I awoke at almost noon in a covered wagon. I was in a metal slatted box that was made for the wagon. My hands,legs,and mouth were bound. I was completely naked and could tell we were moving south. I stayed quiet and listened. After around ten minutes I hear, “We will be in Nardurothil before dark.” “What about him? I heard he killed at least four of us.” “His power is regeneration so our poisons didn't slow him down. We only figured out when we were removing the knives.” “So his claim to heal was a lie?” “Just another…” they had moved out of range of my hearing but I kept listening and thinking. After about an hour I finally heard something useful. “Is the job considered completed with just him?” “It will have to be. Taking on an alerted tier six mage and her guards isn't possible at this time.” “We lost forty men though…” “Enough. That is why it's not possible now.”

In that hour I had formulated probably a terrible plan but it was a plan nonetheless. Step one: Remove the binds. It was going to be painful but I knew the pain would only be temporary with my healing. Step two: Escape the cage. Step three: Run or fight.

I start the painful process of removing the binds from my hands while keeping an ear out for the guards checking in on me. The pain is intense but I am finally free. I Whisper, “Detect magic.” I see two men on horseback two sitting in front of the carriage and four in a carriage behind me.

Looking at the cage door, it looks like twisting my bindings at the top could leverage the door off the hinges. I laced my bindings over the top and through the door and started twisting. My hands were still hurting from the bindings but I fought through it. The door started creaking. “What was that?” I heard one of my captors ask. I twisted with all my strength and once the cage door hinges separated I used my bare feet to push on the door and let go of my bindings, then pressed with my legs with all I had. With a loud crash the cage door opened, falling down still connected by the lock. I jumped out following my own momentum. A quick look around told me I was still in the Wysafir desert. I also noticed two more horsemen. Running might be out but I had to try.

I take off west into the shrubbery desert and instantly my feet hurt but I keep running. After a minute the horsemen caught up to me and one threw something toward my feet and I just noticed in time and dodge it but instantly a second hit me and tripped me.

The horsemen surrounded me Yelling at me to halt and surrender as the six infantry arrived to help them. All ten had poison tipped spears aimed at me. “We have to really hurt him so his regeneration does not overcome the poison.” One said. I thought of the lightning Kat used and how I had seen it. I imagined it splitting and hitting all eight I could see and striking a few times behind me, “Lightning!” Everything went white.

I woke up in a very comfortable bed. It was late night early morning. I felt good, like really good. I sat up and noticed I was wearing new clothes. They were green and were a bit tight but elegant looking and rather comfortable. Looking around the room's walls were a deep red adobe like brick. There was a single wood dresser with a large wooden bowl sitting on top of it in the room. I got up and that's when I noticed everything seemed off. My stomach growled.

I headed down the wooden stairs and the end of the hall into the inn's reception area. I didn't see anyone or anything to ring so I knocked on the counter quite hard to make it loud enough to be heard. The counter split in two and creaked but stayed together.

A younger elf couple that ran out to see what the commotion was clearly alarmed. They seemed short or was I taller? “I'm terribly sorry. Sometimes I don't know my own strength.” I let out a fake chuckle. My voice sounded deeper. “Again I am sorry. I was robbed and kidnapped and so I don't have any coins on me.” The female elf gathered her composure, “It…It is quite alright Hero Tom. We will prepare some food for you and let your betrothed know you are up.” They seemed to move and talk slower than most people I've met. “Oh, okay thanks.” I went and sat down at one of the tables in the dining area. I was definitely taller. Maybe even closing in on six six. It felt kind of like trying to sit in a child's chair. The chair groaned a bit under my weight. I guess I gained a lot of weight as well. The young elf woman returns with a large bowl, “It is leftover stew. It is all I could prepare on such short notice at this hour.” It's great, thanks.” “I could cook you something if you would prefer.” “No, this will do thanks again.” Halfway through eating I knew this would not do.

Across the room Kat was talking quietly to the young elf man. “Just let me know how much the repairs will cost and we will pay for it.” It sounded like she was next to me. “Of course your highness.” “He will also need much more food.” She looked at me as the elf male nodded and walked off. As she walked over her blue modest nightgown flowed and I noticed everything was moving slower but me. “Tom, it is great to see you up.” “Thanks, it's good to be up.” I replied as I stood up. She had a surprised look on her face, “Oh…You are taller than me now.” “It appears so. Care to join me and explain why that is?” “Of course, Tom.”

Once we sat she started talking, “Magic is like a muscle in that when you use it it becomes stronger. Actually imagine your magic is like a pool of water. The more magic you know and the better you become with them the larger the pool gets. The water stays the same until you do something that fills that pool. Magic tier is the limit the pool can grow to. Practicing at night to exhaustion was filling your pool very very slowly while increasing the size of your pool quickly. Enhancing a tier six spell you did not know into ten bolts instead of one probably filled the pool all the way up. If you were not you, you probably would have died.” “Okay so basically learning increases my potential while using see’s that potential through?” She nodded.

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“So can you give me an update?” “Of course. From what point?” I look around thinking, “Are we in Nardurothil?” She nodded “Okay let's start from the attack. You share your side then I'll share mine.” “The whole camp heard you yell “We’re under attack.” The dozen or so guards near me were already attacked. They were either dead or poisoned with a poison that slows you down until you pass out from exhaustion. By the time I exited my tent our guards were already fighting. A few attacked me so I cast lightning then punched them!” She held up her fist victoriously. She then lowered her arm and was somber, “We lost forty two men and many were poisoned and injured. Pem, Tal, and I and a few of the guards followed your blood trail out of the camp but you were gone by then. One guard said he saw you run off. Why Tom?”

