Tal woke me up and we started our two and a half day journey over the Plains of Magar. Tal informed me that there is a large ancient shrine depicting magar near the center of the plains. It’s a common stop for pilgrimages. Kat and Pem haven't spoken a word to me other than one more sorry during the parade. They haven't talked much in general which is a stark contrast to the carriage rides we had done so far and it hurts to know I’m the reason why. I stared out the window the entire first day and besides a jack rabbit that looked to be around one hundred pounds and a few herds of buffalo looking bovines, there wasn't much to see other than flowing grass.

At dusk we stopped for four hours then continued on through the night. Kat promised no delays if I went with her to Barhurim and I guess she really meant it.

Early in the morning just Tal and I were awake and I asked him, “Tal where do your beliefs come from?” “Krador” “Okay, let me rephrase the question. How did you come to follow Krador?” “I was trained to be a warrior from birth. That is all I know. Over one hundred years ago in a war in the great desert I found Krador. Since then I traveled the continent and helped others and did jobs most wouldn't dare do. Some big, some small. This is no different.” “Wow, pretty different from me.” “I’m curious now.” “Alright, I had a happy childhood full of fun and games and learning until I was fifteen when both my parents died. I stayed with my older sister for a few months but she was barely making it so my wife, Maria's parents, agreed to foster me. They were best friends with my parents so I had known them and Maria all my life. Maria and I quickly fell in love and at eighteen we got married and moved out. I was working on building houses and she was learning to teach children. After seven years we decided we were ready and stable enough to have a kid and learning she was pregnant was the happiest day of my life. Then a few months later stuff happened and I ended up riding in a carriage with you.” I looked over to Kat and she still looked asleep but I'm pretty sure I saw tears on her face. “Thank you for sharing Tom.” “Thanks Tal. You should tell us more stories or maybe write them down? “I will think on it.” “Cool, I mean glad to hear it.”

That night we stopped for a four hour rest and Kat walked up to me, “I want to teach you another spell. You will see many mages once you get closer to Eldrin and Counterspell will help aid you.” “Kat, I have something to say first if that's all right?” “Of course” “We should take a full day in Marlone so everyone gets well rested.” She seemed a bit happier, “That would be wonderful! Is that all?” I had other questions like how was she doing and was the silent treatment over and what was it even about? But I just nodded.

She cleared her throat and took a breath and in her teacher voice, “Now to use Counterspell you need to imagine the spell you are countering to fizzle out. Cast Light and I will counter it. Then you will try.” “Light” “Counterspell.” Right as the light showed it faded but my concentration never stopped. It just went out. “Light,” Kat said. I simply imagined the spell turning off, like a light switch to a bulb. “Counterspell.” The light went out. Kat was shocked, “On your first try…I have no words.” “Well I have a great teacher.” “No…What I mean is that the spell should take days to figure out how to work.” “Honestly it's probably my home's education difference.” “We will practice with more spells until you are tired.” Countering different spells was basically the same. I just needed to know what they did.

I got pretty tired pretty quickly and passed out in the carriage and before I knew it we were in Marlone. It was early afternoon and Kat was laying on me when I woke up. She quickly scooted off and said, “We arrived about an hour ago but you were sleeping so soundly we did not want to wake you.” “Thanks. So this is Marlone, the military stronghold of the humans?” “Yes. It is more impressive than I imagined.” I guess she had not been here either.

Hopping out I see up on the hill a giant castle. It has three walls surrounding it tiered down. We were just inside the massive outer wall then up the hill was a wall then another up a bit more then up more to the castle. Everything here was made out of stone and was made for strength not elegance. “They train the soldiers here and house many many thousands of them.” “Do you know how many?” “No, only high ranked humans know. Mother may know as well.” “Can we visit the castle?” “I cannot but you might be able to with the right authority. They are at war right now.” “I haven't heard about a war.”

