“Prime Paramount, it’s a miracle that he’s alive. He suffered numerous lacerations and, it seems, some sort of seizure. His body seems to be responding negatively to most of my medicines. It's like nothing I’ve seen before.”

“Thank you, Doctor. Sledda, are we sure he did all of that alone?”

“We didn’t recover anyone else at the scene, and the herdsmen and debtbonds at your cattle compound all say he did it on his own.”

“Where did he come from?”

“We looked into that, and the townspeople all seemed to agree that he was a devil from Pit.”

“From Pit? You don't think...?”

“I suspect. That’s why I had him brought here, Grandfather.”

“Hey. He’s moving. Maybe we can finally get some answers.”

“Valor!” Niklas moaned, as he stirred. His whole body ached and contracted in protest. He looked around wearily, trying to gather himself.

Sunlight spilled in through massive windows, lighting the spacious, ornate room. Several Relrin men in well-fitted uniforms and a few others were present.

“Easy,” someone coaxed as he stepped up to him. Niklas deduced from the man’s white gown that he was some kind of medic.

“Where am I? What happened? Why am I here? Where are my pants?” Niklas looked down to find he was in some strange medical gown.

“You fought. You were hurt. My team and I have been tending to your wounds.”

“That will be all, Doctor,” an old man said with a dismissive wave.

The doctor bowed before retreating to the back of the room.

“My name is Prime Paramount Alred,” the old man said with a slight bow. “And these are my grandsons, Paramount Sledda Alred and Paramount Fareman. Two younger men bowed as he said their names. The first wore a simple black shirt and vest. The second had an impressive red and gold suit and a matching cloak.

“Why am I here? What happened?” Niklas asked again.

“I owe you a debt of gratitude. You defended my herds, protected my people, and killed my enemies, and so I have invited you to my estate and had my personal medical team see to your wounds. How’s your hand?”

Niklas looked at the bandaged hand. “It’s very sore.” Then he touched it. It was a big mistake; a spike of fire shot up his arm. He hissed in pain, and the young Paramount Sledda handed him a flask.

“Drink this,” he said. “It will help with the pain.

Niklas shook his head. “I don’t take anything that helps with pain.” This was a Sharderin regulation that primarily applied to lower enlisted personnel.

He looked at Niklas and shrugged. ”Your loss.”

“I’m fine.” Niklas insisted.

“You were lucky,” the doctor piped in from behind. “No severed tendons or arteries in your hand. You may have some permanent nerve damage, though; try not to use it while it heals.”

Niklas nodded and withdrew his hand.

“What’s your name, lad?” Paramount Alred asked. With his gray hair combed back and his neat beard well-trimmed. He was the embodiment of the power that comes with experience.

“Niklas Loga.”

“Of what place?”

“Of no place, sir.”

Alred nodded. “You saved several of my servants and herdsmen, Niklas.”

“The Sommerfeldts, Esther?” Niklas cried.

“Your people are okay. In fact, they’re here.”

“Can I see them?”

“All in good time,” Paramount Alred said. “First, I need some answers. Do you know who you killed?”

“I killed a lot of people.”

“Yes,” Alred chuckled. “Your display of competence was quite compelling. I think you’ll find that even my grandsons are impressed.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Indeed,” Fareman agreed. “Nice work. Killing twenty men is no small feat for anyone.”

“Twenty!” Niklas cried. “I knew it was more than a few, but twenty?”

“In fact.”

“The man you killed was Paramount Godric Rowan,” Paramount Alred continued. “Paramount Godric has been a dangerous rival for as long as I can remember. He had been pestering me with undercover raids for years, trying to lure me out of my home and destroy me. He has more manpower than me, so I couldn’t afford to be baited from my home. He stole my property and has been chipping at my assets and harming my people. I owe you a great debt. Soutfel owes you a debt.”

Niklas grunted in amusement. “I didn’t do it for Soutfel. I did it for my family,” he said, as he recalled Wilbur, Dr. Geoffrey, the mill manager, and several law officers he wasn’t particularly fond of.

Alred nodded. “That's why I do what I do, too. Regardless, the blood you lost for your family also helped my family.”

Niklas nodded but winced as his body ached in consistent throbs.

Paramount Alred motioned for a bag and produced the metal ring Paramount Godric had worn around his arm.

“Do you know what this is?” he asked.

Niklas shook his head. “Some sort of Remnant.”

“That’s right. It is called a Paramount Ring. There are eighty-four of them in Relgar. They possess great power. Tell me how you defeated a Remnant user and twenty men single-handedly?”

“I fought with valor,” Niklas said. “That’s all.”

Alred accepted the answer with what seemed to be a subtle hint of disappointment. Niklas eyed the ring inquisitively. There was something familiar about it. The yellow glow that used to line the runes made him think of the power in Pit. Sharderin weapons, lights, and vehicles all had a similar feel.

