To say there was a fire was an understatement. A tower of choking smoke could be seen from across town easily.

We arrived at the gates within minutes. I hoped that Dusk would forgive my back-braking pace, but I knew it was necessary. Stone rode his horse, Buck, who I would wager was the fastest horse on the continent.

Next to Dusk of course.

Even with Dusk's hooves clacking on the cobblestones, I still heard the the chorus of angry voices long before we arrived. I swung off the saddle as we neared the Western Gate, my boots scraping in the dust.

"Stay in the saddle. If things go to shit, ride Dusk out of here," I murmured to Myra. She huffed an indignant breath, massaging her temple and glaring at me with dark shadows under her eyes. Her hair was even more of a mess now, and dust caked the bottom of her skirts.

"Oh? Are you done threatening me then?" she replied, like a mother asking her child if it was done having a temper tantrum. I flinched a bit as I remember my loss of control. I remembered the ice in my veins, and my mouth moving with a different voice coming out as I said the terrible words. Stone's touch alone had broken that moment of weakness on my part.

The moment where her essence had taken control.

Grandpa's swinging sack, I need a counselor. Or a drink. Preferably both.

I glanced at Myra, my brows raised. I schooled my features into a mask of sarcasm and unrepentance.

"I told you before. I don't make threats, I make promises. And besides, did they teach you it was polite to bring up people's dead lovers in finishing school?" I asked as casually as I could. Myra avoided my eyes, her chin lifting.

"With you, I'm not sure there's a difference between a promise and a threat," she replied darkly, reaching down to caress Dusk's neck. He was breathing hard from the swift ride across town, and his dark coat was slick with sweat. I patted him as well before I turned toward the crowd of guards.

Making a mental note to buy a bushel of apples for Dusk, I walked toward the guards at the gate. They wore the typical polished leather armor of the kingdom, each branded with the sigil of the royal family of a flame encased in ice. The all stood in battle stances, staring at the tall stone, steel, iron and wood that made the imposing wall around town. Pikes, rifles, and swords were held at the ready as the air crackled with tension. Everyone was barking orders at everyone, but they were all saying the same thing.

Be on guard.

No shit.

The gates normally were held open for traffic into and out of town, but right now were locked tight. The were as beautiful as they were effective with metal lattice work and glimmering steel atop thick wood. The doors were decorated with the royal sigil as well. They were nearly thirty feet tall, and complete with battlements at the top of watchtowers. Several guards stood on the catwalk with their weapons branished. There a few riflemen on the tops, with their sights pointing downward. All of them were as taught as a bowstring. A fuse about to run out.

Stone was already halfway up the tower when I heard a familiar voice call out.

"Gentlemen please! Must we reduce ourselves to the violence of our forefathers?"

I paused, glancing up to source of the voice. Sure as the sky was blue, Councilman Terris was poised atop the towers, his hands raised. He was silhouetted against the smoke rising from a fire beyond the gate, and he was waving at the guards angrily.

A few guards grunted at me as I pushed my way up the tower stairs. One tried to stop me at some point, but I simply vaulted over him. I landed easily and continued my ascent, not paying any mind to those who called after me. After one look at the Marks on my neck, they left me alone.

My mind knew the weather was bastard cold, but the stone to the outer wall was as warm as an oven. Sweat beaded under my duster coat, my toes moving in a slick slide inside my boots. Councilman Terris's voice echoed into the tower as I approached. He seemed to be calling something to the Elemancers casting their spell.

"Please have peace and cease your fire! Surely this is a situation that can be solved by means other than fire and brimstone!"

Reaching the top of the tower, I raced to Stone's side. A waved of heat was coming up from the outside of the wall, and the light of the flames glowed blue instead of the normal red, yellow, or orange. Stone was busy talking to one of the captains of the guard, his back to Councilman Terris. I recognized the guard he talking to as Captain Leon Lowin, who had the look of a man who had spat Death in the eye on more than one occasion.

The Councilman did not look pleased that he was being so utterly ignored. He interrupted Stone's conversation with Leon.

"I have this well in hand, Sherriff. This is a diplomatic situation," Terris said, squaring his muscular shoulders and flecking his eyes to the other side of the wall. Stone said nothing in reply as his eyes slid to the tower of smoke, the blue light of the flames, the guards ready to pounce, and then back to the Councilman.

