like Heklis. He rather hated it. “You have to go now. Save him, you will. Bye.” And she started to push Cedrick out the door. “Hey, hey.” Cedrick held up to her pushing well, amused and confused, “I’m curious. Has she ever met anyone else who does magic?” “Just her husband and James,” Ella said. Cedrick nodded as he thought this over. How did the man James change into Heklis? From what he knew of the kind of man James Griham had been, he was almost a polar opposite of Heklis. What had changed so dramatically? This story was getting more complicated and interesting by the moment. He was more than ready to get to the bottom of it.

*****

Though Cedrick was curious, he knew there was no more for him to learn in that town, so once Aleph was well again, they set off for home without saying goodbye to anyone to avoid them trying to make them stay and awkward flirting. Aleph was confused by Cedrick’s all but running away, and even when they were almost home, he was still bugging Cedrick about it. “But why?” He insisted. “I don’t understand why you ran away.” “It wasn’t running away. It was avoiding their flirting,” Cedrick insisted. “But why?” Cedrick sighed, having endured this question for the thirteenth time. “I’m happily married to my wife, and those women want to take me away.”

“But it wouldn’t matter either way,” Aleph said. “So why not enjoy their silliness?” Cedrick chuckled and shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. You’ll understand someday, like I said before. Now will you please drop it? We are about to be home.” “Woopie!” Aleph cheered as he ran around, climbing up a rock and jumping down in delight. Cedrick shook his head, laughing under his breath. “Look, you can see it up ahead.” Cedrick nodded ahead then paused. The place wasn’t quiet. The gates were wide open, and carts were moving in and out in orderly fashion with some of the guards assisting along the way. “What is all that?” Aleph asked. “Are they throwing a party? Are they that happy we’re back?” Cedrick huffed and shook his head. “I don’t think it’s a party, Aleph, and least of all for us. There is something else going on. Those are food and supplies, some for repairing the city.” The men pulling the carts were rather short with impressively large beards, all of them. Cedrick watched them in confusion and caution when he spotted Mercutio, Arylana, and other officials talking to several of these small men. So though Cedrick still felt unsure about these strange men, Cedrick dared approach them. As they did, Aleph saw how short they were and laughed. “They’re so short you’d think they were little elves or dwarves.” “Aleph, don’t mock,” Cedrick said severely then stopped and looked over at them. “What exactly are elves and dwarves?” “Have you never heard the stories? Your papa must really stink,” Aleph said, but Cedrick ignored the jibe. “They’re little men who fight the dragons;. Dwarves make lots of golden things, and dragons want to steal them.” “If that’s the case then I’m pretty sure those are dwarves, Aleph,” Cedrick smiled. That explained the odd magic he felt coming off of them. “But we better go find out.” “Can we?” Aleph beamed in delight.

“Yes, but then I’m taking you right to Malachi to make this all right. You owe him big time.” Cedrick grabbed Aleph’s arm and guided him along playfully. The group looked over and beamed. “Cedrick, at last! I’m glad to see you, and with the missing boy. I feared you’d have my head for that, so I’d hoped he’d gone with you. I wish you’d told us.” Mercutio was beaming. “I didn’t know. He snuck along,” Cedrick said. “Please make sure he gets back to Malachi —his partner —and repays him for getting him into such trouble.” Mercutio nodded and had one of the attendants take Aleph back. Aleph pouted as he looked at Cedrick, but Cedrick gave him a warning look. This worked, and Aleph did go with him but wasn’t happy about it. “So this be da enchanter ya all be tal’kin about?” The dwarf they’d been speaking with smiled up at Cedrick. Arylana nodded. “Yes Biglo, this is Cedrick Custod, my little brother.” The dwarf, Biglo, bowed in deep reverence to Cedrick. “I be hear’in ya masterful work, Master Custod. I am pleased to meet ya.” “Thank you, sir.” Cedrick smiled, humbled and pleased. He offered his hand to the dwarf. “Meeting you is an honor, and hopefully, our myths are being dispelled or good things proven.” Not that Cedrick knew any of the good or bad tales. Biglo chuckled. “Indeed, Heklis did work hard to make the youngins’ see that. All power but him own he wants to push off.” “He means knock-off,” Arylana corrected. “I understood.” Cedrick grinned. “May I ask, no offense meant, but why do you talk differently?” Cedrick was truly curious. “We be speakin’ in different tongue. That be sayin’ we use different word than ya. We had we own time apart to be makin’ own words.” Cedrick was fascinated. He’d heard of different languages but not seen it. He was going to ask more, but Mercutio saw where this was going and cut it off before it got too far. He wanted the pleasantries to be over.

“Yes, and Biglo here says he and his people want to help us out,” Mercutio said. “Though I think just bringing Arylana back to us unharmed would be enough.” Mercutio winked at her. She blushed with a scowl and looked away. “But for his people that wasn’t enough, I guess. They were driven into hiding by Heklis years ago because Heklis was trying to wipe them out. They made a deal not to fight him anymore or any of his nations so they’d be left alone. Since then they’ve lived in their ancestral home underground. A strange spell seems to have taken them over and most fear to walk on the surface. Isn’t that how you said it, Biglo?” “Walk overland,” Biglo said. “Yes, thank you, overland.” Mercutio nodded. “And because of their agreement, they can’t send us troops, but they are willing to send supplies and other workers to fix up damages made by us to cities we take or —like you see here —damages already made.” Mercutio beamed. “They’ve been here two days, and they fixed most all the damage the dragon did and then some. They’re amazing.” “Aw, it bein’ our ‘tradin’.” Biglo smiled with a little bow. “Be the best we be doin’ in the palace we be standin’ in.” “It’s more than we could ever hope for.” Cedrick told Biglo. “We’re glad for it.” Mercutio heartily agreed, “So, the dragon mishap came out for good in the end.” Biglo scowled. “Aye, them beast be a real fowl thing. Kill ‘em all if ya take the word to me.” Cedrick adjusted his pack. “Have you never tried talking to them?” He asked carefully. Biglo laughed and said something in his own tongue, and Cedrick guessed it was something crude. “We try ta treat dum.” He said. Cedrick hoped he meant as in making treaties and not as in feeding them but didn’t ask. “But they’re be havin’ groups of sillin’ things.” Cedrick frowned. He guessed Biglo realized he must have said something wrong because he tried again.

“Their don’t have good agreements with selves or others. They be individual beasts. They have some little group rule, so we try to treat one on one, as try treat group is impossible, and they be no good either way.” Cedrick nodded a bit, so why was the dragon working with him? He knew it wasn’t what the others thought. “Well, I almost got the dragon to stop attacking us. It was mostly hurting buildings.” “That is true. It was searching for something.” Mercutio said. “When it got what that beast after, it be gone, then back for meat.” Biglo said. Cedrick bit his lips as he thought carefully. “What if you helped it find what it wanted?” “Female be leavin’,” Biglo said. “Male lie.” “Are females more… gentle?” Cedrick fought to find the right word for Biglo to understand. “Most be, but the are lyin’,” Biglo said. “Females are bargenin’ like. Males say they do too, but only if swornin’ on magic.” “I see.” Cedrick nodded. So she likely would have kept her word for a while. Cedrick would that for next time and he carefully adjusted his pack. “You look tired.” Mercutio nodded at Cedrick playing with his bag. “We’ll talk more about our plans later. The dwarves have presented a great plan, but their king requires us to meet and sign the agreement to make it legal and protect them from Heklis’s spell —between the king and the army, of course. We’ll be traveling south with Roxorim soon. You’ll want to rest beforehand which gives you two days. Enjoy the time off. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Mercutio smiled and clapped him on the back. Cedrick thanked Mercutio for the break and headed home. As he went, he found the place was full of dwarves, a lot more than he’d expected. In all, there must have been at least fifty of them. Though they’d been there a short time, they had fixed most of the town. Cedrick was sure that tower hadn’t been standing when he’d left, and it looked as good as new now. Cedrick slowed his pace a bit to ire the repaired parts (if he could even figure which ones were damaged; the

work was so good it was often impossible to tell). It wasn’t hard to bring him back to reality though. He reached their place and looked down when his wife spotted him and rushed to greet him. Cedrick beamed and hugged her tightly as she threw herself into his arms. He kissed her and spun her around to see that big excited smile as wide as the riverbend. As a reward, she kissed him again after. “I missed you,” She sighed. “And I missed you,” Cedrick agreed as he pressed his head to hers. “I was going to kill Aleph and eat him.” “When I heard he went missing, I was hoping he’d caught up to you, knowing he’d likely try,” Elphacena sighed frustratedly, holding Cedrick’s forearms in her hands as he held onto her elbows to stand close and lean on one another. “I just hope his partner didn’t get into too much trouble.” “I hope not as well, but he likely did have a beating I’d guess.” Cedrick groaned a little. “But there is much to talk about with what happened. Let’s go inside. I shouldn’t make you stand the whole time,” Cedrick teased, kissed her forehead, then put an arm around her to guide her inside. They made sure they were alone and no one could eavesdrop. Elphacena made something warm to eat before they sat down to catch up. Cedrick got right to the point and explained about the egg as he gently pulled the egg out of his pack. Elphacena’s eyes became almost as wide as the egg itself. “Beautiful,” She gasped as she took it. “I’m glad you saved the baby. All life is precious.” Cedrick smiled tenderly and stood up, walked around the table and put an arm around her as he kissed her head, but he didn’t comment more on the idea. “I’m hoping I can either find someone who can take care of it or help it learn to take care of itself. I don’t know if dragons are actually raised by their parents or if the young raise themselves. I’d think the former with the way the mother reacted and looked after them, but who knows. Some animals just guard the eggs ‘til they hatch then leave them be. Maybe the baby will just want to fly off on its own when it hatches.” “Well, we’ll take care of it as long as we have to.” Elphacena assured him. “It’s hiding it I’m most worry about. How do you hide an egg while helping it live?”

“No idea,” Cedrick sighed. “But we’ll manage, though I’m sure it will be hard after hearing the way Biglo talks. I thought I’d just take it with me but that may be riskier. That lot doesn’t like dragons it seems.” “I’d think it wouldn’t hatch so soon. You likely can safely leave it here. That is safer than having it hatch surrounded by dwarves that will want to kill it on sight,” Elphacena agreed. “That’s the thing about it. I knew about dwarves, and they often spoke of hating dragons, but as a child, I just thought they were being funny. I should have realized.” She shook her head. Cedrick’s head snapped up. “You knew about the dwarves? You heard them talk?” Elphacena smiled a little and nodded. “My father was one of those who helped them into hiding. They made the agreement using my father and others as messengers once my father helped them hide. That way Heklis couldn’t turn his back on them and take them out. My father was well respected among their people,” Elphacena sighed. “All of my family was. Well, maybe not me because I was naught but a small child at the time.” Elphacena’s eyes became lost in the distance. “I’ve never seen their lands before,” She said with a hint of longing. “Father didn’t want me in the line of danger, and it was dangerous, so I had to stay with mother.” Elphacena swallowed the knot in her throat. “But my father would tell grand stories about them. He always said he’d take me one day when my mother wasn’t around to stop us, just like he did when he taught me to fight. But mother was never not watching. He joked that my…” Elphacena swallowed and looked down at the fold of her arms resting on the table, “...my children then would get to have more fun with us when they got older.” She blinked hard. Cedrick tightened his arm around her. “I know,” He sighed. “I know.” “Well, it was a long time ago.” Elphacena shook herself and brushed it off. “Now let’s hide him and get you ready to meet with the dwarves.” She stood up. “Me?” Cedrick stood up too, smiling. He grabbed his wife by the waist and twirled her around to face him. “Me?” He pecked her nose with a kiss. “I think you mean we.” “Someone has to keep an eye on your troops and that egg.” She reminded him. “This, my dear,” Cedrick took her hand and led her in a kind of two step on the

spot ‘dancing’ with her, “Is different.” He smiled as he got Elphacena to laugh at his weirdness. He knew that would get a smile from her. “Your father may not be able to take you, but...” He took a step back, taking both hands in his to swing her around before pulling her close, her back against his chest. He beamed down at her. “I think your husband can.” And he kissed her cheek then neck. “You deserve to see it.” He said softly in her ear. “No one is stopping you coming with me.” “Ah, what about the egg?” “Let it hatch while we’re gone. You said yourself it likely won’t. You are more important to me.” Cedrick kissed her cheek again, her neck, then her shoulder. “My wife and my world,” He teased. “Oh no,” She giggled at him. “You are tired from traveling so long with a little Aleph.” “I never said I wasn’t,” Cedrick teased. “But you have had enough let down in your life. You are coming with me. We’ll go together, our special trip, and there will be no fighting about it.” Elphacena sighed, “Aright.” She smiled and kissed his cheek and ran a hand down his face to his chest. “Alright, whatever you say, sir.” Cedrick smiled and kissed her lips. “Whatever you say.”

Chapter 21

Grand Caves of Secrets

It was a much faster trip going to the dwarven lands by underground age than on the surface. Cedrick had never heard of such a thing. He was amazed, and he wished they could figure out how it was done. They went underground much sooner than they’d expected and took one of their carts. Cedrick guessed it would be hardly faster than any of theirs, but it shot at impressive speed towards their goal. Maybe it was because it was going downhill the whole way. They’d gotten underground quickly because an entrance was nearby. It was so well hidden, not even Cedrick would have guessed it was there unless he was told to look for it. They blended into nature so naturally you’d have thought it was just a group of rocks with nothing under it. Biglo had to find it as none of the rest of them could see it. The dwarf reached out a hand and grabbed onto a section of rock and turned it like a door knob. A perfect door opened up, helping them all recognize the beautiful double doors that were hidden in the rock. The doors were set into an elegant archway, only visible to them once it was shown. “Woah…” Elphacena breathed, squeezing Cedrick’s arm. Cedrick smiled at her, imagining her mind full of the tales her father had told her. It was like getting a final gift from her father, and he thought it must be healing for her. “On them comin’,” Biglo smiled. “Leave some of ya with them animals and going be the rest of us.” Cedrick chuckled a bit but was first with Elphacena to follow the dwarf into the age. It grew dark quickly, and Cedrick started looking for his light ball, but Biglo beat them to it. He rubbed a patch of the wall and light filled the age. The light emanated from small stones that lined the age.

“From the main sun gem they be gettin’ they light from, they be,” Biglo explained as Cedrick’s eyebrows drew together, and he reached to touch one. “These gem be gettin’ light from the sun gem.” He tried again to explain it better. “Was that better bein’? My common speech be offish.” “Yes, I understood, and you did well both times.” Cedrick smiled. It was a bit odd, but Cedrick understood him. Though Biglo would likely speak better if he wasn’t so nervous. He also was fascinated by this new language. Cedrick opened his mouth to ask, but Elphacena noticed the glint in his eye and gently rested a hand on his arm. “Later,” She said. Cedrick sighed and shook his head in disappointment. Elphacena giggled. They followed down the trail for an hour or more before the age opened into a bigger age. “Be waitin’ a moment,” Biglo said, “And a carter’ comin’.” “A what?” Elphacena asked. “ ‘Im.” Biglo pointed, and a dwarf pulling a cart zoomed into view and stopped when he saw the group waiting on the spot. He spoke words Cedrick had never heard before to Biglo. “Ro’ya Mochoh?” Biglo nodded. “Kien.” The other dwarf opened the door to the cart, and Biglo smiled at his group. “Load up,” He invited. Cedrick helped Elphacena step into the cart then followed her up to find the cart was more spacious than he’d expected (most of all as dwarves were so much shorter than they were). There was more than enough space for the humans. Biglo told the dwarf where they were going, and they set off at a surprising speed: a speed that actually made their hair fly in the breeze. Cedrick beamed like a child and stuck his head out a little to watch the glowing rocks streak past them. But the speed was so regular that even that got dull. Cedrick sat back where Elphacena fell asleep on his arm. Cedrick started drifting himself at the tedium of the ride when he noticed the walls were gaining more detail. The yellow lights were beginning to mix with red, and the walls became less natural, and more carvings and signs slowly

appeared. Knowing Elphacena would want to see this, Cedrick gently woke her up. Elphacena blinked tiredly. Then her eyes lit up to see all the glowing gems and carvings. It got even better after a few minutes when they arrived in a humongous cavern so large three or four dragons would have had plenty of space to fly around to their hearts’ content. In the center of the ceiling far above them was a giant stone that was big enough to be a throne for four or five dragons at once. It was a perfectly carved stone that was too perfect to be made by hand. It was so bright, it was hard to tell its color, though Cedrick could somehow look at this light without hurting his eyes. The light the gem provided lit the whole city below. The whole city was one of —if not the biggest —city Cedrick had ever seen. There were towers, actual towers, as big as the ones Cedrick knew back in Nerofox, yet there was about a mile or more of air above the towers. These towers were so perfectly carved out of the natural stone they didn’t appear to be built but formed from nature. The sides of the cave walls were dotted with doors, stairs, ladders, paths, and other means of walking from one hole to another. These homes lined the walls all the way up to the ceiling. There was one part of the wall that didn’t have homes in them but had two giant doors. The archway reached up to the ceiling, making them more than a mile high. The doors were carved with dwarves, dragons, and dozens of arabesquing patterns. Words in the language of the dwarves were cut into the rocks as well. Cedrick was stunned by it; he’d never heard or seen the like of it before. How could any being make all of this? The majesty of the work took his breath away. Cedrick tried to look down to try to dim the sparkle in his eyes and only was further impressed. The riches were beyond what he’d even dreamed of. The streets were paved with what appeared to be pure gold or silver, and they were marked by different colored gems all along the way. Cedrick noticed their trail had the yellow gems, and they kept going down into the city. Further Along the road, as other roads merge with theirs, the different colored roads merged , making some strange rainbows until there are too many colors to keep track. They all lead to a door at the far end of the cave. Cedrick followed the colors backwards to see they all led to different ages that led out of the cave. It likely helped them know where each age was, probability serving as road

markers. Biglo beamed to see the stunned faces of his fellow engers. “Welcome,” he said, “to Melchleet, the City of Kings.” “With its size, I’d say the king of dragons. Why is it all so big?” Cedrick couldn’t help but wonder if it was their way of dealing with being so small. They may be small, but they sure made large things. “Aye, able are the dwarves to build grand places no common man could make.” Biglo swelled with pride. “Our fore ancestors made this place, and now with Heklis plotting our end, we all live in these low-land places, but it t’was not always so. I was born in overworld. It place love, I do. Now Heklis has stolen it from us, and we want it back.” Biglo sighed and had the carter move on. They moved into the city at a much slower place —likely to allow them to show off more. The glory of the dwarves’ riches became even more clear as they got closer to the castle. The buildings were decorated with gems and precious ores. The dwarves were dressed in —if possible —even more finery. Even the men had a few dozen jewels in their attire. It made it hard to tell which were men and which were women because the women were as short and stocky as the men, but they had less face hair, only some sideburns and mustaches here and there. Their dresses were of fine rough cloth and bedecked in many gems. Elphacena gripped Cedrick’s arm tighter. “It’s better than father ever described.” She said with stars in her eyes. Cedrick smiled. “I doubt words could ever do it justice,” He said. “It’s grander to see and hardly grand enough to hear.” They finally reached the large doors to find they were open ajar, but with how large the doors were, it was big enough for a dragon to walk in. The cart stopped. Cedrick got out first, so he could help Elphacena. She smiled warmly at him, appreciating his attempts to be a gentleman, though he hardly knew what that meant. Biglo gave the driver a few gems before turning to the rest of them. At least, dwarves use the same currency Cedrick knew.

Biglo went up to the guards at the door and explained, in his language, who the visitors were and what they needed. The guards got them inside quickly and excitedly. This section of cave was carved from marble that looked smoother than silk. Cedrick couldn’t help himself; he touched it. It felt as smooth as silk too, without a single flaw or cut. The pattern of colored gems didn’t stop, but the rainbow continued across the floor, guiding them down the vast corridor to a grand room at the back of the hall. Cedrick guessed it was the throne room from the waterfall of gems that came from it and poured down into the rest of the city from it, and he was right. The throne was tall but not as tall as the room itself. It was about fifteen feet tall at the back. Sitting on this throne was a dwarf with very red cheeks and thick white hair and beard. He wore reds and greens with beautiful browns smattered in the patterns here and there. He smiled graciously at them. “Welcome.” He stood as they came in. “I hope my kingdom delights you.” He had a shockingly high voice, more like a garden gnome than a strong chested dwarf king —though he was as hairy and short and bulky as the rest of his people. “It does, most high king of this realm.” Mercutio bowed to him, and the others did the same. “Allow me to make myself known to you. My name is Mercutio Gadol, and these men are my fellow leaders. This is Cedrick Custod, head of our magical masters; his wife, the Lady Elphacena; and most grand of ours: my lord king, King Roxorim, only living Potentate of the Maker’s right to rule.” “Not last. I placed king as other kings are.” The dwarf king smiled at Mercutio and Roxorim. Cedrick tilted his head. So this king was somehow Potentate? But he was a dwarf. “You’re of the bloodline?” Cedrick couldn’t help but ask. How could the brothers’ lines have anything to do with the change that came over the dwarves’ ancestors? “Not by birth, but by adoptive authority when dwarves found need to be own people. Then dwarves weren’t forced ruled by a people not theirs. It was protection when discrimination to our people in laws and action was often.” Cedrick frowned, unable to understand why anyone would do that. Okay, maybe crack a few short jokes, but make laws against them? What kind of laws? How

did you pick on someone with laws, and why? But it helped Cedrick understand why the king brought it up. He had a right to rule and had no intention of letting these outsiders take over his people, as it should be. “Now then. After journey I am sure you hungry; come, eat with us.” The king waved them to the dining room that held a low table laden with food. Most of it was “underground” food: meat, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and other such foods. It looked grand, and Cedrick realized he was indeed very hungry. This was going to be a real treat. Cedrick made sure to tell the king himself, and Elphacena giggled at him. “Farm boy is showing.” She teased. “What? I’m hungry, and this looks grand.” Cedrick smiled, and she laughed and kissed him on the cheek as they sat down to eat. Many dwarven ladies helped serve them: serving food, getting food from one end of the table to the other, filling glasses, offering wine —which all but the Custods drank, as the Custodian oath forbad drinking alcohol. They should never be impaired by drunkenness, so then no matter what emergency came about, they’d be alert and ready. Cedrick learned quickly dwarves were very proud of their drinking ability. They could drink, and drink hard. The king and Biglo drank enough to make any common man ill, but it didn’t seem to impair them at all. It only made them a bit more jovial. Cedrick was impressed and confused by it. He knew as a Custod his body would get sick off even just a little drink. It was a good thing Cedrick was thinking about it because Elphacena almost went to take some before Cedrick caught her eye. She put it down, and Cedrick chuckled and kissed her cheek. “I hope this pleases you,” The dwarf king said. “Very much.” Roxorim smiled. “You provide well for your allies.” “I am indeed glad please you, and glad to know you like us as allies.” The king beamed. Cedrick had expected his speech to be more like Biglo’s, but it was confident (but just as accented and missing key articles).

“I hope we can continue to call you that.” Roxorim smiled. “Biglo here explained to us a bit of your situation. Could you explain it a bit more to me so I’m sure I understand? I want to be sure we keep your honor intact, so we can please the Maker and keep on the right side in this fight for all our freedom.” Cedrick couldn’t help but smile a little. Roxorim worked his way with the king perfectly. The dwarven king explained the problems they faced with the treaty they were tricked into g, and how it prevented them fighting him outright. Once it was signed, the dwarves were promised protection, so they didn’t fight, only to slowly get picked off by the people of the overlands. With Jaren’s help, they were able to go into hiding and convince Heklis their numbers were too small to care about. Elphacena was transfixed by the story. She knew her father had done it, but she hadn’t heard of what they’d done in such great detail. The king smiled a bit sadly. “For his work, we honored him greatly, even invited him to stay, but he said he had other matters that bound him to return to his own lands.” Cedrick smiled at Elphacena, who blushed. She half wished she had ed him there, and they’d both stayed in hiding. He may still be alive, if they had. “We gave him only metallic silver blades we have: the song birds.” The king said. “Though happened of them after his fall, I do not know but would guess his wicked killer gladly took them.” “Don’t fear that, king,” Elphacena spoke up. “I have them.” “You?” The king looked up at her, stunned. “Why would… my Maker, do I see family resemblance?” He inquired. “Jaren’s my father.” Elphacena smiled. “He gave me the blades and taught me to fight with them. I have them here.” Elphacena turned and drew the two blades. “They are my main weapons as they were once his.” “May I? I promise you get them back; they were your father’s give.” Elphacena agreed and let the king take them and look them over. “As beautiful as ever, if not more,” The king gushed. “I’m glad they fight for defense as were made.” He gave them back to Elphacena. “Had we known whose you are, we’d honored you all more greatly,” The king said. “We must repair that next chance we get.” Elphacena blushed almost as deeply as her hair.

The king smiled at her then turned back to Roxorim. “As I was saying —I hope you pardon the interruption —we are unable to fight for that reason, but we are all more than willing to supply you. As we repaired your city, we can keep doing that as we supply you. Our artisans are masters at repairs and have your cities whole in a week of their damage. Would this agreement be well with you? Oh, and we’d be glad to provide food as your land may be ruined for food-making in the battles, and we grow year round.” “These two parts of assistance are more than we could have ever hoped for. We will hold to our own for fighters and praise and bless you for your time and help,” Roxorim said sincerely. “If you are agreed to this, we will be your sword and you our bread and hammer. We can sign on it, and for as long as I reign, you shall always be defended by us.” “An agreement I can sign on.” The king beamed. “Once we are all well fed and drunk and you all rested from your travels, we shall write it out and have it be signed.” Roxorim nodded his agreement of this plan. “Then we shall be true allies.” “Agreed.” The king had finished his food and with a delight laugh smashed his plate onto the ground. Cedrick frowned. That was odd. Several others who had finished their food also smashed their dishes. “It’s a tradition. At the end, the parts are gathered, melted and reformed into new plates.” Elphacena explains to Cedrick. “Water is rarer down here, melting the plates and making new ones is better for saving water.” Cedrick grinned. “In that case.” He enjoyed throwing his own plate to the ground in celebration. Elphacena laughed.

*****

Turned out once they were in the dwarf kingdom, there wasn’t much Cedrick was actually needed for, so he took full advantage of it and took Elphacena to see the sights. The king kept his promise and provided Elphacena with more

than enough money to get any trinket from town she desired as well as enough to do anything else she wanted to do —likely, she could buy several shops if she wanted to. On top of that, he was planning a grand feast in her honor that night that all nobles and as many common folk as they could fit were invited to. Elphacena was a bit nervous about that, but Cedrick was sure it would be nothing but fun and good stories of her father’s antics among the dwarves. For some strange reason, that seemed to make Elphacena more nervous, so Cedrick decided to steer away from that. It was easy because the dwarven cities were just fun to look at, and the people found them just as fun because it had been years since any normal human had come down to the dwarven lands. The sellers were most anxious to sell their wares to them and so other people could see them. Cedrick ignored their calling voices and words as best he could, but all this attention was making him extra nervous. So Cedrick wasn’t too surprised when an old dwarf came up to them and was prepared to turn down a plea to buy his wares, but the dwarf didn’t even try to apply any kind of sales pitch to them. “Cedrick Custod.” He spoke directly to Cedrick. He was so direct it made Cedrick pause and looked down at him. “I’m sorry. Have we met?” Cedrick asked, frowning in confusion. After all, he’d never met a dwarf before Biglo. “How do you know my name?” The dwarf gave a strange smile. “Your mother told me.” “What?” Cedrick gaped at him. Elphacena was distracted by some gems woven into cloth, so she didn’t hear any of this conversation. “How…She didn’t even know my name yet. She didn’t know if I was a boy or a girl. They had no name picked for me, and she died when I was born. How could she have told you my name?” Cedrick felt it was crazy, but he somehow believed him, but it couldn’t be possible… could it? “She knew, Cedrick. She knew more than you know. I have something of hers that you will need,” The dwarf said. “What? Something of hers? How can that be?” Cedrick was getting suspicious, but at the same time he couldn’t help believing the odd dwarf.

“She left it with me. I taught her to make these.” The dwarf waved a hand to his stall where there hung dozens of hanging ornaments like windchimes made of various kinds of colored glasses, gemstones, and other rare metals. Cedrick had seen their like before when he was a boy. He’d found a whole box of them buried in the stable under an unused stall. Cedrick’s doubts fled. “What is it?” He looked back down at this strange dwarf. He didn’t look much different than the other average dwarves he’d seen. He had pale skin —from being underground so much, most likely —that was covered in freckles or red spots. His hair was long and matted like a bird's nest and an ordinary shade of brown. His eyes were the only thing that betrayed his great age, covered in wrinkles that hid the mysterious brown eyes. There really was nothing that strange or unique about him other than what he seemed to know. “It’s not here. I must take you to it, come.” The dwarf began to lead the way. Cedrick made a big mistake and forgot to say a word to his wife. He was too caught up in the moment, and he followed the dwarf without a second thought. The dwarf led him to a small tunnel on the edge of the city and wiggled inside. Cedrick paused, unsure he’d fit, but he had to try. He swallowed down his nervousness, got to all fours, and began to half military crawl, half claw his way through the hole. It opened out enough for Cedrick to stand, but not to his full height. Cedrick was able to get in more easily because he was skinnier than the dwarf so that balanced out his efforts to keep on the dwarf’s tail. It was a good thing it did because the dwarf moved at a rapid pace far ahead of Cedrick. Cedrick almost lost him several times which was a big problem as the tunnel had many branches off, one could get lost forever in them, but Cedrick knew how to track and found his footprints without too much trouble, so he caught up eventually. Finally, the dwarf brought him into a room tall enough for him to stand upright in. “It’s here,” The dwarf said as he picked up a box that was inside a side of a wall. His back was to Cedrick, so he couldn’t see what it was. Cedrick stepped closer to try to see and bent down lower to get a good view. Before Cedrick could, the dwarf turned sharply and placed the object to Cedrick’s forehead. Though he didn’t hit him with it, Cedrick felt a shock ripple through his whole body. A white light flashed before his eyes. He caught a

glimpse of something shiny before everything went black.

*****

Cedrick blinked several times and shook his head to shake off the disorientation before standing up. He was standing in a beautiful palace garden in a land he’d never seen before. There were several people —not dwarven people —milling about. They all had the same kind of thick, dark colored hair Cedrick had. They were wandering about the green land around them, and it wasn’t just that this land was greener than Cedrick had seen. It was a deeper shade of green. The air had a fresh tang in it that Cedrick liked one moment then disliked the next. A soothing sound like rushing water teased Cedrick’s ears; it came from somewhere over the palace wall to his right. It sounded like the water was moving up and then down. Cedrick had never heard anything like it. Cedrick looked to his right to follow the sound only to jump at who he saw there: his mother. “Mother?” He said, worried she’d be upset it took him that long to notice her, but she didn’t take note of him. Something about her seemed off, different from when he’d seen her in the last vision. Was it that she looked younger and less worn with not as much of a wrinkle to her eyes? Yet that couldn’t be right. How could she look younger? Then Cedrick reminded himself she could do whatever she wanted. She was dead. “Uh mom?” Cedrick was confused why she ignored him, but she still acted like she couldn’t hear him. Maybe she couldn’t. Cedrick stood there stupidly, wondering what he should do. He swallowed and looked around at the others around him, but he didn’t see anyone else he knew. One of them, a young lady, rushed over and walked right through Cedrick, literally. Cedrick stood frozen in shock for a moment. That woman had walked through him like he was a cloud of mist without even noticing, and he’d not felt a thing. It was a horrifying experience. It was as if he wasn’t there. Cedrick slowly turned and watched as the woman sat next to his mother on the

stone bench, giggling. “The king’s party is here,” She said. “With their guard, and they are very cute.” Both girls giggled. This woman had the same kind of trill in her voice Cedrick’s mother had. “How many of them?” Eldalane asked. “Come on, Rosaline. Tell me.” “Mm, I don’t know, sister. I think you may be too young for that talk,” Rosaline teased. Eldalane hit her sister’s arm playfully. “I’m as old as you were when you met Mercio, so out with it, you silly heart.” Rosaline smiled delightedly. “There are three of them,” She confessed. “There are two brothers —brothers of the direct line, I may add.” The girls giggled again. “And their cousin, then of course the three married ones, the fathers.” “And they’re all guarding the king?” “Of course,” said Rosaline. “What else would they be doing? But be careful in your choosing, sister. I think the younger brother is a bit wild.” “Wild?” Eldalane laughed but also frowned in confusion. “Why would you say that?” “Well, he just saw Ariella and me, and the moment he saw us he decided the drawbridge was too easy of a way to cross.” “What did he do?” Eldalane demanded when Rosaline paused in her tail. “He swam the moat.” Eldalane laughed in disbelief and amusement. “He swam the moat?” She repeated. “Really?” “Yes, he’s in the throne room with the rest of them dripping wet, and his father does not look at all happy.” Rosaline giggled. “What about the other brother? What he is like?” Eldalane asked.

“A god,” Rosaline sighed. “Perfect sister, he’s perfect. He stands like a prince with the power of a Custod and rules of the sky. He’s the one I’d keep my eye on, Elda.” “You don’t want a bit of fun and adventure in your life?” Eldalane giggled teasingly. “I think a wild husband might just be fun.” Rosaline sighed, “You are hopeless, my sister. Hopeless. You’ll get your comeuppance for that someday. You’ll have a horrible end caused by some accident that you find in your ‘adventures’. I promise you if you keep that up, you’ll die in some mad fanciful way.” “Oh really?” Eldalane smiled. “How could I die otherwise?” “Maybe if you really settled down and had children, lived a long happy life, and died of old age,” Rosaline said. “Or like Katrina in childbirth or something normal, but no, not Elda. She’ll end up losing her head both figuratively and literally.” Both sisters giggled. Cedrick just gaped at both of them. This was the oddest vision he had ever seen. What was happening? No one could see him or touch him, yet he could do both to them. Then what this woman, Rosaline, called his mother, sister? He had aunts? Now Cedrick thought about it he’d never be told he didn’t have aunts on that side of the family. He’d not be told anything of that side of the family. He knew all the Custods were dead, but what about his mother’s side? Was this Rosaline still alive somewhere? Were any of these people still alive somewhere? Well, his mother was in this vision, so this must be of the past, but how was it possible, and even more importantly, why? Another girl, who looked like she could be yet another sister, rushed into view. She stopped in an archway, slightly breathless as she looked around. She spotted the other two girls, beamed in delight and rushed over to them, her skirt making a graceful scene as she glided over beside the other two girls. “Oh Elda!” She cried. “Did you see them? The younger swam the moat; I wish I could have seen.” She giggled, but more gracefully than her sisters did. “Rosa told me, Ariella.” Eldalane smiled. “What did he look like? I hear his brother is like a god, but what about the rest of them?”

“Oh Elda, they are all as cute as a pack of puppies.” Ariella smiled. “Oh Elda, you need to get a look at them. The eldest brother is like something out of a child’s tail. He’s blond with the deepest green eyes you’ve ever seen. I would kill to have those eyes all to myself.” She giggled delicately. “And the one who swam the moat looks a lot like his brother, but he’s still growing into it. He’s still trying to grow a beard.” “What?” Eldalane seemed surprised. “It isn’t much of anything but a mess of hair on his face,” Rosaline explained. “It’s really rather funny.” “But his amber eyes are nothing to turn your nose up at. Maybe he’ll master the beard later.” Ariella shrugged. “They are almost as pretty as his brothers, but their cousin wins the prize for best of the pack.” “Only because you like them dark,” Rosaline smiled. “Ooo,” Ariella sighed in ecstasy. “He’s tall with dark hair and eyes like the sky after a storm, that deep swirling gray. He’s built like that wrestler that ed through last week.” “The ones you were having kittens over.” Eldalane rolled her eyes. “Exactly,” Ariella sighed. Rosaline laughed. “Well, you can keep him to yourself. I’m going for the blonds: the elder brother, as the younger still needs to grow into himself.” All three laughed. A commotion started at the doors on their left. “The king,” Rosaline gasped, and all three girls shot to their feet as a parade ed. Cedrick looked over at them with a rather bored expression. He was ready to have this over with. Listening to his mother drooling over different men was really dull. Why did he have to stand here and listen to all of this? Then Cedrick’s jaw hit the floor. “Dad?!” He cried, ready to burst into laughter. Sure enough, the young man standing there had to be his father, but he didn’t

fully look like him. Those eyes were his father’s, and the face was right — though it wasn’t covered by a beard yet. He looked just as the girls described. The beard was just a patch of blond prickles here and there on his face. Margorim himself was smaller, not shorter, but smaller, and less muscular than Cedrick knew him. He still had some building up to do, but that face was unmistakable. He’d never have guessed this was his father in a million years. His father’s blond hair was messier than Cedrick’s was, cut too long with messy blond strands all over. With his facial features and grin, he looked more like Cedrick than Cedrick had ever seen him. His body type looked more like Cedrick’s without the mountain of muscles. This boy looked ridiculous compared to the man he’d one day be, but Cedrick had to it to himself he had to be fair. This boy version of his father could hardly be sixteen at the oldest, hardly old enough to be the hulk he’d become. Margorim had likely only just ed his own test. Cedrick had heard them say “the Custods” and knew the king’s guards would be Custods because back then —with enough Custods —they were used as unbiased guards of royalty when they met with other kingdoms, but he’d not even dreamed his father would be one of them. So Cedrick’s Uncle Rabaan was the older brother they’d spoken of, and Cedrick had never heard of this cousin before. Then there was, of course, Cedrick’s grandfather, Roxorim’s name sake. Cedrick tried to pick out which he was as they ed. His uncle was at the back and looked more like Cedrick’s father the way Cedrick knew him, but he didn’t sport a beard, and the girls were right about his green eyes, pale green and sharp. He was built more like Cedrick’s elder brother and father. He also picked out the cousin because Ariella described him almost exactly. Then, at the back was the man Cedrick was most interested in: his grandfather. He was huge, maybe bigger than Margorim and maybe larger than his namesake. He had a beard like Margorim did now and deep gray eyes and —unlike Margorim —he held a wisdom about him that made those around him greet him with great respect. He looked almost just as Cedrick had always imagined he would. As they ed, the Custods were quiet as they guarded the two kings talking between them. Margorim was looking around in a way Cedrick recognized as

scanning for danger. His eyes landed on the three girls, and —to Cedrick’s eternal shock - he didn’t look at Eldalane, his bride-to-be, but he looked at Ariella and gave her a wink. Cedrick fought back the urge to laugh. The shock wave could have knocked him out. Did his father just wink at a girl? Cedrick could hardly believe it, and he wished Arylana and Roxorim could have been there with him to see it. Cedrick would never forget this. Ariella blushed a pretty blush, more of a flirt than a real bush. Margorim beamed in delight, and his chest swelled a little. Then he caught his father’s eye and became solemn again. But before they were out of sight, Margorim gave the girls another wink. “I told you he was wild.” Ariella giggled once they were sure they were gone. “Too much so.” Eldalane shook her head disapprovingly. “He’s a Custod. Shouldn’t he take it more seriously?” Rosaline shrugged. “When you grow up with it, maybe it just feels normal. You don’t see it as special or in need of solemnness.” Eldalane shook her head. “Well,” she said with a sniff, “He’s young. Maybe, he’ll grow into it.” “So which would you take?” Rosaline beamed at the game. “If you had to marry one, which would it be?” “How could I make a choice when I don’t know them?” Eldalane sounded offended. “Just off of what you saw? Come on,” Ariella begged. Eldalane sighed, “Alright, how about… none?” “No!” The other two cried. “You have to pick or one the kingdom is doomed,” Rosaline tried. “Alright.,” Eldalane sighed. “Then I’d take…the father.”

The others laughed. “Well, I did say any of them,” Rosaline itted with a smile. “No, come on. Play with us. Which of the eligible ones?” Ariella begged. “I’ll never tell.” Eldalane smiled. “I answered your silly question; that should be enough.” “We’ll know one day, Elda,” Rosaline said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “One day we will.” Eldalane just rolled her eyes. Cedrick’s surroundings faded into a multicolored fog that hovered around Cedrick for a moment. Cedrick expected to wake up, but instead the colors reformed into a new shape, and Cedrick stood inside a chamber. It was still the same castle, but it was a new room full of musical instruments. Ariella was playing a piano while Rosaline was doing some kind of sewing Cedrick had never seen before. She was pushing a needle in and out of a circle that held a piece of fabric tight across it. Cedrick had to look around a bit longer to find his mother, but he did find her at last. She sat on a stool wearing a pair of tros under her skirt because she held a cello in her arms, playing it masterfully. Cedrick had never heard such wonderful music. Ariella’s piano was playing along with her, and Cedrick was entranced by it but mostly the cello. A strand of hair hung in front of Eldalane’s face as she played, but she didn’t notice it or anything else around her really. She was too lost in her art, too lost in her instrument as she gracefully slid the bow across them. The music was beautiful, enchanting. Cedrick could have sworn he’d heard it before, but where? It was such a small hint he couldn’t place it. Though he couldn’t place it, he could have stood and listened to it all day because not only was it beautiful, but she looked so graceful, it was hard not for him not to stare and wish he’d known her. She worked on music the same way Cedrick worked on magic. She was so absorbed and involved in what she was doing. Not only was she very good at it, but she loved it. The door opened, and Cedrick’s father stepped in. Margorim stepped inside and

froze; no one noticed him because of it. He stood frozen as he watched Eldalane play in much the same way as Cedrick had done. He, like Cedrick, stood and enjoyed her song until the song ended. When it did end, Ariella beamed. “Oh Elda, father will love it. You have done it again! You do have a talent for composition and playing.” Eldalane blushed slightly. “It’s nothing, just something I thought of for fun.” “Stop being so modest.” Rosaline beamed, counting something on her circle. “It’s stunning.” “I’ve never heard better.” They all looked up as Margorim spoke, and —to Cedrick’s shock —he blushed. He didn’t look much different from the last vision, so it had to be around the same time. Margorim looked so uneasy; Cedrick had never seen his father look so uncomfortable before. “Oh woah, thank you,” Eldalane said, truly surprised. “Didn’t think a man like you would appreciate it.” “Well, I-I’ve always had a soft spot for music,” Margorim said, then added hastily, “Just don’t tell my father I said that.” “Why not?” Eldalane asked, shocked. The other girls looked concerned. Margorim shrugged. “Oh, I guess you wouldn’t understand. It’s just a part of who we are. We can’t afford to be soft.” “I don’t think you can afford not to.” Margorim stared at Eldalane in interest. “Why is that?” “Well, if you don’t care about the people you protect, how are you supposed to do a good job of protecting them?” Eldalane shrugged. “Makes sense to me.” Margorim smiled. “I see. I never thought about it like that before.” “Well, you should,” Eldalane sighed, carefully putting her cello away in its case. “A stone may be strong, but it can’t do anything because it’s too strong and stiff to allow it to move.”

Cedrick’s eyebrows shot up. He’d once said something much the same to his father. His father hadn’t said a word to him for two days after that. Did he do that often? Great, another reason for his father to hate him. Cedrick sighed. Margorim smiled again. “You’ll have to tell me more about it later. I was asked to call Madam Rosaline into the chamber.” “Of course.” Rosaline stood up. Margorim bowed to her and opened the door for her to . He gave Eldalane a final look before he left. He paused, smiled, turned, and gave her a wink. Eldalane rolled her eyes which only made Margorim beam before he followed her sister out. “Ooo,” Ariella said playfully. “Oh be quiet, it doesn’t mean anything,” Eldalane insisted. “He’s been flirting like that with everyone, ?” “Not like that.” “Yes, he has.” Ariella gave her a look. “Whatever,” Eldalane snarled. “Sure sister, whatever.” Ariella smiled.

*****

“Cedrick! Cedrick!” A hand was shaking Cedrick roughly. He grunted and squeezed his eyes, though he’d not yet opened them before he finally opened them. When his eyes came into focus, he saw Elphacena was kneeling over him. “Thank the Father,” Elphacena sighed. “I thought…I-I feared I may have lost you.”

“What?” Cedrick looked around, trying to get his bearings. “What happened?” He lay on the dirt floor of the room the dwarf had led him to. “I just...” What had he just seen? “Are you alright? I think he hit your head.” “With what?” Elphacena held up a red rock that looked very gem-like, one may have mistaken it for a ruby, but it was too smooth to be a real gemstone. There wasn’t a bend or a mark in it. It was a perfectly round stone as if it had been rubbed smooth by waves or water running over it again and again. Cedrick tilted his head as he gently took the stone from his wife’s hand. “What is it?” “No idea.” Elphacena shrugged. “I’ve never seen anything like it. What happened?” “I was following him. He led me in here then I guess he hit me with that, but I don’t feel any pain on my head. He would have struck me here.” Cedrick touched the center of his forehead. “Is there a mark?” Elphacena shook her head. “And there would be if he hit you that hard. How odd.” She frowned. “How long was I out?” Cedrick asked. With those visions, it must have been hours. “About a minute,” Elphacena replied. “It didn’t take me long to rouse you.” Cedrick looked around to see the dwarf he’d followed was gone. Only about a minute, maybe he could still catch up to the dwarf and ask him what had just happened to him. Cedrick shot to his feet. “Cedrick, there’s no way you could find him. Those tunnels are impossible. I tried it myself for a bit before realizing I may not be able to get back to you. You were just waking up when I did.” Elphacena stood too. “What happened? I saw you follow him and followed as fast as I could. When I finally caught up by following your prints, I saw you fall. I called out and the dwarf ran for it up

another tunnel.” Cedrick looked at the tunnel she’d nodded too and went over to it. There were five branching tunnels going in all sorts of directions, but he couldn’t see the dwarf’s prints. He frowned. Had he used magic to cover it up? “Why did you follow him?” Elphacena asked slowly, daring to move closer to Cedrick. “He knew my mother,” Cedrick said. “And my name. He said my mother told him my name, but how is that possible when she didn’t know it herself for sure ‘til I was born? She didn’t even know if I was a boy or a girl because only magic could tell her that and no one around knew that magic. Even though I knew she couldn’t have known, I believed him and had to learn more. I followed him because I had to know more. I just knew he wasn’t lying. He told me he had something of my mother’s he wanted to give me; I was so intrigued I just followed him. I-I’m sorry I didn’t say anything to you. I should have, but I was so distracted. I didn’t even think about it. I just had to know.” Elphacena nodded slowly. “So what did he want to give you?” “I… I think it may have been this stone,” Cedrick said, looking over it. “But why, I have no idea, except that I think he touched me with it when I was knocked out.” Cedrick swallowed, nervous to explain, but he had no desire to hide it so went on. He told Elphacena everything. “It was the oddest thing I’d ever seen. I don’t know what to make of it, other than it may have been the gem that had the memories.” Elphacena’s mouth had fallen slightly open as Cedrick explained. She studied Cedrick a moment, then closed her mouth with a shake of her head. “I have no… yeah, I have no idea. I don’t even know how that rock could have made you see those visions. I suppose it was holding the memories, but I’ve never seen that before.” “Maybe,” Cedrick agreed. “I don’t know how to react to it all, and even less, I don’t know how to tell father.” “For now, don’t,” Elphacena said firmly. “Maybe we’ll figure it out later.” Elphacena looked around. “Meanwhile, I don’t feel it’s safe for us to stay here. We should go.”

Cedrick nodded his firm agreement. “Let’s go.” Elphacena took his hand, squeezed it, then let go. “I’m sorry I ruined your day of fun,” Cedrick sighed. He was now in an odd mood, and he knew he’d be no fun to go around town with now. “I put a drag on it all.” “Well, maybe not yet, I still need a dress for tonight.” Elphacena smiled mischievously. “You can help me pick one out. I’ll have it for parties after too.” “Alright.” Cedrick sighed. “I’m just sorry it won’t be as much fun. That incident put me in an odd mood,” He confessed. He tried to give her a good smile, but it wasn’t much. “That’s not your fault.” She kissed his cheek. “Let’s just try to use it to cheer you up, okay?” “Alright.” Cedrick smiled a little. “I’ll try.” He kissed her cheek back. “I love you.” Elphacena reminded him. “I know you too.” Cedrick hugged her close. “So much. You’re my whole world.” He stroked her hair. “And you’re mine,” Elphacena sighed blissfully, resting her head on his chest. “My whole world, I love you so much.” Cedrick closed his eyes and rested his head on hers. Why did the past matter? This was happening now. This was his life, and this as all he never needed. That thought helped him enjoy the rest of their time out. Cedrick did cheer up and was in good spirits by the time the evening came around and the party began. It was unlike any of the other parties he had endured. The dwarves were much less stiff on any kind rule or ceremony. They danced however they wanted with no structure unless they wanted to, as some did. There also was a lot more drinking, but they didn’t seem to get drunk no matter how much they drank. They got louder and more excited but not quite drunk as Cedrick had heard of it. They spent the evening enjoying many stories, most about Elphacena’s father’s heroic deeds in saving the dwarves.

While Elphacena enjoyed the stories, Cedrick spoke with Biglo to get to know him. He was a lighthearted fellow and overly friendly. He was a toymaker by profession. Cedrick liked his funny way of talking, and Cedrick used it to help him learn more of their tongue. Biglo was being assigned to be their ambassador for the king; he would return with them to their own nations. Cedrick was honestly glad to hear it and made sure Biglo knew that. It delighted the dwarf. When they went back to their room for the night, Cedrick looked up at the sunstone, the large light producing gem in the center of the cave ceiling. It had darkened as it came to night. The dimmer light allowed Cedrick to see there was a shape in it: a bird. Cedrick glanced down at his Custodian crest. The bird on the sunstone was a phoenix like the one on his family crest. Cedrick found this amusing as he put an arm around his wife. Tomorrow they’d begin the travel home, and then who knew what waited, but Cedrick felt sure it was looking up. The tragedy of Montressa was going to be left far behind.

Chapter 22

Sweet Adolescence

With the dwarves on their side, plans for retaking Montressa were finally easy and settled upon quite quickly. The dwarves could repair anything that was damaged in days, and that made breaking into these places ten times easier than they had ever expected it would be. The excitement was almost tangible in the ranks. As plans finally fell into place, Cedrick insisted on only one thing: Rackwrith not know the full plan. Mercutio felt it unnecessary but agreed to keep the peace and kept Rackwrith as in the dark. They both just had to hope Rackwrith wouldn’t notice. Once the plan was made, they had to send for Lieutenant Liam, who was going to lead their side surprise attack team. Mercutio wanted as many people involved as possible because he knew hearts were riding on this one. That defeat ruined their moral and winning it back would bolster it ten times what it had been before. This win decided the tide of the war. Cedrick felt excited about the whole thing, sure it would work. They’d get their justice and their city back. He also was anxious to feel like they were making progress again. A battle did wonders for making him feel like they were finally getting somewhere. He also felt hopeful because Mercutio agreed to keep all quiet from Rackwrith, so Cedrick felt sure there’d be no surprises, (and it meant Mercutio wasn’t a complete idiot). Cedrick went home after the meeting finalizing the plan in a very good mood. He was almost giddy when he was getting ready for bed and telling Elphacena they were closer to the attack then ever as he pulled off his shirt in beaming delight. Elphacena was smiling as if amused, but she also looked a bit worried. “Cedrick, you’re really excited for this attack?”

“I am.” Cedrick smiled a little. Elphacena’s hidden frown appeared and deepened. “That’s not like you. You don’t like battle and…bloodshed. Last time we spoke about something like this, you were uneasy. Now you’re anxious to get started. What happened?” Cedrick swallowed. “It’s not shedding blood I look forward to.” Cedrick shuddered. He wished she hadn’t brought it up. Ever since his first kill, he’d dreaded battle and more death, even now after so many battles under his belt. His first kill had made him sick —literally —and each after made him feel like his heart was drenched in black poison that made him feel sick at heart. Each one made the acid stronger, but their creator had called him to battle, so he did it. He’d adjust, right? “It’s...” Cedrick tried to phrase his words carefully. “I’m looking forward to the shot at getting justice for Drake by getting back at Neramith. He killed Drake and caused the death of his wife and unborn baby. I want justice that’s all.” “Justice or vengeance?” Elphacena asked testily. “What do you want to do to him?” Cedrick thought about it. “Kill him as he did Drake. If not me, someone else can do it.” “How do you want him to die?” Elphacena was trying to look into his face. “As he did Drake. I don’t care how: fast, slow, instant. I don’t care.” “You really don’t want it slow?” “I don’t care,” Cedrick said firmly. “I want him to pay.” Cedrick set his teeth as a now familiar fire crackled inside of him. “Aleph is an orphan because of him. Does he not get justice for that? His father will never teach him to be a man. His mother won’t shed tears of joy at his wedding. And it’s that horrible man’s fault. I want him to pay for it!” Cedrick felt the fire in him crackle. That man deserved death, and Cedrick wanted to make sure he got it by his hands or by another’s. Elphacena watched him carefully. “Alright,” She said slowly. “I just wanted to be sure.” She heard how he’d lost control after Drake died. She wanted to be sure he’d keep his head. What if he lost it and killed anyone in sight? What if he lost it so bad, he’d hurt his own men?

“No fear,” Cedrick promised as he sat on the bed beside her. “You keep me sane.” He kissed her. Elphacena sighed contentedly as he moved down to kiss her neck, “Good because you do the opposite to me.” “Do I?” Cedrick grinned playfully. “Oh no, Cedrick.” Elphacena tried to be serious, but an evil smiled was creeping up her cheeks as Cedrick put an arm around her waist. “Oh no? Oh no what?” He asked. “You’re impossible,” Elphacena sighed. “Oh my dear, nothing is impossible.” Elphacena giggled. “If you say so.” She kissed him deeper, comforted in the thought that no matter how bad it got they would always have each other and a nice night alone.

*****

When Cedrick finally fell asleep, he saw his mother again in her memories. She was walking in the garden, and the captain of the guard was talking to her, looking deeply worried. “Look, they are trying to get to the king through you, Lady Eldalane. You must have a guard. The Custods are born for this work.” “I don’t like it,” Eldalane insisted. “I don’t want them.” “Rabaan will head the team, and the others will take it in shifts,” The guard insisted, not taking no for an answer. “If you are killed, the king will blame it on Tearirum, and you know what that will do.” Eldalane hesitated and still didn’t look happy. “Alright,” She acquiesced. “If it really is that important.”

“It is,” The guard insisted. “Don’t worry. They can protect you. They will bother you as little as you like or as much as you like.” He smiled with a sparkled in his eye. “They are strong young men who are bound to your attention, after all.” “Oh, uh-aha,” Eldalane said. “I’ll do it, but I do it under protest; I do not believe it is necessary.” “Truly madam, it is,” The guard insisted firmly. “Thank you for agreeing to this, though it is hard for you.” This scene melted like it had before and changed to show Eldalane out in the countryside. Rabaan, the cousin Cedrick didn’t know, and two common guards were there. They stood around Eldalane, but let her do her thing, but they looked nervous about it. “Look,” Eldalane sighed exasperatedly. “It’s been two months. Can’t we drop it? Relax, no one wants to hurt me. Can’t you see that?” “I am sorry, me lady, but we have seen proof otherwise, and we will handle it as we see fit and try to protect you best we can,” Rabaan said formally. Eldalane huffed and rolled her eyes. “If you say so.” She put an apple into her basket. It was silent for a while. Eldalane groaned. “Will you at least talk to me? You said no one else could come because you didn’t want to protect them too. At least talk to me if you’re going to condemn me to this loneliness.” Rabaan looked surprised at her words. “About what, me lady?” He asked. “Wow, you Custods are thick. Just talk. Don’t you all know how to just talk?” Eldalane demanded. “Well, yes, of course.” He sounded a bit surprised but still formal. “We just don’t often do it while working or with people we're guarding. Most don’t want us to.” “Well, I do.” Eldalane gave him a look. “So talk to me.” The other men chuckled, and Rabaan gave them a warning look. “Alright,” He said. “Well, I uh, what do you want to talk about then?” Eldalane sighed, “You are so thick, worse than a tree, worse than –” But she

didn’t get to finish. Rabaan’s eyes widened, and he moved as quick as a flash in front of her. Eldalane sighed. “Let me guess another poor raccoon, ratcoon, or farmer?” She said tiredly. There was a sudden yell and five men jumped out of nowhere, all armed to the teeth. Without missing a beat, a lesser guard jumped to block them, and the two Custods grabbed Eldalane. “Let’s go,” Rabaan said firmly as he took her arm. They raced for the carriage. Two more attackers blocked their path. Rabaan contended with them, while his cousin stayed close to Eldalane, who looked petrified. Cedrick was sure she’d never seen anything like this in her life and was terrified and unsure how to act. Rabaan cut down the two men and reached for Eldalane. She took his hand, and he raced her safely into the carriage. The two other guards ed them. As they got Eldalane safely inside. A whirring suddenly filled the air, and a knife came into view out of the corner of Eldalane’s eye. It struck Rabaan in the chest, and he gasped, stumbling back. Eldalane screamed and jumped out of the carriage to his side. “Get back inside!” Rabaan half yelled, half snarled at her. “Oh my vene, you’re hurt.” Eldalane gasped, hardly listening. “My lady, you must get in,” One of the guards said as the cousin took out a bow and looked to strike back at the attacker. He found him and shot him out of a nearby tree as Eldalane fought with the guard to get Rabaan into the carriage with her. “No, not until we get him inside too,” Eldalane insisted stubbornly. “He needs medical help, now!” The guards had no choice but to comply which slowed them, but with the cousin covering them, they lifted Rabaan and got him inside. Eldalane climbed in and rested Rabaan’s head on her lap as one guard jumped up to drive. The other guard held one side of the carriage with a crossbow in hand to fire back at attackers. Cedrick got into the carriage to make sure he stayed with them, but he wasn’t

sure he had to. He was sitting inside the wall after all. Eldalane was doing her best to try to stop Rabaan’s bleeding, and Cedrick was impressed to see she knew not to take out the knife until she could stop the bleeding. “H-hold on.” She was saying. “Just hang in there.” “You’re nuts,” Rabaan said hoarsely. “You should have left me behind.” “And let you die!” Eldalane cried, horrified. “Never.” “It’s our job.” Rabaan panted. “It’s what we do. I was prepared to do it.” “Well, I wasn’t,” Eldalane said stubbornly. “Not if I could help you at all, even if it’s just to… to let you see your family again. This isn’t good.” She was panting herself and going a bit pale in shock. “I wish I had something to stop the bleeding with, so I could remove the knife, but...” She bit her lip. “Just hold on. I’m doing my b-best.” “I’m surprised you know not to take the knife out ‘til then; most assume they should do that first.” Eldalane smiled. “I like studying things like that too much. As my family says it, I have an unhealthy interest in adventure.” “You sound like my brother,” Rabaan laughed, trying to keep her calm. It sounded painful. “Margorim’s the same way.” “Don’t try to talk.” Eldalane was nervous with how weak his voice sounded. “Just breathe, and you’ll be fine. At least, you’ll see your brother again. I promise.” “Don’t make a promise you can’t control,” Rabaan said, meeting her eyes warningly. “You should know that as a lady.” “Well, it makes you feel better, doesn’t it?” Eldalane smiled. “But I will do my best to make sure that happens. That is what I’m really promising, and you know that.” Rabaan just forced a smile, then gasped with his eyes rolling up slightly. “Just hold on.” Eldalane assured him, “Just hold on.”

As the scene faded, Cedrick was at first confused but then realized Eldalane would know Cedrick would know Rabaan didn’t die that day. He was the last Custod Heklis had killed, and she knew his father would have at least told him that. As the scene reformed, Eldalane was again sitting in the music room, but her sisters weren’t there: only Margorim. From the way he looked, it became apparent it had been a few years since she’d first laid eyes on him because he had changed. He wore a full goatee and mustache style beard now with sideburns, but it wasn't quite full enough to be a beard yet. He also had filled out a little, but wasn’t as bulky as he would one day be. Eldalane looked uncomfortable and because of it neither of them were speaking. Eventually, Eldalane got the nerve to speak. “I’m sorry I got your brother stabbed,” She said. “It’s part of the job. That wasn’t your fault.” That was the voice Cedrick knew from his father, fully matured, but there was more lightheartedness and upbeatness in it than Cedrick had ever heard before. The sad husk his father would become hadn’t even started to bloom yet. After all, Eldalane, the love of his life, was still alive. He looked to be about eighteen or so. His eyes looked stronger with the light of adventure burning well in them. “I see, but he’ll be okay, right?” “Oh yeah. Give him a few months, and he’ll be right back at work. One of those months is just training to get his body back into full fighting strength. If he had a job like you did, he’d be back in a month or a few weeks.” Margorim assured her. “But I guess that means you’re stuck with me. I know you likely liked him better. I mean he is more, well…” Margorim trailed off. Eldalane groaned. “Why does everyone think I like him?” She demanded. “He was cold and never talked to me. He was boring.” Margorim smiled. “Really? You didn’t like that?” “No, of course not! I like people who are friendly. Thank you,” Eldalane said. “More like you.” Then she stopped, realizing what she’d said and blushed. “I mean you talk to me is all, you know.”

“Yeah, I get it. He is stoic.” Margorim looked rather smug. Eldalane hesitated and looked away. Margorim watched her a moment. “I thought you wanted to play on your cello. I thought that’s why we came up here.” “I just… don’t like to play alone.” Eldalane was playing with the cello bow in one hand. Margorim hesitated and looked around. Though Cedrick felt it was an excuse. She just wasn’t in the mood to play. “How long will we be alone?” Margorim asked. “All day, my sisters are busy shopping for Ariella’s wedding, why?” Margorim bit his lip. “I’ll play with you, but you can’t tell my dad, or my brother, or anyone else in my family, or anyone who might tell them about it.” Eldalane’s eyes became the size of moons. “You play?” Margorim didn’t answer. Instead, he opened a cupboard and after a bit of searching pulled out a violin. Cedrick would have guessed piano if anything, but this was a shock. A violin? His father played the violin…. Inconceivable! Cedrick hadn’t even known what music really was, and his father played the violin. “Yeah, until my dad made me stop,” Margorim itted, taking out the violin and feeling it out to be sure it was tuned. “But I get in some practice when he’s not looking.” “Hypocrite!” Cedrick yelled, though he knew his father wouldn’t hear him. “You can sneak and play the violin, but I can’t go off and do the same with magic? You filthy hypocrite.” Cedrick laughed, unable to figure another reaction. He was almost in shock; his father played the violin. It was so unlike Margorim. Well, the one Cedrick knew. “Well, do you want to play or not?” Margorim said, a bit shy. Eldalane put her cello into position. “What duets do you know?” “I’m pretty good at sight reading, just give me music, and I’ll give it a shot,” Margorim said.

Eldalane hesitated before digging into a box with sheet music and found some for him. Margorim looked it over, nodding a little. “No problem.” He readied his bow, and Eldalane sat back down, counting out the beats. They started to play. Cedrick was flabbergasted. His dad could really play, as well as his mom played her cello, he played the violin. Cedrick’s mouth fell open to catch any ing flies if they didn’t also go right through him). It was so beautiful. Cedrick felt inclined to just listen to it all day. It was even better than his mother playing alone. They formed a perfect beautiful duet. Cedrick was mesmerized as well as shocked. When they finished, Eldalane gaped at Margorim. He blushed. “Sorry about the few slips,” He said. “I never played that one before.” “No, no, Custod… That was perfect.” Eldalane smiled, studying him with a new expression on her face. “What is your name? Your first name I mean, or are you not allowed to tell me?” “Margorim.” “Why does everyone in your family have odd names?” “Well, to us, your name is strange too,” Margorim defended meekly. “Though Eldalane is a strange name, it’s pretty too.” “Are you flirting again?” Margorim bowed his head. “Not allowed anymore, not when I’m your guard. I take that seriously. I am just being honest. If not, I might have a few whips to get it out of me.” Eldalane winced. “Does that actually happen? Is it common?” “When I first started it was, but not so much anymore.” Margorim shrugged. “That is horrible!” “Yeah, but you adjust quickly, and in the end, I’m grateful for it. It taught me pretty fast, so it’s fine.”

“I don’t think that’s right.” Eldalane brows drew together, and she frowned. “A child may need a good spanking now and then, but when you’re old, and well… whipping? That’s just wrong.” “It’s not real whipping, more like getting smacked with a twisted wet towel, and it does work.” Margorim shrugged again. “So is that why you all have funny names, to help you do your jobs better?” “No.” Margorim smiled. “Some are just family names, and others are just names.” “So would it be so horrible to name your children something different like, oh I don’t know, naming your son Carlos or Cedrick?” Cedrick laughed. He knew where he got his name! “No.” Margorim smiled again. “Maybe I will one day.” He lifted his chin stubbornly. “You’ll have to tell me, one day, if you do.” Eldalane smiled. “You must send me a letter and even an impression of him. I’d like to see your son named Carlos.” Margorim shook his head. “No, not Carlos. That's the name of a character in a story I don’t like; couldn’t do that.” “Fine, Cedrick then.” Eldalane smiled. “Maybe I will, or more likely I will name him something even crazier just to brother you like Rumpelstiltskin, or Lizzeries, or Fellow, or Dobin.” “You are rude!” Eldalane declared playfully. The door opened at that moment. “Ah sister.” A man stepped into the room. “Have a minute? I need your help solving this outfit Ariella is making me wear.” “Fine.” Eldalane smiled and stood up. “Oh sorry.” She noticed the man giving Margorim a confused and warning look. “Sam, this is Margorim, my replacement guard. Margorim, this is my brother Samilit, but we just call him Sam.”

Cedrick knew that name. His father mentioned it once, and only in conjunction with this Sam not liking his sister’s choice in husband. Cedrick studied the interaction between the two men but saw them shake hands and act friendly enough. “My Lord.” Margorim bowed to him. “Master Custod.” Sam nodded back. “Well, he’ll have to follow me. Poor fellow has to be everywhere I am.” Eldalane rolled her eyes. “But let’s solve that outfit of yours then. How bad is it this time?” The scene faded as they left. Then a third moment formed. Margorim stood at the top of a grand staircase with silver platters attached to his feet. “Clear?” He asked Eldalane. “Yes. Apart from your own stupidity, yes.” Eldalane rolled her eyes. “Alright, here we go!” Margorim tilted his feet so the platters slid him down the stairs like he was riding a wooden sled. He lost his balance half way down and fell the rest of the way without an ounce of control. Just when he was about to come to painful stop, he ran right into Sam who walked in the way at the last second. Both men fell to the floor dramatically. “Curse it, Custod!” Sam bellowed as he stood up, red in the face. “Don’t be such an idiot!” “Sorry, sir,” Margorim said and jumped to his feet. “I’ll try not to hit you next time.” Sam rolled his eyes. “Good job, sis.” His voice dripped sarcasm and disapproval. “Best guard ever. He almost kills himself without help from your enemies.” Eldalane glared at him. “He’s only trying to keep me entertained,” She defended. “He only does it when I say I’m bored.” Though Cedrick had to wonder with the look on her face if that was true. “Just don’t get my sister hurt, got it?” Sam snarled. “Of course not.” Margorim frowned, his brows drawing together angrily,

offended. “I am protecting her, better than you know, my lord.” Margorim tried not to be too offended but was annoyed to say the least. “Then do that instead of being her jester,” Sam snarled and left the room. The couple looked at each other. Eldalane tried to shrug it off. “That’s Sam.” “Happy guy,” Margorim grumbled. “Very,” Eldalane sighed disappointedly. Margorim frowned, studying her face in concern, but she didn’t see it. A darker scene emerged. This one was strange. It looked like the couple had been chased into a corner. Eldalane was behind Margorim with both of their backs to the wall. Margorim’s sword was held out to face the lone assassin. The assassin looked like a tough nut to crack, tall and lean, and mean looking. Cedrick stood back to be able to watch as they began to fight. Margorim appeared unwilling to change his stance, unyielding from standing in front of Eldalane to defend her. Eldalane was too scared to move other than trying to give Margorim space to fight. Finally, it came to a point where Margorim had to move to stop the assassin getting through, and he knocked the assailant out. Eldalane squealed a little, shaking, but everything was alright. Margorim turned to Eldalane. “You alright?” He asked. Eldalane nodded, shaking in terror. “Shh, it’s okay.” Margorim hugged her to soothe her. Because of this, they didn’t see what Cedrick saw. He hadn’t knocked out the assassin, a rookie mistake. Margorim didn’t check his consciousness. Cedrick let out a cry of warning —that, of course, went unheard —but Eldalane’s scream worked. Margorim turned and was able to get his blade from his back and into the man but not before the man struck.

“Margorim!” Eldalane screamed when she saw the steam of blood. Margorim was clutching his arm in pain and attempting to stop the bleeding. The cut didn’t look too bad, but it bled heavily. Margorim tripped back into the wall as his eyes fluttered at the sudden blood loss. Even within the few seconds, he had a steady stream coming from his arm. He staggered and started to fall, but Eldalane caught him. “No!” She screamed. “Margorim, no. Help! Someone help him! Help!” She screamed. “Elda...” Margorim painted, hardly conscious of what was around him. “You okay?” His face was already pale. But the light of awareness returned to his eyes as he panted. He could be dying, but his thoughts were only for her. “Yes, yes, Margorim, I’m fine. I’m more worried about you. I’m okay.” She assured him gently, putting a hand to his face to help him look at her. His eyes looked too out of focus to see her clearly, even if he was aware. Margorim smiled a little. “Then I didn’t fail you, j-just me.” “No!” Eldalane screamed. “No! Don’t die! No!” Margorim’s eyes fluttered, and his knees buckled. Poor Eldalane wasn’t strong enough to hold him up. She fell to her knees, and he fell into her arms. Tears were streaming down Eldalane’s face and dripping in dark patches on the stone and Margorim’s waistcoat. “No!” She kept screaming. “No, don’t, Margorim.” He didn’t seem able to understand her as Eldalane sobbed. “No, please, I love you. Don’t do this. Help!” She cried out again. “Someone help us!” Finally, footsteps and voices were heard, and two men ran through Cedrick into the room. They were two plain palace guards. As they knelt down to help, the scene began to fade. Not that it left any suspense. Cedrick knew he’d be alright or else he’d not have fathered Roxorim, Arylana, and himself, and still be alive to hate Cedrick’s guts. The new scene showed Margorim standing across from Eldalane in the palace yard. His arm was in a sling. He had a bag on one side of him. It looked like his

mission was finished. He was leaving. “Well,” Eldalane hesitated, “I-I have to say I’ll miss having you around. I liked talking to you, and you are the best ‘violin player’ I’ve ever had.” “Thanks for the compliment and not calling me a violinist again.” Margorim smiled. “Yeah, but I don’t think it makes you sound like a girl. I think it makes you sound smarter than you want to look. I don’t care how dumb you act. You are smarter than you look.” She met his eyes. “Well, that’s assuring.” Margorim smiled. “I liked playing with you too. No one ever understood that part of me before. So... thank you.” He looked away uncomfortably. “Well, I love it.” Eldalane smiled then looked down, hesitating. “Actually, I loved the whole time with you. You’re.... the best friend I’ve ever had.” “Woah, that…” Margorim hesitated, looking down as if ashamed. “That means a lot actually.” Neither of them spoke for a moment. “Margorim...” “Eldalane...” They both spoke at the same time then both stopped and blushed. Margorim took a deep breath to speak, but Eldalane didn’t let him speak. Instead, she threw all pretenses aside, grabbed his neck, and pulled herself up onto him and kissed him full on the mouth, long and hard. An impressive feat as he was at least a foot taller than her. By the look on his father’s face, Cedrick was sure Margorim had never been kissed before. But it didn’t take him long to take her lead. He put his one good arm around her and kissed her back. When they finally broke apart, Margorim smiled, then his face fell, and he went pale. “That is so against the rules.” Eldalane laughed, still hanging off his neck. “You aren’t my guard anymore.”

She smiled. “And thank the Father for that. I’ve been wanting to do that so badly.” She kissed him again but shorter this time. Margorim looked sheepish afterward and stammered. “Y-you too?” Margorim swallowed shyly. “Because I wanted to do that too but…um…” Margorim went more red. Eldalane beamed. She seemed to like making him blush. “Write to me?” She half begged, half asked. “And don’t stay away too long; visit when you can, right?” “Whenever I can get away,” Margorim promised. Eldalane beamed. “I’ll miss you. Just don’t find a new cellist partner.” “Alright, if you don’t find a new violin player.” “How about violinist?” She teased. “Alright, if I have to be called that to stop you from replacing me, I’ll be that,” He agreed with a smile. They looked at each other for a long moment. “Well,” Eldalane said at last, letting go of his neck to slide to her feet, not looking at him. “This is g-good-bye then.” “No,” Margorim said tenderly, putting a hand to her cheek to help her face him. “Just bye. We’ll see each other again. I promise.” “Alright then.” Eldalane smiled. “Bye then.” “Bye.” They held each other’s gaze a long moment before Eldalane looked down at his bag. “You better pick that up. Your family will start looking soon.” Margorim sighed and picked it up with his good arm and locked eyes with her again as he stood up. Slowly —almost painfully —he turned away and left. Eldalane didn’t take her eyes off of him until he was out of sight. Then she took off and ran up to a balcony as fast as she could to watch his party ride away.

Margorim looked back and spotted her. He beamed and waved to her. Eldalane beamed and waved back. “Don’t be long,” She whispered. The scene then faded to show the same garden. It was autumn, so the leaves were falling in amazing splendid colors all around. They littered the ground and made Margorim and Eldalane’s feet crunch with each slow step. Eldalane was arm in arm with Margorim, who now sported a full beard, and his body was almost to its full size, not quite, but really close. Eldalane looked like she’d dressed up for him. Margorim looked more mature, perhaps broader in the shoulders. “I missed you, so much,” Eldalane sighed as they walked. “I’m glad to have you back without the guard status.” “Me too.” Margorim smiled. That voice hit Cedrick like a train. It was his adult, deeper voice but sounding warm instead of cold and hateful. “I’m glad father allowed me to come. He normally wouldn’t with things how they are.” “Well, I’m sure my begging helped.” Eldalane smiled smugly. “It did. I am very grateful for that.” Margorim gave her a sly look, and she giggled. “Seeing you again after all of this has sealed it for me,” Margorim said. “I thought it was true before, but now I’m sure.” “Sure of what?” Eldalane asked. A hopeful look shining in her eyes as she looked up at Margorim. “That I really am...” Margorim stopped and turned to her. He took both of her soft hands in his. “That in these past two weeks my feelings were confirmed and amplified. Those feelings for you, I mean. I am sure now, and I always will be sure.” Margorim smiled and kissed her cheek. “I’m in love with you; I love you, Elda, and I always will.” Eldalane smiled. “And I love you too, Margorim, even if you won’t let me call you Ron, or Mar, or Rim.” Margorim chuckled. “Sorry, my name doesn’t come with a fun nickname. None of those are very good.” “I’ll find one,” Eldalane promised. “I will.”

“Good luck, sweetheart.” Margorim was still smiling. “I will.” “I’m sure you will.” “Don’t patronize me,” Eldalane snapped. “Eldalane please, let’s not fight again.” Cedrick’s jaw dropped. His father could say those words; he could stop a fight? Cedrick was shocked, though he itted to himself it was a bit mean of him, but he couldn’t help it. Eldalane sighed and looked down. “I’m sorry,” She said. “I know it isn’t a big deal. I am just sick of you thinking I can’t do something.” “You and me both,” Cedrick grumbled. Margorim sighed and looked down too. “Sorry,” He said. “It’s just everyone’s tried to come up with one and still no one has.” “I will,” Eldalane sighed. “If you say so.” Margorim smiled. Eldalane gave him a look, and Margorim laughed. He bent down and kissed her. Eldalane put her hands on his shoulders and kissed him back. “Let’s not end this.” Margorim smiled. “Never.” Eldalane smiled. They kissed again and didn’t let go for a very long time. The next scene was almost the same as the first, but they were walking along an ocean cliff top with a soft breeze blowing. Cedrick had never seen a view like this before. The water went on forever and ever. The light sparkled off it like nothing he’d ever seen before, and the waves made the best music as they crashed below them over and over. It had to have been a little stretch of time because Margorim was now his full

size. The only difference between the Margorim here and the one Cedrick knew was this Margorim was happy, less lined around the eyes, and no there was no gray in his hair. Eldalane was gazing over the waves with a warm smile on her face. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful before,” She sighed. “I love it. As a little girl, I dreamed of sailing and finding new lands to explore.” She smiled at herself. “No one knows what is out there, outside the trade lands. I wish I could see them.” “Maybe someday.” Margorim smiled. “Maybe you and I can come up with a good enough reason to see them.” Eldalane laughed. “That would be tricky.” “With you, I can do anything,” Margorim said, holding up their entwined hands and studying their interlaced fingers. “As long as I can hold onto you.” Eldalane wasn’t looking at their hands. She was looking into Margorim’s face as he studied their hands. Finally, Margorim looked up to meet her gaze. “I always will, and I don’t know how I could live without you.” “With a dark cloud over your head and a certain spite for your children,” Cedrick muttered. Eldalane smiled. “I don’t know what I’d do without you either,” She said. “It’s hard enough when we’re apart. I missed you so much; it almost feels like there is a part of me gone, like my heart left me. I know you will return, but it still feels so wrong. Then, sometimes, I wonder if you will return. Your job is so dangerous after all.” She sighed and looked down. “I always come back to you,” Margorim said and used his cupped hand to lift her face to his. “I always will. It’s the thought of you and seeing you again that assures me. I can make it out of anything with you in mind. You manage to inspire and empower me in ways no one else has.” “I know the feeling,” Eldalane whispered as she felt his warm skin on hers. “Then I hope that assures you what I’m about to do is right. As much as it assures me.” Eldalane looked worried. “Margorim, what are you going to –”

Margorim put a finger to her lips. “It’s okay.” He assured her. “It’s just, as a Custod, it’s really hard for me to find someone to be with, someone who can me in all that this job is and respect the way we have to live. I’ve never met anyone who could do that so perfectly and with as much love and care as you have. You have no idea, no idea, how much that means to me. You’ve been the perfect companion even from a distance. That’s why I have to do this.” Cedrick had noticed the sun was setting right behind them, and he recognized a lot of the techniques he had used. He’d done many of these same things when he’d done this to his own wife. Margorim got down on one knee and reached into his pocket with one hand, while holding her hand in his other hand. Eldalane stared at him as if barely daring to hope. Margorim looked deeply into Eldalane’s eyes. “Lady Eldalane,” He said, “I didn’t know this would happen to me, but I’ve fallen in love with you. I need you as much as I need air. In a way that I’ve never needed anyone before. I cannot imagine life without you. I love and need you like the ocean needs the shore, like plants need sunlight, and fish need water. I need you, and so I think it's about time I pledged myself to you the right way. Lady Eldalane Rosecentra.” Margorim took out the small box and opened it. “Will you marry me?” Eldalane stared at the ring inside with tears filling her eyes. Cedrick could also see the same fear he’d felt when he asked that question shining in his father’s eyes. “Oh Margorim,” She breathed. “Yes, oh yes my dearest love. My beloved, of course, I’ll marry you.” Margorim was more formal than his son had been. As soon as Elphacena’s yes sank in, Cedrick had jumped to his feet and kissed her ionately. Margorim was more controlled. He carefully placed the ring on her finger then kissed her hand with the ring on it. Then he stood gently —almost gracefully —to his feet to kiss her. It was a soft and tender kiss, sweet and perfect. It highlighted the differences between Cedrick and his father quite nicely. Cedrick was far more ionate about everything than his father. But Cedrick learned where his ion came from a second later when they came apart. Eldalane clearly didn’t think that was enough. She didn’t let go of her new fiancé but pulled him in for another more ionate kiss, one that could produce sparks. Margorim kissed her back but looked stunned when they broke apart.

