“I have to admit, I really didn’t expect…well, that,” Merlin said.

Charlie looked up at Merlin. He didn’t even know what it was.

Torq smiled. “Do you know why dungeallis crystal is so sought after? It’s the hardest material to craft with. Since it’s difficult to come by, it’s nearly impossible to practice with unless you work closely with a guild or have the funds for it. Even then, it’s more expensive than most can afford. By my grandfather was a prodigy. When the hero commissioned him for a sword with a material he had never worked with, he made one worthy of that hero. The hero who would one day save Aysela.”

Torq paused. “But he always had one regret. He said the sword that he made lacked something important. The soul of Sange.”

Merlin tilted his head. “I don’t understand. What does that have to do with a—”

Torq held up a hand. “Dungeallis crystal is very particular. When working with it in your forge, you must think about its future wielder at all times. If your mind slips for even a moment, the entire process is ruined.”

Merlin’s head fell. “That’s why you kept asking me all those questions about Charlie…”

Charlie looked up at him. That was interesting.

Torq nodded. “That’s right. My point being that it’s not the blacksmith who decides what he’s forging. When it comes to dungeallis crystal, you listen to the material itself. It speaks to you, the way it burns in the furnace, the way it’s molds under your hammer. It knows exactly what shape will best serve its future master. I listened to it the whole way. But there wasn’t enough material. So, I added some of the soul of Sange.”

Sullivan interrupted. “I’ve heard that term before. My grandfather used to say it. It’s what they called kierstone, right? Since most of our blacksmiths worked with it. It was what we’d become known for. It was the staple of our economy,” Sullivan said.

Godo started dancing, quickly lifting each of his feet up in succession. He clapped his hands with each step. “Godo thinks an exciting reveal is imminent!”

“Papa…you’re embarrassing us,” Josephine said, covering her face.

“That’s right, Sullivan. This is a combination of the power of dungeallis crystal, and the soul of Sange, kierstone. My grandfather always theorized it was possible. But he never got a chance to work with the rare material again. So, I took up his dream alongside my own. I decided I would forge a weapon for a hero combining both materials. I don’t know how it will serve you, but I’ll tell you this, lads, it will serve. Keep it close at hand, and you’ll come to understand its power over time.” Torq stepped forward and held out the small, black crystalized object toward Charlie.

Charlie took it. It was flat and slightly curved in the middle, with two small holes in it on either side. On the back of it, there was a little ring that made it easy to hold. On the front, there was a weird little piece that Charlie couldn’t identify.

“What kind of weapon is this?” Charlie asked, waving it around in the air, trying to see what was dangerous about it.

Merlin seemed as confused as he was. “Well, it’s not exactly a weapon. It’s a pacifier. It’s for…well, you put it in a baby’s mouths to calm them down and help them fall asleep. There are lots of reasons, really. But none of them are violent.”

Torq laughed. “Aye lad. But the dungeallis crystal knows its purpose. It chose this form a reason.” He turned his attention to Charlie. “A blacksmith must trust his forge, and a hero his weapon. Put your faith in that when you are in danger, and it will reveal its power. This I swear on my honor as a blacksmith of Sange.”

“Very exciting!” Godo said, still dancing in the background.

Merlin turned to them. “Please, keep Charlie’s identity a secret. My friend, that woman, told me the Hex Knights will arrive and seize Sange soon. You should ready yourselves, just in case.”

Sullivan seemed the most taken aback. “We should indeed. We’ll need to show we have the town under control. If we don’t, the king may install a new government entirely. We need to ensure that doesn’t happen. The last thing we need is another noble from the capital taking over. Thanks for the warning. Godo, Torq, I could use your help,” Sullivan went and hurried toward the front gate. He’d given his horse to someone else to relay messages earlier.

The men nodded. Torq looked Merlin in the eyes. “Thank you for helping me accomplish this dream. I suppose I’ll need a new one now. Merlin, you’ll need one too, if you haven’t found one already. Figure out what you’re fighting for in this life and chase it with everything you have.” The blacksmith turned toward Charlie afterward. “I look forward to seeing what kind of hero you’ll become, boy! Don’t let me down!” He held his fist in the air for a moment and then jogged off after Sullivan.

Godo gave them a big thumbs up. “Godo is good businessman. The best businessman, should you ever need to do business, call for Godo!” He lumbered off after the others.

“Was that a goodbye or a sales pitch? It felt like a sales pitch,” Merlin said.

Charlie shrugged.

Josephine giggled. She waved at Merlin, Charlie, and the scalers before chasing her father. “Slow down, papa!”

Charlie stared at the pacifier in his hands. “How does this work?”

“You put it in your mouth,” Merlin told him. He pointed at the teat on the end.

