Fort was rebuilding from the attack. New roofs were being installed. The gargatuan gates were being

Inside the barely standing town hall, the locals were meeting. Sabuk was seated before the entire room.

Blackstone stood in the room. He listened to seemingly endless debate and incessant arguing. The armored wandered turned and shifted in his stance as if he could find no comfort.

Sabuk smiled at he giant man’s growing impatience.

Finally, Blackstone had had enough.

“Your problem is an elemental.”

“A what?”

“An elemental, a type of entity which appeared during the Third Age, the Manifestation. Normally they appear for a short period of time and return to the ethereal world from whence they came. But this one…I believe she is trapped.”

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Manning’s brow furrowed.

“Trapped?”

Blackstone’s horn-helmeted head nodded. His eyes simmered.

“Yes and I believe it is through massive energy generated by a human being that this ‘Storm’ can free herself of this realm and return home.”

Manning frowned up even more.

“Massive energy?”

“Sexually. She is claiming your males not out of tribute but, through her madness, she is trying to go home.”

The speaker snarled at Blackstone and then at the boy. “The rest of the males in town are either too young, too old or too important to face the Storm!”

The armored man looked Devan over. “And what of you, Speaker?”

The man swallowed hard as Blackstone stared down at him. “I—I—some of us are too important…!”

Blackstone stared at the much smaller man. “Of course…”

The town leader limped up to the armored wanderer. There was genuine sincerity in his eyes. There was also fatigue and regret.

“Please, stranger, stay the night in our village. It is the least we can offer you for saving Sabuk.”

The wanderer looked at the boy who was now pulling on his glove. “Please, Sir Blackstone?”

Blackstone exhaled and the room trembled.