“Woah,” He said, and Eldalane laughed. “What was that?” He demanded. “A taste of what is to come.” Eldalane giggled. “I’m not sure if I just liked it or if I would kill for it,” Margorim said, and Eldalane laughed and kissed him once more to get a tender kiss back. A new scene formed, and it was very different. Eldalane stood across from her brother quite red in the face. “It’s not your choice, Sam!” She screamed. “I’ve decided.” “You can’t marry him,” Sam insisted. “It’s too dangerous. Don’t you realize what it will mean? You’ll be a Custod. A Custod, sister! You’ll have to work much like he does. You know that.” “I’m not trained, and as a Custod by marriage, my job isn’t to fight but to protect and rear the children,” Eldalane snapped. “And it doesn’t matter. That is none of your business, anyway. Even if I did want to have them train me, I could. It’s my choice to do as I wish, even if that is fighting alongside my husband.” Sam looked sick at her words and spat on the ground. “Sam!” Eldalane scowled at him with a look that could turn man to stone. “Don’t you dare.” “Husband,” Sam hissed. “Husband. So sick, so wrong…” “I love him! I want to marry him. He is mine, and I am his, and nothing you say or do will stop it, Sam,” Eldalane snarled. “Father can.” “Father approves.” “Not if I point out what you’ll become to him,” Sam retorted. “You can’t run off and marry that wild man. You know better than anyone how wild he is. Just yesterday, he tried to ride that mad elephant. He’s lucky to be alive.” “He’s adventurous, so?” Eldalane snapped. “Maybe, I liked it.” “I will not allow my sister to marry such a wild, foolhardy man! How is he to provide for you, and for that matter, provide for those children you mentioned?” Sam looked sickened at the very idea. “What if he died? In his line of work, that

isn’t too unlikely, and with his wild ways, even more.” “Don’t you say that!” Eldalane roared. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. They know how to handle these things. They have plans for that. They are Custods, for Potentate’s sake. They are used to this. They die in battle more often than any other way. I will be fine no matter what happens.” Sam huffed, “You are a fool for even becoming involved but married is worse.” Sam spat on the ground again. Eldalane’s face went —if possible —even redder. Her hair was coming out of its soft pull back and falling around her face as she screamed at her brother. “It’s my choice. Call me a fool if you will, but I'm marrying him. What about you and Hilda for that matter?” She snarled. “How is she a good match? Don’t you chastise me for this, brother. Not when you have a poll in your own eye, brother.” She spat the name at him. “Who I court is my own business,” Sam hissed. “And so is who I marry,” Eldalane retorted. “No, it’s not! I’m stuck with him too. You are my sister, and he will be family as well. We all will have to deal with him.” “Well, you don’t choose your siblings, so why do you think you get to pick their spouses? I love him, and I’m marrying him if you like it or not.” “I will stop this,” Sam hissed. “Be assured of it, my dear sister, I will stop it.” “No you won’t,” Eldalane said in a low, dangerous voice. “I’m marrying him, and that is that.” Sam glared at her darkly. The scene changed, and the feeling in the air made Cedrick tense for battle. “Sam stop!” Eldalane was screaming. Margorim was fighting with Sam to defend himself out in a field by the river. Sam was serious, looking ready to kill, his eyes glowing with hate. They were in the countryside for some reason. “Sam stop!” Eldalane screamed. “I thought you said you wanted to talk. Sam! Sam! Don’t hurt him! Margorim!”

Margorim forced Sam back but didn’t take the opening he made. He could have finished him there, but clearly, he didn’t want to kill him. Sam had a knife in hand, but Margorim had nothing. He ducked as Sam struck again. Eldalane kept screaming at them to stop, mostly at Sam. She kept moving as if to get between them but couldn’t as she was on the other side of the river. “If I can’t make her leave you, then I’ll have to make you leave her, and you wouldn’t listen. I’ll make it work,” Sam spat and jumped at Margorim. Margorim ducked. As Sam dove, Cedrick spotted another opening, if Margorim stepped to one side and pushed just right Sam would fall into the river. Margorim saw it too, and he took the shot this time. But Sam was faster. As he slipped, he grabbed Margorim’s shirt and yanked. Margorim lost his footing as well. Both men fell into the river. Forgetting he couldn’t help, Cedrick tried to grab his father, but of course, he missed. At least, he could now see what was happening clearly. “Margorim!” Eldalane screamed and dove to help, but ended up in the same position Cedrick was in. “Sam!” Both men were swimming. Margorim seemed ready to let the fight end, but Sam was not. He was trying to pull Margorim underwater without much success. To avoid his attempts, Margorim dove underwater on his own. “Margorim!” Eldalane screamed. “Sam! Sam stop! Stop it, Sam! No! SAM!” Sam dove after Margorim, ignoring his sister once again. Eldalane watched in pure terror, wishing she could do more. Cedrick agreed and wished he could see under the water too. Just as Cedrick thought about trying to dive, the two of them reemerged. Margorim had an arm around Sam to help him, but Sam was still fighting. Margorim was sick of this. He finally fought back. He punched Sam hard in the face, knocking Sam out in an instant. “Margorim!” Eldalane screamed reaching for him. “Margorim! Margorim, are you alright?” “I’ve been worse,” Margorim replied, swimming to shore below her and pulling Sam out behind him.

“Give me your hand,” Eldalane said, reaching down for her lover. Margorim shook his head. “We’re too heavy for you. Here.” Margorim pulled a rope from his belt and tossed it to her. “Tie that around one of the horses then throw it down to us to pull us up.” Eldalane did as asked, and the horse pulled them both up. Sam was still out cold when they pulled him up. There was a small injury in his leg, but nothing too bad. “What happened?” Eldalane gasped. “Fool. He was swimming with that stupid knife like crazy and got himself in the leg,” Margorim grumbled. “Sounds like him,” Eldalane sighed. “It’s not bad at all. He’ll be fine.” “Good.” Margorim winced, pressing a hand to his side gently. Eldalane noticed. “Margorim, are you al –” She noticed some blood on his side coming from between his fingers. “You’re bleeding!” “It’s not bad.” Margorim assured her. “Just a scrape.” Eldalane rushed around her unconscious brother and over to her husband-to-be and pulled his hand away to see. Cedrick took a look as well. It wasn’t a bad cut, very shallow, just bloody. It looked worse than it really was.. Margorim smiled gently at Eldalane. “See,” He said. “I’m fine.” Eldalane sighed and kissed him. “Don’t scare me like that.” She sighed, sitting back. “I thought…” Margorim stroked her face gently. “It’s alright,” He said softly. “I’m fine.” “We can’t stay here with him like this. You knocked him out, and he’s still trying,” Eldalane fretted, shaking her head wildly. “We have to go, now.” “But the disappearances, Eldalane. I have to help them –” “Your brother said he could handle it, didn’t he?” Eldalane said. “Didn’t he?”

She demanded when Margorim didn’t answer right away. Margorim swallowed and nodded. “It’s too dangerous for us both here. We have to go now.” Margorim sighed and looked down. “You’re right. Alright, we’ll go tonight. You can send a message to your father, and I’ll do the same with mine. We’ll just go; we can go now.” Eldalane sighed and hugged Margorim again. “I love you.” “I love you too.” Margorim assured her, stroking her hair. “It’s okay, I’m here.” The scene changed, so Cedrick could see his parents kneeling across an altar as Joel finished marrying them for all of existence. At once, the couple reached for each other and kissed deeply. Those watching cheered. The couple came apart, and Eldalane beamed as the sparkles flew down on them. Cedrick had never seen his father so happy in his life. Eldalane beamed at his joy and kissed him again, and he kissed her back, flowing with his pure happiness. The scene changed once again to a very different scene. Margorim was standing in the middle of what looked like a large chamber of a temple of sorts. It was ruined and a mess. The room was a wreck —to say the least. It was as if they’d let several bears have a war inside of it. The walls, floor, and even roof were covered in dark bloodstains, a few so thick they were slowly dripping still. Margorim’s face was full of shock, horror, and pain. Eldalane walked in carefully behind him, her feet crackling as she stepped on broken glass. “What happened?” She breathed, looking around. Cedrick thought he saw an arm sticking out from under some of the fallen rubble of the stone walls. Margorim looked sick to his stomach, totally horrified. “It’s gone,” He said. “All of it.” He knelt down and moved a large slab of stone to show the body that the arm belonged to. Cedrick recognized it as the cousin he didn’t know from before. Margorim started to take deep, shaking breaths to steady himself. “They can’t all be –” His throat struck. That was the voice Cedrick recognized. Eldalane knelt next to him and put her small arms around his strong chest. “Margorim, I’m so sorry.” “How?” Margorim choked. “How could he have killed them? First my father, then brother, and now this?” Margorim looked devastated. “He destroyed it all.

They’re all gone. That’s it. Even little I-Idarose. We’re all th-that’s left.” Margorim voice caught. “What do we do?” Eldalane asked. Margorim’s face fell and hardened at the same time. “What we have to do. We can’t let him know the line survives. You and I are all that’s left. We have to go into hiding. It’s the only way. Then once we are sure there will be someone else to carry on, we will return. That’s what they teach us to do, and it’s the only thing we can do.” Margorim stood up, his eyes filling with fire. “Then he’ll play for this,” He hissed. “He’ll pay for what he’s done. First the line of kings, now the guardians, he won’t get away with this, not as long as I live.” Eldalane put her arms around her husband again and rested her head against his back. “I’m sure you will,” She said. “You always do.” Margorim looked at his wife and smiled as he turned around to put his arms around her. “I’m sorry,” He said. “I’m so sorry we have to do this. You know what this means? You’ll never see them again, any of them. You do know that?” “Of course, I do,” Eldalane said. “If anyone knows, they’re in even more danger. They’re already in enough of that with Heklis around. We have to disappear. We have to protect what little of the magic is left.” “I know how… how hard this is for you, Elda. I –” “No, Margorim you are right.” Eldalane assured him. “We have to.” They didn’t speak for a moment. “They most likely already think we’re dead anyway,” Eldalane said at last. “So it doesn’t matter. I trust you. I love you, and I’ll follow you.” Margorim held her tighter and kissed her. “I love you.” “I love you too,” Eldalane said and took his hand. “Come on,” She said. “Let’s get out of here.”

Chapter 23

Happy Birthday

What Cedrick’s mother wanted to do with these memories was a mystery. The affect it did have was to make Cedrick even more uncomfortable around his father. He didn’t know if he should tell his father what he saw, or if he should keep it secret. However, an excuse to test the waters was coming up: his father’s birthday. Though Cedrick’s family had rarely, if ever, celebrated birthdays, Cedrick knew when most of them were. (He knew his birthday because his father got angry, more violent, and snapped at Cedrick more on that day.) Cedrick didn’t have a clue how to celebrate a birthday, but he wanted to do it right, so he asked Elphacena for help. She obliged him. In the process, she asked him when his birthday was and quite upset to find out it was during the winter, while they’d been training. She rattled on about what she’d like to do for next time to make up for it. Cedrick just smiled to please her. He hoped she forgot. Cedrick coerced his siblings into helping him with his little scheme though Arylana protested how much she thought it was a foolish idea. They combined their understanding to plan and make sure he would get all the foods he liked at each meal. Margorim was so thick he didn’t even notice, which was a good thing for all of them. Cedrick wondered if his father even ed what day it was as the evening drew near. The day of, Elphacena made sure to make a nice dinner with the few cooking skills she had. They tried to make even the normal tasks at least a little special; Margorim didn’t seem to notice. Then again, he hardly notice any little effort such as doing menial tasks for him or just being extra nice. Or maybe Cedrick just was no good at this. It was to the point that Margorim was getting up for

bed, when Elphacena got up to stop him and let it all out. “Not yet! We have one last thing. Arylana, would you help me?” Arylana gave Elphacena a look that she hoped would tell her sister-in-law plainly to leave her out of this, but Elphacena ignored it. “Oh don’t be shy, come on.” She grabbed Arylana’s arm and yanked her into the kitchen. Once they were in the kitchen, Elphacena turned to Arylana. “I forgot to ask which one does he like? I made a few from the old book to be sure.” Elphacena looked over the row of sweets with a fingernail in her mouth in her nervousness. Arylana’s eyes went wide. “You made seven cakes to make sure you got the right one?” “Yeah, Cedrick couldn’t , and by the time I thought of it, I wasn’t able to ask you or Roxorim before, so I made all the ones Eldalane noted in her journal thinking one of them had to be his favorite.” “Wait, wait. All these are mom’s recipes?” Arylana’s eyes went wide. Elphacena nodded. “Yeah, I found them in your parents’ old room, hidden in a in the wall. So which is it?” “I have no idea.” Arylana looked them all over. Elphacena groaned. “Why didn’t she just mark the cake like she did the stew? We’ll just have to share several of them.” Arylana shook her head in disbelief. “You’re nuts. Father will kill you, you and Cedrick.” “Mmmm, you’re right. I should just guess and hope for the best,” Elphacena agreed. “And between now and his next birthday, we’ll wheedle his favorite out of him.” “Oh vene, fine. Try the carrot one. If it's not that, then it’s the apple thing.” “You sure?”

“As I can be. He’s always liked carrot and apple things.” Arylana said. “Well.” Elphacena smiled and picked up one and forced the other into Arylana’s hands. “We’ll just do both then.” “He will kill you.” “Yes, yes, I know. Cedrick and I both, and now you because I already made it look like you helped me. Don’t worry though, Roxorim is in on it too, as Cedrick had Roxorim commission his gift.” “You did what!” “Don’t worry about it. That’s his problem, and he was as clueless as you are. Now let’s go before we run out of time.” Elphacena nudged Arylana out the door with the treats. Arylana felt her heart was pounding in her throat. “What in creation are you two doing?” Margorim asked as Elphacena put down one desert and forced Arylana to put down the other. “Well, did you think we’d forget?” Elphacena beamed. “You have better children than that. It’s the sixteenth of March; we know what that means.” Arylana wished she could bury her face in her hands when she saw the look on her father’s face. “You what?!” He said in shock and horror. “Sorry, we didn’t know which you liked best,” Elphacena itted bashfully. “So we made both. Well, I made both. If I got it wrong, there are a few more in the kitchen.” “What?” Margorim’s face was unreadable: a mask of shock that had a slight twinge of something akin to fear or trepidation. “Well just eat whichever you want, and I’ll find something to do with the rest,” Elphacena said. “Just our way of saying happy birthday.” “Who’s idea was this? Margorim demanded.

“Well, all of us,” Elphacena said. “But it was yours, wasn’t it?” Elphacena bit her lips. “No, it was more of Cedrick’s idea, and the others liked it and helped. They didn’t really know how to celebrate, so I helped with all of that. I hoped to make them just like she used to make them.” “Like who?” Elphacena bowed her head a little. “I thought you’d like them how she used to make them. Cedrick and I found one of her old books when we were alone in the hut. So I learned how to make all of her recipes. The stew was hers too, if you didn’t notice. She marked it as your favorite.” “Yes, but I thought my mind was going. You found them? How? When did she even…” Margorim stopped. “I don’t know,” Elphacena confessed. “Are you going to try them, or should we just move on to the next thing?” “N-n-next thing?” Margorim stuttered. “We’re all going to die,” Arylana said. “Arylana, shut up.” Cedrick glared at her. “What did you do?” Roxorim demanded of Cedrick. “Shh,” Cedrick smiled teasingly. “You did it too.” “I did?” Roxorim’s eyebrows shot up. “Woah.” They all stopped to look at Margorim as he spoke. “Even though you were running around all day you made —what was it, seven cakes —for me, and stew and whatever else you did?” He finally looked at Elphacena. “Well, Cedrick helped a lot with what he knew.” Elphacena bit her nail. “And it was a lot of help. We tried to have Roxorim and Arylana help too, so they helped a little. Even if they don’t know how they helped.”

“How did I help?” Roxorim demanded. Margorim was still gaping at his daughter-in-law with his mouth open, an unreadable expression on his face. Elphacena bit her lips, blushing a little. “Did I mess something up? I’m sorry. We tried so hard to get it right.” To everyone’s surprise, Margorim didn’t explode or become sullen or try to run off; he did the opposite. He laughed, really laughed. “No.” He assured her. “No, you sweet girl, you didn’t do anything wrong. You even knew that I wouldn’t approve of this idea, but you did it anyway, so I would maybe enjoy it.” Elphacena nodded nervously. Margorim surprised them further by getting up and giving Elphacena a hug. “You’re lucky you’re not my child, or I’d kill you.” “I know.” Elphacena laughed. “I know.” “Sure you’ve never met my wife?” Margorim teased. “I’m sure, but I’ve met her son who is very like her.” Elphacena pulled back. “Now the treats are all yours, and Cedrick has part two for you.” “Alright, let’s get it over with. What is it?” “Just a small gift. Don’t worry,” Elphacena promised. “Just one?” “Yes.” “Alright,” Margorim sighed. “But do this again, and I’ll kill you.” “Same time next year,” Elphacena agreed. Margorim sighed. “Cedrick, you married your mother.” Cedrick laughed. “Come on, just one small gift,” Elphacena coaxed. “Small?” “Small.”

Cedrick rushed up the stairs to grab it. When he returned, he had a box gently tucked under one arm. “Rox commissioned it for you. Hope you like it.” “I did?” “Yeah, ?” Cedrick said. “I asked about it a few weeks ago.” Roxorim thought about it then looked confused. “We’re giving father a –” “Shhh, let him see,” Elphacena said. “It took us awhile to come up with what to get you, but Cedrick thought you’d like this most.” Margorim sighed as he accepted the box. “Don’t ever do this again.” “You wish. Now take a look, come on.” Margorim sighed and opened the box and froze at what he saw inside. Elphacena bit her lip, looking almost terrified. Cedrick had his fingers crossed behind his back for hope, and even Arylana looked nervous with the tension in his room. Roxorim looked more confused than scared. Arylana tried to see what was inside but was afraid to move closer. After several frozen seconds, Margorim finally looked up —his face full of shock, pure shock, unable to speak. “L-like it?” Elphacena asked nervously. “Do you think you can still use it?” Margorim’s face changed from shock to a bit of fear. “But… how did you know?” He looked from Elphacena to Cedrick. “How did you know? No one knows, only she…” Margorim stopped. “E-everyone who knew is dead, so how did you know?” Cedrick opened his mouth to answer when there was a knock on the door, and Roxorim stood up to get it. Arylana stood to follow. As she did, she looked down at the box and stopped. Her face contorted in confusion, much like her father’s. “You gave him a violin? What the vene? Is that a joke, or am I missing something?” No one answered Arylana, as the messenger at the door was panting and looked frantic. “I’m sorry to bother you, but General Mercutio needs you and your father urgently.” Roxorim glanced back at his father, and Margorim took the excuse instantly.

Cedrick wondered if he should go too as it sounded important. Elphacena looked worried and asked, “What is it?” “The guards think they spotted two of Heklis’s men. They think they may be his best: Emmerick and Neramith.” Cedrick was on his feet faster than a heartbeat. Drake’s killer was in reach. Elphacena’s face went a bit pink and looked down. Cedrick glanced at her to see if she was coming, but it was clear she didn’t plan on it. “I’ll deal with the mess here,” She said when she saw Cedrick looking. “You should go deal with it.” Cedrick didn’t question her desire in his excitement to get justice for Drake. He just followed his father and brother out the door, but he only was disappointed. When they got there, they couldn’t find any sign of the two men, but the guards insisted they had seen them. As they kept trying to look, Biglo arrived with a sad look, shaking his head. “They young troublemakers go away,” He sighed. “But we’ll get ‘em next time.” “Both of them?” Cedrick’s shoulder’s fell. “You sure?” Biglo nodded, and Cedrick sighed. “No be worrin’ young Custods. You be getting ya strong hands back on Emmerick soon; I no be doubtin’ it.” Though Cedrick was after Neramith, he nodded. “I’ll take tonight’s watch.” Cedrick said dully. “Maybe we’ll get lucky.” “Maybe,” Mercutio sighed. “But I’m doubling guards. I’d like one of your enchanters at each wall at all times.” “Aye sir.” Cedrick nodded. “Sorry to bother your celebrations,” Mercutio said to Margorim, who bristled in annoyance. “I thought we’d actually need back up to deal with them. Those men are fast.” “He always was,” Biglo said sadly. “But he can’t be fleein’ forever. I’ll take the next watch with ya.”

“Thanks.” Cedrick smiled. “We’ll get them then.” A hope was back in his heart. Drake would be avenged yet.

*****

Sadly, the watch with Biglo didn’t yield any results, but it was fun to be on guard with the dwarf. He told great stories and boasted about the great drinks he’d had in dramatic prose that entertained them all. Despite the entertainment, Cedrick remained on alert the whole time. He wanted Neramith, and he wanted him bad. “Cheer up,” Biglo said the next morning as their watch was taken over by the next shift. “I sure he be turnin’ up ‘gain.” “One can only hope.” Cedrick sighed. “I know ya be a hurtin’.” Biglo patted the small of Cedrick’s back. “And I know ya’ be wantin’ all to be right and happy, but ya can’t control it all.” “Thanks, Biglo.” Cedrick gave him a weak smile. Though he didn’t believe a word of it, he appreciated the dwarf trying to help. “Well, I better get home to my wife.” “I hope she not be too disappointed.” Biglo frowned. Cedrick sighed. “Who knows with her.” “Rest well, sweet master Custod,” Biglo said. “And you, master dwarf.” Cedrick gave Biglo a little salute, tapping two fingers to his forehead then out before trotting up the steps to the room he shared with his wife. Unknown to Cedrick, she’d been up all night too. She was happy to see her husband. She had prepared a small breakfast for him then encouraged him to get a little sleep. Cedrick wasn’t in much of a mood for anything that others called peaceful or happy. Elphacena decided to get creative and cuddled to get him to

rest. It worked, and the two had a sweet morning together before falling asleep.

Chapter 24

Happy Hatchday

Cedrick was woken surprisingly early by a small crackling sound which confused him. He drew his brows together and sat up, making the blanket slide off his chest. Elphacena moaned a little and ran a hand down his bare chest. “You don’t have to be up yet,” She muttered. “No, but something else is.” Cedrick didn’t know why, but that sound made him uneasy. “What do you mean?” Elphacena woke up a little more, covering herself as she sat up too. “You hear that?” “Yeah, so?” Cedrick’s eyes had been scanning for the sound and finally fell on the loose of the wall, the one he’d removed and replaced but with something inside. “Oh dear.” Cedrick dressed and rushed to the patch in the wall. Elphacena followed him. “What is it?” She asked, “Do you think –?” Before she finished her question, Cedrick had removed the to reveal the blue egg was twitching slightly, and the smooth surface had many little cracks along it. “Oh.” Elphacena breathed. “It’s…” “Hatching,” Cedrick finished. “Good thing we have the rest of the day covered.” “I’ll tell them you’re not feeling well. I’ll use taking care of you as an excuse,” Elphacena said quickly. “I’ll bring up food too.”

“Make sure to have some meat. We may be able to feed it,” Cedrick called after her as she left. Then looked back at the egg. “Well, guess we can take you out for now.” He picked up the egg from the nest, made sure it was secure, made a bundle on the floor, then set the egg on it. Then if someone from the hall just opened the door, they wouldn’t see it. Elphacena returned with breakfast for them and some scraps for the dragon when it hatched. The vigil over the egg was long and dull, so much so, Elphacena and Cedrick started playing games as they waited. They likely could have gone to work and been back before it hatched, but it was too late now. It got so late, they started taking turns sleeping until late into the night. It was so late, the two accidently fell asleep but were both woken up when there was a very loud snap from the egg. “I think that means it's coming out,” Elphacena said crawling out of bed. “Oh really?” Cedrick gave her a look with a smile accompanying his teasing sarcasm. She laughed. “Yes, I think you’re right.” “I should grab some food for it.” Elphacena stood up. “Everyone else is asleep. ” She slipped out quietly. Cedrick watched the cracks in the egg move up and down as the baby inside pushed on them. The cracks were so numerous they looked like a sophisticated, decorative pattern across its shell. The top moved up and down over and over. Finally, with a sharp crack, the egg fell apart. A little bundle of wings rolled out of the egg and onto Cedrick’s lap. Its little head rolled up, so it was upside down, looking up at Cedrick’s smiling face. Its wings flopped open to show the baby dragon’s cute little body. The creature was adorable. Its scales were pale blue, like the sky at midday, but its eyes were a deep dark, starry blue. They were round and innocent, not at all like its mother’s almond eyes that turned even narrower in battle. The dragon tilted its little head as it looked up at Cedrick, and Cedrick smiled back. “Hello.” The dragon made a high-pitched cooing sound, and something like a smile crossed its little maw. “Oh, you’re happy now,” Cedrick teased. The dragon made a happy chirp of reply as if saying yes and clawed the air with its tiny feet. Cedrick laughed. “You are cute. How could anyone be scared of you?”

The dragon tilted its head and tried to roll over, but it’s over-large wings made it hard because each wing was about as long as its whole body, making them bulky to the poor thing. It got one wing over, but the other was trapped underneath it. The dragon looked down at it with a rather frustrated expression, tugging at the wing determinedly, but it didn’t help much. When it didn’t work, the baby tugged harder. The dragon made a “humph” sound and pulled on its wing even harder, but still nothing, but then, with another “humph” and a sharp yank, the wing came free. However, the force was so strong it tripped itself and flopped onto the ground. Cedrick couldn’t help but laugh. The dragon shook its head and looked up with its little legs splayed underneath in a kind of four-legged splits. It looked up at Cedrick and chirped then growled a playful, baby snarl. Cedrick wondered if he’d heard anything less threatening in his life, but the baby didn’t care. Instead, it cooed and rubbed its knobby head on Cedrick’s leg. Cedrick chuckled and rubbed its cute little head. The moment he did, a flood of thoughts and impressions flooded his mind. The first impression was that it was a boy dragon and a very happy one: one that was very attached to Cedrick and thought of Elphacena as the “other loving one”, though he hadn’t seen her. He must have felt them from inside the egg. For a creature that just hatched, it was already deeply attached to both of them. The dragon made a deep thrumming purr (as deep as his little body could anyway) and nipped at Cedrick’s hand. Cedrick was sure it was meant in a loving way, but it hurt all the same. Cedrick yanked his hand back with a cry before he could stop it. The baby dragon was startled and jumped back, beginning to whimper, bowing its head shamefully. He plopped himself onto the floor and sniffled, rubbing Cedrick’s leg in penitence as it came close to crying. “Oh no, shh, shh,” Cedrick said quickly —it might wake up his family, then they’d all be dead. “It’s alright, buddy. I’m not mad at you. It’s alright.” He stroked the amazingly smooth scales: soft, smooth, and cool, like stroking the sky. The dragon looked up at him with those giant eyes, whimpering a little. He nuzzled Cedrick’s head with his own bumpy head, moaning a little as he gazed up pitifully at his only friend in the world.

“There, there. It’s alright. Don’t be sad. It’s alright,” Cedrick soothed. The dragon realized he wasn’t in trouble and made a small cry of delight, leaping into the air and pranced around like a proud unicorn. Cedrick laughed at this fast learning, little new hatch. The baby dragon pranced around Cedrick then stopped in front of him, large eyes staring up innocently. Cedrick chuckled and shook his head which only encouraged the dragon further into starting a new parade, adding a little skip here and there. When he finished a round, he’d make his little dragon squeal of delight and start again. “You silly beast. How are you not tired or hungry? You just hatched!” Cedrick asked. The dragon stopped and tilted his head at Cedrick then looked around as if that would help him understand what Cedrick said. As he did, he spotted his eggshells, squealed in delight then started to eat them. Cedrick’s eyebrows shot up in surprise as Elphacena came in. “Would you look at that,” He said. “He’s eating his shells.” “Mmm, good thing too as he has no teeth,” Elphacena observed. The dragon lifted his head and squealed in happiness when he saw who it was. He raced over to her and leapt right into her lap. Elphacena returned his squeal with a surprised squeal of her own. The dragon gazed up at her with large loving eyes and rubbed his small head into her chest. “Woah,” Elphacena gasped as she felt the same surge of understanding Cedrick had felt before. “He… loves us.” Her lip shook a little. Cedrick gave her a tender smile. “A lot,” He agreed. “Looks like sending you for food was silly. He’s happy eating his old shell.” “And for meat, he’ll need teeth.” Elphacena frowned as she stroked the little dragon. The dragon slapped his tail on the floor in delight, hopped down, and started to eat his shells again. Elphacena watched him with a small smile. “He’s… so cute.”

“Really cute,” Cedrick agreed. “So now we have one happy boy dragon.” Elphacena beamed. “A very happy one sadly.” Cedrick agreed as the baby finished eating a few more shells and jumped onto Cedrick’s lap this time, changed his mind and jumped into Elphacena’s. Elphacena laughed as the dragon did this over and over. “Clearly. What will you call him?” “Mmm...” Cedrick watched the dragon jump. “Well, if I have to name him, I’ll go with…” He cast his mind back to dragon stories he’d read after meeting the dragon’s mother. “How about Endar?” “The good dragon from the tales?” Elphacena asked. “Yeah Endar.” Cedrick nodded. The dragon looked up at him, tail wagging, making his whole back end shake like a puppy, as he made a noise like a mix between a roar and a coo, “Hunga!” “Yeah Endar, that’s you,” Cedrick said. The dragon squealed in delight yet again and pranced around them both at a surprising speed for his size. Elphacena had to cover her mouth to stop her loud laughter. After a few minutes, the dragon grew tired and gave a huge yawn. He jumped into Elphacena’s lap and curled up like a puppy dog. He started to purr then trilled his tongue. The dragon stopped and lifted his head, looking around for the noise. “Ahhhg.” He trilled over and over. He made a cue of happiness and repeated the sound again and again. “You are too cute.” Elphacena kissed the little head. Endar liked that very much and wiggled his whole body in pure delight, but he was still tired and revealed it with a huge yawn, exposing his toothless mouth. He curled up to settle to sleep, trilling his tongue, “Ahhhhg, dddddddddrooooo.” He played with the two sounds until he put himself to sleep.

Elphacena beamed as she stroked his scales. “He’s just so cute.” Cedrick smiled at her and kissed her cheek. “I think you’ve found your little pet.” Elphacena giggled. “Oh please. He’ll be too big for this room before you know it.” And she was right about that. It only took two days for his teeth to come in, and he was eating meat rapidly. They found out not because they saw his teeth, but because when they came into the room after work, they found he’d caught two rats and eaten them down to the bone. He was playing with the clean bones when they came in. “Endar,” Elphacena scolded. “Don’t play with your food.” Endar whined like any other child would and tried to hide his bones from her, so she wouldn’t take them. Cedrick laughed and told Elphacena to let him have them. “They’re clean and won’t stink. What’s the trouble?” Endar liked that and chirped. “Arrrd, arrd!” He said as he kept knocking the bones about between his two claws, which were already quite a bit bigger than before. He had built enough muscle to jump up onto the bed, which caused more trouble when Cedrick woke to a unique sound in the middle of the night. “Ddddddrrrrrrrooooo,” “Endar,” Cedrick sighed and turned his head to find Endar snoring on his pillow. Cedrick picked him up gently and put him down on the other side of the bed and settled closer to his wife to stop the dragon sleeping so close to his head, but it didn’t work. He woke the next night with the dragon’s head on top of his. Cedrick couldn’t open his left eye because the dragon’s head was on top of it. Elphacena saw it and laughed herself silly. Cedrick gave her an irritated look. “Next time he can sleep on you,” Cedrick complained, picking up the dragon up and putting him back on the pillow as he sat up. Elphacena smiled as Endar yawned and stretched. He was about three feet long now and almost twice the size he’d been before. He got up onto his now oddly long legs and shook his head in a doglike manner. He cooed up at Cedrick in delight. “Dddddrrrrro.” He clawed the air with one of

his front feet, showing his long pale blue claws. Cedrick took his claw and took a better look at them. “Those are getting long,” he sighed. Endar made his happy crunching sound. “Aaaang, aaaang,” and hopped off the bed with his wings spread wide. “Woah!” Cedrick jumped back. Endar’s wings were huge, almost too big to be inside. Evidently, the whole dragon was soon to follow. Endar started knocking things over regularly as he played around with his wings. It was too loud and noticed by the others. One morning at breakfast, the crash was so loud they all looked up. “We have rats,” Cedrick tried to cover up — which was true as Endar had been eating them. It worked for that day, but the next morning the crash was even louder. Margorim wasn’t buying the rats anymore. “We got cats,” Cedrick said casually, “To get rid of the rats.” A louder bang shook the floor. “A cat did that?” Margorim raised a brow. “A big one.” Crash! Something broke that time. “Really? Let me guess, you got a dog to get rid of the cat?” Margorim asked sardonically. “Yep.” Cedrick nodded only to have another crash. “It, uh, had kittens.” Crash. “We needed two dogs.” Glass shattered. “I should go check on that.” Cedrick stood up and raced up the stairs. Endar trilled in delight, standing tall on the dresser. Everything that had been on the dresser was on the floor with broken pieces, knocked off by Endar’s wings no doubt. The dragon was now the size of a heeler dog. He jumped at Cedrick, his wings wide to help him get there. Cedrick caught him as Elphacena slipped into the room behind them and shut the door with a snap. “Endar,” she scolded and took the dragon from Cedrick and held him by the middle and up over her head like a puppy. “Stop it,” she said firmly. “We told you no.” She then dropped him onto the bed which he loved. He trilled and shook his head like an excited dog then jumped off the bed —his tail knocking things over on its way down —and wiggled in delight.

“He can’t stay in here anymore.” Elphacena shook her head. “Dad’s gonna find him,” Cedrick agreed. “I told him it was rats, then cats, then a dog, two dogs and the cat’s kittens, and that is a story he didn’t really buy.” “Really? He fell for that?” “Not really. He knows we’re hiding something I’m sure,” Cedrick said. “I think he just doesn’t want to know what.” Elphacena sighed. “We’ll sneak him out tonight and find a spot to keep him in.” “No need to find one. I’ll make one,” Cedrick said. “He won’t like it,” he sighed, watching Endar. The dragon had made a habit of sitting on Cedrick’s head or Elphacena’s hair. “Yes, but he’s a dragon. He’ll learn,” Elphacena said. She stayed to “catch the dog” while Cedrick went to work. That night, Cedrick slipped out with Endar wrapped in a blanket to the place he set up just before dinner. It took Cedrick several tries to get the dragon to stay when Cedrick tried to go home for bed. Endar fussed and whined and even began to cry. Cedrick didn’t know dragons could cry that way. Cedrick thought it might be fake so he kept going, but soon, it became clear that he was not faking it. He’d wail, and that would draw attention, forcing Cedrick to go back. When it started to get late, Elphacena came out to find out what was wrong. Endar ran up to her like a child desperate for mom to save him from mean old daddy. He whined at her with big puppy dog eyes begging. “He refuses to stay alone. When he realized I was leaving him for the night, he burst into tears. I thought he was faking, but he was so loud I feared drawing the whole army,” Cedrick explained, while Endar begged for her to be on his side and let him go home. Elphacena sighed and stroked the dragon’s head and neck. “Endar,” she said soothingly, “You’re too big to stay inside. You’re a big dragon now.” Though he was only three weeks old. “You can’t stay in the room where things break.”

Endar sniffed and flopped piteously at her feet. Elphacena sighed. “Should we stay with him, maybe just for tonight?” Cedrick asked. “One night.” Elphacena caved in. “But only to get him used to it, then he’ll think it's safe and sleep here alone. Wild dragons must do something similar.” “Maybe, but the truth is we have no idea,” Cedrick pointed out. “But that is a fair deal.” He went to get sleeping mats for them, so they could sleep outside. Endar did better after that. Cedrick would have to sit with him and stroke him until he fell asleep, but the baby dragon did well otherwise. Cedrick wondered if he’d have to feed him still, but the dragon had already started to hunt for himself. He even brought Cedrick a deer and a few birds. A week after he’d started living in the woods, he more than doubled in size. He was up to Cedrick’s waist and his calls were deeper, though his cute little ‘dddrrros’ and “aang’ stayed the same. He snarls were starting to get intimidating, and his scales were deepening in color while his eyes narrowed to a soft oval instead of a round shape, though they were still very large. Endar kept them happily busy and distracted as they waited for news. This waiting game was driving them all nuts, it had been weeks, but a certain dragon decided it was all going to change.

*****

Endar was a dragon, and dragons are curious creatures who love shiny things. Endar normally was very good at following Cedrick’s orders and keeping to his clearing and forest, but one day, he caught a flash of some freshly made armor shining through the trees. Unable to help his innocent mind, he went to find out what the shiny thing was. When he lived in the room with Cedrick and Elphacena, he got to see lots of shiny things that kept him happy, but it had been so long he was more than a bit excited to see more. He was having a right old time. He played with some shinies, chased a few horses around, and found a large cooked bird and enjoyed chewing on it for a

while. When he was done with the meat, he mashed up all the bones. It was a real treat. He tried to take another one, but there were too many people around. He knew he would be in trouble for taking two. The real fun came when he found one of his favorite things: a really big fire. He missed the strong heat, and this fire was really nice. He wished he could get all that warmth inside. That’s where the warmth was best. Endar crept over to the bonfire and breathed in the smell, and it smelled amazing. The heat soothed his nose. Endar wrapped himself around the fire and felt it licking at him; it felt so good. Endar took a deep breath, and some of the fire went up his nose. It soothed the tickle that had been slowly forming in the back of Endar’s throat. With a dragonish grin, he licked the flames, soothing the thirst in his throat. Endar snapped at it playfully, and a calming wave ran through Endar’s body. He sucked in a deep breath, and some of the flames flew into his neck and filled his stomach. Mmmmm… Endar stretched out and filled out. He had to have more of that good stuff! Endar sucked in more and expanded more. Yes, this was nice.

*****

“It’s not good, Cedrick,” Elphacena fretted after half an hour. “We’ve covered the whole camp, and he’s just not here. What if he’s hurt or lost?” “Elphacena, where else could he go?” Cedrick asked. “He doesn’t know anywhere else and doesn’t care to go anywhere without us. He has to be here somewhere. We’ve just missed him in ing.” Then Cedrick paused as an idea stuck him. “Wait, didn’t they make a huge bonfire today?” He looked over at his wife. Her green eyes became the size of dinner plates. “You don’t think?” Cedrick didn’t deem to answer it but ran towards the fire with Elphacena hot on his heels. It didn’t take them long to figure out what had happened. Endar had become much larger, head held up likely ten feet tall and who knew how many feet long. His scales had deepened in color though his baby blue eyes and face

shape stayed in the same babyish form. As Cedrick appraised the situation, he guessed exactly what had happened: Endar had eaten the fire, and it somehow had made him grow rapidly, and sadly growing so fast makes one stand out a lot. There was a maelstrom of yelling and screaming which only startled the poor dragon more. As others called for backup and for those nearby to come to action, Endar tried to turn and run, but he wasn't used to his suddenly larger legs and stumbled over himself. The others took advantage of it and tried to jump him. In fright, Endar roared the most mature roar Cedrick had heard from him yet, but it still had an infant-like squeal to its scream. Halfway through the roar blue and black flames shot from Endar’s mouth, and everyone jumped back from him. Endar stopped, tilting his head in surprise, making one of his spiked, fin-like ears droop while the other stuck up. Who knew he could do that? He hadn’t. Though the other men weren’t as impressed and wouldn’t stay back long. They were already getting ready for another charge. Knowing he had little power to help, Cedrick started waving his arms. “Run!” he called to Endar. “Run bud, run!” Endar looked up and saw him. Reminding them all that though he was large he was still a baby, he didn’t run away on his own but tried to run to Cedrick to protect him. The men charged after the clumsy, scared, baby dragon. Arylana saw the dragon was (as she saw it) charging Cedrick and called out to warn him as she jumped at Endar’s neck. “No!” Cedrick was closer to Arylana than Endar. He was able to grab her leg and hold her back. Endar was startled by it and whimpered, unsure what to do. His wings were massive. Cedrick was sure they could his weight, and it seemed Elphacena agreed as she cried, “Fly! Use your wings, fly!” Endar understood what she meant only when she flapped her arms like wings, but he didn’t like the idea. He moaned a little, but the men were advancing fast, and he had to it she was right. He tried to run and flapped his wings several

times but didn’t get off the ground. Feeling sure he couldn’t do it, the dragon ran faster, still flapping, and this time he got some air. Endar was surprised and tried to get more air to fly away. As he started to get more air, arrows and spears were thrown at him, but his darkened scales protected him. Though he was unhurt, he was spooked and roared at them, hoping to scare them away. The poor dragon’s eyes were wide in fear, little brows creased in confusion. His roar was strong enough to stop them in their tracks, even Arylana, so Cedrick took the opening to let go of her and try to help Endar get away. The dragon got more air but had no control over his flight and began to fall down. His fall caused him to land uneasily on a line of tents. He roared in fright as he tried untangling himself from the mess, but he was too wrapped up. Arylana called the men for another attack. Endar saw them and roared in a pleading moan of terror, struggling to his feet. The men kept coming. Endar whimpered and backed up, almost tripping in the mess of tents. His eyes scanned around for anyone or anything that might help him. Arylana got to a perch and pulled out her bow and aimed. “No!” Cedrick tackled her over, and before Arylana could react, he rolled off and went to his dragon’s defense. He started to untangle him and soothe him. “It’s okay, Endar, shhh. They won’t hurt you, buddy. I have you.” “What are you doing?” Arylana demanded, throwing her bow to the ground as she got her feet. Endar saw her and got scared, trying to fly away but only managed to knock Cedrick over. He roared his scared baby roar and struggled against the new and old tents. Margorim had seen him take off and predicted his landing. Once Endar landed, he rushed forward, readying the Custodian blade to remove the dragon’s head. Endar saw him coming, and his eyes widened in fear. He let out a terrified cry for help as the sword swung down. “No!” Cedrick screamed. He ran and threw himself between his dragon and his father.

Margorim stopped himself in time. “Cedrick, what are you thinking? I could have killed you! Get out of the way!” “No!” Cedrick stood firm. “No father, it’s alright. He’s with us. He’s mine.” The whole camp froze at Cedrick’s declaration. “Margorim, no!” Elphacena finally reached them. “Get out of the way, both of you,” Margorim snarled. “It will get itself loose any moment and turn on us.” “What do you mean it’s yours?” Arylana snarled, standing beside her father. Their resemblance was striking. “I raised him from an egg,” Cedrick explained. “He’s safe. He just swallowed some fire, and it made him grow bigger extremely fast. He has no control of his body or his new fire. That’s why he seemed to come out of nowhere. His name is Endar. He won’t hurt you. I promise. You just scared him, and he’s scared because he’s too big for himself. He is safe.” “Cedrick, how did you get your hands on a dragon egg?” Arylana hissed. Then the truth hit her, and her face filled with shock. Once it sank in, her eyes narrowed dangerously. “You didn’t go check on Elphacena’s mother, did you? You followed me!” “Now, if I did that, don’t you think I’d have stopped you killing the dragon?” Cedrick demanded. “Or that I’d have let Aleph come with me?” “You took Aleph with you?” Arylana said, surprised for a moment, but it wasn’t long before her face hardened again. “Fine, then how did you get a dragon egg?” “I had it when we returned from the dwarves.” (Not a lie). “He’s perfectly safe. He hasn’t even been able to breathe fire until today.” Margorim's eyes were wide in shock, jaw set in anger. Arylana mirrored his. Their eyes, almost as one, looked over at Endar as Endar nudged Cedrick with his large maw and looked at Cedrick with adoring eyes. Cedrick glanced at him and patted his nose. “I’ll get to you in a moment.” He

assured the dragon before turning to his family and saying, “He’s safe. I promise.” He was getting tired of saying that. His family still gaped at him. Endar, feeling Cedrick’s anger, nudged him again with a thrum. Cedrick hushed him. “Not now, Endar. I’m busy.” “So… y-you’ve been raising that thing?” Arylana asked. “That was the rat that was then a cat and then a dog?” Margorim folded his arms. Cedrick flushed. “Well, yeah...” He rubbed his neck. “I was going to set him free when he was big enough. You know, when he could take care of himself, but he hasn’t gotten there yet.” Elphacena took the break to work on untangling the poor dragon. “How do you know he’s safe?” Arylana asked. Cedrick shrugged. “He’s been here two months and hasn’t hurt a fly, just a few rats and the like for dinner. Until today, he hasn’t hurt anything other than himself.” Cedrick gave Endar a playful telling-off look. Endar bowed his head guilty, making Cedrick smile more. Arylana and Margorim were ever more stunned. Endar seemed so human, and Cedrick so parental in his handling of the dragon. Cedrick didn’t pay this any heed as he patted the dragon’s nose before looking back at his family. Endar nudged Cedrick again. “Endar, stop it while Elphacena gets you untied.” “I think he wants the ball again,” Elphacena sighed as she worked on the massive tangle of tents. “Endar, you’re too big,” Cedrick scolded, only to get a disappointed look from the dragon. Cedrick rolled his eyes. “What ball?” Arylana asked. “This one.” Cedrick made the small ball of energy in his palm. Endar looked disappointed to see how small it was. “He likes chasing it. It’s a favorite game of his, but it’s too small to keep him entertained anymore.” They just stared, stunned by their son and brother. Cedrick was getting selfconscious, pink in the face. He rubbed his neck again. “So…” he said uneasily,

“I will just help untangle him then, if you won’t remove his head or anything.” Cedrick stepped over Endar’s leg and started to help Elphacena untangle the mess. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Arylana carefully draw closer. Endar watched her, tilting his head like a puppy. He let out a friendly squeak and lowered his head towards her. Arylana looked petrified. However, Endar only sniffed her then opened his mouth in delight. He nudged her slightly, and poor Arylana looked like she might faint. Endar wiggled in apparent delight and nudged her again. With some trepidation, she touched his smooth nose. Endar thrummed happily and pounded the ground with his tail. “Woah! Endar careful.” Cedrick cried as he pulled his wife from harm’s way. “Awoooo,” Endar moaned, bowing his head. “Just be careful. You almost squished us. , you’re a lot bigger than us now, so be careful is all. It’s okay.” Endar looked cheered again and twitched his tail but didn't raise it. Arylana just stared at the said tail. She could hardly believe what she was seeing. Endar turned back to her and nudged her again. Arylana stroked his nose then his neck. Endar thrummed again, contented as he closed his eyes. “Careful Arylana,” Margorim warned. “Father, I think he’s right. It’s harmless. Sure, it’s too big for itself, but he really does, at least seem, harmless.” Endar trilled his tongue like he did when he first hatched. Arylana laughed. Endar liked that so much he did it again. “What is it doing?” Margorim asked. “Playing.” Cedrick said as he got one tent off Endar’s wing. “He always does that. He started doing it when he first hatched. He likes it.” Endar kept making the funny sounds to amuse Arylana.

“He’s kind of cute,” Arylana said slowly with a slow smile climbing her face. She was stroking his neck, and all fear seemed gone. Endar thrummed and shook his head. He adjusted the wing Cedrick had moved the tent off of. “No, stay still Endar. Not yet,” Cedrick warned, holding his wing. Endar looked disappointed. “You’re almost free, just a second,” Cedrick said as Elphacena moved the last long length of canvas off the dragon. “There. Now you are free,” Cedrick said as he and Elphacena backed up to give the dragon space. Endar shook his head and stood up, finding his full height was likely ten feet with a little more for his longer neck when he held his head up high. He was breathtakingly beautiful in his long strong limbs and shining scales. He spread his wings — that were likely forty feet long — and shook his head before folding them back to his body. He let out a happy call and skipped around. “Careful. Don’t break anything,” Cedrick warned with the dragon’s long tail whipping about. The dragon paused and tilted his head, his ear-like fin tilted before his eyes lit up. He opened his great wings wide again. “Endar no!” Cedrick tried, but the dragon shot into the sky. He got some real air this time, but his landing was rather messy. “Yes, yes, Endar. Very good, but calm down.” Cedrick smiled. “We can work on it in a safe field.” Endar got excited and jumped around like a puppy. “No, not now later. I have work to do,” Cedrick tried, but the dragon took off anyway. He got higher than ever but still had a messy landing. “Endar,” Cedrick snapped, “Later. I have to clean this mess up.” The dragon bowed his head in apology. Cedrick smiled and rubbed him before having the dragon run off into the forest to play. The second Cedrick turned, his family rounded on him. “What were you thinking?” Margorim asked. If he was more shocked or angry, it was impossible to say.

“Someone had to take care of it.” Cedrick shrugged. Margorim and Arylana gaped at Cedrick again (it was getting old). “So you just… just picked it up, hatched him, and took care of him?” Arylana finally asked. “Yep.” Cedrick nodded. “Cena helped, of course.” “You mean did the dirty part.” Elphacena rolled her eyes. “Then what are you planning on doing with it?” Margorim asked. His anger was finally returning to his voice. “Let it free back in its home,” Cedrick said. “You know, down south where the other dragons live.” “You weren’t going to keep him?” “No because I knew you’d never allow it, but if you would allow it, I certainly would keep him.” Cedrick smiled. “Just look at him. With a bit of work, he’d be the best weapon we ever had.” As Cedrick spoke, Mercutio finally caught up to them. “Did we shoot it down?” he panted. “What happened to it? Where is it?” “Learning how to fly on the other side of the forest,” Arylana said casually. “What!” Mercutio demanded. “What do you mean ‘learning to fly’?” Cedrick sighed, getting tired of this pattern, and explained what had happened to the general. Mercutio scowled at the story. “Let me get this straight.” His voice carried the tension of a bow being drawn back. “You took a dragon egg, hatched it, raised it, and hid it from the rest of us?” “Until he snuck out and ate more fire than is good for him,” Cedrick surmised. “It’s heat that helps dragons grow, so when he ate pure heat, he grew too fast. He lost control of his new body is all. He didn’t mean any harm.”

Mercutio had a tick that looked ready to burst in his forehead. “What were you thinking?!” He demanded, fighting to keep his voice under control but all he managed was to slow it down. “It’s a dragon! A dragon, Cedrick! Even if it’s a baby dragon—if you can even call that thing a baby—how could you bring that destructive monster into our camp after what happened last time?” “It was an accident.” They thought that would have come from Cedrick, but it had not. It came from Arylana. Slowly, they all looked over at her in surprise— most of all Mercutio. Arylana flushed a deep pink. “Well, it was,” she defended. “He’s really rather…cute,” she said hesitantly. “He didn’t mean to, and Mercutio, think about it, if he’s raised by humans, it will have no desire to attack humans. If Cedrick really did manage to train it—” “Great, now he’s got you into this too,” Mercutio snarled. “You know, I think Cedrick might be right,” Margorim said. Cedrick thought he might have a heart attack. Did his father just say he was right? Margorim went on. “Because it was taught differently than a normal dragon, it might just be useful. I just saw Cedrick tell the dragon to go play like a puppy dog, and it obeyed, like a puppy dog. Cedrick talks to it like you or I speak to horses or dogs, but the dragon understands him better.” (Which was true, though most animals responded to Cedrick as if they understood him better.) “I think it may be worth trying.” Mercutio was beside himself. “Did you just see what I just saw?” he demanded. “But it was an accident.” Arylana’s tone was boarding on pleading. “Mercutio just meet him. You’ll be surprised. I was. Just give it a try before you make Cedrick take it home. It may be able to help us.” “Take it home?!” Mercutio lost it a little. “Are you nuts?! It will come back. We have to destroy it.” “No!” Cedrick, Elphacena, and Arylana cried together. “I won’t let you kill another one,” Cedrick snarled.

“Don’t you dare touch, Endar,” Elphacena hissed. “But he’s just a baby,” Arylana protested. Mercutio stared at them all, stammering. “Just a baby?” he repeated. “And Endar?” “That’s his name.” Arylana explained. “Just give him a chance, Mercutio, please?” Mercutio looked at Arylana. He seemed to be fighting with himself. “Alright.” He caved with a heavy sigh. “Alright, I’ll meet him, but don’t think that will change my mind.” Arylana beamed and did something Cedrick knew she’d only do to butter him up because she wouldn’t normally ever do anything like this. She put her arms around his neck in delight and kissed his cheek, holding a big fake smile. “Oh, thank you. Thank you. You won’t regret it.” “I’m sure I will sooner or later,” Mercutio grumbled. “You want me to call him back?” Cedrick asked. Mercutio’s eyes went wide. “It comes when you call?” Cedrick nodded. He cupped his hands over his mouth and called the dragon. Two seconds later, the dragon skidded into view, looking very excited to be called. He instantly bowed his head, so Cedrick could touch him. When Cedrick did, he felt a rush of new emotions as Endar tried to communicate like his mother once had. He learned fast. “Good job, Endar!” Cedrick cried in surprise. “You got it! Well done, learning to share images and how to fly! Very good, Endar.” “What the?” Mercutio’s face was screwed up in confusion. “Oh sorry, dragons can share images and feelings when they touch you,” Cedrick explained as he stroked Endar’s maw. “He’s had trouble doing it until now.” Mercutio’s mouth fell open like he felt like he should speak but didn’t know

what to say. Behind him, almost the whole camp was watching, but they were trying to look like they weren’t trying to see. Endar nuzzled Cedrick, and Cedrick smiled as he patted his nose. “Now, now, there is someone I need to share you with, so behave.” Endar lifted his head and looked around in excitement for his new face. He saw Mercutio and tilted his head, wondering if that was the new person. Mercutio’s pupils dilated, but he held firm. “He’s going to lower his head to you, so you can touch him,” Cedrick warned. “He should be able to share something with you using any magic you have in you. Give it a try.” Endar glanced at Cedrick to make sure it was safe, and when Cedrick nodded, Endar lowered his head and sniffed Mercutio in a friendly way. Mercutio stood stiff as Endar sniffed. Finally, he dared reach out and touched his amazingly smooth nose. Endar stuck out his tongue as if licking Mercutio but not really touching him at all. Mercutio’s eyes were huge and face frozen in surprise at Endar’s puppy-like friendliness. “H-he’s....” Mercutio gaped at the dragon. “But how?” Endar tilted his head and nuzzled Mercutio. “He likes you.” Cedrick grinned. “He likes all your shinies.” “What?” “Your rank badges, sir. He likes shiny stuff, like all dragons do. He likes all your ‘shinies’ as he calls them. He thinks you must be a good friend to get so many,” Cedrick said. Arylana laughed, and Mercutio chuckled slightly. Mercutio just stared at Endar as the dragon looked up at the general with his large blue eyes. Endar made a slight coo noise and nudged Mercutio’s hand, asking for more pets. Mercutio swallowed before he did. Endar was delighted. “Arrrddd,” he trilled excitedly. Mercutio looked like he might faint from shock. “See?” Cedrick smiled, “As docile as a kitten.”

Mercutio swallowed and looked from Cedrick to the dragon, to Arylana, then back to the dragon then Cedrick, then around again. Finally, he spoke. “Alright, alright. We’ll test him and see what he can do. If he turns out not to be a threat, you may keep him as a trained…dragon. Understood?” Cedrick beamed. “Perfectly.” Mercutio nodded and glanced over the dragon again before leaving. “See?” Cedrick rubbed Endar’s nose. “We’re going to have lots of fun, aren’t we?” Endar thrummed his agreement.

Chapter 25

The Quiet Life

Cedrick opened his eyes. Oh no, not again. Couldn’t he just get a normal night’s sleep? Cedrick took in the area and knew he was right because he recognized the area around him easily. He grew up here. To the far left, a tent was set up. On his right, there was a tall pile of lumber with branches still attached, surrounded by the stumps of the felled trees. Margorim had two horses tied to one stump that had the ground around it dug up and filled with a small layer of water. The horses were pulling on the stump from one side, while Margorim pushed on it from the other. Eldalane held the reins of the horses, but she kept looking at her husband nervously. His shirt was tossed over one of the other stumps to try to keep cool in the impressive heat. Margorim pushed against the trunk with his back with all he had as the horses struggled to pull it forward. The stump slowly slid and moved before there was a pop, and the stump was yanked from the ground. Eldalane quickly stopped the horses. Margorim had slipped but caught himself, splashing in the mud. “Are you alright?” Eldalane asked. Margorim smiled amusedly. “Yes, I’ve been fine every time you’ve asked, and you’ve asked with every stump,” he teased. “It’s alright. It’s just a lot of mud,” he sighed and jumped out of the hole. He took the reins from his wife before kissing her softly. “I’m fine.” He brushed her cheek tenderly before having the horses pull the stump over to the pile on the far side of the “Well.” Eldalane hugged herself. “I’d feel better if you let me help you,” she said as she watched her husband. “Thank you, but it’s fine. You are already helping plenty,” Margorim sighed as

he splashed his face with some refreshingly cool water and rubbed it over his face and neck. Eldalane frowned as her husband's back was turned. Suddenly, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around his chest. “Maybe I am, but I feel just horrible watching you sweat and strain like this when I’m doing nothing,” she itted. “I know you’re stressed about getting it all done before the fall, and you’re doing it all alone, and it’s just us and…” She sighed. “You won’t it any of it to me because you want to be strong for me,” She huffed with a smile, enjoying that a bit. “And I know you do it for me, and that’s a part of what I love about you, but Margorim, it’s okay.” She turned to look at him. “For now all we have is each other, so please, sweetheart, be honest with me.” She let go so she could see him better. “I love you. It’s okay to it it.” She brushed his face tenderly. She then bent forward to kiss him gently. Margorim smiled a little as he kissed her back. “I know,” he sighed. “I am sorry. You’re right.” He embraced her. “I love you. I really do.” Eldalane smiled. “You better,” She pecked his lips, “Because if you don’t, I’d have to make you now.” Margorim laughed heartily. “And that," he said as he kissed her, “Is part of what makes me love you.” Eldalane beamed at her success and kissed him again. “But really,” Margorim said when they pulled back, “The more work I do, the better I feel. I already feel like I have to jump off something.” Eldalane laughed and hugged him tightly. The area faded only to return to the same spot. The hut was finished, and the trees were alive with autumn colors. The hut looked more clean-cut and neat than Cedrick had ever known it. It also was smaller. Margorim likely added on more rooms later.

“Margorim please, you did fine,” Eldalane sighed. “Look.” She pushed hard on the wall, a bit teasing and a bit mocking. “It doesn’t fall over!” Margorim gave her a look. “What? It doesn’t.” Eldalane grinned. “It’s strong and sturdy.” She shook it again with no result. “And it’s much warmer inside than outside. It keeps us nice and warm.” She stepped inside and out as she said it. “And I’m really impressed that you’ve set it up to pump water inside. How did you know how to do that?” Margorim chuckled. “I broke the piping to one of the houses we were in once when I was a boy. My father made me fix it as payment, so I know how the pumps work well enough to make them.” He shrugged. “Well, it’s wonderful.” Eldalane beamed. “You shouldn’t be so…well, you about it.” She laughed. Cedrick had chuckled too; that was the side of him Cedrick knew. “If you really think it’s that bad.” Eldalane went on. “Then sleep in the shed— which you thought the same of its sturdiness, if you recall—and I’ll sleep in here and prove it’s safe.” “You really think I’d allow you to sleep somewhere I won’t sleep in?” Margorim smirked, giving her a sideways look. “That’s my point.” Eldalane smiled. “I’ve got the hard part done. We still have a lot of work to do, true, but the hard part is done. All that is left is to bring all of our things with us. Real beds, and the other furnishings. We have more than enough wood left over for the winter. I’ll have the kitchen done up in no time, and we’ll be set. It will be fine. Don’t worry.” She gave her husband a look with one raised eyebrow and slipped inside. Margorim sighed and followed her, and Cedrick followed him. The hut was empty apart from the tables in the kitchen and cupboards he’d built into the walls. Cedrick thought it was impressive knowing his father’s current skill level. Cedrick watched Eldalane down the hall at the two current bedrooms. She then smiled and looked at Margorim with eyes a light. “Sweetheart, it’s perfect. It’s amazing,” she gushed.

“Still small,” Margorim sighed. Eldalane took his arm. “Perhaps, but it didn’t have to be big. It’s perfect for the two of us.” “Yeah, well, what about when there’s more of us?” She grinned playfully. “We’ll worry about that when we get there. How soon do you expect to see lots of little ones running around? I mean, even if we had the space, we’d still have to fill it. We could have three children in three years, we’d still have space for them. It’s perfect as is it, and we can expand as needed, but let’s not worry about it until it’s needed.” She smiled again and wrapped her arms around his neck. “For now, it’s perfect for just the two of us.” She kissed him. “For some special time of our own before the madness starts.” She ran a hand down his chest and smiled at him as she looked up through her lashes. Margorim returned the mischievous look and kissed her. “I like this hidden side of you. I never saw that in the royal courts.” “Because that would get you into trouble in the royal courts,” Eldalane teased. “But not alone, not with my husband." She kissed him again. “Who is far too excited for little ones to be running around.” Margorim laughed. The scene changed once more to a moaning Eldalane curled up on the bed with her husband sitting beside her with a frown on his face. “Feel better?” he asked hopefully but with a hint of worry in his voice too. Eldalane shook her head. “Whatever it was, you got it five times worse,” she groans, “I feel like I’m going to shoot my stomach out of my mouth.” “Oh, don’t worry about that, honey. That’s what frogs do, not people, and you’re not a frog. You’re a people,” Margorim said, trying to cheer her up as he stroked her hair. “Why, why is it every morning? It comes and goes, but it’s always always the worst in the mornings.”

“I don’t know, but it will ,” Margorim said, still looking worried. “You’ll be fine.” Eldalane moaned, “Would you get rid of that smell already?” Margorim sighed, “I already told you I don’t know what smell you mean. You keep saying that, but I still don’t smell anything. Look, I’m sure if you try to eat something, you’ll feel better. Just a little squash that we have left or something. After all, you love squash, come on.” “Oh no, I am not touching it.” Eldalane shook her head. “The idea makes me feel sick.” “Well, eat something then,” Margorim begged. “Jerky, an apple, anything. You can’t go on with nothing but gallons upon gallons of water like you have been.” Eldalane moaned again. “What in creation could be making you so ill?” Margorim frowned. “You’re nauseous, cramping, drinking almost double what is normal, avoiding foods you love as if they're poison—” Eldalane froze and cut him off. “What? Say that again.” “Which part?” “All of it, the list you just rattled off.” Margorim gave her a strange look. “Just do it!” “Add irritation to the list.” Eldalane’s face fell. “No, no, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get upset.” And tears rapidly filled her eyes, to her husband’s horror. “No, Elda, sweetheart.” He tried to amend. “I didn’t mean to say it like that. I am sorry. Honestly, I didn’t mean to make you upset.” “No, you’re right. I am being a pill.” Eldalane threw a blanket over her head.

“Elda, Eldalane, don’t be like that. Come on, you’re just…just more moody than normal.” “What?” Eldalane popped out from under the blanket again. “Oh please don’t get mad at me again.” “No, no, just say it again.” “You’re just more moody than normal.” Eldalane’s face filled with shock then wonder as if considering something— something frightening and exciting all at once—then her face filled with the a different kind of wonder. “Say it all again with that list you had before and the moody thing, all together as a list.” “Alright,” Margorim said, confused, but did as she asked. As he did, Eldalane’s mouth slowly fell open, at least she seemed cured of her ailment from before. Margorim’s brows creased. “Elda, are you alright?” “I’m fine,” Eldalane breathed then laughed. “Oh, my dear love, I’m perfectly fine.” She laughed again, worrying her poor husband. “I think I know what’s happening to me.” “Well yeah, it’s the same stomach bug I just had. You said so yourself.” “No,” She breathed. “No, I didn’t.” She laughed once more. “It’s so much better than that.” “How can being a different sick be better?” Margorim asked. “I’m not sick! Oh, Margorim.” She laughed again. “I think I’m pregnant.” Margorim’s jaw dropped. “What?” “Margorim, I’m pregnant,” Eldalane said more excitedly. “It all fits. I’m pregnant!” A full three seconds slowly ed before it appeared to sink into Margorim what

she’d said. Then his face filled with the same wonder and shock Eldalane’s had. “No,” he breathed—like she had. “Really? Are you sure?” “I can’t be completely sure, but I think I’m as sure as I can be.” Eldalane nodded. “I’m all but positive.” At the affirmation, Margorim let out a cry of delight and hugged his wife in pure joy. Eldalane laughed as she hugged him back. “You’re really?” Margorim looked at her. “We’re going to have a baby!” He laughed in delight. He laughed in disbelief and ran a hand through his hair, letting it rest there as he took it in. “Woah, it’s really happening.” He laughed in delight. Eldalane laughed too and kissed him. He kissed her back, beaming with delight. This happy moment faded to show Eldalane cooking in the kitchen, now very clearly pregnant with one hand pressed to her back as if to help with the pressure as the other stirred something on the stove. She grunted in discomfort and pressed a hand to her swollen belly. “Would you stop it?” she said, looking down at the baby bump. “You can’t really be that squished in there.” She sighed as there was another kick, “Will you ever stop kicking me? You’re heavy enough without that added discomfort.” The door opened, and Margorim stepped inside, beaming at his wife. He walked over to her and put his arms around her. “How is the mother-to-be?” he teased. “I already am a mother if the baby is inside me.” Eldalane corrected her husband. “And I’d be better if the baby would stop wiggling, stretching, and kicking me every five minutes. He never stops.” “Now let’s be fair; you don’t know it’s a him yet.” Margorim grinned mischievously. “He’s too strong and stubborn not to be,” Eldalane groaned. “He never stops.”

“Well, I am not sure that doesn’t mean it’s not a girl, but either way you need to stop kicking your mother,” Margorim said to the baby, looking at the bump. “You better stop, or you’ll be in big trouble.” The couple laughed to see a very clear kick towards Margorim, as if the baby planned to kick him instead. “Sure it was a coincidence?” Eldalane said. “Don’t worry, Eldalane. Not long now and you can hold him instead. Then he can kick me instead of you.” Margorim kissed her head, resting his face in her hair for a moment. “I can’t wait,” Eldalane sighed as she leaned into her husband. “I just can’t wait.” Margorim frowned a little, likely thinking he could wait. He bit his lip as his eyes wandered in his thoughts before he spoke. “Are you sure we can do this alone? I know nothing about this sort of thing, and I don’t know how much help I can really be to you.” “You know more than you think. You know plenty,” Eldalane comforted. “You were there for your cousin’s birth, right?” “Well, I was there, but that’s not the same thing as helping and knowing anything. What if something goes wrong, and I’m helpless to help you? Are we sure we should try to do this alone? After all, there must be someone somewhere who could help us. Perhaps Shota could—” “I thought we agreed no one can know where we are, even those we trust. It’s to protect them as well as us, ? It’s not safe for them.” “Yes, but…” Margorim’s beard twitched. “It’s not like giving birth is easy.” “No, but it’s simple enough.” “Then why do so many women die from it?” “For your information, Mr. Know-it-all, it’s not as common as you think. With

people who actually use magic, it goes very well. The magic keeps things clean, helps open up when things are too tight, and can even help press the baby out safely,” Eldalane defended. “From what I know, only about fifteen women a year die in the process.” “But I can’t do any of that magic.” Margorim reminded her, but his expression made it clear he didn’t buy her figures. “But you can learn and do it, couldn’t you?” Eldalane said. “All Custods have magic.” Cedrick snorted hard. Would his father do that even for her? Margorim flushed a little. “Yeah, but most of us don’t have a lot. I’m not an enchanter or anything.” “But these are simple spells.” Eldalane reminded him. “If you’re so scared, use those things. Even if you don’t, the rate is still much lower than it was. Maybe half of those women even have magic to help them. I trust you. We talked about this, Margorim, long before it was a worry, back when we chose this hiding place. You know enough. I have full confidence in you.” Margorim swallowed. “But I’m still worried.” “Then talk to someone and learn that magic. You can do that safely, can’t you? You do have that bird.” she reminded him gently. “I only know one person, and that’s Shota, who also is in hiding.” “Margorim, we talked about this. You and I both knew it would come to this one day, and I have faith it will be fine.” Eldalane put her hand on top of her husband’s hand resting on her stomach. “We can do this. You know the basics and how to solve common problems. You can learn the magic if you want. We talked about all of this and I taught you all I know. You will be fine, and so will I, and so will the baby. It will be okay. I’m sure of it.” She leaned into him comfortably. “I know it will.” Margorim smiled. The next scene formed to show Eldalane sitting up in bed, holding a baby in her

arms with her husband beside her one arm around her shoulder. “Look.” He smiled. “Look what you did.” Eldalane laughed. “What I did?” “Alright, look what we did.” The couple beamed at each other then down at the baby in her arms. “You’re right.” Margorim smiled, touching his son’s small hand with a finger. “A strong boy.” “He looks like you.” Eldalane beamed. “How can you tell? I think he looks like you.” The couple laughed, unable to stop smiling. The baby made a soft sound, and they beamed down at him. “Hello.” Margorim cooed at him. Cedrick fought not to laugh. He’d never heard his father speak like that before, and he’d never even tried to imagine it. “Hi.” The couple beamed at the newborn. “And his name?” “Rumpelstiltskin!” “Margorim!” Margorim laughed. “Kidding,” He said. “I’m just kidding.” “I say we name him for your father,” Eldalane said thoughtfully. “Like you said before, that name shouldn’t fade out of the family. It’s as old as the family itself.” Margorim smiled and nodded. “Roxorim it is then: our little Rox.” The couple beamed at their new son. Eldalane tenderly kissed his forehead, both of them glowing with pure joy. The next few scenes were similar, ing very quickly: the family sitting in the main room, Roxorim playing with his father as he worked on wood work, Margorim tossing the baby into the air and catching him to make Roxorim just

squeal with baby laughter, Roxorim learning to walk. In all these scenes, Cedrick struggled with a mix of emotions. It made him happy to see them so happy, to see what she was like and what his father was like. But he was so different from the man he knew. It was hard for him to swallow. Even when he tried to remind his father of it, nothing changed. It made watching these odd dreams hard. A new scene started with Margorim sitting on the floor with Roxorim playing with him. Roxorim looked to be about two years old now. He had a block in one hand and was muttering nonsense baby words as they made a block tower. “That’s right,” Margorim was saying. “Then you take them out.” And he pretended to hit the tower they’d made. “Boom!” Roxorim laughed and knocked the tower over excitedly. “That’s my boy.” Margorim beamed and ruffled his son’s thick blond hair. Roxorim laughed harder with a big smile. Roxorim kept hitting the falling blocks with his horse toy. Eldalane walked into the room, one hand on her stomach and the other on her mouth. Her husband noticed and frowned. “You okay?” “Yeah,” Eldalane sighed, “just feeling sick.” “Well, we all were after that thing got in the water.” Margorim frowned. “Though I’d thought it would have cleared your system now.” “I would have thought so too, and I do think that. I think it’s happening again.” She gave her husband a meaningful look. “What’s happening again?” Margorim asked, only half listening to his wife as Roxorim handed his father his toy with a hopeful cry of a laugh. “Dad, boom!” Roxorim cried, waving his arms in excitement. Margorim chuckled and started to build the blocks again. “Sorry honey, I’m listening. What is happening again? I don’t think I understand.” He finally got to look up at her. “Do you mean you mistakenly drank more tainted water?” His brow creased in worry.

“No, I mean,” she paused. “No, never mind. That doesn’t make sense. I’m just hoping.” “Hoping what?” Margorim asked as Roxorim knocked over the new tower in glee. “Nothing.” “Eldalane.” Margorim got to his feet and went to her in one graceful movement. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He could tell it’s not just sick in body but at heart too. “Yes, I’m sure I’m okay, just… just give me some time. I’ll be alright.” Margorim wasn’t assured. “Look, you have been tired lately. You should rest, and I’ll watch him for a while and finish up.” Eldalane smiled a little. “It’s harder this time I think.” Her face was lit up. “What’s harder?” Margorim frowned. Eldalane sighed, and the light flickered. “Sorry, it’s likely just wishful thinking.” Margorim frowned deeper, trying to figure out what’s going on, studying her face. Then something clicked, and his face lit up. “You’re kidding? Do you really think?” he asked hopefully. Eldalane looked up in surprise. “Well…think or hope, do you?” “It could be, if you think so,” Margorim said. She smiled a little. “Well, it could be.” “So…are you, or aren’t you?” Eldalane couldn’t hold back the smile, and it made an even bigger one spread across Margorim’s face. He picked her up and spun her around in delight. “Ah! Margorim, don’t do that.” She half giggled, half hiccupped as she felt sick again.

Margorim laughed and kissed her tenderly in apology. “Are you kidding? We’re having another child. How could I not? I can’t even express...” He kissed her again, still gentle. “When will you be sure?” “Well...” “Ah, who needs it.” He kissed her a bit harder. “I love you.” He sighed happily. Eldalane smiled tenderly. “I love you too,” she sighed. “So much,” she breathed and kissed him again. Roxorim let out a happy squeal behind them, making his parents break apart. Margorim laughed. “Well, now we know why you’re tired and sickly lately. Go on and take the nap I promised you. Try not to spend it all emptying your stomach this time.” He kissed her nose. Roxorim let out another delighted squeal. “See?” Margorim beamed. “Two is exactly what we need. Someone to keep him busy.” Eldalane laughed. The next scene showed Eldalane holding her newborn little girl. Eldalane smiled the most glowing, radiant smile Cedrick had ever seen. Margorim’s face showed the same joy as Eldalane handed the baby girl to her father. “There she is,” Eldalane beamed, “your little girl.” Margorim took her carefully, grinning as widely as he looked down at the baby girl. She looked up at her father with tender trusting eyes and lifted her hand up and brushed her father’s beard. The couple laughed “Little Arylana,” Eldalane sighed, lying down a bit to relax. “Our baby girl.” The look on Margorim’s face was the softest, most tender look Cedrick had ever seen on any man’s face. He cradled Arylana for a few more moments as he gazed at her with that tender look. Eldalane beamed at them, resting contentedly in the nest of pillows and blankets around her.

After a while, Arylana started to fuss a bit. Margorim gently shushed her and handed her to her mother. Eldalane smiled tiredly as she cradled her. Margorim put his arms around them both. “I love you.” He sighed, happier than he could express as he held his wife and child tightly. Eldalane smiled and closed her eyes too as she let Arylana nurse. She let out a happy coo. The next scene showed Roxorim tilting his head in confusion at his little sister. “She was in my belly, but now, she’s ready to be born and play.” Eldalane tried to explain. “Sissy?” Roxorim asked. “Yes, she’s your little sister, and you can play peek-a-boo, and one day, other games like blocks, and tag, and battle,” Eldalane said, still holding her. “I hug?” Roxorim asked. Margorim chuckled. “Yes, but carefully like when she was in mama’s tummy.” “Okay.” Roxorim smiled and hugged her gently. Arylana made a little noise. “That bad?” Roxorim asked. “No, she’s just saying hi,” Eldalane said. “I like it.” Roxorim hugged himself in delight. Eldalane chuckled and kissed his head. “Good, you’ll have lots of fun.” “With sissy, mama, and daddy,” Roxorim agreed and hugged her. “Promise.” Eldalane smiled and kissed his head again as Margorim gave them one big hug. Roxorim laughed. The little family looked perfectly content.

Chapter 26

Dragon Fight

They weren’t going to be intimidated into attacking in the dark this time. This time, they were going all in to win back what had been taken from them, and there was no holding back. The weather was warming up, and the snow was all but gone from the ground. The stiff breeze was the only hint that it was still winter time. Endar’s tail was twitching back and forth in excitement for the attack, and Cedrick was having a hard time not teasing the dragon by trying to catch his tail like a cat, but one of them had to be mature. Instead, he mounted onto his dragon and scratched his neck, trying to get under the tight scales. Endar liked that. “You aren’t excited for the battle, are you?” Cedrick asked in mock confusion. Endar gave him a look to say “duh” and thrummed in excitement. “Alright then, off we go!” Cedrick beamed and looked at the others to make sure they weren’t too close. “Don’t die,” Arylana advised in the same old sing-song voice. Cedrick grinned. “Can’t promise anything.” She saluted back. “You better promise me.” Elphacena winked. “I’ll see you on the inside.” “For you? For sure.” Cedrick winked back.