Terris tracked his gaze and flushed. Before he could reply, Stone turned his back on him firmly and refocused on Captain Lowin.

"Answer me. What happened?" he asked calmly. Captain Lowin gestured to the smoke and then to the gate with a clawed hand. He was one of the werebeast races that once inhabited the plains leading to the Mirth Hills. They could be found from time to time in other parts of the country, but many kept sequestered in the Mirth Hills west of Tumblend in a hidden city. Looking at Lowin, there was no mistaking the Lion Tribe blood in him, with golden catlike eyes, and large fanged teeth.

"We saw them coming atop their Nightmares from the Kenshi Ethereal Forest, Sir. At that point, I ordered the gates to be closed. The Elemancers continued their approach even after we ordered them to halt. Weapons were drawn, and then, all hells broke loose," he explained in a voice nearly as deep as Stone's. He pointed a finger over the wall, the razor sharp claw protracting more fully, and frowned. I clenched my jaw as I remembered the power of Nightmares.

The Elemancers called them "Kakusareta hikari", but many of the mortal races simply knew them as Nightmares. They were made when the Other that inhabited the Ethereal forest chose to inhabit bodies of recently dead animals to protect their spiritual forms from the harsh sun. Depending on the level of decay, they could choose to look like that creature in it's natural state, or they could turn into a fully fledged creature born from a Devil's dream. Each one was immortal and boasted speed and strength more than tenfold of normal creatures.

"The female at the front appears to be the source of the blue flames, Sir. Shall I order her to be put down?" he asked with the trained obedience of a career soldier. Stone considered him, and then shook his head. He pulled his hat over his brow, and approached the outer edge of the wall. I did the same and looked down.

Much of the field beyond the wall had become blackened earth. It spread between twenty to thirty feet on each side the Elemancer party. I counted eleven of them sitting atop their varied mounts, all Nightmares. Many of them had the shells of horses, but I also saw a bear, a bison, and an elk. All of the mounts had their full Nightmare auras on display, distinctive by the scarlet light each gave off. The light spilled out of any injury the shell had received in life, now displayed in gory glory in death. The blue flames were lapping at the grass outside their ring, but were notably restrained by some force.

And then, there were the Elemancers. They each wore black leather armor with flowing robes on top. If what I had read of the wars was right, each cloak was made of the fibers of the Thunderwood tree's leaves. The fibers were inflammable and extremely strong. Each color signified what element that individual specialized in. Every Elemancer could control any of the Elements at will, but they tended to become more proficient in one.

The colors were in stark contrast to their charcoal skin and silvery-gray hair. Red tattoos of Elemancy magic were everywhere on each of the warriors before us now. Their faces had a fae-like beauty in every cell, and each stared up at us with primordial coldness as they waited for Stone to speak.

"We don't want any harm to come to anyone here, but this situation is getting us nowhere," Stone called down to them, focusing on a red-cloaked female standing near the front, "I want all my men and women to get home safely tonight. Dispel the fire, and I will do what is in my power to get you what you want within reason."

Even from this high up, I saw the female's silver brows crease. After a moment, a male in a white cloak stepped forward

"Pretty words mean nothing in the face readied weapons. We ask that you lower you weapons and open your gate to us. We do not seek violence this day, but will not hesitate to defend ourselves from a clear threat," he said in a smooth voice in the common tongue, though the feint accent of Kaze could be heard within the words. I noticed a band of golden braided metal going across his brow then, marking him as a tribal leader.

Stone played idly with a coin in his hand as he considered the male until Terris stepped forward.

"I'm afraid--"

"I will have your word, Sir, that you all will do no harm to any of my people, the property of this town, it's residents, or the land it stands on," Stone said, cutting Terris off. I felt myself nod at Stone's words, impressed that he still sounded so Gods damned calm. As far as moves went, this was a smart one. Elemancers were many things, but they valued their pride and honor above all else.

The white-cloaked male shared a glance with the red-clad female and nodded.

"Very well. You have my word that we will perform no harm so long as none is given to us, or may the Lady of Life strike my soul where I stand," he said, his eyes the color of dying embers meeting Stone's penetrating stare. Stone's mustache twitched for a moment before he spoke to Captain Lowin, all while never looking away from the white-clad male.

"Stand down and open the gate."

