Author's notes:

Expected chapters.

23: King's Port (Neesha)

24: Moon Eater (Alek)

25: Burning all the Bridges (Alek)

26 / epilogue: Death and Forest Spirits (Tsai Ting)

Bonus: Today a Person

“Is Terance in?”

The receptionist looked up from her papers and stared at Alek for a good long moment before her face split into a wide grin. “Alek! It's good to see you again. Terance is probably eating lunch at the Fat Pig right now.”

"Thank you.”

"Come visit me while you're in town ok?"

"Sure."

We walked back out into the cold. The first snowflakes of winter falling earthward. The little annoying ones that move too fast, not the big fat ones that make you want to dance in their slow moving glory and catch them on your tongue. We made our way to a field stone building with a wooden second floor. The image of a bloated pig painted above its door. The smell of food leaked through the cracks and a wave of warmth and olfactory delight washed over us as Alek opened the door.

"Hey! No dogs in here."

Alek ignored the man at the counter, walking forward and scanning the room. I also ignored him. Fucker could throw me out himself if he was that against my presence. This dog bites.

"Did you hear me? I said no dogs."

"I'd let this one slide Kaleb." Siad a pudgy Hornless seated at one of the trestle tables just to the side of the bar.

"Fucking demonkin walks in with a dog. I get we got to let the demonkin in, but boss says no fucking dogs."

"Mel would let this one slide." Said the pudgy man, a tone of warning in his voice.

What exactly was going on? I assume the pudgy guy is Terance.

"Yeah, why?" The keeper asked.

"Because that's the Harbinger of Wrath you fucking idiot."

What? "You're not old." I said to Alek's back.

He stopped. Looked down at me, and said, "what?"

"You're not old enough to be The Harbinger of Wrath. You're like maybe eight years older than me."

"I'm thirty-six."

"Okay, twelve years older than me. Still not old enough." I was suddenly aware of how utterly quiet the room was. "What?" Alek had a look of utter disbelief written on his face. "You can't be The Harbinger of Wrath, you said you spent years traveling with Lothar."

The bar keeper snorted. Someone laughed.

Thrice cursed gods in hell I'm stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Even I knew the gods damned song. As if the world wanted to mock me, some asshole started singing.

-Oh there once was a hero named Lothar the Red,

-But it sounded barbaric so we called him Wrath instead.

"Okay." Alek said, putting a hand up. "Songs are for after dinner."

-And here's to The Harbinger who calls out his name,

-When the devilblood shouts, Wrath brings down the pain.

"Fucking hell." Alek gave the pudgy guy a long look and turned back to the exit.

-He's big and he's tall and he's strong and he's mean,

-The biggest barbarian that you've ever seen.

The singing abruptly cut off as the door shut behind us and we trudged through the cold streets back to the mayor's building.

"Sorry." I said, feeling stupid. I really didn't expect to draw that much attention.

"It's fine, I was hoping to make it through the day without everyone knowing I was back, but…" He didn't finish the statement. "Guess I'm visiting you now." He said to the mayor's secretary.

About five minutes later Terance entered the building and ushered us to a back room. He and Alek seemed familiar with each other. So they talked, and talked, and talked. Mostly random bullshit. It was fucking boring. Alek did get us registered for seats in the auction hall. We moved the horse to a different stable and checked out the auction hall itself along with the holding pens. Holding pens for people, not livestock. It was kind of weird seeing so many humans in cells. Despite being part of this kingdom's slave class, I've never actually been in a holding pen. Tel'ani weren't really a flight risk as we had nowhere to go. Here, there were mostly humans and a few Tel’ani. The odd elf, dwarf, or orc. Mostly women, children, and older men. The auction hall was a multilevel building with raised platform on the lower floor and an open balcony on the second with staggered seating. The whole place was busy with slave traffickers and rich assholes looking around just like us. Though we got a few sneers shot our way by the outsiders and several "Oh hi, can I get you anything"s from the locals. It was an odd experience. We ate dinner and settled into an inn room with two beds away from the auction hall rooms. The dining area had a large tapestry depicting both Wrath and Alek, though I've never seen Alek's face twisted into such a grin. It looked like a caricature.

Breakfast was a hearty venison stew, bacon, and duck. Alek had some bread as well. Kind of got the feeling the owners were trying a little too hard to please us, or Alek specifically. It was very surreal. Alek was in a broody mood. Again. He said practically nothing on the way to our seats. The auctioneers brought out a group of humans and the bidding started. Alek never placed a bid, just glared at the stage for a couple sets of Hornless before standing up and walking out. I hesitated. As maybe he just needed to piss or something, but I followed and caught up to him just as he left the auction house. He paused to stare at a large board that said "Harbinger, Marry Me", he grunted and moved forward. I followed unsure what the fuck we were doing.

A woman hit Alek, full body into the side, she wrapped her arms around him, squeezed, and squealed, "Alllleeeeeekkkkkk!!!"

"Tina." Alek said with far less enthusiasm.

"You're in town and didn't tell me?" She accused.

"Business first."

"When's business over?"