Endar glared at Cedrick, annoyed they were taking so long to take off. He snarled his displeasure. “Alright, alright,” Cedrick said as he held onto the saddle. He made sure the straps were in right. “Let’s go, buddy.” Endar roared to the sky and shot up into the air. Cedrick laid flat on Endar’s back to help them take off more quickly as they blazed into the air. When Endar was right over the city he let out another roar, and Cedrick felt the force of it vibrate underneath him in Endar’s chest. Endar then dove to Montressa’s city gates. There was only one disadvantage the dragon had, and that was he was still not very big. With his neck held up high, he was maybe ten feet tall, but he didn’t often hold it that high so he was only about eight feet tall, and with his tail, he was about fifteen feet long. This small size made it impossible for him to charge into a city wall and break it down like his mother had, but he still had a good amount of weight behind him and was strong enough that with a good blast of fire and enough speed he could break down the city gate. Cedrick braced himself like they’d practiced a dozen times to be ready for this moment, and he felt Endar’s neck heat up as he started to produce the fire. Cedrick gave Endar a bit of a squeeze that meant Endar had shot the ball of fire at the gate. Cedrick dug his fingers into the saddle as they crashed into the gate. The gate burst into dozens of smaller bits of wood and steel. Endar was thrown off balance a little. He rolled and got back to his feet. Cedrick was glad he was strapped in. Endar looked back to check on Cedrick. “Well done, boy. I’m alright,” Cedrick promised, but he was sore in a few places, but it would be worse before the day was over. “Let’s do the next gate.” Endar nodded his agreement and took off for the next gate. They took out this one as easily as they had the last one, but as they settled their balance in the air after the last break, a blast went off on Cedrick’s right, unseating him and the saddle. Cedrick managed to unstrap the saddle from his legs but only just in time. He had to reach out to grab onto a window ledge to break his fall. His arms throbbed at the sudden stopping force. With a wince, Cedrick looked around. There was no way he could climb back up from his

position, so he looked down. He could make the jump if he did it just right and controlled it. Cedrick risked it. It worked. Cedrick landed catlike on the ground and drew his sword as he stood up, thinking he’d need it any second. As he stood, his eyes fought to penetrate a thick dark cloud that had filled the area. The stiff wind had been blowing in rain clouds all day, and it made the haze worse. The only hint of light was a dark red undertone coming from some fire left over from the bang. Had Endar done that to get him off? What had made him do that if it was, and if it wasn’t Endar that had blown him off, what had? “Endar?!” Cedrick called. “Buddy. It’s okay. I’m down here.” Endar’s blue head appeared in the smoke, whimpering a little. “I don’t know what made me fall, bud. I thought you did it on purpose to save me, but it’s alright now. Are you hurt?” Endar shook his head. “Good, can you make your way down here? I’ll get the saddle back on you.” Endar looked around nervously, unsure if he’d fit into the spot with the rubble and walls around. “Don’t worry about it, buddy. You don’t have to try. Go take out the other gate without me and meet me by the first gate, alright? I can get it on then. Want to take it with you?” Endar nodded. Cedrick tossed him the saddle, and it settled on his back securely though it wasn’t strapped. “Maybe if I take too long, you can have someone else put it on, so we can do a jump mount like we practiced.” Cedrick tried to cheer Endar up. He could feel Endar was really nervous about being alone. It worked, and Endar’s eyes lit up at the idea. He nodded excitedly. He then pulled away like a child excited to go get a cookie. Cedrick listened to make sure Endar took off alright, and soon, the snap of Endar’s powerful wings met his ears. The dragon would be fine.

The acrid smoke in the air filled Cedrick’s nose and made him cough a little. He licked his dry lips. He could taste the ash in the air. What had blown up? Ash wasn’t normally this thick after a blow like that, not from any explosive Cedrick knew of. Something was added to make it this thick, but what and why? No one had bothered him or the dragon in the fall, so what was the purpose? Cedrick’s grip on his blade tightened a little as he moved into the haze. Neramith was the only one able to make a blow like that, and the man had to be close. Energy tingled in Cedrick’s blood, making his fingers tinkle. That was strong magic alright. Slowly, Cedrick made his way up the alley, eyes darting slowly and carefully about for signs of the enemy. Nothing happened as he emerged onto the street, the haze still heavy around him. There was a shuffle that made Cedrick jump and turn, but it was only Alburn holding a sleeve over his nose to stop himself coughing. “You alright?” he asked. Cedrick nodded. “You?” Alburn nodded. Then they heard a slow methodical clapping that sharply cut the air like a thunderclap. A shudder of anger crept up Cedrick’s spine as his eyes snapped to the sound. The last time he heard that clap, it was icy cold. Cedrick’s hand clutched his sword to keep his hands from shaking in anger. It took Cedrick several moments, but eventually, he could pinpoint where the echo originated and looked up to an outdoor balcony above him. Though it was still dark and hazy, Cedrick could clearly see him. Cedrick set his teeth at the sight. There the man stood, still in those odd clothes: flapping cloak, messy, twisted hair and eyes, and that horrid manic smile that made Cedrick want to rip off heads. “Hello, hello, my sweet friend,” Heklis cooed. “It’s been tooooooo llllooooonnnng.” He made the “G” click. Cedrick felt Alburn stiffen with hatred and anger. Heklis’s manic eyes met Cedrick’s hot blue ones. Cedrick glared right back into them as if he could set Heklis on fire just by glaring.

“I hope you like the bomb.” Heklis went on as if they were talking about some cakes he’d provided for tea. “I’d planned them special, just for you.” Heklis steadily made his way down the steps to the street level. He stopped once on the same plane as Cedrick and Alburn then paused to ‘ire the weather’. “Beautiful things, bombs,” he said, looking up at the sky where the flames licked at the atmosphere. “I just love the flames, don’t you?” he said with a wicked grin of delight. “Destructive, searing, quick, licking, twisting, and of course, burning. Nothing can essssscape it.” He held out the “S” and finished with yet another click. His eyes slide down to meet Cedrick’s hate filled glare with a satisfied smirk. “Some of us don’t need to escape it,” Cedrick replied. “But to challenge it.” “Oh look! You’re finally getting it!” Heklis skipped with glee. “Well done, good banter, good form!” “Good what?” Cedrick didn’t know that term, and he was frustrated with this silliness. “Your father really didn’t keep you up on your book learning.” Heklis deflated in disappointment. “You know, banter? What you just said.” “Good form is good talking?” Cedrick looked at Alburn in confusion. Alburn’s demeanor shocked Cedrick. Alburn was literally stiff with anger and hatred; it stopped him from moving as he fought to control it. Cedrick thought he may have heard Alburn’s tooth crack with how tightly set his teeth were. Cedrick decided he better take the attention, so Alburn could get his head. Cedrick had never seen anyone look that angry before. It was rather frightening. “It doesn’t matter.” Cedrick turned back to Heklis. “Banter or no banter, you won’t slip away this time, Heklis.” “Yes!” Heklis beamed. “Yes, my dear boy, much better than our last meeting. As powerful and searing as always.” He was looking at Cedrick as if he were a proud instructor watching his pupil succeed. The audacity rubbed Cedrick wrong. Heklis threw his head back and laughed. “Master of the mountain, my firebird friend, those are the flames you need!” “I am no doing that stupid introduction!” Cedrick interrupted, not wanting to do

that again. “What? Why not?” Heklis’s face fell comically as if denied the biggest treat he’d ever been offered. “It’s a waste of time! I’m not spending all this time talking again. You owe me a good fight.” Cedrick held his blade tighter and moved to spring, but Alburn shook his head in warning, making Cedrick pause. “Waste of time?” Heklis cried. “Waste of time?! On the contrary, it’s a beautiful use of time! I am Heklis: Horrible Evil King Lord Iron Spike. I’m the terror that possesses the innocent child and makes the dog bark in the night. I am High Master of Darkness, Lord of Evil, Emperor of Magic, Commander of the Mind. With my special touch, I am able to possess any woman and to twist your mind in knots no man or beast can untie.” Cedrick face palmed. “I can’t believe you just did that again,” he snarled. “Do you always do this?” “He does,” Alburn confirmed. “How do you know?” Cedrick looked at him in surprise. Alburn didn’t answer but waited with tired, experienced annoyance for Heklis to finish. It reminded Cedrick of a parent waiting for a toddler to finish complaining. He appeared to know this game well and just played to get it over with. “Oooo, learn from this one, little enchanter,” Heklis said with a delighted grin. “He knows how the game is played.” Heklis drew his sword, and Alburn took the shot. He threw himself at Heklis. With a lazy flick of his wrist, Heklis sent Alburn flying to his left. Cedrick tried to help, but Alburn hit Cedrick at full speed, knocking them both over. “I was hoping for a one on one,” Heklis said tiredly. “But we’ve got a horrible third wheel here.” The other two ignored Heklis’s talking and went in for the attack. Cedrick going in on the right and Alburn on the left. Heklis sighed once more and took a step back, grabbed both by a shoulder, and ran them into one another. Cedrick saw white lights as they fell back.

“You two need to actually fight together if you’re going to...well, fight together.” Heklis shook his head. “A bit of a disappointment.” Being quite fed up with this talk, Cedrick ignored his endless chatter and threw an energy ball at Heklis’s face. It exploded in a blue blast when it reached Heklis’s nose and threw him back with a surprisingly powerful force—even Cedrick was impressed, but not in a good way. The force was so strong it threw all three of them back. Cedrick was able to jump to his feet almost instantly, but Alburn took a bit longer, giving Heklis an opening. Somehow, Heklis had landed on his feet. He shot a bolt of dark red magic at Cedrick. Cedrick caught it in his hand and deflected it aside where it exploded in a huge bang of smoke, leaving them all coughing. “Elegant!” Heklis beamed as he dove for Cedrick again. Cedrick blocked it, and the two powerful fighters fell into a pattern of parries and lunges. It was mesmerizing like a rapid dance of death. They pulled back for a moment to assess the other’s energy level, as they did, so an arrow came from nowhere; it shot over Cedrick's left shoulder and bounced on the street in between himself and Heklis. Heklis’s eyes filled with an angry fire and they dared up to where the arrow had come from. He snarled dangerously, more dangerous looking and darker than Cedrick had ever seen him before. An intangible, invisible evil darkness was oozing from him, and shining out of his eyes. “I have to take care of a rat,” Heklis hissed and jumped into the air, flying over Cedrick and out of sight. Cedrick stood ready for Heklis’s attack, and Alburn ed him, shaking his head. “Forget it,” he said. “He’s distracted. He won’t be back ‘til that’s out of his way, or he’s satisfied.” “You sure?” Cedrick asked, eyes still sharp for trouble, not looking at Alburn. Alburn nodded, making Cedrick pause to look. Cedrick cursed, not satisfied.

“Coward!” he called after Heklis. “Come on and face me, coward!” This made the second time the man wouldn’t stay and actually fight. “Cedrick, don’t. You’ll only encourage him; Heklis likes that too much. If he likes anything, avoid it, trust me. The happier he gets, the more dangerous he gets,” Alburn warned. “He wants to play, and if you don’t play, he’ll find someone more defenseless to play with to punish you and to make sure he has fun himself.” Cedrick frowned. “What do you mean? How do you know?” “I’ve dealt with him closely; trust me on that. You don’t want to know,” Alburn replied firmly. “You play by his rules, you may get a fair fight, but if you don’t, he’ll just keep dancing around until you play his game, or he gets to hurt someone else. If you play his game, you can actually challenge him. If you don’t…” Alburn sighed. “Come on, we should keep going. If he’s here or not, a battle is still going on, and if I know him, he’ll be back.” “But shouldn’t we at least try to go after him?” Cedrick asked, recalling how he’d gone off blowing up random places to get his attention at Nerofox. “You won’t find him ‘til he’s ready, and he’s not ready. We should get back to the main plans ‘til then,” Alburn insisted. “If he’s still here, he’ll turn up.” Cedrick sighed and nodded, defeated and knew there was no other option. He was confused, but he trusted Alburn to know what he was talking about. So he went to climb up and find Endar, while Alburn went back to his post. Cedrick dashed into a building to try to get some height to see where the dragon may be flying when a woman raced across his path at full speed and slammed into him, knocking both of them to the floor. Cedrick grunted in pain as they both hit the ground with great force, the woman on top of Cedrick. The shock spooked him, and Cedrick moved to shove her off, but the way she fought back made a light go on. “Cena?” “Sorry to run into you like this, but had to hurry,” Elphacena said, getting up on her own and helping him up. “Endar is struggling without you.”

“Disappointing,” Cedrick sighed. He’d hoped Endar could work on his own better. “I had some hiccups in the plans.” “Neramith?” Elphacena asked. “Neramith is here too?” Cedrick frowned. Elphacena frowned deeper. “Too?” “I ran into Heklis.” “He’s here?!” Cedrick nodded. “Yes, but you saw Neramith too?” “Yes, we have to be careful. He is still here,” Elphacena confirmed. “Good.” Cedrick’s fists clenched. “Careful Cedrick,” Elphacena warned. “, he can kill you by zapping your magic out in a second.” “I recall.” Cedrick said, but it didn’t change the fact he wanted to get Neramith badly. “Yes, well, Endar is the first thing we need to address,” Elphacena said. “Let’s climb up to where we can reach him.” Cedrick agreed, and they climbed up to get a view and mistakenly ran into a thick knot of fighters, so thick it was hard to see what was going on. Because they were distracted, they didn’t see they were soon under arrow volley. Cedrick felt one cut across his shirt then a cry of pain met his ears and that cry shot through his heart. He’d forgotten the arrow volleys. “Cena!” He whipped around to face her. The arrow hadn’t embedded in the skin but cut across her arm—like it had his shirt—and drew blood, a lot of it. Cedrick, reacting on instinct. He grabbed her good arm and pulled her out of harm’s way and into a protected area below. “Cena, Elphacena, are you alright?” Cedrick asked, fear widening his eyes and

filling his voice. “I’m fine.” Elphacena winced. “It’s not bad. It will heal fast.” She assured him, but her voice was heavy with panting from pain. The arrow had grazed her shoulder, not deep enough to damage muscle, but it was bleeding pretty badly. Cedrick ripped some clothing to stop the bleeding. He looked around for something to hold the compress in place. Elphacena winced again. “Cedrick,” she said carefully, “We can’t both stay here. You have to catch Endar before something bad happens to him or the others. He’s scared, and if we can’t catch him, you have to.” “I won’t leave you,” Cedrick said resolutely. “I’ll be alright,” Elphacena comforted him. “I will not leave you, most of all alone,” Cedrick insisted. “You matter more to me.” Cedrick made her meet his eyes, a warm hand cradling her cold cheek. “You are my world. I’m not idly letting that go.” “Cedrick please, I will be alright. This is bigger than you and me. You have to go,” Elphacena insisted. “Or we may lose the city again. Do you want all this to be for nothing? Drake will not be avenged, and his attacker will get away. Please Cedrick, I’ll be alright.” “I can’t and won’t lose you.” Cedrick wouldn’t let go. “I have to get you to help.” Elphacena’s face fell. “Cedrick please,” she begged. “It’s not bad. I’d let you heal it if I wasn’t afraid you’d black out.” “Is she badly hurt?” A voice came out of nowhere and dropped beside them with a calm, happy casual air. Cedrick jumped a mile, turning to defend himself and his wife. He found a young-looking man with bright red hair, beaming at them. He was wearing their uniform, and Cedrick felt it was someone he had seen before but couldn’t place it. The man knelt beside them.

“It’s alright, Lady Elphacena. It’s a flesh wound, and I think the other guy got hurt more seeing such a pretty lady go down.” Elphacena blushed at the compliment. “Excuse me?” Cedrick’s brows creased. “Who are you?” “Oh sorry, we never met properly. I’m Liam, sir.” Liam held out his hand. “Oh, you’re the new lieutenant to Mercutio,” Cedrick recalled. “How did you know who she was?” “Gorgeous redhead in battle gear: who else could it be?” Liam smirked. Cedrick wasn’t sure he liked this guy. Elphacena giggled but if it was to Liam’s flirting or to Cedrick’s reaction it was hard to say. Elphacena looked at Cedrick, still grinning. “Well, you can trust him, right?” “Mercutio trusts him, so I’d think so,” Cedrick said uneasily. “Leave me with him then because then I’m not alone. I’ll be fine, and you can go and get Endar,” Elphacena said at once. “What? No.” Cedrick objected. “Cedrick, this is bigger than you and me. I will be fine with him. You trust me, right?” Elphacena met his eyes. Cedrick swallowed and smiled tenderly at his wife. “I trust you,” he said. He didn’t have to worry about her being charmed away. “It’s just that you're hurt, and…” and frankly, Cedrick didn’t know Liam well enough to leave his very heart and soul in his hands. “And it will be okay,” Elphacena insisted. “Don’t worry. He’ll get me help, so don’t be afraid. Cedrick please, I’m begging you. You have to leave me here with him and get Endar.” Cedrick swallowed again. Her pleading and logic was hard to deny, but she was hurt. Cedrick could see the blood slowly staining her shoulder. His heart bled

worse in the thought he’d have to leave her, but he knew, deep down, she was right. He had to. “Alright, just… stay with me,” he pleaded a little and kissed her. “I still need you.” He breathed, forehead resting on hers. “I’ll see you in a bit,” he half pleaded half ordered. Elphacena put a gentle hand to his cheek. “I won’t.” She answered his real fear. “Now go.” Cedrick nodded, kissed her one more time, then pulled back. Liam watched Cedrick go then grinned at Elphacena. “I think he likes me.” Elphacena gave him a look with one eyebrow raised. Cedrick decided to be smart and tried to edge the battle as he knew Endar likely was. To get higher, he went into one of the more official buildings that had more floors to it. Feeling like he’d just done this, Cedrick raced up the stairs, but found that the building was poorly designed and each set of stairs was on the opposite side of each hallway. Cedrick groaned and began the run that felt more like a drill his father would set. “Stop! Please!” A voice cut through the air as Cedrick stopped on a landing. The voice made Cedrick freeze. He knew that voice from somewhere like a dream or the dream of a dream. Where had he heard it? He was normally very good with voices and sound, having excellent hearing. So how did he know that voice? That pause of just a second was all it took, repeating his earlier déjà vu moment, as someone shot out of a room and ran right smack into him, knocking Cedrick off balance. Having had this happen once today already, he was more prepared. Cedrick was able to back up into the wall to catch his balance. Cedrick caught whoever it was to stop them from falling too. As Cedrick’s mind settled, he saw it was a woman who was somehow familiar. Before he could ask, the woman stomped down on his foot as hard as she could with quite a determined look. “Ow!” Cedrick jumped up. “That was not needed!” Cedrick grabbed her again to get an apology, and the woman slapped him hard. Just before she did, Cedrick finally saw her face. He knew her!

“Rosaline!” Cedrick gasped in surprise. It was his mother’s sister, alive and looking older, but there. At first, she glared at Cedrick then froze to look at his face. Her eyes met his. “Eldalane?” she said more to herself than to Cedrick. Then something clicked in her mind, and she gasped in wonder. Her mouth fell open. “You…you have… you’re her son.” Cedrick nodded. “Eldalane is my mother. What are you doing here?” “So you’re Cedrick,” she said, excited for a moment, but something else clicked, and her blood turned to ice. “Sam…Sam will kill you.” “Sam? He’s here?” A voice of murderous intent bellowed out of the door Rosaline had burst out of, and that was a voice Cedrick knew too. Rosaline’s eyes went wide, and she grabbed Cedrick’s arm painfully. “Run!” She raced off, dragging Cedrick along. Cedrick caught on to the danger without that extra help. “Hold up, maybe I can calm him down. I mean, if we say I’m her son, not his, and maybe he’ll stop being crazy.” “I doubt it. He’ll see it as the same.” Rosaline panted. A moment later, they were at the stairs, and Rosaline tried to go down, but Cedrick pulled her up. “What are you doing? There’s nowhere to hide there. He’ll have us!” Rosaline cried in panic. “I have some help there.” Cedrick smiled comfortingly. “Come on.” He pulled her up, but she still fought. “Aunt Rosaline, trust me,” Cedrick begged. And that title made her agree and race up with him. They were on the final floor before they met any other trouble. Something sped past Cedrick’s ear and struck Rosaline’s shoulder. She cried out and went down

to one knee. Cedrick raced to her side, readying his weapon. “Hold on. We’re almost to safety.” Cedrick helped her stand up, but a hand grabbed his shoulder, much stronger than Cedrick expected, and it tossed him aside like a rag doll. “How dare you disobey me!” The voice that belonged to the hand bellowed. Cedrick looked up to see the older face of his uncle. His face looked a lot older than Rosaline’s, twisted in hatred, grizzled, and hard. His wrinkles showed that expression he wore was one he wore often, almost a permanent expression. “Don’t harm him, please!” Rosaline begged. “He’s her boy, Eldalane’s, please. You’d crush her heart and soul,” Rosaline begged. “Please Sam, I disobeyed, not him.” Sam stopped then actually looked at Cedrick. “Eldalane’s?” he said in a quieter voice, and the hatful expression fading for a second. But it was just for a second. Soon it twisted once again. “You mean his too.” “Oh, come on!” Cedrick cried. “They all complain I look like her, and now all you see is my cursed father? The one time I don’t want to be thought of as his!” Then an idea sparked in Cedrick’s head. “Hey, you hate the guy. I hate the guy. We have something in common.” Cedrick tried. “I get the feeling. You want to kill him, and frankly a lot of the time, I want to beat him up. How about we team up for a day or something, you know?” Sam wasn’t listening. Cedrick had a feeling he’d lost the power to really listen a long time ago. He swung the axe in his hand (why in creation a bloody axe?!) down at Cedrick. Cedrick rolled out of the way, and moved to his feet in one fluid movement. Sam snarled, “His spawn shouldn’t be allowed to live, even if her goodness may be in there. His corrupt heart poisons it.” Great, Sam didn’t know she was dead. At least he didn’t know how he would know. So he didn’t know it was Cedrick’s fault, so he had at least that. “I understand you’re angry. I feel that all the time.” Cedrick kept trying to talk his way out of it. “I would love to hear your point of view over some, ah…tea or something with

weapons down.” Cedrick ducked another blow. Cedrick at first tried to block it with his sword, but the axe was huge and knocked the weapon from Cedrick’s hand. “I’m sure we can help each other get some kind of revenge, right Sam?” Cedrick ducked again. “Mother wouldn’t want me dead. I’m her little baby.” Cedrick ducked and rolled away from the next one, so he wasn’t trapped to the wall. “I hope it makes his heart bleed when he finds you dead,” Sam roared and charged at Cedrick wildly. Cedrick waited ‘til the least second then went down and rolled between Sam’s legs. The guy left plenty of space with his wild movements. Cedrick turned to see Sam was faster than he’d have guessed and had already turned around. Cedrick wasn’t quite sure he could roll away fast enough and was working on a second play of action, when something rammed Sam’s side, giving Cedrick time to get away. When Cedrick turned to look, he saw his father standing over Sam. Sam pushed himself up and glared over at Margorim then froze in pure hatred. Margorim recognized him too and froze in shock. “Sam?” he cried in surprise and horror. “You,” Sam snarled. Margorim let out a rather comical, surprised, maybe scared, squeak or swear, (hard to tell which) and jumped back as Sam lunged. “You’re alive?!” “And you won’t be,” Sam growled. “I thought you’d have died of an angry heart attack a long ago,” Margorim said, sounding surprised, but Cedrick also thought he was trying to make the idiot even more off balanced. “Stress isn’t good for you, Sam. We’ve talked about that. Didn’t Elda remind you of it almost daily? Oh no.” Margorim ducked at a wild angry swing from Sam. “Don’t you dare mention her blessed name!” Sam raged.

“Me mention her name? She was my wife, and she took my name, thank you very much.” Margorim ducked and rolled under Sam’s grip and stabbed upward. By sheer luck, Sam avoided more than a little cut across the chest. “You tricked her with black magic!” “I can’t do magic!” Margorim yelled back. “If I could, you’d have been jinxed long ago.” Margorim didn’t seem willing to attack Sam, but he ducked his blows and defended himself. “I’d have jinxed your heart into stopping.” “And this is why we never had any family reunions,” Margorim said. “She loved you, you know! She tried everything to make it work, but you broke it all.” Sam lunged at Margorim, aiming for his center, and Margorim got out of the way. Sam crashed into the wall but got up before long. Margorim had an opening but still didn’t take it. Meanwhile, Cedrick had gone to help Rosaline. She was losing a lot more blood than Cedrick would have expected for such a wound. He wasn’t fully paying attention to the fight, but sadly, Sam was paying more attention to them than Cedrick was to him. When Sam noticed Cedrick, with sword down and not expecting an attack, and thinking Margorim was too hard of a target, he dove for Cedrick. Unprepared, Sam was able to grab Cedrick by the throat. Cedrick gasped as the force knocked him to the floor. It also had knocked Rosaline over in a painful smack for them both. Cedrick saw stars for a moment as he fought to breathe. Cedrick struggled for any air, but Sam’s grip was vice-like. Margorim jumped to his son’s aid, but Sam kicked him back. Margorim hit the wall with shocking force and lost his footing. He was conscious, but dazed for a second. “Cedrick...” he muttered dazedly. “No! Sam please! He’s her son! Release him.” Rosaline tried, but her yells were growing weaker in her blood loss. Cedrick could hardly hear all of that as he was losing consciousness, as his lungs

fought to breathe, to expand and collapse, but no air came in or out no matter how hard they tried. Cedrick was getting lightheaded rapidly. His efforts to get Sam off were growing weaker. His head wound and lack of air was speeding it up. The edges of his vision were going black. He thought he may have heard his father screaming or yelling and trying to stop Sam, but from what Cedrick could see, it looked like Sam was good at using his other hand to swing his axe madly. Cedrick wasn’t quite sure as he was fading fast. His heart picked up in panic. He was dying! In a haze, Cedrick felt his heart slow as quickly as it had sped up. He shook and thought he heard a huge crash and a roar. A ray of light and something blue descended from the ceiling, and Cedrick thought something grabbed Sam. The last thing Cedrick recalled was taking in a weak, cold gasp of air, a rush of screaming and roaring before everything went black.

*****

Another vision opened to Cedrick’s view. It was the strangest he’d ever had, or at least, he thought so. It wasn’t of the past, or Cedrick didn’t think it was. It couldn’t be. An old Rosaline was lying in a sick bed as pale as death and shoulder drenched in too much dark, thick blood. Otherwise, she looked just like she did when Cedrick last saw her yelling at Sam. Her breath was weak and rasping, death rattles almost. One of those surely would be. She didn’t have long. As Cedrick thought it, he heard the doctor talking to someone confirming exactly that. Cedrick turned his head to see who it was and saw his father enter the room. “Margorim,” Rosaline smiled a little. “Is that really you?” “Yes, it’s me.” Margorim ed her bedside. “You did well enough without me then,” she teased a little. Life was already fading from her eyes. “I… yeah guess.” Margorim nodded. His face bore expression for once. He

looked worried, a bit hurt. He didn’t want this to be such a rapid hello and goodbye. “And he made it.” “She didn’t,” Margorim said gruffly and looked down. “Oh, oh Margorim, I’m sorry, so sorry.” Rosaline frowned. “But he is strong. Small but strong.” “Yes, I suppose.” Rosaline studied Margorim for a moment. “You really miss her.” “Badly.” “He’s like her.” “Very.” Margorim’s tone was harsh, cold. “Forgive me.” Rosaline frowned. Margorim shook his head. “It’s not your fault.” He looked up at her. “None of it. You’re guiltless.” “He’s like her, and that’s surprising considering who he is.” Rosaline smiled a little. “A blessing for you and all, I’m sure.” “He may be strong, Rosaline, but that’s not true.” Margorim snapped, standing in anger. “He’s not that, you understand?” He sounded his most dangerous as he denied it. Rosaline looked at Margorim for a long moment, her body weak and frail as a spindle table. “Is he?” She breathed more than spoke. “With that story,” she sighed, “the bloodline.” “He’s not,” Margorim said, trying to comfort the dying woman. “Your sister’s boy will be fine. It’s not like that. Don’t you worry.” He came closer to comfort her once more.

“I’ll give her your love.” Margorim swallowed hard. “She never lost it.” Rosaline smiled happily, peacefully. “I always knew Sam was wrong.” The peaceful smile didn’t fade as she closed her eyes, and her final breath escaped her. She was gone.

Chapter 27

Messing with Idiots

Cedrick tried to wrench his eyes open, but they felt like they were coated in glue and glued along the lids. Cedrick groaned as he forced them open, feeling as if the glue peeled as he opened them. It almost hurt. It took a moment for his eyes to come into focus. Arylana and Elphacena were sitting near him. “See? He’s fine, just liked I told you,” Elphacena teased Arylana. “He’s awake, and his pupils are the same size: as I said.” Cedrick pushed himself up and found his strength returned easily as he tried to move. “Where’s father?” “He’s with that woman who was with you. She’s in bad shape. Carver isn’t sure he can save her,” Elphacena said. Cedrick frowned. “Who?” “The doctor.” “Oh.” Cedrick had never actually met him, though he was sure he’d seen a lot of him. “Anyway, father wanted to see if he could help either of them, so he followed them. Carver was much more confident you’d be fine,” Arylana said. As Arylana finished, Margorim came in. “Ah, awake I see; that was fast,” Margorim said as he saw Cedrick awake, but he bore no expression once more. “Well done walking into a man who wants me dead.”

“What? What’s going on, father? Who was that woman?” Arylana asked. “Or that man you all were talking about? It’s not like Cedrick or any of us know what’s going on.” Cedrick corrected her. “The man was our uncle. Sam. He hated father for taking mother.” “How did you even know that?” Margorim demanded. Cedrick’s heart raced preparing for the fight. “He said so,” Cedrick said quickly. “And so did Rosaline.” “And how did you know –” “She said so.” Cedrick cut him off. Margorim accepted the answer and looked from his son to his daughter then back again. “What else did she or he say?” Margorim said in a dangerous growl. “That’s it, that I can think of,” Cedrick said. “That they were mother’s siblings, and he wanted me dead because I’m your son.” “That… that woman is… our aunt?” Arylana asked in amazement. “Was. She ed away,” Margorim said. Cedrick felt ice slip into his heart as if he’d been forced to swallow an ice cube that was too large. Though he was out cold, he somehow saw what had happened. How, why? What had the two of them been talking about? “So, now we really don’t have family,” Arylana said, slightly deflated. “Mother’s siblings are dead too.” “We got Sam?” Cedrick doubled checked. “Endar did,” Arylana replied. So that was the blue he’d thought he’d seen. It wasn’t just his imagination. Cedrick couldn’t help but smile, and so did Elphacena as she stroked her husband’s hair.

Recalling she’d been hurt too, Cedrick drew his attention to her. She actually looked fine: better than he did. Her arm was in a sling, but it looked like it was more of a caution than anything. Cedrick turned to her, swinging his legs around to get up. “Are you alright?” He asked her concerned. Elphacena smiled at him tenderly. “Fine.” She kissed him. “Be back to myself in a week or two, if not sooner with medicine.” Cedrick thought a second. “Or a minute.” He put his hand over the injury and soon the rainbow lights lit up her veins. She gasped at the energy. Cedrick was left a little tired, but it was such a small wound it wasn’t much. “See, now I have energy.” He joked. “There, fit as a dragon.” Elphacena made the same tender smile. She kissed him again. “And I’m impressed you didn’t black out this time.” “Now that we’re all fine, we have to work to do,” Margorim snapped and left the room. Cedrick gaped after him. What had gotten into him? Cedrick wasn’t sure, but he didn’t like how it was going. With his father gone, Cedrick told his wife and sister everything that had happened from the moment the battle started, and Elphacena helped fill in when she came into Cedrick’s narrative. Arylana looked troubled the whole time as Cedrick explained about their aunt and uncle. He made it sound like he didn’t know beforehand. Then they went to see how things were going with the resettlement. When they got to the town square, they found Endar curled next to the fountain and pawing at his maw, teeth, and jaws. He saw Cedrick and whimpered. “Hey, you okay?” Cedrick frowned as he came near his little buddy. Endar’s stream of emotions connected to Cedrick as the dragon tried to explain. Cedrick laughed. “What?” Elphacena smiled. “My Uncle Sam didn’t taste too good,” Cedrick explained, patting Endar’s side. “And his aftertaste is even worse, and it gave poor Endar a tummy ache. And to put words to what he’s feeling or thinking, ‘he tasted like goob’.”

“Goob?” “Yeah, like a gooby thing.” Cedrick tried to say. As he said it, he made his hands into claw shapes and mimed clawing at his own teeth. “You know, like when you get globs of fat in your teeth. Goob?” “Cedrick, I don’t think gooby is a word,” Elphacena said. Cedrick tilted his head. “No?” “No.” “Oh.” Cedrick shrugged. “Farm boy.” Elphacena smiled. “It’s showing.” She kissed his cheek and entwined her fingers in his. “Sorry, I’m stupid,” Cedrick said. Elphacena pouted. “Ignorant, not stupid,” She corrected him. Cedrick looked at the dragon. “Sorry he was so nasty, bud. I wish I could help, but you’ll just have to wait for it to or throw him up.” The expression Endar returned said something to the effect of Endar wouldn’t do that or the mean man would try to hurt Cedrick again. Cedrick laughed and stroked the dragon’s scales. As he soothed his dragon, Mercutio came over to inform them it had all gone well. All enemy forces were fled or dead. “You didn’t see or catch Heklis or Allious or the others?” Cedrick asked. Mercutio shook his head. “No sign at all. They took off.” “What? Heklis was here?” Arylana frowned. “Yeah, I battled with him, but then someone shot at us, and he became extremely angry and ran off. I didn’t see him after that, and it really worried me,” Cedrick said. “No one else saw him?” “I didn’t,” Elphacena said, and so did Mercutio.

“Alburn was with me too.” “Good, that man knows a surprising bit about Heklis. He’s a good man to have with you for that,” Mercutio said. “If it was the real him this time, did he give you the ‘speech’?” Elphacena asked. Cedrick nodded. “Yeah, it was him. I should have asked the first time. I just assumed,” Elphacena said. “Most of all when you said he was odd.” Mercutio frowned deeper. “That is odd. I suppose he is able to retreat.” If he was James Griham, of course he does. That man knew solid strategy. Cedrick thought to himself. Cedrick ignored that thought and went on to explain how the battle had gone. Elphacena wasn’t at all surprised. To her, that sounded like the strange, twisted, monster of a man. Mercutio was a little surprised but took Elphacena’s agreement that meant it was really him this time. It still uneased Mercutio. It didn’t seem like Heklis to retreat, so why had he? “Maybe he wasn’t in command,” Cedrick suggested. “He did go after me and that shooter easily. There was little chance he’d be able to lead.” “Maybe. I hope so.” Mercutio sighed. “But who was left in charge then?” Cedrick shrugged. Elphacena was oddly quiet, but Margorim spoke. “I think it would have been Emmerick or Neramith.” Cedrick set his jaw. If only it was, and he got a fair shot at them. “Did we take him out?” Cedrick hoped against hope. “I didn’t hear or see anything,” Margorim said. Cedrick cursed inwardly again, vowing he’d see that man dead for his crimes. Cedrick’s skin heated up a little in his anger. Elphacena stroked his hair as Cedrick stroked Endar. “We’ll get him.” She assured him.

Endar gave Cedrick a sympathetic feeling with the impression. I’ll eat him for you. “Thanks Endar, but you’ll make yourself sick again.” Cedrick laughed, but Endar didn’t care. Mercutio shook his head. “It’s amazing how you can do that, Cedrick.” “Cena can too.” Cedrick smiled. “It’s magic.” “But I don’t do it nearly as well as you do.” Elphacena smiled and kissed Cedrick’s cheek. “What did he say anyway?” “That he’d eat him for me.” Cedrick smiled back. “Oh, even with how sick you feel right now?” Elphacena stroked Endar’s nose. Endar whimpered and leaned into her hand. “Thanks for your help, Endar. Not sure we could do it without you... buddy.” Mercutio chose to use Cedrick’s word. Endar thrummed his delight. “Though it wasn’t all good. Rackwrith is down.” “He’s dead!” Cedrick half hoped. “Not yet, but he was badly burned.” Mercutio shook his head. “Not sure exactly where he was, but the fire got a good bite out of his leg. He’s with Carver now. He’s got one of the worst injuries of the day. He should be alright and able to walk by a month at least, or so we hope. Liam will have to step up quite a bit.” Cedrick sighed. “Well, it will help test his metal.” “He took good care of me, Cedrick, and once you were gone, he stopped flirting. I promise,” Elphacena said. “He was just trying to make me smile, and without you there to give me reactions to laugh at, he dropped it.” “Is that what you were laughing at?” Cedrick raised a brow. “Yes.” Elphacena beamed. “Your face was brilliant!” Cedrick sighed, making his wife giggle again. Cedrick smirked at her and kissed

her cheek. She hugged his arm to comfort him, looking content herself. “Yes, yes.” Mercutio sighed. “But now it’s to make plans to move on. The dwarves are already in route to fix up the weakened defenses. They boast they can make it even harder to get in, but easier for us to get out. No idea how. They say from the moment they arrive should be no less than two days.” “That’s fast.” Cedrick didn’t believe it. “I guess they have unique magic.” Mercutio shrugged. Though it gave them all hope. They retook Montressa, and they weren’t giving it up again. Not after the lives and friends that had been lost. Though now, Cedrick worried if they’d combust from the inside out, literally. Liam couldn’t have been more of an opposite to Rackwrith. Liam was a playful, teasing, immature goofball. At first, this was a breath of fresh air, but it soon caused trouble. Cedrick was giving Endar a scrub down, when he saw a plume of smoke erupt over the northern wall. Thinking they were under attack, Cedrick raced to the sight. Instead of an army, he found Liam, Alburn, Nerissa, and Portia standing stock still, covered from head to foot in ash or shoot or whatever black stuff came off a bomb. “What happened?” Cedrick demanded, half-amused, and half-annoyed. Normally, he’d find this the best joke ever, but they’d freaked out half the army. As one, they all pointed at Alburn, who pointed at Liam. “He did it.” They all said together. “He made it,” Nerissa said. “It just wasn’t supposed to go off yet,” Portia agreed. “It was his idea.” Alburn pointed Liam. “He made it.” Liam reminded them. Cedrick sighed. Did he really want to know? “Let’s try this again. Why are you

all dark?” “I’m…actually black?” Alburn tried, a question in his voice. “Black?” Cedrick didn’t understand what he meant. “This is not your real skin color. It comes off. Plus.” Cedrick rubbed Liam’s hair. The ash fell out and the bright red hair shone underneath. “I’m pretty sure he’s a pure carrot top.” Liam blushed under the layer of ash. “So I’ll try again, what exactly happened?” “The… bomb… broke.” Alburn held it up to Cedrick like a two-year-old showing his father his broken toy horse. Cedrick looked from the bomb to Alburn’s face. His lower lip was out in a sad pout. “Alburn, you’re an adult.” Cedrick reminded him. “But… it broken. Fix it,” Alburn grinned, making a baby voice. Cedrick pushed Alburn’s head. “Oh shut up. Why were you even testing bombs? You were told not to do that. Why were you taking our bombs?” “I didn’t take them.” Alburn sounded offended. “It was a gift. And it wasn’t from our supplies.” “From who?” Cedrick challenged. Alburn looked at his foot, which had found a good rock to play with. He muttered something Cedrick didn’t quite catch. “What?” he said. “Endar,” Alburn said louder. “Endar?” Cedrick was surprised. “I asked if he’d put his fire in it. I wanted to see what it would do. It…went off early and just made smoke,” Alburn itted. Cedrick’s palm met his forehead. “Really?” Liam grinned. “Yeah, it was great. I just went up to him and asked if I could have some. He put a small bit of flame in it for me.”

Cedrick looked at Liam. “Ah-ha! So it is your fault!” “No, I…ah well, you got me.” Liam sighed. “I wanted to see what Alburn could make with dragon fire.” “Ah…a mess,” Cedrick replied. “Clean this up, and yourselves.” Cedrick shook his head. “Can we get help?” Liam asked. “Sure.” Cedrick shrugged. When Cedrick came to check on them twenty minutes later, they were cleaning, and Dickerson was with them. Dickerson was a true idiot that kept getting ed around the ranks. Cedrick had dealt with him for a short time, but then gave him to Rackwrith as a “gift.” He hadn’t really seen him since. Liam was using his stupidity to his advantage. Liam kept scaring Dickerson into helping by making him see “mice” blocking his path when he tried to leave. “These mice like ash,” Liam explained to Dickerson. “And if we don’t get rid of it, they’ll swarm and eat us all.” “We can’t let them do that.” Dickerson looked stressed. “Right, so you better get to work. Or your master Rackwrith may get upset.” Liam nodded wisely. Cedrick facepalmed. Yet at the same time, Liam messing with the idiot Dickerson made him quite happy. Cedrick sat with Endar to watch them clean it. Endar was happy with his work. Cedrick gave him a look. “That’s not nice, Endar.” Endar looked at Cedrick with sorry eyes. “It doesn’t matter if you didn’t mean to. It’s not nice to be happy your fire made a mess for them.” Endar tilted his head a little.

“Yes, even if they deserved it. It’s nice to not do bad things even to those who deserve it.” Cedrick chuckled. He stroked Endar’s scales. The dragon’s chest filled up with air, and he let it out in a big sigh. It kicked up the ash and got Dickerson covered in it. “Oh no!” Liam cried. “The mice are going to eat Dickerson!” “No! No!” Dickerson started to wipe the ash off frantically. As he did, Liam picked up a messy rag and rushed over to Dickerson. “One is already starting!” And he ran the rag up and down Dickerson’s back as if it was a mouse. Dickerson squealed to the high heavens until all the ash was off. Liam hid the rag in his pocket. “Oh thank the Father, it’s gone now.” He sighed. “You almost were dead mouse bait.” Dickerson flopped onto the ground, praying to some deity Cedrick had never heard of in thanks. Cedrick rolled his eyes, trying not to laugh. Liam had a harder time hiding his intense laughter. He looked at Cedrick. That did it for both of them. They both started laughing. Dickerson looked over, thinking they were in some kind of trouble. Cedrick assured him everything was fine. “Hey.” Liam’s face lit up as Dickerson looked away. “Can you make a fake mouse?” “Likely, why?” Cedrick asked. “If I put it in Rackwrith’s pocket, Dickerson would flip.” Liam grinned. Cedrick laughed. “I see. Alright.” Anything to bother Rackwrith. Cedrick took the rag from Liam and made it look like a live mouse. Though Rackwrith was in a wheelchair at every meeting, he was still there. Cedrick made sure Dickerson was there too. Mercutio was outlining their attack on the next city. While everyone was busy with the map, Liam slipped the “mouse” into Rackwrith’s pocket. Cedrick used magic to make the tail twitch.

Dickerson saw it and freaked out. “No!” He screamed and tackled Rackwrith over. Cedrick and Liam burst out laughing. Everyone else looked confused. “What in the Merlin’s name is going on!” Mercutio demanded. “I got it! I got the killer mouse, sir!” Dickerson stood up, tall and proud with the “mouse” in his hand. “It was going to eat him, sir.” Poor Rackwrith was trying to get up but couldn’t manage it with his burned leg and wheelchair fallen next to him. Several officers took pity on him and helped him up. Mercutio looked at Liam and Cedrick. “Do I even have to say it?” he asked. “Yes?” Liam dared. As expected, Mercutio exploded at him. Cedrick looked innocent through the whole thing. Agreed, it was rude, but then a smile broke out. “Rude, but funny.” All the officers apart from Mercutio and Rackwrith laughed. “I will not have this kind of…silliness in our higher ranks.” But Cedrick saw even Mercutio was holding back a smile. “It’s not professional.” “And… we’re professionals? Who’s paying us?” Cedrick asked. Everyone laughed again. Mercutio was about to lose his cool. “The people are.” he said. “They’re paying for the shows.” Cedrick reminded him. Liam laughed. Mercutio couldn’t stop the smile as the others laughed too. He waved a hand to let it drop and tried to bring them back to work. They actually worked better afterwards. That is, all but Rackwrith.

Chapter 28

Watch the End

It had been so long since Cedrick’s last vision he was starting to think they were over and told Elphacena so. That very night another vision filled Cedrick’s sleep. This time he saw Roxorim playing around the garden, and Arylana, looking about two years old, was playing out in the warm air. It was spring or early summer. Margorim was lying in the grass with Arylana. She picked up a small white object from the ground and showed it to her father. It looked like the end of a dandelion with dozens of little white, feathered lines coming out of a central ball. “Oh yes, do you know what that is, Arylana?” Margorim asked the girl. She looked at him with blank childlike questioning. Margorim smiled and carefully placed the large ball in his hand. “It’s a wishing star. It’s said that if you make a wish and blow it out into the world and it grows into a plant, that plant will make sure your dream comes true.” Margorim smiled. “You want to try it, Arylana?” Arylana smiled a wide, childlike smile and nodded vigorously. Margorim laughed a little and nodded. “Okay, close your eyes.” Arylana shut her little eyes excitedly and tightly. “Make your wish.” Somehow, Arylana squeezed her eyes even tighter. “Okay, now blow it away,” Margorim smiled, “as far as you can, so we can make sure it finds a safe place to grow.” Arylana blew as hard as she could with her little cheeks puffed up like little

balls, and the ball flew off Margorim’s hand and up, up into the sky. Arylana laughed a babyish laugh and clapped. Margorim laughed too. “There you go. There it flies.” Arylana clapped some more. Margorim beamed at her and scooped her up into his arms. “And now you can fly!” He tossed her into the air to her delighted squealing giggles. Eldalane stepped out of the house as Margorim caught Arylana. She wasn’t watching her husband and daughter though. She was reading from a paper in her hand with a crease in her forehead making a frown. Margorim noticed and stopped throwing Arylana and put her down, which displeased the toddler. Her little face pulled into a disappointed pout that looked very like the one she still made to this day. She watched her daddy a moment before she shook her little head and reached her arms up to her father for him to pick her up again. She made a little noise, but it was too small for her father to notice. “What is it?” Margorim asked his wife. “Margorim, I think you need to read this one.” She handed it to him. Margorim sighed in slight exasperation. “Another plea from the resistance? I told them, not until they’re older.” “No Margorim, please, you really should read this,” Eldalane said. Margorim sighed and took it. Arylana didn’t like being ignored and whined even more insistently, reaching her arms up again, opening and closing her small hands. Eldalane picked her up as Margorim read. As he read, his eyebrows drew together. Arylana started playing with a jewel around her mother’s neck. Eldalane ignored that as she watched her husband carefully. When he finished the letter, he looked up at his wife with a worried searching in his eye. “Well?” Eldalane raised her eyebrows in expectation. A heavy sigh was his reply. “Eldalane, look at them.” He waved over at Roxorim —who was trying to catch fish in the small pound with his hands—and at

Arylana in her mother’s arms. “Just look at them. Can you imagine taking them into a war zone?” “Yes I know, honey, but they’re losing. They’ve all but lost, and they really need help.” “We can’t.” “You can.” “You can’t get along here without me.” “Then send someone else.” “Eldalane.” Margorim stopped and looked directly at her. “You wouldn’t let me tell anyone about this place to help you give birth, but you’re willing to have someone else live here, so I can leave?” He had to point out the dozens of meanings he could pull from that. “Well, if you put it that way,” Eldalane hesitated. Margorim’s shoulders relaxed, and his demeanor softened. Roxorim suddenly let out a cheer as he held up a very small fish. It was too small for him to keep a hold of. It wiggled from his hand and back into the water. “Aw.” Roxorim sighed and kept trying. His play was mostly ignored, but Arylana saw it. She wanted to see and wiggled until Eldalane put her down, and the toddler ran off. “Besides,” Margorim went on, “we don’t know anyone who can do it, least of all someone we trust. Think of one person you could trust? Who would we call if everyone we knew was even trustworthy?” “Well,” Eldalane bit her lip, folding her arms in a way that made it almost look like she was hugging herself with her hands kind of holding her elbows. “Well,” he swallowed, “I guess Sam would be the best choice.” “But he sort of drove us off and he wants me dead. Don’t think that would work.” Margorim reminded her. “If not for him, your family would likely be

people we often ed.” “Maybe if we tricked him?” “He’s too clever, and even if we could, he’s still likely to tell others. You need me, and it’s far too dangerous for the children out there.” Margorim sighed, understanding how his wife felt though. “But…” Eldalane swallowed, “...but Margorim, read it. Look at it. They’re dying. People are suffering. How can you ignore that? It’s your duty, your sacred trust. How can you just sit there?” “Because,” Margorim said slowly and carefully, “it’s a balance. I have to pick the lesser of two evils, and what’s more important? What would be worse? A few hundred die or thousands, millions, maybe billions, suffer and die because there is no longer anyone who can protect them? That’s what may happen if the Custod line dies.” Margorim tried to meet his wife’s eyes, understanding her pain. “It’s hard to just sit here. I know. It’s hard when you know what’s going on out there, but we have to realized what we put at risk.” Eldalane nodded with another pained swallow that helped her release a sigh. She was watching Arylana getting closer to her brother. “Want me to get her?” Margorim asked. “No, I’m just thinking,” Eldalane said dazedly. Margorim took her hand, and she looked up at him. “I’m struggling too.” He held her hand tightly. “It isn’t easy. I’m just used to it, compared to you. There really is nothing we can do.” Margorim looked over at their two kids. Roxorim was still trying to catch the fish, and Arylana had decided to sit down while she watched him. Margorim looked back at his wife who was also watching the children. “That is our top priority right now,” Margorim said. “It’s clearly laid out in our laws, and frankly the laws of nature, preservation of the line, comes first.” Margorim looked at their children again and put his arms around his wife. “They come first.” Eldalane bit her lips. “But those are someone else’s children dying out there.” She said quietly. “Children starving on the streets. Heklis is taking over, and the

king is powerless to hold him back. His own son won’t even help him, and he’s getting old and if we don’t stop him...” “What could we change?” Margorim asked. “Right now, nothing. What can I do? I’m all we have right now. I know I’m a powerful Custod, but…” He stroked his wife’s hair. “But I'm still just one man. I can help command and bring hope and make some difference, but enough? I don’t think so when my mind is more on you than them.” Eldalane didn’t reply as she watched the children play. Margorim watched her, searching for words. “We’ll stop him,” he finally said. “Don’t worry. We will stop him, but it will take time.” “But time is lives.” “Do you want one of those lives to be our children’s?” Margorim asked gently. Eldalane bit her lips, and Margorim held her tighter. “I know, my love,” he said softly. “I know.” Arylana let out a squeal. She’d gotten wet when Roxorim had tried to grab another fish. She was laughing at the water. The couple smiled as Roxorim pulled his hands back holding a bigger fish. “Dad! Dad!” He was beaming. “I got a fish!” “Yeah, I see it.” Margorim was still smiling. “Mom! Mom, can we eat it?” Roxorim looked up at his mother with hopeful eyes. Eldalane sighed resignedly, making her husband smile. “It’s your choice, honey, you’re the one who’d be making it.” Eldalane went over to her son. The fish was still wiggling in Roxorim’s hands. “Alright.” She sighed. “We can eat it.” Roxorim liked that very much. Eldalane winced but forced a smile as she took the slimy fish. Margorim laughed as she almost dropped it, pulling a face of

disgust. Arylana grabbed onto her mother’s legs to help her stand up. She was looking at another fish in the pond. She reached down to touch it. Margorim jumped to catch her as the girl almost fell in. The near fall scared her as her father pulled her back in one smooth movement and scooped her up into his arms. “Oh no, not yet, sweetheart.” The scare wasn’t soothed by that, and the girl started to moan and was about to cry. “Shh, it’s okay.” Margorim held the small girl closer to his heart. “I’ve got you.” Arylana looked like she might start crying, but her father’s calming words and gentle bouncing soothed her in a few minutes. Eldalane smiled, and Margorim smiled back. “Alright, you watch them. I have to cook…this.” Eldalane made a face at the now limp fish and carried it inside with two fingers. Margorim chuckled. “Mom no like?” Roxorim asked. “She doesn’t like slimy things.” Margorim smiled down at his son. “Oh,” Roxorim thought for a moment. “So she won’t like frog?” “What do you mean?” Then there was a yell from inside. “Margorim!” Eldalane’s voice came. “Come see what your son did.” Margorim laughed. “Where did you put mommy’s frog?” Roxorim looked up innocently. “Where mommy always is: the kitchen.” Margorim sighed. “I’m coming!” He went inside, and Roxorim followed like a happy puppy. Cedrick chuckled good naturedly as the scene changed. It was dark outside, and it was clear the children were in bed. Margorim was sitting on the couch reading a different letter this time. He looked deeply distressed. Eldalane finished

cleaning and sat next to him. “How bad is it?” she asked. Margorim sighed. “They might not make it long enough for us to do anything. They’re down to three hundred men.” Eldalane’s shoulders fell. Margorim sighed and sat back. “Look,” she said. “We might be able to do it.” “No,” Margorim said harshly. “Shh.” Eldalane hissed. “You’ll wake the children.” Margorim sighed. “No, it’s too dangerous. They have lost almost half their force in two months. How safe is that kind of place for a toddler and an infant?” “She’s two now. She’s not an infant.” “Fine, two toddlers.” Margorim relented. “They have no way to defend themselves.” “You’ve already started working with Roxorim.” “Yes, but still, playing tag all day and pretend sword fighting isn’t training. It's pre-training. We’re just getting his little body in shape and him used to holding a sword.” “What about that bow you got him?” Margorim made a face. “How did you know about that?” Eldalane smiled. “I saw you making it. I liked the idea.” “Still, that’s not enough. He’s four.” “He’ll be five soon.” “Still.” Margorim shook his head. “He’s not ready. Eldalane, he’s just a child, a little boy. You want to send him into that? He’s nowhere near ready. Even to just

defend himself, let alone you or…or anything. I’m not letting anything happen to you, none of you.” He took his wife’s hand and squeezed it tightly. “I can’t do it. I can’t. It’s far too dangerous. You could be killed. I won’t let that happen.” “Margorim, we can’t stay here anymore. If we don’t, they will be defeated. Heklis will win. Do you want that?” “Of course not,” Margorim said. “But the death of the rest of the Custods would be a true win for him. I can always regather men to me if I had to, but I can’t replace you.” Margorim caressed his wife’s face. “I can’t replace the children or you.” He looked into his wife’s eyes. “It’s hard, but we can’t.” “We have to,” Eldalane said softly. She swallowed. “I know how dangerous it is. I’m terrified, but we can’t just stand by and let them fail. We can’t let that happen. If we did, he’d win. Don’t you understand? Heklis will win. There will be no one to oppose him anymore.” “We’ll return. We can oppose him, once we’re strong enough.” “But we need , and if we let the resistance fall, who will trust us later when we try to reform it? If we let them fail, we let them down. Do you think they’ll forget that?” Margorim stopped. Eldalane watched him. “I’ve been in court enough to know these things. I understand what motivates leaders to act and not to act. I’ve learned to read the people, and I’m sure if we don’t keep what they have alive, they will never trust us to guide them to victory.” Margorim sighed. “But we can’t,” he said. “We have to,” Eldalane insisted. “Or he’ll win. We have no choice.” Margorim sighed. “I just can’t do it. I can put you at risk.” Eldalane bit her lips, her eyes full of pain and understanding. “What other choice do we have? If he wins then, there’s nothing for any of us. What kind of life will the children have then? What will they have to fight for when no one will help them? We’ll set them up for failure. We can’t do that. We risk our lives, and

theirs, to stop an even worse fate happening later. We have to do it.” Margorim sighed and rubbed his beard. “Alright,” He sighed heavily. “Alright, we keep this place hidden in case we have to return.” He sighed once more. “We’ll have to figure it out, but promise me you’ll stay out of the fighting as much as you can. You keep yourself and the children far away from it. We’ll come up with plans for everything. What you’ll do if you have to run. What to do if I’m killed.” “Don’t say that,” Eldalane said softly. “Eldalane, we have to. We’re going into one of the bloodiest war zones the world has ever seen. My death isn’t too unlikely. We need to have a plan for all of this.” Eldalane bit her lips, looking like she was fighting back tears. Margorim took her into his arms. “I know you’re scared,” he said softly, “but you were the one who said we had to do this, and if we’re going to do this, you have to accept the idea that I could be killed.” He held her tighter, and she wiggled in closer to him. “I love you,” he said softly. “Just know that, I love you.” As the scene started to change, Cedrick felt slightly excited. So, they did leave, and he knew why, and in a way, where. Now he’d see what happened there, and hopefully, why Roxorim and Arylana didn’t it. The next vision showed Eldalane and Margorim alone in a tent. Margorim seemed to be preparing in a hurry. He had on his gear in ten seconds and was hurriedly pulling on the leather armor he’d had on. “Margorim,” Eldalane was saying, looking worried. “Margorim, sweetheart, we have to talk.” “I know,” Margorim panted, opening a trunk and holding something up, looking at for half a second then putting it into his pocket. “I know. It’s hard with…with what happened, but I have to go. The king and that general might just rip each other’s heads off. I love you. I’m sorry, but we might just have a few friendly fire deaths after the battle if I don’t hurry.” “Margorim!” Eldalane called after her husband as he went to the door.

“Sweetheart, I love you, but I have to go.” He kissed her quickly. Just as he was about to leave Eldalane burst out. “Margorim, I’m pregnant!” Margorim froze mid step. “What?” He turned her. Eldalane bit her lips. “I just, I knew you had to know,” she said shakily. “Now, go…g-go fix whatever it is. I shouldn’t have said anything.” She didn’t look good. Her hair wasn’t as neat as normal, her skin was a little pale, and her eyes were dark with tired shadows. Margorim didn’t leave. “You’re kidding.” This time he didn’t look excited nor did that glint of joy enter his eyes. His breathing accelerated. “You’re what?” “Never mind, I shouldn’t have said it. We’ll talk later. You’re right, just go.” Eldalane turned away, hiding her face in her hands. Margorim didn’t leave. “Eldalane…” he said. “No, Margorim go,” She almost snapped. “Really go. I’m sorry I lost it like that. Just go.” “Eldalane...” “Go!” Eldalane snapped at him. Margorim hesitated. “I love you,” he said. “I’ll be right back. I promise.” He tried to kiss her again, but she wouldn’t look at him. Margorim’s eyes filled with pain and guilt, but there was a yell from outside, and, looking like he was being dragged by some invisible force, Margorim left the tent. Eldalane buried her face in her hands and burst into tears. She fell to her knees and wept openly. She just sat there crying for what felt like a long time. Cedrick didn’t know what to feel. She was crying, and his father’s reaction…. He was the baby. He knew that. He wasn’t sure how to feel that his mother fell into uncontrollable tears when she told his father she was pregnant.

When Margorim returned he looked like he was in even more of a hurry than he’d been leaving. Eldalane tried to stop before he could see her tears, but she was unable to control them. Margorim’s face filled with pain when he saw her, trying to control her sobs. She turned away from him. “Eldalane, Eldalane no.” His voice cracked as he fell to his knees beside her and enfolded her in his arms. He held her close as she wept. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to react like that. I’m sorry.” “W-what are we going to do?” Eldalane choked. “Here, here of all places. I’m pregnant. Margorim you know what that means. I-I…the baby…the children….How can we do it? It’s already hard enough with two young ones, but I’m pregnant. How can we do it? I’m even more of a liability and a risk, and the chances of my, of our children, of the baby’s death are…are…” She burst into tears again. Margorim shushed her and held her close again, allowing her to cry into his shoulder. He seemed at a loss for what to say, worry, panic and desperate thinking reflected in his eyes. “Look,” he said at last, looking down at his wife’s face. “It’s okay, we’ll find a way.” He smiled and kissed her. “Aren’t you excited? Come on.” He smiled encouragingly. “Another baby. A third child. Doesn’t that excite you at all?” Eldalane gave him a watery smile. “That’s my girl.” He sighed, hugging her close. “It’s going to be okay. I know you’re scared. I’ll it it. I’m terrified, but we’ll find a way.” Margorim smiled and took her hands. “This baby isn’t a curse. It will certainly be harder. This is very different, but we’ll find a way.” He stroked some hair out of her face that was sticking to the wet tears there. “You’re right. It does put you all in more danger, but this isn’t a bad thing. Having this baby isn’t a bad thing. It’s just…something we’ll have to work around. It’s okay.” Then he smiled. “I mean imagine what they’d think when he or she grows up? What would they say to see you like this?” Margorim smiled again. “I promise. It’ll be okay.” “You know better than to promise that,” Eldalane said. “No,” he said softly. “But it makes you feel better. I’ll do my best, you know I will. We’ll find a way.” He hugged his wife again. “And in the end, we’ll be so happy. This child will be just the gift we need to lighten our spirits. Don’t you

think?” Eldalane smiled a watery smile again. “I’m just so scared,” she said. “What it could do to us…what could happen.” “That doesn’t matter.” Margorim assured her. “It could happen, not it will happen. It’ll be alright.” He kissed her. Then he smiled widely. “How can you not be excited? If you weren’t so upset, I’d be jumping for joy. This is wonderful. This is amazing. After all that happened to have something so miraculous and wonderful happen.” Margorim beamed. “Don’t you feel it? After all the darkness we’ve endured, a little gift of light? Right? Unless?” Eldalane laughed and smiled a more genuine smile this time. “Yes,” she itted., “Yes, I’m excited for our baby but…” her face fell. “I’m just so afraid we won’t make it that far.” “Don’t be. Don’t think like that,” Margorim said, taking her hands again. “It’ll be fine.” He rested his head against hers and stroked her cheek. “We will find a way.” Eldalane put a hand to his face and looked at him, the fear clear in her eyes. “I love you.” She breathed. “I love you too,” Margorim said softly. “It’s going to be okay. We can do this. We’re together. We can always find a way.” The next scene was almost as dark. They were outside. Something strange was happening to the sky. It was yellow, and the clouds were red, and the light reflected that. It was very strange, and Cedrick could almost feel the magic of it, though he wasn’t really there. Eldalane had Margorim on her lap. There was a gaping slash across his chest. He was hardly conscious, fighting to breathe. “No, no, hold on.” Eldalane’s eyes were already filled with tears. “No, no sweetheart, don’t leave me. Not now, not like this. Please, hold on.” Margorim gasped and gently took her hand. “I’m sorry,” He gasped. “Elda,” He gasped and struggled to speak. “Elda, I-I’m so sorry. I’m s-so sorry.” “No, no, don’t go.” Eldalane bit her lips. A tear falling down her cheek. “No, please, I love you. I need you. We need you.” She pressed his hand to her

stomach, though she still wasn’t showing at all. “I’m so sorry,” Margorim said again, his eyelids fluttered. “No, stay with me.” Eldalane gasped. She tore a bit of her skirt off and pressed it against the bleeding wound. Margorim gasped in horrible pain. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Eldalane cried, fresh tears coming to her eyes. “Don’t leave me. Come on, come on, you can do it. You can make it. I love you.” “I’m so sorry… I-I won’t…that I can’t be there…for you, for…for the baby. I’m so sorry.” Eldalane fought hard to hold back her tears, to keep control of herself. “You can’t die. Margorim, you can’t die yet. You have so much left to do. I need you. I need you! I can’t do this without you. Please, Margorim, don’t leave me.” “Tell them… the children, especially the baby, when they’re-they’re old enough to understand, how sorry I am. I...” He stopped, trying to force himself to breathe, taking in pained small breaths but unable to let them out. “No, no, no, Margorim, no.” Tears rolled down Eldalane face. “We’ll get you help. You’ll make it, don’t give up.” She rested her head against his. “Don’t leave me.” Margorim put a weak hand to her cheek. “I-I’m s-so… so sorry.” He forced out. “I-I love you. L…Love you so…so…so much. Forgive you” “No, don’t go,” Eldalane whispered, having almost as much trouble breathing as her husband was as she tried to hold back her tears. “I love you too, so much. I can’t lose you, I love you.” Margorim was just hanging to consciousness. Cedrick could tell by his breathing he was fighting for each breath. Eldalane held him tightly. She rocked back and forth slightly, trying so hard to keep control of herself, but her heart was breaking. Then there was a new sound. Eldalane’s head jerked up. Someone was yelling her name. At once, she started screaming. “Over here! Over here! Hurry! Please! He’s hurt!”

The scene faded and reformed. Margorim and Eldalane were sitting in a room on their own. Roxorim was playing on the floor with his father, who had his chest tightly bound up, but otherwise seemed to have healed from his injury. Cedrick could tell some magic had been used, not skillful magic though as Margorim winced slightly when he sat up. Arylana was sitting on her mother’s lap, playing with a small doll in her hands. Eldalane was smiling as she brushed the child's hair and caressed the playing child. Arylana didn’t seem to mind. She had surprisingly long hair for such a young age. It already went just past her small shoulders. Eldalane kept playing with it. She would braid a part of it, then unbraided it and do it again. Arylana seemed to like it. As Cedrick watched, she flipped all of her hair back and looked at her mother. Eldalane laughed. “Alright,” She said. “Alright, I’ll braid it all nice and tight.” “Ni’e and tie,” Arylana repeated with a happy smile as she kept playing with her small toy. Eldalane beamed as she started to French braid Arylana’s hair. Margorim was watching them with a slight smile on his face. Eldalane noticed. “What?” she asked. “Just, glad to see it,” Margorim said. He looked into his wife’s eyes. She smiled and her eyes filled with an expression Cedrick recognized. He’d seen in Elphacena’s eyes a fair few times: the relief of seeing her beloved husband alive. Then her face changed. She made a slight face and put her hand to her stomach. Margorim’s face filled with concern. “Eldalane? Eldalane, are you alright?” He stood up and went over to her. He sat beside her and took her hand and put his other arm around her back. “Yeah,” she said, her eyes closed. “Just a sudden. Oh.” She pressed the hand tighter into her stomach and curled up slightly. Margorim took Arylana. She happily got down and crawled over to Roxorim and his war toys. She was quickly happy to play with one of his little wooden daggers. Margorim’s face was filled with worry. “Are you alright? What happened?”

“I don’t know.” She breathed. “Just sudden... pain.” She winced as she said the last word. “We should find a doctor,” Margorim said, standing up. “No.” Eldalane held up a hand to stop him. “No, I’m alright.” She sighed. “It’ll . It always does.” “Always does?” “Yes, it’s happened before.” “When?” “Well, the first time was after they brought you back to camp: when you were hurt. They pulled me away and wouldn’t let me see you. I was desperate to get to you, then I felt it.” She winced again. “Even the memory brings it around.” She moaned slightly. Margorim sat back down and put an arm around her. Eldalane panted for a moment. “Are you sure? It could be a sign something’s wrong.” “They already checked me. They said I’m fine.” “So, there’s nothing, no bleeding issues no nothing? They checked?” “Of course,” Eldalane said, giving Margorim a look. “And if that was the cause, these cramps would have started the bleeding. They’re stronger than the others. Cramping isn’t odd, most of all this early on.” She winced slightly, but it was hardly noticeable. The pain seemed to be fading. “See? Comes and goes, they just stab a few times then fade. I’m alright.” “Are you sure?” Margorim asked, his face a mask of worry. “Yes, I’ve made sure. I’ve talked to people. I’ve been checked. I’ve checked myself. I’m alright.” Margorim sighed and put both arms around her. “Just don’t scare me,” he said softly.

“Even once? After what you did to me?” “Now that’s not fair.” Margorim’s face filled with pain. “Oh no, I don’t mean it,” Eldalane said sincerely. “I’m sorry.” Margorim held her tighter. “I love you,” he said gently. “I love you too.” Eldalane sighed and closed her eyes. Margorim didn’t let go but allowed her to rest and before long she fell asleep there. He rocked her gently, but still there was a look of worry in his eyes, and Cedrick knew his worries were not without merit. The scene morphed. A man Cedrick didn’t know was talking to Margorim. “We need you here. With your help, we’ve almost completely turned back into an army. Please, don’t leave us now.” “I can’t stay here with a pregnant wife and two small toddlers,” Margorim insisted. “Not after…after what happened. I will return. In time, I will return.” “But when you first found out she was pregnant you didn’t plan on leaving.” The man pointed out as Margorim picked up small Arylana and handed her to Eldalane, already mounted on a horse. “So, why are you leaving now? I beg you, captain, don’t go.” “I’m sorry my lord, but I must,” Margorim declined. “I already told you, the preservation of the line is far more important. I wish I could stay, but I must go. We will return. I pledge it.” He put a hand to his heart and bowed slightly. “I will return,” he said firmly, looking directly into the man’s face. “Even my orders won’t hold you back?” The man said in a defeated tone. “I’m afraid not. I would rather disobey my king and obey the laws of my family than the other way around. I’m really sorry, sincerely my lord, but I must go.” Margorim turned and picked up Roxorim and placed him on the second horse. “How will we find you if we need you again?” The king asked as Margorim mounted the horse behind his son. “Your bird was killed. How do you plan to stay in touch?”

Margorim smiled. “ the gem,” he said simply. “That should do it.” Then he kicked his horse, and they rode off. The king watched them go. “Well, you better!” he called after him. “Good luck.” Then he sighed. “Curse those Custods.” he said. “In and out like a cat on a rainy day.” The scene changed again. They were back in the hut. The two children were playing on the floor, and Eldalane had just finished cooking something on the stove. She was showing now. She winced and put a hand to her stomach. She sighed. “Don’t think about it,” she muttered to herself. “Don’t stress, that’s what causes it. No high emotions, keep calm.” She took a deep breath. She put a hand to her forehead. They children looked up at her as she moved to the couch and sat down. “Night, night,” Arylana called and as soon as her mother sat down. She snuggled up close to her. Eldalane smiled. “Yes,” she sighed. “I do need a night, night.” She yawned. She really did look exhausted. Roxorim ed them on the couch too. Eldalane smiled and hugged both of her children tightly. “I like mommy naps.” Roxorim smiled. “We all take good nap.” Eldalane smiled. “Just no tell daddy.” She reminded him. “No.” The both children giggled. Eldalane smiled and closed her eyes. Her two little ones snuggled up too, and before long, all three were asleep. The next scene felt as if he’d step into a play mid scene. There was already conversation going, whereas before he’d come in at the start of the conversation. It seemed this time he’d come only just in time to see the end, her end. It was the day Cedrick was born. Eldalane looked exhausted and weak. There was a baby wrapped up in her arms, Cedrick couldn’t see it or himself. Cedrick tried not to think of it that way, too weird. Margorim looked worried. He’d just handed Cedrick to his mother. He was

moving as if to leave. “I’ll be back,” he promised. Eldalane took his hand before he could leave. “I love you.” She breathed. Margorim looked at her, the fear flickering in his eyes again. Then he bent down and kissed her. He leaned his forehead to hers. “I love you too,” he said. “I promise...” But his next words were too quiet for Cedrick to hear. Margorim swallowed and stood. He squeezed her hand again for the final time. Eldalane didn’t take her eyes off him until he was out of the room. Then she held her tiny newborn tightly in her arms. “Oh Cedrick.” She breathed softly. “I’m sorry.” A tear slid down her cheek. “My little boy, I love you. You can do it.” She closed her eyes again. Then she whispered something that Cedrick couldn’t hear then smiled. “Who’d have guessed,” She said softly. “But if that truly is your path...” She stopped. “I love you, Cedrick.” She breathed. “I love you.” Then she gasped. She held baby Cedrick tighter then slowly her grip loosened. Cedrick couldn’t watch the last few seconds as she died. He just couldn’t do it. He tried but couldn’t. After the sound of her last breath, she was gone. She was dead. Cedrick heard his own infant cry. Still, he couldn’t look. He expected the scene to change. He decided to keep his head turned away until he heard a sign that it would, but when he heard the sound, it was just the door opening again. Cedrick looked up, thinking the scene had changed. Instead he saw the most heart wrenching thing you could ever see. Cedrick wanted to look away, but even when he did the image was burned into his mind and it was all he could see. His father’s face, the look on his face. Cedrick didn’t look back, but heard his father go to his wife’s side. Cedrick managed to look up to see him shake her, to try hopelessly to feel a pulse of life but nothing. Margorim’s breathing accelerated. He seemed to be having a full-blown panic attack mixed with the devastating shock. Cedrick couldn’t look at him. He couldn’t do it, and yet, somehow his eyes were glued to him as Margorim fell back against the wall. Cedrick had heard both Arylana and Roxorim swear that they were sure they never saw their father shed a single tear. It was as if the pain was too horrible to even allow anything, even tears, to soothe it. Yet Cedrick could see them now,

but they didn’t move. They just stayed frozen in his eyes as if the pain was too bad to allow them to wash the grief away. The devastation and horror on his face was enough to make any man melt, to make even the bravest and strongest human being turn away, unable to bear even the sight of such pain. Margorim had no such escape, and neither did Cedrick. Even though it was just a memory, Cedrick could feel the deep pain radiating off his father. It was worse than anything Cedrick had ever felt before. By such a long stretch, he would say he’d never felt pain before. It was too much. Margorim just sat there, shaking and trembling worse than any human should be able to, and his eyes frozen in pain. Cedrick backed up and felt his back hit the wall. Even though the emotion wasn’t his, it filled his chest and made him shake and his own eyes sting. It was as if someone had taken his insides and ripped them out in the most painful way then filled the empty hole with piranhas with poisonous teeth, to eat away at what was left. Cedrick gasped for air and fell to the ground. He gasped with the pain, unable to be rid of it. It felt like hours before he felt the pain slowly fade. When Cedrick looked back at his father, he knew he was still in that pain, yet somehow, he was managing to ignore it. He slowly got to his feet. Cedrick had been so consumed by pain he hadn’t noticed the baby had been crying this whole time. Cedrick got to his feet again as he watched his father take his youngest son from the dead arms of his wife and hold him. Cedrick watched carefully, afraid as if his father was about to some harsh judgment on him, as if his father was really looking at him not his baby self standing in the room with him, about to decide if he would live or die. Cedrick knew this was a pivotal moment. He wanted to step back, but he was already to the wall. Cedrick watched, hardly able to breathe. Margorim looked down at the baby with those pain filled eyes. Cedrick was held in suspense. Margorim clutched the baby close and managed to let out a sob. Cedrick watched, even more confused than ever as his father cradled his infant and fell to his knees, rocking him back and forth. Slowly, the baby’s cries faded. Margorim hugged him closer, still rocking. “Hard to watch, isn’t it?” Cedrick jumped to his feet and turned around. It was his mother just as he’d seen

her in the first vision he’d met her in. She smiled sadly and watched her husband, holding the newborn as tightly as if the child was his only hope of survival. She then looked up at Cedrick. Cedrick gaped at her. Okay, this might win the weirdest vision award. He was standing and talking with a dead woman, while looking back at the past of when she died. “Come on.” She waved gently. “Let’s talk where the air isn’t poisoned with such pain.” Cedrick carefully followed his mother, and in seconds, they stood in the garden where he’d always seen the dead. Eldalane turned and looked at Cedrick, a sad expression on her face. “I see you found my gem,” she said. “Your gem?” Cedrick asked, confused. Eldalane nodded. “The one the dwarf gave you. I learned how to place memories inside of gems, and so made that gem for you. I knew one day you’d go to those caves. Well hoped, I didn’t know what would happen.” “W-When were you there?” Cedrick asked. “When I was still pregnant with you and before we left the resistance. We went to the dwarfish lands for help, but the king and dwarves had never been friends. We didn’t get any help, but I did manage to find someone to help me make the jewel. It contains the memories, and can only be broken into by the one the maker intends.” “Me?” Cedrick assumed. “Yes.” Eldalane nodded. “I knew one day you would have to know what those memories contained.” “But you didn’t know you were going to die.” “No, but I feared your father would. I made those with the intent to teach you about your father.” “How did you get those last memories in the gem then? The ones of you

returning and your death.” “Well, I can still put memories in it when I’m dead.” She smiled mysteriously. “Special rules apply to you. I just needed to get the energy through. It wasn’t easy, but it had to be done.” “Why?” “Oh Cedrick, I can’t tell you. You must learn at the right time, the right way.” She shook her head. “It’s much bigger than you think.” “So, what you’re hiding is the same as what father is hiding from me?” Cedrick demanded. “Why he hates me? Why can’t I know? Don’t I have a right to know?” “And you will know, sweetheart. You will.” Eldalane assured him. “Just not yet. He must tell you.” “You mean father.” “He must tell you.” “Clear as mud, mother,” Cedrick grumbled. “I wish I could be planer.” She looked down. “You will understand.” She stepped forward and took Cedrick’s arms. When her hands touched him, Cedrick could feel them. Cedrick was shocked, he could feel them! Not just the energy but physically. He jumped back in shock. “You can touch me!” He cried. “You’re getting closer,” Eldalane said with a tinge of sadness in her voice. “More powerful, much more, you’re getting closer. How much longer? How much longer will it be?” She said the last part more to herself, looking sad. “Will what be?” Cedrick demanded. “Why must I not be told? Why is everyone lying to me? Mother, tell me. I have to know. Nothing could be worse than not knowing. This is torture. What is it? Please, tell me.” “I can’t, Cedrick. Even if I tried something would prevent me.” Eldalane shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”

Cedrick stood there, confusion, frustration and pain mixing in his chest. “Does no one care about me enough to say it?” Cedrick asked in a small voice. “Am I doomed to not know why all of this happens? I can’t even figure out why father hates me, even with everything I’ve seen. Is it just my fate to never know?” “You’ll understand.” Eldalane took Cedrick’s arm again. “You will.” She promised desperately. “Just wait. If you learn too soon, all will fail. You will know, soon. The closer you get to me, the closer you are to it all. Trust me.” Eldalane hugged Cedrick, and he hugged her back, so he wouldn’t hurt her feelings, but his mind was far from the touch. She sighed. “Oh, to touch you. Soon, so soon.” She pulled back and looked up into her son’s face. She stroked his cheek gently. “All will be well,” she said softly. “It will be. You can do it. Don’t worry. I love you, son. I love you, Cedrick. Soon, how soon, I don’t know, but soon.”

Chapter 29

General Fears

“If he dares try that again!” Heklis was seething. “He messed it up! Next time, I’ll set his blood on fire instead of his leg!’ “Yes, yes, we know.” Emmerick was studying his fingernails. “And next time, finish the job.” “You know we need his information to track the boy’s movements,” Heklis snarled. Emmerick shrugged. “I’d have been fine not knowing.” “I’m sure you would.” Heklis set his teeth. “He needs to learn obedience,” Neramith said. “It’s how we’ve gained what we got. Obey the laws of magic, and it will award you.” He was smiling. “And it has.” He held an odd black band in his hands. “It’s not like anyone else has this kind of magic.” He grinned wider. “Magic? That’s anti-magic.” Emmerick glared at it. “It’s an evil thing.” “Exactly.” Neramith beamed. “And good for emergencies. I left one with our spy.” Heklis nodded excitedly. “Then he interrupted our game!” He glowered. Emmerick sighed. “Yes, yes, we know. He won’t make that mistake again, I’m sure.” Emmerick had started looking through a newspaper that had been next to him. “Oh look, sale on your favorite snacks.”