“Are you a martial man?” Alred asked.

“I’m a man who’s trained martially,” Niklas said, taken aback by the question.

“But you’re not a licensed martial man?”

Niklas shook his head.

“Would you like to be?”

Niklas looked at him in interest. “What exactly is a martial man?”

“A martial man is a warrior, an agent, a fighter working by contract. You can make great money, and I think my staff could use a man with your skills. Would you work for me?”

Niklas flushed with excitement as he imagined the prospect. He could be a soldier again and follow his programming but in Relgar.

Niklas shook his head. “I need to stay with my family.”

“I understand and respect that, Niklas, but contracting is profitable if you do it well. You could take care of them.”

“I could take care of my people?”

“And I could protect them. Your people would be my people.”

Niklas thought about it for a moment.

“I also understand you have several charges laid against you at our reformatory. Including trespassing against me. You should hang for that.”

Niklas froze.

“Of course, if you worked for me, I could make it all disappear. It can’t be trespassing if you were invited.” The Prime Paramount smiled, the implications clear.

“If I work for you, I can stay?” Niklas asked.

Alred nodded. “You can stay and take care of your people. You can have money, status, and authority. Working for me, of course.”

Niklas nodded. ”Then I’m in.”

“Excellent,” Prime Paramount Alred smiled. “We’ll go over the details later. We’ll leave you alone now. I think you have some guests waiting for you outside.”

“I’m in,” Niklas said. “But I’m afraid I’ll be of little help to you now. I can hardly move.”

The three paramounts smirked, and Alred pulled out another arm ring with identical glowing, radiant symbols.

“This one is mine,” Alred said. “Unfortunately, I have to return Osred’s to the Paramount Presìdent so he can bestow it onto the next Rowan successor.”

Niklas flinched as Alred stepped up to him and raised his hand. “Don’t worry,” Alred said. “You are a friend to the Alred house.” He placed his hand on Niklas’ head, and the lights on the ring flared. An intense wave of warmth flushed from his hand and rippled through Niklas’ body. The pain and fatigue started to melt away, and Niklas yelped in surprise.

The light dimmed subtly as Alred pulled his hand away.

Niklas’ agonized body felt sore but much relieved.

“What was that?” he asked.

“A gift. Hopefully, it will help you along your healing process.”

“Thank you,” Niklas said.

“Let’s leave Niklas. I’m sure he wants to speak to his friends,” Alred said to his grandsons and guards.

The men withdrew and left Niklas to himself for a minute. Lill’s bubbling voice announced her presence before the doors flew open, and the Sommerfeldts and Robin filed into the room. They looked out of place with their plain clothes in the spacious, immaculate room.

Niklas looked for Esther but didn’t see her or Frode.

“Niklas!” they cried as they hurried over to him.

“Is everyone okay?” Niklas asked concerned.

“Yes, Niklas. By Kel’s grace, everyone is okay.”

“I saw Frode on the ground,” Niklas started.

“Shaken up but okay,” Lill said. “Ivar pulled him out once the fire started.”

“The compound?”

“It’s gone,” Ivar said. “Paramount Alred is going to have to build a new one. Man, you look messed up.”

Niklas couldn’t help but smile, a movement that would have been much more painful than it was before Paramount Alred used the artifact to jumpstart the healing process.

“I’m glad,” Niklas said. “Thanks for everything.”

“Of course,” Lill said. “You’re one of us.”

The Sommerfeldts each beamed at him, cheering and thanking him. Robin simply nodded at him with a slight smile.

Niklas’ smile faltered. “Where’s Esther?”

They fell silent, and all looked at the doorway. Esther had drifted in behind and waited at the door. She had a long, thin bandage on her cheek, and her shoulder was in a sling. She looked at Niklas with her big eyes, hesitating and unsure, possibly even ashamed.

“Esther,” Niklas said.

“We’ll give you a moment,” Lill said, and the others excused themselves, pushing past Esther and leaving her in the doorway.

“Quite the place, huh?” she asked, looking at the white walls and the rows of floor-to-vaulted ceiling-high windows. She looked uncomfortable as if she were afraid of getting it dirty.

“This place is a tactical nightmare.” Niklas disagreed. “Absolutely vulnerable.”

She laughed lightly, but it was forced.

“Esther,” Niklas said, growing serious. “Please, come closer.”

She hesitated but crossed the medical ward over to him.

Niklas grunted as he sat up in the bed. “Esther, I’m sorry.”

She shrugged, avoiding looking him in the eye. “It’s your life. You can do what you want.”

Niklas looked at her, ashamed that she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “You’re right. It is my life, and I will do what I must.”

She nodded slowly. “Well, at least say goodbye this time.”

“Goodbye? What about our next reading lesson?”

She looked at him, her big hazel eyes hopeful. “You came back, why?”

Niklas looked at her. “I made a choice and aim to stand by it.”