"Probably after lunch."

"And then you're going to come see me?"

He patted the girl on the head. "I wouldn't leave town without visiting you."

"Prommiiisssseee?"

"Promise."

Alek scrapped the girl off himself and with a little effort got her to leave with promises he'll find her later.

"That was weird." I said.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Alek sighed. "Yeah, she's got a couple screws loose."

"What are we doing?"

"I don't fucking know. I think I need to hit the library in King's Port."

"Kyne's Port? That's like twice the distance we already traveled."

"No, King's Port. It's further. Thought you wanted some type of adventure?"

"Yeah, but it's turning out to be mostly travel."

"That's about right. How 'bout we split up. Meet you at the inn tonight. We'll leave in the morning. I've got people to visit and things to do while here."

"Sure." I said. Not particularly thrilled to be left to wander by myself, but it was turning out to be a nice day.

"Anyone gives issues, just tell them you're with me."

"Okay."

Alek turned in a slow circle looking completely unsure of himself before heading off the way we came. Leaving me standing in the street. Alone. In a random town. Oh well, guess I'll have a look around.

***

I stared up at the depiction of Wrath, a boulder equal in size to himself raised above his head. Alek was there, half Wrath's size and in the background looking like a thief or rogue. Below, no doubt where Wrath was going to through the boulder, was a giant who was looking up the cliff face at Wrath and screaming in rage. The whole thing probably looked pretty cool in the warmer months when whatever mechanism that made the water move was active. Right now the fountain stood barren and dry. The stone of the sculpted scene just as grey as the sky. There was no way Wrath was that big. Alek said they could share the larger inn beds. Yeah there was a lot of room to move when it was just me and Alek, but the whole bed wouldn't fit the man depicted in the fountain.

I think I get why I didn't realize Alek was the Harbinger of Wrath. The whole town was filled with depictions of him and Wrath and none of them really fit. Every story or song I've ever heard depicted the Harbinger as either a trickster or a jester. Well, everyone except Tanalia's, which depicted Alek as cunning and somewhat heartless. They didn't match with the Harbinger I knew, never once. Except Tanalia's. Honestly I feel like I'm in on a secret everyone missed.

***

It was late when I heard Alek stumble up to the door of our room. I put the book I was reading down and waited. It was a terrible fucking book. I bought it damn cheap and I honestly think the words written on the paper made it worth less than if it was blank. That's what I get for wasting my money on fiction. I considered getting up and opening the door for him as he was taking far too long, but the door opened and Alek stumbled in. He swayed as he looked around the room, his unsteady yellow gaze shifting from me to the book, to the floor, where he nearly toppled over trying to remove his boots. I watched as he struggled to stay upright, drunk Alek was already far more interesting than the stupid characters in this stupid book. The scent of booze and sex filled the small room as he dropped his winter cloak and stumbled over to lean his back against the far wall. Slowly, he slid down to a sitting position. Then he started sobbing.

Horror. I think that was the emotion that gripped my chest like some angry ghost trying to claw my heart out. I'm not sure why horror came first. A big guy crying in the corner wasn't exactly life threatening. Or all that horrifying. The fact that Alek, a man that was broody and stoic, was having a minor breakdown was just unnerving, more so because I had no fucking idea what to do.

I gathered up my courage and got out of bed. Crouching next to Alek, I waited for him to look up. It took a while, but eventually his yellow eyes met mine.

"Hey." I said, because it was the only thing that came to mind that wasn't, "why the fuck are you crying?"

"Huay."

"You okay?"

"Oh eye'm fine. Eye am not… not the dead, won."

"Huh?" Which was the thing that both escaped my lips and resounded through my mind.

"I ffffffucking hate them. I fffucking hate Terance, and Linda, and crazy Tina, and that ffucking Smits guy. Maybe not crazy Tina. I don't hate crazy Tina. Maybe a little. She's got a nice ass. You know what I mean?"

What the hells? In one sentence he sounds drunk, in others he doesn't. Rambling sure, but not slurred. What the hells do I do with this? He ran a hand over his face and started crying again.

"Hey. Everything's fine." The words came out weird. I had no fucking idea what was or was not fine.

Alek shook his head. "No." He replied weakly. "It's all my fault."

Again he sounded incredibly sad, but not drunk moments before slurring, "my fffreaking ffaulty he dead. Poison his heart. So horribible I nature of soul or life I dunno. Don't fffucking care no more."

"Huh?"

I sat down next to the man and pulled his head into my lap. I don't know if it was appropriate, but my mothers used to do something similar when I was sad. His horn was terribly uncomfortable. I ran my fingers through his somewhat greasy hair. "It's fine. It's not your fault he's dead." I attempted. This was really awkward.

"Yes it is. I kill him. I kill my friend."

"Who?" At this point I was getting fucking curious.

"Lothar."

Holy fucking thrice cursed gods in hell! My heart did that painful skipping thing and I froze. He didn't actually kill Wrath did he? I can't even imagine how he would get away with that.

"I thought Wrath fell off a cliff?" I continued stroking his scalp.