“Oh!” Heklis took the newspaper. Emmerick groaned and looked for something else to play with. Why did he always make that mistake? Neramith sighed. “Well, my lord, I doubt you should fear. You put the fear of you into that wretched monster.” “I think it should have been done with more style.” Emmerick put his hands behind his head and leaned back. “More style? How so?” Heklis narrowed his eyes at Emmerick. “I have flawless style.” “Maybe.” Emmerick shrugged. “But as his name is Rackwrith, I think putting a Rackwrith on a rack would be funny.” “Brilliant! I must do that next time.” Heklis rubbed his hands together. “You have the best ideas, Emmerick.” “If you get a next time,” Emmerick muttered. “Excuse me?” Heklis shot him a look. “Well, what if your ‘young enchanter’ gets there first?” Emmerick raised an eyebrow. “Rackwrith has slipped up a few times.” He glanced at his master. “And that boy is a wildfire.” “Mmmm, doubt it. Rackwrith is slippery. Those he fools won’t let him,” Heklis said. “Let’s hope he keeps listening,” Emmerick said, going back to his fingernails in boredom. “If not…Rackwrith does have one of these beauties.” Neramith made the black band flash in the sun. Emmerick gave it a dark look and said just as darkly, “I supposed he does.”

*****

“Are you sure?” Mercutio pressed. Cedrick shrugged. “How can I be sure? I’m not the one who saw it. It was your patrol.” “Yes, but…well, you know Heklis best,” Mercutio offered timidly. Their forward team inspected the town they were planning on attacking. They were sure Heklis was there. They didn’t see him, but the city was in full display and honor mode, which they felt sure meant Heklis was there. “I do not know Heklis best. Elphacena and my father and Alburn likely have had more dealings with him than I have,” Cedrick chuckled. “And if you mean I understand him best, you’re barking up the wrong tree.” “Yes, but you saw that village. You saw what they were forced to do in order to ‘glorify’ him. Are those really signs Heklis is there? Maybe it’s just for Neramith or Emmerick.” Cedrick shook his head. “No, I saw Emmerick that day. He left before the evening, or at least he didn’t bother me, if he was still there. They don’t put out fanfare for Heklis’s trio.” “So that does mean he’s there.” Mercutio nodded to himself. Cedrick cocked an eyebrow. “You sure? What if it’s just the king?” “Hm…” Mercutio thought about that. “That is true. It could be the king, though most people see him as lesser than Heklis, they may still celebrate him like that.” “So how would I know?” Cedrick shrugged. Endar snarled. Cedrick had been rubbing down the dragon’s scales while they talked. “Alright, alright. I’m sorry, bud.” Cedrick chuckled and went back to scrubbing the scales on the back of the little dragon’s neck. “Who knew dragons were so

messy.” Endar had somehow got himself covered in mud. Mercutio sighed. “So should we go in prepared for Heklis or the king?” he asked. “Mercutio.” Cedrick sighed. “How would I know? I keep telling you I have no idea.” “Alright, so what do you want to do?” Mercutio casually leaned back on the wall and proffered Cedrick a hand, inviting him to share. “I’d just go in like we always do. Heklis was there in Montressa. That didn’t stop our attack being successful.” Cedrick pointed out. “There or not, I’m not sure we can change our plans to handle him.” “Yes, but something distracted him then. That’s why he never really ed the fight,” Mercutio said. “And that… that…” Mercutio paused. “And he was really there to battle you,” he said slowly. “And he knew where you were because you had the dragon.” His eyes landed on Endar. Endar tilted his head at the general innocently. “So, if he sees the dragon, he’ll think there is a young enchanter.” Mercutio went on. Cedrick was nervous about where this was going. “So?” “So?” Mercutio beamed. “I have a plan.”

*****

“I sometimes worry for that man’s head.” Arylana sighed as Mercutio unfolded his plan to the Custods. “What? You don’t think it will work?” Mercutio was smiling. “We get Heklis out of the way—if there is one, Liam gets what he wants, we get in and take the king

if he’s there; and if not, we at least get the city and land. All bases covered.” “Yes, but you’re far too happy about this,” Arylana said. “Far too happy.” Margorim was looking down at the table. He nodded slowly. “I think it is a wise plan. It uses Heklis’s madness against him and opens the door for us to take the king. Which gives us a wide opening.” “That’s also assuming the king is there.” Arylana reminded him. “But what happens if we do take the king? He’s just a puppet to Heklis anyway,” Cedrick asked. “So, what difference does it make?” “Heklis rules only in name and fear,” Mercutio explained. “Legally, the king is still the king. The king just bends to anything Heklis says. We take him and legally, Heklis has no power over these hands. Roxorim takes over. If we take the king, and he hands power over to the rightful ruler, we legally own all these lands. Sure, Heklis may still use the king’s men to defend those cities from us, but…” Mercutio smiled widely. “But that also gives openings to the hundreds, maybe thousands, of people who do want to us but can't or don’t out of fear. It could possibly save us all a lot of lives and time. It could be the key to turning the tide.” “You say that a lot,” Cedrick commented dryly. Mercutio gave him a dirty look. “Well, it’s true. Every other time it has turned the tide in our favor, has it not?” Cedrick shrugged, not sure. Mercutio said it so much Cedrick had lost track. “Alright then, this could turn the tide in our favor.” Mercutio stuck to his word. “We could take back the capitol with this.” “But wouldn’t that also make Heklis harder to find?” Arylana asked. “He’d become a rogue fugitive in the land.” “And he isn’t now?” Cedrick raised a brow. “Seriously, that’s part of why he doesn’t rule. No one seems to know where he calls home. He bounces around so much it’s hard to track him. I’m sure that’s why he didn’t formally take the throne in the first place.”

“And it makes us the power in charge. He’ll have to hide,” Mercutio said. “Not that he’ll mind.” Cedrick pointed out. “True, but it’s still an advantage,” Mercutio argued. “Move our forces into areas more populated, get more public favor to help us. It could work.” “Assuming the king is there,” Margorim said. Mercutio nodded his agreement. “Yes, assuming he is there.” “I see no risk.” Margorim shrugged. “I think it just covers our bases.” “Exactly, it can’t give us a downside,” Mercutio agreed. “Even if Heklis caught the dragon, he’d just have a Liam.” “And my dragon.” Cedrick reminded him, quite offended. “He’s a smart boy. He’ll get away.” Mercutio waved off. “Heklis only wants the rider anyway.” “Poor Liam.” Cedrick sighed dramatically. “Oh, shut up.” Mercutio gave Cedrick another dirty look. He was getting good at it. “So we’re going with this plan?” Arylana asked. Mercutio nodded. “We’ll leave in two days,” He confirmed. “Shouldn’t be hard.” “I’ll start dividing out orders.” Cedrick sighed. “And , only enough to do their job. We can’t afford another leak. Most of all, if Heklis is there.” Margorim shot Cedrick a deadly warning look. “I know.” Cedrick tensed a little. “It was my idea to hide them like this, ?” “Good, I’ll inform the king, and we’ll get started.” Mercutio tried to stop a fight.

“What? You’re the spy,” Cedrick teased. “Not that king, our king, your brother.” Mercutio rolled his eyes. “Dismissed.” Cedrick left the room with a swish of his cloak, grinning from ear to ear. Margorim stood as Cedrick vanished and soon also was gone. Arylana rolled her eyes and went to leave, but Mercutio caught her arm. “Hey, we’ve not talked in a while. How have you been?” Mercutio asked. Arylana's face hardened. “Fine,” she said and tried to pull away. “Well, your plan for Montressa worked.” Mercutio wouldn’t let her leave. “So what are you so stiff about?” “You know what. Nice try, ‘pretty boy’, but I’m not playing the game.” Arylana tried again to leave. Mercutio only grinned. “So you do think I’m cute.” Arylana froze in place, so angry she could rip his eyes out. After a second, she decided to give into that and turned to do that, but she was stopped by a sudden strong grip on her arm. Mercutio pulled her close and kissed her. Arylana pushed him away with such force she hoped he fell and broke something. Infuriatingly, Mercutio only stepped back. “Sorry, it just seems the only way to stop you killing me.” He smiled. “Otherwise, I’d wait ‘til you made the next move first.” “Me?!” Arylana shrieked. “Me?!” She stomped forward, grabbed Mercutio’s collar and yanked him down to her eye level. “I will never, never make the ‘first move.’ Not this time or any other time, you…” She swore harshly. “How dare you treat me like a… like a…” “Girl?” Mercutio offered. “Like a piece of meat!” Arylana screamed. Mercutio laughed. “Arylana,” he said gently, “we both know the thing you really hate isn’t me. It’s how I make you feel feminine. You pretend to be just like your brothers, but you’re not. You’re better. You’re a warrior lady. You don’t have to

pretend to be like Roxorim. You never had to, though you are still trying. You don’t hate me or hate that I like you. You hate that you like me back. You hate being the only girl.” Arylana gaped at him. She then slapped him hard across the face. “I’m pretty sure it’s you I hit. So, I think it’s you I hate,” she snapped then stormed off. But just before she left the room, she paused. Deep down, she knew he was right. He did make her heart flutter, make her cheeks flush, and make her want to touch him, be near him, yes, even kiss him. But it was not what she was supposed to be. She was a Custod. A fighter. Nothing more. She set her jaw and slammed the door. “You took a while.” Arylana jumped a mile. Mercutio had ignored the front door, gone out the back, and met her outside the door. “What took you so long?” “I swear, if I were armed...” Mercutio kissed her again. How dare he! Anyone could see them! What would the troops think of her then? “But that’s my point.” Mercutio smiled. “You are armed.” Before Arylana could wrap her mind around that, Mercutio was gone. She stood there, dumbfounded and fuming. She was going to kill him. If she didn’t respect him so much as her general, she’d kill him. That boy was so dead! Though while she cursed his name to the Perverter and back, she touched her lip and smiled a little.

*****

“N-nice dragon.” Liam gingerly patted Endar’s leg. Endar was so excited to have a new friend he swooped down and nuzzled Liam in a second. Liam let out a squeal like a toddler and hid behind Cedrick. “Liam,” Cedrick snapped. “He’s just excited to see you. He was shaking your

hand, so to speak.” Poor Endar looked heart broken. Cedrick scowled at Liam. “He’s just a baby. You hurt his feelings. He thinks you hate him.” “He wasn’t going to eat me?” Liam checked. “No, he doesn’t like the taste of people,” Cedrick said. Liam’s face went a bit white. “He knows what people taste like?” Cedrick sighed. “Yes, he ate my uncle when he tried to kill me. So don’t try to kill me, and he won’t hurt you. Now go say hi. Just look how sad he is.” Endar was really sad the friend didn’t like him. His head was bowed, shoulders low, trying to hide that tears were trying to form in his big, baby eyes. Liam frowned. “Hey, hey little…l-lizard. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I thought you were going to eat me.” Liam held out a nervous hand to the dragon. “See? I’m safe. I like you. I promise.” Endar looked at Cedrick to be sure it was okay. Cedrick nodded. The dragon tried to nuzzle him again, only slower. Liam’s eyes went wide. “Woah, you’re so smooth. Did you know that?” He stroked the dragon’s nose. “Those scales are beautiful, mate. How do you get them so smooth?” Endar didn’t quite understand what he was saying, but he understood his tone. He smiled a little and rubbed a bit more affectionately. “You’re amazing. Is it okay if I ride you for Cedrick today?” Endar nodded. “See? Told you they’d get along fine.” Mercutio folded his arms and smiled. Arylana gave Mercutio a look. She was annoyed she’d been ordered to be there. If this was supposed to be some kind of analogy to get her to let him in, he was dead wrong. “That’s because they’re both idiots,” Arylana said dryly.

“Hey, that’s my dragon you’re talking about.” Cedrick warned her. Endar wasn’t paying attention. Liam was having a great time playing with him. He kept trying to touch the dragon's forehead, and the dragon kept stopping him by backing up or moving his head. The two quite enjoyed the game. “So?” Arylana glared at him too. “What’s eating you?” Cedrick glared at her. “You,” she snapped back. “I doubt that.” Cedrick looked at Mercutio. “I’ll bet it’s-” “Just that time of life.” Mercutio cut Cedrick off. Arylana’s and Cedrick’s mouth fell open. She gaped at Mercutio. “You did not just say that,” she snarled. “I’ll show you time of life!” There was a snap in the forest, and they all stopped. Endar lifted his head up. “We’re too loud,” Cedrick said quietly. “I bet that’s a patrol.” He heard voices, men looking for them. “It is. We have to go! Get on the dragon.” Liam took the shot and jumped on. Cedrick jumped on too and helped Arylana up. Mercutio, on the other hand, froze. “Come on,” Liam gestured. The voices were getting louder. “They’ll catch you.” “I-I’ll just run back,” Mercutio said, his eyes oddly small, like he was terrified. “You go on.” “Mercutio, they’re too close. Come on.” Cedrick held out a hand to get him on. “R-reeally. I got it.” Mercutio started to back up. An arrow shot towards them. “Sure you do.” Cedrick grabbed Mercutio by the shirt and yanked him up. Liam helped best he could. “Go, go, boy.” Cedrick patted Endar’s neck. He knew it would be hard with so many. Cedrick was right. Endar took off alright but couldn’t fly much higher than fifty feet. But the dragon was fast for lack of height. He shot off and left the patrol far

behind. “See how easy that was?” Cedrick turned back to look at Mercutio and stopped. Mercutio looked petrified. He was determinedly not looking down and kept muttering to himself. “Oh vell. Oh, by the Merlin, this is a bad idea. Don’t look, don’t look.” He was as white as a sheet and looked as scared as a mino in a shark pond. “Mercutio? Are you alright?” Cedrick frowned. “I… I think he’s scared of heights.” Arylana smiled an evil smile. “Nope. Nope. Flying is for birds, not people. Oh no, oh no, bad, oh no. Ah!” He held onto the dragon tighter as he made a sudden turn that made him feel unsure. “Oh no, oh no, oh no.” Mercutio repeated over and over. He was talking so fast it was like he was speaking-hyperventilating. Arylana burst out laughing. Liam tried not to laugh too. Cedrick couldn’t help but crack a smile, but he at least felt sorry for his general. “It’s okay. Endar won’t let you fall. He’d be traumatized if he did.” “I think I’m already traumatized!” Mercutio screamed at Cedrick. Cedrick couldn’t help it. He laughed too. “It’s okay. I promise.” Endar on the other hand, thought this was funny. He asked Cedrick is big man scared? “Just of how high up he is. People don’t normally go up high and fly.” Cedrick said. “And some people are scared of it.” Because it’s new? “Maybe.” Then no be new. And to Cedrick’s and Mercutio’s horror the dragon tried to get up higher. “Ah!” Mercutio freaked out and grabbed onto the nearest thing he could grab.

“Get me down! Get me down! I don’t care if they get me! Put me down!” Endar didn’t stop there. He tried to do his ‘fun’ tricks that Cedrick liked. He shot down at a shocking speed. “Endar! The poor man will wet himself!” Cedrick burst out laughing. What wet? Endar asked. “He’ll pee on you.” Cedrick said. Endar let out a little squeal, not liking that idea and landed very quickly and very hard. Even Cedrick flew off. He crashed hard into a tree and fell in a painful heap on the ground. “Ow.” Cedrick gave Endar a look. “Ouwwww….” Endar let out a guilty, sad moan of disappointment. Liam was laughing. “That was great! Let’s do it again.” “Shoot me first,” Mercutio snapped. “Where’s Arylana?” “Here, you idiot.” Arylana threw a rock at him. “Ouch.” Mercutio rubbed his head. “Hey!” Cedrick snapped at her. “You could hurt someone with those. You don’t throw rocks at people you want to keep alive.” He went over to Mercutio to take a look. “Lucky for you, he’s fine. Father would eat you alive,” he said as he helped Mercutio up. The poor man was shaking terribly. Cedrick couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry. Mercutio, really, it’s not that bad. Just get back on and…” “Over my dead body!” Mercutio jumped back. “People were not meant to fly, no, no. Ground. We belong on the ground. We don’t fly. We don’t go high because we fall. We don’t fly. We fall.” He ranted for a bit. Arylana laughed rather rudely. Liam couldn’t help himself. He laughed too, but not as harshly. “Someone is scared of heights,” he said. “Is our general scared of being up high?” “It’s not a smart place to be,” Mercutio snapped, defensive and a little red. “A lot

of people get hurt being up high, alright? That dragon could have killed us with that landing, or if we didn’t have a good enough grip we’d fall. It’s not a safe place. I just like being on the ground, thanks.” Cedrick wished Mercutio wasn’t so comical about this. He wanted to laugh so badly, but he tried to hold back. “It’s okay. You just looked and sounded so funny. You were squealing like a schoolgirl. I’m sorry, it’s just funny.” “Who’s the girl now?” Arylana grinned maliciously at Mercutio. Mercutio glared at her and turned away. Cedrick glared at her sister. “Arylana, what’s gotten into you? That’s your general.” “I don’t answer to a guy scared of having some air between him and the ground. I’ll see you all back at camp.” She tossed her hair behind her as she turned on her heel and left. Cedrick narrowed his eyes. Yes, it was funny, but that was way below the belt. That was rather uncalled for. Liam was trying not to laugh, but he was laughing pretty hard still. “I’m sorry, sir.” He was panting between laughter. “I know you really were scared, but it was so funny. You really were squealing. I had no idea you could even make such noises.” “I can make you make such noises,” Mercutio snarled at him. “With Liam, that’s easy,” Cedrick said. “Just set Portia and Nerissa on him.” Even at the thought, Liam yelped. “See?” Cedrick smiled. “We all freak out sometimes, in…sometimes undignified ways. I’m sure I’ve done it.” Though Cedrick tried to think of something, he couldn’t. Not since he was a little kid anyway. “Fine,” Mercutio snapped. “You think we lost them?” “Likely, I doubt they managed to laugh any less than I did. I couldn’t run laughing that hard.” Liam laughed. Cedrick gave him such a death glare. Liam

stopped at once and stood up right. “I’ll make sure.” And he scampered off like a spooked mouse. Cedrick sighed. “Hey, really, I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to make it worse. I felt bad for laughing. You just…I can’t lie, sir. You were pretty funny.” Cedrick smiled. “I wouldn’t have pulled you on, if I knew you were that scared. If…you don’t mind my asking, why are you so scared?” Cedrick hoped talking it out might make Mercutio feel better. “I honestly don’t know.” Mercutio sighed. “I just freeze up. Not sure why I did it just now, frankly. I have been like that since I was ten. Maybe it was from seeing my brother tossed off a cliff, or when I saw the landslide down the mountain that took out half a patrol. I really don’t know. But since I was a kid, heights have terrified me. When I would see you standing up in the clock tower, I felt sick.” “You hide it well,” Cedrick said. “I had no idea. And I’ve seen you in the mountains before.” Mercutio shrugged. “Guess. Not that it helped me today.” He sighed. Cedrick swallowed. “Really, sir, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make fun of you. I just couldn’t help it.” “Yeah.” Mercutio sighed and picked up a rock from the ground. “I wouldn’t know. I hardly it other than the terror of takeoff and that horrible landing.” “Sorry.” Cedrick flushed a little. “It’s alright. You didn’t mean any harm by it,” Mercutio said. “I’m sure Liam didn’t either.” “Arylana did.” “Oh well…” Cedrick had no defense for that. “She’ll lighten up. She’s always been a bit of a jerk.” “Guess.” Mercutio studied the rock in his hand. Cedrick realized it was the one Arylana hit him with. “Well.” Mercutio seemed to snap back to himself as he put

the rock into his pocket. “We better head back. You can take Endar, but uh…I’d rather not.” “We’ll walk with you,” Cedrick said quickly. “Endar is on a time out anyway.” He gave the dragon a look. “That was not a good landing.” Endar bowed his head in repentance and gave Mercutio an apologetic nudge. Mercutio jumped a little but smiled warmly at the dragon. “It’s not your fault. You’re a dragon. You’re supposed to fly. I’m not meant to, I guess.” He patted his nose. “I’m not putting you on time out.” The dragon smiled a little and rubbed Mercutio again. They walked back. Mercutio asked if they should call Liam, but Cedrick said it was good punishment for his laughing at Mercutio so much. Mercutio didn’t seem to know if that was a good thing.

Chapter 30

Making New Friends is Good, but I Seem to Make New Enemies Better.

Although Mercutio didn’t have a good time, the flight made Liam confident and ready for the attack. Cedrick thought he’d do alright. They waited in the hills to the west of the city for Liam to give them the cue. He and Endar did it perfectly. They swooped in, broke a section of wall with a blast of Endar’s blue fire and tackled into it. Cedrick was impressed by it. Then he realized Liam likely had fallen off when they’d done it because it took them a while to take off again. Endar’s flight was rather wild when they did. Cedrick wondered what Liam was thinking as he watched them fly an odd zig-zag above the city for a long time. Their troops already were inside as Endar did a loop-da-loop and finally flew off to draw away any Heklis that may be inside. Cedrick’s orders were to get into the city with a new team, get into the main building, take the honored guest, and bring him to Mercutio who would be taking the capitol building next door. His group turned out to be very good fighters. Cedrick was careful not to use magic, and they still made great time. When they got closer to the mayor’s mansion, a platoon of guards charged out to stop them. They had a large dog on their side. “They have a hunting dog.” Cedrick sighed. The others gave him a look that could melt stone. “Well, they do.” Cedrick defended. The men clearly thought Cedrick was an idiot as they dove into the fight. They went for the man holding the dog first. Cedrick had a better plan.

He looked at the dog. “Hey boy,” he said. Then one of the men attacked Cedrick. Cedrick blocked his blade, turned to be on his other side, then kicked his backside to knock the attacker over. Cedrick turned back to the dog. “You want to attack something?” The dog was barking madly as the man holding it had to defend himself, but he was trying to release the dog. “No, don’t be too crazy,” Cedrick said to the dog. “You look like they won’t let you play.” He met eyes with the dog. “Do you want to play?” The dog stopped barking at him and licked his lips as if excited. “I bet you do, but who won’t let you play?” The dog danced on the spot a little as if unsure. “Yeah, I think that guy with the chain knows. I’ll let you go though.” Cedrick came over, ducked under one of his own men and released the dog. “Are you mad?!” The leader of his team screamed. The dog barked angrily and jumped at Cedrick. It knocked Cedrick over and licked his face. “Good boy.” Cedrick laughed. “Now.” He looked at the man who’d been holding the dog. “Get him.” The dog snarled and jumped at his abusive master. Cedrick knew how attack dogs were trained. Last time there was just too many. They were beaten and abused into being angry. Some dogs were too rabid, like the ones at the prison, but some could be reasoned with. Cedrick knew how to use them. The other men were stunned as the dog did their job for them. They all gaped at Cedrick. “What? I’m good with dogs,” Cedrick defended. The troops rolled their eyes and headed off. Cedrick followed. They arrived at the mansion to find it surrounded by opposing fighters. The men

drove into it. Cedrick whistled. The dog came up, barking happily. “Hey buddy.” Cedrick bent and rubbed his ears. The dog panted happily. “Want to help me get inside?” he asked the dog. The dog yipped happily. “Yeah? Okay, go get em.” Cedrick stood and directed the dog with a point of his sword. The dog snarled and jumped into the battle. Cedrick grinned as he ed in. There were too many for his men and the dog to take alone. Cedrick shot right for the door. Two men jumped in front of him. Cedrick grinned and threw himself down, legs first. He slid between the two, and with his sword in one hand and knife in the other. He stabbed both in the thigh and pulled the blades out, still sliding through the door. Cedrick’s feet hit the bottom step, and Cedrick used the force to get to his feet. “Thanks for the age.” Cedrick saluted with two fingers the two men he’d stabbed. The two gaped up at him in shock and anger. “You’ll want to put pressure on those. Make sure they don’t bleed too badly,” Cedrick told them as he closed the doors to the mansion behind him. Cedrick sighed, content in his work, and brushed off his hands as if he’d just finished a meal instead of a fight. “Now,” he said. “Who am I taking home with me?” “What are you doing?” a voice snapped. Cedrick turned, blade at the ready, to see the leader of his team. “Oh, it’s you, sir,” Cedrick relaxed. “I’m getting in. Looks like you are doing the same, sir.” “You left the rest of us behind,” the leader snarled. “How dare you?” “Well sir, I was coming back for you,” Cedrick said. “What?” Then he heard barking. “I got one attack dog to help us,” Cedrick said. “Sounds like they have more.”

“What is it with you and dogs?” the leader snapped. “What’s with you and not liking dogs?” Cedrick replied. He made his way to find the barking. “Stop right there.” Cedrick did and turned to the leader. “I don’t know if you’re just trying to get promoted the easy way or something.” The leader snarled and got into Cedrick’s face. Cedrick wished he knew his name for later but hadn’t asked so they wouldn’t ask his name. “But you are an insubordinate little imp. Forget the dogs and help your troop.” “You want me to get out there? Why don’t you get out there?” Cedrick challenged. “Are you trying to get promoted?” “How dare you?” The leader snarled. There was a crash from upstairs. “I think they heard that,” Cedrick said. There was noise above them. “This is your fault, and I’ll report it as such,” the leader snarled. “How about you get your men in here, while I deal with them?” Cedrick replied. “And no, I won’t go up without you. You can have the ‘glory’ of catching him.” Cedrick glared at the leader then went to the stairs. “You can’t order me around,” The leader yelled. “I’ll have your rank for this!” “How about we forget about rank and get winning this war!” Cedrick yelled back as he knocked on the wall by the stairs. “Excuse me!” he called up. “I’m looking for the guest of honor. I have a gift for him.” Twenty guards showed their faces over the banister of the twisted staircase above. Cedrick grinned up at them. “It’s a good one.” The guards barreled down the stairs towards them. Cedrick grinned and pressed his back to the wall beside the opening. Just before the first guard came in,

Cedrick stuck out his foot. The front man fell, tripping the man behind him, and in about five seconds, all twenty men lay on the ground groaning after a nasty fall down the stairs. “Ouch, you should have those bumps looked at,” Cedrick said. “Or they’ll make your ugly mugs worse.” With that, Cedrick dashed up the stairs. That’s when he got unlucky. The age opened up to a room full of two hundred guards. Cedrick skidded to a halt as they all looked at him. Cedrick knew he was in trouble. But he said he’d distract these guys for the leader, and he had to do it without magic or he’d draw attention to himself. Cursing Mercutio under his breath, Cedrick decided better to start sooner than later. He picked an attacker to his left, grabbed his shoulder and tried to throw him into the other guy. Turned out, this guy weighed more than Roxorim after a feast. The man didn’t budge though Cedrick threw his whole weight into it. Cedrick paused and looked up at the huge, ugly mug of the man. “Sir, I think you need a diet,” Cedrick commented. “I was just trying to help you dance, and you didn’t budge.” For his snarkiness, he got whacked in the face with the man’s fist. Cedrick saw stars as he fell to the ground. He tasted blood as his vision returned to see a lot of them looking down at him. “I know I’m not that pretty,” Cedrick said, faking wooziness. “But doesn’t mean you have to stare.” And he pushed off the ground with his foot so he’d spin, holding his sword so they cut along the legs of the men standing around him. They cried out and collapsed as Cedrick cut them. Cedrick then rolled into a kind of summersault over their backs and popped up to his feet. Cedrick swung his blade at the man in front of him. The man blocked it. Before long, Cedrick was surrounded. Cedrick swung at one. As soon as a man swung, Cedrick ducked. The four men surrounding him hit one another, and they collapsed. Then he heard the sounds of a fight behind him. Cedrick glanced back to see some of his team had come in to help. “What took you?” Cedrick demanded.

“I hoped you’d die,” the leader said. Cedrick frowned. He made a note to have the man demoted, when this was over. Cedrick turned to the battle; he was still in trouble. As the men around him fell, more took their place. He couldn’t use that trick again. Maybe he could jump over them? He did that to Roxorim all the time. Cedrick took a deep breath and took it at a run. He tried to get his foot into the space of the armor at the waist. It actually worked. Cedrick’s momentum was able to launch him over the man’s head. Cedrick did a flip in the air to keep the momentum going, but the room was too crowded. He landed on top of another attacker. Cedrick was quick, but not fast enough to get up before four men grabbed his arms and yanked him up. The man he’d landed on took his blade. “Don’t kill them yet!” a calm, slurred voice called. “Let me see them.” One man elbowed Cedrick in the face before dragging him over to the voice. Cedrick blinked to clear his vision from the blood in his face and looked up. His heart stopped. An older man with thin white hair, bad underbite, and cold eyes was looking down at him with regal disdain. With her hands tied behind her and a blade at her neck, unconscious, was Elphacena. The guards dragged two other men over as well. “Only three?” the man holding Cedrick’s wife asked. “No my liege.” One guard shook his head. “But the others are already dead.” “I see.” The man nodded. “And who is the leader?” His eyes met Cedrick first. Cedrick glared right back. “I am, sir,” the leader of the team said. The man turned to him. “Ah, so the leader did survive.” “You cannot take us so easily,” the leader snarled. “Oh, it wasn’t easy. There are two-hundred fifty men in here. Our first attacker took out fifty.” He nodded at Elphacena’s unconscious shape. Cedrick felt a flare of hatred streak through his chest when he noticed parts of her chest armor were untied. The man, whoever he was, had been working on taking it off when he’d

barged in. If he’d gotten any further….The guard on Cedrick’s left winced. “Though annoying, as I was busy, I would guess you took out another fifty. You fools. I wouldn’t come so close to your borders unprotected. Your army will need to get in, and I don’t think they will. Not with the one-on-one spell on this place.” The man laughed as the leader looked confused. “It’s a spell to make it so only one man can enter a room at a time, single file. I’ll escape long before you all get in.” “We have the place surrounded. There’s nowhere to run to.” Cedrick yelled. “Shut up!” the leader yelled at him. “You don’t like him?” the man asked. “Then I’ll leave him to live longer.” The leader sneered. “How do you know we won’t kill you first?” Cedrick challenged. “Shut up! I’m in charge here, you…” the leader called Cedrick a foul name. That guy was totally getting demoted. “Ooo, you really don’t like each other.” The man smiled. Cedrick made a pout face. The longer he distracted this guy the sooner he found his real target and saved his wife. “He’s so mean to me.” Cedrick faked being tearful. “He makes me feel so worthless.” The man laughed. “As worthless as you.” Cedrick looked at the man. The man stopped laughing. “How dare you?” he snarled. “How dare you speak to your king this way?” Eureka! Cedrick had been right. This man was his target. Now how did he get out and catch the said target? Then another fact clicked into Cedrick’s mind. This was the man who’d ruined Elphacena’s life. This man let Heklis in. This man killed all her friends, let her father die, forced her into exile. Caused her all that pain so he could keep power. That’s why she was here. She knew he was here. How? She had wanted a shot at him herself before the others got there. Cedrick’s first thought was to kill the king himself, but perhaps Elphacena deserved this. Elphacena would do a much better job than he would.

“King? King of what? You are not my king.” Cedrick’s dangerous blue eyes bore into the king’s. “No man placed in that role to be a puppet will be my king. My king is the One who called me to this role. The Creator made this role. He is my ruler. His appointed ruler is my king! Death to you! Long live King Roxorim! Death and ill to you and your puppeteer! May you and Heklis soon feel the Perverter’s return for your acts! You are not king! You are a lie! Long live King Roxorim!” “Why you little...” the king snarled and got up into Cedrick’s face. Cedrick spat at him. The king reeled back. One guard hit Cedrick over the head. Cedrick gasped and fell over, hands still behind his back. “How dare you?!” “How dare I not?! I will not bow down to a liar like you!” Cedrick got to his feet. “I’ll die before I serve you.” “That can be arranged. Now get down,” the king ordered warningly. Cedrick glared right back, unyielding. “You have no power here,” he said in a low, dangerous voice. “You are nothing but an empty shadow. I will never bow to you.” Cedrick eyes blazed with a blue fire. “Nor to your master or to his master or to any who follow these wicked paths. I see what you’ve done to these people. You take life from them. They are alive, but life is taken. I will never bow to that! All men deserve to make their own choice in love and belief. So I say to vell with you all! I condemn you to the Maker’s fury judgment for your horrible crimes!” The king stared up at Cedrick with absolute terror. He mouthed wordlessly at him, shaking like a leaf in a storm. Cedrick’s eyes didn’t leave the puny man’s face. He hated that man, what he’d done for his own selfish reasons. He was a flea sucking the blood from these good people to puff himself up. “I hope you suffer the pains that you’ve made the rest of these people suffer. This poor woman did nothing to you, and you took all she loved from her! I hope you feel that pain and all the others you’ve caused in those scorching pits!” “K-kill him. Shut him up, a-anything,” the king squeaked like a mouse pinned by a large cat, but his men didn’t move. “You talk too much. Shut up,” the leader snapped at Cedrick.

“You shut up!” Cedrick snapped and turned his fiery eyes on the leader. The leader shrank down. “Haven’t we catered to fools like him enough?” Cedrick demanded. He turned to the king again. “I know who you are, and what you’ve done. You will pay.” He took a step forward. In terror, the king pulled back as well as the guards. He bumped into Elphacena. His eyes lit up with a desperate idea. He yanked her from the guard that had her and held a knife tight to Elphacena’s throat. Cedrick stopped. The king noticed, and a smile slowly climbed his cheeks. “Th-that’s right,” he said. “Stay back, or I’ll kill h-her.” “You cowardly rat.” Cedrick hissed. “You threaten her, while I stand before you chained. What do you expect me to do?” “Stay back!” The king screamed and pressed the knife tighter. It drew blood. Cedrick backed up. A guard finally dared touch him and pushed him to his knees. Cedrick winced as his knees hit the stone floor. “Better.” The king smiled. “Now, I think I better leave you here, while I make my escape with my prize.” The king brushed Elphacena’s hair. She grunted, and her eyes squeezed tight. The king yanked her up. She grunted a little. The king kept the knife to her throat as he ordered more men to help him. “And for you.” He looked back at the three men. “Put those three in the corner. I want this one left to die more painfully. Someone bring the nails.” A guard came over with a pack. “Pin him to the wall.” “What?” Cedrick’s eyebrows drew together as the guards yanked him up. He didn’t get what they meant. “Your majesty, there isn’t one long enough to go through his chest. He’s too muscular,” the head guard said. Cedrick’s eyes went wide. “Why stab me into a wall? I’d be dead. What do you think my corpse is going to do?” He was highly confused. “Shut up!” the king yelled at him. “You shut up,” Cedrick snapped.

“Okay.” The king huddled into his shoulders. The guards yanked Cedrick up. Cedrick was thinking fast. How did he get himself and his wife out of this? The leader could look to himself and his own men. If they all died, it would be his doing. But what could he do? A shock wave wouldn’t hurt Elphacena. But with that blade so close Cedrick couldn’t take the risk of being too slow. Wait…that stupid blade! That was it. Cedrick stopped. He fought the guards to stay where he was as he yelled to the king. “You have one last chance! Let her go, or you’ll face my wrath!” “You won’t dare while I have her!” The king challenged. “Wouldn’t I?” Cedrick stared the king down. The king may have wet himself. Cedrick thought he might have seen the spots on his pants, but he didn’t pause long enough to find out. The king cried out in surprise as the knife caught on fire. He dropped it. Cedrick’s ropes snapped and the guards let go of him as they felt Cedrick’s skin burn white hot. Cedrick raised a hand, and the nails that the guards had been about to use levitated out of the box and flew at the king. The king screamed and ducked. The nails caught his jacket and pulled it off and pinned it into the wall. Cedrick ducked under the guards, rolled, and scooped his wife up in one movement. He stood by one of the windows to see his situation. The guards were turning on him; the room was now on fire. The king was an idiot! He let the knife catch the room on fire. “This isn’t over!” Cedrick yelled at the king. “You will know the power of Cedrick Custod!” He warned and then jumped out of the window, cradling his wife to him. “Cena?” Cedrick brushed her hair. “Sweetheart, wake up, please.” Cedrick hoped she’d wake soon. There was a bang above him. He couldn’t stand and wait. Holding her protectively, Cedrick raced to find somewhere to hide. Luckily, there were plenty of empty buildings. As he stopped, panting and wondering if he could find a medic, Elphacena noised and slowly opened her eyes.

Cedrick sighed. “Hey, it’s me. How are you feeling?” “I… what are you doing here?” Elphacena frowned. “You got caught. Cena, why didn’t you tell me?” Cedrick asked. He couldn’t lie, the fact she’d hid her plan from him hurt. “You wanted to go after him yourself. Why didn’t you tell me? I’d have kept your secret. I…I’d have wanted to help.” Elphacena swallowed and hid her face in his chest. “I didn’t want him to take you from me. I wanted to face him on my own. He’s a coward. I thought…I thought…” She swallowed harder than before. “Shhh, Cena, I’d be more than happy to let you take him. I just wish I could have been your back up. I thank the Father I just happened to be assigned to go in, so I could save you. He…he was going to… to…” Cedrick sighed and held her tight. “Well, you’re safe now. Think you can stand?” “I think so. I think he drugged me. My head feels fine. I know I didn’t get knocked out. Last I recall, one grabbed my arm, and another touched my neck.” Cedrick helped her stand and looked carefully at her neck. “Anything?” Elphacena asked as she fixed her vest. “Yeah, I see it.” Cedrick nodded. “I wonder why he had that ready.” “He’s a coward. He uses drugs a lot. He drugged Erick,” Elphacena said. Tears filled her eyes. “I thought I’d avenge him. Get him some justice for what his father did, but…” Elphacena covered her face. “Hey, it wasn’t your fault. I couldn’t get past that many guards alone either.” Cedrick rubbed her back. “It’s not your fault. You will get him. I’ll help you. The king will pay. He deserves it. We can do this.” Cedrick hugged her to his chest and let her weep. “We will do this. I promise. I will help you.”

Chapter 31

Tender Abandonment

When they got back to the others, they found they’d won the city, but the king had gotten away. Cedrick could tell Elphacena couldn’t decide if she was happy about this or not. It at least gave her a shot at him without others interfering. The real funny story was Liam. Though before he was best pals with Endar, now he was terrified of him again. “Keep that thing away from me. It wants to kill me and eat my insides,” he insisted. “Why? Liam, what did he do?” Cedrick frowned as he stroked Endar’s maw. “Thing wouldn’t fly straight!” Liam declared. “It kept trying to flip me off or turn me aside or throw me off.” “Now Liam, Endar doesn’t have fingers. He can’t flip you off,” Cedrick said as if explaining to a child why there was no monster in the closet. Liam gave Cedrick a dirty look. “Oh, shut up. Just keep me off that thing. He wants to eat me.” Endar wiggled in delight. All gone. “Endar, you be quiet.” Cedrick laughed and pushed his nose playfully. Endar wiggled in delight and thrummed. Cedrick chuckled and shook his head. “I thought Endar didn’t like the taste of people,” Elphacena said as she scratched Endar under the chin. Endar almost purred. “Well, he likes the taste of Liam,” Liam said.

Cedrick tilted his head. “How does he know that? Did he eat part of you?” “He kept licking me,” Liam said. “A lot.” Cedrick laughed and gave Endar a look. Now that was on purpose. Endar gave Cedrick a look as if to say he couldn’t help himself. Cedrick pushed his nose again. He had made one bad dragon. Liam rolled his eyes at them both and walked off. The whole party was in a good mood that evening. They had a little party with bonfires to keep warm. They ate whatever they could cook on the fire, meat, veggies, some made up little dough cakes Though it should have been summer, there still was a nasty chill in the wind. Cedrick and Elphacena had a good time. They all did, until Mercutio noticed someone was missing. Though even Margorim was ing the festivities, Arylana was missing. Mercutio slipped away to look around for her. It took him a while, but he found her up on the city wall. She was sitting out on the edge of one of the decorative ledges. It was a long way down below her. Her legs dangled over as she looked out over the moonlit hills. “There you are. What are you doing out here?” Mercutio asked her. “Everyone else is enjoying a hot dinner, even your father. Don’t you want to us?” Arylana turned and gave Mercutio a dirty look. “I’d not want to you,” she said. “But you can me.” She smirked and patted the space next to her. There was plenty of room. Though below her was likely a forty foot drop. She was taunting him. She knew he’d not come out on the ledge. Poor Mercutio had had enough of this. He set his jaw and marched out beside her. He bent down and kissed her. Arylana was so surprised he’d come out onto the thin, high ledge she froze. Mercutio took advantage and kissed her deeper. When he pulled back, there was a ionate anger in him Arylana had never seen. “This isn’t just a game I’m playing with you,” Mercutio said in a tone that was bordering on dangerous. “Arylana, I’m not just teasing you because you don’t like feeling like a woman. I’m not just playing some twisted game. I’m doing this because I do love you. I’m fascinated by you. You make me happy. You make me…and it’s not just that you’re a woman, Arylana. It’s the warrior you

are. The way you fight, the way you plan, the way you analyze, I love it. It all makes me happy. You make me stronger, better.” Mercutio locked his eyes onto Arylana’s startled ones. “So stop toying with me like a cat does with a helpless mouse. I’m not helpless. I’m not vindictive. I’m not here to play with you.” Mercutio brushed her face with the tips of his fingers. “I…I want you. I want you to be my other half. I want you with me. I’ve fought hard for it. I’ve done all I can to make you comfortable. Once I’d done that, I tried to help you cross the bridge you feared. I understand what you’re scared of. You saw how your father trained you to fight but knew he’d never let you. You were just a lifeline, a woman meant for nothing more. Then, without warning, you got what you’d dreamed of and never thought you’d have: power. You love it. You’re scared of losing it, but Arylana...” Mercutio moved closer to her, closer to the edge. Arylana’s eyes went wide. Even she was nervous about being that close to the edge. “Um… Mercutio, the edge,” she said uneasily. “I’ll stay with you,” Mercutio snapped. “You don’t realize how hard it is to keep trying to court you, do you? I’m not leaving. I…Arylana, here it’s normal not to get married. Few here have authority to marry. Most are like Alburn and Portia; they act like they’re a thing, like they’re married, but never do the work because they know, like we all do, odds are one will be dead in a month. As General, I’ll likely be dead in a year. But…before that I…I want that with you.” Mercutio took both her hands in his. “But I know the oaths you’ve taken. I respect your office too much to make you do that. But I do love you. I do want you. You’re beautiful, talented, headstrong, and an amazing fighter. You’re all I could ever want. I’m not playing, Arylana. I love you.” Mercutio swallowed, studying Arylana’s face. He seemed to be searching for words. “You’re mad,” Arylana said. “Why?” Mercutio challenged. “You’re a Custod. I know it’s in your oath to marry to keep the line alive. You fear playing that role because you want to keep fighting. And Arylana, I want that for you. I don’t want to trap you. I just…I just want to you. To be one with you. Even once we have kids, I will not hold you back from the battlefield. That is your choice, not mine. We will make it work, if that’s what you want. So don’t fear me. Don’t fear being the warrior lady you are. Being a woman will not hold you back but empower you. I’m in love with that warrior. Oh…Arylana, you have no idea.” Mercutio kissed her hand in his. “How you capture me.” He studied her hand as he caressed it. “I’m

trapped by you. I feel my heart surrender to you day after day. You’re my life. When I found my head after that flight, all I wondered is if you were alright.” Mercutio’s hard eyes met Arylana’s. “Even if you insisted on belittling and mocking me. For nothing more than being captured by your beauty, your power.” “That’s not me,” Arylana said in a breathy voice. She tried to sting, but it was impossible. She was shattered. She loved how he held her hand, how he kissed it, how he confessed he was captive by her. But he was talking about Elphacena, not her. She was the beautiful warrioress. She was just a warrior, one of the boys. She wanted it that way. She was not what Mercutio was in love with. “See it or not. Even if only I see it, I know it’s true. Your Maker knows it too.” Mercutio said. “That’s what he made you to be. That’s what you find joy in. It’s what you avoid though. We gave you more lady-like armor, and you went for the male version. You don’t want to be seen as a woman. But all I see is that power. The power in battle only a woman has, and I’m in love with it. I’m in love with you. I will not stop fighting, Arylana. I’ve fought to be with you since… almost since you first arrived. I will never stop trying.” Mercutio swallowed. “I…I’m out on this ledge though my heart is racing, and my head is a bit light. Frankly, I’m terrified. But if it’s what it takes to have you understand, then I’ll do it. I want to be with you no matter how I have to fight, compromise, and be beaten and enslaved. Arylana.” Mercutio held her hand tighter and looked down. “I love you. I want to be bound to you and only you.” Mercutio looked up. “Will you marry me?” Arylana’s mouth fell open. Her mind was running a million miles an hour. She was in shock. She was faltered, delighted, and terrified. She couldn’t lose her station over this. But...as she looked at him, hopeful, terrified, and devoted, all she wanted to do was say yes and kiss him. Then a wall went up inside of her: a wall of pride. He was not going to win this game. He was not going to charm her into this. He just wanted to win. She wouldn’t let him win. Instead of answering, she slapped him hard across the face, stood up, and walked off. She didn’t look back to see how Mercutio responded. She marched down the stairs. She gasped for air as she leaned her back against

the wall now between her and Mercutio. Then tears came. “I love you.” She mouthed to herself. She then broke down into tears, hot and furious. How dare he make her feel this way! This was war! There was no place for love in it! She collapsed and wept, her tears drowned in the sounds of the celebrations and chatter of the fire.

*****

“He can’t have gotten far.” Mercutio was saying, rubbing an odd bruise on his face. “I think our best bet to catch him would be here.” He tapped the map. “Then we either have another fortress or a king or both.” “And with a dragon.” Cedrick grinned and patted Endar’s nose. Endar thrummed happily. “It worked last time.” “But they know it worked last time.” Mercutio pointed out. Cedrick shrugged. “Yeah, but what can they do about it?” “Mmm.” Mercutio put a hand to his face, rubbing the mark again. “Not sure.” Cedrick frowned. Mercutio had been doing that a lot. “Are you okay?” he asked. “What?” Mercutio frowned. “It’s just… what happened to your face?” Cedrick asked. “Nothing,” Mercutio snapped before Cedrick had even finished his sentence. “You...said nothing before I even finished my sentence.” Mercutio cut him off again. “No.” Cedrick paused, pulling his head back a little and looking Mercutio over. “You sure?” “Yes, fine,” Mercutio snapped.

“Okay, I won’t ask,” Cedrick decided. “Just making sure.” Cedrick frowned and gave Mercutio a minute to get his head back. “As I was saying.” Mercutio finally went on. “I understand your point. I just am not sure about repeating the same plan.” “Well, for one, I don’t think they can stop him.” Cedrick smiled. “And two, we’ve only done it once. They may think that we know they know so won’t do it again. Either way, I see very little risk in a repeat. After all, Endar can take out a city gate like nobody else. We let the men in, easy as you can, pin them all, take over, then have the dwarves fix the walls.” Mercutio sighed. “I see your point. I just have a bad feeling about this.” “Does…” Cedrick hesitated before asking. “...it have anything to do with your face?” he asked slowly. “No!” Mercutio snapped. “There is nothing wrong with my face!” Mercutio’s cheeks were turning red. “If you say so.” Cedrick held up his hands. “Just trying to help, Cutio, that’s all.” Mercutio gave Cedrick a death glare. “Cutio?” “Okay, I won’t call you that,” Cedrick said. “Just…you’re edgy. I was trying to get you to relax.” “Whatever.” Mercutio clearly didn’t want to talk about it. Cedrick was worried about him, but if the man wouldn’t talk, what could he do? Endar gave Cedrick a look. Cedrick just shrugged. Who knew what he was up to. Cedrick was so confused by it, he happened to mention it to Roxorim and Arylana when they got together for one of their practices. Arylana folded her arms as she watched Cedrick toss the strike ball at Roxorim. “He’s just finally getting what he deserves I guess,” she crowed. “Getting what he deserves?” Cedrick frowned. “What are you on about?”

Arylana gave him the same look Mercutio had given when Cedrick dared ask about his face. “You know what I mean. He’s done a bad job, and he knows it.” Oh dear, Cedrick thought. “Bad job?” Roxorim frowned. “I don’t think so. I’d not have left him as head and let him lead it how he feels, if I felt he didn’t do a good job. And he still has. It’s not his fault a spy causes trouble.” “Who’s still around.” Arylana reminded them. “Yeah, but that could just as easily be our fault,” Cedrick said. “I’d have kicked out Rackwrith by now. Then if I was wrong, the spy would still cause trouble. Even if he’s still here, he’s not made trouble with Mercutio’s system. Unless I’m the spy.” Cedrick chuckled. “You never know. He shouldn’t be so quick to trust,” Arylana huffed. Both brothers gaped at her. “Are you serious?” Roxorim asked. “You think it’s Cedrick?” “Maybe he’s not Cedrick.” “Oh shut up. This has nothing to do with you thinking Cedrick’s anything but an idiot. What are you so uptight about?” Roxorim asked. “Nothing!” Arylana snapped. “Why are you all in my face? I might as well practice on my own.” She picked up the ball, which her brothers had left on the ground for shock and walked off. “You…you don’t think?” Cedrick looked at his elder brother as Arylana tossed her hair behind her and stalked off. “No, no, it couldn’t be.” Roxorim shook his head. “Could it?” Cedrick shrugged. “I may be married, but that doesn’t mean I get girls better than you do.” Roxorim looked from his sister’s exit to Cedrick and back again. “Well,” he said carefully, “Airabelle does get like that when I’ve offended her.”

Cedrick’s head snapped up. “Airabelle gets like that when you’ve offended her?” Cedrick grinned. “Hey, just because you got married first doesn’t mean I’m not interested.” Roxorim blushed. “But yes, I enjoy working with her.” “A good lip workout.” “Shut up.” Roxorim pushed Cedrick’s arm. “It’s not quite like that.” “Not quite?” Cedrick’s smile grew bigger. “Get out.” “No practice?” Roxorim’s glare gave Cedrick the answer, and he grinned. Now he was sure what Arylana’s problem was. “I’ll make sure to make the bells ready for you two.” Roxorim huffed as if annoyed as Cedrick left, but Cedrick knew what that twitch of his beard meant: a grin. Maybe he wasn’t going to be the only married Custod before long. Who’d be first? Cedrick enjoyed telling Elphacena about his finds that evening. They had a fun talk about it before heading to bed. It put Cedrick in a good mood as he went to bed, but it didn’t stay that way long. “Cedrick!” Someone pounded on the door. Cedrick groaned. It was late. He and Elphacena had gone to bed hours before. Elphacena muttered under her breath as she woke up. Cedrick told her to stay in bed as he checked it out. He threw on a shirt and opened the door. Author was panting in front of the door, clearly winded. “Author.” Cedrick was surprised. “What’s wrong?” Cedrick picked up his coat and put it on. “It’s E-Endar,” Author panted. “Come quickly.” They raced out to where Endar was lying, looking quite miserable. He had his

wing sprawled out across the ground. Cedrick examined it. “Okay buddy.” Cedrick sighed. “This is going to hurt. I have to put your wing back in place.” “We tried. He won’t let anyone touch it,” Author said. “Even the doctor tried.” “Well, Endar doesn’t know them.” Cedrick used the decorative statue’s platform to pull himself up. “There you go, buddy,” Cedrick soothed him. “This will be quick.” As fast as he could, Cedrick took the two parts of the bone that weren’t lined up and snapped them into place. Endar’s shriek of pain hit the ear like an arrow. He flapped a few times as the squeal made everyone cover their ears. Cedrick wondered if his ears were bleeding. They were ringing badly as he pulled his hands away. “I’m sorry. That’s better though, right?” He soothed him as he took a wrap of cloth Author handed him and wrapped the bone tightly in place. “You won’t be able to fly for a while. What happened? You can tell me.” Endar seemed scared to tell. Cedrick frowned. That wasn’t normal. “Shhh.” Cedrick stroked his nose. “It’s me. I wouldn’t hurt you. I want to protect you. What happened? Were there enemies? I know you wouldn’t fall in the wind.” Endar still didn’t answer. Instead, he looked around as if afraid someone was there. Cedrick carefully followed his eyes. Endar saw someone to the far side of the square and quickly looked back at Cedrick. Cedrick spotted him too. Fire leapt into life in his chest. With a snarl, Cedrick dove for him. Rackwrith let out a scream of surprise and tried to wheel himself back. Author and Alburn stopped Cedrick’s attack. “Cedrick! What has gotten into you?” Author demanded. “He did it,” Cedrick snarled. “He hurt my dragon.” “How?” Author challenged. “He’s in a wheelchair.” “Ask him,” Cedrick said through gritted teeth. Alburn was studying Rackwrith’s face to see if there was any give away. He

didn’t see one. Author was still looking at Cedrick as he held one of his arms. “Why do you think it was him? Did the dragon tell you?” “No, he’s too scared to. He got even more scared when he saw Rackwrith. It was him. I know it. Endar isn’t scared of anyone. It has to be why. It was him. I know it. What did you do to my dragon?!” Cedrick demanded and tried again to get to him, but his men held him back. “You can’t. General Mercutio will have your head,” Author said. “You have to prove it.” Cedrick shook the men off but knew they’d not let him get his justice. Cedrick’s eyes locked onto Rackwrith’s. “I will. One of these days, mark my words, I’ll prove it. I know it was you. This whole mess is your fault. You’ve held us back. I will prove it. I swear it. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll prove it.” “What is this?” Mercutio had heard the noise. “He hurt my dragon!” Cedrick was seething. His skin was literally hot to the touch. “Cedrick, you can’t prove it was him.” Mercutio tried to calm Cedrick down. “We can’t prove who it was.” “Endar pointed him out.” “Cedrick, Endar is a baby dragon. He can’t really point him out. He likely just wanted to point him out because he knew you’d like it. Did he say he did it?” “No, but-” “There you have it. You don’t know it was him. Besides, he’s in a wheelchair,” Mercutio said. “Calm down, Cedrick. We’ll find out what happened.” This just made Cedrick angrier. No one believed him! It was Rackwrith! He knew it, and he always had. Now Endar was hurt because of it. Cedrick threw up his hands. “You can’t understand him. How do you know that’s what he said?” Mercutio sighed. “Alright, I can’t, but he just pointed him out as you said.”

“He did. He’s scared of him, and he wasn’t before,” Cedrick argued. “That isn’t evidence,” Mercutio said. “To vell, it’s not,” Cedrick roared. “You can’t prove it.” “But the dragon said it was him!” Cedrick shot back. “He pointed him out. That’s different,” Mercutio said. “And he pointed him out as a scary person it sounds like.” Cedrick turned to Endar. Cedrick raised his brows. He wanted Endar to tell him if he was right. Endar bowed his head and looked at Rackwrith with a scared glance. Cedrick felt the impression from Endar. He didn’t know who it was, but it was a man with the chair. Cedrick turned to Mercutio. “Endar said the man was in a chair with wheels, who else is in a wheelchair right now?” Cedrick demanded. “I’m sure we have a lot,” Mercutio said. “You want to line them all up?” “We don’t need to. I know which one did it. Let me at him.” Cedrick actually lunged forward. Luckily for Rackwrith, Mercutio was nearby when Cedrick went to attack him. “Cedrick Custod! I order you to stand down!” “Fire me then!” Cedrick tried again. “No, no! Stop it!” Mercutio pulled him back. “Don’t touch my lieutenant.” “I don’t want to touch him. I wanna kill him,” Cedrick snarled back. “Cedrick Custod, calm down.” Mercutio pushed him back. “Endar will be fine. He just can’t fly for a while.” “Mercutio, Endar’s only a few months old. That’s like dumping a toy bin on a newborn,” Cedrick snarled. “I don’t care if he’s a ‘big’ newborn. He’s a new hatch. He’s my job to look after and that—” Cedrick swore badly, “hurt my

dragon! Let me at him!” “No! Cedrick, if you don’t calm down, I’ll have to lock you up,” Mercutio warned. “Good luck,” Cedrick snarled. “Cedrick would you—” Mercutio didn’t get to finish. Without warning, Margorim appeared and punched Cedrick hard in the face. Cedrick went out like a light, crumpling on the spot. Mercutio froze in shock. “What did you just do?” “You told him to calm down. I calmed him down,” Margorim said calmly. “I told him to calm down, not take a nap.” Mercutio gaped at Margorim. He looked back at Cedrick sprawled on the ground. “What…” He looked back at Margorim. He was walking away. “And just walks away.” Mercutio shook his head. “And I thought Arylana made no sense.” He looked down at Cedrick. “That’s going to leave a black eye!” He called after Margorim. “His wife will fix it.” Margorim called back. Mercutio sighed. “Now I have to carry him!” He got no reply. Mercutio sighed and started to drag Cedrick off. Rackwrith was chuckling. Mercutio thought about punching him out. And this was his life. And people thought being general was so glamorous. Elphacena was awake and was angry with Mercutio at first. “It wasn’t me. It was his father.” Mercutio quickly explained everything as he flopped Cedrick onto the bed. “Well, it would help if you trusted him.” Elphacena folded her arms. Mercutio glared at her. “Well, do you have better evidence than a baby telling us that man is scary?” he asked. “That with the other information isn’t enough to at least treat him as a suspect?” Elphacena challenged.

“He is suspect,” Mercutio snapped. “I just don’t feel my evidence would hold up in any kind of court trial. I have to be sure. A lot of people trust Rackwrith more than me with how long he’s been here. I’m sorry it came to this. I really am, but I have to keep this army together. A house fighting among itself won’t last long. I know a spy is just as bad but throwing around accusations to people who can take half the army with them won’t be helpful. I do suspect him, but I need something solid to keep this army together. I’m sorry about that. I am, but it’s how it is.” Elphacena just gave Mercutio a look, thanked him coldly and clearly dismissed him. Miffed and muttering about Custod women, he left. Whoever next asked for his job could have it. He’d had more than enough of it. He spent the next few hours coming up with a new battle plan. He’d present it to Cedrick in the morning. Elphacena did heal Cedrick’s black eye. She didn’t want to tell him how he got it. She just said Mercutio just said it wasn’t Rackwrith who did it. But when she wouldn’t say who, Cedrick knew. He scowled and went to check on Endar. Cedrick saw to Endar best he could. He tried to see if Endar had anything he could use to prove for sure it was Rackwrith, but it was dark and Endar hadn’t got a good look. Cedrick sat on his own for a while, fuming. He felt alone and betrayed. Not only was Mercutio not listening, which was normal, his father didn’t even hesitate. He hadn’t even tried to talk to him. Just hit him, as always. His mother was wrong, completely wrong. He was almost shaking with anger. Elphacena came over to him carefully. “Cedrick?” she tested. “What?” He looked at her. “Cedrick, no need to round on me,” Elphacena said. “You’re upset. What’s wrong?” “I’m not upset.” “Not upset sad, upset mad,” Elphacena clarified. “Oh…” She was right about that.

Elphacena smiled a little. “Mercutio can’t let you just beat him up, Cedrick. I’m sure he agrees with you deep down, but… you know he’s scared. I mean…” She tried to find the words. “He’s so scared of making the wrong choice on a whim. He wants to make sure. He feels he should take time with this. And he has lots of reasons to doubt. Jamison has a lot of the same reasons behind him being the spy too. I mean, he’s creepy and head of the spy division and never gets along with anyone either. He wants to be fair and doesn’t want personal feelings to dictate his judgement.” Cedrick sighed. “And so I’m letting my emotions decide?’ “No.” Elphacena chuckled, hugging his arm. “I’m not saying that at all, Cedrick. What I’m saying is he doesn’t know how to trust his feelings like you do. You’re an enchanter. You couldn’t be a good one without that skill.” Cedrick nodded slowly. “I can understand that,” he said. Elphacena smiled a little. “I’m glad.” She sighed and looked up at the sky where the sun was setting. “I just hope that helps.” “It’s him, Elphacena,” Cedrick said. “I’m almost scared knowing. He’s still here…knowing…spying. What if…if we lose someone else because we did nothing? What if…” Cedrick swallowed. He was scared to think on it. “Well…first Mercutio is not letting Rackwrith in on everything. He’s hiding key details to try to trip him up. He’s not ignoring your thoughts. He’s just not as sure as you are. Mercutio isn’t as…fast as you.” “Fast?” “Cedrick, you heard Endar was hurt and jumped after Rackwrith before even asking Endar,” Elphacena said. Cedrick laughed. “Alright, I get your point. I shoot before I pull back.” “Exactly.” Elphacena hugged his arm tighter with a smile. “That’s just how my boy works.” She kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry. Mercutio with come up with a new plan, Endar will heal with Biglo and all will be well.” “With Biglo?” Cedrick frowned.

“Yes, we don’t know how to fix his wing properly. Biglo has a friend down south who can help. He offered to take Endar down as soon as tomorrow. Endar will heal much faster there. Not only for better help, but heat helps him grow, ? It’s much hotter down there.” Cedrick sighed. “Has he met the dragon?” “No, but as he offered, I presume he’s willing,” Elphacena comforted. Cedrick sighed. “If that’s best for him.” But there was some sadness in his eyes. “He’ll be back.” Elphacena giggled. “I know. I’ll just miss the cute goofball.” Cedrick smiled at her. “Me too, but I still have my favorite goofball.” Elphacena kissed his cheek again. Cedrick laughed and kissed her.

Chapter 32

Battle of Bombs

Without Endar, the plan had to change dramatically, but the plan seemed solid. Cedrick felt confident Mercutio’s plan would work. They again felt sure the king was inside. This made Alburn’s plan foolish. He just wanted to blow up the moat to weaken the walls. Of course, this would likely kill a lot of people inside, so Alburn was forced to give up on that plan. Instead, they were using the double gates. The gates were made of a solid mesh of metal. If you cut that loose, it fell over the moat and revealed the main gate. Cedrick’s goal was to use the mesh like a climbing wall to get over the wall into the guard tower to lift the gate. Then a group of spies would slip in to keep the gates open. The worst part of this plan was the weather. Though it should have kept warming up into summer, the weather was oddly cold. It was darkly overcast and a chilling wind blew with surprising power. For Cedrick, this was a real frustration. He had a feeling he’d have to swim in the moat, and it was so cold a dip sounded miserable. He wished Endar was able to help them. Biglo had left with him the day before to try to get better treatment for his wing. Cursing Rackwrith under his breath while praying for patience with the man, Cedrick crossed the open bridge and flattened himself to the wall. He looked for sentries. A few were sitting by a fire to warm themselves. They didn’t see Cedrick and chatted on. Cedrick’s footsteps must have been muffled by the wind and snapping fire. The fire whirled in the harsh wind, adding to the distractions. Cedrick ired the gate. It looked like an easy climb. The hard part would be wiggling through the

gap at the top to get to the pulley system. Would he even fit? He wasn’t sure even Elphacena would fit. Airabelle might not even fit. Thinking next time the general came up with a plan he should be the one executing it, Cedrick started up the gate as nimble as a cat. He reached the top with the speed of a squirrel and put his hand into the gap. It turned out the gate stopped right at the top. The opening would be just big enough for him, but he had to slip through that gap. Wondering if he should have skipped breakfast this morning, Cedrick started to wiggle. The attempt shook the gate and sent an ominous shudder through the metal. Cedrick paused. The guards were looking around with confusion. Cedrick waited with bated breath. Don’t look up. Don’t look up, Cedrick half begged, half prayed. They didn’t. Cedrick took the shot to shoot himself into the gap. Just as he managed to get in, making the gate shudder again, the guards looked up. They muttered to themselves. One of them said something about the wind, another about birds or other animals. Cedrick let out a sigh of relief. He was balanced on the thin top of the gate. It was very dark and hard to see. Cedrick waited for his eyes to adjust. When they did, he saw his only hope to climb the rest of the way up was to use the grooves in the rock wall. Luckily, the builders never thought anyone would see the inside of this thing. They used the least aesthetically pleasing stones here, which made lots of ridges for Cedrick to pull himself on. Steadily, Cedrick shimmied his way up until his head popped out over the top of the wall. The freezing wind slapped him in the face, sending a shudder through his body and knocking the wind out of him for a second. Cedrick caught his breath and shook his head. Cedrick pulled himself up onto the top of the wall as silent as a mouse. He looked around again. No one was up here. The wall was very thin, not designed to walk on. Cedrick did so anyway and saw the chains that pulled up the gate. Cedrick made a little fist pump. Chains meant the men couldn’t just cut the rope

to close the gate. Cedrick noted it was only one chain, which was good and bad. Good because it was less work for him, bad because it was easier to use that to lower the gate. Carefully, Cedrick found where he could wrap the chain and with great effort started to pull the gate up. It was very heavy; Cedrick strained to get it up. Once he got one loop around a heavy jut in a wall, it got a bit easier. The guards however were aware the gate was opening. The wind couldn’t even stop that. They called up to the guards on the doors asking them why the gate was opening. The men in the gate tower replied they weren’t opening the gate and went to see what was going on. Cedrick took a risk and used magic to pull the chain and gate up faster, so he could wrap it around the end. He then found a clasp to hold the chains in place. The advantage to this idea was this area was hard to reach, and it wasn’t the normal hold up for the gate. Anyone using the normal opening and closing leaver wouldn’t find it working. With that done, Cedrick held up a hand and shot a blue jet of energy into the air. When it was high enough, it exploded to give the army the cue to know the gate was open. Cedrick heard the roar of the army charging forward. With that, Cedrick knew it was time to move on to gate number two. He had to clamber over the wall not designed for walking until he jumped down on the main parapets. As he jumped, he drew his sword. Here there were defenders. However, he didn’t see much. The main defenders were all trying to lower the gate. Cedrick stuck his tongue out at them and shot off across the wall. That’s when trouble struck. The army was already getting in, though city defenders were trying to halt their progress. Cedrick didn’t realize he’d been spotted. A slew of rocks suddenly shot up at him. Caught off guard, several struck his side and shoulder. Cedrick shielded his head, but the force of them knocked him off balance. He lost his footing and fell into the city. He grunted as he slammed into a stack of soft bags, likely flours. It hurt his back, but he was able to move alright, so jumped down.

He coughed as the white stuff fluttered about. The flour on his hands and his arms, settling into the leather armor. “Well, no one will chase the ghost running down the streets, right?” He tried to make the best of his situation. Cedrick didn’t think he’d see much resistance. He pressed his back to the wall and peered around it. There was a huge swarm of guards about. How had he not realized that clanking sound was the guards? Cedrick would need a better vantage but there was nowhere to climb the walls. He’d have to try to slip ed. Hopefully his blending cloak kept doing its job. He bent low, slipping along a wall. Somehow, his cloak and their busy scuffling, kept Cedrick out of their sight. Thank the Father! It was one thing to blend into a town not looking. This was different. Cedrick turned to a quiet corner. He spotted something that made his heart go into his throat. The crash of what must have been some kind of wall or door going down, shook the air, followed by the roar of the troops. It sounded like one of their teams of three hundred broke through another barricade. The goal was to take over one end, secure it, then take the other. The gate Cedrick was headed for was on that other side of the city. It sounded like the plan was working. Hopefully, they could keep attackers off his back. At the moment though, Cedrick wasn’t going anywhere. He had to slip ed all these men. He could take many, but not that many. Cedrick’s eyes darted for a quiet way out. He spotted another small ally. He dared try it. Sadly, he ran smack into three guards. They froze in surprise at Cedrick’s appearance, but Cedrick froze in equal dread. Cedrick steeled his courage and readied his stance. The three charged. Cedrick’s blade clashed with the enemy and he forced his weight shove ed and forced the man into a spin, letting Cedrick past. He then took the opening to take the man out from behind. Cedrick backed up to get space to deal with his attackers. He bumped into something. His heart leapt into his throat yet again and he turned to find it wasn’t

an attacker. Margorim had come from nowhere and had taken out the two while Cedrick was busy with the first. Cedrick smiled and was about to thank him, when Margorim rounded on him. “What are you doing here!” he screamed at his son. “You’re supposed to be on the outside!” “I got knocked from the wall and lost my bearings. I had to find somewhere to tell me how to get back,” Cedrick defended, heating rising to his face. “Then you should have backup if you have to deal with the army,” Margorim snapped. “You’re not leaving my sight.” Cedrick’s hands started shaking, and the heat spread throughout his whole body. The cold didn’t bother him anymore. “Father, I can handle myself. I didn’t even know the army was here, or I’d have avoided it. I’m not an idiot. I’ll take the side streets.” He turned to go. To his great annoyance, his father followed him. “Didn’t I just say I have this?” Cedrick tried to keep his tone civil but was not finding much success in it. “I don’t want you on your own. I’m going with you. You’re going up on the wall again, and they saw you there before. I’m worried about you getting there on your own. You need back up.” “Father, I can handle myself.” Cedrick was getting sick of this. His father never trusted him. Never! Why couldn’t he just trust him and get back to his work? Why did he have to treat Cedrick like a child that couldn’t help himself? “Besides, what could you do to defend me? They’ll be firing arrows, and neither of us have a bow. So how will you help? Draw their fire?” Cedrick’s hands were still shaking. He hated this, hated it! Why couldn’t his father just let him be? “You can’t go up there alone,” Margorim snapped back, while they kept running. “I’ve done it a dozen times by now. I’ve never needed your help before, and I don’t need it now,” Cedrick said with tight teeth.

“Yes, but it only takes one to kill you,” Margorim replied. “Do you really have no faith in me!” Cedrick rounded on his father. “This is war, father. We don’t have time for this! If you don’t trust me, why did you let this happen?” “I didn’t!” Margorim screamed back. “If I had my way, you’d not even be here! None of this has been my choice!” This didn’t help Cedrick’s mood. “Well then, I’ll keep making that choice. I’m going up there alone.” Cedrick turned and set off again. Margorim kept pace with him. “I said I had this!” Cedrick screamed at him. “You need the help,” Margorim insisted. “You think I’m that helpless?” “You think I’m that stupid?” Margorim replied. “I know you don’t trust me! You never tell me anything, so yeah maybe you are,” Cedrick snarled. “Excuse me! You watch your tongue. I am still your father.” “It’s still true! You never tell me anything!” Cedrick screamed. “All I know about you I’ve had to sneak about to find and some of it is literally being forced into my head! What do you want from me? Just leave me alone.” Cedrick again turned and ran towards the gate in question. Infuriatingly, his father still kept up. Cedrick reached the stairs and started up them. His father was still behind him. At the top, Cedrick rounded on him. “Back off!” Cedrick screamed. “I can handle this. I’m not a child!!” He started up the stairs. “You’re my child!” Cedrick froze and turned to him, stunned by the power that statement came out with. Suddenly, the ground shook. Both men almost lost their balance.

“You’re my son!” Margorim screamed, now facing away from Cedrick, braced on the wall. “You’re my child! I don’t care if you’re five or a hundred and five! You’re still my son!” Another explosion shook the city. Margorim’s fingers gripped the stone hard, turning his knuckles white to keep his balance. His eyes were tight shut in frustration. “So why do you have to make it so hard?! Why do you have to make it so difficult to be your father!” he snapped. He let go of the wall and stood upright. “Why do you have to be so difficult?” If only he hadn’t kept yelling. If only he’d paid more attention. “Dad…” Something was wrong with Cedrick’s voice. It was like the word had been forced from his gut. Margorim finally turned, furious, then froze in horror. Cedrick looked up at his father. Margorim’s eyes didn’t meet his. They were locked on Cedrick’s chest. An arrow protruded from his left side. Margorim’s breathing picked up. “Cedrick!” He came forward as Cedrick started to stagger back. Margorim leapt forward and caught him as he staggered, but his weight made Margorim off balance. He couldn’t keep his footing and Cedrick. They both fell over the wall. Margorim’s instinct was to protect his son from the fall; apparently, it also was Cedrick’s instinct to protect his father. Margorim won however, and Cedrick’s back landed on top of his father when they hit the ground. Margorim winced but felt he was alright. Thankfully, the section of the wall they’d been on wasn’t too high. “Cedrick!” Margorim got out from under him, trying to him. Cedrick was gasping in horrible pain. He looked up at his father with weakened eyes. “D-dad…” He groaned in pain. Each breath hurt. He felt the strength drain from him steadily. “It’s alright, Cedrick. Everything is alright, you’ll be fine.” Margorim tried to assure him as he examined the wound. “Just fine.” Margorim cleared his throat uneasily.

Cedrick moaned as Margorim tried to get a better look. Blood was spreading rapidly across Cedrick’s shirt. Margorim bit his tongue, thinking. He knew he had nothing to stop the bleeding with, so removing the arrow was a bad idea, but he had to find something to slow the bleeding. “This will hurt,” Margorim warned and snapped the arrow in two. Cedrick cried out, but it wasn’t as bad of a yell as Margorim had expected. Margorim removed a wrap around his shoulders (mostly used for keeping his weapons in place) and wrapped it around the arrow wound and pressed. Cedrick moaned in pain, eyes rolling up a little. “I know it hurts, son. I know. It’s alright. They’ll find us soon. We’ll get you help.” Then they heard a scream nearby. The city shook again. Margorim frowned. That was a lot of vibrations. What was causing it? Something made a shadow flicker against the wall. Margorim froze, watching it. He heard the sounds of the battle. He realized they were much louder than they should be. They were too close. “Cedrick, can you stand? They’re getting too close. You can’t defend yourself like this.” Margorim got to his own feet. “I-I can’t get far, but I can get some d-distance,” Cedrick gasped. Margorim carefully helped Cedrick stand. Cedrick got to his feet then stumbled. Margorim put an arm around him to him. Cedrick's breath came in hard, wheezing gasps. His eyes were tight shut against the pain. After a second, he slowly opened them. “I’ll you then. It’s alright.” Margorim looked around. Which was the best escape? An arrow flew at them, and Margorim was forced to duck. He didn’t have time to figure it out. He went left, down along a street that followed the city wall. That should keep them out of the battle, right? However, in order to get help, they had to get to the other gate. That was where the fighting was thickest. How was he going to get Cedrick through that unscathed? Margorim glanced at his son. He was growing pale and shivering.

His eyes were drooping. Margorim shook him a little. “Hey, Cedrick, stay awake. I need you to stay awake.” Cedrick grunted. Right, his father cared if he lived or died. He’d wanted him dead for a long time. He would have traded him for his mother a long time ago. Margorim didn’t notice Cedrick’s train of thought. He was looking for a way to get his son to safety. He decided skirting the edge was likely the best. The armies seemed to be bottled up in the middle. Margorim pressed forward. He felt Cedrick lean on him more and more heavily. He needed a doctor, now. Just as Margorim thought this, Cedrick’s knees buckled. Margorim caught him, so he didn’t fall. “Shhh, it’s okay, son. It’s alright.” Margorim assured him. “I have you. I…” He studied his son’s face. Sweat was shining on Cedrick’s forehead. His breath came in rapid, painful gasps. His head was swaying and bobbing as if he was lightheaded. Though the wrap helped slow the bleeding, it didn’t help with the pain and dizziness. Cedrick was shaking slightly. Cedrick fought to get his eyes to focus on his father above him. His eyes looked weak, vacant. Margorim set his teeth. “Cedrick, you’ll be alright. I hate to ask you, but you have to get up. You can’t give in now. Soon, soon you can rest, but you have to get up. You have to stand. I’ll you, but you have to keep going.” Why though? Cedrick thought in his spinning head. You don’t care. But someone else did. Elphacena’s worried face floated into his head. Then again, right now everything was floating. She’d be devastated. He had to fight for her. Slowly, with great pain and effort, Cedrick shuddered to his feet. Margorim secured his arm around him. “See? That’s it. We can make this, come on.” Cedrick looked hardly alive. He was growing paler, and the blood that stained his chest was growing darker. They didn’t have much time. Margorim pushed on, accepting as much of Cedrick’s weight as was required. They made it only about fifty yards around the wall before he almost fell again. “No! Cedrick, you have to keep going!” Margorim said desperately.

“I just…n-need…a…a moment.” Cedrick panted, begging almost. He leaned on the wall, his feet came out from under him, and he crumpled to the ground. “No! Cedrick! Cedrick?” Margorim knelt beside him. He was still breathing. He was shaking badly, likely from the long walk. Margorim shook his head. He couldn’t give out now. It might be harsh, but he had to get them out of there. He put an arm around Cedrick and pulled him to his feet. Cedrick winced. His jaw was tense with pain. His body was full of opposites. Some parts of him were weak and limp and others tense with the horrible pain. His teeth were clenched, head bobbing weakly, hands limp, and shaking. He’d be hurt before but not like this. This was worse. It drained him so much faster. Before it was all blood loss. Not this time. He wasn’t sure he could fight it. Why did he have to be stuck with his father for this? If he hadn’t been bothering him, he would have avoided this easily. Maybe that’s what his father had wanted. But Margorim didn’t see the pain on Cedrick’s face. He was looking around for another idea on how to get him out of there. It was clear Cedrick couldn’t walk far. “See? You can still stand. You can make it. You have to. Come on.” Margorim led them on. Cedrick shuddered as a freezing breeze blew across them. The clouds were getting darker. That wasn’t good. It likely meant rain and a heavy rain at that. The air itself was thick with the moisture that wanted to fall. Margorim looked at his son again and paused. He looked worse. It had only been a minute! He couldn’t fade that fast. Cedrick had closed his eyes. He was fighting to make himself take each step, struggling to breathe. Margorim stopped. “Cedrick? Cedrick, are you alright?” “I’m sorry,” Cedrick squeaked. “What?” “I-I can’t…” He said.

“No, no, Cedrick. There is nothing to be sorry for. You’ve been shot. I know you’re weak and tired. I know…I know, but you won’t survive if we don’t get you some help.” “I can’t… m-make it that far.” Cedrick’s grip on his father’s shoulder became slack. “Can’t…I’m dying.” “No! Cedrick, you’re going to be fine!” Margorim yelled at him. “Just hold on. We’ll rest if we have to, but you don’t have time. We need to get you to a doctor. Now.” “No…” “Yes, don’t worry. I have you. I’ll do the work, but—” “Dad! Look out!” Cedrick cut him off. A roar filled their ears, and they were tackled over. Margorim heard Cedrick cough and gasp for air. He looked up to see Cedrick being tackled to the ground by a large man. His son hit the ground where he panted for life. The man pinned him down. An agonizing pain shot through Cedrick’s whole body. Cedrick choked on the pain. He couldn’t breathe. He met eyes with his attacker, but he was too weak to fight back. “No!” Margorim dove. He knocked the man off Cedrick. Cedrick panted and spluttered for air. He thought he tasted something metallic in his mouth. He licked at it, hoping it would slake his dry throat and give him some strength. It didn’t. Cedrick could do nothing but lie there gasping and coughing for air. It was like his lungs were filled with water. Meanwhile, Margorim punched the assailant across the face, knocking him to the ground. Margorim thought he had him down. He turned to Cedrick. As he did, the man pushed himself up and drew out a dagger. Margorim went to Cedrick who was still fighting for air. “Cedrick! Cedrick, my son, my boy, hold on, breathe. Cedrick, breathe!” He held his arms, shaking him a little. Cedrick’s eyes were closed; his struggles for breath were growing

weaker. “No! Cedrick!” “R-relax, father…” Cedrick gasped. “I’m alright, re-relax.” Relief and furry flooded Margorim at the same time. “Don’t do that!” He snapped, then he relaxed a little and held Cedrick close. “It’s alright. I’m here. I have you. You’ll make it. You’ll be okay.” “Dad…” Cedrick was shaking horribly. “D-don’t…” “Don’t what?” Margorim frowned. “Don’t…just go.” Cedrick breathed. His voice was almost gone. It was more breath than speech. “What? No, no, Cedrick, I’m not leaving you.” Margorim was horrified. “I won’t. Cedrick, I—” “L-look out.” Cedrick panted weakly. It wasn’t urgent enough for Margorim to turn around in time. Knowing there was no other way to stop the attack, Cedrick sent a jet of blue lightning at the man about to stab his father in the back. The attacker went out like a light. Cedrick moaned in pain and his head fell back, eyes closing as he panted for air, desperate for it, but too weak to pull it into his lungs. “Cedrick, no, stop. Save your strength,” Margorim begged. Then saw his eyes were closed. “Cedrick…Cedrick!” He cried. “Just… leave me.” Cedrick panted. “No, Cedrick, I won’t let you. I…” He knew he had to try to treat the wound himself. Maybe Cedrick had tools in his small side bag. Margorim searched Cedrick for it and yanked it out. Thank the Father! It had a roll of bandages. Margorim sighed. “Cedrick… this will hurt. I’m sorry.” He unwrapped the cloth he’d put around the arrow. Margorim put a hand on the arrow and yanked it out. Cedrick screamed in pain. He arched then collapsed, going still in exhaustion.

