In a sad twist of fate, Alan stared at the corpse lying before him. He’d broken his vow not to kill. Self-defense or not, his entire body felt darker, like the Saro flowing within him turned to poison. It wasn’t him who spawned that Orange pool that saved his life, it was Lucius.

The prince. And when Lucius realized what he’d done, all he did was smile.

Was it because the darkness now flowed through Alan too?

Or was it because Alan was still alive?

“Asha!” Flint summoned crystalized glaciers that fell from the sky, cracking Savros’ last massive sand shield and showering their enemies with ice. The rocks turned into cages moments before crashing down, leaving the remaining two living members to beg on their backs.

A large cloud of fog in the distance puffed outward like a bomb went off.

They’d cleared a wide ring, which meant the battle was finally over.

“This is all wrong,” Alan whispered, pushing to his feet. “Lucius!” his voice came out a strangled mess. He could sense the souls leaving their bodies – all three Beige Saro wielders. They were being vacuumed straight into Farante’s blade.

Alan trekked hesitantly forward, helping Neesha to her feet and draping her arm around his shoulder to drag her.

“How… how did you know?” Hishaya’s voice begged through the wind.

Flint coughed out white essence as he plucked Green Saro arrows out of his back.

The Mistborn snarled at the Wizard, trying to ram the cage, so Alan recalled it into a coin that he shoved into his pouch. He was in no mood for its accusations, especially now that he took a life.

“Reverse the seal,” Alan demanded of Savros, ignoring Hishaya. He limped up to his cage and wrapped both hands around the icy bars. “I don’t want to deal with you, or anyone affiliated with you for the rest of my days here. We’ll take our chances with minions. Now open the cove so we can pass.”

Savros dragged himself to sit upright, both legs not working. He laughed low. “Poor soul. I am the only one who can’t be convinced. I am Hyndole’s. I am Jaeger’s.”

That’s right, Alan recalled. It was Hishaya who wanted to gain Jaeger’s approval… from Savros.

“Last I spoke to that red-spewing gargoyle, we made an agreement that I get the hell out of here,” Alan said. “Only to find more of his cronies in my way.”

“That is the ways of war, my young friend.” Savros cackled, holding his ribs.

Alan’s vision grew infrared again as he yanked out his dagger. He could tell it was Red mixed with Black Saro flowing through his veins, making his head foggy like he was on some terrible drug. He marched away from Savros’ cage and yanked Hishaya by the hair.

“Sir Alan! Regain yourself,” Durger pleaded.

“Cannot be convinced?” Alan said sarcastically, eying Savros as he pressed Durger against Hishaya’s throat.

The Wizard quieted, only the faint whispers of Flint and Lucious plaguing his ears.

“Do not do it,” Flint spoke solemnly.

“There are no laws in war,” Lucius countered.

An angel and devil of the weirdest kinds whispered over each shoulder. But it was the most unexpected one that knocked him free.

“The fool masters Saro on a whim, and is stroked into an ego the size of oblivion, only to fall to the Black,” Gregorian spoke harshly, jerking Alan free of his critically low Saro. “That, is our great Herald.”

Alan’s vision rewound to normal. The darkness might’ve actually coaxed him to slit her throat if he wasn’t shaken free, but now that he regained his wits, the negotiator in him told him to keep up the charade. Threat of stealing love is as visceral as life itself.

“Jaeger would never expect us to defeat a team of Unity Beige, right, Flint?” Alan purposely kept his voice rude and unhinged.

“Hyndole knows your worth, I’m afraid. He will plan for us on all fronts.” Flint stepped forward cautiously. “But I suspect he would plan less for a loyal servant to betray his own seal.”

“That’s what I thought.” Alan turned to Savros. “You will run to your god as soon as we leave here. So it is in our interest to leave you fallen with your brethren.”

Savros lifted his chin, trying to remain strong, but flinched when Alan pressed the dagger closer to Hishaya’s throat.

“I know you love one another, even if your ties are political,” Alan revealed. “One does not rush headfirst into a volcano against minions of the orange fog for nothing.”

Savros’ eyes widened. In that moment, Alan knew they really did fear him.

The wizardly lovers exchanged eyes with one another. Alan could feel Hishaya shake her head.

“You will let her live?” Savros pleaded, tone changing completely.

“That is the exchange. Formally, under the Merchant’s code,” Alan said.

Trade with Savros Initiated

Steps taken to unlock next Title:

0/3

“Do not do it, my love!” Hishaya’s vocal chords quivered through Alan’s dagger.

Savros’ eyes glowed vibrantly beige, igniting the vertical symbols down the closed cove entrance to shine the same. Solid rock rumbled the ground at their feet, vibrating into sandy grains that crashed to the floor with a woosh.

What lay inside was a calm portal rotating counter-clockwise, causing the clouds above it to rotate too, echoing its power.

Flint turned to analyze it. “These Wizards have been hard at work. They altered the make-up of an intra-dimensional. I believe… this will no longer lead us down the path we seek. I wasn’t sure such a thing was even possible.” He limped closer to it, holding his hat.