Captain Lowin hesitated for the smallest of moments before barking out orders to everyone in sight. The gate groaned open in a metallic whine as a team of three men worked the crank system to wrestle each of the double-doors open. I took to a second to check on Myra, who was still sitting near the guards atop Dusk. Terris gave me a pleasant nod in greeting, and stood next to me as clamps were placed on the cranks to prevent the titanic doors from swinging shut again. He maintained a patient silence as he slid a glance toward Stone. Giving the barest shake of his head, he descended the steps of the tower.

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Stone and Terris stood side by side as the Elemancers entered the gate on their mounts. I swung back into Dusk's saddle as the dust settled. Terris was the first to step forward to speak when the white-cloaked Elemancer swung down from his elk mount. He walked with the fluid grace of a warrior, and his tattoos bent and flexed with each step. Terris extended a hand for his to shake. They clasped forearms, though Stone didn't extend his arm. His eyes were locked on the red-cloaked female sitting astride an huge war-horse.

His gaze said it all.

She met his stare for a moment longer, then extended her arm back toward the gait. She began to mutter quietly in Kaze, though I was able to catch almost all the words.

"Anataii non chikata oi kashitei kudasaii" she said, though her voice seemed to cause a ripple to flow through the air.

Blessed flames, lend your strength to me, I translated silently.

The guards near the wall scrambled away from the door as fast a they could. I didn't blame them as a stream of blue fire bent through the air toward the female's outstretched fingers. As the flames met her skin, they turned into beautiful red lines which wrapped themselves into the familiar tattoos on her arms and body. As the last of it was absorbed, she sent a feral grin to the scare guards.

"What's the matter? They don't bite," she purred facetiously. Her eyes glittered as she saw the fear reflected in their eyes.

"She must be pretty strong," Myra muttered behind me, but I shook my head.

"No," I corrected quietly as I remembered an old lesson from Stone, "She must be pretty weak compared to the others. The strong ones never feel the need on put on a show like that. It's the calmer ones you need to worry about."

I slid my focus to the male in white. Myra looked at the female for a long moment, before nodding.

"Oh, I see. She put a big show to make herself seem stronger than she is."

"Exactly," I muttered back to her. Myra's eyes took in the elaborate lines seen on the skin of the female's neck and exposed arms.

"Still though, I doubt blue fire is anything to be taken lightly," she said hesitantly. I looked back at her, unsure of what to say. However, Myra didn't seem to want comfort so I didn't reply. I looked back at the Elemancers, only to find the red-clad female's eye fixed on me, her gaze none-too-friendly, and I had little doubt as to whether her sharp Elemancer senses had caught me saying she was weak.

The moment was broken as Terris spoke.

"We apologize for the ungraceful welcome you have received, but allow me to make up for that with action. What do we owe the Tribal Prince's visit to today?" Terris said in a business-like tone. The Tribal Prince stood tall, his gaze impassive as her stared at Terris. His eyes flecked once to Stone, and then, for the smallest second, to me.

"I, Oji Rengey, Prince of the Kenshi Ethereal Tribe, accept your greetings. Though, I'm afraid this visit is not a pleasant one, Councilman."

At that, I saw Stone's posture stiffen and everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting for the Prince to continue.

"In terms of the treaty, all Ethereal Forests belong to my people to live in peace there. We have abided to the terms of the treaty," he said in a clear, but smooth voice intended for all those gathered to hear.

"This is what was agreed to after the war. Correct?"

Terris nodded, looking puzzled. Stone's gaze locked on the Elemancers, but he kept his silence.

Oji turned away from both Stone and Terris and pulled something from his saddle bag, patting his elk as he did so.

Terris and Stone shared a look of confusion. It was Terris who took the lead again.

"Yes, Prince Oji, that is what was agreed upon," Terris said, waiting for Oji to continue. He turned away from his elk at last to reveal as twisted piece of steel mixed with iron plating. It was bent in on itself as if it had been crushed by a boulder. There several odd symbols on it, but I couldn't make them out from here.

Oji's eyes flashed at the admission as he dropped the steel at Stone and Terris's feet.

"Then I would like you to explain to me why this was found with one of my murdered warriors."

Stone picked the plate up, tracing some of the symbols on it. His strong hands handled the heavy metal easily. As he looked it over, a line formed between his brows.

"Is it possible it was a simple fight and this was the murder weapon?" he asked, but Oji shook his head.