“That's because they are always at war.” “Why?” “Land and trade is almost always the cause.” I remembered hearing that religion was the reason for most wars once but once you look into it you see land was the cause for most wars. Would peasants and soldiers die for blatant greed? No but for god they would. It must be different here because the Gods can speak for themselves. “This one is about the Gnolls in the south attacking trade routes and settlements.” “Gnolls?” I have heard of that name on earth before. “Large furred beasts who are intelligent enough to have settlements.” She had raised her hand all the way up implying they are over eight feet tall.

“This is where most of Magarnia's Weapons and Armor comes from. They have the largest tannery and the most smiths here but the quality is not always good.” Kat told me as we headed into the solid stone three story inn.

We joined Pem and Tal who were sharing a drink at a table. It was pretty relaxing and quiet. “Hey.” Pem looked up at me, “Hi Tom.” She seemed a little sad. “How are you feeling, Pem?” “Not well. I will soon lose another. It is hard on me.” “We will get there when we get there. For now let's be happy with the time we have together.” She nodded. I hoped that helped her mood. We still had plenty of time together.

“So Tal I was thinking about the dragons and your people. Were they nearly wiped out purely because of looks.” He shook his head no, “Some of my ancestors fought with the dragons at first but many did not wish to fight at all. Then some were forced to fight with the dragons. The other races were scared we were under the control of the dragons and it caused much strife. The islands and the Wysafir desert were safer than most places for us because the desert elves knew us and on the islands we were alone. No more now.” he bluntly ended his speech. “Thanks Tal.”

After a while Pem broke the silence, “Tom what is your favorite food?” “OH! That's a tough one.. hmm it’s gotta be.. A good ol cheeseburger.” “What is that?” “I’ll make you one sometime soon. Okay?” “Sounds great!” Pem said happily then Kat also replied, “I would like to try one as well.” Tal nodded in approval. “Alright, when we get to Eldrin I'll go around and collect the closest ingredients and make us some cheeseburgers. I'll try to make fries as well.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

We talked a bit more about human food and wars. Most of them had been long skirmishes in the south in the resource rich mountains. We then ate some dinner. It was basically a weird steak, a baked potato and a tough, almost spicy bread. Tal and I headed to one room and Kat and Pem to another. I almost stayed awake all night from the rest in the carriage.

I awoke just before dawn and headed down to get some breakfast. Many of the elven guards were sitting down at the tables chatting away and eating already. While eating some eggs, bread, and meat I decided I wanted to go fishing. It had been years since I had been able to fish and finally near a river with some time to spare seemed like a great thing to do. I wanted to fish at the cabin, then at the lake, then Paradise… “Sir Tom. You are being requested to meet outside?” What could this be about? “By who?” He didn't reply. “Thanks, I'll be right out.” Unarmed and wearing a light shirt and pants from bed I finished eating and headed out.

Ten large humans and one massive human even larger than me stood outside. They all wore blue robes like Kat but the massive guy had gold embroidery throughout his, “Tom, I am Head Court Mage Oswin and you are under arrest for high treason and murder!” His voice was not very deep despite his size. “What?” “You are under arr…” “No, I heard you but who did I murder?” “Earl Dabentol and his son Lord Blythe.” “They were very much alive when I last saw them.” “You had ample time to kill them before you left.” “But I didn't do it.” “You had reason and there's evidence now you are under arrest!”

“Evidence?” I asked curiously. “Lord Blythe still had traces of your magic on him.” “From our short little bout early in the morning clearly!” “They were both killed with blunt force hits to the chest much like your hit on Prince Thinrom. You also had a motive.” “We left on peaceful terms.” “Yes.” he looked around and raised his arms, “For all the public to hear! Then you kill them and no one looks at you because you were peaceful with them.” Why is this happening? How did they know about the fight with the prince? My only thought was to separate Kat and I or single one of us out. Who would set me up? Could Tamsa do that? Was it some other faction I don't know? Or do I know? “Oswin I will come peacefully if you make sure whoever is behind this doesn't harm Pem, Tal, and Kat.” “Of course.”