Charlie wasn’t so sure about trying that. He tucked it inside his onesie for now.

Merlin ran toward the rear gate of Sange. It was time they get out of this city.

Charlie turned to glance behind them one last time. He looked up at Varroc hanging from the wall. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was bouncing with every step Merlin took, or if it was the just the wind. But for just a second, Charlie thought he saw one of Varroc’s fingers twitch.

He squinted, but the corpse didn’t move again, despite the wind and his bouncing. He shrugged and turned to look at the buildings as they rushed past.

Merlin wrapped his cloak over his shoulder so that only Charlie’s head peeked out. They needed to get out of town without drawing too much attention and people would especially notice if someone was trying to flee Sange with a child in tow. The fewer people that could report Merlin fleeing the city with a baby to the Hex Knights, the better. They stopped only when they ran into the occasional boar carcass on the street so that Charlie could absorb them and repair his dungeon. Charlie knew it would only help a little, but he desperately needed to start repairing it.

The few Scalers traveling with them followed along on the rooftops. All but one, at least.

The road they were on seemed to be in a residential district. The city gate loomed over them at the end of the road. They were close now. But the gate was closed.

There was a man sitting against the outside wall of a house on their right. He was wearing the same armor as Varroc’s men but had a fox insignia on his sleeve. As they passed him, he looked up and made a strange face.

“Have we met him before?” Merlin asked.

Charlie peeked out from the cloak. “He does look kinda familiar.”

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The man shot to his feet and chased after them.

“Varroc is dead. Your side lost. So don’t try to get in my way now,” Merlin said.

The man held his hands up. “Oh! Sorry, I’m not with Varroc. I mean, I was conscripted from my town to help fight against the incoming invasion, but I stopped helping them as soon as the rebellion started! I never wanted anything to do with this, I swear!”

Merlin raised a brow. “Are you from Sirra?”

Charlie realized it, too. “It’s the gate guard! The one who was acting weird.”

Merlin leaned in. “It is him!” Merlin’s mouth parted. “You knew about everything going on in Sange and didn’t warn us! The snatchers in Sirra, the circle, everything!”

The man’s face fell. “Yes, that was me. I’m sorry, I wanted to warn you, but when the other guards asked what the holdup was, I panicked. Ever since that moment, I’ve regretted it. I hope you can forgive me!” He leaned forward into a bow.

Merlin and Charlie exchanged a look with one another. “Don’t talk to me or my son ever again!” Merlin said.

The guard looked up at him. “But…”

Merlin closed his eyes and turned his head away.

Charlie copied Merlin and turned away as well. “Hpmh!” he added for good measure.

“I thought he was your nephew? In Sirra you said—”

“Enough! We’re leaving!” Merlin flapped his cloak dramatically and hurried toward the gate. They’d spent too much time on this conversation as is. Charlie ducked back beneath Merlin’s cloak as they reached the gates.

One of the guards atop the wall noticed them. “Halt, this gate is closed under the orders of… Merlin? Is that you?” the guard asked.

Merlin nodded. “I need to leave the city. There’s something I have to do.”

“Right away, sir! We’ll have to figure out the gate controls. We’ve never done this before. Sullivan didn’t care since the gates were supposed to stay closed. Please give us a moment!” The two men ran inside a tower along the wall where the gates controls were hidden.

Merlin tapped his foot impatiently as they waited. Charlie sucked his thumb. He had a bad feeling for some reason.

“Leaving the city?” a deep voice asked from behind.

Charlie’s eyes shot open. Was that who he thought it was?

Merlin didn’t turn around. He looked over his shoulder. He could sense the tension in the air as well. “Do I know you? I don’t have time for autographs, so I’m afraid it will have to wait.” Merlin gently nudged Charlie further inside of the cloak. Charlie slowly readjusted his hands, holding onto Merlin and shuffling along his side to climb around toward his back. When Charlie reached his side, Merlin skillfully turned around to mask the movement and face the man before them.

Charlie clung to Merlin’s back, hoping he’d find a way to get out of this situation. If not, things could get bad.

Geron

“What’s the rush? Things were just starting to get nice around here again,” Geron called out. He wasn’t sure what had brought him out all this way. Call it intuition or instinct, or maybe something else. But they’d already saved so many children and still he hadn’t found Charlie. What was it that had possessed him to come to this gate at this moment?

Was it impulse, or was it something else? The fact he’d found a strange man fleeing the city at this very gate made it difficult to ignore. If he didn’t at least investigate, he’d regret it.

“I don’t like to stay anywhere for too long. I’ve had my fill of Sange, and I’m sure the people here will be just fine without me. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” The man paused. He looked over his shoulder at the still closed gate. He grimaced.