“I’m sorry, son. I know, just hold on.” Margorim assured him as he put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding. He then put one of the gauze-like pads onto it, still pressing. He kept it pressed as he wrapped Cedrick’s chest with the wraps. There were tools to stitch it up, but he’d wait to try that. If he could get a doctor to do it, he’d rather that. “That should hold until we get to help.” Margorim sighed. “Come on, let’s go before someone else tries to kill you.” Margorim again pulled his son to his feet. He bore most of his weight, holding the boy up. “I-it’s no good,” Cedrick insisted. Then he tensed. It wasn’t for pain. Margorim frowned. “Cedrick? Cedrick, what’s wrong.” It was like Cedrick could sense something. “Father… leave me,” Cedrick said, his voice weak still but urgent. “No. Cedrick, I told you, I won’t leave you.” Margorim tightened his grip on his son and pushed on. “No! Father…” Cedrick panted, trying to stop him, but only managing to get himself to stop collapsing. Margorim held him up. “No, I won’t.” “Father...we’ll all die, go.” “What?” “Father please, we—” But Cedrick never finished what he was going to say. There was a loud bang from behind them. Then a second in front of them. A series of bombs was going off along the line of the wall. It would reach them any second. There was nothing Margorim could do as the wall next to them exploded.

Chapter 33

Caring Pains

The world turned upside-down. Maybe it wasn’t upside-down, maybe it was sideways. It was impossible to tell. The next thing Margorim knew, he had slammed into the ground with painful force, but not as much as he’d expect. Margorim tasted mud on his tongue. He started spitting and pushed himself up with shaking hands. Raindrops pattered onto his skin. Margorim looked around. He wasn’t sure where he was. The world had gone dark and gray. Large chunks of dark gray stone lay all around. It wasn’t late yet, but the world was so dark you’d think it was getting nigh onto evening. A cold desperation filled Margorim’s chest like the grayness about him had entered his chest as a poisonous vapor. Where was his son? Where was Cedrick? Margorim looked around. Rain drops flew off his hair as he turned desperately. “Cedrick!” He cried. “Cedrick!” No answer. Margorim’s heart jumped into his throat and began a desperate patter. “Cedrick!” He’d been badly wounded. Could he have survived that? How had Margorim survived it? Margorim’s brows drew together. How could…magic. No…no, Cedrick had used magic. But that would only make him worse. He’d already been just keeping to consciousness! What if… if… “Cedrick!” Margorim cried desperately. “Cedrick! Where are you? Cedrick! Son! Cedrick!” Margorim pushed himself to his feet. The mud clung to him and soaked into the knees of his tros. It was so cold, Margorim shuddered. The powerful, icy wind didn’t help. “Cedrick!” If he was cold, Cedrick had to be freezing.

With the drive of a starving man digging for food, Margorim hunted for his son. He couldn’t be far, could he? Margorim raced around the large bits of shattered stone, looked in every dark corner, climbed up onto ledges to see. The rain was steadily picking up. Plink. Plink. Plink. Margorim was soaked. “Cedrick!” But it was no good. Margorim’s fingers were getting raw from scraping and pulling at the broken walls to look between and around them. He shivered in the icy rain. His breath came out as a thick silver vapor that obscured his vision and frustrated him more. Margorim winced as his raw fingers rolled yet another ton of rock away from an opening. Yet still, there was no sign of his son. He wished blood trails would help, but there was blood spatter everywhere. More than once, Margorim had come upon just a severed arm or leg. Twice he’d seen just bits of flesh blown to bits. He was praying desperately none of those were his son. If he’d lived, surely his son survived as well, right? Finally, after almost an hour that felt like a year to Margorim, he fell to his knees into the mud. His tears mixed with the rain as his chest heaved in grief. He tried to take in air, but only more gray despair filled his lungs. He was desperate, but it was hopeless. It was no good. Cedrick hadn’t survived. He’d likely given up his life to save his father’s. It wasn’t fair! He wasn’t supposed to outlive his son. This wasn’t right! It wasn’t right! Gasps of grief shook Margorim’s body worse than the cold. “No…no… please, I’ll give my soul for his. Father, Creator, please help me find him alive. Exact any vengeance or payment you’d like, my Lord. Just…let me find him and save him, please. Please…” But he knew deep down it was no good. He was too late. “Please… please,” he wept. His heart had been sucked into the dark void of grief, and this time, it would not escape. As sobs began to rasp his throat and heart, there was a sudden noise to Margorim’s right. He froze, listening. His Custod instinct made him grab at a throwing knife. His eyes scanned the area the noise had come from. How had he been so foolish? He’d been too loud, too careless. Any enemy could have found him. He expected arrows, spears, and other throwable weapons to fly

down upon him, but no such thing came. Margorim waited another moment, his heartbeat and the pouring rain the only sounds. Plink. Plink. Plink. Maybe it was an animal. The dozens of dead body parts around would be good feed for a predator. If that was the case, Margorim had little to fear. They’d go for the easy meal in the bodies before they’d attack a man able to defend himself. But did he want that? He’d failed to protect his son…his son. What left did he have to live for? Margorim’s heart sank to his toes then shattered. The sound started again. This time, Margorim saw what caused it. A board was on the ground. It moved a little but fell back into place. Margorim frowned. That was not an animal, nor was it the wind. What could have… Margorim swallowed. “Cedrick?” He dared. He took a step closer. “Cedrick?” The board moved again, more earnestly this time. Margorim’s heart sped up. He carefully came over to it. “Cedrick? Cedrick, son, is that you?” Margorim swore he heard a weak voice called his name…his favorite name, and the board moved again. “Cedrick!” Margorim threw himself into the mud beside the board and threw it off. There, lying in a shallow puddle of mud, rainwater, and blood, was his son. Cedrick’s skin was so pale he could for one of the corpses. His eyelids fluttered as he fought to keep them open. His breath was weak, but his chest rose and fell as he tried to force himself to breathe. “Cedrick!” Margorim carefully helped get him out of the hole. Cedrick was a real mess. His clothes were so muddy you’d have thought they were made of mud. His face almost glowed in the dark with how pale it was, even more so against the dark blood and mud on his face. Cedrick gasped for air and nodded weakly. Margorim sighed and held him close. He was shivering harshly. His skin was ice cold. As Margorim pulled him close, Cedrick’s head hung limply. Margorim pressed the boy’s head to his chest. Cedrick’s breath tickled his chest, but Margorim ignored it. He looked around for any kind of shelter. He spotted a little alcove that had a dry patch of ground underneath it.

Though Cedrick was heavy, Margorim could carry him that short distance. He quickly got them both under the awning and then tried to help Cedrick lie comfortably, but there wasn’t enough space for that. Besides, he should stay close to his son. His body heat was the best way to try to get some color back into his face. “There, there. That’s better.” Margorim tried, but his hands were shaking. He had to save his son. He had to. Cedrick couldn’t die. He just couldn’t. Margorim studied his weak face. Cedrick’s eyes were closed as his chest heaved for air. He tried to open his eyes. It was a fight. His eyelids fluttered as he fought for it. Margorim held him closer to try to share his strength with him. Margorim removed his cloak and tried to wrap him in it, but it was as wet as his clothes were. It would do little to no good. “Hold on, son. I’m here.” Margorim looked around. “Th-there has to be help nearby. There has to be.” Finally, Cedrick got his eyes open and looked at his father: mud stained, dripping wet, cold. Margorim wasn’t looking at his son. His eyes were scanning the area for signs of other human beings. Cedrick fought to speak, but it was so hard. His lips felt stiff and frozen. “Father…” Margorim looked down at his son. “I’m here, Cedrick. I’m here. Save your strength. Hang in there.” He looked around again. Cedrick’s jaw tensed a little. “You don’t care,” He wheezed. Margorim froze and looked at his son. “What? What are you saying?” Maybe he was delirious. “Why do you care?” Cedrick forced out. “You…you’ve always...” “Shhhh, don’t try to talk. Save you strength, son.” Margorim frowned. “You’re weak. But we’ll get you help.” Margorim knew he should try to stitch the wound now, but…it had to be filthy. He had nothing to clean it with. That made Margorim’s heart pound all the harder as he scanned the area for help once more.

“I thought you said I didn’t have any strength,” Cedrick hissed. Margorim stiffened like a rock. Cedrick’s voice, though weak, had a hard edge to it. Margorim knew it well. Cedrick was challenging him. Why? Margorim’s brows creased with concern. “W-what?” He looked at his son again. “Y-you always s-said I was w-weak,” Cedrick said. “W-worthless. You n-never wanted me.” Margorim wasn’t looking away this time. His jaw was open, gaping at his son. What was he saying? Why was he saying this? “W-what?” He didn’t have any other words. “Y-you don’t have t-to…p-p-pretend.” Cedrick breathed, angry. His father never wanted him. It was bad enough he pretended to others, but now, he was lying to his face, and Cedrick hated him for it. “You n-never…n-no one is here to c-covver for you. You’ve always hated me. W-we a-all k-know it.” He panted. “Nnever b-been enough for you.” Each word was like a sharp skewer into Margorim’s heart. He wasn’t sure he believed what he was hearing. “What? No…Cedrick, no, no. I don’t hate you. You’re my son. How could I—” “How could you not!” Cedrick suddenly exploded. Then he fell into a fit of coughing and gasping. “Shhh, no, no, Cedrick rest, please,” Margorim begged. “Don’t die, my boy. Don’t fail me now.” “Now I’m sure to die.” Cedrick spat weakly but with venom. “What? No, no, you’re not.” Margorim tried to assure. “I’ve never…been able to live up to…t-to you. A-always…always…l-let…l-let y-you down.” Cedrick wheezed. “N-never been wh…wha…what you wanted.” “Cedrick… how could you say that?” Margorim gaped at him. “No…no, son you’ve not let me down.” “Haven’t I?” Cedrick almost mocked. His effort to force the words out made it

sound almost like a cough. “Never l-l-let me…me…t-take the test. Hated me ffor…for the mountain and…and…sa…saving…you.” “Oh…Cedrick,” Margorim said in a breathy voice. “No.” “You k-know i…it’ssss t-true. We…we all…all do.” Cedrick panted, letting his head fall back and closing his eyes. He was too weak for this, but it felt so good to throw it in his face now, to finally be heard. “You hate me. We all know it.” “No…Cedrick, no. How could I hate you? Cedrick…” Margorim tried to get the boy to meet his eyes but understood he was weak. “You’re…you’re my son.” “Because I killed her,” Cedrick spat, then started coughing again. His eyes rolled up a little. His body stiffened with pain. “Killed her…no, oh Cedrick, no, no.” Margorim understood. “Cedrick, my son, my boy, I do not hate you. Cedrick…you mean the world to me. You…you’re… all I have left of her.” “You don’t have to lie,” Cedrick coughed. “We all know…we all do.” “What you know is a lie. Cedrick… I’m… I’m so sorry.” Margorim’s eyes filled with tears. “I…” He understood where the boy was coming from. He’d always pushed him the hardest, sheltered him the hardest and…and now he worried, he’d not shown the reason why enough. “How could I not k-know? Never encouraged me. I n-never was enough, yelling, beating…that…l-look in your eyes. You despise me. Hate me for t-taking her from you,” Cedrick wheezed weakly. “You hate me for it.” Desperation exploded in Margorim. Cedrick had to know. “No! Cedrick, no! I don’t hate you for that, no, no, no.” Margorim shook his head. A few raindrops fell from his hair to Cedrick’s face. “You didn’t kill her, Cedrick. It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t choose any of it. I do not hate you for that, Cedrick. Not at all. If…if anything…that makes you all the dearer to me. You’re…you’re her boy.” Margorim brushed some of Cedrick’s wet hair from his forehead. “Really?” Cedrick almost mocked as his breath almost failed him. “Then why?” he challenged. “Why?”

Margorim bowed his head. Cedrick didn’t even have a clue. He had failed. “Because… I can’t lose you,” he said. For a moment, only the sound of the rain on their shelter and Cedrick’s pained breathing filled the air. Plink. Plink. Pink. “I can’t lose you, Cedrick. I already lost her. I cannot lose you too,” he said. He looked back up at his son. “Son, you have to understand. Yes, your mother meant the world to me. She was and…in many ways, still is my world. But…” He brushed Cedrick’s hair again. “That’s part of why you’re dear to me. You…you have to understand. I never dreamed I’d lose her that day. It was you I feared losing. In those days…so many times, I was s-sure…sure you were gone. Then…then you were born…strong, a little sickly, but...alright. Cedrick…the joy we felt. We thought…thought…” Margorim’s throat stuck. “Oh Cedrick.” He pressed his forehead to his son’s. “My heart sang that day to see you alive and well.” Not that it lasted long, Cedrick thought bitterly. “And your mother…the light in her eyes.” Margorim smiled a little. “She was so happy. We had…h-had no idea what was going to happen. She…she must have I suppose. She handed you to me and…and…” Margorim paused a long moment. “T-told me how precious you were and that…that someone would have to take good care of you. That you’d need to be protected. That you were special and had a special work to do. She looked…so worried, desperate. I swore to her I’d protect you. That I would look after you. Nothing would happen to you.” Margorim swallowed. “And…those words light up her whole world…f-for the last time.” A tear slid down Margorim’s face. “Then sh-she was gone. But…you weren’t. Cedrick…you were alright. And the last thing I said to her was I’d make sure you were alright, so…that’s what I fought to do.” “I guarded you more dearly than my own life. Anything to protect you. Your mother insisted you all get the best training to defend yourselves. As you grew, it was clear you…you had so much potential. I knew she’d want me to make sure you lived up to it, so that’s what I did. Perhaps…perhaps I went about it wrong.” Margorim sighed. “I went about that wrong, but it was because I wanted to protect you. You were not an easy child.” Margorim managed a little laugh. “You were a handful. She was right, Cedrick. You were special. I had to make sure to protect that. So when…when it was time to let you take the test, I…I c-couldn’t do it.” Margorim fought back his pain.

“You need to understand. When I was young I didn’t understand, so perhaps you can’t, but…but I’ll try to help you understand.” Margorim took a deep breath. “I now believe the test is less about making sure you children are ready to fight and more about helping a parent be ready to trust you to handle yourself and learn not to step in. It was hard to send Roxorim. I’d protected him and watched him fight his whole life. Now…now I had to let him go to where…where he could easily be killed to live up to his oath. But…but I knew I had to. Took me two months to finally give him the stupid com. Arylana…” Fresh tears filled Margorim’s eyes. “...how do you send your little baby girl into a war zone? What’s worse is she knew that’s how I felt. If she didn’t…hate it, she may have never gone. But eventually, I finally let her go.” Margorim bowed his head, shaking with surprised sobs. “But Cedrick…I couldn’t let you go. I tried. I tried so hard, but I wasn’t strong enough. Cedrick, it never was that you weren’t strong enough. I wasn’t strong enough.” Margorim wept and looked at his son’s face. He was too weak to really answer, but it was clear he was listening. He was shivering, sick, weak, wounded, dying. Margorim set his teeth. “And I’m still not strong enough, Cedrick. Don’t you leave me now. I already have panicked enough over you. When you married a woman I didn’t know I could trust, when you blew up that mountain, when you fought Rothmeraid, that was enough. I am not strong enough to lose you. Even though I know deep down you’ll succeed, I’m not strong enough to lose you. Stay with me! Stay with us, Cedrick!” If Cedrick could still hear him, Margorim saw no sign of it. He let out a sigh and pressed his head to his son’s forehead. “Just rest…be alright. You have to recover. You have to live through this, Cedrick. Don’t you die. I’ll protect you, save you, I promise. I just…n-need you to hold on. Son, hold on. Please, I love you.” Margorim felt a stab. “I…I never have said that to you, have I?” It looked like Cedrick shook his head ever so slightly. Tears blurred Margorim’s vision. “I’m so sorry, Cedrick. I love you. I love you.” He wept a little. His son had to know. He had to. Margorim sat there, cradling his son to try to keep him warm and alive. Cedrick fell asleep at some point, hopefully sometime after Margorim started to weep. His son had to live. He just had to.

*****

Margorim looked up. The rain was starting to slow. If they were going to make any kind of escape, it had to be now. They’d been waiting hours, and no one had come near them. It was clear they’d have to go to them. Margorim looked down at his son. He was still ghastly pale, shivering weakly in the cold and wet, but he was drier than he had been. Sadly, that was about to vanish. Margorim took a deep breath and shook him awake. “Cedrick…Cedrick, my boy. I’m sorry, but you must wake up.” Cedrick opened his eyes and looked at his father then went as if to go back to sleep. Margorim had woken Cedrick every hour to be sure he wasn’t slipping away. Margorim shook him again. “I’m sorry. It’s not like that. We have to go. The rain is slowing; it might even stop. If we’re going to get out with any kind of chance of keeping dry, it has to be now.” “I-I understand,” Cedrick said in a hoarse voice. Margorim bit his lips. Could he really ask this of him? He was so weak. But sadly, Margorim could no longer carry his son, at least, not far. He didn’t know how far the distance would be, so he didn’t dare risk it. “I’ll you. I swear it,” Margorim said. “I failed you before. I will not now,” Cedrick nodded weakly again, understanding. He started to push himself up. He winced harshly. He fell back but fought to get up almost instantly. That’s when Margorim recalled. “Wait.” He put a hand to his son’s shoulder. “I…” He swallowed. No, stitching it without cleaning it would lead to deathly illness for sure. “What is it?” Cedrick croaked. “Nothing, never mind. Come, we must go.” Margorim got out of the shelter and stood. The rain was light enough he wasn’t soaked instantly. Margorim bent over

and pretty much picked up his son and set him on his feet. Cedrick’s eyes fluttered, and he started to fall. Margorim caught him and put one of his arms around his own shoulders. “It’s alright, Cedrick. I’m here, my son. I promise. I won’t let you die. I stake my life on it. You’ll be alright.” Cedrick just moaned weakly in reply. He wanted to tell his father he’d be fine, but the pain and dizziness made it hard to control his tongue. Margorim frowned. Cedrick fought to lift his head and looked at his father. “L-let’sssssss go.” He breathed. Margorim nodded. “Hang in there.” Margorim checked their surroundings then started up north. They had been on the south side of the city. The blast had clearly taken them away from the city. If they found the city—or really, what was left of it—they’d likely see signs of where the rest of the army had gone. Margorim swallowed as he heaved his son through the heavy mud. Cedrick had used his magic to save them. But how many others could have survived that? Was Arylana alright? Did the general make it? Did any of them? Elphacena? Likely, she knew the same trick Cedrick did. No…no, she’d be alright, but…the others…could Elphacena defend them all? Or any of them? Margorim became lost in the gloomy thoughts as they went. Soon, to Margorim’s frustration, the rain picked up again. It pounded their skin, soaking them and making the wind doubly cold. Cedrick shivered like a chihuahua. Margorim tried to wrap him in his own cloak to help, but it didn’t do much. The rain soaked their skin and hair. It was getting hard to keep the rain from getting into their eyes. The wind blew on them and caused them to almost lose their balance several times. Margorim found himself cursing the weather. It was supposed to be turning into summer! What was this horrid chill and rain? After half an hour, Cedrick’s knees buckled. Margorim caught him but was forced to stop going forward. “Cedrick?” He panted. “Cedrick, are you alright?” “I…yes,” Cedrick hissed through clenched teeth, but Margorim knew that was a lie. “No, you’re not.”

“It’s nothing,” Cedrick insisted, pulling himself up on his father’s arm. He moaned and curled a little in pain. He started to slide sideways. Margorim held him up. “It is not nothing,” Margorim said firmly. “You’ve been shot. You’re weak, maybe we should re—” Margorim began to say. Cedrick grabbed his shoulder tightly. “No.” He cut him off. “But Cedrick, you can’t—” “Father…if you…a-allow…me…r…r-r…rest,” Cedrick muttered weakly. “I’ll… I’ll…I’ll n-never…ise again.” Margorim understood. As the saying went, “He in action will stay in action. He in mud will stay in mud.” Cedrick was too weak to press on much further, but if allowed to rest the wound would take him. Margorim’s heart cried out as it was squeezed tightly in that horrible truth. Cedrick was running out of time. Margorim studied his son’s face. It was all but glowing in the darkness; his eyes were shut. His breath came in horrible, painful gasps that fell on his father’s ears like daggers stabbed with lightning force into his ears and heart. They jolted Cedrick’s whole body as he dragged the air into his lungs. His wet hair dripped over his face, some shaking loose in his desperate shivering. “I… I understand.” Margorim secured his grip on Cedrick’s shoulders. “I won’t let you fall then. We keep going.” Margorim made sure he had a good grip on Cedrick as they pressed on. It took only a few minutes for Margorim to realize something was seriously wrong. You’d think if you were getting closer to the blown-up buildings, there would be more ruble. Instead, there was less of it. In fact, an hour after they started off, there wasn’t any. Margorim knew they’d somehow gone the wrong way. But how? He didn’t have time to solve it though. Cedrick couldn’t stop. If he stopped, he would die. Margorim was not willing to do that. They’d just have to press on and hope they found someone… anyone.

Margorim looked at his son again. He wasn’t sure Cedrick was still conscious. His eyes were closed, and his feet made slow, painful progress. He looked more dead than alive. His breath still came in those gasps that jolted his body, struck the air like a bolt of lightning, and stabbed Margorim’s chest with each attempt. He was shaking horribly, worse than before like a leaf in a windstorm. They couldn’t stop. Cedrick was dying as he walked. If they stopped, so would his heart. Praying for his son’s life with his whole soul, Margorim trudged on. The rain grew heavy until it was like having buckets poured over their heads. The wind tried to dry them but only blew more of it into their faces. It was hard to see for the gale. “Hold on, Cedrick,” Margorim started muttering to try to assure his son. “Hold on, I have you. Hold on. Don’t you leave us, Cedrick. Come on, come on,” he encouraged, but his voice was shaking. He was losing hope. Cedrick slipped on a slick patch of mud. Margorim tried to catch him, but he hardly kept his own balance and had to fall with him a little to catch him. Cedrick’s gasping breathing had increased in pace. It was getting close to hyperventilating, dangerously so. “Hey, hey, Cedrick…Cedrick, son, please, please no, no!” Margorim shook Cedrick a little, using his other hand to make Cedrick’s eyes meet his. “Don’t you quit on me! You’ve never let me down before! Don’t do it now! Don’t give up! Don’t give up.” Margorim’s tears were hidden in the rain that soaked both their faces. “Please…son, Cedrick, you’ve never let me down before. You’ve always made me proud. Don’t stop now…whatever you do, don’t stop now. We’re close…so close.” Cedrick’s blue eyes finally met his father’s. “I…I…” he gasped like a death rattle. “No, no excuses, Cedrick! You’ve done it before. You can do it now. I believe in you. I trust you. I know you can do this. We’re close. Help can’t be fair now. You’ve made it so far, come so close. Don’t surrender now.” Margorim looked around desperately. There had to be something, anything. Then he thought he saw something dark in the landscape ahead. It was so dark and the rain and wind so heavy it was hard to tell, but he thought he might see…

“Cedrick, it’s just a few hundred yards. There’s a city.” He knew that might be a lie. Maybe it was nothing, but Margorim had to have hope it was. Even if it was an abandoned area, he had to try. If they even found shelter, Margorim could collect rainwater to try to clean the wound, stitch him up and let him rest. Maybe after a night’s rest, he’d be strong enough to go back to find Meched. “I…h-help me.” Cedrick’s eyes slid up to find his father. Margorim smiled a little. “It’s what I live for,” He helped Cedrick back to his feet. At first, Cedrick couldn’t find his balance. He fell into his father, but Margorim was not going to let him fall. He kept him up, and they started on again. As they got closer, Margorim knew it was a town. It was clearly outlined with a tower and small wall. It wasn’t a big town. Perhaps it was just a little fortress for defense, but it was there! No one could be that heartless as to turn them down like this, if anyone was there. If not, then they’d surely find a warm place to hide. Well, a dry place, hopefully, with all that old wood they could burn. “We’re almost there, Cedrick,” Margorim encouraged. He looked at his son. How was it possible Cedrick looked worse every time? He seemed to be hyperventilating now. His grip on his father was lax to almost non-existent. His feet dragged through the mud, and he no longer could lift his head. “Cedrick…Cedrick, look up. Can you see it?” Margorim asked. “Look up, Cedrick. Look up.” Cedrick tried. He really did, but even when he finally got his head up even a little, he couldn’t get his eyes to focus. He dropped his head, gasping for air as if his lungs couldn’t get enough into them. “Hang in there, Cedrick. We’re so close,” Margorim encouraged. They were perhaps ten yards away from the gate, when Cedrick gave out again. “Cedrick no!” Margorim began and then saw his face. He didn’t just slip. Cedrick had fainted. “No!” Margorim couldn’t hold him up, and they both fell into the mud. “Cedrick! Cedrick, no please!” Margorim knelt beside his son. Cedrick’s heart

still valiantly fought to keep him alive, but it’s beat was tired and weak. The pulse itself seemed to be begging Margorim for help. “Cedrick…” Margorim broke down for a moment. He couldn’t…they were so close, and he couldn’t help his son make it the small distance left. “Cedrick… Cedrick, please,” he wept. He tried to pick him up, but his frozen arms could hardly get around Cedrick’s body. They couldn’t even get him off the ground. Margorim’s grief and guilt overtook him for a moment. This was his fault! If he’d listened to his son, if he’d understood, they’d have not been fighting in the first place. Cedrick wouldn’t have been distracted and been hit. Margorim wouldn’t have been facing away and not heard Cedrick’s plea for help. His son was going to die, and it was his fault. Though he’d fought since the boy’s birth to save him, he’d lost the fight now. Margorim had shut his eyes from the wind, cold, and pain. So he didn’t see what it was that collapsed into him. Margorim caught it, stunned out of his stupor. “Cedrick!” Cedrick had woken up and tried to push himself up. He’d slipped in the mud, collapsing like a corpse. His eyes were tight shut, his breath coming in rapid, painful gasps that came in such quick succession it reminded Margorim of a frightened mouse. “Cedrick, no, you’re too weak,” Margorim said. He couldn’t himself. Trying would only make him weaker. Cedrick didn’t stop. His teeth were set in determination, eyes tight shut as he forced his body to obey. “Dad…I’m dying. Have to…help me.” Fresh tears exploded in Margorim’s eyes. Cedrick slipped and started to fall again, but Margorim caught him around the torso, avoiding his wound. Cedrick used his father’s aid and tried to push himself up. Though Cedrick’s effort was weak and hardly much, it gave Margorim the leverage he needed to get Cedrick back on his feet. “See? You never let me down. You can do this,” Margorim encouraged and quickly got them over the bridge and into the small fortress. The place was made of dark stone. They entered into a sort of mini village

attached to the main castle, a bailey perhaps. There were several homes, built of the same stone, lining the square. They had small alleys between them, and dim lights showed in several windows. Just as Margorim took note of this and decided to go from door to door begging for help, Cedrick blacked out again. Margorim was prepared this time and held up his weight. With that help, he was able to lift Cedrick’s body and get him into one of the alleys. The rain was blocked by the roofs of the homes. Margorim set Cedrick down against a sack leaning on the wall and a barrel in the alley. They’d done it! They made it this far. Margorim was panting heavily from the effort. He brushed Cedrick’s soaked hair from his forehead to look at his pale, sickly face. “I’m getting you help,” Margorim said firmly. “Rest now, my boy. Hold on.” ittedly, Margorim was afraid to leave his son’s side. What if…what if… while he was gone... But what difference would it make? If he stayed and watched him die, he’d be dead. If he left and found him help, he’d live. But what if…he left for help and didn’t come back with it in time? Just like Eldalane. Margorim clenched his jaw and shut his eyes tightly from the flood of pain and memories that brought up. He’d avoided them for nineteen years, and he was going to keep doing it now. He had to for Cedrick. No time to confront them. “Hang on, son. We’ll get help. It won’t be long,” he promised as he stood. “Father.” Cedrick’s weak hand suddenly tried to grab his father’s arm as he stood. Obviously, it slid off, not having any grip to speak of. Margorim jumped. “Cedrick.” He knelt beside his son. “Shhh, rest. We’re in a city. Someone will help us, wait here while I get help, alright?” “No…father…” Cedrick muttered sickly. “I won’t…i-it’s too late.” His eyes slid up into their lids, and the lids fluttered. “P-please…don’t l-leave me.” “I’m not, son. I promise. I have to get you help now, or you won’t survive.” Margorim assured him, brushing his cheek with his hand. They both were so cold. “Rest. I’ll be back soon.”

“No…Father…father please,” Cedrick begged. He was slipping into delirium. Margorim set his teeth. It was like ripping off a bandage that had curved nails to keep it into one’s flesh. Margorim pulled away and walked away from his dying son. His fevered muttering and begging for help were like spikes striking into his heart like the rain. Plink. Plink. Plink. Margorim took a deep breath to stiffen his resolve. It was watch him die or try to save him. He marched up to the first door and knocked firmly, a bit frantically. It took a while to get an answer. Margorim was about to knock again when the door opened. A tall man stood there, studying Margorim with suspicion. Margorim swallowed. “Please…” he begged. He knew he must look awful, soaking wet, dripping muddy water, likely some bloody water too. “I am in desperate need of your help, my…my son is wounded, dying. We need shelter. I have to get him cleaned up. Please, I’ll do anything.” He tried to brush his filthy wet hair out of his face to look more presentable. “I…I will trade anything I can for your help.” The man looked over Margorim’s bedraggled attire and crinkled his nose. Margorim knew that look. “N-no please,” Margorim tried, but the door was slammed solidly in his face. “No! Please!” Margorim tried, but the door was unyielding. Pain and fury rose in Margorim’s chest. Who did they think they were? Cedrick was head Custod! He was in that state to try to save them! Now they rejected him for it. Cedrick was dying! Margorim’s heart fell and shattered, and more tears mixed with his rain-stained face. That was only one door. There were more. He had more chances. Margorim moved on. He tried again and again. Each time he either got the door slammed in his face, or the person looked like they were willing to help, then glanced at the fortress and retreated inside. “Please, just look at him.” Margorim indicated where Cedrick lay. His breath was hardly more than a squeak of air. His chest rose and fell with the battle for more air but couldn’t quite get enough. He truly looked more dead than alive and quite piteous. The woman bit her lips and looked like she might give in, but then her eyes met

the fortress. She started to shake her head. “NO! Please!” Margorim tried to stop her but was too late. Margorim’s heart was slammed in it. Margorim swore and slammed his fist against the door after she retreated. “Please…” He started to cry. “Please…he’s my son. All I have.” He collapsed on the steps. He had nothing….What else could he do? “Dad…” Margorim’s heart stopped. He whirled around to see his son. The voice was…so weak. It was hardly detectable over the violent wind and rain, but Margorim could always hear his name. “Cedrick, Cedrick, I’m here.” Margorim rushed to his side. Cedrick was coughing for air, losing the battle to live. Margorim held his son to his heart to comfort him. “There, there, now. I-I have you. You’ll be alright soon. You’ll warm up soon, I…I p-promise.” “You...can’t…promise that,” Cedrick gasped. “Can’t I? I think it will work.” Margorim tried to cheer his son, but even as he held him, Margorim swore he could feel Cedrick’s life energy draining through his own fingers. “It…it’ssssss t-too late,” Cedrick choked. “Th-they’re…. t-t-too s-sc-scared. They w-won’t help.” “It’s not too late!” Margorim cried. “It’s not! They will. I mean…someone will. If I have to treat you here, I will. Don’t give up. You’ll be okay. Rest now, ssleep if you can. I w-will be back soon with help.” “No, Dad please,” Cedrick began, but Margorim would not hear it. “Rest. I’m doing it to save you,” Margorim insisted. He secured his cloak around his son and stepped back. “No…f-f-f-father…p-please…don’t…don’t…don’t let me…d-die…die alone,” Cedrick pleaded.

“Shhh, you won’t die. R-rest son, please.” Margorim tightened the cloak further and kissed his forehead in a paternal way. “It will be okay. Rest, go to sleep now.” Margorim stood up. Cedrick was too tired and weak to protest, but the pain on his face was like a poison barb in Margorim’s heart. Margorim tore his eyes away. His son would not die. Margorim looked around the square. There was one door left. It was a risky door. It was a small house built into the side of the fort, likely connected. Though he knew there was a good chance the house was for guards of whoever lived in the fortress, he had to try. Likely one of Heklis’s nobles lived there. One who would have Margorim’s head removed and send Cedrick to Heklis once he was well enough, but if it saved his life, Margorim would try anything. With a deep breath to steel his courage, Margorim went straight to the door. He knocked on it firmly at first, then knocked frantically. It opened, and a man stood there, looking confused. “Please.” Margorim began. “I desperately need your help. My son is badly wounded. We’ve walked miles to get help. If you don’t help us, my son will die. Please, I’ll do anything I can. Anything, just…just look at him.” He pointed with both arms towards his son. The man looked to see Cedrick, sick and lying in mud and blood. He frowned deeply and glanced around. “No…no one has helped you?” he asked. “No,” Margorim said quickly. “You’re our…his last hope. I’m begging you. I’ll give you anything. I…I’m on my knees.” And Margorim did indeed get on his knees. “Please, he’s my son, all I have. I’ll sell my soul to save him. I’m bbegging you. I’m begging you.” The desperation glowed in Margorim’s eyes. It was desperation enough to make his heart burst and kill him on the spot. He was praying harder than he ever had in his life. “I see.” The man looked around again then looked at a time piece. “I’m sorry to say—” Margorim didn’t let him finish. “No! Please!” He got up and actually grabbed the man’s arm. “If you don’t help us, he’ll die.”

“I understand,” The man said calmly, but clearly was angry with Margorim for grabbing him. “I am sorry to say I can’t help now. I’m deeply sorry. I’d recommend you get your boy deeper into that alley. Guards will inspect the town soon. Don’t let yourselves be spotted. That’s all I can do now. Now please, let go of me before you’re seen.” The man yanked back and tried to close the door. Margorim was not letting his last hope get away. He stuck his foot in the door. The man’s eyes shot his anger and locked onto Margorim. “I said I couldn’t help now. I’ve given all I can. Now get your vellish foot out of my door.” The man kicked it and slammed it as Margorim tried again. He ended up kicking the door. Margorim swore badly and crumpled to his knees. He’d failed. His son lay dying, and he could not save him. He’d given his all. The tears fell to the mud but were swallowed in the rain. It was hard to even see them because of the rain. “Please…I may have failed but don’t make my son pay for it.” Margorim half prayed and half begged of the city itself. “Don’t punish him for my sin. Don’t… don’t let him die. Take me if someone must pay for it, but not him. He…he is our best hope…his wife…oh please…please.” Margorim held his head in his hands, full of desperate pain. He was shaking for the wet, cold, and pain. Finally, he collected himself enough to get to his feet and go to his son. Cedrick was shivering worse than ever. His eyes were closed but opened weakly at the sound of his father’s approach. “I…I told you,” Cedrick said sympathetically. Even now, when he’d been a monster to his son, Cedrick still was trying to help him. Margorim’s heart shattered, and he collapsed next to his son. He drew the boy into his arms and held him tightly. He hoped his warmth would help his son. He held the boy’s head to his heart and rocked him a little. Would this really be his last night? The sun was clearly going down, and the already dark world was growing darker. Though that man had doomed his son to death, he was right about one thing. It was better to get Cedrick in deeper. If there were guards, it was safer there. Carefully, Margorim picked Cedrick up and went to the far back of the alley. It was much warmer here. The wind was mostly blocked. A few hints of it came through gaps in the stone wall, but mostly, it was still. The rain dripped all

around them, but there was a perfectly dry square where they stood. Margorim leaned Cedrick on the wall while he arranged the sacks he found in the alley against the wall and barrels and helped Cedrick lie against it. Perhaps after the guards checked, he could pull the barrels apart and build a fire. That would warm Cedrick and allow Margorim to clean and sterilize some the tools he needed to patch Cedrick up and clean the wound. At this point…it might be a good idea to try cauterizing it. That was something he could do. Cedrick may still live yet. Margorim looked at his son’s pale face, and his heart sank. But…could he last that long? It would be late before he could start a fire and not risk being seen. Margorim’s hope faded to mere embers. No…his son couldn’t last that long. Shaking in grief and cold, Margorim held his son close again. He brushed his hair. It was filthy. Margorim pressed his forehead against his son’s. “I love you,” he said in a shaky voice. “I can’t…not now.” He only just managed to tell his son that. Now… now he was to lose him. Was this some twisted punishment? It wasn’t fair to Cedrick! If someone had to die, why was it his son? “F-father…” Cedrick breathed, his voice a whisper of death. “Shh… I’m here.” Margorim held him tighter. Cedrick closed his eyes, soothed a little. Margorim’s fingers tried to stroke his hair as he pressed Cedrick’s head to his shoulder. “I…I n-need you to p-promise me something,” Cedrick said in a tight voice. He was fighting back his pain. He was shaking, not just for cold, but for effort. “Anything, son, anything,” Margorim promised. “Don’t… don’t let her b-be alone.” Cedrick’s weak blue eyes met his father’s. “She c-can’t bear it. After all…I p-promise….Sh-she’s b-been through. I love her, father. Don’t…don’t let her be alone…please, father, please.” Margorim recognized the desperation in his son’s voice. Cedrick was desperate. He had to be sure. “I-if I’m to leave her…d-die l-l-like this…I h-have to know. Father… father, p-please, please, promise me!” Cedrick begged with what little strength he had left. He begged with all his effort, with all his strength, with all his soul.

He was shaking and tense with the effort and desperation. “Promise me…please, please!” “Shhh, Cedrick, please, rest; you aren’t going to die.” Margorim tried to hold him close, soothe him. “Don’t worry about that.” “Father please!” Cedrick’s desperation and devotion to his wife was not letting him rest until he knew. “I’ll g-give anything…protect her, father, save her. If I cannot, I must know she’ll be alright. I have to know, Father. I-I have to know.” Margorim felt Cedrick’s tears on his shoulder. “Please…” he begged. “Father, please.” “I…” Margorim swallowed. “It’s alright, Cedrick. I’ll look after her, I promise. She’ll be alright.” Cedrick’s desperation faded, and he relaxed. His effort had weakened him greatly. He was gasping for air, unable to get enough to get any strength back. He moaned, shivering and trying to hold to his father, but his grip was weakening to nothing. “But don’t let that allow you give up!” Margorim snapped with power and intensity. “You hear me, Cedrick? Don’t you give up on her! What she needs is you to make it. She needs you to live, Cedrick! Don’t give up on her!” “I… I’m not.” Cedrick assured him with a weak, dead smile. “I… I’ll f-fight for her… t-til I lose all power to. I…Cena…” Cedrick moaned. “Shh, rest then. If… if you can hold out, I’ll get help for you. Rest,” Margorim rocked his boy desperately. He felt his son’s heartbeat growing weaker and fighting hard to live, but it was losing. His very life force was slipping between Margorim’s fingers. Plink. Plink. Plink. “Father…” Cedrick moaned weakly after several long moments. Margorim looked down at Cedrick. His eyes were vacant, so weak it seemed his soul had already left. Margorim’s hands shook, and he held tighter to Cedrick to steady them. “Yes Cedrick, I’m here. Always.” He brushed his son’s hair again. “I… I love you.” Cedrick’s voice was gone. It was all breath. His eyes rolled up a little. “No!” Margorim screamed. “No, please.” He stopped Cedrick’s head falling.

Cedrick’s blue eyes met Margorim’s…one last time? Would he really never see…those eyes again? Even with Margorim holding him up, Cedrick didn’t last long. His eyes rolled up, and his body went limp. “No…Cedrick, no.” Margorim’s voice broke. But Cedrick was still breathing in weak bursts. His heart hardly beat at all, but he was still alive, but…for how long? Would his eyes ever open again? Margorim felt sure they wouldn’t. Margorim held his son to his chest and burst into sobs of grief and guilt. He held his boy close, desperate to warm him and keep him close. He couldn’t…couldn’t lose him. He couldn’t say goodbye. Margorim shuddered at the idea and started muttering a desperate prayer, begging for his son’s life. What could he do? What could he give? Margorim didn’t know how long they waited there. Margorim started counting each of Cedrick’s gasps of air, worried any one of them could be his last. Then he heard the sound of the guards making a search. Margorim pulled Cedrick close and tried to blend deeper into the shadows. It worked. The guards didn’t even come down the alley. They moved on. Margorim counted the minutes after they left. Half an hour past, he’d be safe to light a fire. Would Cedrick actually make it? There was a hint of hope in Margorim’s eyes. Just as Margorim felt it was safe, footsteps came racing towards them. Margorim held Cedrick protectively and drew his sword. He would not let anyone harm his boy further. Margorim was ready to strike when he recognized the man coming towards them. “Are…you still here?” The man looked around. It was the man who said he couldn’t help now. He saw Margorim with his weapon drawn. “Please! I’m unarmed!” He jumped back. “I c-came to help.” Of course, that’s why he’d said now. “Help?” Margorim mocked, still angry he’d turned them down. “Help? You left him to die!”

The man hesitated. “Is… is he?” “Not yet,” Margorim snapped. The man sighed. “Benyamin!” he called. “Quickly.” The man turned back to Margorim. “My name is Yoshieah,” he said. “This is my eldest son, Benyamin. We work in the fortress. We want to help you two. Now quickly, my daughter is keeping the guards busy.” Margorim frowned. This didn’t feel right. He turned them down. “Why would you help us now?” he demanded. “The guards would have seen and killed you both if we moved then,” Yoshieah said. “But now we have time. They are all out and distracted. Please, we must move quickly. We have little time to get through unseen and…frankly, I’m not sure he has much time either.” Margorim hesitated. Could he risk it? With a fire, he might be able to save his son on his own but…it was better inside. What would be better? Margorim looked at Cedrick’s still face. He looked already dead. “Alright.” “We’ll help you move him.” “Is it far?” Margorim asked. “No, just to where you knocked,” Yoshieah said. “I can carry him,” Margorim said firmly and scooped Cedrick up. The other two kept watch as Margorim slipped into their home. The warmth slapped him in the face. It felt good, but of course, it’s not exactly nice to be slapped. Cedrick moaned weakly in response but didn’t wake. He didn’t have the strength to. Margorim frowned. Yoshieah came in after Margorim. “Set him on the sofa, I need to treat his wound quickly. Then we’re getting you into the fortress.” Margorim tensed. “You…” he began in anger. “No, no, you misunderstand,” Yoshieah said quickly. “There are several

chambers the guards don’t know how to enter. We can go through here. They don’t know. It’s the best place to hide you while he heals. I swear to you on my life and on the lives of my children and wife, I am trying to help both of you.” Margorim saw the truth in his eyes so did as he asked. He gently set Cedrick on the sofa. Cedrick moaned, and his eyelids fluttered. “Shhh, it’s alright, Cedrick.” Margorim assured him, stroking his hair. “You’ll be treated soon. Then you just have to pull through. You can do that. You’re amazing at that.” He smiled a little, feeling proud and pained. “Now I’m not a formally trained doctor, but I have learned the art from a real doctor and been treating wounds like this most my life.” Yoshieah assured Margorim as he started. He got the dirty clothes off Cedrick so he could see his chest. He then unwrapped the blood-soaked bandages. Cedrick moaned again. Margorim squeezed his arm to assure him. Yoshieah frowned. “This is bad,” he said. “I told you we traveled miles to get here after he was shot,” Margorim said. Yoshieah frowned but didn’t comment. He ordered a small girl to bring him several tools. The girl brought him a bottle, needle and thread, along with more bandages and a wrap. Yoshieah started to clean and sterilize the wound. The girl began doing the same to the needle. Cedrick groaned in pain and arched. It seemed he’d woken up but not fully. He was groggy and perhaps delirious. Margorim held him tightly to try to keep him still and comfort him as Yoshieah worked. Cedrick’s body tensed. He screamed in pain as Yoshieah cleaned and treated his wound with some purple liquid. He then began to stitch it up. Cedrick was tense and sweating in the pain. His eyes were rolled up into his head. “Father…” he moaned. He was so tense he actually was able to hold his father’s arms around him tightly. Margorim tried to hold him still, but Cedrick’s body kept trying to tense and arch away. After about ten minutes, Yoshieah finished. Cedrick fell limply into his father’s arms. His breaths were deeper than before but scraped his throat as they came in

and out, making a painful gasping, squeal with each breath. “Shh. Rest, son. I’m here.” Margorim assured him, trying to mop up the sweat on his forehead. Weakly, Cedrick opened his eyes and looked at his father. Margorim’s heart leapt at the sight of those amazing blue eyes. “F-F…father…” he moaned. “Shhh. I’m here, Cedrick.” Margorim smiled a little. “It’s alright. You’ll be fine now.” “Papa.” A teenage girl had been watching through the window. “Mary is coming back. The guards are coming.” “Get him up now,” Yoshieah commanded. Margorim did so as gently as he could. Cedrick moaned, and his eyes fluttered. “Can you hear me?” Yoshieah asked as he showed Margorim the way. He opened a hidden door in the wall and led them up a set of cold stone stairs. Cedrick’s weak eyes looked up and nodded. “What’s your name?” “C-C…Cedrick…” Cedrick moaned. “Full name.” “C-C…Cedrick…Cedrick…” Cedrick glanced at his father. “C-Cedrick Michael.” Margorim sighed a little. He was quite lucid. He knew to not use his real last name. Yoshieah frowned, however. He was testing Cedrick’s response. To him, the long pause showed it wasn’t good, but Margorim knew better. The fact he paused to think about it was a good sign. “I…I can’t explain,” Margorim said. “But the fact he paused and gave you that answer is a very good sign. He’s about a level three. I promise.” “Oh.” Yoshieah was surprised Margorim knew what he was after. He smiled.

“Good, very good. It’s in here.” Yoshieah pushed open a door. “I’m sorry there…is little here. It’s the best I can offer.” The room had little in it. It had a single bedroll and a small space for a fire. Otherwise it was blank, hard stone. The rain pounded loudly on the roof, and the wind whistled around them. Plink. Plink. Plink. “Once a fire is going, it is warm,” Yoshieah said. “And we will bring up more blankets and supplies, but for now, I must go. If they see me gone, they will suspect. Make him drink this.” He handed Margorim a bottle. “It’s for his fever.” Margorim nodded and thanked him as the man raced back. “Lock it,” he ordered as he left. Margorim set Cedrick down on the bedroll. He brushed his messy hair. “We need to clean you up.” He smiled a little, but Cedrick wasn’t listening. He was drifting in and out of near sleep. It seemed he was fighting to stay awake. “No, my boy, rest. All is well.” His father assured him. He kissed his grimy forehead. Cedrick slowly let his eyes slide shut and fell into a kind of pain induced sleep. Margorim sighed. He had to get him cleaned up and dry, but for now, this was the best he had. He felt more confident. Cedrick would be alright soon. The Father willing, his son would live. Margorim closed his eyes. “Thank you.” He muttered in a prayer of relief. “Please heal him. I thank you for your help, but I’ve done all I can do myself. Save him. If you can see him, please save him. Whatever it takes, even if it takes my life, just save his. Please, just save his.” Margorim held Cedrick protectively. “Save my son.”

Chapter 34

The Breaking

“He’s not dead!” Elphacena insisted. Tears almost blinded her as she fought Portia and Arylana to get her hands around Mercutio’s neck. That stupid little litchen of a brix! He couldn’t give up! Cedrick was alive; she knew it. She’d feel it if he was gone. When they’d told her, she didn’t feel any pain. No crushing moment, no suffocating and deafening feeling. Every other death had caused at least one of those, and she was sure Cedrick’s death would cause all three. “Lady Elphacena, please.” Mercutio sighed, sympathetic but also a bit exasperated. “Three men saw him shot and go down. There’s no way he escaped that explosion.” “If I’d known you’d be a brix and a pain about this, you wouldn’t have survived either,” Elphacena snarled, struggling to get the stupid general. Her hair had come out of its braid, and it whipped around her face. She pulled against their grip, but it was fruitless. “Hey, language,” Mercutio warned her. “I understand you’re in pain. You’ve just been made a widow, I under—” Mercutio was cut off by a sharp kick from Elphacena’s boot. Elphacena had rested some of her weight on Portia and Arylana to get her swing higher. Portia laughed. Arylana laughed even harder. Mercutio was rubbing his jaw. He wondered if he’d lost a tooth. “Elphacena, my lady, please.” He sighed. “I understand you’re hurt. I understand you’re upset. It must be hard to accept. It’s hard for all of us to accept, but no one more than you, I’m sure.” “Most of all with Roxorim’s announcement. Must make you miss him more.” Portia tried to be sensitive. Her sister, Nerissa, gave her a look. That was not

helpful. “I don’t give a vell what Roxorim does! He can go on and marry Airabelle and twenty others!” Elphacena screamed. “Cedrick isn’t dead! I know it! I feel it! We have to find him. If he was shot down, he’s wounded and alone!” “My lady.” Rackwrith wheeled himself over. “I understand you want evidence. I think a team to try to retrieve the body is an excellent idea.” “There…likely is nothing to find.” Mercutio sighed. His voice shook a little. He swallowed to go on. “Most of all if Margorim was with him. We found…found evidence of his wrap and…and one of his daggers in a place that shows the two were for sure next to one of the explosives when they went off. Alburn confirmed it. There is no…body… just…body parts.” He thought Elphacena would attack him, but she just shook her head. “Mercutio, he’s alive. I know it. There is no evidence that he is dead other than three witnesses, who aren’t even sure they saw him die. They just saw him shot down. We should at least look. He may be stranded, bleeding. He can’t have gotten far alone, if he was shot. We have to check.” Mercutio sighed once again. “As I said before,” he said slowly. “We did. No sign was found. We don’t have the time or manpower to send anyone else.” “So it isn’t worth sending a few men for a day or two looking for your captain and best chance against fighting Heklis himself?” Elphacena demanded. “No, it isn’t worth a few men only to find a body to further grieve an already grieving widow,” Mercutio said comionately. “Please…for yourself and us, just…give it a night. Calm down, get your head around it. I’m sure you’ll… you’ll be reasonable then. I’ll help you wherever I can, my lady. Just…can’t you do that much?” Elphacena sighed and broke free of her two captors. “Alright.” But she was not giving it a whole night. She’d rest a few hours, then she was going after her husband. Nothing was more frustrating than their disbelief and hopelessness. Roxorim had taken their deaths the most hard. Faced with realizing his own mortality, he’d proposed marriage to his secret advisor and lover since her arrival, and she’d

accepted. He felt an urgency to make sure the line didn’t end with him. Mercutio was scrambling to get his best enchanters into a team. He’d made Elphacena head of Cedrick’s division and temporary captain. He seemed to want to make sure Rackwrith wasn’t next in line, no matter what. “Rest will do you good,” Rackwrith agreed, wheeling out of the shadows. “If you’d like, I can assist you, keep you company. I’m sure going back home alone would…” Elphacena rounded on him. Didn’t he hate her? He’d called her all sorts of names to Cedrick’s face. She was sure that hadn’t changed. So why did he want to “go home” with her? She was a trophy. “You…” she snarled. “You shot Cedrick!” “What? My lady, I’m in this chair. I’d never make it on the battlefield.” Rackwrith was stunned. “There’s n-no way. Please, you’re upset. I know Cedrick and I didn’t get along, but I didn’t want him dead.” “Yes you did! It was you!” Elphacena dove before she could be stopped. “Elphacena!” Mercutio cried, frustrated, angry, saddened, and impatient. He beat the other women there and pulled Elphacena off by both arms, holding them behind her back. However, she’d tackled Rackwrith over and started clawing and punching at his face. Rackwrith scrambled to his feet, favoring his left leg. He was shocked and had scratches all over his face and one eye was starting to swell. “See!” Elphacena spat, while Mercutio held her at an awkward angle so she couldn’t break out. “He can stand on it!” “Stand, not walk!” Rackwrith defended, terrified and helpless. “Elphacena! We have no proof. I will have you locked up for the night if you don’t behave.” Mercutio let go, but if she attacked, he would lock her up. Elphacena didn’t. She glared at Mercutio with loathing. She spat at him. “If Cedrick dies, it’s your fault,” she hissed like a poisonous snake, then she

rounded on Rackwrith. “I will prove it was you,” she snarled like a wild cat. “You will pay for this. You’re dead!” She rounded on her heel and stalked off like a wounded and angry tiger. “I’ll… try to calm her,” Arylana said and ran after her. Mercutio sighed and rubbed his face. This was going to be a long…life.

*****

Margorim did his best to keep Cedrick warm and comfortable. There was some wood for a fire, so Margorim got started trying to light it. With some skill and a little Custod magic, he got the fire started. He hoped it would start warming the room soon. It sure lit it up. It had been extremely dark. Now the room was bright and almost cheery, except for the fact there was no furnishings and the only sound (apart from the rain) was Cedrick’s pained breathing. Margorim sighed and rubbed his eyes. He felt so tired. How long had it been? Was the rest of his family alright? Arylana and Elphacena were his main thoughts. Was his little girl alright? Would Cedrick pull through only to find he’d lost his wife? That was a stab Margorim knew and feared it for his son. For a moment, Margorim was lost in watching his son sleep. He still looked as sickly as death, but he had gained some color in his face. His breath wasn’t as short, but still painful. He’d gone from freezing to burning hot. Even in his sleep, he coughed a little. Margorim sat beside his boy and stroked his hair to try to soothe him. He hoped this would stave off fever dreams. Cedrick needed to rest if he was to survive. Margorim’s eyes lost focus as he did this, and his mind started to drift to rather unpleasant places. He jumped when a knock came to the door. Margorim looked over. “It’s Mary. I have food and bedding,” a young female voice said. Margorim let her in. She was a young, sweet girl with raven hair and sweet pink

cheeks and lips. She smiled shyly at Margorim. She helped him set up a second sleeping pad, more wood for the fire, a proper lamp to light in the center, and a pot full of stew. “I…we hope it lasts you until tomorrow evening. We can’t risk coming up too often,” she explained bashfully. “We wish it were more.” “It’s more than enough. Thank you.” Margorim smiled at her. She blushed again, tucking her dark hair behind her ear before leaving. Margorim locked the door. He paused as he did. He smiled for that girl, but apparently, not for his own son. He felt the now familiar stab to his heart. Slowly, he went back to his son’s side and crumpled to the floor. How had he failed so badly? Where did he go wrong? Margorim hid his head in his hands. He’d pushed him too hard, but…he knew if any of them could do it, Cedrick could. How could he have failed him, failed her, so badly? Margorim looked at his son again. So sick, so weak, just like she had been. The memory struck: unwelcome and unwanted it came. The fear, the relief and joy to see he was alive. To see his youngest boy born alive, strong. Margorim shuddered. He’d been so proud of her. “You did it,” he’d told her. “You made it,” he’d said. Oh…oh, how wrong he had been. He’d seen how sick she looked. Margorim could see the memory in his mind’s eye like watching a play. She’d seemed ill but confident. How hadn’t he seen it? She’d brushed it off. “Yes, exhausted, though,” was all she said. Why wasn’t she honest? She was dying. She should have said so! Their last happy moment was to name him. Margorim smiled a little. “And what will his name be?” he’d asked. She’d smiled widely. “You still owe me,” she’d said. “What?” He’d been confused. “Cedrick.” Her smile had been so warm…happy, “A normal name, like you promised me.” He’d laughed…unaware it was all about to end. “Alright then.” He’d smiled.

“Cedrick it is, our little Cedrick.” He recalled how warm she’d been as he’d wrapped his arm around her. “Cedrick Alejandro Michael,” Eldalane said, “like his grandfather.” She had such a tender looked in her eyes as she’d caressed his small forehead. Then the warning, he should have known. She’d let out a soft moan and closed her eyes. “Sweetheart, Eldalane, are you alright?” Then he’d worried but didn’t notice. She’d panted for weakness and…and he accepted her distraction. She’d handed the boy to him, a tender smile on her lips. “He’s special, isn’t he?” she’d said, a meaning in her eyes he still feared. But it couldn’t be. He’d insisted on it. “He can’t be.” “You know what that means.” She’d held out, but it wasn’t so! Margorim pinched his eyes shut to block it out. It wasn’t true! He blocked that out. She was wrong. The delusions of a dying woman, nothing more. At least he had assured her. Comforted her…o-one final time. She’d been so scared. “Someone will have to take care of him.” Eldalane sighed. “Protect him. He’s special, unique. We have to make sure, be sure that…that he makes it. That he’s able to be what he has the power to be.” “Eldalane.” He ed taking her warm, shaking hand. “Don’t worry.” He recalled her scared eyes as he’d gazed deeply into them. “I promise you, I swear to you that he’ll be safe. We’ll be there for him; he’ll be fine. As much as we’re there for our other children, surely, we will be there for him too. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him.” Then he’d gotten up to help her. A foolish choice to say the least. She told him how she loved him. And he’d sworn his undying love to her and gave…his latest promise. The word haunted him now more than ever. “I promise I will look after him. I will love our son with all the love I love you with, I promise.” And that was the last thing he’d said to her. Now…here that son lay, looking as

sickly as she had and… and believing his father hated him. How had he gone so wrong? Margorim hid his face again. He was a fool. He was the one who should have died. He’d failed that promise in a way that deserved death. Where had he gone wrong? Suddenly, an answer came into his head in the form of a memory. Cedrick had been hardly a year old. Margorim had been training his siblings. Cedrick had been playing with a toy. They’d ignored him at first, but then Roxorim and Arylana noticed and were amused by his tricks. Cedrick had started making the ball change colors. Margorim had panicked; Cedrick was too young, far too young. It wasn’t safe! He couldn’t be doing magic yet. He’d panicked and tried to stop the boy. It had scared him, and the boy had burst into tears. Margorim had worked hard to soothe and calm him. The boy did calm down in his father’s arms and fell asleep. That was the pattern. He’d scare Cedrick with his own fear, cause him to fear and cry, and Margorim would soothe him. But when Cedrick was too old to cry, he stopped. And it broke everything. Margorim had not finished up his teaching with a single encouragement or embrace, not…not even a smile. He had to push him. Always. Cedrick had to be better. He had to survive. Now…now he’d gotten his son to survive physically, but he’d crushed his heart almost to death. Until now, he’d never seen all the scars he’d left. All the tears and pain he’d given his son by mistake and never taken back. All the times he should have taken him into his arms and said he was sorry and explained, all the days where Cedrick had scared him and he’d overreacted. That had never stopped. The difference was he didn’t stop to pick him up and assured him that he did care. That his outburst wasn’t of anger, frustration or hatred, but of fear, concern and love. Margorim closed his eyes tightly. How could he have failed so badly? How could he not have noticed? How did he not see Cedrick’s defiance and insolence as his cries? That’s what they had been. Margorim had thought it was just his genes showing up in his son, but perhaps, they were just a grown man’s way of crying for his father’s assurance that he still loved him. The guilt and pain of it welled up inside of him, and Margorim bowed his head. He thought he’d done exactly what he’d promised his wife he’d do. The last thing he’d ever said to her. “I’ll take care of him.” He hadn’t done a very good job, had he? He’d kept Cedrick from getting hurt physically, that was true. Until

the day Cedrick had broken the rules his father forced him to strictly follow, he’d been safe. Yet, he’d still be hurt and worst of all, his father had done the hurting. Then what Cedrick had spat at him. “We all know it.” Had he really made everyone believe he hated his son? Of course, no one else saw his reason, his love. Perhaps Roxorim ed before so knew, but he’d been so little. He’d not be able to assure anyone else. No, this was his fault. He’d made himself Cedrick’s enemy. There was no one else to blame. “Dad…” Margorim jumped and eyes landed on his son. Cedrick was watching his father with a worried and confused expression. He still was weak and shivered a little. It seemed he’d been watching his father for a while. Margorim tried to force a smile. It wasn’t very convincing. “How long have you been awake?” Margorim frowned, but he knew it was awhile. Cedrick had to have been watching him. “Long enough. Are you alright? What’s wrong?” Cedrick frowned, worried. His father looked sick. Margorim swallowed. “Just…thinking. Nothing you need to worry about, rest. You need it.” Cedrick wasn’t listening. He wanted answers. He started to push himself up. “No,” Margorim said quickly and came over to stop Cedrick rising. “You’re too weak. Rest, please.” He was a bit desperate. Margorim had moved too quickly. He held Cedrick down, but it hurt him. Cedrick gasped as he felt the pressure. His eyes rolled a little. Margorim’s heart jumped into his throat. “No, no, please.” He’d failed to see his cries of pain and comfort him before. He wouldn’t fail now. He gently took his son into his arms to try to comfort him. “It’s a-alright. I’m here now. I see it now. I won’t fail you anymore.” “What…are you talking about?” Cedrick panted. “Father, what’s wrong?” His weak blue eyes met his father’s brown ones. Margorim’s mouth twitched. “I…I don’t know what’s wrong,” he confessed. “And apparently, I haven’t in…in years. You know better than I do, Cedrick.” Cedrick frowned, unsure what his father exactly meant. He was weak and tired as it was. He couldn’t handle these riddles. He closed his eyes and let his face

rest in his father’s sleeve. It still smelled of rain. “No, I don’t,” he said wearily. Margorim sighed. “I’ve…not listened to you. I was so busy trying to keep you alive I…I forgot to let you live.” Cedrick was too weak and confused to reply but was listening. Margorim sighed. “I was too busy trying to save you, protect you like I promised your mother, that I forgot that you can’t live your life without risks. I tried to put you in a bubble. I thought it would keep you safe and happy. I was obviously wrong. I traded your safety for your happiness. I traded it at a high price. You never…Cedrick, oh Cedrick.” Margorim sighed. “I love you.” It was a pang to say it, not because he didn’t love him but because his son had to hear it. He should know. Margorim held him protectively: his son, his pride. Though he was weak, Cedrick did try to return the pressure. Margorim knew how hard Cedrick had worked for those words. He could hardly imagine how his son felt. Was he happy? Was he angry it had taken this long? Margorim wouldn’t blame him. He would be. “I know I haven’t deserved it, but please, don’t ever doubt it. I only wanted to protect you. I can’t lose you, Cedrick. I…you’re all I have of her. That does not make me hate you, I swear. You’re one of my greatest joys.” Margorim’s mouth twitched towards a smile. “You’re a special boy, Cedrick. There’s no denying that. I was proud of it but scared of it as well. You showed talent so young: too young. It frightened me. What if you hurt yourself? What if it caused worse danger? I couldn’t let you use it. Not yet, anyway. I couldn’t face it. I couldn’t let it be true. So, I tried to hide it. I couldn’t let you use it.” “Then why train so hard?” Cedrick challenged a little. He wanted to believe his father. A part of him did, but he needed it all disproven. He needed to know why it all happened. If his father did not hate him, he had to know why he did what he did. “Well, partly because I needed you to be strong enough to defend yourself, and partly, because I knew you could.” His mouth twitched once more. “Out of all of my children, I saw you had the most potential. You have a strange ability to succeed at whatever you try.” He shook his head. “It’s a strange thing, but one I took advantage of. I never let it be enough because I knew you could do better. It was that simple. You could do better than ten downs. I knew you could do five if you tried, so I demanded five. Perhaps you didn’t always reach it, but I knew

you could.” Margorim stopped to think. He tried to beat Cedrick to the next question. What else had he done that may have hurt Cedrick that Cedrick would need to have explained? “I didn’t want you to use your battle style because I didn’t understand it. I was scared you’d hurt yourself with those tricks. I didn’t know how to teach you to use them safely. If you couldn’t do it safely, I wouldn’t take the risk of doing it at all. I had to protect you, no matter the cost,” Margorim explained as best he could. “Or so I thought.” He paused, thinking a moment. “I never knew how high a price I was paying and I knew even less the price you were paying for it.” Margorim stopped, realizing this was a lot for Cedrick to take in all at once, most of all weak. He studied his tired face to see if he needed to explain more. It was hard to tell with Cedrick’s eyes closed, so Margorim decided he’d have to explain deeper. “I was taking my love away from you. That was the price I was paying and that you were paying to keep you ‘safe.’” Margorim huffed. “And it didn’t even work. I scarred you.” Likely for life. “And look at us now. Look at what happened.” Margorim almost yelled the last bit. He shook his head, eyes far away. “Alone for months, living in the dangerous mountains, getting married to the sorcerous we’d been hearing about in the village, meeting Jarbo, then you ended up on the front lines anyway.” Margorim sighed from the depths of his chest. “And look at us now.” Margorim swallowed and bowed his head. “It didn’t have to be this way. It wasn’t always this way. When you were little, I’d take any and all excuses to spend time with you. We’d play just fine until...” Margorim seemed to be having trouble with a recurring lump in his throat. “...yyou’d get excited and use magic. It scared me. It put you in danger. So I’d stop it. You’d get scared and fuss.” Margorim took a shuddering breath. “I’d comfort you then. I wanted to be sure you knew you were safe, and I loved you, wanted and needed you. As you got older, I kept doing all of it but the last part. You’d still fuss, but the kind of fussing changed. You’d not whimper or cry anymore. You’d stamp your foot and yell or complain. Your fussing didn’t stop. I just stopped comforting and explaining why. Oh…Cedrick.” Margorim looked at his son with pained eyes. “I always just wanted to keep you safe. You were too precious to lose. And you still are. Just hold on, I know it’s hard but stay with us. I know this is all my fault, but forgive me, and hold on.”

“No.” Cedrick breathed. “It’s not all your fault. I didn’t try to show you love either. I was t-too busy trying to earn it. You didn’t know I cared about you either.” Margorim laughed. “No Cedrick, it’s not one bit your fault. At least, not on that part. I knew you loved me. Well, it seems you can’t help but love people, but it wasn’t just that, my boy.” Margorim gently brushed Cedrick’s thick hair from his face. “I recall your first words. You’d tell everyone you loved them: me, Roxy and Lanie, the cat, the dog, even the fish, as you ate it.” Margorim chuckled a bit to himself. “I never doubted that, my dear boy. I honestly didn’t realize you fought so hard to earn my love. I thought you just wanted to return it. You loved me, so you wanted to prove yourself to me. The same way I did to my father. I thought by being better or smarter than him, I’d make him happy. Foolish idea.” Margorim laughed a little. “Don’t doubt I knew you loved me. I suppose I just never understood you. I thought I did. I now know I know Heklis better than I know you.” This painful thought brought tears to Margorim’s eyes. He knew his enemy better than his own son. “And I’m s-sorry.” “I-I am too.” Cedrick gripped Margorim a bit tighter, but his grip was still so weak. Margorim’s heart faltered. Cedrick just had to survive. Most of all after this. It was his fault. His son went too long feeling his father hated him. He had to make it right somehow. He just had to. “Then hold on, stay with me. Then we can at least try to make this right. Stay with me, son. Stay with us, Cedrick.” Margorim held him close again and rocked a little, comforting himself as much as Cedrick. Cedrick closed his eyes, tired but also feeling safe, comforted. He’d finally gotten it. What he’d worked for his whole life. What he’d believed he’d never get. He smiled a little as his father gently sent him back to sleep. He’d not seen the tears shining in his father’s eyes. Though he looked happier, Cedrick still looked very sick. He was still pale, cold, and shaking. He wasn’t out of the woods yet. Margorim rested his head on top of his son’s, trying to curl around him a bit, keeping him warm. “Please…oh please, Cedrick, hold on, hold out. I know you can. I know you can. I need you to. I love you.”

*****

Margorim was dozing gently against the wall. Cedrick was asleep with him, his head leaning on his father’s leg. Margorim hardly noticed as he dozed. What woke him was a sudden shaking in the wall. Margorim blinked and opened his eyes. “Cedrick?” He muttered and sat up. Cedrick didn’t make a sound. Margorim frowned. If it wasn’t Cedrick, what was it? Then he heard it. It was someone knocking at the door of the home below. Margorim carefully stood, trying not to wake his son and went to the window. He tried to see without being seen. A figure in a dark cloak stood in front of the door. The figure had an air of urgency about them. The door opened, and she flew into explanation. She? Margorim frowned and tried to hear, but the pounding rain made it hard. Margorim glanced at his son, then carefully pushed the window open a bit. It made the rain louder, but the voice clearer. “Please, he likely was hurt. It would have only been a few days,” the girl pleaded. Margorim knew that voice. It couldn’t be, could it? A smile played at Margorim’s lips. It wasn’t possible, but it had to be. He only listened to her plea another moment. “He’s my husband. I’ll pay whatever I can, please. I have to find him.” Margorim went to the door and opened it. He rushed down the steps and opened the hidden door. The mother at the door jumped and looked at him, looking scandalized. “Margorim?” Elphacena’s face filled with surprise and hope. Margorim smiled a little. “It’s alright, Mariam. She’s my daughter-in-law.” “Oh.” The mother sighed and stepped aside. “Then come in, me lady.” Elphacena rushed inside and threw her arms around Margorim. She held him tightly. “I feared you were dead.” She sighed.

“No, I’m still here.” Margorim chuckled a little and returned the hug. “But then…you heard about…Cedrick?” Elphacena’s lip shook a little. Margorim smiled. “Heard, no. Saw, yes.” Elphacena looked up at Margorim’s face. “Saw?” Fear filled her eyes. “Yes, he’s up here. Come, quickly before others come looking.” Margorim took her arm as he’d been taught to treat any other noble lady and led her up the age. They slipped into the cold tower. Margorim closed the door then turned to see Elphacena standing frozen. Her mouth gaped open. Her eyes were locked on her sickly husband. “Cedrick…” She breathed. In a moment, she was at his side. Cedrick moaned a little as she touched his face and rested her other hand on his chest. “Cena” He muttered sleepily. Then he frowned, his eyes still closed. “Hey.” Elphacena smiled a little. “It’s me. I’m not a dream, my love. Cedrick, I’m here.” She gripped his cold hand in her warm, soft one. “It’s really me. I love you, deeply. I’m here for you now. I knew I’d find you. I knew you weren’t dead.” She kissed his forehead, her dark red hair hiding her face for a moment. “Cena?” Cedrick’s eyes opened, and they landed on his wife. “Cena?” His breathing picked up a little and an inexplicable energy filled his being for a moment. He reached up and pulled her close and kissed her. It didn’t last long. He pulled back and coughed weakly. He laid his head back down tiredly. Elphacena frowned and stroked his hair. “You’ll be alright,” she promised. “I’ll do my best to be sure of it.” She sat in a more comfortable position and kept stroking his hair. “Rest, you need it. I will not leave. I promise you.” She kissed his forehead. Margorim smiled a little to watch Cedrick relax more than he had in days. His fear he’d never see her again was gone. He’d let it go and now could rest better. Margorim came over carefully to try not to wake his son. “I’m glad to see you,”

he said. “You do him much good.” Elphacena smiled a little at Margorim. “He seems to do you good too. I’ve never seen you smile so much. Even if it’s just your mouth twitching.” Margorim chuckled a little. “Yes. Truth has a way of doing that.” “What do you mean?” Elphacena asked. “Nothing,” Margorim said quickly. Elphacena frowned but didn’t press. “It was just a hard journey.” “I’m sure. The fact you got him here is impressive,” Elphacena said. “For both of you. Did anything else happen apart from the struggle here? Any new news?” Margorim shook his head. “No, but I’m sure you have plenty for me.” “Yes, I do.” Elphacena nodded. She carefully took her husband into her arms to comfort him in his sleep before explaining. “A lot happened. The army is convinced you and Cedrick are dead. I was sure Cedrick was alive, but they wouldn’t listen to me. I had to sneak away.” “What of the battle? The city? How many did we lose?” Margorim asked, hoping he’d not hear the names of his family in that list. “Arylana is fine,” Elphacena said. “She was with me when I used magic to defend us from the blast. Most of the leaders are alright, I think. I know Rackwrith made it.” Elphacena scowled and squeezed Cedrick a little. He responded by rubbing into her chest. Elphacena smiled slightly. “What do you mean you think? You don’t know?” Margorim frowned. Elphacena sighed. “Well, I was so insistent we had to send someone to find you and Cedrick, and they didn’t want to send troops on a fool’s errand. So, I didn’t get into very many meetings. They didn’t want my ‘grief’ distracting them.” “I see.” Margorim frowned. “How do you know about Mercutio and Rackwrith then?” “Mercutio tried to stop me going after you,” Elphacena said. “And I think it was

Rackwrith who shot Cedrick.” “What? Why?” Margorim was surprised, yet not. “Well, one, he told us about Cedrick getting shot down before anyone else, and he sure wasn’t upset. And the other three witnesses I had told me he was hit from the side our men had taken over. There was no enemy there. Now I can try to prove it.” “How?” Margorim asked. “If I’m right, the shot on Cedrick’s body is going to be at a unique angle because Rackwrith is in the wheelchair, and he’d have to have used a cross bow and a strange angle. I could not copy it now matter how I tried.” Margorim nodded, thinking. “It did have a tilt downward,” he itted. He hadn’t noticed in the moment. “Then I’m right; it was him. Cedrick was right; Rackwrith is the spy.” Elphacena said. “Think that will prove it to the others?” “Not likely,” Margorim said. “Not without seeing the injury. And even then not likely.” They worked on plans on how best to get back and reveal the spy. When Cedrick woke up, Elphacena hesitantly told him the plan. While Margorim rested. When Cedrick heard how bad things were, he was in full agreement with his father. He even moved as if to sit up. “Don’t…you…dare,” Elphacena snarled. Cedrick stopped. He was a bit terrified. Elphacena held him close and protectively, like a dragon on her hoard. “You’re still weak. You’re staying here with me. You’re to rest.” Cedrick moaned a little but understood. He really didn’t feel well. He closed his eyes and rested against her shoulder. “I know you do.” Elphacena paused. His answer didn’t make sense at first. Then she smiled a little and rested her head on his. “You’re hopeless.” “I’ve known that for a long time. Father made sure,” Cedrick replied. His breathing was still a bit heavy, but he was holding up surprisingly well. He was

shaking a little but ignored it all for her. “Seems he’s trying to make up for that.” Elphacena started to stroke his hair, lulling him into security to spill the beans. It worked like a charm. Cedrick nodded tiredly and told her everything his father had told him. “As odd as it sounds, it all made sense. I believed him. Would explain a lot. He just wouldn’t get over himself for me. That’s all. He promised her.” Cedrick swallowed. He couldn’t imagine how afraid he’d be to break his final promise to his beloved wife. If he lost her and that was all he had left. Cedrick shuddered at the thought. “Shhh, rest, you’re shaking.” Elphacena frowned. “I-it’s nothing.” Cedrick assured her, eyes far away. Elphacena frowned deeper. “Cedrick?” “Mmm?” He looked up at her. “What…” She was cut off as he reached up and kissed her. “I love you,” he sighed, relaxing as the small effort took its toll. “And I you.” Elphacena smiled a little and wrapped the blanket more securely around her husband. “With all I have.” Cedrick smiled a little. “I just hope that…now we seem to understand one another, this war can end.” “I think he’ll stop fighting at least. As long as you do.” Elphacena started to stroke his hair again, teasing the tips of his ears. This was a tricky move. Cedrick closed his eyes. It felt so good how she brushed her fingers through his hair. Though it likely was a gross mess to play in. “I will try.” Cedrick’s eyelids drooped. “I will.”

Chapter 35

Foolish Friends

Two days later, they were set to leave. Elphacena was surprised to see Margorim succeeded at finding the other thing he’d hoped for: a guide. Though this guide was not what she’d been expecting. Margorim said he’d wanted to find a trustworthy one. Elphacena wasn’t sure they could trust this one. It turned out this guide was an old friend of Margorim’s. Margorim didn’t sound too happy about his appearance, but he was offering to be their guide for free. That was what they most needed. Elphacena could tell Margorim was already sick of the “good old days” talk but would endure it to ensure a safer age for his son. Margorim helped Cedrick into the cart, and Cedrick pushed himself to the far back and leaned against the back of it. He was panting now. He let his head flop back and rested on the wood behind him. He was still shaking a little, and his breathing was painful. Elphacena ignored Margorim and his annoying buddy, and jumped into the cart to sit by Cedrick for a moment. “Are you alright?” she asked, worry in her eyes. “Y-yeah.” Cedrick smiled weakly. “F-fine.” He pecked her on the lips. This didn’t satisfy her. “Margorim, maybe we should wait a bit longer.” “You sure? He’s handled worse. I’m sure he can handle this.” Margorim smiled approvingly at Cedrick. “I am. He’s already shaking,” Elphacena said.