I held out my hands and laughed, “I guess I won't be fishing yet again.” “And it seems like I won't be fighting today.” Oswin replied with a bit of sadness in his tone. They gagged me and cuffed me and Oswin cast “Enhance” on them. We started walking towards another caged wagon when I heard Kat yell, “Stop in the name of the Empress.” We turned to see Pem, Tal, Kat and her royal guards still exiting the inn. Some were armored but all were armed. “This is a human matter, elf.” “He is my betrothed so he is no longer only human.” “He has committed high treason, you can't stop me from taking him.” “I can certainly try…Lightning!” No! I tried yelling but I was gagged. “Counterspell!” Oswin yelled then laughed.

Pem, Tal, and the guards all charged the ten mages. I closed my eyes and imagined the Enhance spell on the cuffs disappear. “Dispel” I thought. Then I did the same for the gag. I opened my eyes and started twisting my arms to try and break the metal cuffs. In just those few seconds half the royal guard is down and two blue mages are as well but a few more were on fire I assume from Tal’s breath. Pem was nowhere to be found. Kat and Oswin were locked into a magical dance of combat but you could tell he was playing while she was fighting with all her spirit. Oswin was Laughing, “I can counter every spell there is Kat so you can't beat me!”

My cuffs had cut me to the bone but I kept going. The pain was so intense I wasn't able to concentrate on anything other than the cuffs for a few seconds then Pop! They broke loose and I pulled my gag off and surged towards Oswin to help Kat, “Owsin!” His face showed shock then excitement. He then spoke coolly, “Stone.” “Coun…” And Kat started turning gray and solid. “Kat!” I reached them and swung with everything I had. He was faster than me and countered with his own punch which sent me flying back, “Lightning!” I yelled. “Counterspell.” He started laughing again. I thought, “Lightning.” Boom! The sound of thunder was so loud as a large bolt slammed directly onto him. I started charging towards him knowing it wasn't likely over yet. He is just standing up when I throw a haymaker and it connects perfectly sending him back down. “Stone.” he says. Having seen Kat turn to stone I knew what it did. “Counterspell!” He quickly drew a rapier looking sword while getting up, halting my aggression. “It has been a long time since I fought someone so strong but it is over now.” he said with his frazzled hair and elegant blue and gold robes all dirty. I thought, “Lightning.” Again. “Counterspell.” he smiled then started laughing at my shock, “You're not the only one who can cast magic without words.” He's using Detect thoughts… “You are correct.”

Oswin charged with his sword and stabbed me in the shoulder, then the other shoulder. He was playing again. You could see it on his face. Thinking, “what can't he counter?” “I know every spell there is.” “Hmm, a spell…! One I have to make.” “Making a spell on the battlefield in seconds…not possible especially while I stab you over and over.” “Think strong, force, earth science…. Gravity!” “What are these thoughts of Earth?” Oswin stopped stabbing me and caught on to something, “You are from a different plane of existence?” I was only half listening while thinking of how much gravity to use. Ten? Fifty? One hundred times? “You can't just create magic on a whim,” He looked at me like I was insane. “Let's find out.” I imagined the area Oswin stood in getting one hundred times stronger gravity. “Gravity!” “Counterspell.” For a split second his face was of sheer terror when he realized the spell worked and he didn't counter it then everything in a ten foot area around him and including him slammed into the ground. The ground dented like a crater and blood and gore sprayed out all over the place. I instantly felt like I had been up for days.

Looking around I see Pem with both her short swords along a female mage's neck who has her hands up. Tal is standing but is very injured. He, like half of the inn's courtyard, is covered in blood. Nine of the ten mages are down and most of the royal elven guards are also down but some were not dead. Oddly enough the town guard chose to protect the citizens who were crowded around watching the fight.

I went to Kat who was still standing in frozen shock. “Detect magic!” Nothing more than stone. The female mage Pem had yelped then yelled, “dispel.. ow fine. Imagine her restored back to her normal self.” I put my hands on her head and imagined her succeeding in countering the spell and being totally normal. “Dispel.” Her color immediately started changing color back to normal. She slowly fell down into my lap. Another wave of exhaustion hit me but I fought it to see the woman who willingly would have given her life for me come back. Her frozen shocked face went to confusion back to shock while staring up at me, “Tom?” She said weakly. “Yeah Kat, you were so brave.” “I would do anything for….” I heard her say as exhaustion took me.