"Jumped. My ffualt."

"How is it your fault if he jumped?"

No answer. I leaned over to find the bastard sleeping. Well fuck. I wriggled my way from under his head. Apparently he can sleep on his side. I threw the blanket from his pack over him and crawled back into the bed. What the fuck was that all about. I don't like drunk Alek.

***

Alek didn't say much the next day. Honestly he wasn't awake for most of it. He just curled up in the back and slept through most of the day, except when he had to piss or when I had to wake him up at a crossroads because I didn't know where the fuck we were going. The next day was a bit more productive. Alek was brooding, which I'm starting to think is his default state. It seems worse now that he's married, but he was a broody fucker even before that.

"So? I've got a question." I asked, breaking the silence. Snow was falling again, but this time it was the slow fat kind that made the horse drawn cart ride down a wooded road seem almost magical. Not too cold, not too windy. Just peaceful and quiet, and childishly fun to catch snowflakes. Time to fuck it up with some deep shit.

"Hmm?" Alek asked.

"You killed Wrath?"

"Why think that?"

He didn't even look at me. "Because you said so."

"Oh."

Oh? That's it? Just oh? "So did you?"

"Not legally."

"I kind of assume murder is fucking illegal."

"No, I mean not in a way that I could be judged guilty."

"You want to elaborate on that? How do you kill a guy in a way that can't be judged guilty of killing a guy?"

He didn't answer, at least not for a long while. I was getting used to this though and just waited him out.

"Do you know why people knew me in that damn town?"

"Because you killed a giant, or Wrath did."

"Right. We get to be hero's for killing the giant. That was the job, it was the right thing to do."

"Okay?"

"What did the giant do?"

"I don't know, eat someone?" I suggested.

"Nope."

"Eat someone's livestock?"

"Nope."

"Destroyed…"

"Nope… The giant existed."

"But…"

Alek shook his head. "Thing was seen, money collected, and a quest was put in. We took the quest, found the giant, and…"

"Wrath killed it." I finished.

"I killed it." Alek countered. "Lothar couldn't stomach killing the poor thing. He wouldn't speak to me for two weeks after that. I've got similar stories that span ten years. I did the right thing, not the good thing, and Lothar was a good person."

"But how does that kill Wrath?"

"Ten years of that shit. It built up."

He paused for a while. I really was getting used to this. He was going to say more, but he was going to brood on it forever. Pain in the ass sometimes.

"We were chasing down a horse thief in the Crags. The guy jumped a chasm to get away from us only to start sliding toward the edge. He caught a bush growing out of the rocks before going over, but he wasn't going to make it. I told Lothar to just let the fucker fall."

Alek paused again. This time, his lips pressed together as if enduring something painful. "He looked at me. Like I was the most disgusting thing he'd ever seen. Then he jumped. Threw the thrice cursed horse thief up to safety, and then just…"

Alek made a motion with hand, which didn't really explain anything, but it didn't need to.

"Fucker did the good thing. Not the right thing."

"Isn't the right thing and the good thing, the same thing?"

"Right is based on what society prefers. Good is just, good."

And with that, our conversation was over. I watched the snowflakes fall. Alek brooded. I could have told him it wasn't his fault, but that would probably be a lie. I rejected a hundred things I could say before settling on misdirection.

"How to do magic?" Seemed like a good question to get his mind off it. Something with a complicated answer that would take forever to explain to someone like me.

"Say Lux."

"Lux?"

"Yes. Lux means light in one of the Arcane languages. You can use any word, but the word has to mean light to you and never change. So just use Lux. Bad shit happens when you fuck up magic. Now do this."

I watched as he curled his fingers inward, brought his pointer out, and tapped his knee. I duplicated the motion, but I was expecting a difficult to wrap my head around explanation.

"Good. Do the motion, say the word, and channel. Channeling is the hard part, just imagine energy running from below your heart, through your arm, focusing in your hand, and being left in a pool where you tap." He did the motion, said the word, and left a sickly yellow glowing orb of light on his knee. "Oh shit, first think of what light is in its simplest form. That'll help."

I did as told. It wasn't exactly and explanation, but I wasn't fucking going to complain about lessons. I tried focusing on an image of energy like little light specks moving through my arm just as Alek said. It took a few tries, but on my sixth or seventh I had a small orb of pure, slightly flickering light on my knee. My shit eating grin faded as my eyes met Alek's face. I had been expecting him to look pleased. He seemed annoyed instead.

"What?" I asked, a little harshness in my tone.

"Nothing. It's just that it took me three days to figure that out."

"Oh." Oh! Hells, does that mean I have a natural talent for magic? "Why is yours so ugly?"

"I assume your light is based on a candle. Mine is a rat's tail dipped in fat."

"Eww."

"Yeah, well. You can change it with practice, but I can see in the dark just fine."

"What now?"

"I guess I could teach you all the spells I know, but they'd likely be useless to you."

I waited a beat to see if he was going to continue. He seemed to want a prompt. "Why?"

A shit eating grin spread across his face. "Because you need to aim them."

"Fuck you."