“That should be the hardest part.” Margorim’s smile faded a little. “You really think it’s that bad?” Brutus, Margorim’s old friend, butted in. “Hey, I said we leave tonight, so we leave tonight.” Their guide’s head suddenly appeared. “He’ll be fine. Let’s go.” He pulled his head back. Elphacena sighed and shrugged at Margorim. Margorim rolled his eyes. “Well, Brutus is right, sadly. We’re running out of time. And…” Margorim smiled at his tired son. “He can handle it.” That look meant more than Cedrick could ever express, and he nodded. He’d not let his father down. He could do this: easy. Elphacena frowned then gave Cedrick a disapproving scowl. “Fine,” Cedrick said to her and kissed her cheek. “I’m hurt and sick, but I’ll be fine.” “Come on you two,” Brutus called. Margorim sighed and got out. Elphacena did not. “I’m staying with him,” she said. “Lady, I ain’t able to pull you both,” Brutus complained. “You can and will,” Elphacena said, “or you will wait.” “Cena, it’s okay. I’ll call. If I need you,” Cedrick promised. “I mostly just hope to sleep.” “I don’t care.” Elphacena looked right into Cedrick’s eye to try to get him to let her into his head. Though it was the only mind trick Cedrick knew, (keeping people out) he let her in. I don’t like this “guide.” Elphacena insisted. I want to stay with you if something happens. Not just for you. Cedrick thought about this a moment. If I need you, I’ll get you. Don’t worry about that. Then you can ride with me, no matter what he says. Elphacena didn’t like any of this, and she let Cedrick know with a glare. “Alright.” She said out loud and got out. “But if he needs me, I’m in and you’re pulling, unless I say otherwise.” “Why chica?” the man sneered at her.

“Because I say so.” “Your girl here is bossy,” Brutus told Margorim. “Her name is Elphacena, and she’s my son’s wife. But she’s right. If you’re helping us, help.” Margorim waved him to the front. His friend didn’t look happy but slipped to the front. Elphacena secured the pack on her back, while Margorim went to Cedrick. “Are you sure you can do this?” “Dad, I’m not doing anything,” Cedrick pointed out. “I’m sleeping in a cart.” “Right.” Margorim shook himself a little. “I just worry about you.” Cedrick smiled. “I know.” “And I know you can handle it if you had to, but Cedrick, you don’t have to. If it’s too much-” Cedrick cut him off. “It’s nothing. We have to make sure our family is okay, and we’re wasting time.” Margorim smiled and nodded his agreement. “Alright.” He went over with Brutus and started them off. Cedrick appeared to be right. He didn’t seem to get worse or have any trouble. At each rest, Elphacena alighted into the cart to check on him, made sure he ate and was warm. Though it was supposed to be warmer weather, it was still unseasonably chilly. The whole ride, Margorim’s old friend wouldn’t stop talking. He was hopeless. Margorim was embarrassed by his stories. It seemed they were friends when Margorim was young and wild, long before he’d met Eldalane. Brutus had a very large mouth and a rather stupid smile. His teeth were so white they were almost blinding. His smile made his eyes shockingly small and dark. His hair was severely salt and pepper, so much it was hard to tell if he’d been a carrot top or blond. His stories were rather crude or crudely told. Elphacena was looking forward to being rid of him. Truth be told, Margorim was even more anxious to be rid of him.

On their first rest in the cart with Cedrick, Brutus asked who the kid in the cart was. Elphacena was holding him protectively. Margorim sat by them as if to protect them both. Irritably, Margorim reminded Brutus that it was his son. Brutus’s response made Elphacena’s stomach toss. “Son! Son?” Brutus let out a blast of a laugh. Cedrick didn’t like it. “I thought you said that to keep the guards off you. You? Settled down? Really?” He looked Cedrick over. “Whose could you be? Ellen? Juanetta? Oh no, or did you get your real crush to bed, Lady Eldalane, perhaps? From your letters.” Margorim bristled, “My wife gave me three children, and yes, it was Eldalane.” Brutus whistled, “You? Settled? I’d have sold my boots and honor before I thought you’d do that.” Cedrick could almost feel his father’s face turning red even if you couldn’t see it. Margorim kept his expression very composed. “Yes, we were happily married.” “You find someone else since?” Brutus asked. “Father.” Cedrick tried to warn, but he wasn’t fast enough. Margorim grabbed his friend’s shirt. “You hint such dishonor again, I’ll knock your eyes out.” “Alright, alright, I understand. Sorry mate, I didn’t expect,” Brutus said sincerely. “Just you, a family man.” He laughed. “So this hot stuff must be your daughter.” He flashed Elphacena a charming smile. It was Cedrick’s turn to cut him off. “With me,” he said dangerously. “Toughy older brother,” Brutus commented. “She’s my wife you-” Cedrick almost said something foul when Margorim stopped him. “It’s none of your concern, sir,” Elphacena spat the "sir” at him. “Alright, alright, pardon.” Brutus held up his hands.

The rest of the break ed in silence. As it was getting dark, and they were looking for a place to spend the night, Brutus noticed something. “Uh, wild horses,” he said. A herd of them were grazing off to their right. Margorim glanced at them. “Uh, didn’t know there were any this far north.” “They’d be better at pulling this cart.” Brutus rubbed his stubbed chin. “They aren’t trained,” Margorim said flatly. “They’d do nothing of the sort.” “Why not? It’s in their blood,” Brutus said as if stating the obvious. Margorim shook his head. “No, these are wild, and their parents, and their parent’s parents were likely wild as well. It’s not been in their blood for an age. There is no way they’d be of use to us.” Brutus frowned. Elphacena’s voice suddenly called from behind them. “I think we should rest for the night. I think Cedrick’s fever maybe picking back up.” “Alright. Let’s find a place to shelter then,” Margorim called back. “But we have likely a half an hour’s light still.” Brutus tried to protest. “You said it would be a quick job.” “I said it should only be a few days, not it would be a few days,” Margorim said. “And it’s been one day, not a few.” He started looking for a good place. The best they could find was a cluster of trees that made a kind of dark nook. Margorim used supplies to help make a lean-to. Margorim then started to prepare some of the meat he’d packed for an evening meal while Elphacena made sure Cedrick was secure. He smiled and kissed her softly to assure her. Elphacena smiled and kissed him back. Margorim kept working on the meal. It wasn’t long until the food was ready, and they were starting to eat that they noticed Brutus was missing. “I’ll find the fool,” Margorim muttered. He wished he hadn’t needed the man’s help. Margorim muttered such thoughts to himself as he went to find him.

It wasn’t long before they came back. Margorim was still muttering as he started to eat. Brutus worked on braiding the rope they had into longer strands. He’d been using plants to do the job and said he had wanted to go look for more in case. Elphacena made sure Cedrick ate then snuggled close to him to try to get him to sleep. It worked like a charm, and before long, they were both asleep. Margorim offered to take the first watch, but Brutus insisted he would. “Old friend, it’s the least I can do after all you’ve been through,” he said. “I insist. You all rest.” Margorim agreed but not very willingly. Margorim felt he’d only just closed his eyes when they snapped open again. A huge crashing and screaming sound had woken him. Margorim shot to his feet and was beside Cedrick in seconds. Cedrick moaned and opened his eyes. “Father?” he muttered sleepily. Elphacena woke too. “Dad.” Cedrick’s eyes focused on his father. “What’s wrong? You look as pale as a ghost.” “If it wasn’t you-” Margorim began to ask when there was another crash and screaming. “What is that?” Elphacena got up. Then she frowned. Her eyes scanned the area. “Where did Brutus go?” “Who cares?” Cedrick grumbled. He still seemed mostly asleep. Margorim noticed he was missing too. “And the cart.” Margorim felt foreboding. This could not be good. Then the noise came closer, and Margorim recognized it. “Is that a horse?” He could hardly believe it. Had the idiot really...? “I think it was.” Elphacena drew her weapon. “No.” Margorim held out a hand to her. “I’ll go. You stay with Cedrick, and if

need be, be ready to run. Do you understand?” “But Margorim, he-” “He’s stronger than you think. He can at least walk with help out of danger’s path, if not further. He’s impressive when he wants to be,” Margorim said. “Just be ready.” Elphacena nodded her agreement, a happiness and pride swelling in her chest. Something had changed. Margorim was proud of his boy. It made her heart sing a little. She didn’t take the time to enjoy it though, and she quickly went to Cedrick’s aid. Margorim picked up a brand from the fire and headed towards the sound. “Brutus?” he called. “Brutus?” May be he should call out “Stupid?”. Margorim moved carefully into the shadows to let his fire light up the path ahead. What he saw annoyed him, exasperated him, and made him ready to kill. The idiot had tried it. Brutus had not listened to his warning. He had tried to catch a wild horse. Worse: he’d caught one! The moron had tied the rope he’d made around the horse’s neck and tried to pin it to the cart. The dipstick was right about one thing. The horse was better at pulling a cart. The horse had run wild and dragged the cart in a wild manner behind it. Margorim had to duck to avoid it swinging into him. Brutus was chasing after it. “Are you mad?” Margorim stopped him. “That horse could kill you with one kick. It could kill you by running past you too fast with that cart. I told you the horses would be no help to us!” “Look, I’m taming it. Just give me a bit,” Brutus insisted. There was another crash. The cart had already been badly beaten up. The horse had realized by thrashing about, it was breaking the cart. It kept running the cart into things. The horse reared up, neighing to the sky before coming down and bolting away. The cart bounced and jolted behind it. “Hey! Windracer, come back here!” Brutus went to go after the horse. “That thing will kill you.” Margorim stopped him again. “You’re mad. What

were you thinking?” “I was thinking I’d help,” Brutus snapped back. “Help! Help! You mean get out of working. I told you. This will only end in trouble. Why don’t you listen? I asked for your help pulling the cart back. And now we have no horse and no cart!” There was a yell from behind them. Margorim froze, realizing the horse had headed towards where they’d camped. “If that horse hurts anyone, I’ll take it out of your hide!” he screamed. They raced back to the camp. The horse had gone wild and run over the fire. The cart was a blaze. Elphacena had pulled the supplies from harm’s way. Cedrick was standing up, to Margorim’s worry, and was holding out a hand to the horse. “Shhh,” Cedrick said tiredly. “I won’t hurt you.” The horse stood still, watching Cedrick. Cedrick was panting heavily and stumbled forward. Margorim jumped as if to help but stopped as Cedrick put a hand to the horse’s nose. “There, see?” Cedrick panted with a smile. “Good girl.” He patted her neck tiredly. “Here.” With fumbling fingers, Cedrick untied the rope. With weak and tripping steps, Cedrick guided the horse away from the blazing cart. “You’re free, wild one. Go on.” He patted the horse’s side. She took the hint and took off. Cedrick sighed tiredly, panting a few more seconds, eyes closed. He started to collapse. Margorim lunged forward and caught him. “I have you, son. That’s my boy.” Margorim wanted to scream at him. He could have been killed! But he also ed his promise. He was impressed. Cedrick had calmed the horse, saved it, and got it away all without hurting the horse or having the horse hurt him. Just like when he was a child, he’d soothe him, it was okay, tell him he loved him, then tell him not to be stupid. That would work. “Just rest, you’re still wounded.” He helped Cedrick sit back. Elphacena came over. “You alright?” Cedrick nodded. “J-Just tired.” he itted. “W-weak.”

“Well, for weakness, that was impressive.” Margorim smiled a little. “I didn’t think anyone could calm that thing down.” Cedrick smiled. “Th-thanks, dad.” He was getting there. “But it was foolish. It could have killed you,” Margorim said. “Would have if he hadn’t tried,” Elphacena said. “I got him out of the way first and got other supplies out of the way when it ran over the fire. It started to panic and moved as if to charge us. That’s when Cedrick pulled away, and you came in.” Margorim sighed. “Well, it was quick thinking. I’m impressed.” Then his angry eyes turned to Brutus. “And you.” His voice picked up. He turned and stood up. His anger over his son being in danger was not going to hurt Cedrick this time. Even better, he had someone else to let it out on. Someone who deserved it. “I warned you. I told you they couldn’t be tamed to do the work. I told you! Why didn’t you listen?! You left your post, endangered yourself and us. You could have gotten my son killed!” “I was trying to help.” “You were trying to get out of work!” Margorim snapped at him. “You risked all our lives to do it. I told you! I told you! Now what are we going to do? The cart is gone.” Margorim gesturing at the burning pile. As he pointed at it, part of it collapsed into a rush of sparks. “He can walk it,” Brutus said. “He’s wounded!” Margorim screamed into Brutus’s face. “How far can he go without getting worse? Yes, he can do it, but he shouldn’t have to. It could make him sick which could kill him in his weak state. I should throw you out, all black and blue! I would, but I need the help still. So, you better shape up. Understood?” Brutus nodded but glowered. “Yes, but that’s some way to treat an old friend trying to help.” His contained anger reminded them of Rackwrith’s glares at Cedrick. Cedrick looked nervous. He groaned a little. The nervousness on top of his weakness and

pain in his stomach made him shudder. Elphacena tightened her hold on him like a hug. “Cedrick?” Margorim frowned. “Are you alright?” “Be fine,” Cedrick assured him. “You better rest. You’re in for a hard trip in the morning.” Margorim sighed. “And you.” Margorim grabbed Brutus’s collar, “are staying up with me on real watch.” Elphacena smiled a little as Margorim dragged Brutus over. She sighed and looked at Cedrick. “He’s right, rest.” She made him rest his head on her chest and shoulder. She stroked his hair gently. She bit her lip nervously and started to hum. It was one of the sweetest sounds Cedrick had ever heard. Some of the best music he’d ever known. Slowly, his eyelids grew heavy and started to slide down. They finally closed, but Cedrick was not yet asleep. He was awake, but in perfect peace as he listened to Elphacena’s soft tones until he slipped into just as peaceful and delightful sleep. When he woke, it was hard to lift his head when he felt that it was filled with weights. His blood felt like it was made of iron. He moaned and forced himself to sit up. Elphacena squeezed his shoulder. “Shh,” she said. “Gentle.” “What’s the time?” he muttered. “Just after seven, I’d think. Your father made Brutus help him pack up. We wanted to let you rest as long as we could. It’s going to be a long day,” she sighed. It took her just over two days to find them. With Cedrick’s weak state, it was sure to be longer now. She felt sorry for all of them, Margorim worried for his family there and here, Cedrick just trying to push on, and wondering what Arylana and Roxorim were thinking now they seemed to be alone in the world. “Should get moving then,” Cedrick said as if it was a normal day of drills and battle plans. He started to get up. He winced sharply and pinched his eyes shut.

“Careful.” Elphacena tried to help him. Normally, he’d have said that he should help her, but clearly his weakness required her help. Elphacena frowned. She still wasn’t convinced he was alright. She knew he could slip back into an unstable state if pushed too hard. Cedrick nodded tiredly. “I will. I promise.” He kissed her cheek, but even in that touch, she felt how weak he was. “Cedrick.” Elphacena put an arm around him to help him. She was worried, scared. He couldn’t get worse. He had to recover. She couldn’t lose him! Again, he tried to assure her with that tired smile. It didn’t help. She bit her lips and hugged him. “Stay with us. It’s alright. Don’t…” She stopped. Cedrick allowed his head to rest on her shoulder for a moment. He took a deep breath, well as best as he could take without hurting himself. “I can make it. I won’t leave you. my promise?” His blue eyes met hers. Elphacena smiled a watery smile. She put a hand to his face. “I do,” she said. “I hold to it. More than you know.” She kissed him but gently because of his injury. “Let’s go,” Brutus called over. Elphacena sighed and stayed close to try to give Cedrick if needed. They didn’t dare take main roads with Cedrick weak and without something to hide him. So Margorim had to blaze a trail for them. He tried to make it as easy as he could for Cedrick’s sake, but he’d already been forced to try to keep moving before. He could handle it well enough now, but he was rapidly growing weaker as the day went on. They’d rested for lunch. Then an hour later, Elphacena called up to Margorim with panic in her voice. “Margorim!” Margorim stopped and turned. He saw what made Elphacena panic. Cedrick had gone pale and was wheezing a little. “Cedrick!” Margorim’s heart was pierced with worry, and he raced back to his son. “He’s fine.” Brutus tried to brush off, but they all ignored him. “Cedrick, Cedrick, look at me.” Margorim bent down to look into his boy’s

eyes. Cedrick met his father’s eyes. He smiled faintly. “Hey…” “Cedrick, you’re burning up.” Margorim frowned. “We have to stop. Brutus! Help set up shelter!” Brutus frowned. “What? Why?” “He’s getting worse. We have to rest,” Margorim said. “We just did,” Brutus insisted. “He’s fine.” “He is not! We need to stop.” Margorim’s voice rose. “We have to go,” Brutus said. “We have to hurry, or we’ll run out of time.” “He can’t get there faster. We have to rest.” Margorim wasn’t giving up. “You said we had to keep going.” Brutus stepped back to confront Margorim. “He’s still on his feet. He’s standing and looks ready to walk. He’s even got help. He can do it.” “He can’t. He needs to rest, or he will get worse.” Margorim’s fists clenched. Brutus snarled, “Look, I signed on for three days.” “I said a few days!” “I signed on for three days! You can’t make me do longer.” “No, I can’t. If you don’t want to come, then go! But he cannot go on. He’s my son. I’m not going to push him on only to hurt himself worse. It’s your choice. I never made you come.” Margorim turned away from his old friend. They didn’t need his help with the cart, and he wasn’t being much of a guide anyway. They didn’t need him. “What? I’m not that wimpy of a friend. You did promise.” “When we were young boys!” Margorim snapped. “Years ago, before the world changed. That holds nothing now! We were foolish boys. I’m not that boy

anymore. And by the Creator, you shouldn’t be that boy anymore either. So, what’s it going to be? I am not holding you, so don’t hold me. Go home if you wish, and we’ll do the same.” “We have to keep going to make it in time,” Brutus insisted. “He can’t.” “Then maybe you should have had a stronger son. Now let’s-” But Brutus didn’t get to say another word. Margorim punched him across the face. His punch powered a mighty hit. Brutus fell almost five feet back. “My son is ten times the man you are and stronger with all that!” Margorim screamed at him. “If you were the one hurt, you’d not have made it half so far! Now help us or leave. That’s your choice, but you will not attack my son.” Brutus set his teeth and pushed himself up. “You didn’t keep your word.” “I have kept my word,” Margorim snarled. “To my oath and my family. I kept it to you when we were friends, but that was long ago. I bear you no ill; please don’t bear us any either. But I will not tolerate your attacks on my son, understood?” I’ve already hurt him in that regard enough. Margorim swallowed. “Alright,” Brutus snarled. “Then we camp. Hopefully, an hour will help. If not, we’ll do what we must for him. I will not let anyone or anything hurt him. He’s worth more than anything I could pay. If we have to wait days for him to be well, so be it. That’s the long and short of it, and no talk will change it.” Brutus nodded his understanding, but he didn’t like it. Cedrick was gaping at his father, stunned and touched. His father had stood up for him. Cedrick had never thought it could happen, but it had. His eyes stung, but he blinked it back. He couldn’t let his father down now. His father’s defense of him lifted his spirits, but it did nothing for his ailing body. Elphacena felt him steadily lean more heavily on her. “Margorim, he’s getting worse. We have to get him warm and rested.”

Margorim quickly helped set up a place to let Cedrick lie comfortably, while he set up better shelter and fire to keep them warm. Brutus was muttering under his breath, but no one knew exactly what he was saying. Well, Cedrick likely could have, if he’d been paying attention. When he was let to rest on something soft, his illness went right to his head again. He rested in a kind of half daze. Elphacena tried to wake him up to see if he was going delirious, but she could wake him from it, so she let him rest there. They moved Cedrick into the protection as a stiff wind began to blow. Margorim started a fire inside the tent they built, letting the smoke out a vent. He frowned to see Cedrick looked worse. He was panting and shaking even though he seemed asleep. Margorim set his teeth and looked at Brutus who was made to take watch. This was his fault. If only he’d realized their “guide” was so stupid. He thought he’d have grown up like the rest of them. He was wrong. Now because he’d not done his job right, Cedrick was getting worse. He may lose his son because of his friend’s foolish decision. Cedrick was shivering a little. Elphacena tried to make sure he was wrapped up as much as she could and glanced at Margorim. Cedrick had slipped back into his daze. Margorim saw her looking but couldn’t meet her eye. “I’m sorry,” he said. “What?” Elphacena frowned. She didn’t understand. “I should have found better help,” Margorim said. “It’s my fault. If he…it’s my fault.” “Margorim.” Elphacena sighed and went over to him. “You wouldn’t have hired him, if you knew. I’m sure of that. You’ve been different. I trust you were trying to help.” “And it’s killing him,” Margorim moaned. He didn’t seem depressed as much as frustrated. “I can’t seem to do any of this right. I made everyone believe I hate him. I wasn’t there when he needed me. I got us stuck here with him.” He glared after Brutus. “I’m a pain to him, and at this rate, I’m getting him killed. I should

have at least let him heal longer. I should have waited.” Elphacena bit her lips. “Well, doesn’t matter now, right?” “What?” Margorim turned on her. “I just mean it’s over. There’s nothing you can do now, right?” Elphacena tried to explain her thinking. “So those ‘should haves’ don’t do anything right now other than distract us.” She swallowed, worried she may say the wrong thing. “I think you love your son. If you do, moping on what you should have done won’t help us, right? What you did doesn’t matter. It’s what you do now that will matter. Doesn’t matter if you want to change it. Right now, you need to act now to save him. That will do more than wishing to undo anything you did before. Show him it now, and he’ll believe it.” “Is it really that simple?” Margorim didn’t believe it. Now he thought about it he’d not had faith in anything in a long time. He didn’t trust anything. He couldn’t afford to. If he was ever wrong, he couldn’t bear to let his family pay for it. Elphacena smiled a little. “That’s what Cedrick would ask when I told him to just keep trying to earn your love. I just told him to keep trying and to not give up. He wasn’t sure it was that simple either, but didn’t that pay off?” Margorim frowned, and his brows drew together. Well, perhaps it was, for Cedrick anyway. But for him? He’d made everything too complicated to enjoy that simplicity now. “Well.” Elphacena sighed. “You can think on it. I’m going to try to rest. Cedrick will need us.” She went over to find herself a place to rest beside her husband. Margorim watched her with weighted eyes, showing the weight on his soul. He watched as Elphacena gently cared for Cedrick before lying down. She rested in a way that she’d be woken up if Cedrick moved. Margorim watched her for a moment. Cedrick never doubted she loved him. How did she do it? He watched her until she fell asleep. Margorim didn’t go to bed though. He sat with his eyes lost in the fire for a long moment.

Without warning, Margorim set his teeth and stood up as if angry with the fire. He paced a bit. “It’s not,” he said stiffly. “You can’t make it.” His fists clenched. He sat back down to try to calm down, but his anger only intensified. He snarled and threw something into the fire. He put his face in his hands, shaking his head. “Your fault. It’s not. It can’t and won’t be,” he insisted. Margorim raged like this for a few hours before steadily falling asleep but not a restful one. He dreamt all night of anger and his worst fears. He woke up blurry and angry. Just like he had most mornings of the past nineteen years. What he saw didn’t make him feel any better. Brutus hadn’t woken any of them to take the next watch. Or so he thought at first. Margorim saw him asleep and went to shake some sense into him, then he paused. Where was Cedrick? Anger and foreboding filled Margorim’s chest. He grabbed Brutus by the throat and lifted him off the ground. “Where is Cedrick?” he snarled in Brutus’s horrified face. “You were supposed to be keeping watch! What happened?” “I kept my share *gasp* of the watch, *gasp* then ed it on,” Brutus said. “Honest.” “Then where did my son go?” Margorim demanded. Brutus sputtered for air. “I said *gasp* I took *rasp* my share.” Margorim realized what he meant. He snarled and threw him to the ground. “So you woke him up?” “Oi! No, I’m not going to send a dead man to keep me safe,” Brutus said. Margorim grabbed Brutus by the hair and yanked him up. “What did you do?” “I asked her to take watch. Geesh,” Brutus said. “I don’t know where your weak boy went.” Margorim lost his temper at this point. He threw Brutus, slamming the man into a tree trunk. He cried out in pain. There may have been a small pop, but Margorim didn’t listen for it. “He’s not weak. He would be fine if you hadn’t caused us such trouble! I swear on my own oath if I ever see you touch my family again, I’ll gut and flay you like an eel and feed you to the dragon!”

Brutus’s face went red. “It’s not my fault your boy can’t take it!” “He can take it better than you!” Margorim screamed back. “If you were in his place, you’d be dead.” “It takes talent to be that weak,” Brutus hissed back. He’d gone too far. Margorim wasn’t known for his ability to keep control. and it was unwise to test that limit. In a movement so quick Brutus could hardly tell what it was, Margorim took his bow, loaded it, and shot the man in the side. “Guess we’ll see if you have that talent,” Margorim snarled. Brutus screamed in pain and pressed a hand to the wound. He couldn’t even hold himself up. Margorim smirked a little. He bent down to his level. “See? Cedrick could at least stand.” He pushed himself up and went to find his son. It took him a few minutes to hear any sign of anyone else. He rushed to it the moment his ears picked it up. He found Elphacena in tears and shaking. “Margorim!” She cried and went to him. “Have you seen Cedrick?” “No, you?” “No, I was on watch. I heard him muttering behind me and went to look, but he was gone. I don’t know where he went. I thought he called my name, but I’ve been looking for at least half an hour, likely longer. I have no idea where he’s gone. How far could he really go?” “I don’t know, but we better find out.” Margorim was thinking. What could have made Cedrick get up? Did he hear someone in trouble? That sounded like him. “Did you have any trouble on watch?” Elphacena shook her head. “No, only noise I heard was you in your sleep and then when Cedrick left. But I thought he was just rolling over.” “Heard me?” Margorim frowned. “Well… let’s just say I know you didn’t sleep well.” Elphacena blushed a little.

“What do you mean?” “You were muttering something in your sleep. I couldn’t understand it, but it was angry,” Elphacena said. A horrible idea struck Margorim like a stake to the heart. “Did Cedrick know you were on watch?” he asked. “I let him sleep. I doubt it,” Elphacena said. What if Cedrick woke up, groggy and heard his father angry and felt his wife gone. With how Cedrick had felt about his father until this point, did his feverish head think he’d taken her and done something to her? It seemed likely. “I think…he went looking for you,” Margorim said. “What?” “I think he heard me angry and felt you gone and worried for you. I don’t think he was fully awake when you heard him. I think he thought I had taken you or something. He was terrified of me.” Is terrified of me. “He tried to find you.” “By now, he has to have woken up unable to get back.” Elphacena went white. “If he didn’t you, he went deeper in the forest.” And some animal got him, and it is my fault. “I checked there,” Elphacena said. “How deep?” “The trees don’t go far. I checked all of them,” Elphacena insisted. Margorim tried to think, but his heart pounded in his head and made it hard. He tried to think clearly, but his anger with himself and frustration made it hard. He should have watched the back opening. Then he froze. Brutus had been sleeping at the back opening! Had he woken to Cedrick and ignored it? He better hope if he did, Margorim never got that confirmation. But he’d never figured out how to find Cedrick dwelling on that. Margorim shut

his eyes, trying to think. Elphacena however tapped his arm. “Wait, you said you think he was delirious when he left. What if something woke him up?” “What?” “If Cedrick came to himself, he’d feel the pain and realize his danger. He’d try to find shelter where we could find him.” Her green eyes were wide. “Meaning he’d find something warm. Some of those trees make an underground nest.” Margorim had noticed them as they ed them. He thought they could be useful if it rained. “They’re well-hidden but easy to slip into. What if he found one and fell asleep, and that’s why he didn’t answer?” Or he’s already dead. Margorim thought but caught onto her idea. “He would know to go for cover. I drilled that into his head well.” To the point it was almost literal. Elphacena nodded. “Come on.” She yanked Margorim around to his great surprise. No one had pulled him around like that in ages. Elphacena raced into the trees. She let go of Margorim’s arm to go low to check the openings. She felt the ground in front of them. She hoped to feel any heat showing Cedrick not only was there but kept himself warm. Margorim followed suit. It was the fifth opening he’d found that met him with warmth. “Cedrick!” Margorim dove into the opening. It wasn’t a large space. Margorim’s eyes had to adjust to see, but when they did, he saw what he’d feared and hoped. Cedrick was curled into a ball in the dirt, shaking a little. His breath filled Margorim’s ears. But what was more impressive was the heat Margorim felt. It was fairly warm inside the hole. Margorim frowned. How had Cedrick warmed it up? “Cedrick.” Margorim sighed and pulled his boy into his arms. Cedrick shuddered, and his eyes opened a little. “D-dad?” “Shhh, I’m here. Are you alright?” Margorim asked, studying Cedrick’s pale face.

Weakly, Cedrick nodded. “Yeah, just c-cold and diz-zy.” Margorim sighed and hugged him close. “What were you thinking?” His anger started to overtake him. “You left!” Cedrick tensed. Margorim realized he tensed to defend himself. Margorim’s anger at Cedrick melted instantly and turned into an icy river of regret. Margorim sighed and buried his face in Cedrick’s neck as he held him close as if to warm him. “What happened?” Margorim asked more gently. “I-I don’t know,” Cedrick said. “Cena was gone, and there were voices. Something was wrong., I had to find her. Dad, I had to. What happened? Where is she?” “Shh, she’s alright,” Margorim promised. “We’ve been looking for you. Nothing went wrong. Brutus made her take her turn on watch. She was just at the other opening. The voices were…m-mine, Cedrick. I complain in my sleep. I’m sorry. It was because you feared my voice you felt you had to find her. I’m sorry I hurt and scare you so much.” “But it wasn’t your voice.” Cedrick frowned. It scared him more than his father’s voice. “Yes, it was,” Margorim said. “I’m sorry. Let’s get you out of here.” Then he paused. Should he? It was warm here. “Margorim?” Elphacena sounded scared. “I have him!” Margorim called back. “Down here.” He heard Elphacena’s feet shuffling in the dirt, as she came to try to see. “Cena?” Cedrick’s eyes looked to the opening with a little fear and longing. Margorim sighed and gathered Cedrick into his arms to help him out of the hole. They wiggled out just as Elphacena was getting ready to come in. “Cedrick!” She cried. Ignoring Margorim was holding him, Elphacena came forward and kissed him. Cedrick grunted in surprise.

“I was so worried.” She sighed. “Are you alright?” “Yeah.” Cedrick nodded sickly. “Fine.” “We should get going. The weather likely won’t stay nice long.” Elphacena looked at Margorim. The unseasonable chill was only getting worse. A spray of rain had been carried on the wind all morning. “W-we don’t have supplies.” Cedrick reminded them. “I kept mine on me,” Elphacena said. Margorim nodded. He had as well. All but the lean-to tent. Margorim froze. He ed Brutus. He felt a bit sick. “A-and Brutus?” Cedrick asked. Elphacena groaned. “I shot him,” Margorim itted. Elphacena gaped at him. “You what?” “I…I lost my temper and shot him,” Margorim said. “He was supposed to be on watch, and I woke to find my son gone. I was angry. He said it was all Cedrick’s fault for being so weak. I-I couldn’t stand it.” His grip on Cedrick tightened a little. “That weakling couldn’t have done nearly as well as Cedrick has with such a grievous wound. He said it took talent to be as wimpy as Cedrick, so…so I… I…” Margorim felt guilt bubble in his stomach. It was that stupid boy’s fault! “I shot him like Cedrick had been. He couldn’t even stand, unlike Cedrick who walked at least five miles.” Elphacena stared at Margorim then laughed. “So you made him try it?” “I know. I lost my temper. I’m sorry,” Margorim said. “W-we should go back for him.” “No.” Elphacena folded her arms. “I will not help him. You want to, fine, but I am only helping my husband. It’s his fault he almost died today. I’m not going back for him. We’d be safe by now if he hadn’t messed up. You even warned him. I’m not going back for him.”

“But…” Margorim didn’t know how to object other than he felt horrible for doing it. Then a thought came. “We will need that shelter if this weather doesn’t improve.” “Fine, but I’m not helping you with him,” Elphacena said. “One is hard enough, and Cedrick handles it well. I don’t want to know what that big baby is doing.” However, when they got back there was no sign of Brutus anywhere. “You sure you shot him?” Cedrick asked as he leaned on a tree for . “Yeah, he screamed and collapsed.” Margorim frowned. “Guess he could get up.” “I don’t think so,” Elphacena said. “He dragged himself and not well.” She pointed to the tracks in the dirt. “How far could he go?” Margorim asked. “Not far. He’s such a wimp,” Elphacena huffed. “He’ll be fine. He can safely go to the road or get home. His home is closer than our family.” “Mm,” Margorim grunted, still feeling guilty. Elphacena gathered up the tent and packed it away. “Come on.” She went over to Cedrick’s side to help him stand. “It can’t be far now.” Margorim sighed and was overcome with the urge to hug his son. Cedrick was surprised but took it. His father had never hugged him before. Margorim let go without a word and checked his com to set them on the right course. However, the previous night’s adventure had taken its fair share of Cedrick’s energy. He couldn’t even stand with help after two hours. “Can you carry him?” Elphacena asked with shining eyes. Cedrick was gasping for air, eyes tight shut. “Not far,” Margorim confessed. “We’ll rest over here. I’ll see if there is something better closer. Maybe we’ll find someone to take him in.” Could he be that lucky twice? Elphacena frowned. “Are you sure?” She didn’t like the idea of splitting up.

“It’s the best we’ve got. Even an old house to hide in,” Margorim said. “But I thought you wanted to hurry back,” Elphacena said. “I do.” Margorim had been looking across the landscape for the best hope of finding shelter but looked right at her. “But it’s not worth his life to be there faster. He needs to recover. We can’t afford not to spend the days if it helps him travel. Maybe a real horse to carry him would even be better.” Though he’d spent all he’d found on his person to get the cart. It was the only thing they’d sell him. Elphacena nodded a little. “Alright, I understand.” Margorim helped her set up a quick place to protect them if the rain came and set off across the muddy grass.

Chapter 36

Scarlet

“He’s been gone too long.” Cedrick was sitting up on his own. He’d slept several hours while they waited for Margorim. He’d woken up half an hour before feeling stronger than he had since they’d left the town. “How long was I asleep again?” “Few hours.” Elphacena bit her lip. “But Cedrick, I know you feel better, but it wouldn’t take much to pull you back down.” “I know, but… Cena, he’s my father.” Cedrick met her eyes. He looked worried. “Why would he be gone so long?” “Maybe he got lost.” “He has a com.” “So?” “So if father has a com he can get back to us,” Cedrick said seriously. “I know. I tried to lose him in the forest before. Thought if he ‘lost’ me, I was free to run off to live my own life. If he had a com, he could find home. He told us he memorizes which way was his starting point, and he’s never failed.” “Well…he’s getting old.” Elphacena tried. “It’s not that,” Cedrick said. “Something’s wrong.” Elphacena sighed and hugged Cedrick. “What other choice do we have?”

“Let’s go after him,” Cedrick said at once. “We don’t know which way he went.” Elphacena reminded him. “And he likely changed directions looking around. We have no chance of catching up to him.” “So we shouldn’t try? What if he’s in trouble, and we can save him if we find him?” Cedrick asked. “He’s my father. He saved me this far. He…he lost his temper for me.” He’d lost control and shot the guy. Cedrick had only seen his father lose his temper at him. Now he really saw what it was. His anger was his way of loving and protecting his son. Cedrick had been blind to it then, but not anymore. Now his father may need him, and he wasn’t there. Elphacena put a hand on Cedrick’s shoulder. She felt he needed it. Cedrick gave her a weak smile. “Thank you.” He did need that. Elphacena embraced him. “It will be alright, Cedrick. Have faith.” Cedrick nodded again and squeezed back with what little strength he had. “I just…he has to come back.” It was another twenty minutes before Cedrick started to try to push himself up. “Cedrick, no.” Elphacena tried. “What are you doing?!” A new voice cut across them. “Father?” Cedrick’s head snapped up. A little wet, Margorim came into view. “Stay down, boy,” he snapped in that tone that used to cut to Cedrick’s heart. Not today though. Now it made his heart lift, and he rushed to his father and embraced him. Margorim was stunned and froze where he was. “I feared something happened,” Cedrick explained simply. Margorim’s jaw stiffened. His first reaction was to tell his son off for doing something so stupid. He would hurt himself. Then the revelation from before flashed into Margorim’s eyes. You don’t yell at a sobbing child to soothe them. Margorim sighed and hugged his boy a bit tighter.

“I’m fine. Besides, it’s not worth your death to chase after me when you don’t know I need your help. Even if I did, I’m not worth the risk to your life. Not to me. You understand?” Margorim tried to find a gentler way to say it. Cedrick didn’t reply. “What happened?” Elphacena stood up. “I found a town, but I’m not sure it’s safe. I did find a place further away that looks empty. It’s a bit of a ways off, but I think it’s the best bet,” Margorim said. Elphacena nodded. “We’ll do our best with it.” she assured him. Margorim nodded a little. “I’ll him.” “I’ve got him. You show the way.” Elphacena smiled a little. Margorim sighed and agreed. Elphacena started to gather their supplies as fast as possible. Cedrick moved as if to help. “Cedrick.” Margorim gripped his arm tightly. “Don’t. You’re still hurt, even if you feel better. It won’t last long if you keep pushing it.” Cedrick swallowed. “Yes, father.” He looked down. Margorim realized he may have hurt something so pulled him close again. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said. Cedrick sighed. “I understand.” “Good.” Margorim let go. Elphacena was done in moments, and they headed off into the gathering darkness. “Why are you wet?” Elphacena asked. “I had to outrun a rain storm heading in,” Margorim said. “Which is why I’m trying to move fast.” He pushed them a bit faster than before, but she’d assumed it was because he saw Cedrick was feeling better. They found the rain before the place. When they got there, they were all dripping

and shaking. Margorim was worried about Cedrick’s shiver so set about a fire as fast as possible. It was a warm cave. They settled in comfortably and soon with a fire they were dry, warm, and enjoying a good meal. “See? The Maker provides.” Margorim smiled. Cedrick chuckled, smiling too. Elphacena beamed. They had the same smile. Cedrick had inherited his father’s smile. They got a bit of sleep. The other two woke up just as the sun was coming up but waited for Cedrick to wake himself before going on. They discussed means of travel that may be safer and available to them. Cedrick woke suddenly. He moaned, feeling sore all over, but his heart was racing. Something was wrong. “Dad.” Cedrick looked around, worried for them. Margorim glanced back. “Cedrick?” He stood up and turned. “You’re up. I thought you’d be asleep longer.” Cedrick ignored that. “We should get going.” “Eat a little, then we can go,” Margorim said. “A few minutes won’t-” “No.” Cedrick cut him off. “It’s not that,” Cedrick said. “Something’s wrong. I know it. We have to go: now.” Margorim stood up. If Cedrick said it was wrong, he trusted him. He hadn’t two weeks before, but he did now. Elphacena helped Cedrick stand up. Margorim tossed his pack over his shoulders and went over to the two. “We can take a strange route to throw anyone off.” “What do you think happened, Cedrick?” Elphacena frowned. “I… I don’t know,” Cedrick said. “Something not good.” The family started off trying to move faster. About twenty minutes later, they heard voices. They froze for a second. “They’re looking for us,” Elphacena said gravely. “Told you,” Cedrick muttered.

“At least they don’t have a dog,” Margorim said. Those words still hung in the cold air as vapor when they heard the bark of a dog. They froze again. “Good work, Dad.” Cedrick gave his father a look. “There is no way he can outrun a dog,” Elphacena said. “Guess we’ll find out,” Cedrick said as the dog’s barks got closer. “Hey, it can’t find us without our scent,” Margorim said. Cedrick wasn’t reassured. “He has it if your ‘friend’ is behind it.” Margorim cursed under his breath. He looked around for help. Cedrick didn’t wait that long. “Go.” He shot off before the other two were aware he was doing it. Elphacena was quickest to follow. Margorim cursed a bit more as he followed them. Normally, Cedrick easily outshot his father but not in his injured state. Yet, he was still fast. It wasn’t easy to keep up, but he knew he couldn’t hold that pace long. They were running for about five minutes when Cedrick went down. He was panting hard. Even as Elphacena skid next to him, Cedrick was pushing himself up to get going again. “Cedrick, no. You can’t push like this for long. We need a new plan,” Elphacena said. “Like what?” Cedrick snarled at her, frustrated. Margorim was already looking for an idea. “It has to be fast,” he said. “They’re gaining ground fast.” “Too late.” Cedrick pushed himself up. “No, it’s better to face them. You can’t outrun a dog like this.” Elphacena stood up and stopped Cedrick going. As she said this, two dogs jumped over a bush and snarled at them. Elphacena

stayed closed to Cedrick, drawing her two blades in one fluid movement. Margorim drew his blade as well and moved closer to the two. Cedrick winced himself to his feet. “Heel!” A voice called. The dogs stopped moving closer to the three but circled them, snarling. Cedrick could hear the foot falls of whoever was coming. They had to break away before that happened. Well, he was good with animals before. “Shhh.” Cedrick stepped around his father, eyes locked on the dog. “Cedrick, this isn’t the time-” Margorim started to say, but Elphacena held up a hand to him. It had worked with the horse. “You’re a sweet pup, aren’t you?” Cedrick said to the dog, carefully moving closer to it. The other one snarled. Cedrick met eyes with that dog. “Is this your mate?” Cedrick looked at the first animal. “She’s cuter than you are.” The dog snarled, but he’d stopped circling. “I don’t want to hurt you,” Cedrick said. “We just need to go. It’s alright. I won’t hurt you or her or your master. We just want to go, alright?” As Cedrick spoke, he took careful steps closer to the animal. The other dog snarled, but the one Cedrick was looking at stayed stalk still. Cedrick smiled warmly at it. “Come, smell me and see. I won’t hurt you,” he promised. To Margorim’s surprise, the dog trotted over and sniffed at Cedrick’s offered hand. Margorim moved to defend his son. That dog was going to bite him. On the contrary, the dog sniffed then licked Cedrick’s hand. Elphacena laughed a little. “Amazing.” “There, good boy.” Cedrick scratched his ears. “Can you throw them off for us?” The dog licked Cedrick’s hand again and barked. He moved to run off, and the other dog was about to follow him when someone jumped into the clearing. It was a woman with straight brown hair and slanted eyes. She was dressed for

battle in a suit not unlike Elphacena’s. The three at once armed themselves. The dogs stopped. The one Cedrick spoke with whimpered a little and went up to the lady’s side. The woman looked down. She seemed surprised. She looked up at the three. “Which of you is the mind master?” They all stared at her blankly. Cedrick looked from his father to his wife to see if they understood. They seemed to have less of an idea than he did. Cedrick looked back at the woman then glanced at the dog. The dog noticed and stood up, tail wagging. The woman noticed. “You.” She pointed harshly at Cedrick. “Come closer.” Her finger bent inward as if scraping the air. Cedrick felt a pressure on his head but ignored it. He stood firm. The woman smirked a little. “Come, I will not hurt you.” She had a strange accent. Cedrick couldn’t place it. It wasn’t Spearimish, but it was similar. It wasn’t the high clear tones of Englaria either. It was one Cedrick hadn’t heard of before. It was deeper, and, yet a bit nasally. Margorim stepped in front of his son. “You’re not touching him,” he threatened. The woman looked at him. “You three are the fugitives Brutus reported on, no?” Margorim swore harshly. He should have known his ‘old pal’ would rat on them. Brutus had likely heard their muttering about him and after being shot took it upon himself to get ‘justice’. He knew it. Margorim cursed himself inwardly. “No.” Margorim denied it. “I don’t know who this Brutus is.” “You’re not the Custods then?” The woman looked a little disappointed, but Cedrick could tell she didn’t believe it. She knew who they were. Her staring eyes met Cedrick’s. At first, he’d thought they were a deep brown, but now, he saw they were dark purple. Those eyes shot what felt like slivers into Cedrick’s mind. Cedrick was startled by the feeling and defended himself immediately, but how he did it he didn’t know. He took a step back. Elphacena noticed and caught him. “Cedrick? What’s wrong?”

“What are you doing to him?” Margorim cried and dove at the woman. The two dogs jumped at the same moment and tackled Margorim over. One stood on his chest, snarling, daring him to try to get up. The violet eyed woman kept her eyes on Cedrick. Cedrick didn’t understand what was happening. He felt the odd feeling of small blades being shot into his mind, but none of them did anything. It was like they hit a shield and faded like water. “What are you doing? Keep back from him.” Elphacena’s green eyes met the violet, and the woman cried out. She stumbled back. “Oh, so you want to play, do you?” The purple eyes had vanished for a moment, but her eyes opened again, and they locked on Elphacena. “No.” Cedrick didn’t know what the two were doing, but he had to defend his wife. His blue eyes caught the violet, and without warning, Cedrick couldn’t see what was around him. Instead, he felt it. He felt this woman. Don’t you intrude on my mind! Cedrick heard the violet woman’s voice in his head. I was testing yours, not giving an invitation! Cedrick didn’t understand what she meant. . Hey! You attacked my wife! He shot back. Was he in her mind? It seemed to fit, but how? He knew talking mind to mind was possible. Elphacena had started it before. Cedrick had tried a few times with little success. He’d done a few, but mostly by mistake. But getting into someone’s mind? It didn’t seem possible. Cedrick dared move forward. He felt something blocking his path, but it felt like a thick quilt was hanging above him. It was a heavy quilt, but it didn’t take too much effort to push past it. The second he did, images flashed into Cedrick’s mind before he knew what was happening. A little girl playing in the yard with two dolls. The same girl wanting to play with the horses while a woman told her no. Again, the girl getting too close to a raging horse. The girl just avoided getting kicked in the head, then somehow calmed the beast. The girl, now an adult, training horses, then dogs, and even cats.

GET OUT! Cedrick felt as if a horse had kicked him square in the chest. He fell back with a grunt. The world was spinning in his eyes for a second before the gray, cold sky fell back into focus. These were his eyes, right? Cedrick put a hand in front of his face to be sure. “Cedrick!” Elphacena knelt beside him. “Thank the Father. Cedrick, are you alright?” “Yeah…what happened?” Cedrick pushed himself up. He flinched when he saw the violet eyed woman, the little girl he’d seen, standing over them with a sword tip pointing at his chest. “How did you do that?” she demanded. “What?” “How did you break through my defenses?” “Wa…what defenses?” Cedrick asked lamely. The woman gaped at him then looked at Elphacena. “What defenses?” The woman was beside herself with furry. “What defenses? The ones you breezed past when your bride tried to break down the wall.” “Wall? Do you mean that quilt thing?” “Quilt thing?!” The woman exploded. Elphacena took her moment of indignation to blast her back. The woman hit a tree and fell. She was on her feet in seconds while her dogs made sure she was alright. Wait…if the dogs were there. Cedrick saw his father standing there as if tied up, but he couldn’t see a single rope or chain on his body. “Father!” Cedrick shot to his feet, ignoring the pain. “What did you do to him?” “I’ll tell you when you tell me what you did to my defenses,” the woman

snarled. “I-I don’t know,” Cedrick said. “Honest, I don’t even know what that was. What was it? What just happened? Let us go.” “No, I won’t dare take you back to the guards. You’re lucky I found you first. I thought a mind master was near.” The woman kept her sword on Cedrick. “No more tricks, master. How did you breeze past me?” Cedrick’s mouth was open. He didn’t know how to answer. “I…don’t…know,” he said slowly. “I’m sorry I can’t tell you, but I can’t. I can’t tell you what I don’t understand.” “Really? You are going to tell me you didn’t see me training my dogs? That you didn’t see me tame the wild stallion?” The violet eyed woman challenged. “I swear, Scarlet, I don’t know.” Cedrick cried desperately then froze. Scarlet? Yes, yes, that was the girl’s name. How did he know that? “Have…you met?” Elphacena looked confused. “And you stole my identity!” Scarlet screamed. “What? No, I…I don’t know.” Cedrick cried in frustration. He ran both hands through his hair, grabbing it in desperation. “I don’t know, Scarlet. I don’t know how I knew your name. I don’t know what just happened. I don’t…I don’t…” Cedrick closed his eyes. His wound was still weakening him. He was feeling light headed, weak; he wanted to sleep. Elphacena went to him, though Cedrick was still just kneeling on the ground. Cedrick felt pressure on his mind again. “Stop that!” Cedrick cried. “I can’t take that anymore. Just stop it! Stop…stop.” Cedrick shook his head. His head pounded, his heart thudded, and he felt his weakness returning. “I didn’t mean… I don’t know…I don’t know…”

*****

“You still had no right to try to get into his mind. There are rules.” Was that Elphacena’s voice? Cedrick squeezed his eyes shut then opened them. Elphacena was standing opposite Scarlet. She didn’t look happy but wasn’t armed. Her swords were at her back. Her hair looked a bit neater than Cedrick ed, but otherwise, she seemed ready to go right back on the march. Scarlet on the other hand had changed clothes. She now wore a dress that matched her eyes with a sash about the middle. Cedrick spotted a good-sized knife tucked into the sash, but it was her only weapon. Her hair also looked cleaner, and she’d let more of it out. Her dark skin looked warmer in this light. Something wet licked Cedrick’s hand. Cedrick started. The two dogs were sitting beside him, panting happily. One let out a howl as Cedrick sat up. Scarlet and Elphacena looked over. “Cedrick.” Elphacena sighed and went to his side. “Are you alright?” She took his hand. “Fine.” Cedrick nodded. “Where are we?” “In my home, but you’d know that if you’d look.” Scarlet frowned and folded her arms, scowling as if Cedrick had burned down her house. “I-I don’t.” Cedrick looked around to make sure, but nothing looked familiar. “I’ve never seen this cottage before.” It was simple, made of wood and homely, but there wasn’t much to comment on. Other than the fact everything was kept far off the ground other than the sofa and table set Cedrick could see. Nothing was on the table or any surface below shoulder level. “No? You liar,” Scarlet snarled. As she spoke, she turned and lit a few more hanging lanterns. “Just because you are a Custod doesn’t mean you get to do what you like with my mind. That was my identity you took. Custod or not, you have no right to take it.” “And you had no right to try to invade his mind without warning.” Elphacena stood up, angry. “I told you. He doesn’t know.” “Lies. No one can just waltz into my mind like that unless they knew,” Scarlet countered.

“You don’t understand. He’s always been like that. He mistakenly cast spells all the time while I trained him. I’m telling you, he doesn’t know.” Scarlet rounded on her and got into Elphacena’s face. “You’re telling me you didn’t teach him anything? That you never told him how to explore his mind and others?” “No. I told you I hardly know how. My father never finished teaching me how to do it. I’ve never been very good. I can speak mind to mind and explore a weaker mind, but not a well defended one. You felt me try. I’m not that good. Not against a wall like yours.” “Your husband called it a quilt.” Scarlet glared at Cedrick. “I…sorry.” Cedrick swallowed. What could he say? It had felt like a quilt. Scarlet snarled and turned away again. “I came out there to help you. I felt a mind master as I searched. I didn’t want those fools to take our Custods and a mind master. Now I find a man who is both.” “Mind master?” Cedrick realized she’d meant him. “Uh, there’s been a mistake. I hardly keep my mind under any control. I say and do some stupid things a-a lot.” “Only a master could get into my head. I am a mind master. No full-mystic could have gotten in so easily. You’re a mind master,” Scarlet said. “No more lies, mind master.” Cedrick gulped and looked at his wife. “He is not a mind master,” Elphacena said. “He hardly understands what you’re saying by the look on his face,” Elphacena explained quickly to Cedrick. “She’s a different kind of enchantress. She has magic but only can use it for mind tricks. Common people call them mind readers. In spell books, they’re called mindlocks because their magic is locked in their heads.” “Refined. Refined into their heads,” Scarlet corrected. Elphacena tried not to roll her eyes until Scarlet looked away. “Alright, refined,” Elphacena said. “I was just explaining it to him.”

“He knows. There is no way he didn’t.” Scarlet’s violet eyes found Cedrick again. Cedrick shut his eyes. He felt the pressure again. This time it was hot. She was angry. Cedrick shook his head. No, no, no. Cedrick thought over and over trying desperately to keep her out. Scarlet cried out and pressed a hand to her forehead. “You little…” She let off a string of obscenities. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m sorry. Just stop. Stop. Keep her out of my head. I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t get it, stop,” Cedrick muttered. He was starting to panic again. His breathing picked up, and he felt dizzy. His wound was not helping at all. “Stop… stop…” He begged hopelessly. “S-stay out.” “Hey, it’s okay.” Elphacena took his shoulders to calm him down. “I don’t understand. I don’t want her in my head. Keep her out of there. And I don’t want to go back into her head. It’s not a happy place,” Cedrick said, his eyes fluttering, head dropping. Elphacena clutched him to her chest. “Shh, hold on. Leave him alone! Can’t you see he’s hurt? He’s not trying to hurt you. He just is trying to defend himself. Please, just leave him alone. He’s my world, please…please.” Scarlet ignored her. “You won’t be in one either way if you don’t shut up,” Scarlet said. “And stop lying! You are a mind master. You must be.” “He’s a full-mystic like me,” Elphacena said. “He can do all of it. I swear.” “I don’t believe you!” Scarlet screamed. “Stop lying to me!” “We’re not!” Elphacena stood up. “He’s a full-mystic like me. Watch.” She turned to Cedrick. “Show her a trick. Anything.” Cedrick panicked and scrambled to come up with something, anything. Most of the tricks he knew would either turn something of hers into something else, making her mad, or it was combat purposed, so would make her even more mad. How about the frozen rat Patrick? No, no, he didn’t have that old thing. Energy

ball! He could make fire. Cedrick held out his hand and made a bright, deep blue fireball. “See?” Elphacena challenged. Cedrick then tossed the ball into the hearth, and a normal warm fire started. He was a bit calmer after doing that magic, but he still was nervous. “But…but then he can’t have gotten in. He can’t have,” Scarlet stammered. “He at least knows. He stole some power from a mind master.” “You know that isn’t possible.” Elphacena sighed. “I told you. He does this kind of thing a lot. Most of his skills he learned by accident. I never taught him how to do it fully because I don’t know how to do it fully.” Elphacena swallowed. “But you do.” “Yes, of course. I’m a mind master,” Scarlet snapped. “So help him. You want him to stop invading your head you’ll have to tell him how to stop,” Elphacena said. “You know how powerful mind magic can be and how good Heklis is at it. You came to help us because you knew we were Custods. You want Heklis stopped. He will need to know how to use his skills to free us all from that monster.” “You want me to teach that…that…full-mystic who stole my identity how to do more?” Scarlet gaped at her. “No way.” “Fine. Then you can feel the guilt of knowing you could have helped us all get free of Heklis but didn’t, so we’re all still trapped,” Elphacena said. “Thank you for the shelter. We need to go. Our family may be in danger.” Elphacena turned. “Oh, and will you let my father-in-law go?” Cedrick whirled around. The movement shot a spasm of sharp pain through his chest. Cedrick gasped and fell off the sofa he was on, still tense with pain. “Cedrick!” Elphacena reached to his side. “Are you well?” “I-I’m alright,” Cedrick said through tight teeth.

“Is he wounded?” Scarlet came over. “Yes, I told you.” Elphacena glared at her. “Not that you care,” she said. “But yes, he was shot several days ago. He’s been getting better, but this travel has made it hard.” “May I?” “You’re a head-lock. How can you help?” Elphacena didn’t want to let her pick and choose what help she gave. Unless she was a medic, nothing she did would help Cedrick. Scarlet scowled. “I don’t want him dead. Heklis wants him more than you know. We cannot let that happen.” “Well then, help us with that. He can’t even talk mind to mind,” Elphacena said. “And we have time while he heals. He’s a quick study.” Scarlet frowned. She knew more than they knew, things that made it even more important that Cedrick learn. But she did not want a pompous full-mystic to be her charge. Cedrick stayed on all fours, panting with the pain. He was trying to decide if he was annoyed Elphacena was now debating over him or glad she took his word for it when he said he was fine. He panted ‘til the pain fainted. Then he ed why he turned so fast. “Father?” His head snapped up, and he looked around. He spotted him sitting in a chair as if enjoying tea but not moving. His eyes met Cedrick’s but couldn’t move or speak. Cedrick realized what was happening. “You trapped his mind?” he cried. Scarlet looked at Cedrick. “I thought you didn’t know anything.” “I don’t. I can see it in his eyes. You pinned him!” Cedrick was horrified and angry. How dare she! Cedrick scrambled to his feet and ran to his father. He tripped into the table and put his hands on his father’s shoulders. “Dad, Father, can you hear me?”

Margorim didn’t move, but his eyes met Cedrick’s to say “yes.” Cedrick’s jaw set. This was not alright. He had to get him out. The desperate power filled him as it had many times as he desperately tried to figure out how to get his father free. His blue eyes met Margorim’s hazel ones. The sudden movement thrust himself into his father’s mind. He went blind for a moment but could feel what there was to see. Cedrick felt his father panic but didn’t know what to do about it. He just found the one thing he didn’t recognize in his father’s mind: Scarlet. Cedrick didn’t know what he was doing, but he “attacked” whatever it was. Scarlet shrieked and collapsed. She swore at the top of her lungs in ways no one ever deserved to listen to. “Get out, Custod!” she screamed. It was Cedrick’s turn to scream as he fell back at the shock she sent through his mind. “Cedrick!” Margorim went to his side. “I-I’m okay.” Cedrick was shaking, and his side stung again. But he likely wasn’t. He was badly dizzy, his shaking made it worse. He wanted to vomit. “I can’t break through his stupid wall, but he hasn’t separated them, so I can kick him out,” Scarlet snarled. “Alright, I’ll teach the loose cannon, but to save the rest of us as much as him.” “That’s all I’m asking,” Elphacena said. She didn’t care if she liked Cedrick or not. Vene. If she tried to take a liking to her husband, she’d find out how strong Elphacena’s little skill was. “Then we better start.” Scarlet went over and grabbed Cedrick by the collar. “Don’t you dare!” Elphacena smacked her hand away violently. “He’s hurt! Let him breathe, heal.” “You want me to teach him!” Scarlet raged back. “He can’t learn ill,” Elphacena snapped. “My teaching, my rule, it starts now.”

She’d hardly gotten the sentence out before there was a bang, and she was pinned to the wall by the throat. “You will teach him and on our time,” Margorim snarled. “If it helps protect him, you will do it. But as a teacher who tried to help him learn the wrong way, you will only find pain doing it that way. Let him rest, then you can start. Understood?” Scarlet nodded in terror. Margorim dropped her and she slid to the floor. “You’re lucky I hate Heklis more than I fear you,” Scarlet said. “Let the whelp rest.” “Not sure you have a choice.” Elphacena was holding Cedrick in her arms. He’d fallen unconscious again. “The work has been too much for him.” Scarlet nodded but still was annoyed. “But when he wakes, I start.”

*****

Scarlet didn’t give Cedrick much time to think. He woke up and was dragged to his feet. Cedrick was only just getting his head back on when her hand grabbed his shoulder and yanked him up. Cedrick stumbled to his feet as she dragged him into a large, mostly empty, room at the back of the house. The walls of this room were made of glass. It was like being outside, only without the cold wind and rain falling on them. The sound of the rain was striking in the room. The sky outside was dark, so the room was dark. Nothing but the light outside provided any illumination to this large, hollow room. Scarlet tossed Cedrick into the middle of the room. “You need to master your mind,” she said. “Or else we’re all doomed. No one will be able to keep you out.” She tapped the back of her hand on Cedrick’s forehead as if hitting him, but not striking with much force. “And you’re starting from scratch because of your idiot girlfriend.” “She’s my wife,” Cedrick snapped, getting fed up with this snappy woman.

What did he do to deserve this? “Whatever,” Scarlet snapped. “To master others’ minds you must first master your own mind.” Scarlet put her hands together then slowly pulled them apart. Between them stretched beams of light that sparked and hissed like lines of pale purple fire. The lines worked together to make an odd shape in the air. Cedrick’s eyebrows pulled together as he tried to see what it was. It was flat on the bottom but round at the top, made up of smaller misshapen ovals and hexagons or something similar. Cedrick had never seen anything like this odd shape. “The mind is a strange thing. We do not have much knowledge of what makes it work. The mind is the central organ. It translates spirit into body and body into spirit. It’s key to our being but not truly our being. It’s a fickle thing that has many fine parts. It’s why you’re screwed if anything happens to your mind,” Scarlet explained. “And why it’s illnesses are the worst. They feel like a spirit illness, like they are us, but we and the illness are not.” “What? That’s a brain?” Cedrick frowned. “Listen, don’t speak,” Scarlet snapped. Cedrick closed his mouth. He just hoped she’d shut up soon. He wasn’t sure what this fancy speech was for. He wasn’t really impressed, just confused. “Our minds make paths over and over to make habits, so the messages the mind and spirit send to the body are taken quicker. It’s why it’s harder to perform an action the first time but easier over time. This is how perfect practice makes perfect.” Scarlet went on. The “brain” she’d made showed balls of lights shooting through little ages in the mind. “And each section of the brain performs a different task. It isn’t perfectly clear what all of them are yet. This is the main limit of my or most mind masters’ physical understanding of the brain. All our tricks work only when we fool our minds into performing the actions with metaphors.” Scarlet’s violet eyes met Cedrick’s sternly. “Like your ‘quilt’ is the way you feel and respond to my mind shield. Your ‘wife’, on the other hand, would say it’s a solid wall. Each mind master may use a different metaphor, but some are the best and most basic way to make those connections. For example, the best way into a

person’s mind is to look right into their eyes.” Scarlet looked right into Cedrick’s. “They say the eyes are the window and map of the soul. As I explained, the mind is the age and translator of body to spirit and spirit to mind, so to get to the soul you have to go through the mind. This is the best way to enter a mind.” “But can you keep going and get to someone’s soul?” Cedrick asked. “Didn’t I say no talking?” Scarlet warned. “Yes, but can you?” Cedrick asked. “No, of course not. It’s just how you understand the strange phenomenon that allows us to enter others’ minds. Like you mistakenly did to me. Most mind masters take weeks to master getting into someone’s head. Even longer to learn how to get through their mind wall,” Scarlet scowled. “Everyone learns to build a shield around their minds from the time of birth.” A kind of cloth covered the strange illusion of a brain Scarlet had made. “When entering the mind, you first find this wall. For some it is as thin as a veil; others, it’s like a steel gate or a brick wall. You want your mind to be like a brick wall.” “What is my mind wall like?” Cedrick asked. “I said no talking!” Scarlet snapped. Cedrick closed his mouth. Scarlet glared at him a moment then answered. “Yours is very interesting, Cedrick Custod. It is like chain mail layers thick with each layer moving in different directions. One would have to know the exact path to break through or be able to blast through. With a wall as advanced as yours, I’d presume that would be a blast too large to keep your mind intact after. So one would likely have to either be allowed in or know you well enough to weave through that mesh.” Cedrick nodded. He understood, but it still was confusing to him. How did he make such an elaborate wall, and how did Elphacena get in during that battle? He wanted to ask but knew Scarlet would have had enough. “Now this shield isn’t always up. There are times it may be down. Another unique thing about you is I saw your mind exposed, but once you felt me there, the wall went up. I’ve never seen a response that fast before. Few could out speed it. You close off before you open up. But I also find you let down the shield quickly as well. That is, when you understand what you are doing. Which

is also different. You’re dangerous, Cedrick Custod.” Cedrick opened his mouth to speak, but Scarlet’s glare froze his breath. Scarlet clapped her hands, and the image she made in the middle was squished into nothing. She came up very close to Cedrick in a heartbeat. “Your mind is powerful and without boundaries. You’re like an uncaged panther, fast, agile, quick, power, dangerous. Anyone touches your mind, and the beast runs wild. That is how you broke into my head when I tried to get into yours. I tried to enter, and your walls went up. You tried to force me out, but not knowing where you needed to push, you threw yourself into my mind. Then you exploded without knowing how to properly do so.” Scarlet pulled away. Her face was turning pink in her anger. “And then you wandered into the most important and protected spot in the mind. The identity, the center, or core of the mind. This is where your most important traits are kept. You saw the core memories that make me who I am, but there is much more you saw and felt without knowing it. It’s how you knew my name. You know me better than anyone for leagues, and yet, you’re not aware of it yet.” Cedrick snorted, “I just happened to find your name. I didn’t-” Scarlet cut him off. “How old am I?” Cedrick jumped at the sharpness in her voice and responded before he could think. “Fifty-two.” “How many siblings do I have?” “Two.” “Genders?” “Older brother, younger sister.” Scarlet scowled. Cedrick gaped at her. How had he done that? There was no way. He hadn’t known that. “Now you see. You took more than you know. I just have to snap, and the items come falling from your lips. You didn’t know them, but they are in your mind now. You stole my identity.”

“But you still have yourself. I mean you’re not all…dead and stuff.” Cedrick said. Not like Rothmeraid when Cedrick had taken his magic and emotion from him. “No, I still have it, but you stole it. It’s like you made a copy. You took that with you, and you it. Memories are when you take the world around you and store it into your mind. You could say you stole those memories and stored them in your mind. That’s what you’ve done to me.” Scarlet took a few steps back, still facing Cedrick. “And you can’t keep doing that or your mind will get overflooded. Steal enough, and you’ll lose yourself. You’ll be unable to find your core in all the mess. You’ll lose yourself.” “But I don’t even know where it is now.” Cedrick spoke before he could stop himself. Scarlet clapped her hands. The snap they made echoed off the glass walls. “I know that. That is part of learning your mind. You cannot control what you do in others’ minds properly until you understand your own mind,” she said. “So you’re going to be going into your own mind.” “I don’t know if I want to be in my own head,” Cedrick said. Scarlet ignored him. She bent the fingers of her right hand, so the tips touched the top of her palm, including her thumb. Her eyes met Cedrick’s. The second her eyes locked on Cedrick’s she forced her palm up with great force and struck Cedrick’s forehead. It was like when that dwarf had put that gem to Cedrick’s forehead. All went dark, but this time Cedrick didn’t feel like he blacked out. It was much like when he’d been in Scarlet’s head. He didn’t like this. Cedrick started shaking. He didn’t like being here. He had a bad feeling. He didn’t like this. He didn’t like this at all. Interesting. You defend your own mind, even from yourself. Scarlet’s voice spoke. Get me out! Cedrick cried. Find your own way out, Scarlet replied. Learn the path yourself. If you can’t learn your own path, you can’t change anyone else’s.

Cedrick felt her presence leave, leaving him alone. If Cedrick had hands, they’d have been trembling. He closed his eyes. Though he didn’t have eyes. Cedrick felt lost, confused. He didn’t have eyes to close. So what did that feeling represent? She said they were all just metaphors, right? Cedrick took a moment to figure it out. Finally, it came to him. He was closing himself off. She said he defended his mind even from himself. So Cedrick opened his eyes. Energy surged through his fingers like the day he’d finally let his magic out after his family left him alone. He was feeling his core power. This was going to get interesting very quickly.

*****

“What have you done to my son?!” Margorim had Scarlet by the collar. Elphacena was kneeling beside his still form. “Margorim, he’s fine. He’s breathing.” “But he can’t wake up,” Margorim snarled. “What did you do?” “What you wanted!” Scarlet pushed Margorim back. “You want him to learn how to use his mind powers, then he has to learn his own mind. He has the basic laws to guide him. Now he has to learn his mind to learn others. He must find his core and his way out on his own. I could take years to teach him the long way, or he can prove himself a mind master.” “But he’s not a mind master!” Elphacena screamed in frustration. “He’s a full enchanter! He’s a full-mystic! He can’t do more than that! You trapped him in his own mind!” “No, I only forced him into his own head. He is the one locking himself in,” Scarlet said. “His defenses are strong inside and out. Anything that gets in has a hard time also getting out. He has to learn to control his own shield and learn how the mind works. I told him the basics. Now he has to learn for himself. He

has to make his own analogies and paths to master this skill.” “How long?” Margorim snarled. “Who knows. He could take minutes, hours, days, weeks, years.” “Years?!” Margorim screamed. “He can’t survive days like this! He’s human. He needs to keep his body alive too, or his mind shuts down. He’s wounded! He doesn’t have the energy.” “Then you better hope he’s quick,” Scarlet said. “He finally let me into his head. I’ve seen it. No one else could teach him to harness that power. It’s far greater than I, or likely, anyone has ever seen. He rivals my master.” Margorim threw her to the floor. “Can you pull him back out? You pushed him in.” “Only because he let me in,” Scarlet said. “We can’t be sure he’ll let me back in again.” Margorim turned to Elphacena. “Can you?” “I likely can get him to let me in, but I have little idea how to get him out. I know how to do many things with mind, but not that. Most of all, if Cedrick doesn’t know how to let himself out....” Elphacena shook her head. “If he learns to control his shield, then yes, I can.” “You have to try. He’s already sick and wounded,” Margorim said. “He can’t be stuck in his own body on top of it long.” Margorim’s fists clenched. “Why did you ask her help? We didn’t need any of this. We were supposed to be going back! Who knows what that litchen of a spy is up to.” “No, you should be glad. She’s right.” Scarlet said, “He’ll need to understand his mind to stop what Heklis has planned for him.” Margorim rounded on Scarlet and grabbed her by the throat again. “What plans?”

*****

Cedrick moaned and opened his eyes, his real eyes! Cedrick laughed. He was finally free. Then he gasped in horrible pain. He coughed and found he had a very dry throat. He panted weakly. He wondered how long he’d been out. “Cedrick.” Elphacena touched his arm. Cedrick’s heart leapt. He could feel her. Cedrick grabbed her hand and yanked her down. He kissed her fiercely. He could touch her. Her soft, firm lips pressed onto his. He’d missed feeling, but this best feeling most of all. Though he gasped as the pain shot through him, he didn’t care. He could feel! “Cena.” Cedrick breathed and smiled. His blue eyes met her green ones. There she was: her beautiful heart, her beautiful soul. Gently, Cedrick inched himself into her mind. Even more than that, he gently entwined his energy into her as well. Elphacena let out a shuddering gasp then sighed. “Cedrick…you learned that fast,” she said. It was wonderful, amazing to feel his pure energy in her, his pure being. She returned the gesture. She was better with energy than mind, but Cedrick made it easy to return the gesture. He was so warm, shockingly, stunningly warm. She loved it. “You’re so…soothing,” Cedrick said. He found her cool energy like a gentle trickle of a stream coursing through his core. “I can’t believe you not only learned it, but mastered it so well.” Elphacena smiled and kissed him again. “I think you’re better at it than I am.” “Well, I was stuck in there a week.” Cedrick shrugged. “Cedrick, it was only a day,” Elphacena said. “Alright, a day and a half.” “What? No way.”

“Yes, way.” Elphacena laughed. “And you healed well while you ‘rested’. Your father is freaking out, and he’s getting restless. He and Scarlet are going to kill each other.” “We should leave then.” Cedrick sat up. “Now you’ve figured out the paths,” Scarlet’s voice said. Cedrick looked up and saw the purple eyes boring into his. Cedrick blocked her moving further. Keep out, he said mind to mind. You’ve done enough to make my head spin. Thanks. Have you found your path? You learned to control your wall. You’re no longer wild and untamed. You are no longer a wild panther. You are like a beast of fire, bridled and storming. A directed power, a jet of fire instead of a wildfire without direction. Right now, I’m more worried about keeping you out. You can look, but don’t touch, Cedrick warned. I see great power. Don’t abuse it. Scarlet pulled out. Cedrick set his teeth. Oh, he’d abuse it. Elphacena noticed and helped Cedrick to his feet. “We should go,” she said. “Let’s get your father.” “Is he alright?” Cedrick asked. “Oh yes, he’s fine.” Elphacena smiled a little. “Worried about you, but fine. He’s working on gathering provisions. He was threatening to take the time to build a cart to pull you home with if you didn’t wake soon.” “With wet wood?” Cedrick could still hear the rain outside. “With whatever he found.” Elphacena smiled. “He’s got two packs of wood.” “And he’ll pack a few more times,” Scarlet said. “You still have work to do.” Cedrick’s face fell. “Not this badly hurt.” He hoped she’d let up. “Oh please,” Scarlet huffed. “I’m not doing it. You’re going to read this.” She

dropped a heavy book on his lap. Cedrick gasped. It really hurt. “Made by the best mind master alive. Enjoy and get out.” “Fair,” Cedrick agreed. “Can I see him?” Elphacena nodded and tried to help him up. Cedrick needed her , but he got his legs back eventually. They went into the room Scarlet had shown Cedrick mind tricks in. Cedrick noticed that the only difference in the room was a stack of wood as his father turned. “Cedrick!” He cried, relieved, but he didn’t sound it. He sounded angry. He came forward. Cedrick flinched back, but Elphacena stopped him moving. A second later, she wished she had when Margorim hit him. “What were you thinking?” he demanded. “That sorceress could have killed you.” “I didn’t mean to. If I knew what she was going to do, I wouldn’t have done it,” Cedrick defended himself as always. Elphacena wasn’t going to let this stand. “Oh, for creation’s sake!” she cried. “I thought you two got over this. Margorim, why are you mad at him for waking up? It’s not like it’s his fault. Would you rather him have stayed asleep?” Margorim bowed his head. “R-right.” “So what do you do instead?” Elphacena said. Both Margorim and Cedrick gave Elphacena blank look. Elphacena groaned. “You’re both hopeless. Cedrick, Margorim is happy to see you’re alive and just is too stupid to know how to show it. Now give him a hug.” Cedrick went a bit pink. Margorim couldn’t look at Cedrick either. Elphacena moaned again. “Oh, you’re hopeless!” she cried. She pushed them both. “Forget it.” She marched out. “Well… I’m glad you’re alright. Got that head thing worked out?” Margorim asked Cedrick, still sheepish.

“Y-yeah, I think so. Scarlet does too. She says I’m like a controlled fire instead of a wildfire.” Cedrick’s foot played with the floor. Cedrick watched it as if it was the most important thing to watch. “Good.” Margorim nodded. “How’s your side doing?” “Still hurts, still tired though I slept a whole day,” Cedrick itted. Margorim nodded. “Living in your head is hard I’m sure. You ready to head home?” Cedrick sighed. “I don’t feel up to resting here.” “Okay, we’ll leave soon then.” Margorim started to prepare at once. “Make sure Dad carries the book,” Cedrick muttered to his wife. Elphacena laughed. “He will,” she promised. “We will.”

Chapter 37

Monster World

Scarlet was happy to see them go. She almost pushed them out the door. Just before Cedrick stepped out of the door, Scarlet grabbed Cedrick’s elbow. Cedrick looked at her. She met his eyes with a hard lock. “Protect your mind, Custod. I may have taught you how to finally understand and use your head, but you haven’t learned how to control it yet. Don’t let anyone else do it for you.” She let go of his arm with a small shove. Cedrick, however, read something in her eyes he didn’t like. “What do you know?” he asked, standing his ground. “Nothing you need to know” Scarlet said. “Just watch it, Custod.” “What do you know?” Cedrick wasn’t letting it go. “Cedrick,” Margorim called back, “I thought we wanted to get out of here.” Cedrick glanced at his father then looked back at Scarlet. “I will find out, and you won’t be happy I did. You shouldn’t hide the truth from me,” he warned. Scarlet smirked a little. “If you find out, I’ll be the least of your worries.” She turned and slammed the door. She moved so suddenly it stunned Cedrick for a moment. He shook his head roughly and followed his wife and father. Travel wasn’t as hard now as before. Cedrick kept up alright but did need more rests than were normal. Margorim was fine with them and kept careful watch. The mud and constant rain made the days rather miserable, but the thought of a

warm room with fire and hot food gave them a happy thought to them. A few times though, Cedrick grew weak and tired and would lean on his wife or father without realizing it. He’d then walk on in a kind of sleepy daze, but neither of his companions minded. It seemed to help him rest and got them home sooner. Two days were added to their journey when they arrived at where Elphacena had last seen the army and found they’d moved out to Bloomis, which they said was better defendable. At first, Elphacena was frustrated. She had no idea where this Bloomis was, but Margorim did, so he took over the lead. They arrived in Bloomis as the sun was starting to tuck itself into the mountains for bed. Cedrick was a bit jealous. It had been a long day, but he’d kept pushing wanting to get warm sooner. Cedrick shivered as the wind played with his jacket. Elphacena rubbed his back a little. The ragged group stumbled up to the gate. The guards recognized them and let them in. They started spreading the news as fast as they could. Not only was Elphacena back, but the two dead Custods were back! Cedrick stumbled into the center of town, tired and ready for a warm rest. Something tackled his legs. Cedrick stumbled back. Elphacena helped him keep his feet. Cedrick looked down to see what attacked him. It was Aleph. “You’re alive!” he squealed. “I knew it! I hoped it! Couldn’t lose all of them. You’re here. I knew it.” Cedrick smiled. His heart lifted a little. “Hey bud, good to see you too.” “I told them. I told them,” Aleph cheered. “Yes, you’re right. You’re right. Now I’m worn out, buddy. Can you let go so I can rest?” Cedrick requested. Aleph let go. Cedrick patted his head in thanks. Then he bent down and hugged the boy tightly. Aleph returned it. “I missed you.” “And I you, it’s alright. I’m here.” Cedrick assured him.