"That is not possible. My warrior was found dead, but his tattoos were unused. There were no wounds on his body. It is as if his soul simply left him. And he is not the only one. Others have been found too with these pieces of metal near their bodies," he said, his voice echoing over the courtyard behind the gate. Stone's eyes shot to Oji, before he slowly glanced my way.

"Are you saying that Elemancers are being found with their defensive magic unused?" he asked, his gaze going to me again. Oji did not miss the look, and his ember eyes took me in before replying.

"Yes. And I suspect your Deified are to blame."

I sat in the saddle dumbly as I took the meaning of his words in. Elemancers were extremely hard to kill. Before the Gods started to Mark humanity, they were poised to win the war. Elemancers, in addition to their magic, had incredibly sharp senses. Trying to sneak up on them, especially in the forest, was liked trying to sneak up on a spider in its web. In addition to that, they were immune to poisons. Their body simply processed it. Iron and steel weakened them, but it wasn't enough to poison them. To have an Elemancer killed without an obvious wound was unheard of.

It was impossible as...as...

As a Deified being murdered without burning their Mark.

I looked back at Myra, who stared at the steel plate in Stone's hand like it was a demon. Terris was talking to Oji again, but I didn't hear it over the roaring in my ears. Stone met my eyes again, and I knew we were thinking the same thing.

Whoever was killing the Deified, had somehow found a way to kill Elemancers to.

I tilted my head skyward and said the only thing I could think of.

"Fuck."

*******

Oji, Terris, and Stone excused themselves to discuss the murders privately. Stone met my eyes again, and I knew what that look meant.

Stay here. We will discuss this later.

The town guards and the remaining Elemancer company stood to wait in the courtyard. Several of them had dismounted from their Nightmares and now stood talking quietly amongst themselves.

The men had gone inside the nearby town hall about an hour ago while the rest of us simply waited. I thought about going back to the house, but my instincts told me to stay. If nothing else, I always followed that other sense as tangable as any touch.

It was the same one that had told me to never use my first Mark, and the same one that I had ignored.

Myra shivered in the saddle and coughed delicately into a handkerchief embroidered with the Beaufoutonte crest. The town guards pretended to not stare at the Elemancers as they set about chores to care for and monitor the wall. Now that the fire had been reabsorbed into the red Elemancer, the wind reminded us that winter drew nearer with each gust.

I took some time to brush Dusk, trying to settle both his nerves and mine.

"So, do you have any ideas Miss Rowena? Any secret reasons why the Elemancers are dying too?" Myra asked quietly, a whisper in the wind. A muscle feathered in my jaw as I racked my mind, but nothing came to me. Everything had turned into a Gods damned nightmare since I came back to this town.

But Elemancers being murdered meant something more. I felt like I was too close to a painting to see the picture, and it irritated me.

"No," I murmured, the word feeling like a stab in the chest, "But I will find out."

Myra frowned and went back to massaging her temple.

"Back in Stone's office," she whispered again, "I've been thinking about it. Your voice...it sounded different. It felt different. That wasn't you...Was it you or some of your Chosen power?"

Hated hells, she was sharp.

"A bit of both," I said quietly, "But Myra, if I wanted to hurt you, I would have done it by n--"

"Miss Rowena, that Elemancer is staring at you again," Myra interrupted, looking apprehensive. I tracked her gaze to the red-cloaked female, whose mouth spread into a predatory grin as soon as our eyes met. Her teeth were a stunning white against her charcoal skin, and her silver hair was pulled back by two intricate braids along her temples.

If there was one thing I learned as a bounty hunter, it was to never be the first to look away from a predator's stare.

I tilted my head at a jaunty angle, squaring my shoulders to her and giving her the same smile.

"Do you think she just wants to make friends?" Myra asked dryly, and I couldn't help but chuckle. I kept my posture relaxed as the female began to walk toward us, her cloak fanning out behind her. Part of me prayed for a gust of wind to blow the cloth in her face, but that prayer went unanswered. She stopped within and arms-reach of me.

"Those tattoos on your neck are impressive, little human," she drawled, her own tattoos moving up her skin toward her neck. I allowed a humorless laugh to escape me.

"Around here, we call them Marks. You should know that, since they tend to make your kind need to change their pants," I replied, leaning against Dusk casually.