TRADE COMPLETE

Steps taken to unlock next Title:

1/3

Alan dropped Hishaya from his grasp as promised, then walked over to Savros. “A trick?”

“A reinforced plan.” He grinned, twirling his finger to create a sandy mirror-like object. “You see, Jaegar really prefers you stay.”

Alan backed away.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Yes. Now your group is bound to honor our trade. My love remains breathing. All else is naught. I will suffer my punishment from Jaeger, I will—”

Fssst!

Lucius dug his dark blade deep into Savros’ back.

“No!” Hishaya crawled to the bars of her cage.

“Can you feel them?” Lucius spoke into Savros’ ear. “Your friends, the ones we just killed, are trapped with me. Can you hear them beg?”

Alan’s eyes widened in horror. The blood of war made everything around them dark. He didn’t like it one bit.

Savros’ skin began to emit the same shadowy essence that vacuumed into Lucius’ sword earlier.

“Reverse the portal. Take us to where we seek. Get me the hell out of here,” Lucius whispered with conviction.

Savros laughed loud, scaring everyone back. “It cannot be done.”

Alan shook his head. They were getting nowhere now. “Flint! Can you tell where it leads?”

“Yes, yes, give it time!” Flint pulled out his map and began tracing.

Alan glanced at Lucius for him to withdraw his blade, which he did, evoking an agonizing scream from the Wizard. He then turned his attention to Hishaya – who was now completely distraught. What’s left to do but strike a deal while his enemies are on their knees.

“You are a pretty nasty type,” Alan narrowed his eyes as he crouched to gauge her. “Taking a god’s will blindly.”

She winced while adjusting herself. “I wanted a position in the new realm. You cannot blame one for doing what is best for those they care for.”

“Such a different tone when you’re on your back.” Alan stood, looking down on her. “Trade me your staff, and I will convince Lucius to spare that Wizard’s life.”

She cradled it protectively. “I’ve been enchanting this weapon since I was a lowly sprite.”

Alan waited for her to take a breath.

She shut her eyes and hugged it. “It will do you no good.”

“It will do someone else good. I am a Merchant before I am a Herald.” Alan held out his hand.

“H—he will live?” She stared up at Alan.

“I will do all in my power to make it so,” Alan said.

Trade with Hishaya Initiated

Steps taken to unlock next Title:

1/3

TRADE COMPLETE

Steps taken to unlock next Title:

2/3

Staff of Hishaya’s Trials received.

Beige Saro

+Bonus Ability – Control the sands – deliver messages long distances.

+Bonus Ability – Control the sands – persuade Beige Saro wielders by whispering to their sands.

+Bonus Ability – Control the sands – rapid weapon formation increased through Saro endurance.

Alan stared at his new weapon in disgust, then to the male Wizard breathing laboriously. He nodded to Lucius for him to back up. “Neesha, close his wounds, please.”

“Um, Alan, we have our own wounds to lick.”

“Please.” He sounded exhausted just repeating the ask. “A deal’s a deal.” He tiredly focused on Hishaya again. “But looking at this item, I can tell Hozzod isn’t the only realm full of backstabbers. Did you coax him to fall in love with you?” He nodded toward Savros.

She swallowed past a lump. “N—no. Just made him turn his head a few times in the beginning.” She smiled weakly. “Ricktus, on the other hand.”

Alan’s heart dropped into his belly. The man he just killed… wasn’t even under his own free will? He regretted asking, and couldn’t bear to hear any more.

xxx

Flint kept both arms held outward toward the portal, with one squinted eye, as if he was measuring something. “Changed the trajectory through an intensive channeling spell. Huh. Do you know what kind of power it takes to adjust a portal destination?”

“Not as much as you wield if you can cage the makers.” Alan dropped a hand on Flint’s shoulder.

“Quite right!” Flint settled in to undo what the other party’s Wizard tampered with, and once he figured out the destination of the portal, the crew readied themselves to depart.

Alan lost nearly all of his energy at this point. One look back at the two injured Wizards stuck in Flint’s ice-cages was enough to remind Alan of what he’d done.

An axe through Ricktus’ heart earned him clear land for miles out. Ojin incentivizing him to kill. He hated it, and really gave thought to what that meant in his Origin World. Were wars started on Earth because of the ways of Ojin? Are those echoes past down to human nature? He wondered if Neesha was right about all of it.

Gregorian eyed the new staff on Alan’s back. “Merchants are slimy things, striking deals outside of towns. To think you would be the cause of such strife.”

Alan ignored him. He was in no mood.

“Rest easy, Sir Alan. You had no choice. What you did had to be done. It is the way of things here.”

Alan grimaced. “You’ve been telling me since I stepped foot through that first portal. I hate that you were right. This was inevitable the longer I stayed, Durger. I guess I just thought I’d be gone before that time came.”

“I am at your side, even if not by choice.”

Alan hooted at that, ambling toward the portal. “Thanks, buddy.”

“Alan? We don’t have to leave right away. We can always stay a bit longer, catch our breath, or even—”

“Flint, thank you for worrying about me. I just want as far from here as possible,” he said. “This is the way, yes? Still faster than getting to the forbidden shops on foot.”