“Cedrick, come on; let’s get you cleaned up.” Margorim helped Cedrick up. Aleph ran off to brag about his good luck. Cedrick chuckled. Margorim put an arm around him. They were shown into a building where they were immediately hugged by Arylana. Cedrick smiled and hugged her back, resting his head on her shoulder. “Are you alright?” Arylana frowned. “He was shot down. He’s had to walk most of the way.” Margorim sighed, clapping Cedrick’s shoulder. “Here.” Arylana pulled back but kept ing her brother until she got him to sit on a sofa. “Let me see.” She felt Cedrick’s forehead. Cedrick chuckled. Nothing changed it seemed. “You’re not feverish. You looked pretty good to me.” “I’m doing better, just tired.” Cedrick sighed. “And messy,” Arylana agreed. “We’ll have to try to get you cleaned up and warm. You feel like ice.” “We’re sure it’s summer?” Cedrick joked. Arylana laughed. “Here, I’ll get a bath for you to get cleaned up. Make sure you’re feeling better.” Elphacena helped Arylana set up a bath and some fresh clothes and bandages for Cedrick. He looked much better afterwards. He still felt tired but in a pleasant way. He was more sleepy than tired. Arylana had gotten them some warm soup for dinner when a knock came to the door. It was a messenger. The council had heard of their return and wished to see them immediately. Cedrick sighed, but he’d managed to scarf down most of the soup, so he felt he had no excuse of weakness or hunger to hold him back. He pushed himself to his feet. Elphacena followed suit, looking nervous. She had a bad feeling about this. Margorim led the group after the messenger until they reached the meeting hall. Cedrick felt all eyes land on him at once. Cedrick didn’t meet the looks. Steadily,

he looked up and met eyes with Mercutio. Cedrick swallowed. Mercutio’s eyes glittered with excitement, relief, and something Cedrick couldn’t quite read. Caring, perhaps? Cedrick couldn’t find other words for it. Mercutio tried to keep the rest of it below the surface. Several of the commanders clapped to welcome them back. A few clapped them on the back. Cedrick managed a bit of a smile. He bowed his head, a bit shy at the applause. When he looked up, his eyes landed on someone who was not clapping. Cedrick felt a searing hatred rush through his veins. His fingers tingled and shook at the sight of the sallow figure before him. His eyes were filled with loathing and malice. Cedrick’s jaw tightened. All the pain he’d endured in the last few weeks was all because of him. This man had tried to get to his wife while he was gone. She was almost a widow because of him. His friends had suffered because of him. Drake had died because of him. The surge rushed through Cedrick’s whole body. His body tensed as his eyes locked onto his target. His eyes were frightening, focused, intense, perhaps deranged. As the power made his every muscle tingle with energy, his eyes flashed a blood red. “You,” Cedrick snarled. Everyone around him had frozen. Even those without magic felt his intensity. Elphacena’s green eyes looked afraid and concerned. “Cedrick.” She came over and took his arm. “Relax, you’re still hurt.” she reminded him. At first, Cedrick didn’t calm. Instead, his eyes locked onto her with the same look, but he met her eyes and melted at once. His lip twitched as he tried to give her a smile. He relaxed, but the tension was still there. That man had caused it all, and Cedrick stood there, unable to do anything. Cedrick looked up to try to the meeting, but the second his eyes came off his wife, he tensed again. Elphacena noticed. Her hand tensed on his arm. “Cedrick, we need to talk,” she said firmly. She pulled on his arm. Cedrick resisted. He didn’t want to let that spy, that snake, that mass murderer, out of his sight. Elphacena felt his resistance and became even more nervous. She stood her ground, placing both feet firmly on the ground. She then took his

arm with both hands and pulled. “Cedrick, we’re leaving,” she said and yanked. Cedrick stumbled under the pressure, but only because it was her. He knew that voice and loved that voice. He’d follow it but only for her. His eyes stayed on his target until she’d pull him outside the room. The cool air was like splashing water on his face to get a pleasant wake up in the morning. Cedrick blinked several times as his head cleared. His narrow focus opened up, and the rest of the world came back. Elphacena had an easier time leading him away. She pulled him into a group of trees, then rounded on him. “Cedrick, what was that?” She was looking him right in the eye. Her green eyes flickered as she looked from one deep blue eye to the other. Cedrick’s brows pulled together. “What do you mean what was that?” “You know what I mean,” Elphacena said in a tense voice. “What was that? You almost lost it in there.” Cedrick became defensive. He squared his shoulders and pulled back a little. “I did not lose anything,” he said. “I was in control.” “Don’t lie to me. What were you feeling then? I felt that heat, Cedrick. I felt that anger. I’ve never felt anything like it. Well…once, but it doesn’t matter. That was out of line, Cedrick. What happened?” “What do you think happened?” Cedrick exploded. His blood seemed to steam up. A fire raged inside of him, and a demon gloried in the flames. “That man, he…he caused all this! You know what that man did, Elphacena. You know what he’s responsible for. He almost killed me. He was the reason we almost all died. He killed Drake!” Cedrick yelled. “Of course, I got angry. Why aren’t you? You know what he’s done. Even to see him standing there. It’s not right. He’s free after all the blood that’s on his hands. The butcher is cleaner than he is. The bloodstains his very soul. He killed them, Elphacena. It was him!” “I know!” Elphacena cut him off. “And I’m angry too, but what you did, what came off of you was more than anger, Cedrick. Don’t you pretend otherwise. I felt that power off of you, and it wasn’t safe. It isn’t alright. What were you doing?

“Nothing! Don’t you believe me?” Cedrick scowled. What right did she have to disbelieve him? Who wouldn’t be that angry after what that man put him through, put Drake’s family through, put Aleph through. Cedrick felt the fire lick at his insides. Cedrick’s body tensed. And now they didn’t believe him. The person who should trust him most and always had, now showed her true self, a fake and a liar. His own heart betrayed him. The fire flickered and seared at the edge of each dangerous tongue. “No, I don’t because I know,” Elphacena said. “I felt it, Cedrick. Do you know when?” She paused as if for an answer but then didn’t let him give it. “When I attacked the king. When he killed his son. You I told you I lost control. That’s the power I felt from you. That same magic that got me when the king killed Erik. Don’t you what happened to me? What I did? Where that then led me? To that miserable hole you found me in. It was the same thing. You’re lucky I caught it to stop it.” “Caught it?” Cedrick drew himself up. In his eyes, the dangerous fire crackled like a blue sparkler. “Caught it? You didn’t have anything to ‘catch’. I was fine. I had control. I was angry because that litchen deserved it! He did this to us, Elphacena. He did this to us, and he did to Aleph! Or did you forget about him? The orphan with no one left. The innocent boy who did nothing! But because of that snake, that rat, that litchen the boy is alone! He killed almost half our men by betraying us! That is the right response!” “It is if it’s controlled, but you didn’t have any control,” Elphacena snapped. “And I’m scared, Cedrick. Alright? I’m not mad at you. I’m scared. That…that whatever it is that destroyed my life...I can’t see that happen to you. Something is wrong.” “That man is what’s wrong,” Cedrick snapped. “No, ” Elphacena said, “it’s something in you.” Cedrick snarled. “So I’m the problem? I’m the one who warned you all! I knew he was the problem from the beginning, and no one listened! I’m the problem? How dare you.” “Are you saying that evil force was you then, Cedrick?” Elphacena challenged. “That you made the power that ruined my life and will ruin yours? I don’t think so. It’s not you, Cedrick. But there is something in you that is or was in me too.

We can’t let whatever it is run wild. Something happened, and we can’t let it happen again.” “Maybe you can’t, but we have to deal with him. I won’t wait anymore, Elphacena. He deserves to die, and I’m going to make sure he does.” Cedrick moved to leave. Elphacena caught his arm. “Cedrick, wait. Calm down first. We don’t know what —” Cedrick yanked his arm away from her. “You don’t control me. I’ve had enough of that with my father. None of you trust me, do you?! First father, now you too? You too? I’m at least doing something. You’re allowed to get angry to defend someone you love, but I’m not allowed to get angry at all?! Not even at a man who deserves it. Everyone else is allowed to get angry, to do what they’re commanded to, to be something but me! And it’s all because you ‘love’ me. I’m done with that love then. I’m trapped, and it’s all your fault! Just let me do my job.” Cedrick turned away, shaking with anger. Elphacena had stood gaping at him while he spoke, but once he was done it was her turn to react. She set her teeth. “So what do you want then? You don’t want me to love you? You want me to just go away?” “What do you want me to say? No?” Cedrick challenged. “Because you’ve been through too much? You can’t be left alone? If I am becoming that, it’s because of all of you! You keep treating me like nothing more than a treasure. Something you can’t use. You don’t trust it. You just polish it, so it looks nice. You don’t want to use me. I’m just a pretty toy.” “How dare you?” Elphacena snarled. “I trust you, Cedrick. I trusted you with my deepest pain. Now what do I get for it? You throw it back at me now! Maybe they’re right not to trust you. I did, and you’re attacking me for it.” “You lied to me! You didn’t trust me. I say it and no one, no one listened.” Cedrick turned away. He winced sharply at the movement. “L-lied to me.” He stammered in his pain. “Oh really? If I don’t trust you, what do I do?” Elphacena asked. Cedrick bowed his head, shaking in frustration. The fire started to make

something boil dangerously close to the edge. “I want you all to just let me go for once! To let me be. I can do this! So stop holding me back for no good reason! Your ‘love’ isn’t helping anyone,” Cedrick said. “I’m just a toy to you all, and I hate it! I’m not a thing, a treasure, a memory, a bandage; that’s not what I am! I don’t want the love of a toy! I want to be loved for me. And none of you seem to care for me at all. That love comes at too high a price. I don’t want that love.” Elphacena glared at him a long moment. “You’re lucky you’re hurt and I love you,” she said, “or I’d hit you, Cedrick Custod. Is that really how you feel?” “I just feel pain from all your ‘love,’ and I’m sick of it!” Cedrick snapped. “Just stop it!” “Fine.” Elphacena snapped, hot tears in her eyes. “I know what pain this path leads to, Cedrick. Fight, yes. Stop that litchen, yes! But I will not stand by and let you go down this path. Not as you attack those who care for you as you convince yourself something is wrong. I love you, Cedrick. But I can’t this path. It’s already twisting you. It will only hurt you, Cedrick. I know what it leads to. You saved me from that hell, but I suppose that means nothing to you. I love you. I want to stop you, but you won’t listen. If you want to go there, fine; just don’t expect me to go with you. You don’t want me, fine.” She stopped her foot as boiling tears filled her eyes and fell down her face and to the ground in frustration. “Fine!” She turned and marched off. Cedrick snarled. He muttered darkly under his breath. How dare she? He had tried, tried so hard. He loved her, gave his soul. Then she betrayed him. Treated him like a pillow for comfort and nothing more. Good riddance! He didn’t need that love. Cedrick marched off into the woods. After a moment, he paused, his head was spinning. He’d spent too much energy. He collapsed into a tree for a moment while his head cooled. What had he been thinking? Cedrick shook his spinning head. For a few moments, the world faded away. If he fell asleep or unconscious, Cedrick wasn’t sure. He did recall getting his head on right again. He realized he likely should go back to the meeting. His head still wasn’t quite right, but they could help him get it right. He had a feeling something had gone horribly wrong. But what? He had to fix it, but what was it? Father would know.

Weakly, Cedrick stumbled back to the meeting. When he got there, he was sure something was wrong. He paused and listened to officers arguing back and forth outside of the meeting room. Before Cedrick could gather what the discussion was about, the two of them spotted Cedrick and stopped suddenly. They gave him a shifty look and walked away. Cedrick tilted his head. What was that about? He started to get closer. He spotted his sister. She smiled a little. “What’s going on?” he asked her. She turned to Cedrick, and her face fell a little. “I-I’m not sure. After Elphacena pulled you out, Commander Faxon started yelling about how he told us so. Another commander ed in, Mercutio tried to argue, and the whole room just exploded.” “What? Why? He told you all what?” Cedrick’s brow drew together. Arylana sighed. “A silly rumor,” she said. “About?” “It’s nothing.” “About?” Cedrick pressed. “Well, there was a rumor that Heklis was going to send one of his big three, you know Emmerick, Neramith, or that memory ghost guy, pretending to be you back from the dead to try to destroy us. It’s all nonsense, but many of the commanders feared some truth to it. When you came in, most thought it was silliness, but…well, when you suddenly got all…scary and Elphacena pulled you out, it made their worries more real. It’s nothing. It’s silly.” Cedrick bristled. “So no one trusts me,” he said. “Curse them all then.” “Cedrick.” Arylana gasped, stunned. “What’s gotten into you?” “Nothing!” Cedrick snapped. “Why is everyone so uptight about it all? I told you. I told all of you I’m fine. Is it so wrong I get angry? Why is it alright for everyone else but not for me? Rackwrith tried to kill me and killed dozens of our men! It’s so wrong I’m upset?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just…well.” Arylana frowned. “You just don’t talk like that. Really…ever. Cedrick, you don’t swear. You just cursed them all to hell, and now, you’re snapping at me like it’s my fault. Are you sure you’re feeling alright?” Maybe his wound was aggravating him. “Of course, I am. Why is everyone else allowed to just be upset, but I’m not?” Cedrick’s fists clenched. “You are allowed to. You just don’t normally show your anger like this.” Arylana felt his forehead. Cedrick yanked back. “Back off!” Cedrick yelled. “Would you all just stop it?” He turned away. “Cedrick, I’m sorry. I just thought maybe your wound was making you ill, and that’s why you yelled. I’m sorry, Cedrick. Really.” Arylana tried, but Cedrick ignored her as he marched out. Arylana stood there, mouth open. Mercutio ed her. “What’s all the yelling?” “I…there’s something wrong with Cedrick,” she said. “He’s…not himself.” She looked at Mercutio. “You…you don’t think the rumor is true…do you?” “No, I mean if it was Emmerick or someone else he’d not act like Cedrick at all,” Mercutio said. “Cedrick isn’t acting like him at all,” Arylana said. “He just said damn you all. I’ve never heard him talk like that. Then he snapped at me when I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t in pain. He gets angry but…not like that. He keeps asking why we’re allowed to get upset, and he’s not.” “He’s got every right to be upset.” Mercutio frowned. “Just let him vent it out. He’ll be able to work things out soon. He was shot, and the man who did it is running free. We’ll prove it to the others. I have officers going to arrest Rackwrith now. We’ll show the evidence, and this will be over.” “I hope so. I’m worried about him. Something’s wrong. I know it.” Arylana frowned. “I just…” She wanted her family back. She thought them dead, and now… maybe Cedrick was gone.

Mercutio hesitated then put an arm around her. “Hey, it will be okay. Men are often a little…heated after being wounded. He’ll be fine.” “But he was hurt before. That fake Heklis cut his arm, ?” Arylana said. “That was different. I’m sure it’s fine.” Mercutio rubbed her shoulder. He watched Arylana for a reaction. When it wasn’t enough, he dared kissed her head. “Relax, he’s home safe. He’ll heal, give him time.” Arylana glared at him. She didn’t like his advances, but she liked his comfort. How she hated him. She wanted to push him away, but she needed it at the same time. “You…you sure?” “Sure.” Mercutio nodded. “Maybe Margorim knows why he’s so upset. He was with him the whole time. Let’s talk to him.” Arylana agreed, and they went to find him.

*****

Cedrick, meanwhile, had gone to try to find Mercutio and get this all straightened out. Rackwrith had to be stopped before it was too late, and Rackwrith knew Cedrick knew. When their eyes met, an understanding had ed between them. They were mortal enemies before, but it had reached a whole new level. It was war. Cedrick couldn’t waste time. At first, Cedrick just got more frustrated. The rumors had already had some effect. He couldn’t get close to any of the lower ranks to ask them where Mercutio was. They wouldn’t say no to him, but they kept moving away to make sure he couldn’t ask them. Cedrick’s tempter almost got away from him when a group practically ran away. Cedrick managed to hold his tongue and his magic. Why was everyone so stupid? It wasn’t fair they could have all these things happen and no one said a word, but if he did it? Cedrick’s bristled.

How dare they? He’d fought for them! He’d given them everything. Now they turned on him? Cedrick had trouble finding anyone. Fifteen minutes later, Cedrick hadn’t found anyone who would talk to him, and his wound was taking its toll. Finally, Cedrick felt too weak and collapsed by a tree. He took shaking breaths to try to cool his overheated body and mind. What was going on? He wasn’t sure. He fought to calm down, beat the pain and the heat. It took him a while before he finally felt his breath cool his body and wake up. The events of the day finally returned to him; what he’d done returned to him. What had he been thinking? How could he have said that to her? He had to make this right. He had to say sorry, make up for it if he could. What he’d done was not alright. It was not alright at all. It was bad. So bad. He’d attacked her worst moment. He’d thrown it in her face and told her she was wrong for fearing it in him. Alright, something had been wrong. He had to fix this. Cedrick fought to get to his feet, but he only winced and squeeze his eyes shut against the pain. But he couldn’t give up. Where had Elphacena gone? She’d wandered into the trees. The trees weren’t thick or deep, right? He could find her. Cedrick set his teeth and tried to stand one more time. He managed to get to his feet. Cedrick turned and headed for the tree line. He walked in, ignoring he was getting tired. “Elphacena!” He called after several minutes and no sign. “Cena?” Cedrick listened, but he got no answer. He tried a few more times as he wandered deeper. After half an hour, he started to worry. Maybe she’d not stayed in the trees long, but he didn’t see any sign she’d headed out. He saw a few signs she’d walked into the trees, but the trail stopped suddenly. Cedrick tried not to think negatively, but finally, he accepted something likely was wrong. With this in mind, he followed her trail again looking for where it stopped. Maybe he’d see hints of what had happened. He went more slowly, looking for any clue. By now, he really was feeling the wear on his body and mind from his injury, but he wasn’t giving up. Cedrick froze when he found the end of the trail. His head spun, making it hard to think. There was clearly some kind of fight. The leaves on the ground were recently disturbed. The mud underneath was kicked up and gouged. Whatever

had happened here had been intense. It had to be within the last hour. Cedrick tried to figure out which way the attacker or escapee had gone. He never found it. He got distracted by something else: blood. Several spattered drops were scattered on tree trunks and leaves around. He knew whose blood it was. He also only knew of only one person who could have dared attack someone alone so close. He was sure of it. How he knew, Cedrick couldn’t explain, but he knew. It sent his heart racing and panic filling his chest. He’d failed. And the last thing he’d said to her. Cedrick’s body tense in grief and guilt. He really was just a monster. He’d failed her. But he could at least do something. His grief fueled his anger. With renewed energy, Cedrick shot to his feet and headed straight for the enemy. He’d had enough. This was going to end, and it was going to end now.

*****

“No, there is no way it was him,” Mercutio insisted. Mercutio and Arylana had returned to the others only to find more trouble. The men had been arguing about how to prove if Cedrick was really himself or not. As Mercutio tried to quail this talk, three boys barged in, horrified and swearing by their mothers they’d just seen Cedrick murder his wife. The men had exploded, though Mercutio tried to remind them there was no proof. He’d sent Quimby with a team to find Elphacena. That was an hour ago. There was no sign of her, Cedrick was still storming about in a bad mood, and Quimby itted the only sign of foul play they’d seen was of an intense fight. Mercutio was losing control, and he knew it. He’d tried to stop Quimby from letting Roxorim catch ripples of the event, but with how big it was getting, it wasn’t long before the king was demanding an explanation. “I don’t have one,” Mercutio snapped back. “Elphacena has gone missing.”

“Missing? Those boys swore they saw her murdered,” Commander. Terick said. “And by her husband? I don’t believe it. That man who was here was not him. He’s a fake. The fact you’re falling for it is an insult to your friend’s memory.” “Calm down. We don’t have any other proof. Those boys may have misseen , or perhaps, it was a trick. Magic isn’t out of the question. We need to gather more facts before jumping to—” Mercutio tried. “Then at least lock him up. Make sure we have him secure. If it’s him, he won’t mind,” Lieutenant Liam said. “You know he would,” Roxorim snapped. “We’ve not given him reason to believe we trust him. He doesn’t think we trust him, he won’t trust us. We can’t risk that.” He knew what Cedrick was likely to do, most of all in his mood. He was like a wounded tiger. He was in pain, defensive, and knew his attacker was near. They couldn’t risk poking him. He’d either attack or flee. Roxorim had little hope they’d be able to find him if he ran. “Most of all if his wife is dead. He’ll be after blood.” Liam pointed out. “Who could blame him?” “We don’t know she’s dead.” Mercutio tried. “I have proof.” Rackwrith stepped into the room. Mercutio almost swore at him but held back. Of course, he did. If she was dead, Mercutio believed Rackwrith had done it. Why didn’t he trust his gut that it was him? Why didn’t he trust Cedrick? Why did he always doubt? He had the power, or so they thought. The real problem was, he knew the men gave him the power, and they could take it. He feared that too much. He was careful to keep being their leader, doing as they’d want. Now he was paying for it. “You have her body?” Mercutio challenged. Everyone looked nervous. Mercutio knew Cedrick would be uncontrollable. If he had the body, Rackwrith wouldn’t be breathing long. Which wasn’t a bad thing in Mercutio’s mind, but the men still trusted him. Where would that lead? All these men had been close to Rackwrith longer than anyone else. Rackwrith was the one constant to so many of these people. How would they react to his betrayal?

“No, but I found this coated in her blood in the mud. My enchanter confirmed its hers.” Rackwrith showed them her wedding band. Alive or not, that was all it would take to convince Cedrick in his state. Mercutio looked into Rackwrith’s face. That was what he wanted. Rackwrith had an agenda. Mercutio had to beat this. How? “A ring doesn’t prove anything other than she lost it in the fight,” Mercutio said. “I won’t believe it or allow action on it until we at least have a body.” “But they saw, General.” Rackwrith frowned. “And we have this. Isn’t that enough?” “Not in any fair court, so not to me,” Mercutio said. “And I’ll make sure everyone knows it.” Mercutio moved to leave the room. That was how he’d stop this. He’d make sure everyone knew it. “Roxorim, would you mind sparing your man to help me make sure this is understood among my troops?” “Go on, Quimby.” Roxorim nodded, and Quimby followed Mercutio. Though no one saw it, Rackwrith’s eyes got a bit wide, but not in fear, more like frustration. He’d hoped he wouldn’t have to do this. Rackwrith scurried after them when they saw Cedrick coming out of the woods. He looked tired and ready to rip someone limb from limb, but also tired, tired beyond his years, and furious all the more for it. He was like a wounded dragon, a fire splashed with water only to rage greater where the water didn’t quench it. Mercutio didn’t need anyone to tell him. His face was the answer. Cedrick knew. A crowd had already gathered. They were whispering to each other and watching the commanders. They’d been waiting for news. Mercutio ignored them and went to Cedrick. He was glad to see him, though he wasn’t as glad that the man already knew. “Cedrick, there you are. I’ve been worried. You shouldn’t have wandered off. I know you’re irritated from your wounds, but that’s all the more reason to stay close.” Mercutio tried to put a friendly hand on his arm. At that moment, it didn’t matter what the crowd thought. His friend was hurt and in danger. He had to get him out of it. He could crowd control later as long as he got Cedrick to calm down.

Cedrick didn’t take it. “Where is my wife?” he asked in a dangerous voice. “You should know,” Rackwrith called over the noise. “You killed her.” “Liar!” “Fake!” The three boys who’d “witnessed” the attack yelled. Mercutio knew that alone would set Cedrick off, and he was right. Cedrick’s eyes flashed like a firework and locked onto Rackwrith. “How dare you?” he hissed and moved to Rackwrith. Mercutio just stopped him by grabbing his arm tightly. “How dare I?” Rackwrith challenged. “You’re the fake! Who are you really? Neramith?” The crowd gasped in fear. “Emmerick?” There was a violent shudder through the onlookers. “How dare you!” Cedrick hissed. Mercutio pulled Cedrick back before he stepped forward. “You killed her. It was you! You did this! You were the spy! You lied! Because of you, Drake died!” Cedrick’s voice was so loud Mercutio could almost hear it hurting his throat. “You caused all of this, and you shot me! I should have ended this long ago! And you!” He rounded on Mercutio. “I warned you! I told you, and now look!” Cedrick’s chest was heaving. It wasn’t just anger. There was pain and tears in his eyes as well. Mercutio had seen men break before. He’d seen them lose it. Cedrick was heading that same direction. No, no, not again. Not another friend, not another commander. Cedrick wasn’t the only one who lost friends because of Rackwrith’s lies. He couldn’t let Rackwrith take Cedrick now too. The only other man around with a level head. Or maybe the only one at all. Now Mercutio was losing him. “I know. Cedrick, I know. I’m sorry. Please, calm down, and we’ll prove it.” “You had time to prove it! I’ve had enough.” Cedrick turned to Rackwrith. His every movement screamed murder, and there was no stopping him. Mercutio wasn’t the only one who read the signs. Rackwrith and others saw it, and a crowd converged on Cedrick. Rackwrith got lost in the mess.

“No! Don’t hurt him!” Mercutio ordered and tried to defend Cedrick. In the mess of bodies, it was hard to know exactly what happened. Mercutio knew he got in front of Cedrick to defend him. Then a strong hand grabbed his right side and pushed him hard to the left. The rest was a blur apart from the stabbing pain. The world went black for a split second. When Mercutio came to, he realized someone was holding his neck and shoulders off the ground as someone else was yelling. “He attacked the General. It’s all lies.” Mercutio blinked. Who attacked him? What happened? “And they’re all liars. He’s enchanted them all!” Who did what? Mercutio was trying to gather his thoughts, but it wasn’t working. What was happening? He tried to push himself up as a jolt of pain shot up his body right into his brain. He gasped and lost control of his limbs, he lost consciousness all together.

Chapter 38

Alone

“No, no, no…” Cedrick was shaking. It was impossible to breathe, but he had to keep going. They’d find him. They surely were coming after him. The “fake,” the “liar,” the “betrayer.” Cedrick gasped for air, but he was sure none came. But he kept running; he kept trying. But it wasn’t enough. He didn’t have the strength to keep going much longer. He couldn’t breathe, his side stabbed him over and over, and his head spun in exhaustion. Finally, his legs gave out. He collapsed to the muddy, cold ground. Mud and rain water splashed his whole body. Cedrick tried to get up, but his small attempt was too weak to even be called an attempt. He was shaking too badly to get his legs to go back under him. His right hand clutched his last treasure so tightly it hurt. He may have made himself bleed, but there was too much blood already on his hand to know for sure. He could have sworn he was covered in blood, but that wasn’t quite true. “G-get up.” Cedrick snarled to himself, but it did no good. Tears flooded his eyes. He tasted them on his lips as he fought to move. Their slow trail down his cheeks, tickled and irritated him, but he didn’t dare try to clear them. He couldn’t waste the energy. “Get up, Custod!” he screamed, but again it didn’t help. Unable to get himself up, Cedrick fell back down, shaking worse than ever. “Get up… get up.” He muttered, but it was pointless. They’d find him, and Rackwrith would make sure he died before they got back. Rackwrith couldn’t hold up his claims long if people got a good look at him. He wasn’t strong enough to kill anyone. Then again, why did he care? He’d lost it all. Elphacena was gone. The woman

who was his purpose was gone. Gone with his final words, attacks on her sorest moment. He’d stabbed her. He’d maimed her soul and then chased her away. He’d chased her to her murderer. That brix had killed her! Now here Cedrick was, shaking, likely bleeding, perhaps dying, alone, and without a ion in the world. His own people didn’t trust him. Had they ever? If they did, it was gone now. They wanted him dead. His family disowned him. He no longer was able to defend his people. He couldn’t be one of them. He had nothing. He was nothing. They were gone, and he was trapped in a living nightmare. It was his fault. He’d done it. It was his fault. He deserved this painful death. He earned it. Dizzily and weakly, Cedrick let his head fall into the mud. Steadily, Cedrick lost awareness of his surroundings as he sunk deeper into his horrible thoughts.

*****

Elphacena opened her eyes. She can’t have been out long. The light hadn’t changed from what she last ed. She frowned and pushed herself up. Her left arm stung horribly. She noticed it had a fresh bandage wrapped around it. The sleeve around it was bloodstained, but the cloth was clean. She lay on some kind of moving platform. As she looked around, she realized it was a wheeled cage like she’d seen used to display dangerous animals or criminals. “Ah, you’re awake,” a voice Elphacena knew slurred at her. She set her teeth and rounded on him. “Rackwrith, how dare you? I’ll tear you apart.” She tried to use magic to freeze him, but nothing happened. Elphacena frowned. “What?” Rackwrith laughed. “Impressed?” Elphacena gaped at him. “That wasn’t you.” It couldn’t have been. Rackwrith laughed again. Elphacena set her teeth. “I’m not afraid of you.” “Maybe not, but I know of someone you are afraid of.” Rackwrith smiled. “How happy do you think he’ll be when I present you to him. His most coveted

mount.” Elphacena set her teeth. She was fuming so much some would have sworn they saw real steam coming off her. “Is this what you were after this whole time? To give your ‘master’ his prize?” “Oh no, this is just a bonus.” Rackrith grinned twistedly. “A beautiful one at that. But no, this is all about getting that stupid husband of yours in line,” he scowled. “I’ve done so well keeping this resistance down to nothing. His father made it harder, but just when I thought I had a plan to be rid of all of them he turned up. That letter was supposed to make him go into further hiding, not drag him out.” “It was you? You sent the letter to Cedrick saying his family was dead?” That would explain why Arylana had never found out what had happened. She thought it was an accident. It wasn’t. “Naturally. If Margorim was hiding him, the boy was the key. To stop this momentum, all I had to do was get rid of that kid.” Rackwrith then sighed frustratedly. “But I didn’t know he had a bride. I would have used that to better effect. Once that fool of a Custod thought his boy gone, he’d become utterly useless. Sure, everyone else thought he must hate the boy, but I knew better. That Custod isn’t that stupid. A more foolish man, sure, but not stupid. There was more going on. I had my suspicions. Would have worked if your husband didn’t decide to listen to that message. You thought them dead. He was supposed to be a good boy and stay home!” Elphacena frowned. “But… you all hardly knew about him. You didn’t know if he was a boy or girl or what was happening.” “Mm, maybe most didn’t.” Rackwrith shrugged a little. “But the way Margorim was so insistent on keeping him hidden, I knew he might be the tipping point. If I got Margorim to shut down, progress would be made. The thought was to make sure that boy didn’t try anything stupid. Then to make Margorim believe him dead. I knew if I crushed him, I’d again crush this stupid resistance.” Elphacena scowled. Rackwrith wasn’t quite making sense, but it didn’t matter. He was up to no good. They had to stop him. “So now that’s failed, what is your plan?” she asked. “Same as before. Only I have a new target. Take everything from him, and he’ll

crumble. That’s how the master has always done it, and it’s worked well for him,” Rackwrith said. “So move the target. Killing him myself didn’t work, so we’ll let his own people do it. Those who love him will turn on him.” Elphacena’s heart went cold. “What?” A wicked smile slowly climbed Rackwrith’s cheeks. “Well, he came back rather moody, didn’t he? Seems his injury has zapped his patience, and his magic is making it worse. But Cedrick wouldn’t snap at you, would he? No, never. Cedrick wouldn’t lose his cool and snap at his fellow officers. He’d not become so suddenly violent.” Elphacena feared she saw where this was going. Rackwrith saw it on her face, and his smile widened. Elphacena set her teeth and tried once again to zap him, but still nothing happened. “So it can’t be him, can it? So who is it? Did someone try to fake being Cedrick to take over? Is he really Neramith? Heklis himself? Perhaps Emmerick.” Elphacena lunged at Rackwrith to try to claw at his face, but he was too far away. Rackwrith laughed. “And how erratic would Cedrick act if he lost it all? If he lost his wife? If he is like this just being ill, what will he do if his wife died because he pushed her away? Then the people doubted him? If they attacked him, stopped trusting him? If his love and purpose was gone? What then? How long do you think he’ll survive?” “He’ll figure it out. He won’t rest ‘til he’s found me. You have no proof I’m dead. He won’t give up,” Elphacena said. “Mmm, well he may not have proof, but I do. Three eyewitnesses to his murdering you, and something you’d never give up.” Rackwrith flipped something in his hand. Elphacena’s heart stopped. Her hand went to her left finger. Her wedding band… it was gone. She snarled like a tiger. “That is not yours,” she said. “Give it back. You let me out right now, or I’ll tear you apart myself.” “Not with those absorbers on your cage you won’t,” Rackwrith smirked. “Not only do I take out the foolish boy, but Heklis will be delighted to have you. Most of all now you have some…” he clicked his tongue, “...experience.”

Elphacena frowned. Absorbers? Rackwrith laughed. “Yes.” He pointed at the silver ring around the top of the cage. “They absorb any magic as long as they’re in a ring to keep it in. You can do all the magic you want. It will only suck it in.” Elphacena tried one more time to tear his eyes out but still couldn’t reach. Rackwrith waved as the cage moved away. “Enjoy your trip.” He said. Calmly, he turned away and slipped off into the trees. Elphacena was seething. That man would not get away with this. But he might. Her heart pounded in fear. What would happen? What would Cedrick do? People were often pushed to their limits. What would Cedrick do if pushed to his? She’d seen him get depressed, break down, get angry and lash out. All seemed likely, but then if he lost his purpose and thought her dead? She couldn’t even imagine. Would she lose him? Was there time? She had to try. She slowly stood up and looked around the cage. The odd metal was wrapped around the top of the cage. It likely would look like a decoration to anyone standing on the outside. Elphacena tried to reach it. She struggled, stretching and trying to pull herself up on the bars. The tip of her finger just managed to graze it. “Ah!” She pulled back. The metal burned. It wasn’t a bad burn. Elphacena looked at her finger and saw it wasn’t even red. It wasn’t really a burn. Maybe it was magical pain. The thing absorbed magic. Maybe it stole some of hers, and it hurt. Either way, she couldn’t touch it and pull off. There was too much of it, and she could hardly hold onto it to even try pulling. She’d need a key. Elphacena looked around to try to find the key. She found it on the belt of the man driving. She frowned. Could she reach through the bars to where he sat? Moving as softly as a cat, Elphacena went over to the front. She slipped her arm through the bars and tried to get the keys. It was just too far. The keys dangled out of her reach. She didn’t give up quickly. She spent a minute or two trying to get the ring. They hit a bump. Elphacena jolted upward, but so did the keys. She got the very tip of her finger around the key ring. She quickly tried to pull. But the keys were

put through the man’s belt. She fell back as another bump made her lose her grip and balance. The man looked down at his belt and slapped at the keys. He seemed to think they just caught on something. He shook his head, annoyed and got back to driving. Elphacena cursed inwardly. How would she get those keys? You’d have to get the man to take the belt off. A horrible idea popped into her head. She’d used such tricks before. Though she hated them, most of all now she had someone she loved, it would work. Elphacena waited a bit. Then sighed longingly and reached to touch the man’s back. She stroked her finger down his spine then pulled back after ing his belt. The man stiffened and turned to see what had done that. Elphacena gave him a flirtatious smile. The man frowned, his brows drawing together. “You ain’t getting the keys.” He said. Elphacena frowned in confusion. “Keys?” she said. “I don’t know where you keep the keys. I just thought…wanted to know what was under that.” She bit her lip as if shy, looking at his back with curious fascination. The man’s eyebrows raised. “Oh really?” “Well, you know what I do, right? Why your master wants me. I just…after him, I get…curious. Some are real treats, and others are not. You look like a good rare steak.” Elphacena said. She cringed inside. These were she’d heard her mother use. It made her stomach turn now. However, it was working. The man smiled. “Well, we are ahead of schedule,” He said. “If you wanted to see.” “Oh, you silly man. You think I just want to see.” She smiled. The man’s eyes widened a little. “I don’t just see, I…touch.” she said the last word with more breath than voice, almost a whisper. She meant it to be seductive. It worked. The man pulled them off the road into a small grouping of trees. Elphacena smiled as the man looked at her and started at the strings holding her

bodice on. The man smiled at that and opened the door. He came in, and moved to put the key back onto his belt. Elphacena didn’t give him a chance. She jumped at him and kissed him fiercely. The man froze at the act, melting into her like a puddle. Elphacena hadn’t been anticipating his eagerness. He put both arms tight around her and pushed her to the floor. Elphacena froze for a second. In her mind, she saw Heklis doing the same thing to her, forcing her down. She’d planned to trick the man into just going unconscious, but that fear and anger made her act more hastily. She blasted the man off her. He slammed into the roof and collapsed on the floor, unmoving. His belt was still undone, so Elphacena lunged forward, grabbed the key, opened the door then shot off like a hunted rabbit. Her breathing was wild. That flashback had spooked her. She had tears in her eyes. She fought to hold back those thoughts. She already felt dirty, invaded, though the man hadn’t touched her. Why was she so scared? It wasn’t like she hadn’t been touched safely. Cedrick came back to her mind, and she calmed down. But it was temporary. Her heart shot back up as she ed the danger he was in. Her eyes became the size of green moons as she shot off to try to find her lost lover.

*****

After what felt like years, Cedrick’s eyes gummed open. Raindrops pelted his face like little insults for his foolishness. He groaned and moved stiffly. A snap met his ears, and Cedrick snapped his head up, suddenly alert. Someone was coming. Cedrick winced sharply as he tried to move. Painfully, Cedrick put a hand to the tree beside him. With great effort, Cedrick pushed on it and forced himself up. His other hand pressed into his wound. It throbbed horribly. He’d never make it out of a fight. Maybe that was what he wanted. But he knew Elphacena, alive or dead, would hate him for it. He’d have to hide. But there was nowhere he could conceal himself effectively.

A leaf fluttered and fell onto Cedrick’s head. Like a candle suddenly lit in a dark room, Cedrick had a thought. His eyes steadily scanned upwards. This was going to hurt. Cedrick took a deep breath, stole his courage, and threw himself up to grab the lowest branch before he could think about it too long. The pain shot through him like a bolt of lightning, but he didn’t let himself think about it. He pushed on, swinging and throwing his legs up so they could swing to the next branch. Hoping it was high enough and pressing his hand tightly to his throbbing side, he looked down to try to see who was coming. The figure came into view, a cloak rested around its shoulders and covered its face. The rain pattered onto the hood but didn’t help Cedrick see who it was. The figure looked around. Cedrick cursed himself. His stunt had to have made a lot of noise. The figure had heard him. Cedrick tried to push himself deeper into the branches. Luckily, the figure below him didn’t hear the noises above it. Cedrick swallowed, shaking partly in cold, partly in pain, and partly for nerves. With careful steps, the figure came below the tree. Cedrick could see the hood moving back and forth as it looked around. A white hand touched the tree. Then it paused and looked at its hand. At first, Cedrick assumed it was because a drop of rain had landed on it. The figure studied its hand. The air changed. Cedrick felt the figure tense. Something caught Cedrick’s eye. He froze. He’d forgotten he wasn’t just wet with rain. There was blood all over his hand, and likely, his side was bleeding. He saw the drip lines down his hand. Had it dripped onto the figure’s hand? Cedrick couldn’t risk it. The hood would look up any moment. Cedrick pulled a blade from his boot and took a deep breath. This was going to hurt. The pain itself might kill him, but at least, he would have died trying. That’s what she would want, right? Just before the cloaked figure could look up, Cedrick dove to tackle it from the tree. It was a foolish move, but all he had. Cedrick felt the shock of the movement send another spasm of pain through his whole body, but his weight and momentum were enough to knock the figure over and the hood as well. Cedrick tried to push himself up, but he was in too much pain, too weak. He laid there, expecting and waiting for the blow that would end him. Or so he thought he

would. He had stayed on top of the attacker. He tried to put the blade to the figure’s neck, when two cold hands grabbed his face and warm lips pressed to his with desperate ion. Cedrick yanked back with a swear, and not just in surprise, but in pain. He fell back, knowing it was over. He opened his eyes to see his attacker then froze. His eyes became the size of dinner plates. “Elphacena,” he gasped. He was wrong. The pain had killed him and now he somehow managed to be in the same world as her. His foolishness had not broken their bond and taken them apart, even in death. “I was worried I wouldn’t find you in time.” Elphacena pulled her wounded husband into her arms, where he managed to sit up, and hugged him tightly around the neck. “Have you been looking for me?” She pulled back to look into his face. “N-no, I thought…I thought,” Cedrick stammered. He glanced up for a second as if asking a mental question of someone above them. Elphacena giggled. “Gguess you g-gotta take to give.” Elphacena laughed again and hugged him once more. “Don’t worry. It was a trick. Rackwrith knocked me out and cut my arm to get the blood.” She showed Cedrick the wrap on her arm. “He put me in a cage to take me away, but I uh… tricked the guard and got the keys.” “I just…I can’t.” A smile finally crossed Cedrick’s face. He put a hand to her cheek. “I thought I lost you. And after I…oh Cena, I’m so sorry.” He swallowed. His grief and guilt engulfed him like a smoky fire. He was shaking within and closed his eyes in remorse. “You were right. I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” “We can worry about it later.” Elphacena cut him off. “I forgive you, but we have bigger fires to fight. Rackwrith is going to—” Cedrick cut her off. “Get them all to believe I’m a fake, that I murdered you, and that my family has been brainwashed by me.” Elphacena gaped at him. “Okay, that last part is new,” she said. “Yeah, he’s already done it. They all think I’m a fake who killed you and that my

family is being mind-controlled by me. I hardly escaped with my life. I thought you were one of them. They’re sure to catch up soon,” Cedrick explained. “Then why did you stop?” Elphacena frowned. Cedrick bowed his head. “I didn’t have a choice. My legs gave out.” “But…you aren’t even that far.” She frowned then stopped. “You tore it, didn’t you?” Cedrick shrugged. “No idea. I lost it, Cena. I saw that he’d hurt you and thought I’d never see you again. I went to confront him, and it all went wrong. I lost it and tried to attack him. He tried to kill Mercutio. I don’t know what happened next. I just ran.” Elphacena sighed. “I told you not to attack him,” Elphacena said, “most of all alone.” “I…I didn’t want to hurt him,” Cedrick said. Slowly, he opened his right hand. “I just had to get th-this back.” Sitting in his hand, bloodstained and shining, was her wedding band. “I-I couldn’t let him have it. It’s yours. It’s only yours. He wasn’t allowed to have it.” Cedrick’s voice quavered with emotion: a mix of anger, pain, and grief. “It’s yours, only yours.” Elphacena frowned in sympathy and hugged him once again. “Yes, it’s mine. I’m yours. Always. It’s alright now. I’m fine, and you will be.” “How? Rackwrith took everything from me. Well, except you now, but that’s only through the Maker’s grace. I lost my purpose, family, well, not anymore with you.” Cedrick gave her a small smile. “But the rest of them are gone. Father’s surely had to disinherit me after this. He can’t risk losing their trust. It’s…he needs all of them to win this war. Not me.” “Oh, Cedrick. After all you’ve been through with him, do you really still believe that?” Elphacena asked. Cedrick bowed his head. “It’s what he should do.” “Yes, but to win the war, he also should have brought you with him and let you take the test? Did he do that?” Elphacena asked.

Cedrick paused. “No,” he said at last. “No, he didn’t. I doubt he’ll throw you out over this now,” Elphacena said. “Now we have to find out what’s happened to them. We can still beat Rackwrith.” “How? He’s got the whole army on his side.” Cedrick looked up. “Not even sure Mercutio made it out alive. He likely blamed that one me too. I can’t win this war on my own, and he’s made it impossible for me to get any help.” “They think you’re a fake. Would a fake actually be injured?” Elphacena asked. “Guess not.” Cedrick shrugged. “But he’s explained all else away.” Elphacena frowned. “Don’t overestimate him, Cedrick. What happened to the fire that was in you when you faced him after all he did?” “You told me to put it out,” Cedrick said bitterly. “And you were right.” “It wasn’t the anger I was worried about. It was the dark magic that scared me.” Elphacena shook her head. “You have every right to be angry. He is responsible for many deaths. Or did you forget about Drake and Sarai?” Cedrick set his teeth. “No.” “Then what are you—?” “Because I can’t!” Cedrick snapped at her then backed off. “Sorry, I mean I can’t. I hardly ran this far.” “You pulled yourself into the tree.” “And I doubt I can do it again.” Cedrick shook his head. “What can I really do?” Elphacena smiled to herself. “That’s our strength, Cedrick. Neramith and any other fake wouldn’t bother feigning a wound. It’s below them. Trust me. We have this. We just need to find your family. We can win. Come on.” Elphacena stood up and offered Cedrick a hand. Cedrick swallowed and looked at her hand for a long moment. Finally, he took it,

and she helped him up. Cedrick winced, his face screwing up in pain, but not as badly as he thought. “That hurt?” Elphacena frowned. Cedrick nodded. “Let me see.” She carefully moved his clothes to see the bandage. “It did bleed a bit, but it stopped,” she said. “I think it will be fine.” She frowned. “It seems to mostly be making you tired.” “Yeah. It is doing that much.” Cedrick nodded. “Well, we still can win. I’m not worried. We have the Maker on our side, ?” Elphacena gave him a weak smile. “He made the world. You think he can’t help us do this?” “Yeah, but Rackwrith has the Maker of Darkness on his side.” Cedrick sighed. “Yes, but light always drives out the darkness. We hold the light. So let’s go use it to beat up that darkness.” Elphacena tried. Cedrick sighed. She was trying to give him a pep talk like a general or coach, but she wasn’t very good at it. He wasn’t nearly as sure as she was. But if there was any hope, they had to try. There was nothing else to do. He just nodded. Elphacena knew she wasn’t helping fire him up and sighed. “Come on, Cedrick.” She clapped his shoulder. “This is not the you I know. Let’s go get him. He killed Drake. Are you going to stand for that?” “No, but in case you didn’t notice, I stood and then fell.” “So get up!” Elphacena said. “I am up. What more do you want?” Cedrick turned to start heading back. Elphacena took his arm. “I want you to feel up,” she said. “You’re weak in heart. I know you’re stronger than that. Your heart has to you if we’re going to do this.” “I’m trying. Alright, I’m trying,” Cedrick almost growled. Elphacena studied him a moment. “Are you hungry?” Cedrick glared at her.

“Okay,” she said. “Guess not.” She kept going, trying to figure out how she was going to do this with a half-there Cedrick. Worst part was, she had to find his family in the first place. Where had they gone? Everyone thought her dead; she couldn’t just go in and just ask. Cedrick could likely trace their energy, but he seemed too tired to care. She’d have to try something else. Then again, maybe not. “Cedrick,” she said. “Can you feel around and find your family?” “If they’re still in the town.” Cedrick nodded. “Alright, give it a go,” Elphacena encouraged. Cedrick sighed and closed his eyes. Elphacena gave him a side hug to show him her while he did. After a minute, Cedrick opened his eyes, but they looked vacant, exhausted. “They’re hiding in the meeting room. Sorry, ‘building.’ They’ve blocked it off. Windows are clear, but now they’ve stopped anyone getting up the stairs.” “So they’re trying to get to them?’ Elphacena asked. Cedrick nodded. Then Elphacena realized. “Wait…how do you know what happened?” “I asked,” Cedrick said dryly. “What?” “I mean I asked,” Cedrick said. “Where are you?” Elphacena finally caught on. He didn’t feel their energy to get their location. He was trying his new mind trick. He reached out his mind to talk to them mind to mind. “You can do that from this far?” “I just did.” Cedrick raised an eyebrow. “Okay.” Elphacena couldn’t do that. That mind woman did teach him new tricks. “Are the people still there?”

“At the front, nowhere else,” Cedrick said. “Mmm.” Elphacena ed the back was covered in ivy. “Is there a window in their room?” “No idea. I didn’t ask, and no, I’m not reaching out again,” Cedrick said. Elphacena hadn’t expected him to. He looked so worn out even from doing just that. His weakness likely explained his odd mood. His eyes were dropping, his breath tired, and limbs hanging. “We’ll have to try. Let’s take the woods around and go into the back. If we climb up to a window, we can get in.” Cedrick’s face paled. “It’s easy. Don’t worry,” Elphacena promised. “Let me check for guards. It looks like everyone is too busy in the forest looking for you, they left the town open. Maybe we can hold up and rest for a bit.” She knew Cedrick needed it. “They’re idiots for looking that long,” Cedrick said, still in that bored tone. “What do you mean?” Elphacena asked as she led the way around the forest’s edge. “I mean their idiots for looking that long,” Cedrick repeated. “Cedrick.” Elphacena was getting fed up. “How long?” “I don’t know. I was lying on the ground a while.” Cedrick shrugged. Elphacena sighed. “It’s been a long time?” If she’d known that, they could have just held up there, and she’d not have to endure Cedrick in this mood. “And you didn’t mention this because?” “You didn’t ask.” Elphacena sighed. “Let’s get this over with.” Elphacena got Cedrick deep into the forest and found an underground burrow to hold up in. She used magic to make a small fire and used her cloak to help give Cedrick a place to lie down and rest. He kept muttering he didn’t deserve it. That she should just leave him after all he’d done.

“Shhh.” Elphacena got him to lie down. “For me, just lie here with me, rest. You’ll be well soon,” she soothed. “I love you. Yes, you were rude, but I know you love me, and that it was a mistake. I forgive you. Rest, just stay here with me, please.” Elphacena decided to try a trick. She took Cedrick’s cloak, draped it over both of them and cuddled up to Cedrick’s good side. “I need you. I…I’m scared. Hold me, please.” Sleepy and depressed, Cedrick obeyed to help her. He put his arms around her to cradle her best he could. “My fault, my love, I’m sorry…so sorry.” Cedrick’s weakness soon won out, and he fell asleep. Elphacena sighed. “And I you. Rest, we’re in for a very long day tomorrow.” In the morning, she got up herself to look at how things were going. She’d hoped Cedrick would stay asleep a bit longer, but the moment she left his side, he stirred. Elphacena paused to see if he’d wake. Slowly, he opened his eyes. Elphacena smiled a little, nervous about how he’d be feeling. “Cena?” He looked around as if worried but then spotted her. A small smile crossed his face. “H-hey,” he said. “Morning, my love,” Elphacena replied. “Better?” Cedrick paused to think about it, then slowly, he nodded. “Yes, better.” His voice didn’t sound dead. Elphacena smiled a bit wider. She was glad he was over that funk. Cedrick’s face fell after a second. “So, what’s the plan?” He looked up at her. “From what we saw yesterday, looks like climbing is the only way to get to your family.” Elphacena sighed. “And without talking to them, we’ll never find out what’s going on, or how to stop Rackwrith.” “I’m afraid we have to split into three factions.” Cedrick sighed. “Us, Rackwrith, and Heklis.” His shoulders fell. “This is a nightmare, and it’s my fault. I’m sorry. I should have listened to you instead of…of attacking you. I lost my head. I’m sorry.” Elphacena smiled a little and went back over to him. “I know. I should have expected that from you. I felt it once. I should have known. It’s not just you who should be sorry. I am too. I shouldn’t have let myself get heated too. Whatever

set that off in you was still going when I left. I shouldn’t have left you alone in that state. I forgive you. Now… can you forgive me?” Elphacena smiled a bit sheepishly. Cedrick smiled and kissed her gently. “Always,” he promised. “Good.” Elphacena smiled and stood. “Now, we have our people to save.” She offered Cedrick a hand up. Cedrick sighed and took it. Painfully, he used her help to get to his feet, but it hurt like a hot poker was going into it. “You alright?” Elphacena studied Cedrick’s face. Cedrick nodded a little. “Yes,” he said. “Let’s get this started.”

Chapter 39

Are We Rebels or Double Agents?

Arylana was pacing. After Cedrick jumped at Rackwrith, Mercutio was injured. Arylana pulled him back, and Rackwrith began screaming about them being on Cedrick’s side. Margorim reacted the fastest and got them all inside the town hall and locked themselves in the upper halls. They’d been working out a plan when Arylana heard Cedrick in her head. She knew he was coming, but he was taking too long. She kept looking over at Mercutio unconscious on the sofa. She was stressed and felt alone. She needed his help. Margorim was busy trying to keep the enemy from getting up the stairs to them. They needed a plan, and Arylana wasn’t sure of any of hers. She needed someone to bounce her ideas off of. Mercutio was not up to it. She needed her little brother. Roxorim had tried to help, but he was busy. He was finding what resources they had. Arylana hoped against hope she’d get some back up, they heard a noise at the window. Arylana dashed over, hoping but afraid to hope. She was lucky. Cedrick painfully hauled himself through the window and collapsed on the floor. “Cedrick, thank the Father.” Arylana sighed. “Were you seen?” Cedrick shook his head. Arylana helped him up then stopped. There was still noise in the window. She turned to close it. Cedrick stopped her. Arylana opened her mouth, but before she could, Elphacena pulled herself through the window. “Elphacena!” Arylana couldn’t express how happy she was to see her sister-inlaw. Not only was it confirmed she was alive, but she had someone to work with. Arylana ignored her brother and gave Elphacena a hug, which was odd for her.

“Hello.” Elphacena laughed. “Glad to see you’re all alright.” “Well…not quite alright.” Arylana glanced at Mercutio on the sofa. “He was hurt.” Cedrick frowned and went over. “So are you,” Elphacena muttered under her breath at her husband. Arylana smiled a little. Elphacena turned her attention back to Arylana. “What’s going on?” “Well, after Cedrick ran, the crowd quickly turned on us. Rackwrith has some influential people screaming his lies. He could drive the whole crowd by commanding the lead steers. They all think we’re being manipulated by the fake. We had to hide here to stop Rackwrith’s men getting us. He’s telling them all Mercutio is dead,” Arylana said. “And that’s the state of it. No one will listen to us, and if we try to go out and talk, Rackwrith will have us before we can say ‘don’t kill us’.” Elphacena frowned. “So, what now?” Arylana shrugged. “I don’t know.” She sighed and flopped onto a chair. “I just don’t know. Father is running around keeping up defenses. Rox should be back soon after finding all our resources. I’ve been brainstorming, but we seem pretty well stuck.” Cedrick nodded a little. “Depends on our goal.” “Kill Rackwrith,” Arylana snarled. Cedrick chuckled. “No, I get that. I mean are we trying to turn people on him or just kill him and win our place back?” “I don’t know.” Arylana sighed. “I don’t know.” Her shoulders fell. “Let’s wait for father. He’ll likely be able to help.” Cedrick was still looking Mercutio over. “We are going to need some good medicine.” “Roxorim is working on it,” Arylana said.

“Alright, so what do we want to try?” Cedrick asked. Elphacena sat on the windowsill, hands pressed to her sides and the sill, lips pursed in thought. “First goal is Rackwrith gone. We can fight after that.” Cedrick nodded. “Alright,” he agreed. His eyes darted a little in thought. “First, we need to know his plan then we can attack and get our people back.” “How do we find them?” Arylana asked. “Working on it,” Cedrick said, thinking carefully. They’d find a way. They just had to. Cedrick’s mind was lost in thought when the door opened, and Margorim came in. He sighed. “Cedrick, thank the father.” He sighed and went over to Cedrick. “I’m glad you made it.” He paused when he saw Elphacena. “Elphacena, I’m glad we found you alright.” He sighed in relief and gave her a hug. He then realized he should live up to his change and went over to his son and hugged him. Cedrick was surprised but was glad to see him and returned it. “Yeah, tired and worse for wear, but I’m alright.” Margorim pulled back. “I’m glad you’re alright.” He looked around. “Once Roxorim returns, we can start with plans.” “I’m working on it.” Cedrick nodded a little, eyes getting lost again, nodding to himself. Margorim smiled. That was the boy he knew. He then looked at Arylana and Mercutio. “How is he doing?” “Still hasn’t woken up.” Arylana sighed. “Roxorim should be back with something soon. We stopped the bleeding and wrapped it up. Worst is if it’s infected. But we’ll solve it.” He could tell Arylana was overstressed. “It’s my fault.” Cedrick sighed.

“You saved him from a death blow. It would have been worse without you,” Margorim said sternly. Though he didn’t know if it was true. He knew Cedrick was tired, and he needed to be encouraged. “I’m going to get him.” Cedrick pushed himself to his feet. “Cedrick, that goes under rash.” Margorim shook his head. Then there was a noise at the door; both men looked as Roxorim came in. He looked grim. “We’ve got trouble.” “What is it?” Margorim asked. Roxorim swallowed. “They’ve gathered up those who oppose Rackwrith and locked them up. Most of the officers are down there and…” Roxorim swallowed harder. “And they’ve got Airabelle down there too.” “So not everyone is falling for it?” Cedrick asked hopefully. Roxorim shook his head. “Airabelle managed to steal a com and called me.” “When did we get coms?” Cedrick asked. “Recent. Your man Alburn worked out how to make them with a friend. The communicators are pretty nice. Anyway.” Roxorim went back on topic. “It seems there’s mass chaos. No one knows what’s going on. In the confusion, Rackwrith is quickly building a resistance against us. He was assembling men to come in and get us. At first, no one minded, but then Airabelle overheard it wasn’t a peaceful party and objected. Rackwrith said she must have also been brainwashed by the fake, and those who tried to defend her got locked up too. Most of the high officers, all of Cedrick’s officers, and a few others are all down there.” “Then we need to get them out. With them on our side, we may be able to outsmart Rackwrith’s lies,” Cedrick said. “Where are they being held?” “The underground cells.”

“Perfect, those connect to the lower floor.” Cedrick looked around for his weapons. “Um…not perfect. How are you going to get down then inside again?” Margorim asked. “What do you mean?” Cedrick frowned. “We barred the doors below.” “But not the windows.” “And we blew up the stairs.” “You did what?” Cedrick was a bit impressed. “Did Alburn come up with that?” Margorim shook his head. “No, I did.” After the visions he’d seen, Cedrick shouldn’t have been surprised, but he was. It was smart in some ways, but not very effective in the long run. “So now we don’t have to worry about them breaking in through the window,” Margorim explained. “There must be another way down,” Cedrick said. “A hidden age or something. A security room like the one in Meched. There must be something here.” “Not sure, but it can’t hurt to look,” Margorim agreed. “We can all start a search. Arylana, stay with Mercutio.” “I’ll stay too,” Elphacena said quickly. She could tell Arylana needed a bit of . Margorim nodded and left the room. Cedrick went to follow, but Elphacena took his arm. “You alright?” she asked, looking into his eyes. “I…” Cedrick tried to answer but couldn’t. “I’ll be fine.”

“Please, just you’re still hurt.” Elphacena squeezed his arm a little. Cedrick nodded. “I will. We’re just going to have a look.” “Alright.” Though her tone indicated she wasn’t as sure about that. Cedrick gave her a half smile then left the room. Margorim was checking the age to the stairs. Cedrick saw what he meant about blowing it up. There was a gaping hole where the stairs had been. You tried to walk down those stairs now you’d fall straight down like walking off a cliff. “That may have been overkill,” Cedrick said. Margorim shrugged a little. “Better than nothing,” he said. “It’s stopped them so far.” “And us.” Margorim agreed. “We better start looking.” Cedrick sighed, and they started their search. Roxorim went into each room to look for any opening or age they may find. He didn’t find many openings, but he found more supplies by digging into every door. Cedrick tried knocking on the walls to find any hollow spots. Margorim knocked on the floors for the same reason. After over a half an hour of searching, Cedrick paused. He knocked again. There was surely an echo. Cedrick smirked a little. “Hey!” He called over to his father and brother. “I think I found something.” The two ed him as Cedrick felt along the side. Roxorim felt across the top and Margorim felt the other side. It took a few minutes, but Margorim felt a kind of pressure plate and pushed. A crack popped into being on the wall. Cedrick put his fingers into it and slid it open. At first, Cedrick feared it was a hidden closet. The place was pitch black and only large enough for one person to walk through at a time. Cedrick sighed and tried to fit inside. Instantly, his foot slipped, and he almost fell. Margorim caught him. Cedrick winced. “Thanks,” he said in a tight voice. “Always.” Margorim was trying to see where Cedrick had slipped. “It’s too dark. We’ll need a light.” Cedrick made a small flame in his hand. Margorim frowned but nodded thanks anyway. Cedrick had ‘slipped’ because his foot had gone

down a step. There was a narrow set of stairs leading down. “Good work,” Margorim said gruffly. Cedrick wasn’t sure he believed it. Roxorim poked his head in. “It’s a narrow fit.” He sighed. “Lose weight.” Cedrick grumbled. “Sorry, I wasn’t shot to help me lose weight.” Roxorim gave his brother a look. Cedrick ignored it. He was in too much pain to want to argue. “He’s right though.” Roxorim sighed. “It will be hard to get the injured through.” Cedrick bristled. “I can handle it fine.” “I was talking about Mercutio.” “Oh,” Cedrick said. Margorim nodded a bit. “But it does give us a chance to look around.” “As you think it’s too small, you go back and tell the others we found a place.” Cedrick turned to Roxorim. “We’ll meet you up here. Keep it guarded.” “We?” Margorim raised a brow. “You’re wounded and an easily spotted target. Most people don’t know me on sight.” “Father, you can’t go alone,” Cedrick said. “I’m with Cedrick on this one,” Roxorim said. “He is good at staying hidden.” “Then I’ll bring Arylana.” “Um…” Roxorim suppressed a smile. “I don’t think she’ll agree to leave Mercutio’s side.” “That may be a good thing.” Cedrick sighed. Mercutio needed the , and she needed to learn to trust. “Likely, the whole thing is good for her, but father,” Cedrick met his eyes, “I don’t like it. You can’t go alone. If not me, Cena or…” Cedrick stopped. He knew there wasn’t one of them. Then an idea struck him. “Can you find Airabelle?”

“Airabelle?” Margorim frowned. “She’s better at this than you think,” Cedrick said. “She’s not much of a fighter, but she’s clever.” Roxorim nodded. “As good a diplomat and a better planner than you’d think.” Margorim pondered a moment then nodded slowly. “Alright,” he said. “I’ll do my best. Will she be free?” Roxorim sighed painfully. “I don’t know. I mean…” Roxorim swallowed. “They know how close she is to me. And she had a com but also said they found her, so I don’t know.” He had just proposed after all. “But I doubt they can peg her as being brainwashed. She either is keeping her head low and trying to undo it under the guard, or he found an excuse.” “I’ll find out, son.” Margorim clapped his shoulder. “We both will,” Cedrick said firmly. Margorim frowned. “I really don’t think…” “Father.” Roxorim cut him off. “Frankly, I don’t like it either, but Cedrick is right. You cannot go alone. You two together is better than nothing.” Margorim sighed. “Alright, but remain close no matter what happens.” He told Cedrick. Cedrick nodded, and the two slipped down the age. The age was long, dark, and winding, with many doors leading to different levels and sections of the building. Cedrick put an ear to each door to listen for clues as he had the best hearing of any of them, but he hardly heard a thing. The place appeared deserted. Which was either a good thing or a very dangerous thing. Each time Cedrick didn’t hear a sound, the unease in his stomach twisted and snarled like a sickened dragon. Maybe it was just his injury, or maybe it was left over from what Scarlet did in his head, but it made the journey through the tunnels feel immensely longer than it was. Finally, they reached what they hoped was the bottom of the building. Cedrick thought it was because he thought he heard chains.

“A prison?” Margorim guessed. “Or torture hall,” Cedrick agreed. “But it should give us an undercover place to come out and get an inspection of the situation.” Margorim bit his lips, eyes nervous. “I suppose.” Just as they just pushed the door open, a loud, grinding creak filled the hall. Margorim held an arm out to push Cedrick back a little. The crack in the door wasn’t wide, but it was wide enough to allow both Cedrick and Margorim to see most of the age. The age went down a line of cells on the left-hand side and rows of keys, hooks, weapons, tools, and doors to other rooms on the righthand side. At the far end, on the right of the hall, was a wide set of stairs that filtered sunlight from outside down into the dim age. Dust filled the air and swirled at the smallest movement. The cells weren’t as empty as they’d expected. They had a lot of people inside: people they knew. Cedrick set his teeth. The cells held many Cedrick knew well. Most of his own troops could be spotted between the bars and patches of dust. As Cedrick watched, he realized none of the cell doors were actually locked. Even as the two Custods appraised the area, he watched Portia and Alburn double check all the cells were open then held them closed to give the appearance of still being locked. Maybe they didn’t need their help after all. A smile of pride crept up Cedrick’s face as heavy footsteps thundered threateningly down the stairs to the ageway. Cedrick reached for his sword, not to draw it, but to be ready if needed. A group of about six men appeared at the foot of the stairs. Cedrick tried to see if Rackwrith was with them, but it wasn’t easy. Cedrick watched as the group walked down the hall, apparently looking for someone in particular. As they did, Cedrick froze; did he just see? Cedrick tried to move closer for a better look, but Margorim grabbed his arm, shaking his head a little. “Too risky,” he insisted. Cedrick let his father’s arm hold him back, but he kept straining to see if he saw who he thought. It wasn’t someone they wanted to be down there. Cedrick didn’t try to escape his father’s grip, but he tried to stretch to the limit it would permit him. “What are you doing? They’ll hear you,” Margorim scolded.

“Father, please tell me that’s not who I think it is: third cell, far back, being hidden by the big one.” Cedrick hoped that somehow his time trapped in his head made his eyes play tricks on him. Margorim peered inside; immediately, his eyes widened. “That’s what I was afraid of.” Cedrick sighed. Against his hopes, Airabelle was trying to remain unseen at the back of the cell. Had she started some trouble that got them all down there? She would be a powerful rallying point for those who weren’t falling for Rackwrith’s claims. Did Rackwrith know he had her? Maybe he was looking for her and being locked with the others was her best hiding place. It would be a great idea if it was. She was a small woman and not easy to spot in such a diverse crowd. Rackwrith would never think to seek her out there. Margorim frowned, wearing the same expression Cedrick must have had when he saw Airabelle there. “Is there any way to get them out of there? We can’t just leave them there.” “They may already have their own plans. Do you see the locks?” Cedrick carefully indicated the individual locks. “See each lock is actually open? I think they have their own plan of escape, and I’m planning on letting them give it a grand attempt. I trust my men to pull it off.” Cedrick relaxed a little. His own confidence relaxed him and made him feel better about Airabelle’s position. “I struggled to train them well, and they didn’t fail me when they were brought to battle. I believe they will be able to take care of her and themselves.” Margorim nodded a little, but his eyes shared his worry. He wasn’t as sure about that, but he also ed he was trying to help Cedrick feel his trust, so he put his faith in Cedrick’s men as well. But his hand was resting on his sword. He would attack if he had to, even if just to protect Airabelle. He owed Roxorim that. Airabelle was well protected without Margorim’s help. The other men and women seemed to know she needed to be kept safe. They had an advantage with someone with her station on their side, but only if Rackwrith kept his hands off her. There was no telling what could happen if he got a hold of her. It could change everything. The guards were scanning the group and called forward anyone with dark skin or any of the women who looked to be on the small side, but it didn’t seem like

they’d spotted Airabelle yet. Margorim’s fingers drummed against the pummel of his sword nervously, Don’t be seen he prayed over and over in his mind. Cedrick felt his nervousness, and his hands began to twitch. He sighed. “Father,” he hissed, “Calm down. You’re making my heart race for the Merlin’s sake.” “Don’t swear,” Margorim snapped harder than was needed. “Father.” Cedrick turned to glare at him. “I’m serious. I’m getting nervous, and I can’t handle it without jumping like mad, and they’re getting closer.” The guards were almost right in front of the door. A voice boomed down the stairwell, a voice that made Cedrick tense. His teeth clenched, his fists balled, and his eyes sharpened like lasers. “Rackwrith,” he snarled. Margorim put a hand to Cedrick’s arm to hold him back as the man himself appeared. The guards stood still waiting for their master to approach and give them orders. Airabelle was shrinking further back. Luckily, she was small, so hiding behind the others wasn’t too hard. She got smaller and smaller as they pinned her into the corner. “The queen-to-be is still gone. You’re sure she is not here? Because she is nowhere else.” “We’ve come to check just now, sir,” the first guard said. “But it’s hard with them all in there, if we could pull them out and scan them over, we could be sure she’s not here.” “I told you they must stay in there,” Rackwrith said. “They get out they will revolt, and if we have more battles, those fakers will find the means to overturn it all. They are great at tricks. We cannot risk it. Those men stay in there, no matter the case, you understand?” The man bowed his head submissively. “Aye, aye sir.” Rackwrith huffed, “That’s better. Now I want her found because she’s key to proving they’re fakes and getting this war back to the real enemy. We can’t have any more of this, understood?” “Understood.”

“Find the girl,” Rackwrith growled. “We are fighting the real enemy!” Alburn screamed. “You lied to us! You shot him, and now you are locking him up in lies. You killed the general. You will pay for it. We will do all we can to prove it and save those we can. You lied! Go to…” And Alburn broke into an army of obscenities that would make even a drunk blush. Rackwrith ground his teeth dangerously. “Looks like we have another faker,” he said. “As fake as your…” And Alburn went off again. “Enough!” Rackwrith marched up to the door. When he was close enough, Alburn grabbed the bar and swung it outward as hard as his arms could shove it. The door collided with Rackwrith’s face, smashing his nose and smashing him flat to the ground. The wave of attackers stormed into the wide hallway. “See? They have their own plans, and they look to be working fine.” Cedrick tried to calm his father with a smile. “It looks like they don’t need our help, but we do need theirs.” Then he noticed something that sent his heart into his throat. Aleph was holding a wooden stick and swinging it like he thought he was a real sword fighter. What was he thinking? Cedrick told him to stay out of it, time and time again, yet there he was about to get his head knocked off. As Cedrick watched, Aleph took a swing at Rackwrith as Rackwrith got up from the ground, which of course, Rackwrith wasn’t too pleased with. Rackwrith snarled and drew a knife. Cedrick’s heart found a new high speed as he responded before his mind knew what he was doing, instinct driving. Cedrick threw himself out the door, past the fighting mass and tackled Aleph over. A spike of pain shot through Cedrick as he landed on the ground, and the gasp that went with it made his chest feel like ice had been stabbed into the inside of his rib cage. “Cedrick!” Aleph cheered as Cedrick, gasping and as if the air was heavy and hard to take in, pushed himself to hands and knees. The pain in his chest throbbed rapidly with his heartbeat. “I knew you’d find a way, Cedrick; I just

knew it.” Cedrick ignored the pain and grabbed Aleph by both shoulders. “What were you thinking? I told you to stay out of it!” he snapped. “Where is Malachi?” Aleph pointed behind Cedrick. “Over there knocking out that big guy.” Cedrick turned around to see just that: Malachi knocking out a big guy with a weapon he’d found on the wall. “We can handle this, Cedrick. Don’t worry . Don’t you worry because we are strong and powerful, more than you think.” “I don’t care.” Cedrick took Aleph’s arms again. “You listen to Malachi. For once, and get the vene out of here before it gets worse. Rackwrith knows I care about you. He’ll make sure you two are killed just to get to me. Now if you don’t get out of here, I will lock you up in your room for the rest of your life!” Cedrick saw a movement behind him. He grabbed Aleph and rolled them away before more trouble could come. Rackwrith’s blow missed. Cedrick reached for his sword and waited for Rackwrith to come close enough. When he was just within reach of his blade, Cedrick drew it in a wide swing to try to get his stomach. It swung out and just missed Rackwrith’s stomach, cutting his shirt but doing no other harm. Cedrick froze, horrified, stunned, unable to believe it. His sword missed? He’d made that blade; he knew its strength and length like he knew his own arm. There was no way it was too short. It should have hit him; Cedrick was sure of it. So how had it missed? “Cedrick!” Aleph’s scream snapped Cedrick back to reality. Rackwrith grabbed Cedrick by the collar and yanked him up. “You little rat! You’ve caused this! You’ve ruined all that we had, and you’ll pay for it.” Cedrick grabbed Rackwrith’s arm before he was able to get the knife into him. Aleph kicked Rackwrith’s leg hard, knocking Rackwrith off his feet. Cedrick fell onto his back and groaned in deep pain again. This was getting very old very fast. “Aleph, get out of here!” Cedrick yelled. “Now! Malachi!” The boy looked over the large lump that was the main he’d knocked out. “Get Aleph out of here to safety, now!” Malachi nodded, grabbed Aleph and ran for it. Cedrick forced himself to his feet and stumbled to the age. Margorim grabbed Cedrick and guided him inside the age and to safety before he shut the door tightly. He just prayed no one saw where Cedrick went. “Cedrick?

Cedrick, are you alright?” He studied his son. He didn’t see blood, so the wound hadn’t opened. After panting for several seconds, Cedrick blinked and finally looked up at his father, slowly, chest heaving, he nodded. Margorim nodded, looked around, then pulled his son to his feet but carefully for his injury. “Then we better get going. You’re right. Rackwrith will try to get to us now he’s got a whole team loose on his head. We need their back up, and Rackwrith knows it. We will have to be quick to stop him in time, so let’s not waste time.” He was speaking as he guided Cedrick up the age, across the alleys, and back towards the original door. By the time they arrived, Cedrick was panting for air and not just in pain. The climb had been harder on him than he had thought it would be. His father kept a good hand on him to keep him up and going, but Cedrick was now feeling a bit lightheaded. He stumbled a bit as they finally reached the main hallways they’d started from, but Roxorim wasn’t waiting for them, which made Margorim frown as he looked around. “This can’t be good. Rox! Roxorim!” At the call, Roxorim came skidding around a corner. “There you are; I heard the noise of battle and tried to see if they were coming up, but it was clear. I kept running back and forth between the two to see if I could keep guard over both.” Margorim’s frown deepened. That couldn’t be right, could it? “You haven’t seen signs they’re trying to get up here yet? None at all?” Roxorim shook his head. “No, no movement from forward or backward or sides. It’s been creepily still, and it’s been making my nerves chatter like a squirrel with a dog at its tail. What happened?” “That can’t be right.” Margorim was muttering to himself. It just didn’t make sense. Rackwrith had to know he had to get rid of the threat or it would be for nothing. So what was the old snake up to? Cedrick sighed and took pity on Roxorim by explaining what had happened, but each word felt like a new weight on his shoulders. He was already so tired. Roxorim noticed and helped him. Cedrick could feel his worry. He understood his brother’s fear and assured him his men kept Airabelle more than safe. “She’s likely already free…as we speak.” Cedrick sighed, feeling so tired and

dry. He’d loved a drink of water right about now, but he knew there wasn’t time for rest or a drink. Rackwrith would make sure of it. Maybe the arrow wound itself wouldn’t kill him, but if Rackwrith kept forcing him to push so much, he may just keel over like an overburdened tree. “Well, in either case, you need a rest, little brother. You’ve been up too long for your wound, and you aren’t invincible, little buddy. Come on. Your wife will be happy to see you and so will Mercutio. He’s been worried since he woke up. It will do him good to see you managing to stand so well and having your head, though you are a bit worse for wear.” Roxorim gave Cedrick a rather enigmatic smirk, and Cedrick gave him a hateful glare back. He was not in the mood. Roxorim sighed. “Sorry Cedrick. I just meant to cheer you up. Now I see that only some rest will do that, or…maybe a hug?” He dared try to give Cedrick a little half hug as he helped him back to the room. When the door opened, all eyes went to the door. All of them were relieved to see Cedrick, but none quite as much as Elphacena, who was on her feet the second he came in and went to greet him. “Cedrick.” She sighed in relief as she hugged him. “I felt something was wrong. I’m glad to see you alright.” Cedrick let out a releasing sigh as he embraced her and held her tenderly to his chest, and not just for the pain. He wanted to love her and be gentle with her. She was his light, hope, and water when the world got too hot and dry to handle. He rested his head on hers for a moment, which made Elphacena smile. Cedrick didn’t know it, but she loved it more than he’d ever know. She ed him, helped him, and worked hard with him to be one. “You should eat,” she said at last. “Over here.” She took Cedrick’s hand, gently pulled away his arms, and led him to sit beside her on the sofa that was beside the one Mercutio rested on. Mercutio was sitting up, but he looked as bad, if not worse, as Cedrick felt. He smiled a little sheepishly at Cedrick, but if the sheepishness was for some kind discomfort, guilt, or sympathy, it was almost impossible to tell. He was frighteningly pale and sickly looking. His eyes were sunken, and his body language screamed weakness, but it was the mood of depression that made it appear the worst. Cedrick felt the same himself, but Mercutio looked so pathetic, even he wanted to cheer him a bit.

“You finally woke up.” Cedrick attempted half-heartedly as Elphacena gave him a ration of bread and water, though Cedrick ignored the bread as he downed the whole share of water. They then explained what they’d found in their expedition. Mercutio didn’t like what he’d heard. “So then why isn’t Rackwrith trying to get to us now? I know him as well, if not better, than any of you, and I agree with Margorim. He’d come up here if he could, I’d bet my hat on it.” “You don’t wear a hat.” Cedrick pointed out. “Shut up,” Mercutio snapped, still more thinking than talking. “There’s something strange going on; I’m sure of it.” “I can find out.” Margorim stood up, “I can get around just staying in the ages. We spied pretty well with that this first time, and without an… overwrought companion, I should be able to find more easily. I’ll see what I can find and report back within the hour.” Mercutio nodded. “We’ll work on plans of escape in the meanwhile. We may need them before this day is over.” Margorim agreed and gave them all a warning look not to follow and left the room. “If you don’t feel I’m crucial,” Roxorim said, standing up, “I’d like to keep an eye on the stairwell in case Rackwrith does attempt to fight his way up.” Mercutio nodded his permission, and Roxorim moved to leave. “One condition,” Mercutio called, and Roxorim stopped, turning to the wounded general. “I want you to report back every five minutes. Even if it’s just popping your head in to make sure nothing has happened.” Roxorim agreed without argument and slipped out. “Well,” Mercutio sighed dully, “we better get to it then.”

Chapter 40

Deadly Trickle

It was a flimsy plan, but it was something, assuming Mercutio could actually handle the climb, and there was a age to the outside, and there wasn’t a group of people there, and there was a building they could hide it. Their hope was to slip out the window while under the cover of darkness to find a safer place to hold up. Perhaps in one of their army camps where word hadn’t reached them yet of the strange happenings in the main camp. They were going over the finer details of this weak plan, when the door suddenly burst open with a tremendous bang. Cedrick jumped and could have sworn his head almost hit the ceiling as he drew his sword. His eyes adjusted to his shock, and he realized it was just his father. Margorim was panting as he’d sprinted up the steps, leaving the age door open in his hurry. Cedrick and others rushed to his aid. “Father, what’s wrong? Are you alright?” Margorim nodded, panting as if there wasn’t enough air in the room for him or anyone else. “Yes…I am well, but… we don’t have m-much time. Rackwrith aalready as a team at the-the doors,” Margorim gasped out, pointing to the stairs, “With l-ladders and lots of ar-rchers.” As he spoke, Roxorim skidded to the door. “I need back up here,” he said. “They’ll be on us before you can say ‘it’s impossible’.” There were loud voices coming from the stairs. Margorim and Cedrick raced out the door, Margorim calling over his shoulder. “Start your evacuation plan for Mercutio! We’ll hold them off.” “Hold them off?!” Arylana screamed. “Are you all mad?! Don’t hold them off. Stop them so we can actually know what the vene is going on.”