I sighed knowing it was not the smart move, “Information. Tamsa was ordered to kidnap us two.” “Anything else?” “The person who hired them. Their name starts with Blu.” “A lot of names start with Blu. Still it is good to know. Anyway we figured they overwhelmed you quickly and had taken you. We knew they were Tamsa and they have a base of operations here in Nardurothil so we headed this way. On our way here we saw a lightning bolt on a cloudless day split across the sky.” She shook her head, “Tom you crazy human. How many times did you split that Lightning?” “Uh twelve I think.” She sighed, “That explains why you have been asleep for a week…” What?

I almost spit the last of my stew out, “A week?!” “Yes.” She whispered telling me to use my inside voice. “You have been sleeping for over eight days. Again we saw the lightning bolt and followed it and found nine dead Tamsa members all around you. We brought you here and waited. While we waited word got out that an elven princess and her human betrothed were attacked by Tamsa so both of our kingdoms are searching for them for different reasons so Tamsa is in hiding now.” “Well there were ten Tamsa guarding me. I broke free from the Carriage and ran as fast as I could before the horsemen caught up and tripped me then surrounded me as they waited for the others to show up. And you know the rest.” “It looked like someone tried dragging you but could not. There were no carriages so one got away meaning they know you are a high tier mage now.” The young elf woman brought another bowl of stew. She took my other bowl and left us.

“So what now?” I ask. “We do the royal parade here then head to Barhurim where the dwarves have requested my aid.” “We have to do this? I really need to get to Eldrin ASAP.” “Yes, we can even cancel all the royal parades after Barhurim to more than make up the time.” “Wow, this must be important.” “It does not matter the importance. A dwarf asked for aid and that does not happen. We will gain a lot of favor with them for the future.”

“I could head to Eldrin myself.” Kat sighed, “Seven days by horse alone or twelve days safe with us.” I thought for a second. “Horse it is.” “Tom, please do not go. I..I..There are two parades left.” “Princess, I want to be home for the birth of my son. I have been led and told what I should do since I got here where besides the Murichi there has been some way to use me. It feels that way anyway and I’m running out of time.” She starts tearing up. “I…Tom, come with me to Barhurim and I will make sure nothing stands in your way after that.” “Why is it so important that I go with you?” “We are betrothed Tom…I care.” I thought for a moment. Is she emotional to pull at my heart strings or does she really care? Care about what exactly? Her duty, my goal, or me? “So you head to Barhurim then what?” Kat cleared her throat and swallowed her emotions away, “I help the dwarves with their problem if I can. When I finish or know I cannot do it, I leave. Where to, will depend on if you are there.” “Assume I am.” “Maghardt, the city of bridges. It is the second largest city in Magarnia and it is still only half the size of Eldrin counting its vast farms in the western part, where most of our food comes from. The eastern part is where most of the population lives. Anyway from there we head through Marlone to Eldrin.

I picture the map of Magarnia in my head. I counted fifteen days including the parades and camping every night. “Fifteen days at least Kat compared to seven, so I'll ask again. Why should I go with you?” She whispered, “Tom….I like you.” “Oh…”

I never thought about living here. I just wanted to get home but now…what if getting home isn't possible? Do I throw away friendships and potential futures away for a chance to get home at the earliest possible time? I Miss Maria so much, luckily i haven't had much time to dwell on missing her besides at night. Would I care if Kat and the others got injured or worse in aiding the dwarves without me there? Yes I would. So is eight more days in this world the end of my world as I knew it?

I was about to flip a coin when “dwarven kingdom” popped into my head. It's like the ultimate fantasy bucket list item of mine. “Okay Kat, I'll go with you.” Her face lit up with a big smile, “Thank you, Tom. I am very happy to hear that. We will leave at first light and Tom.” She got serious, “We will ride through some nights if everyone can handle it.” “Thanks Kat. It means a lot to me.” “If there is nothing else I will take my leave.” She started to get up but I reached my hand out to hers, “Wait.” I said quietly. She instantly sat back down tightly gripping my hand “Yes?” “How are you Kat, really?” I could see emotions swirling behind those green eyes. “Not well…” She took a deep breath, “I have lived for magic. Learning, teaching, and hypothesizing magic is all I have ever done and I loved it. Then the day mother came to me and said she found a mage to marry either Esh or I so we could sire great mage children…We quickly decided Esh would marry the mage. I was already married to magic in my eyes.” She sighed, “Then I saw you and asked for me to marry you instead of Esh. Of course you could have chosen Her. What I am saying is when I saw you I saw more than magic but as we traveled I got jealous of your magic. It was only here in Nardurothil that I realized your magic is my magic since we are betrothed. But you are married already….” She started tearing up. “Hey Kat. Let's go take a nap.” With her hand still in mine I stood up and walked towards the stairs to the rooms. “I have never laid with a man..” She whispers as we get to the room. “Oh uh we will just be sleeping. “I have only slept with my sister and mother.” What? I started chuckling as I got into bed. “Just lay down and relax okay?” “Very well.” She crawled in bed and faced away from me. I talk quietly to her, “Kat, if I can't get home I will try to be with you but Maria has my heart and until I have tried everything I will not betray her.” “Of course Tom. Thank you….for this.”