“Aha! It is. Right. Perhaps I was stalling for fear of losing my powerful Strangey Town allies who want nothing more than to leave an old Wizard to rot.”

“More guilt, great.” Alan stared up at the portal pushing out puffs of green smoke. He huffed, then walked right through.

The sensation of being reduced to a bodiless soaring consciousness grew more familiar each time he used one of those portals, just like using a different color Saro. Once he honed on the right types of feelings and thoughts, it was natural to him. Like a puzzle just clicked together.

Pwomf!

He emerged in swampy water up to his knees and trudged onward, not even taking a beat to assess his surroundings. Just keep moving forward, he told himself, ignoring the exhaustion of the previous battle. His friends materialized behind him, he could tell by all Gregorian’s scoffing, Neesha’s flailing in her oversized robes weighing her down, and Flint encouraging everyone forward.

“Alan, we do not know the types of minions lurking on the outskirts, or perhaps even in this very swamp,” Flint’s whisper carried.

Alan ignored him and kept trekking on, lost in his head.

He felt waves pushing toward him from someone taking large strides to catch up. He assumed it was Flint.

“I’m fine, Flin—oh, it’s you.” Alan arced an eyebrow at Lucius.

“You fought well, Alan. I am honored to call you a brother-at-arms,” he said, holding one of Ricktus’ tomahawks.

Alan sighed. This was not what he wanted to hear right now. Like he was being inducted to some barbarian clan. “Wasn’t he your friend?”

“A betrayer, obviously.” Lucius scowled. “Someone who can deceive like that… was never a friend.”

Alan yanked the marble staff off his back. “Things may not be what they seem, Lucius.”

The prince furrowed his brow.

“This staff has the power of persuasion. Hishaya, the Wizard, was a politician. Is a politician. She wanted to grow her clout in the realm of Baelston, so when they became allies of Hozzod, she would rule alongside the other hands of their god. This included coaxing powerful allies to her side. Such as your friend.”

“It frightens me to hear you speak of someone else’s past with such confidence. A fortuneteller Merchant. I shiver at the thought.”

Alan smiled sadly. “I didn’t ask for these gifts.”

“Yet you wear them well.”

“You’re starting to sound like Flint, Lucius. Are you itching to stay and see this adventure through?”

“In your dreams, Herald. Soon this world we trek through will be nothing but a fleeting figment from my past.”

Alan nodded. “That’s better.”

“So, Herald, you claim my comrade was tricked into his role with the Wizards?”

“That would be my only guess. A bond of blood is not broken lightly. I could never dream of betraying one of you after what we’ve been through.”

“Hmph. I don’t buy it. I believe in accountability for one’s actions, even under a spell.”

Alan narrowed his eyes at Lucius, a flash of visionless clairvoyance sent a shiver down his spine. “Is that so?”

“It is.”

They trekked for hours, stopping only periodically when a powerful rumble vibrated the entire swamp. The sound of a tree being uprooted beyond the fog made Neesha hop into Gregorian’s arms, but Alan was too down to care. Insult to injury.

By the grace of the green fog, whatever giant minion lurked never paid them any mind.

The group managed to get onto dry, sandy land unscathed, making camp on a hill. Flint created an ice-luge of crystal water that Lucius warmed inside a clay tub. Some sticks hanging dirtied robes for privacy, meant everyone got to bathe for the first time in weeks.

None of the others were bothered like Alan was. Not even Neesha. Well, that’s because her hands weren’t bloody. A Healer keeps a clear conscience, he guessed.

They sat around the campfire consuming essence for nourishment, where Neesha scooted beside him in a robe he hadn’t seen before – black with swirly red ribbons twisting in no discernable pattern.

“Cheer up, Alan. We made great strides today. One step closer homebound, yeah?” Neesha nudged him, then grew distraught when she got no response. “You know, I was hesitant even pulling you with me in my stone chasing travels. One is too much at times. In a group of five, inviting death around you becomes a certainty in Ojin.”

“Yeah. Knowing it and living it are two different things, though.” Alan dug a hole in the sand using his new staff.

“Mourn the death of your innocence, and I will celebrate it.” Neesha took Alan’s chin and turned it so they locked eyes. “You were heroic, and surely prevented my death this day.”

Alan took a long breath, remembering Neesha’s beauty now that it was in his face again. Her fresh flowery scent was as intoxicating as her perfect lips. But Gregorian’s watchful eye was just across the fire, so he averted his gaze and turned away.

“I’ll be fine, Neesha. I appreciate you.” Alan squeezed her shoulder, and for a moment, felt it slump with disappointment. Was she hoping for a more bleeding heart explanation? His thoughts were in far too big a jumble for that. Or perhaps… did she want to be kissed? That lightened the heavy weight of guilt on his heart, even if just a smidge.

Flint did what he could to keep the mood light, dropping little ice figurines into the fire and pretending it was Jaeger sacrificing his people. What a strange man. In fact, they were all strange. But one look around the campfire told Alan something invaluable.

They were his family here.