But she was ignored as Cedrick and Margorim skidded to a stop at the top of what used to be a grand staircase. As soon as they stopped, both had to duck as a slew of arrows zipped towards their heads. Cedrick pulled out a bow from over his shoulder, but found it was too tedious of a task in his position, and he didn’t dare sit up. Instead, he took a deep breath to steady himself from the pain and shot an energy ball into the thick of the archers, causing them to scream and scatter at the blue flames. Margorim nodded his approval, pushed up to his knees, and took aim, but the archers weren’t the real problem. It was the planks. The men had long, thick planks they were trying to lay over the hole to use as bridges. Cedrick was able to grab one and shove it off, but there were more behind that, and no time or means to stop them all while avoiding the archers, who kept regathering no matter how many times Cedrick shot the magic flames at them. The effort was weakening Cedrick faster than he was willing to it. There had to be a better way. To think without being shot at, Cedrick rolled (albeit painfully) to the side so the wall protected him. Margorim had the same idea and had rolled to the opposite side. “Ideas?” Cedrick called to him as the foolish archers kept trying to get them with their arrows. Margorim was still panting as if there wasn’t enough air, staring at the ceiling as if in thought, but he didn’t give Cedrick any indication on what those thoughts were. Knowing time was short, Cedrick yelled at him again. “Ideas, father?” Margorim jumped a little and looked over at his son. His face fell, but his expression didn’t give Cedrick much more hope. It was worried, strained, and a bit panicked. Cedrick realized he may have to come up with a plan on his own. Cedrick’s mind scrambled for any ideas as the arrows crashed to the wall in obnoxious clanks. Maybe, if he was lucky (and he never was) the idiots would run out of arrows. What would stop them? Cedrick’s magic wouldn’t make a fire big enough, so what else could he do? A real fire would just set the building on fire, and even if Margorim thought they should run for it, Cedrick wasn’t ready to

give up their stronghold yet. He just had to be rid of their planks. “Dad, cover me!” Cedrick screamed. “What? Cedrick, you can’t be...” Margorim began, but his protest fell on deaf ears as Cedrick dove back into the opening and shot arrows back at the archers. As he hoped, this scattered them. Cedrick then dropped the bow and locked his eyes onto the planks over the opening. They hadn’t reached the top yet. Cedrick ed what Scarlet told him and focused. To his shock as much as anyone else’s, he succeeded in breaking into the mind of the man in charge of the planks. Afraid he’d mess it up if he took too long, Cedrick hurried to make the man order all the planks be put together in a pile. As the man followed Cedrick’s command, Cedrick loaded another arrow into the bow and pulled it back, though it hurt his side as if it was being stabbed with a hot poker. His trick worked. They had placed the planks dangerously close to one another. Cedrick fired the arrow and used magic to make it have more force. It struck the center of the boards and with a loud groaning, creaking crash the boards split into two and the top halves fell into the opening. Then, to get the others to back off, Margorim sent a flaming arrow into the center of the group. The group ran for it as the flame rapidly spread. “Put it out,” Margorim barked at Cedrick, and though he was already feeling drained, Cedrick used magic to blow a stiff wind that put the flames out. Cedrick’s shoulders collapsed, and he bowed his head, tired but pleased. “That should do it,” he sighed tiredly and looked at his father. “I-indeed.” Margorim agreed, getting to his feet shakily. “But it won’t last l-long, they will be back soon. We should regroup.” Cedrick frowned. He hadn’t noticed before, but his father still was gasping from his run. He was pale, shaking, and a little blue or green around the mouth. “Father, are you alright?” Cedrick’s brows drew together. Margorim waved him off. “Nothing. It’s just been crazy; we should-” Suddenly, Margorim lost his footing and began to collapse. Cedrick leapt forward and caught him. “Father? What’s wrong? Dad?” Cedrick glanced down and realized he felt something hot and sticky against his hand.

Cedrick’s heart stopped then began to thunder in his throat and ears. “You’re wounded.” “I-I’m alright. It’s just a scratch, if even that,” Margorim insisted as he clambered to his feet to stand on his own. “Nothing at all, Cedrick. No need to worry…to worry…” Margorim shook his head. “Worry about me. Come on. We need to…to talk.” Margorim shook his head once more as he stumbled back to the main room where Arylana had packed up but made no other moves to leave. Just before they reached the door, Margorim started to fall again. Cedrick caught him, but he felt horrible tearing pain in his chest and cried out as he stopped his father collapsing. “Cedrick!” Arylana and Elphacena raced over. “I-I’m fine. It’s Father. Something’s wrong with him. I felt blood. He’s wounded somehow.” Cedrick tried to help his father up, but Arylana did a better job. Margorim’s head bobbed as he kept shaking it. “No, no, I’m fine. Nothing to worry about.” He collapsed onto the sofa Arylana placed him on, but he kept saying he was fine. Arylana saw the blood on Cedrick’s hand and insisted on checking. “Nothing, I told you,” Margorim said as he let her see the cut to his side. It really was just a cut, shallow and bloody, but didn’t look bad. “I ran into our ‘dear friend’ thinking I could get him if I surprised him, but one of his henchmen was on my side of the door. I finished him off but had to fight Rackwrith and distract him before I could get into the age. He got a cut to my side, but as you see, it’s nothing.” However, Cedrick was shaking his head with every word his father spoke. “No, no. It’s got to be something. You collapsed, and are shaking like a bird in the snow. It can’t be nothing.” “Just a cut as you can see.” Margorim panted tiredly as he let his shirt and waistcoat cover it. “I can patch it myself if you insist something be done with it.” “Father, I’m sorry to say I agree with Cedrick.” Arylana was frowning. “You don’t seem well. Maybe you’ve just been overdoing it or maybe you just need to

eat. You’ve had nothing this whole time.” Margorim nodded weakly. Cedrick, on the other hand, wasn’t satisfied. “I don’t think it can be just that. Maybe the cut bled worse than you thought or…or…” Cedrick couldn’t think of anything else. Arylana’s explanation made sense, but it didn’t get rid of the horrible feeling in Cedrick’s gut. Unable to argue, but still not feeling sure, Cedrick sighed and crumpled onto a different sofa. “I think we all need a rest,” Mercutio proffered. “How about an hour or so, then we can work this out. Rackwrith can’t come up with a way to get up here in that time, almost for sure. Cedrick’s trick will scare off our little men before long.” “I’ll keep watch; I can’t sleep.” Cedrick shook his head. “Then you all can be sure.” “But…” Mercutio tried to protest, but Cedrick wouldn’t hear of it. “I’ve got this. You all rest, and I’ll get you if anything is needed.” Mercutio sighed, forced to agree, but clearly not happy about it, and before too much time had ed most of them, including Arylana and Margorim, fell asleep. Cedrick sat in the hall, just out of range of the archers if they returned, but close enough to see what was happening in both rooms, sword in hand, brooding. Something was wrong: deeply wrong, but there was nothing he could do to deal with it or prove it. Instead, here he sat with the rest of them, resting, doing nothing. Cedrick’s eyes were lost in space, contemplating the sword in his hand. Everything felt wrong, off, broken; even his sword that he knew like the back of his hand, wasn’t right. It had missed. If it had just been up to its normal old self, this wouldn’t have happened, but instead, it —like everything else —was acting off, out of place, broken, but perhaps, it wasn’t any of those things that was broken, but him. He had felt strange since he’d been shot down. Everyone said it was just the wound, but was it really? It wasn’t like him to get so angry and snap at his wife like that, nor was it like him to get so down on himself (at least on the outside) and stop trying. It just wasn’t right. Maybe they were all right, not that he was Emmerick, but that he was fake. Maybe that wound had taken something out of him, or maybe it was what Scarlet did to him. Either way, it just meant the

same thing. Cedrick wasn’t the same, and it might be the ruin of them all. “Cedrick?” An angelic voice broke into Cedrick’s brooding. Cedrick jumped a mile and looked up to behold the angel, his sweet, gentle wife, looking down at him with an expression that would melt the heart of the hardest sinner. Cedrick couldn’t face that perfect face and looked away. Not he who was so stained he shouldn’t live. That arrow should have taken his life. “Cedrick.” Elphacena knelt down beside him, sitting on her knees, making herself look even more sweet and perfect, despite her battle gear, despite the blood, dirt, and sweat on her, even the dirt spot under her left eye just made her look that much more perfect and powerful. She fought hard for them all, getting dirty, but what had Cedrick done? “Cedrick? Are you alright? You look a bit… ill.” She hesitated a bit, trying to find the right word. “Like something in you is making you sick.” “Maybe it is,” Cedrick said. “I’m wrong, like this sword.” “Your sword?” Elphacena frowned, her brow creasing. “What do you mean it’s wrong? What could be wrong with your sword?” “It missed,” Cedrick said dully. “It was a twenty-two-inch blade to the exact nix, but it missed Rackwrith when I put it to the test. I know this blade like I know my own arm. Father insisted upon it. Vene, I made this blade myself, working on it for months, putting my heart and soul, and sometimes, I think, literally my blood into it, but it’s off. Maybe it’s not just the blade but me? What if I’m not the same? Something is wrong, I feel it, but nothing appears to be wrong, and I don’t know what to do.” Cedrick had started talking low and slow, but as he went on, his speech got rapidly wilder and quicker. “Hey, hey, Cedrick. Relax it is alright,” Elphacena soothed, massaging his shoulder, back, and neck in one amazing movement. “You’re just stressed, wounded, and your heart is wounded too. The people you love and trust turned on you because of that liar, and you’re suffering for it. It’s alright to be stressed, and it’s alright to be scared, and it’s completely natural for you to feel off balance. You were shot, Cedrick. You nearly died, then you were pushed to keep going, made to fight out of your own mind, and when it should have been over to let you rest, you were tricked, tormented, and now you’re here fighting for life and family. Of course, you’re feeling off balance. That is how Rackwrith wants

you to feel, and it’s natural. Don’t feel bad for that. As for your sword,” Elphacena looked at it, “it does seem shorter. Do you have the scabbard?” Cedrick offered it to her dully. Elphacena took it and gently wrestled the blade from Cedrick’s lax grip. She placed the blade against the sheath as if she were sliding the blade into it. “It is shorter than its scabbard, Cedrick,” she said. “And before, I’m sure it hit the bottom. You used to have to replace the end to fix it. So unless you made it longer to accommodate that within the last month, your blade is shorter.” Cedrick’s eyebrows drew together. “No, that can’t be. It hasn’t broken or anything. That is impossible. Maybe the back shield or back-to-side transfer part is off.” Elphacena shrugged and shook her head. “Say it all you want, but look, it’s smaller. I’ll even measure it for you if you like, but I’d be willing to bet that this sword is only twenty inches right now, and you said it yourself. It was twentytwo before. You made it. You’d know its length.” “But…that can’t be.” Cedrick shook his head, and his shoulders fell. Everything was really off. It was all wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. “Cedrick, Cedrick, it’s alright. Don’t freak out on me.” Elphacena smiled a little, trying to teasingly uplift. “We’ll solve the sword problem later, but in the meanwhile, just it’s shorter and fight accordingly. You’ll likely have to do that soon. Rackwrith won’t wait much longer, and Mercutio isn’t thinking right. He’s trying, but his wound is taking a toll. I don’t think he notices, but it is slowing him and making him think funny. Arylana is worrying to her wit’s end but won’t it it, and I believe you’re right, Cedrick; something is wrong with your father. It’s coming down to you, me, and Roxorim, and I feel like he’s even a bit compromised with worry about Airabelle. This may come down to you and me, Cedrick. I know you don’t like that idea, and I know you’re compromised too, but it may come down to that.” Cedrick bowed his head, sorry and tired. “You mean it all comes down to you as the only fully normal and fit one left,” he said. “I’m sorry I pulled you into this.” “You did not,” Elphacena said firmly, almost angrily. “This is not all you. This was Rackwrith all the way. Don’t you take blame.” Then she sighed. “Alright, if you want to put it that way you can, but you and I still have to work together.

Your mind is still right, even if you don’t think it is. We need a better plan. Mercutio’s is just…silly, and we’re going to need a better one.” “His plan works if all those things he’s hoping are there are there,” Cedrick said. “Father will know. He went outside.” Elphacena frowned. “How would you know that? He’s not told anyone what he did.” “Could smell the night air on his clothes.” Cedrick shrugged. “And the age doesn’t have any kind of breeze, which means he must have gone outside to gather information; I would have if I’d found a way out and was as unnoticeable as father.” Slowly, Elphacena nodded. “That fits,” she agreed. “But I still feel like we should have more than that.” “We should, but so far we’ve not had anything we needed.” Cedrick sighed, and he finally looked his wife in the eye. “Do you really think we can get out of this? I know we’re good and have gotten out of a lot, but this? Do you really believe we can make it?” Elphacena returned Cedrick’s gaze with a hard ion then kissed him firmly, ionately, almost violently. Cedrick returned the kiss, feeling her ion flood his body with water and fire, building steam to power even the weakest of souls. Elphacena pulled back, and her green eyes burned with fire as she locked them onto Cedrick’s sapphire ones. “I know so. Because I have you and you me, and if we have one another and faith, we can do anything. So Cedrick, do you have faith?” Cedrick’s eyes didn’t waver from Elphacena’s as energy and ion filled his blood. He nodded firmly. “I do.” “I do,” she replied with a little smile. “And with that, we can win this. Rackwrith only has lies on his side. We have the truth. We have family, and we have each other, so don’t give up yet. There is enough hope to drown the drix in.” Cedrick laughed. Elphacena didn’t often swear, but here, in this moment, it seemed funnier and so appropriate. His heart lifted, and a smile played at his

mouth. Tenderly, Cedrick leaned forward and kissed his wife again, grateful for her help and wishing to return some of the ion and energy she’d filled him with. Elphacena returned it and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Cedrick placed his own arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Oh how he needed her close, to feel her breath, her soft skin, her hair at his face and shoulders, her strong body to his. “Father!” The scream cut the air like a knife. Cedrick jumped a mile. Elphacena jumped as well, but she jumped to her feet. Cedrick scrambled to follow her, and in unison, they raced for the room where the others were resting. Margorim had fallen onto the ground and was twitching as if in some kind of nightmare. Arylana was bent over him trying to get him to lie still. Elphacena and Cedrick ed too and tried to hold him down. After a terrifying few minutes, he finally went still, panting heavily, eyes rolled up a little. Arylana was at her wits end, almost in tears, shaking violently against Cedrick’s arm. “What is going on? What’s wrong with him?” Cedrick shook his head and looked at his wife. He had known something was wrong with him, but he also didn’t feel this was the moment for “I told you so,” most of all as he didn’t know what it was. “It was only a cut.” Elphacena panted. “But a cut can get something into the bloodstream, right Arylana?” Elphacena gave her sister-in-law a meaningful look, and Arylana’s eyes became as wide and round as the moon. “Is it possible that it was—” “Poison.” Arylana cut off. “Rackwrith is using a blade that is laced.” Cedrick’s stomach dropped. That would make fighting him all the harder as you couldn’t even risk the smallest cut, but that paled in comparison to what that meant for their father. With the way he just reacted, it likely was a lethal poison, and even worse, slow acting, which meant painful. But there was hope: Arylana was a master with poisons and antidotes. “What kind is it?” he asked her. “You know this kind of thing better than anyone who’s ever lived. What do you think it is?” “It’s one that likely either speeds up the heart into madness or slows it into stillness, guessing by his little seizure,” Arylana said. As if mindlessly reading it

out of a textbook. “But I can’t be sure, I don’t know if I can fix this.” Without warning, tears flooded her eyes. “I don’t know how to fix any of this father o-or Mercutio or any of this mess.” “Arylana, it’s alright.” Elphacena took Arylana’s shoulders. “You don’t need to know this second. We just need to keep him stable enough to get out of this mess.” “But can we even do that? We’re another man down now, and there’s a whole army after us,” Arylana protested. “An army that wants to believe us.” Elphacena reminded them. “We can make this work, but we have to be smart about it. It’s down to the three of us now, and we can do this together.” “But Mercutio’s plan…” “Will only work if we’re lucky, so we can’t just count on it. We need something better than that,” Elphacena said. “Mercutio is great at what he does, but he’s sick and wounded. We can’t rely on him. This is down to you and me.” As Elphacena tried to calm Arylana, Cedrick noticed Margorim’s eyes opening. He looked groggy but fully cognizant. Cedrick gripped his hand tightly. “Hey, Father, can you hear me?” he asked. Margorim nodded. “Good, how do you feel? We think the blade Rackwrith used was laced with some kind of poison, and that’s what’s causing this.” Margorim nodded slowly. “Sounds right,” he said, voice dry. “He didn’t use his sword for that cut. He used a side knife, which makes me think you’re right.” Margorim tried to push himself up but only winced weakly and gave up. Cedrick swallowed, and his hands shook a little. “That would explain it all.” Cedrick’s lip shook a little, but he held it stiff. He would not let that pain show not in front of his father, changed or not. He knew he couldn’t lose him, not now. Not when he finally knew the truth and had some hope he could get to know his

real father, find out what had been happening. Though Margorim said he’d told Cedrick everything, he hadn’t. Rosaline knew this “secret” and it appeared his mother knew, and now the only person alive who knew was his father. He couldn’t lose him without finding out what his father had been afraid of. Finally, Cedrick looked at his father again. “Well, as long as we know we can fix it. Arylana is a master with these kinds of things, so we don’t have anything to worry about. She’ll figure it out, get you well, and we’ll get Rackwrith off our backs. It will be fine. You rest, and we’ll get it all taken care of. No problem.” Margorim chuckled a little, but it sounded so dry it likely was more painful than anything. Cedrick swallowed the egg in his throat, ignoring the sharp pricks it made on its way down with its cracking armor. “I’m sure she would, given time and the means, but we have neither of those, Cedrick, and you know it.” Cedrick knew at once what he meant and shook his head. “No, time isn’t that short. The poison is likely slow acting, and we’ve already got a plan in place. We will end this by…by tomorrow or the next day, and I don’t think it will take you that fast.” Though he knew it likely would only be a day, his father didn’t need to know that. With that hope, he’d fight harder maybe he’d make it true. Margorim smiled a little. “I suppose keeping spirits up is the best thing to do, but ignoring reality won’t help anyone either.” “It’s not ignoring it. It’s changing it,” Cedrick said firmly. He hadn’t let his father die on the battlefield, and he wasn’t going to do it now. He’d heal it if he’d had the energy and ability. Sadly, he’d never learned how to handle poisons. As far as he knew, no one had. “We can beat this, father. We’ve beaten the odds plenty of times, and I don’t think there is a limit on how much we can do that if we keep faith and fight for the right reasons. We’ll beat Rackwrith. We have to. Y-you have to.” Cedrick lost a bit of his grip. He took a deep, cool breath to try to settle the heat and prickling in his throat and eyes. Margorim gave him a twitch of a smile. “Have to or not, I may not have much say in the matter. If man could just choose not to be killed, we’d have many men still alive today, now wouldn’t we? Keep hope up, yes, but don’t forget the truths of life, Cedrick. Keep hope and prepare for whatever happens, whatever happens,” he emphasized, giving Cedrick a meaningful look. “Like the trouble with your blade. It’s shrinking, and that likely could get you in real trouble.

Could be the size of a dagger without warning.” “What does that have to do with anything? My sword didn’t cause this.” Without meaning to, Cedrick had started defending himself from his father, as he always had as a child, and now wondered if he’d ever not feel the need to. “I know.” Margorim assured him with a little smile. “But it could cause other problems, no matter who’s fault that is, so we have to deal with it.” Margorim reached down and unbuckled the blade from his side, making the back clip roll out. Cedrick caught it for him and looked up at his father as he spoke. “I won’t be needing this.” He met Cedrick’s eyes. “And with Roxorim now on the throne, it will be rightfully yours soon enough anyway. You should take it. Then your current problem won’t be a problem when it finally comes time to deal with Rackwrith, and…and one day, Heklis.” Margorim seemed to have to fight with himself to say the last bit with all he had. Cedrick’s eyes became the size of moons as he gaped at the sword. It wasn’t just any sword, and it wasn’t just a family heirloom. It was Creator Make. Ages ago, their Creator had made that blade for the first Custod and presented it to with their name and oath. This was touchable honor and history; something Cedrick had been sure he’d never get. It was the companion to the king’s sword that Heklis had stolen. Cedrick’s heart raced as he studied the blade being offered to him but couldn’t take in that it really was about to be his. It couldn't be, or he’d have to accept his father wouldn’t make it. But it wasn’t easy to turn it down. He’d always wanted to even just use the blade, let alone be given it. Their father had taught them to blacksmith, so he knew a good blade when he saw one, and this blade was perfect. The blade was made of metallic steel, a pure, magical metal that was supposedly unbreakable. The guard was of metallic gold— mostly the same as metallic silver apart from the color and smoother surface— that twisted elegantly around the handle in a manner reminiscent of fire, even interlocking like tongues of flame on the inner side. The handle was pure sapphire twisted with metallic silver, but not a natural sapphire like Cedrick had seen anywhere else. It felt and had a grip as firm as if the hilt was wrapped in pure leather, but Cedrick knew there was no wrap around that gemstone. The

Turk’s head had metallic gold that licked like fire around the pummel, literally. As Cedrick watched, the parts moved and licked at the gold grips like a living fire, holding a pure ruby as the pummel with sapphire and silver grips on the edge. This blade was perfect, made in a way no man could ever replicate, and full of magic not even Cedrick knew the extent of. Though the temptation to take that perfect blade ached in his fingers, Cedrick’s mind was locked on one thought. This was the biggest honor a Custod could have, and now, his father offered it to him. It was what he’d always wanted. He couldn’t turn it down now. But then his father would take it as acceptance that he wasn’t going to survive. Cedrick reached out a shaking hand to take it, but his hand paused as the two desires battled in him. How could he turn his father down now? He only just started to like him. Would this ruin it all? Would taking it make his father give up? Cedrick glanced at his father’s face, and the sick resigned look on his face told Cedrick it would. Slowly, with his hand trembling, Cedrick pulled his hand back and shook his head. “No, that’s your blade, not mine.” Margorim’s shoulders fell. “Then borrow it,” he pleaded. “Your sword is not reliable, and I’ll be unable to fight for a long time. How long we don’t know, but a long time. If you will not take it as a gift and token of my trust and love for you, just borrow it until I can fight again. Please, Cedrick, please.” Cedrick’s hands shook more violently again. He gripped them to keep them steady as he took a deep breath to calm his thoughts and emotions. “Only if it’s only to defend you. If you give this to me or choose to lend it, you promise me you’ll keep fighting.” Cedrick’s eyes glared into his father’s to detect any lie or trick. “You when you promised me you would look after her? What did you immediately make me promise to do? Will you do the same for me if I take this?” Margorim just looked up at his son for a long moment. Finally, a slow smile steadily climbed his cheeks. Slowly, firmly, Margorim nodded and held out the sword. Cedrick couldn’t hold back. His heart raced in excitement and humility at the sheer honor. His hands changed from shaking with unease to excitement as he, at last, took the blade by the hilt. A warm energy flowed through Cedrick’s fingers like the warmth from a fire as he pulled the blade up to get a better look. The blade sparkled at him as if winking hello. Its hilt molded perfectly with his

fingers as he gripped it, and the golden fire at the Turk’s head flared as if it was fed fresh fuel. Unbeknownst to Cedrick, everyone in the room paused to stare at him as he brought the sword up to guard. An energy had surged through the room and drew all eyes. A light and excitement had lit up Cedrick’s face, and he smiled, but it wasn’t a very big or excited smile, more a noble smile. Elphacena beamed at him. “It suits you,” Margorim said. “Seems it’s,” he groaned as he sat back, “chosen you.” “Chosen me?” Cedrick didn’t like the sound of that, and his father’s groan as he leaned back gave Cedrick a bad feeling. Didn’t he promise he wasn’t going to give up? “Yes, the blade often will choose a holder to wield it,” Margorim said. “When either a former head has failed and lost his right to lead or when times call for a different kind of leadership.” Margorim sighed tiredly and closed his eyes. Arylana quickly went to his side, but Margorim waved her off. He was just tired. Nothing she could do for that. “And Joel did say that with one Potentate son and one Custod son that Cedrick technically is head of the Custods.” Elphacena reminded them. Cedrick lowered the blade and studied his father a moment. “Rest for now. We’ve got plans to make and a lot of work to do. You should rest.” Margorim sighed tiredly and agreed, but he didn’t seem happy about it. Cedrick didn’t really care. “We’ll have to make the charge for it tonight,” Mercutio said. “Or we’ll run out of time for anything else.” “Most of you can’t make that run.” Elphacena reminded them. “We can’t carry or all of you, or we’ll end up in a trap. There has to be another way.” “We don’t have much time before that army bombards us up here. If you ask me, we’re lucky they haven’t already tried,” Mercutio said. “It’s all we’ve got; that’s why we’re leaving at night. The goal is to make sure none of you have to attempt

a battle of any kind. It will defend us from greater trouble and who knows what else with Rackwrith out there making everyone think Emmerick is about? Vene, he may get the real Emmerick here.” Elphacena’s jaw tensed, and her fists balled. “He’d not dare.” “I’d not put anything past Rackwrith at this point. He’s desperate and angry. Men do foolish things when they are angry and desperate, no matter how smart they normally are,” Margorim warned. “Didn’t we tell you to rest?” Cedrick snapped a bit. He was tense and nervous. There was no time, no plans, no hope, and he had a father who seemed vell bent on giving up on life when Cedrick needed him most. Needless to say, Cedrick was not in the mood. Margorim glared at Cedrick and opened his mouth to reply when there was a loud bang, and the door was flung open. Roxorim dove inside and slammed the door shut. “They’re in.” He panted. “What?” Everyone sitting, who was strong enough, shot to their feet. “I was keeping an eye out. No one was even close. Next thing I knew, five men were running at me. I didn’t wait to see how they got there. I ran here. We’re trapped.” The room was dead quiet. No one moved; no one breathed. They were out of time, and there was nothing any of them could do about it, or so they thought. As the shock settled over them, Cedrick looked up, standing straight. “Alright,” he said. “We’ll have to hold the room then. Arylana, gather up arrows. I’ll make an opening for you.” “A what?” Arylana demanded as Cedrick went to the wall, and with a deep breath to steady himself, blasted a hole in the wall with magic. When he pulled his hand back, there was a clear film over the opening that reflected rainbow colors. “You can see and hit them; they can’t see or hit you,” Cedrick explained.

“Elphacena, you make one for yourself, while Roxorim and I get these guys together to make our getaway.” “Uh, but Cedrick you’re hurt too. You can’t possibly help them get far,” Roxorim said. “Better plans?” Cedrick cocked an eyebrow. Roxorim shut up, as Cedrick turned to his father and general. “This won’t be fun.” He sighed. “Wait, I may have something that may help.” Arylana left the opening and went to a pack Roxorim had brought in before. “It may make it easier for them and us if I can just get it out and-” Arylana was cut off by a loud yell from the other side. “We have you pinned!” It was Rackwrith’s voice. The hair on Cedrick’s neck stood up and warm adrenaline of anger gushed through his veins. “Both inside and outside, give us the fake, and we’ll spare the rest of you. Come out, and we won’t have to hurt anyone else.” “No,” Elphacena said before Cedrick could even respond. “Don’t give into him. He’s got a plan, and it can’t be good. Don’t let him trick you.” “But we can’t fight out of this, at least not with all of us getting out unhurt,” Cedrick said. “We may be able to buy time.” “He won’t give you time!” Elphacena snapped. “He wants you dead, Cedrick, and there is nothing else he wants, nothing. Don’t give it to him to try to buy time for us. He’ll find ways to get rid of us next. He can’t let Mercutio live, or they’ll all know he lied to them, and this all falls apart. You go out there, we’ll lose you and him without even putting up a fight.” “But he can’t take me alone,” Cedrick said, taking his old sword off his belt and putting it on his back and then putting the Custodian blade at his side. “He’ll have to give them some kind of show, and I may be able to use that to buy us the time we need for you to escape.” “I’ll go. They won’t hurt me,” Roxorim offered. “They wouldn’t buy that from Rackwrith as long as I don’t put up a fight.”

“He won’t stop for you, only for Cedrick. He said bring out the fake.” Elphacena reminded him. “We have to stand our ground.” “But most of us can't stand!” Cedrick burst out, to everyone’s shock. “We can’t stand anymore. We can’t even stand up to our attackers, only hide in alleys and hope he’ll not notice us. This isn’t what we’re supposed to be, but that’s what he’s made us. This will not help Mercutio or father, but I can. I’m not worth all this. If I’d just let Rackwrith have his way, we’d never have lost all our friends in Montressa, and this would never have gotten this far. This fight over me isn't worth it when we look at the whole scheme of this war.” “Yes, you are.” Mercutio cut in. “I needed you to empower the men. Those weeks we thought you dead were worse than the time before you came. You may not be our leader in badge or name, but you lead because you know where to go, and we follow you because we trust you. If they want a fake, they can have me. I mean nothing to anyone here, so if anyone goes, it’s me, and that's an order,” Mercutio snapped. Arylana gasped and was about to protest when there was a hard bang on the door. “They’re coming in.” Cedrick quickly picked up a dagger and put it into his belt. “We’re out of time. I’m going out there.” “Cedrick, no.” Margorim shot to his feet and grabbed Cedrick’s arm. Cedrick was forced to try to hold him up while others came to help. “There’s no time, dad. I have to do this, if you’re giving up on yourself why should I bother fighting to do any different?” Cedrick pulled himself free, grabbed the door and flung himself out into the hall.

Chapter 41

Surrender

All the men jumped back as Cedrick came out with his hands up, Cedrick was looking at the floor but slowly looked up as he stepped into clear view. There Rackwrith stood, bold as spots on a toad with ten or twenty men behind, all holding arrows at the ready. Cedrick didn’t take the time to count them. His eyes locked onto Rackwrith. His expression was surprised at first which made Cedrick smirk to himself. Rackwrith hadn’t expected Cedrick to actually come out. Rackwrith’s eyes hardened. “Well, well, our liar dares show his face again after murdering our general,” Rackwrith sneered. “Careful, he’ll keep trying to trick you.” “You’re the one trying to trick them,” Cedrick snarled. “But I’m here now. What is it you want with me?” Cedrick dared glance away from Rackwrith to see the situation. The archers in the front looked terrified, as if they’d rather be anywhere but where they knelt. Cedrick’s heart ached for them. They were as lost and confused as Cedrick was, but here they sat, forced to sit there in fear of the man who once had meant hope to them. “You have me now. I’m empty-handed. Let these poor men go. They’re more than enough to stop me. They’re terrified. If you really think I’m a fake, you know I’m not going to be able to take them anyway. They aren’t helpful to you, so let them go if they wish.” “Of course you’d like that,” Rackwrith sneered derisively. “You want less to fight against, but we are no fools.” “Keep all who don’t mind staying, but several of these men look ready to release

an arrow from sheer fear. If you must torment me and my family, so be it, but let these men go their way.” Cedrick hadn’t come out to let Rackwrith win just to watch him mistreat their men and get his grimy hands on his family. He wouldn’t stand for both insults. “I will never fall for your tricks, and nor will my great men, right?” He looked at them all expectantly, but he got little to no response, just a few muttered words and a curt nod here and there. “I said, right?” Rackwrith prompted threateningly which got a much faster and greater response. Cedrick frowned. Brows drawing together in a scowl. “And you call me the liar,” he snarled. “Yet you intimidate them into agreeing with you. Take me if you must, Rackwrith, but the way you abuse my men is one too many. Let them go or you’ll not make it out of this battle. I may not either, but I will not allow you to escape.” “Try your worst,” Rackwrith mocked with a contemptuous laugh. “Fire!” But none of the men moved. Rackwrith turned on his heel, rounding on them in a cloud of anger. “You heard me, men. Fire!” But again, there was no answer. Rackwrith swore harshly at them. “I gave you a director order. I order you to fire!” “Why?” One of the men lowered his bow and stood up. “You said he’d try to twist our minds and attack us. You said he wouldn’t even come out because he didn’t care for them. But he came out to stand in front of us, and he hasn’t spoken to us or tried to twist us at all. All he’s done is tried to get you to let my scared comrades go and stand up for us. Why would Emmerick, pretending to be Cedrick, do that? I think you’re the one who’s been deceived, General Rackwrith. He’s not the one spreading fear and lies; you are.” Rackwrith’s teeth ground in a dangerous snarl, and he backhanded the soldier, causing him to fall back in surprise more than anything. “How dare you disobey my orders?” Cedrick stepped forward by instinct to help, but that small movement gave Rackwrith the opening he’d been looking for. The second Cedrick moved, Rackwrith drew a knife and pounced on him. Cedrick hadn’t drawn any weapons, and now he was pinned under Rackwrith’s weight, he couldn’t. Even if he could, he’d have been too slow. Rackwrith had pressed his knee,

unknowingly, right into Cedrick’s injured side. He gasped in the pain as white lights flashed before his eyes. Cedrick was sure those lights were the last thing he’d ever see. When his eyes came back into focus, he saw Rackwrith’s furious face in front of his, almost drooling in fury, but in the blink of an eye, he was gone. Some of his own men had pulled Rackwrith back. “Are you mad? He’s armed and was going to attack!” Rackwrith screeched at them. “What foolishness is this?” “He’s still unarmed.” The man Rackwrith had backhanded was standing over him with his arms folded in a determined stance. “And he was coming forward to help me, and I don’t know about you, ‘General,’ but I don’t think a fake would feign an injury to the extent that it would give you an opening to finish him off. It is you who has deceived us, General. This is Cedrick Custod, isn’t it?” The other men were glaring at Rackwrith with hateful eyes, like a pack of angered wolves. Proving he wasn’t a fake was much easier than Cedrick had thought. He blinked in surprise, wondering if he was dreaming. But it wasn’t just some magic that pulled him back to his feet, but Rackwrith’s own men. They yanked him back by the arms. One of them was looking Cedrick over with an appraising look that made Cedrick’s innards pretend to be snakes performing a painful jig in his stomach. They may have pulled Rackwrith off of him, but judging by that man’s look, this was far from over. “Armed?” The man spoke to Rackwrith but was still looking at Cedrick. “I don’t see any weapons in his hands, sir; I believe you are mistaken. “Perhaps, or he dropped it, but be careful. He can and will turn at any moment,” Rackwrith warned, but the men made no move to release him. The man standing over Cedrick moved closer. Cedrick made to scramble backward, but the way he had to bend sent a shocking pain through his chest. He gasped in pain instead. “What are you doing? Release me at once. What has gotten into you all? I am your general, and you will obey me.” Rackwrith fought with the men holding him, but their grips did not slacken, instead they tightened. “Perhaps.” The man standing over Cedrick threw Rackwrith’s word back at him.

“But I think a fake would be wiser than this man has been. And,” He gave Rackwrith a deadly warning look, “I did. That man faked being wounded when that split second could and would have cost him his life. No fake is that foolish, and no man can overcome an instinct that rapidly, nor would he rely on us to defend him like that. I think you are either incredibly stupid, or you are the liar. This man is wounded in the chest and as badly as the reports say Cedrick Custod would be.” The man looked back at Cedrick, encouraging Cedrick’s heart to return to his throat in terror. Cedrick flinched as the man reached down to him. His hand opened invitingly towards Cedrick; he was offering Cedrick his hand in friendship. Hardly daring to believe it, still wondering if he was dreaming, Cedrick took his arm, and the man helped him stand. Cedrick winced a bit but held his ground alright. Just as his head was coming on right and fully realizing what had happened, the man gingerly touched Cedrick’s side, making Cedrick shudder in pain, but this didn’t deter the man. Instead, he pulled Cedrick’s shirt up to look at the bandage on his side and even had the audacity to peel it back to take a look for himself. Cedrick winced a bit but didn’t think it wise to stop him. If looking was winning him back his people, he’d take the pain. The man gently pulled back and let Cedrick’s shirt fall. “I believe I was right. That is a nasty arrow wound.” The man rounded on Rackwrith, and all of the eyes of the men were locked onto him like crosshairs on a buck in hunting season. The men had let go of Rackwrith, but he was surrounded and outnumbered. He didn’t dare move an inch. Cedrick saw Rackwrith’s Adam’s apple twitch as he swallowed. “You lied to us,” The lead soldier declared dangerously. “You set this all up, and I have little doubt you’re the one who really killed General Mercutio so you could steal his place. It’s true. You’re the spy!” “Killed? No General Mercutio is alive, badly wounded but alive,” Cedrick said. Half the group turned to Cedrick while the rest kept eyes on Rackwrith. “What?” The lead man asked. “Alive you say?” Cedrick nodded. “Yeah, in the room I just left.” Several men left to check it out as the rest turned lasers on Rackwrith. “Yet another lie!” the lead man declared. “That’s one too many, ‘General’.” He

mocked scathingly. “You were the one lying to us all along. You did this to us, and it’s gone far enough.” “Has it? You’re all still under his spell and his lies,” Rackwrith hissed back. “This man, real Custod or not, will lead you all to ruin and pain and nothing more. You think he’s some savior or hero that will come from the Creator to spare you, but he will only be your undoing. He gave you hope only to take it and leave you with less than you have, and I warned you, all of you, but you wouldn’t listen. So be it, fall for his traps, but I will not. I will see him dead!” Rackwrith raised up his hand. Several of the men ran up to stop him, but too late. Rackwrith threw something onto the ground, and it exploded in a hiss of fire. Alburn’s stupid flash bangs! The hallway was a blaze in seconds. A few of the men screamed as the molten hot liquid splashed onto them and caught a blaze. In the screams and confusion, the men lost track of Rackwrith which was not good luck for Cedrick. As he looked around for the enemy, he felt someone barrel into him from behind. Cedrick threw his weight forward so he’d land head down to try to summersault away. It worked, but it also left Cedrick in a whole lot of pain. Cedrick gasped and stumbled to his feet, pressing a hand into his wounded side. If he wasn’t fit for battle before, it was nothing like he was now. “You little litchen,” Rackwrith’s snarled, eyes on Cedrick with a dangerous fire behind them. “You ruin everything, destroy all I have. You enjoy it, don’t you?” “I don’t care if I hurt you or not. I just am doing my duty and trying to save my people and the ones I love. You choose to fight that, and that’s why it’s come to this,” Cedrick replied, trying to look firm but really was shaky. “You’re the reason many are dead. We could have won this, and you would have had a place of honor and glory, but instead, you choose to fight it. Don’t you blame that on me. I had nothing to do with that choice.” “No, none of us would because you all are going to fail,” Rackwrith hissed. “He is unstoppable, and your progress is just a hiccup in his plan. I will not subject myself to being on the wrong side of this today or any other time. You all will fall, and if I help you do that, Heklis will give me the honor I deserved, and in time, he’ll be grateful I got rid of you. He may be angry now, but in time, he’ll see I stopped this rebellion from being or becoming anything. First, I’ll destroy you and your hope, then pick off the rest of you and the royal couple on the

wedding night, and then all hope will be utterly lost. We’ll charge one last grand battle into you all and kill all who still hold hope and leave the rest to disband in depression to either die in misery or end their own lives. It’s going to happen. I just am helping it along to make him see reason and get the honor of it.” “Over my dead body.” Cedrick drew his sword, but he knew he was in no shape to win this. Rackwrith wasn’t the best fighter in the world as far as Cedrick knew, but Cedrick was less than not the best fighter in this state. He hardly stood a chance, but he couldn’t let Rackwrith get away with this. “That’s the way I want it,” Rackwrith snarled and lunged for Cedrick. Cedrick blocked it, holding firm at first, but his foot slipped a little, and he slid back on the floor. The fire roared around them. Cedrick didn’t have time to play this game. Trying to avoid more trouble, Cedrick gave a painful shove to try to send Rackwrith back into the flames, but he couldn’t muster enough strength to throw him back far enough. To try to buy more time, Cedrick grabbed a painting from the wall and threw it at Rackwrith. Rackwrith knocked it aside and into the fire easily. Cedrick tasted something metal in his mouth, a sure sign he was getting nervous. How long could he hold out? Could he even count on help? Rackwrith jumped for Cedrick again, but Cedrick was better able to defend himself. He blocked the strike, feeling the blade move almost more with his thought than with his action. It wasn’t a myth. The Custodian blade was masterful and perfect at its art. Cedrick was able to hold Rackwrith’s strike back and roll the blade, so he could give Rackwrith a hard punch to the jaw, making the man stumble back. Rackwrith snarled, and the two men exchanged blows for a while before Rackwrith managed to kick Cedrick in the stomach, knocking him back down the hall into a room on the east side. It appeared to be a bedroom with a bed in the center against the right wall, a dresser with a mirror on the bed’s right and a desk on the bed’s left. Beside the bed was a glass door out to the balcony that faced the east. Cedrick had fallen onto his back and skidded on the hard floor for a few feet before stopping, which gave him just enough time to block Rackwrith’s strike. Cedrick used his legs to shove Rackwrith off then rolled out of the way before

Rackwrith could make another blow, but he still felt the whoosh of the blade missing him as he got away and to his feet. Cedrick ran deeper into the room to try to use more useful tools to hold Rackwrith back. Blade to blade wouldn’t help Cedrick much for long in his state. Cedrick picked up a pillow and blocked Rackwrith's blow. Feathers scattered across the room in a magnificent burst of fabric. Cedrick tossed the burst pillow away and got Rackwrith into a pattern of blows as the feathers scattered across the floor. When he felt the feathers were settled enough, Cedrick changed the pattern of the blows to force Rackwrith to change his stance. Rackwrith did, then felt the ground slip out from under his new foot position. Cedrick tried to make a run for it while Rackwrith was falling, but he managed to grab Cedrick by the ankle and bring him down. Cedrick fell with a wince of pain as the wood ground into his elbows. Hurriedly, Cedrick turned, blade ready to face his opponent. Rackwrith smirked in a self-satisfied way, “Got you there.” “Aren’t you done gloating? It’s getting on my nerves,” Cedrick growled as he blocked Rackwrith’s sloppy blow and used the momentum to roll onto his feet. This move really hurt, but it was the best way Cedrick knew to get to his feet in a hurry. It was a good thing he did because Rackwrith was already up and striking down. Cedrick blocked it and spun to elbow Rackwrith in the face, turned, using the slippery floor to help him spin, and used that momentum to swing up at Rackwrith’s face. If he’d been using his sword he’d have missed, but the Custodian blade seemed to work more with Cedrick. It flowed as perfectly as a cool river and made the upper cut across Rackwrith’s chest and face, making Rackwrith fall back. Sadly, the cuts weren’t deep, but quite insulting, and Rackwrith did not take insults well. Drawing the first blood and seeing Rackwrith snarling with blood dripping down his face and chest gave Cedrick more confidence. Yes, he was wounded, but he could still win this. Even hurt, he was a better fighter and a better man than Rackwrith would ever be. What had he ever been afraid of? This wasn’t Heklis or Rothmeraid. Rackwrith had no magic and less than half the brain of his last two adversaries . Why was he overestimating him?

Rackwrith snarled, furious, insulted, and ready to win back his pride. Once again, he lunged for Cedrick’s throat. Cedrick blocked it and spun around, so he was behind Rackwrith. Who knew these slippery feathers would be this helpful? The fight was becoming almost a dance, and as Cedrick now knew, he was an excellent dancer. If he kept Rackwrith dancing, that blood on his face would start to run, and hopefully, get into his eyes. Rackwrith seemed to have that front well protected, however, because no matter how much dancing Cedrick made him do, the blood kept well away from his eyes. Cedrick needed a new plan: back to the tools in the room. Cedrick stepped back, so he was standing in front of the dresser. Rackwrith made a powerful, wild swing down at Cedrick. Cedrick jumped back and onto the desk. His weight and Rackwrith’s blow made the dresser tip forward. With effort that left him shaking in pain and gasping, Cedrick jumped up and flipped over Rackwrith onto the bed as the mirror on top of the dresser fell down and smashed into Rackwrith’s head. Cedrick jumped back so he could stand on top of the back of the desk. It was hard to balance, but he’d keep Rackwrith wounded and pinned under the desk. Sadly, Rackwrith was stronger and less hurt than Cedrick had expected. He grabbed onto the desk and shoved upward, making Cedrick fall and hit the wall with surprising force. Cedrick groaned and slowly clambered to his feet as Rackwrith shimmied out from under the desk. He was covered in little glass cuts, but it didn’t seem to have done too much damage. His thick skull had protected him from the initial blow, stupid thing. Rackwrith hissed at Cedrick and twirled his blade around, trying to intimidate, but Cedrick wasn’t falling for it, but he did have another plan. He made his eyes go wide, and he stumbled back as if terrified, but he wasn’t looking at Rackwrith but behind him. To Cedrick’s amazement, it worked. Rackwrith looked. Cedrick took the opening and dove for the attack at last. Rackwrith was too quick and ducked in time, making an upward strike. Cedrick didn’t even try to block it. He threw his weight back. He knew it would make him fall, but to his fortune, Cedrick fell onto the bed. He used the momentum to roll to the far side of the bed as Rackwrith tried yet again. His strike was so strong it went deep into the mattress.

This gave Cedrick an idea. He got Rackwrith to swing at him, but Cedrick ducked, so the blade actually cut the posters holding up the bed. Cedrick jumped back as Rackwrith dove onto the bed after him. Cedrick kicked out the last post. The canopy fell on top of Rackwrith as Cedrick rolled off the bed and safely onto the floor. Rackwrith was struggling to get the tangle off him. He threw it off just as Cedrick made a dive for him. Rackwrith fell back and off the bed into the mess of shattered glass. The shriek of pain stabbed Cedrick’s ears and made him freeze as his ears throbbed. Cedrick expected this to buy him time. Now he was too close, so he jumped off the bed to get to the door. Rackwrith ignored the glass in his arm and lunged for Cedrick. Cedrick was caught off guard. All he could do was fire a blast of energy at him. It made Rackwrith fly back, over the glass shards and into the wall. Rackwrith got to one knee and looked up at Cedrick, eyes blazing, ready to attack, but Cedrick was ready. His sword wasn’t too short this time. Cedrick stood firm and confident, ready for the run. However, Rackwrith hesitated. His eyes lit up as if he saw an opening, and an evil smile crept up his cheeks. He held up a hand, and a blast of blue energy shot towards Cedrick, hitting him square in the chest and blasting him back through the wall and slamming hard onto the stone floor of the balcony outside. The force had sent Cedrick into such pain he couldn’t move, he couldn’t see. He just lay there gasping for air and waiting for the pain to fade and reality to return. What had just happened? Rackwrith had used magic? When Cedrick’s eyes cleared, he saw Rackwrith standing over him, laughing. Cedrick reached for his sword and realized it had been knocked from his hand and sat six feet to his left. Rackwrith was really gloating now, watching Cedrick gasp for air and reach hopelessly for his blade. “Surprise!” Rackwrith declared. “Like it? Neramith made them.” Rackwrith tapped a band around his arm. It was made of metal with intricate designs throughout and a dark gem at its center. “It’s called an absorber, you see. It absorbs magic, and I love them. They make it so if any magic comes within a foot of me, it gets sucked up by this little baby, and this one is special, as you saw. It can shoot magic it has absorbed back out. Amazing, isn’t it? Now you can’t use magic because if you do, I can use it back. There are five even more

powerful ones that suck magic out of an enchanter while he wears it until all his magic is gone, likely killing him, but no one knows that for sure yet.” Rackwrith threw his head back, laughing. “I’m so glad you got to see it, and it helped me beat you. Your own magic brought you down.” Cedrick knew he was right. He could hardly move for pain, and he had no hope of getting his current weapon, but that didn’t mean it was over. In a burst of energy, Cedrick rolled over, got to his hands and knees and was about to dive for the sword when Rackwrith’s foot struck him square in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him and making him collapse to gasp for air. Rackwrith’s laugh echoed in Cedrick’s head obnoxiously. Cedrick set his teeth, unwilling to be beaten, but his vision was still blurred from the pain, and his chest throbbed, ached, and stung all at once. But that didn’t hold him back. Cedrick pushed himself up to lunge for it, not bothering getting to his knees, but Rackwrith kicked him again. Cedrick was forced onto his back. Rackwrith was going to stamp down onto his wounded chest, but Cedrick grabbed his foot, twisting it, hoping to break it, and threw Rackwrith back. Rackwrith fell back, but Rackwrith still had a blade. He used the pummel to hit Cedrick in the face. Cedrick tried to dive for his weapon again, but a second later Rackwrith tested his arm and struck him right in the chest where he’d been shot. Cedrick’s cry of pain was so deep it hurt almost of itself. Cedrick tried to hold himself up but couldn’t and collapsed onto his side as pain ran up and down his body like a caterpillar covered in deadly spikes running through his veins. Cedrick lay helplessly on his back in such pain it felt like he’d been shot all over again. His energy was draining from him as his body fought to cope with the pain. Rackwrith’s stupid laughter filled Cedrick’s already disorientated head, confusing and depressing Cedrick all at once. “Word of advice,” Rackwrith taunted. “Don’t ever fight the man who knows exactly where your weak spot is. After all, I made it, didn’t I? I shot you, and I know exactly where.” He kicked Cedrick again. Cedrick rolled away from the pain, feeling the railing around the balcony press against his back. He was trapped. Rackrith laughed again. “So small,” he said, “so weak when it comes down to it. Just lucky there’s always been someone to catch him when he fell.”

Rackrith kicked again. Cedrick groaned from the depths of his throat, almost wanting him to just finish him, kill him, make the pain stop. Cedrick knew he’d lost. He couldn’t fight through this weakness. He managed last time only because of his father’s help. He felt like he’d been zapped by lightning that had stolen all energy from him and left only enough to allow him to feel this excruciating pain. Rackwrith laughed. “Do you have any idea how good this feels?” he asked, leaning over the gasping Custod. “To be able to stand over you and watch you squirm like a mouse whose tail I’ve caught under my boot, weak, dying, and unable to do a thing about it. It feels amazing, foolish boy, it really does. After all you’ve done to thwart me: giving them hope and a reason to fight, coming up with brilliant plans, or talking them into the good ones, making magic helpful again, taking the enchanters off stupid work and into the real field...it’s amazing. You know what I hate most? How you inspire them. Inspire them with false hope. You make them want to act, though it will do nothing. You’ve been a hated thorn in my side, little Custod, but not anymore. I’m going to enjoy this.” Rackwrith swooped down and grabbed Cedrick by the throat. Cedrick fruitlessly tried to push his hand away, choking and gasping for air, but even these gasps were wimpy and weak. The little strength he had was draining faster than before. Rackwrith grinned and squeezed harder. Cedrick gasped as he felt the walls of his windpipe meet. He saw black in the corners of his vision and was sure he was about to black out when Rackwrith threw him back into the railing of the balcony. Cedrick crumpled like a rag doll, gasping and spluttering for air. His poor throat felt like it had been scrubbed by sandpaper and nails. The pain that shot through him as he collided with the balcony wall had made it hard to breathe, but his body wanted air too much for that to stop him. Each shaking breath stabbed his torso with new pain. But he couldn’t just lie there; he had to stop Rackwrith somehow. He had to move, get a weapon, fight, stop this. Cedrick squeezed his eyes shut and gave his arms an order to push himself up, attempting to get to his knees one more time. A light flashed before Cedrick’s eyes, making him stagger, but he kept going. Mirthful laughter exploded from Rackwrith. “You are a fool! You keep trying to

fight, despite the face you’ve already lost. Oh please, face it ‘young enchanter,’ you’ve already lost, and I’ve won. I’ve come off conqueror, not you.” While Rackwrith prattled on, Cedrick glanced to his left and saw the Custod sword, shining at him as if winking. With Rackwrith monologuing, he knew he might be able to get to it before Rackwrith noticed. Cedrick waited, holding his breath to try to stop the pain and steal his nerves to make the dive. As Rackwrith moved to grab Cedrick again, Cedrick dove for the blade and grabbed it. He turned to strike at Rackwrith, all this while rolling on the ground and only getting to his knees. But poor Cedrick’s blow was so weak, Rackwrith hardly had to try to even block it. He knocked it from Cedrick’s hand and kicked him under the chin, knocking Cedrick back several feet before he slammed into the hard stone with a painful shock. Shaking and chortling with laughter, Rackwrith bent down and picked up the blade. “Oh-ho,” he jeered at the end of his good laugh, wiping a tear from his eye. “That was beautiful and foolish, but worth the show, my little friend. Thank you for that; that was well worth it.” Cedrick ignored his comments as he gasped and panted for his life. It’s over, a voice in his head groaned in defeat. You can’t even hold a sword to him let alone get it into him. It’s over. You tried, but this is the end. You did your best. “And they all sing your praises like you’re all that.” Rackwrith was still gloating. “As if you could win this war without ever getting off your hinny, but we all know that is foolishness. You’re just a boy, a little brother who tried to prove he could sit at the big boy table only to fall off to his death. Not even your father wanted you. No one really wanted you. I’m doing the world a favor, and it looks like you know it as well with how much all this hurts. Just lie still and let me end it for you, ‘dearie,’ will only be a moment.” Rackwrith had slowly been walking over to Cedrick until he stood over him with the Custod sword in one hand and his blade in the other. “And I’ll do it most especially so they can have songs for you and all. Think of it, the first Custod killed by the blade the Maker made just for them. I don’t think it’s ever tasted the blood of one of its beloved line before, do you?” Rackwrith laughed when Cedrick didn’t reply. “Thought so. Goodbye little enchanter, it’s been fun, but

it’s time to end this.” Rackwrith’s face filled with hatred at the end. He snarled. No. It’s not over. A voice that sounded more like himself popped into Cedrick’s head. It’s not over until you decide it is. Do you want it to be over?

No, he didn’t, so he wouldn’t let it end. As hatred filled Rackwrith’s face, Cedrick’s jaw tensed as determination filled his being. Cedrick shot energy through his own body and rolled away with shocking speed, but it was too fast, and he slammed into the railing around the balcony, making a painful stop, but he couldn’t stop to acknowledge it. Cedrick, by some miracle, shot to his feet and reached back and pulled out his old blade, sword length still shorter than before. Rackwrith gaped at him in shock then laughed. “You get the honor of dying on your feet.” And he ran at Cedrick with a mad battle cry. Cedrick set his teeth, took a deep breath and held his sword at the ready to charge back. The two swords clashed, but then Rackwrith screamed in horrible pain. He’d use the Custodian sword to attack Cedrick. When the two blades met, the fire in the Tuck’s head of the sword suddenly blared into light and set Rackwrith’s hand on fire. Rackwrith pushed back and dropped the sword. Cedrick was too weak to keep standing. He collapsed back onto the railing to stay on his feet as the Custodian sword clattered to the ground. The fire died back to normal. Rackwrith was employing some eloquent swear words as he put the fire out on his hand. Parts of it were black after the fire had eaten at it. Slowly, dangerously, Rackwrith looked up from his ruined right hand to Cedrick’s face snarling in a grimace of hatred and rage. Cedrick chucked, still panting for his life. “Custodian blade.” He panted. “It kind of plays favorites, but I think it has good tastes. Don’t you?” Rackwrith snarled, picked up his own blade in his left hand and charged Cedrick again. Cedrick knew he’d not get the Custod sword in time, so he raised his to block Rackwrith, but Cedrick’s knees were shaking with the effort of standing up. Rackwrith clashed swords, but Cedrick’s grip was too weak. His sword was

knocked aside as his knees gave out under him. No, no, it couldn’t be over. He’d come so close. Cedrick struggled to get up once more, but his arms just shook and gave out under him. This couldn’t be it, but he’d used the last of his energy. He had no other way out of this, but he couldn’t lose. Cedrick’s heart dropped out of his chest, and the light and hope he’d so valiantly fought for died to a glowing ember threatening to go out. Rackwrith laughed but also was panting with effort and the pain of his burn. “See? You tried so hard and still lost.” Rackwrith kicked Cedrick, so he was on his back looking up at his soon-to-be murderer. “So ends the ‘great’ Cedrick Custod, but you went with an honorable fight. Don’t be too disappointed.” No, no, this wasn’t over. What else could he do? Think Cedrick think! No magic would work, not with that absorber on him, and Cedrick already tried to outsmart him. It had worked, but his strength still failed. It was hopeless; it was over, but Cedrick wasn’t giving up hope. He’d die holding to that hope. Cedrick’s blue eyes met Rackwrith’s hate filled ones. “Kill me,” Cedrick spat. “But it won’t stop our work. They know you lied, and you’ll never get close enough to stop the others. It may be over for me, but I know I went down bringing you with me. You haven’t won this, and you never will. You’ll find out when you’re finally gone and in the Perverter’s fiery home, that no matter how well you beat us, it doesn’t matter. You still lose.” Cedrick spoke those last three words as though he had ed a death sentence onto Rackwrith. Rackwrith froze, eyes widening in fear. A dark horror seeping over him and making him shudder as light and hope were sucked from his chest. He stood empty for a moment, but then his eyes met Cedrick’s condemning gaze, and Rackwrith snarled, “In your dreams.” Rackwrith pulled back his sword to finish Cedrick off. Cedrick didn’t break his condemning gaze from Rackwrith as he struck down. Cedrick gasped in pain. The blow missed. Rackwrith’s hilt had slammed into Cedrick's side as Rackwrith was tackled over and smashed into the ground. As he fell, Rackwrith’s foot struck Cedrick. Cedrick fell onto his side with a painful jab, but he was used to that by now. Cedrick’s eyes adjusted to see what had happened. His eyes flew wide. “Father!”

he cried. Margorim had picked up the Custodian sword and tackled Rackwrith over and away from his son. Though he’d been almost as weak as Cedrick was last time he’d seen him, he stood strong and powerful in front of Rackwrith, face screwed in anger. As Cedrick watched, Margorim looked up to check on his son, but it was a foolish move. Rackwrith jumped for Margorim’s throat while Margorim’s back was turned. Because Rackwrith’s sword hand was so badly wounded, he had to use his left hand which gave Margorim an advantage to stop a death blow, but he was still thrown aside and landed hard next to Cedrick. Margorim shook his head to clear it as Rackwrith slowly and painfully got to his feet. Margorim looked at his son. “Cedrick? Cedrick, are you alright?” Cedrick gave him a weak little smile. “A-alive,” he replied. “But h-how are you...” But his question was cut off as Rackwrith noisily got to his feet. Margorim, on the other hand, was still looking Cedrick over with a stricken look on his face. “What has he done to you?” he asked his son in a broken, shattered voice. “N-nothing u-unexpected, but father, you’re h-hurt, p…p-please.” Cedrick was so weak he could hardly say it. His head bobbed in exhaustion as he tried. Margorim’s teeth ground together to see his son in such pain. His dangerous glare met Rackwrith’s as the man got to his feet. Margorim got to his knees with a snarl like a wolf and dove at Rackwrith. Cedrick blinked to clear his vision as the two exchanged rapid blows. How was his father doing this? Cedrick noticed Margorim stumble a bit as Rackwrith was thrown by Margorim’s thrust. His father wasn’t cured; he was somehow fighting through the poison, which meant he didn’t have much more time than Cedrick had. “No…Dad, no.” Cedrick wanted him to run, get to safety while he could, but in his weakness, Cedrick collapsed, maybe blacking out for a second. Margorim saw his son go limp, and a fire like no other burst into life in his chest:

a fatherly instinct to protect his child that a wraith like Rackwrith never could and would never understand. This fire sent a power and energy through Margorim that gave him strength to charge into Rackwrith at full speed, making blows faster than Rackwrith could do more than defend himself from, backing Rackwrith into the railing. Once pinned there, Margorim was able to knock his sword aside and drive his blade deep into Rackwrith’s stomach until the blade protruded from the other side. The guttural gasp escaped Rackwrith in a painful, final moment. Margorim leaned close so his mouth was next to Rackwrith’s ear. “No one harms my son,” he hissed and with a final shove, Margorim pulled the blade out and pushed Rackwrith’s head so his body flipped over the railing to crash sickeningly to the ground below.

Chapter 42

Fathers

Cedrick struggled to sit up. “D-dad?” he gasped, looking up at him, worried. Already color was draining from his father’s face. “Father?” Cedrick fought to get up, but his father hurried to his side. “No, Cedrick, lie s…s-still.” Margorim blinked a few times. Something was seriously wrong, worse than it was before. “Father?” Cedrick’s heart thundered in fear in his ears, making it hard to think. “Dad no, what’s wrong? You were ill; what were you thinking? What’s happening to you? Dad…dad?” Margorim was starting to pant as badly as Cedrick was, bowing his head in weakness, trying to get a hold of himself. “What happened?” Margorim gave Cedrick a little smile. “I heard my boy in danger and had to help. My boy…m-my son.” He brushed Cedrick’s face tenderly with one hand. Then his breath picked up as he fought for air, pressing a hand to his chest in pain. “No, no, father. Don’t leave me!” Cedrick struggled to get up, but only could roll over and himself on his hands. “Don’t Cedrick, don’t.” Margorim tried to stop him, but it was hard to hear him over his own gasping. As he reached out a hand to help Cedrick, he gasped as if stabbed with a new pain and collapsed, struggling for air. “No! Father please, no!” Cedrick tried to help him but could hardly even try to roll him over. He collapsed almost on top of his father, shaking his head against

his father’s struggling side. “You can’t not now when we’re actually starting to understand! Stay with me!” “C-Cedrick.” Margorim panted, shaking his head. “Please, it’s alright. Let me go, you can’t save me. I-it’s alright.” “No! Never, I only just g-got you, father. I need you. Don’t go!” “It’s far too late. I-I love you, am proud of you. Don’t forget it, but please, if you love me, let me go,” Margorim pleaded weakly. Cedrick shook his head, dizzy and worried he’d collapse before his father did. “No, I can’t! I still have so much I need to know and learn from you.” “There is nothing, Cedrick. If there was, I’d make sure to stay for you. You ed my skill and knowledge a long time ago.” Margorim assured him, holding Cedrick’s hand as tightly as he could, but with both of them so weak, neither really felt it. A hope popped into Cedrick’s head, but his shoulders slumped. This wasn’t a trade he wanted to make. “So you’d really stay if there was?” “Of course, I love you, my boy.” Margorim was shaking and gasping for air still, slowing fading away into weakness and death, but he was rather calm. He stroked Cedrick’s hair comfortingly. “I’d not leave you unready.” “Then you have to tell me what you and Rosaline were talking about. I have to know what you’ve been hiding from me. You want me to let you go, tell me, and I will.” “What?” Margorim’s question was more like a gasp after being stabbed. “How do you even know about that?” “No time, and I’m allowed my secrets if you have yours. Tell me, and I’ll l-let you.” Tears flooded Cedrick’s eyes. “Mother knew it and was proud of it, and so is everyone else, but you’re scared of it. If you’re not here to protect me from it, tell me what it is, so I can defend myself. You can’t leave me unguarded, Father. Tell me, and I’ll let you go.” “No…no…” Margorim shook his head, weaker and terrified. “You don’t know

what you’re talking about. You d-don’t know anything. Please…don’t end it like this. I love you, but I can’t...can’t tell you.” “Please,” Cedrick begged as his own weakness crept blackness into his mind. “I m-must know…t-tell me.” “No, I love you, Cedrick, but I can’t tell you…I can’t…I promised…I love you, but I can’t…can’t…I love you.” Margorim’s voice got weaker and quieter as he went on. He breathed out the last words as his eyes rolled up, and his head fell back. “NO!” Cedrick cried from the depths of his heart. Though it hurt like nothing else, Cedrick pushed himself and frantically started trying to give his father restoration breaths then pumping his chest to get his heart pumping. “Come back! Come back, father!” He was too weak to heal him, but he had to save him. He had to…had to… Cedrick was starting to lose consciousness when two strong hands grabbed his arms and shook him. “How long? How long has it been?” a voice he knew demanded, but Cedrick wasn’t sure who it was. “S-seconds,” Cedrick muttered. “Come back…” The hands held him up as Cedrick felt someone else go to his father’s side. A woman’s voice was saying, “With the antidote, we have a chance.” This set Cedrick off again. He pulled away from the hands on him and started frantic resuscitation again. “Cedrick, no!” The hands were on him again, but he already was slipping from consciousness. His eyes started to roll up, but they landed on his father’s face for a moment. Did his eyes open? Then blackness covered his vision, and Cedrick knew no more.

*****

Cedrick groaned. His head ached and his eyes seemed unwilling to open as his stomach churned, but if it was hungry or ill, he wasn’t sure. “I think he’s waking up,” a voice said, but Cedrick wished she’d been quieter about it. Gentle warm hands held Cedrick close. Cedrick rubbed his head into the warmth: safe, secure. He melted into the embrace and felt a gentle kiss to his forehead and soft hands started to stroke his hair. Cedrick moaned as his body relaxed at the touch, so good, so warm. Slowly, Cedrick opened his eyes and blinked to bring it all in focus. The perfect arms were those of his sweetly pale wife, and it was her perfect hands that were stroking his hair. He looked up to see her smiling gently at him with tears in her eyes. Cedrick frowned. What were the tears for? “Hey, Cedrick can you hear us?” Arylana’s voice drifted in. Cedrick felt her hand against his forehead. Figures, she always did that. Cedrick closed his eyes contentedly and nodded. Elphacena sighed in relief and held him close, pressing his head against her comfortable chest. Though his grip was still weak, Cedrick held onto her back to feel her so close. He still felt horribly sick with his head pounding, throat raw, and stomach churning, but it was worth it to feel so safe and comfortable with her. “I’m home,” he sighed. Elphacena smiled a little and kept stroking his hair. “I was beginning to worry you’d never wake up. It’s been a few days. It’s all been straightened out. Roxorim has gotten the kingdom and army back in order. Mercutio is healing well, and Rackwrith’s lies have been cleared up, and it’s for sure to everyone he was the spy. It’s all over now. Rest and once you’re well we’ll have better things to be about.” She smiled encouragingly. “Like your brother’s wedding and making the charge into Heklis’s territory. Endar will be coming back north soon, and this freezing weather will warm up. It’s going to be okay.” Cedrick nodded, closing his eyes as if to go back to sleep, but then he ed. His eyes popped open. He tried to sit up, but gasped in the pain, but not just from the wound, half of it was stiffness. His head suddenly got very light. He swayed a little.

Elphacena’s nurturing hands carefully took his arms and laid him back gently to her as he’d been before, lying on his back head turned into her hold as she sat beside him. She gathered the blanket around him and tucked him in lovingly. “There, there, it’s alright. You need to rest. You tried to get up one too many times with Rackwrith. Now it is time to rest and let us take care of you.” “But father.” Cedrick turned to look at her, eyes full of worry. Elphacena sighed. “Hoped it would take you longer to ask,” she confessed. Her words were like a blow to his stomach. He’d failed. Cedrick’s shoulders fell, and he instantly felt sicker. He allowed himself to collapse into his wife’s embrace. His lip trembled slightly. He bit them to get it to stop. As he closed his eyes to hold back the tears. “It’s my fault.” “No, Cedrick.” Arylana sighed, bowing her head in shame. “It’s mine.” Cedrick’s brows drew together. He opened his mouth to ask, but Arylana answered the question before he could speak it. “We heard what was going on after you left and tried to get everything together to escape out the door while they were all busy, but poor Mercutio was so weak I thought he could use something to help him get going. I’d found an herbal mix that could help energize and stimulate someone weak to have more energy. It doesn’t last long, but I thought it would be enough to help Mercutio get out of there, and it did, but it can have a bad reaction with most poisons, so I didn’t offer father any. But I guess…I-I guess he got ideas.” Tears filled Arylana’s eyes. “Because he got a hold of it when I wasn’t looking. When, I don’t know. We got Mercutio out to safety. Elphacena had convinced a group of who she was and what was happening, and they were helping us with him. Father had insisted we leave him and then come back, so I did, knowing Mercutio didn’t have much longer to live without help. I went up to find father, and…and he wasn’t there. I thought maybe Elphacena had gotten him, but it was all confusing with the fire everywhere. I found Rox who had been looking for Father as well. We happened to be just below the balcony when father threw Rackwrith over. I knew instantly what he’d done. I also assumed Rackwrith wasn’t a fool and kept the antidote on him in case of accidents. I was right. We rushed up, past the men putting out the last of the fire, and found you trying to revive him. I gave him the antidote,

thinking there may be time. You kept going. We tried to stop you when you blacked out, but father started breathing again.” “What?” Cedrick sat up without thinking. He was alive? Cedrick’s head spun. He closed his eyes from the nausea. Elphacena again guided him to rest into her arm and shoulder to get the dizziness to leave. Once it looked like all was well, Arylana went on. “Yes. but I don’t know if he’ll still make it. The poison and herbs together have a horrible reaction inside the body. The poison was meant to slow his body into death and the other meant to excite it. It allowed him to fight Rackwrith, but once it wore off it left his heart weakened and perhaps pinched off the valves. The opposites wreak havoc on the circulation system. I think it gave him a unique heart attack, and Carver, the head doctor, has been working on him for days, but he won’t give us any news. It makes me fear the worst. I don’t think he’s going to make it, or the doctor would be telling us it’s going well.” Cedrick’s shoulders fell. To find out he’d managed to save him only to see it last just a few days and knowing Cedrick would still never see him again stabbed into Cedrick like a hot knife. Cedrick shut his eyes against the pain and let Elphacena hold him all the tighter, maybe too tight, but he needed it. “But hope isn’t lost yet,” Elphacena soothed, stroking his hair. “Rox used his royal authority to force his way in half an hour ago. We’re hoping for some news soon. We’ll know for sure then. I was hoping you’d not think on it until we had a real answer for you. I’m sorry you have to endure this uncertainty with us. You deserve better, my love. Just hold on with me.” Cedrick nodded but didn’t speak as he dealt with the battle in his heart. The worst part was he was a bit afraid of what would happen if his father was alright. He now knew Cedrick knew he was hiding something. How would he react? Would he finally tell him what he was hiding, or would he keep Cedrick in the dark still? Cedrick hoped he was alive, so he could really get to know him and understand. Maybe then he’d understand the secret and be alright with it, but as it stood, he just felt sick to the stomach for more than just hunger pangs. Arylana left after a few minutes to try to get some food for Cedrick and check on Mercutio. She returned to report Mercutio was doing well and glad to hear Cedrick was awake. Elphacena had to fight with Cedrick to get him to eat. He

felt too nervous and ill for food, but once she got him to eat, he did feel a bit better. After an awkward pause, Cedrick dared asked. “Did they think I was going to make it, or was I like Father?” He hoped that they had feared for him because he’d pulled through which meant his father likely would too. Elphacena bit her lip and looked down. “Carver thought you were likely to heal fine, but your father is in much worse shape and not as young as you are, as Carver said. He felt you’d be fine with your age and magic.” Cedrick’s shoulders fell, his last little hope dashed. He shut his eyes and prayed in his heart to his Maker for his father. He still needed his father. They just couldn’t take him. Cedrick was still in this mood when the door opened, and Roxorim came inside with Airabelle beside him. “Hey, they told me you woke up,” Roxorim said, trying to sound cheerful for Cedrick’s sake. Cedrick opened his eyes and looked at his brother. Roxorim looked nervous but smiled through it anyway. Cedrick nodded a little. “Yeah, got food in me too,” he hesitated, wanting to know but scared to ask. Roxorim understood. He took Airabelle’s hand, pulled a few chairs for them and sat down beside Cedrick, opposite where Elphacena sat on the bed cradling her sick husband. “They still don’t know,” Roxorim said carefully. “How can they not know?” Arylana demanded, stunned. Roxorim held up a hand to quiet her, so he could go on. “It’s complicated, but here’s what’s happening. Carver has done all he can for father up to this point, and father is stable but still unconscious, and his vitals are so weak they don’t know if or when he’ll wake up. We can go in and out to see him as we like, but if he stays asleep too long, he’ll get dehydrated and likely not make it. Carver didn’t say it's hopeless, but he made sure I understood the odds are not in his favor.” But that just told Cedrick it was over. His father was gone though he’d tried so

hard it was for nothing. Cedrick bowed his head. Elphacena held him close. “Don’t give up on him yet. It may still work out. Just wait and see.” She spoke to Cedrick like this gentle and soothingly until he fell asleep. Cedrick tried to sleep as much as he could over the next two days. One, so he could heal faster, and two, so he didn’t have to feel that awful, painful weight in his stomach as he waited for the horrible news of his father’s death. On the second day, he felt strong enough to be up but still avoided it. He felt back to how he’d been when they finally got back to the city before Rackwrith raised all vell around the place but acted like he wasn’t. Cedrick was shaken awake gently, but excitedly by his wife in the evening of the second day. “What?” Cedrick didn’t want to hear more news meant to cheer him up, like wedding plans, or hearing how Aleph had done well in training or any of that rot. “It’s your father.” Cedrick snapped to attention and looked at her. She smiled warmly. “He’s woken up. He’s weak, and doctors still aren’t sure he’ll make it, but Carver is extremely hopeful. Your father is up and talking. Come on.” She helped Cedrick to sit up, but he didn’t need much coaxing. Arylana and Roxorim were already in the room as Cedrick and Elphacena came in. Margorim didn’t look good at all. He was pale; his lips a bit blue, and his eyes were sunken. It stabbed at Cedrick to see him so ill, most of all knowing he still might not make it, but he held it together. “Cedrick,” Margorim gasped out with a voice of a man double his age and weakly reached out for his son. Cedrick instantly came over, taking his father’s hand and sitting on the side of the bed beside him. “You made it,” Margorim teased a little. Cedrick gave him a weak half smile. “Yeah, I guess so. I’m more worried about you.”

“I’m holding on for now.” Margorim sighed. His tone told Cedrick he hadn’t forgotten their last conversation, and both knew it had to be addressed. It was Elphacena who took the cue and told the other two they should let them talk. Arylana kissed her father’s forehead, assuring him of her love, and she’d be back in a moment. Roxorim nodded and said much the same, and they all left. Nervously, Cedrick faced his father. Margorim sighed and looked up at Cedrick. “I’m sorry we had that conversation like we did. I never meant it to be like that.” He sighed deeply. “Honestly, I hoped we never would have that conversation. How did you know?” Cedrick bowed his head. “Those visions I told you about. I had one about you two. I don’t know how I did it, so please don’t ask me how. It came up a lot in those visions, and I didn’t want to ask until we were closer, hoping that would make it easier for you to answer and for me to understand your answer. But… Father, I must know what it is, and I’m scared to know and to know why it makes others happy but makes you terrified. I’d rather the time to be close and understand but I’m afraid it won’t happen. Don’t leave me without telling me, please.” Margorim sighed and beckoned Cedrick closer. Cedrick leaned in so his ear was close to his father’s mouth as he’d requested. “I may not be your only Father.”

To Be Continued......

Dedication

To the roommates and friends who made the work to make this book worth every struggle, frustrations and sore throats.

And to my amazing readers who clamored for this version to be made.

About the Author

Young Adult Author Charity Mae has been writing uplifting books and inspirational fiction in the form of fairytale retellings and young adult books since I was young. I’ve been living in other worlds my whole life. I find it’s the best way to not only escape the struggles of our day to day lives, but how to learn how to handle them. You can always escape on any of my media profiles

If you want to come hang out, be warned, Cedrick or Arylana may start commenting on the conversation. She would love to hear from her readers on social media. For more check out my YouTube channel and other media outlets.

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The Custodian Chronicles: Ashes Preview

Cedrick dropped his sword and collapsed to his knees, shaking, almost choking on the sick feeling in his stomach and throat. It was done. Cedrick looked down at the Custod sword, the tip shining wetly in the darkness, reflecting the glow of the com. The com's spinning slowed gently, round and round until it stopped, pointing north-east: to the capitol. Cedrick swallowed tightly as he fought the sick feeling inside of him. He pinched his eyes shut a moment before he picked up his blade with a shaking hand, wiped it on a cloth as his belt and sheathed the blade. He picked up the com with his other shaking hand. The com glowed warm against his hand like a comforting light. Cedrick managed a weak smile as if trying to make the com think it succeeded in comforting him. He staggered to the opposite side of the palanquin from where he'd entered and slipped into the night. He pressed on into the night as if running from the pain until his exhaustion, overwrought emotions, and shaking limbs brought him to his knees in the wet grass. Tears flooded Cedrick's eyes as he went to his hands and knees, shaking and holding in his bile. It was wrong. He'd had to do it, but it was wrong. "Doing the right thing is supposed to feel good, isn't it?" Cedrick challenged to the night air. Perhaps he was asking the com. Not even he knew anymore. No. Doing the right thing didn't always feel good. Sometimes it made others hate you and cast you out. Sometimes it made you get beat up. Sometimes it made someone sick. Cedrick had endured that enough from his father growing up to know that.

It didn't stop him feeling bad though. It made him feel sick and worthless, no less than that. The worm was worth more than he was. He'd killed a defenseless idiot. There was no honor in that. It was despicable, and he'd done it. But it was his job. It was what Custods do. Others had always seen Custods as great men and women. They'd been honorable heroes and defenders of the defenseless and the wronged. Cedrick didn't feel like any of those things. Cedrick stayed in that position, fighting his bile, sickness, and guilt for a long time. He gasped and choked on his own feelings, shaking against the tickle of the wet grass on his hands. His tears and sickness made his face wet and drip as he shook against the pain in his stomach. Over time, something else started filling him from his fingers to his toes, spreading to his heart. It was a power, a warm comforting power, an authority, and purpose. He knew what it meant. Cedrick was now a full Custod. He'd been born with the name, but he hadn't been a Custod until he took the blow for others who would be hurt. He'd taken the blow for others. It was what Joel insisted he needed to know and feel. Was it worth the price? For him, no, but perhaps to the world, it was a yes. They needed Cedrick. They didn't need the great Enchanter. They needed the enchanter Custod. Now that's what he was, but that came with understanding the cost and pain of that. It was the pain of having to kill for others. It was the power to judge. It was the worst feeling in the world. A loud clap struck Cedrick like a club. He jumped a mile as he felt a wet pitter patter on his skin and heard it around him: rain. Cedrick sighed and looked to his left to see a sheet of rain falling and riding right for him. Let it. Who cared? He should have known. The wind had been stiff all day, and the scent of rain had been hanging in the air with the humidity that came with a storm in the air. He'd been too distracted to take all that in. It didn't matter though. Why did it matter that the worthless worm got a little wet? But the test wasn't over yet. He had to prove he'd done it by going to Joel and taking the final pledge at the sanctuary. Cedrick still had to break in unseen. He was called to yet still more work. Cedrick clenched his fists, jaw, and eyes tight shut as the rain poured down his

neck and arms. "I don't want this." Cedrick said, body shaking. "It hurts. I don't want it." Do you want to protect them? "Yes." You sure? "Yes." Then you want this. It is the only way. Cedrick sighed and quailed his tears, bowing his head. The voice was right. There was no other way. Cedrick let the rain soak his clothes. Better he was wet than others. He forced himself to stop shaking and swallowed the sick feeling. He had to come to with it. Cedrick shut his eyes tightly and let the rain run down his face, arms, and back. They drippled and tricked their way down his skin, around the muscles of his arms and down the lines of his face. He didn't like it, but he embraced it just like the terrible job. It was his role, his life, his choice, his place. He accepted it as he accepted the chilling rain. With his eyes still closed, Cedrick shoved himself to his feet. The sound of his feet splashing into the mud combined with the claps of thunder. Cedrick opened his eyes and looked around the wet landscape, his hair dripping and tossing drips of water across his view. He locked his eyes on the dark shadow that was the capitol. It was where he had to go. The deed was done. There was no reason to linger. This was his life and role now, and if it defended his people and those he loved, he'd take it. He was their shield, their human shield. And from then on, he'd fulfill that role no matter what.

Copyright © 2020 > by Charity Mae All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

Knighted Phoenix Publishing ISBN- 978-1-7330574-2-4

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Ordering Information: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, educators, bookstores, and others. For details, the publisher at the above listed address. U.S. trade bookstores and wholesalers: Please : email [email protected]