Geron noticed something. It was brief, but it almost seemed like the man’s cloak had moved unnaturally. He could tell it wasn’t the wind. It was almost like…

“What’s on your back?” he asked.

The man’s face hardened. “My cloak? It is nice. I’m afraid the person who gave it to me is no longer around. If you’re looking to purchase one of your own, you’ll have to look elsewhere.”

Geron sneered. “What’s under your cloak?” he asked.

“That’s none of your business.”

Geron rolled his neck and cracked his knuckles. “I see. If you are truly innocent and don’t have anything to hide, I am sorry for what I’m about to do. If it is within my power to do so, I will do my best to avoid injuring you permanently.”

“Merlin! Are you okay?” One of the gate guards had come to investigate the commotion. His eyes fixed on Geron, and he called out to the other guard. The other man joined him, and they hefted spears, ready to throw them and support the mysterious man if need be.

“Merlin, is it?” Geron asked.

The man stared at him, a blank expression on his face. “That’s the great mage Merlin to you. Let me show you why they call me that.” Merlin lifted both of his hands into the air. Large hexes formed on either side of Geron. Void hexes. Staring into them was like staring into darkness itself. Geron gritted his teeth. He could sense the power coming off of them.

This man was strong. He readied himself. This would be a test of speed.

Which of them could strike the other down first?

Geron shot forward, the hexes exploded, and tendrils of darkness chased after him.

He’d take the magician down with a single. Even as he approached, the man’s face was unchanging. It was like he knew something that Geron didn’t.

A green tail popped out of the back of Merlin’s cloak.

Geron planted his feet and came sliding to a halt. The hexes dissipated as well. From the bottom of Merlin’s cloak, a Scaler crawled out. It tilted its head, staring at Geron.

Merlin seemed just as surprised as Geron was.

“A Scaler? You had a Scaler on your back? Why didn’t you just say that?”

Merlin collected himself. He sighed. “There aren’t many people who would be accepting of someone who had a beast for a pet. Excuse my caution, but I thought it best to keep my friend here a secret. I’m sorry it almost came to blows.”

Geron laughed. He scratched the back of his head. “I’m sorry as well. My name is Geron. Geron of guild Gemini. I shouldn’t have been so accusatory. The truth is, I’m looking for someone. A young boy I promised to protect. My friends and I came here to Sange in search of him, but we’ve come up empty so far.”

Merlin’s eyes fell. “I had heard the children were being rescued from the dungeon. Are some of them still unaccounted for?” he asked.

Geron shook his head. “No. We’ve interviewed the children from each of the holding areas within the dungeon to make sure no one was missing. But none of them have ever even heard of a Charlie. I just can’t understand it…”

“That must be…hard. I’m sorry for what you’re going through. I hope it all works out in the end. If he knew how hard you were looking for him, I’m sure Charlie would appreciate it.”

Geron nodded. “Thanks for that. If you hear anything, please send word to Gemini. I’ll pay handsomely for any information you might find.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Merlin said. Behind him, the gates grated and slowly ascended. Merlin turned to leave and threw up a hand to wave.

Geron frowned. He’d hoped this was it. He’d hoped he would find Charlie here.

The gate fell and locked back into place. Defeated, Geron turned back to head into town. Perhaps Charlie was still somewhere in Sange. Or perhaps Charlie had never been brought here after all.

“I failed him. I let him down.”

Geron shook his head. No. No! He wouldn’t give up that easily. He would keep his promise and he would protect the boy. No matter how long it took, he would protect the boy.

He’d walked for a while when he ran into a man wearing armor from Sirra. He was sitting against the wall, a sad look on his face.

Now that he thought about it, Geron realized he had run by this man earlier. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeah. I just…I hope that man and his son are okay. I know Sange isn’t the safest place right now, but the forests aren’t much better. All those boars?” The man shivered. “I wanted to offer to go with them to help them safe. But they didn’t want anything to do with me.”

Geron tilted his head. “A man and his son? Going that way?” He pointed toward the gate.

The soldier looked up at him. “Uh, yeah. Truth is, I—”

Geron grabbed the man by the front of his shirt. “Was the man wearing a cloak? What color was it?”

“Uh, yeah. It was purple. Why?”

Geron dropped the man to the ground. He turned to look toward the gate. “No…he was right there in front of me, and I let him go. He was right there...”

From the opposite end of the city, a giant bolt of lightning struck the ground. Geron looked up. “Samantha?” That was the signal that something unexpected had happened. She was summoning him and the others.

On one side, a young boy, probably Charlie, was being taken by this Merlin. On the other, his friends were calling for him. They could be in danger.

So which way did he go?

He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and ran.