"The pants that need changing are the humans who have seen my magic," she said, summoning a small ball of blue flame and holding it up toward my face. I struggled to keep my features unimpressed as the flame neared my skin.

Ashling's ass, I wanted to use my shadows to snuff it out, but I had already lost control once today. I feared what tapping into that dark pool would do now. Every time I did, that line between warrior and monster blurred a bit more. It was a line I had outright crossed three years ago, on a day known for blood, screams, and darkness.

The female's smile widened, mistaking my silence for fear. She swaggered a bit closer, leaning over me. I realized she was taller than me by several inches. She tossed the small ball of fire from hand to hand like a child's toy, missing my nose by a fraction each time. I refused to flinch, but there that darkness was again, building and begging to be let loose. The female's eyes took in my Marks as she kept tossing that ball of fire.

Finally, as the flames went close enough to singe my hair, I broke the standoff.

"Is there a point to this little display, or are you just trying to warm me up?" I asked in a bored tone. She stopped her tossing, straightening up and turning the flames to a weaving rope between her fingers.

"Awe, what's the matter? Don't tell me the Blight of Grimwater is scared of my weak little fire," she quipped. It took everything in me to not react as she said the nickname I had earned. I was silent for a moment, choosing my words carefully.

"Ah! Here it is! The grand reveal!" I said, and I began to clap as if she had just finished a street performance.

Clap.

"Congratulations."

Clap.

"You know my nickname."

Clap

"Do you want a cookie?"

I finished clapping.

"But, if you know my name, then you should know not to screw with me," I finished in a dangerous quiet. The female simply kept twining the fire between her fingers.

"We keep tabs on you mortals, you know. And I've heard some impressive things about you. I must say though," she gave me a blatant once-over, "Now that I see you, I don't believe a word of it."

A challenge. She wanted a fight, and hells I wanted one too now.

As if sensing my thoughts, she reached to touch the Marks on my neck. In a flash, I twisted her palm in a submission hold. Or, at least it should have been. Blindingly fast, she twisted away with the fluid grace of a dancer and put the heel of her palm into my stomach. I felt the heat of the fire make short work of my sweater as it melted part of my skin. Yelping, I danced backward, but she was already on top of me. Her boot swung up and connected to where she had just burned me with enough force to lift me off the ground.

The wind knocked out of me, I sank to my knees as she aimed another kick for my shoulder. Sparks danced across my vision as I was knocked to the side several feet away. And yet, she still kept coming for more, her face pulled in a self-satisfied baring of teeth. I saw that she was getting ready to pin me to the dirt, the fight completely one-sided.

You can win this fight easily if you stop holding me back, came the hated whisper.

Snarling, I kicked myself up in my rage. I saw the female's flicker of surprise just before my boot connected with her face. Blood erupted from her nose, and she was knocked back on her side, momentarily stunned.

I saw the opening, and I took it.

I sprang behind her, and snaked my arm around her throat while the other applied pressure to her head to secure the hold. I finish by rolling her on top of me and holding on for dear life. She twisted, but my arms remained firm.

Take that, you bit--

Her hand closed on my forearm and fire erupted in it, burning my skin. The pain was blinding and by instinct alone I kicked her off me. I sprang backward for some distance.

Our eyes met, both of us panting. One of us in pain, and the other to get air into her lungs.

"I bet...my fire...doesn't feel... so weak...now," the female breathed out between her gasps, the corner of her mouth lifting.

Elemancers and their Gods damned pride.

I smirked as the pain faded, making a line form between her brows.

"What are you smiling at?" she asked in a big rush of breath, standing to her full height. I checked around the area. The guards had gathered around us in a circle, but the scuffle had lasted less than a few seconds. It was too fast for them to take any action. The Elemancers gazed at us impassively, as if our fight were a pretty cloud that had drifted by and now evaporated. I glanced back at Myra, who still sat on Dusk.

She was shaking her head at me, not amused.

I lifted my arm just in time for the female to see the burn wound starting to close. Already it had faded to a light pink instead of an angry red, and she stared at it as if it were a two-headed stag.

"What's the matter? Done already?" I asked, opening my arms to welcome her next attack. To my surprise, I heard a few of the guards let out a whoop of appreciation at my comment.

At least somebody's having fun, I thought dryly.

That was the moment the Tribal Prince, followed by Stone and Terris, decided to come out of their meeting.